Pony of Illusions

Chapters

Chapter 02: Castle of Illusions
Chapter 03: You Don't Know JACK!
Chapter 05: Libraries & Sweets
Chapter 06: Tick-Tock, Watch Out
Chapter 07: Defeat Loki!
Chapter 08: Lesson for A Fool
Chapter 01: Blind-Eye to Illusions
Chapter 04: What's lurking in the Water?

Chapter 02: Castle of Illusions

Chapter 02: Castle Of Illusions

From where we left off, a strange case of illusion has blinded Equestria, the Mane Six have been captured by a new individual named Loki A. Fool, And now only Ben Mare, his young family members Nyx, Spike, & Phobos must rescue those taken. Accompanying them are Golden Heart, Pinkamena, long with new faces like Armor Stark & Gemini Sparks. The group reached the spot closer to see the ominous & terrifying outlook, of the castle that stood out against the skyline like a shadow from a horrible nightmare. As the group were lost in thought as they came near what looks like the outside path to the castle, where it lead through a foggy forest. But, they were fate with the intervene surprise, in the guise of a mysterious old Earth stallion in a wizard’s cloak and hood.

“Who are you sir?” Nyx asked off in being curious of who this stranger was.

“I am but traveling pony in these woods, but tell me, why have many of you come here?” The mysterious stallion spoke up in being one who means those no harm.

“We followed a guy named Loki A. Fool.” Spike explained the case of what they are doing here.

“He Pony-napped our pals, the Mane Six.” Pinkamena issued off to mention this off about what the guy named Loki did.

“And now Equestria’s under some illusion and we gotta stop him.” Phobos stated off the worse matter that they gotta deal with along with a rescue.

“Caution, my friends, for Loki’s plans are truly unpredictable.” The mysterious stallion held out his front right hoof to state this factor.

“You sound like you know about him.” Golden Heart raised an eyebrow in hearing that sorta strange claim there.

“In ways we do and in ways we don’t.” The mysterious stallion spoke in riddles that kinda confused some of them. “For you see, Loki is using a spell to keep all ponies under his control by using illusions to cause panic and chaos. But there is more.” He stated in what was happening that Loki was plotting to do.

“More?” Gemini raised an eyebrow in not liking the sounds of this.

“Loki may plan to siphon off the magic essence of six maidens that show the true value of friendship for a plan that he has concocted.” The mysterious stallion spoke which made the others earn the attention of six maidens of friendship, the Mane Six. “Your friends will lose their magic to be left as empty shells. The gift of their friendship will be as nothing of meaning as like Loki’s heart.” He spoke wary that if nothing is done, the Mane Six will lose their warm light of friendship and become unable to feel things.

“Oh No!” Ben, Nyx, Spike & Phobos yelped in having heard such scary things to happen.

“Now I see, so that’s what Loki meant by having them as entertainment! He’ll keep them around to entertain him while siphoning their magic!” Armor Stark spoke to hold his armor chin in having heard the story of what’s ahead.

“Tell us, how can we save Twilight and the rest?” Ben asked off the mysterious stallion to give them clues.

“Yah, what do we have to do?” Phobos asked off in hoping there was a shot they can save the others.

“First, you must locate the 7 Rainbow Gems.” The mysterious stallion spoke off in mentioning this of what the group here needs.

“Seven Rainbow Gems?” Spike raised an eyebrow in hearing something like that but not understanding it.

“They will create the fabled Rainbow Bridge.” The mysterious stallion spoke off to say while many were listening to know more of the story. “It will take you to where those you care and love for are being held.” He put his hooves in his cloak in finishing the claim of what those here need to do to rescue those in peril.

“I’m sensing a ‘But’ is gonna come in.” Pinkamena stated in feeling there was still more to what they are hearing.

“But you must beware of the Gem Keepers. They are Loki’s prime-ministers of misery & they won’t just give up their treasures easily.” The mysterious stallion pointed a right hoof off as another notion of caution to take here of what those must face to acquire the gems.

“Gems, Gem Keepers, okay, we got it.” Phobos nodded off in understanding everything they need to know here.

“Wait a moment! Where do we even find these guys that have the gems?” Goldie asked off the next question that was on their thought.

“Within Loki’s Castle Of Illusion…” The mysterious stallion stated off to mention where one may find the Gem Keepers that hold the Seven Rainbow Gems inside the castle. “But beware, my young friends.” He points his right hoof to begin speaking cautiously about another matter. “Through Loki’s strange magic, he has created strange worlds & bizarre creatures to prevent any from reaching where your friends are.” As he spoke, vague images of strange worlds are seen with strange looking creatures that appear seem to fit themes of wooden creatures and…toy castle objects. “Each of the gem is guarded by one of Loki’s known: Masters of Illusions; you must defeat them to claim your prize.” The old stallion issued forth while seven vague imagines of strange characters, each holding a rainbow color gem is seen holding a gem.

“Sounds like things won’t be easy.” Gemini Sparks stated to say in knowing the course of this action sounds mighty complex.

“Trust me Gemini, in this job…it isn’t.” Armor Stark shook his armor suited head in stating that things like what they face, are never easy.

“And remember, young ones….use great caution!” The mysterious stallion stated in giving the final advice to those to heed the words of an old pony.

“Thank you sir, we’ll remember your words.” Ben thank the stallion for taking the time to give them much of this info to help them along the way.

The gang knew they mustn’t take the old stallion they meant of his words lightly. Once they all thank the guy, the Rescue Team goes through the castle gates. Everything began to go dark at this time, as those that were heading to rescue the Mane Six, trend lightly in preparing what’s ahead.

The scene changes to where Ben’s group of rescuers had entered the Castle of Illusion, looks like a forest path with a few ruin and broken walls and wooden boards. But so far, there wasn’t much notice of a threat level upon sight of their entry.

“This is supposed to be the Castle Of Illusions, I don’t get it.” Phobos scratched his head in not seeing much to the gate entrance.

“Careful, we don’t know what to expect.” Golden Heart spoke in being cautious of what they are looking at.

“He’s right. This appears to be Loki’s twisted playground of trickery & peril. Nothing here is as it seems.” Armor Stark spoke off in stepping lightly in his big bulky suit of mech armor, as his scans were trying to determine their surroundings.

“Like that Life-Size Toy Soldier?” Pinkamena pointed off in making some example of what isn’t as it seems.

Ahead of the group, was what look like a large toy soldier who seem to be sleeping on the job.

“What’s so dangerous about…” Spike was approaching the sleeping Toy Soldier until it woke up to notice him. “Uh-oh!” He yelps in seeing that the guy was holding his toy rifle, but it might not be a fake ‘POP’ gun type.

“Powwfruvhmmm…Bamgruvhmm…” Suddenly, a white beam was shot off that blew up the Toy Soldier foe to pieces; the savior was Armor Stark’s Buster Armor. “Don’t you know to be careful when you play with someone else’s toys? These might be the bizarre creatures to watch out for.” Armor Stark pointed out while making a nice witty quota from blasting an enemy.

Everyone nodded in agreement and had to proceed with some notice of what they are finding. As the Toy Soldier guards were proud & regimental in their task granted to them by Loki’s magic, to Ben and company with a mission, they were merely speed bumps to a higher calling. They weren’t that difficult as the group managed to clear pass them with ease. Soon they reach what was the castle’s drawbridge, and upon arriving, the bridge lowered itself to the gang. Carefully moving again, everyone was walking over the bridge before opening through a double door way before entering…the castle entryway as it seems. As the rescuers stood there with hearts as strong as steel, unyielding determination, Phobos & Spike felt a bit spooked in seeing this place. With what looks like suits of knight armor blocking stair paths, strange magical flowing foundations, there were some doors that seem to be…locked.

“We’re in, now what?” Gemini Sparks asked off in looking around, what’s the next step of their course of action.

“We need to find a way to get those 7 Rainbow Gems. That means finding those Gem Keepers.” Goldie stated in knowing what they need to find around here.

“But what about Twilight and the others, how long do they have until Loki has…well, you know…” Ben didn’t wanna finish that sentence, while they are searching for those seven rainbow gem things, what if Loki’s doing something to them?

“I’ve been looking into the matter of the situation, Ben. JARVIS, what can you tell us?” Armor Stark spoke off to say while getting his A.I. friend to help them figure out something.

“Sir, to siphon off the magic flow of the Mane Six while continuing the illusion over Equestria will keep Loki busy. The process to finish siphoning the Mane Six will be underneath 72 hours.” JARVIS was heard speaking loudly in explaining the case in point of how long they have.

“So we got 3 days to get the gems or all is lost?” Phobos asked off in feeling like that doesn’t give them much time at all.

“Then where should we go?” Nyx asked off in where they oughta go.

“Well let’s check out one of the doors right here.” Pinkamena suggested, but one door with chains was...not coming undone. “Eeeeehhhh….drat, these chains are really tough to get off. Better break them down…” She was preparing to break the chains off when...

“No need, allow me.” Gemini Sparks spoke off in approaching the spot it’s self at the time being. “HUURRAGH/Trususpvhhmmm…” Then he struck his golden gauntlet, which phase through the door which surprised many of the others; Gemini has a unique ability.

Then in the next moment, the chains glowed red and they along with the lock fell off the center door before the group. Which meant the door could be accessible without any fuss or complaints.

“The seal was weak, so I could undo it through the wave-link of electromagnetic waves.” Gemini Sparks spoke out to explain the case of how he was able to weaken such things.

“That’s amazing, can you unlock all of the doors?” Spike spoke out in being curious about something here.

“Let’s start with what’s beyond here.” Goldie stated in seeing where they need to go now.

Then everyone goes through the door, only to find a chamber with three more doors, two in the middle and right are locked up tight but the one on the left isn’t. Gemini Sparks tries to undo the other two doors, but senses there is strong magic holding them.

“JARVIS, any chance we can blast or bash these doors down?” Armor Stark asked his AI system for any details on the stuff to blast through.

“Unfortunately Mister Stark, they seem to be connected by a link. One must first find a way to sever the link to weaken the locks.” JARVIS responded in regrettably stating that to break through the doors still chained up, one must do something to weaken it.

“Then I guess we’re going through Door Number One.” Pinkamena pointed out in seeing what door they are taking here.

“Wonder what’s behind this door anyway…?” Phobos asked off in being curious of what is behind the door.

“Hopefully leading us to those Gem Keepers, let’s go.” Ben stated off in hoping they can get to one of the Gem Keepers that has what they want.

Then without warning, Ben was opening the door while passing through it, slowly followed by the others that went along with him. Then everything began to fade out now in what’s gonna happen next here…

Then a strange door appeared like magic and out of it came the rescue gang, and they soon found themselves in…a strange open space that was not something to find in a castle. They seem to have crossed the threshold & emerged only to again be in a forest. But this wasn’t the Everfree Forest, this was different from what anyone who lives by would recognize such woods.

“This isn’t the Everfree Forest.” Phobos stated off in seeing this was not their usual forest area.

“Where are we?” Spike asked off in not knowing where they landed in.

“Sir, I’ve managed to learn of your position, you’re in a world called the Enchanted Forest.” JARVIS responded to tell his master in the mech suit and out loud for everyone else to hear.

“Peachy. So this must be one of the strange worlds that old stallion told us to be careful about.” Armor Stark spoke off in stating this while seeing what was going on here, they must be in a different world of an illusion Loki made.

“Heads up, living Mushroom heads are popping from the ground!” Goldie pointed out in seeing some red mushroom creatures popping out of the ground.

“I’ll clear the way!” Pinkamena used her sword to chop through the bizarre creatures that vanish into thin air. “Easy!” She smirked in feeling proud of taking care of such problems.

“Watch out for them living stump creatures!” Nyx spoke off in seeing a creature stump thing approach them.

Ben sliced such a creature with his Master Sword and the baby Dragons blew fire against bizarre dragonfly creatures that tried to attack them. As the gang was making their way, they came across a steep cliff and some trampoline rope was swinging from the trees; how that get in the forest is a mystery. But from across their view from a far distance, the gang saw what look like some large body creature made of wood, it has two small arms with five fingers and two big arms with hollow logs on the end, has a crack dark mouth with its teeth made of wood and has clear blue eyes. It was marveling at some large red gem stone in its branch clutches until…it saw some visitors that notice him.

“Urraugh! Arrrrughhh!” The wooden creature stood up in noticing those that have seen him and then moved off to hid further in the forest.

“Hey, that thing had a Large Red Gem!” Spike spoke off in having seen what that guy was that ran off in a hurry.

“That must have been a Rainbow Gem!” Ben stated in feeling what they saw were their targets.

“No doubt about it, I had a quick scan, and no mistake.…that gem’s packing some strange rainbow kinda power.” Armor Stark explained off in seeing what they saw was one of seven objects to acquire.

“Then we gotta go after it, let’s swing across!” Nyx stated off in seeing how they can get moving here.

The group was moving out here, trying to continue to go through the Enchanted Forest, but they had to watch out for any mushroom creatures & in a surprising note, red flowers from the other side that fired off seed-bullets at them. Seeing that the projectiles were coming, Ben used his Hylian Shield to protect his family, Armor Stark was well protected in his armor suit, Gemini just phase out to not be harmed, while Goldie & Pinkamena just decided to stick on the side of the Buster Armor that can handy such wimpy shots that wouldn’t harm it. Wasn’t long before they reach what look like a crossing path with five different directions from a sign posted in the middle.

“Where to now?” Golden Heart asked off in where they should go now.

“That wooden creature ran with the gem on the far side of the forest, so we’ll need to cut him off.” Armor Stark stated to say in thinking of what their next stop should be.

“Oh, let’s go this way!” Pinkamena spoke off to take the lead here.

“Why?” Gemini raised an eyebrow in why they should go down one path.

“I think it’s a good idea.” Pinkamena stated off in thinking that it’s a good idea to take.

Deciding to let Pinkamena take point, everyone went down the path passing a big oak tree. Of course what they didn’t know, is that the signpost spin around at the time showing different directions while the gang came back to the same spot.

“Wait, how’s we end up back here?” Phobos asked off in seeing they are back where they started.

“Let’s worry about that later, let’s just take another a path.” Ben stated to say in thinking they just need to take a path they didn’t go down.

The gang went down the further left part of the old oak tree’s path to take. But the signpost again spun itself to lead in different directions when the group returned.

“Okay, I’m thinking a fool’s in play and that means Loki. JARVIS, what’s the deal we’re dealing with?” Armor Stark spoke off in getting serious that this was getting whacky, and needed to figure out what was going on.

“Sir, it appears this signpost was created by Loki in terms of misdirection.” JARVIS spoke out from the armor in explaining this to all of the case here.

“So of course the signpost had a mischievous streak, just like Loki makes himself.” Armor Stark signs to say in seeing that someone wants them to make fools of themselves by going in one direction and come out another place, right where they started from.

“Well it’s not gonna fool me!” Phobos protest to say while rushing on down a different path, which everyone saw the sign spin out to make a different direction where the Moon Dragon return. “Oh man, I sure wish this signpost would make up its mind!” Phobos groans in seeing this was gonna lead them around in circles.

“Hold it, it’s lost every arrow to point a direction, which means…” Gemini was stating before he took a path to go and the sign spun around when he came back from another spot. “It’ll only point in one more direction to go.” Gemini Sparks stated in seeing that now the signpost had one arrow that pointed to…the old oak tree. Then without warning, a magic spell was dispelled and soon a door pops from the ground, this might be a clue they are searching for.

“Nice work Gemini, let’s keep going here.” Armor Stark commented their ally on the deed, now they can continue to move forward without much distractions.

Then everyone heads through the new open door path that appeared by the old oak tree. Once they went through, everything began to change around while things darken now.

And the scene opens up to where we find the rescue team, but in another part of the wood. But there was something different here, for all the sizes were…different. The trees were gigantic and it look like the group somehow shrunk when they are in these neck of the woods.

“What happened to us?” Ben asked off in seeing what was going on with them and their surroundings.

“Did we shrink?” Nyx asked off in thinking they were shrunken to be tiny.

“Don’t worry, this must be Loki’s little illusion game, he’s trying to psych us out by making us seem small in his eyes.” Armor Stark spoke off in seeing what the foe was up to, trying to get them to think they are small and have no chance.

“Well its working, do you know what this means? Now Lorcan’s gonna call me SHORT if he appears normal size here!” Phobos was panicking out in thinking that if he’s this small, someone back home will tease him for it.

“Hay, I thought we agree not to bother about my brother’s height?” Spike asked off annoyed that Phobos still liked to toy with Lorcan’s height issues.

“Focus guys, we need to keep moving.” Goldie cuts off the baby Dragons debate issue to focus on what they outta be doing.

Then in a weird nutshell, the group decided to…ride on a loose leaf that was falling from above. Armor Stark made his mech suit vanish to less likely be too heavy to cause them to fall from any heavy weight. The gang were riding the wind, or duck down from hitting tree branches or spider webs, and from jumping from branch to branch to move around, sometimes they came across spiders that were their size, but Spike & Phobos blew their flames to burn off their webbing they held onto and drop like…well, flies really, no pun intended.

“Well at least Rarity’s not here, she scream if she saw spiders that big.” Spike stated to say in seeing what they are seeing here that scare someone they know.

“Right and Fluttershy probably think they need to be understood, not these creep-os.” Phobos rolled his eyes in thinking even Fluttershy can’t make these freaky spiders be nice.

“Come on, let’s keep moving.” Gemini issued that they need to keep going here.

The group continues to move on, but they had to be weary of the brown giant leaves they step on, cause it seem they were too weak to hold up than the green ones. After escaping a leaf trial pass a giant spun web, more spiders are seen that the gang had to watch out from them being snatched. Golden Heart swung his own sword to cut a path and then the group had to jump from green leaves to go up before they broke off from their branches.

“Nicely done Golden Heart.” Armor Stark complimented the stallion for his effort there.

“That’s my bro!” Pinkamena smiled off proudly in what her brother did.

“Come on, that was nothing, really.” Goldie rub the back of his neck in feeling blushed a bit.

“Let’s keep going you guys.” Ben stated that they gotta keep going here.

The rescue team continued to follow along in going from branch area to branch area, jump across giant leaves in paths and avoid spiders. Wasn’t long until they finally were going down a path that seem to take them…to another area. But along the way, Nyx grabbed a strange playing card before the gang fell into another part of the woods. And from a whirl and flash, everyone notices they appeared in their regular size again. And it seem that another signpost spin around to point in a direction leading somewhere new.

“Well, we’re back to our normal sizes!” Pinkamena issued off to say this in what has happened to them.

“Good, now I’m not short!” Phobos smiled off in liking it better if he’s not so small.

“Again with that issue.” Spike narrow his eyes that Phobos was discussing the subject.

“Hey Nyx, what’cha got there?” Ben asked in seeing the black filly had something with her.

“I don’t know daddy, something I just found.” Nyx shrug off to say in showing the play card she got.

“JARVIS, what can you tell me about this thing?” Armor Stark spoke off in magically getting in his Buster Armor to scan the play card Nyx had.

“Uncertain at this time, but may I point out, you’re on the other side of where that large wooden creature was last seen with the object of your task.” JARVIS responded off in not knowing much about the card, but did state in where they are.

“He’s right, there are the spitting roses!” Gemini pointed in seeing the same roses from before that were attacking them.

“Then let’s make our way through them.” Goldie issued off in knowing what they gotta do next here.

Now the rescue team was going the direction of the spitting roses that were not letting anyone pass them. But Ben, Goldie, & Pinkamena used their swords to perform a little ‘gardening’ touch that made them go ‘poof’ like a deflated balloon that vanished. There was still some mushroom creatures, dragonflies, and stump creatures to deal with, but Nyx, Spike & Phobos were handling them pretty good. Armor Stark used his Buster Armor to stomp like a giant, and knock over some trees in the way, even flatten a few foes in the way, Pinkamena laugh herself at how funny the SQUASH bizarre creatures look like afterwards. Afterwards, they approach what was a bench spot of pick apples and then another magical door appeared by another old oak tree like before.

“Just like last time.” Ben stated in seeing the same door that appeared before, but in a different spot.

“Then it means we’re moving forward. There were three doors from that room in the castle, maybe they’re all connected to this Enchanted Forest.” Armor Stark spoke off to say this in figuring out what this could all mean in a way of thinking of how this works.

“Then let’s keep moving, Twilight and the others are counting on us.” Goldie stated that they must keep going if they are moving forward.

“Then let’s roll with it!” Pinkamena cheered forth in knowing what they gotta do next.

Seeing this was another way to travel, the gang soon go through the door that was there in the old oak tree before it closed in on itself. Many were hoping to appear where they can go after the Gem Keeper, as everything begins to fade

But at the sudden moment, something happened that many were not expecting as we find ourselves seeing everything gigantic size with a giant apple that came from the basket of collected apples. Then what happened next was that we find the Rescue Team, shrunk down again it seems and hit the top of the giant apple before setting down on the ground. But there was no time to relax for they had to move fast cause what their action did was…cause the giant apple to rotate and they are on a low hill spot…

“Uh-oh!” Spike, Phobos & Nyx yelped in looking back in seeing that they got something big about to come at them.

“RUNAWAY APPLE!” Goldie yelled out loud in seeing they gotta flee here.

Now the group are soon running to get away from a giant apple rolling down a hill to come flatten them to pieces. Nyx transform into her Battle Form to get Spike & Phobos a lift, Golden Heart had his wings to fly and Gemini Sparks was traveling an unseen wave that made it look like he was skidding on thin air. But Pinkamena, Ben & Armor Stark look to be the slowest bunch that were not picking up enough speed.

“Sir, this suit wasn’t meant for quick mobility on land.” JARVIS’s voice states this out to Armor Stark in the suit from noticing the action being done.

“Tell me something I don’t know.” Armor Stark groans to say that he knows about that matter.

“You’re about to be squash by a giant apple in exactly 2.53975 seconds.” JARVIS spoke out in making a noted fact of what’s coming up in 2.5 minutes behind his creator.

“Sarcasm from a AI, what a way to live by.” Armor Stark rolled his eyes in his suit in having to take such issues from his own AI making jokes at such a time.

“How’s about we focus on more running?” Ben spoke out in seeing they gotta get away from being flatten by an apple the size of a boulder.

“Don’t threat Ben, I’m about to get us out of the pinch, prepare for Arachnid Armor!” Armor Stark stated to get ready to have to change his armor now to something else here.

Then suddenly, the Buster Armor glowed in magic before it suddenly vanished to be replaced by something else… A big, bulky, red arachnid man with gold line-plating, a spider mark on the chest & four eye marks on the mask. Then something pops out within a gold 'circle' on its back, showing four mechanical spider-arms with small grippers at the tips working as pseudo fingers. Then during the running, Armor Stark quickly swoops Ben Mare & Pinkamena to begin moving on a faster rate on his metallic spider legs to avoid a giant apple crushing twigs the size of logs.

“Wow! You had another armor!” Pinkamena replied off impressed, Armor Stark had another armor to help him out, and they thought he was limited to just ONE weapon type in battle.

“Hey, when you’re a genius & chosen to wield the Element of Armor, just one isn’t enough.” Armor Stark was making a light conversation while they are rushing with his new extended legs to get them away from the giant rolling apple. “What you’re seeing from the Arachnid Armor from the mechanical sider-arms, or Waldoes, re-created from rapid grown mono-atomic iron alloy crystal. Thanks to them, not only can this baby crawl on walls, but can help move this big, heavy & bulky armor with a lot more mobility.” The guy was explaining how this Arachnid Armor had such things to make things better for such things, but…

“That’s all really fascinating, but maybe save that for after we’ve escaped being flatten by a giant apple.” Ben cuts in to say that they gotta focus on the giant apple coming at them.

“Alright, time to get away!” Armor Stark replied off in seeing that they’ll just get away from the danger behind them.

Everyone was quickly getting down the hill in leaving the giant apple behind, but even from it slowing down from hitting branches, it still was coming down fast. Why, they even were passing by a giant yo-yo that was left on the ground while they were coming across a very steep hill.

“That’s the SECOND Biggest Yo-Yo I ever seen!” Phobos spoke out to say in what he just saw was really big.

“What was the biggest?” Adult Nyx asked off in what Phobos saw was the last big thing that was a Yo-yo.

“The last one Pinkie Pie made for me the size of a basketball.” Phobos pointed out in what sorta Yo-yo he saw that was big.

“Seriously?” Spike raised his eyebrows in finding that was pretty awkward to be discussed.

“Look out! There’s a hole ahead!” Gemini appeared out of nowhere to warn the others while fading out again.

Just as the alerted warning was said, the gang was approaching a hole in the ground. Those like Adult Nyx & Golden Heart flew over with the black mare carrying the baby Dragons, Gemini Sparks appeared on the other side really fast from his speed. But now Armor Stark using the Arachnid Armor that was approaching with Pinkamena & Ben, and soon the bulky spider-bot then leap off with the two carried ponies letting off slow yelp sounds. But then they soon made it, the giant apple fell into the hole, and Ben & Pinkamena were let down to stand on their own hooves that they all made it.

“Phew, that was close.” Goldie sighs in feeling relieved they made it out alright.

“I can’t believe Loki used my term LETS ROLL in such a manner! Curses, curses, CURSES!” Pinkamena cursed herself that Loki must have heard what she said and was trying to toy with them with a ‘let’s roll’ quote with escaping rolling object.

“Easy, it’s over, and look, another door.” Ben patted Pinkamena to calm her while pointing out that another door has appeared by an old oak tree.

“Hopefully it’s not gonna take us to where there are giant picnics and we face against giant picnic ants.” Armor Stark rhetorically stated that as a joke of what else they may face.

Soon the group go forth towards the door within the old oak tree that seem to have the label sign…’EXIT’ as if stating it was easy to determine it was the exit out of here. Soon the group were making their way to go through the door and hoping that the next place they end up in, be a little more better than having their life flash before their eyes from being near a death experience from a giant piece of fruit. With that, everything goes dark now….

Suddenly, we find a separated stone structure castle door opening out in the middle of a tall cliff existing the forest behind it. And so the Rescue Team emerge from the door to see from a lit lantern on a pole, they were above the Enchanted Forest to see the trees below and mountains across the distance. Looks like they made it from what they face before to enter the next act of what they are facing here, a kinda spooky part of what awaits them. And without warning, the door they came from vanished from sight, they were stuck here for the time being.

“Sir, I’m detecting a weaken link hold of the Enchanted Forest. Also, Loki’s aura signature is detected in this location.” JARVIS spoke out in giving a report of something that seem urgent to bring up now.

“Then that must mean we’re getting closer to Loki now.” Armor Stark stated to say within his Arachnid Armor in how close they must be to catch up where Loki is.

“I think I know what you mean. The very air around me is all tingly with mischief and danger ahead.” Pinkamena stated in feeling like her Pinkie Senses are going a little wonky in not knowing where danger may come from this illusion world.

“Let’s move carefully for now.” Goldie stated in what they best do now, keep moving forward.

“Right, down this and over the next hill!” Phobos race down a wooden slide from the cliff they were on, and leap over the next step hill…only to be collided against a sudden magical grown thorn wall. “OUCH!” He yelped from the impact to back away while feeling splinters in him.

“Phobos, what happened?” Nyx asked off in seeing her dragon pet pal was hurt.

“How should I know?” Phobos complained off to say while picking out some thorns he caught.

“That wall of thorn vines just grew out of nowhere.” Ben stated in studying what happened while being puzzled by it.

“And…it’s gone.” Spike stated in surprise, the wall of thorny vines just…shrunk back into the ground.

“Hmmm.” Gemini approached to reach out a hoof, only for the thorny vine wall to emerge out to block anyone from coming through. “Looks like they’re magically sensible, if we approach where they are planted, they’ll grow to stop anyone from entering.” Gemini explained in seeing how this defense was capable of working.

“Then we’ll just go over the problem.” Armor Stark stated off to mention a simple plan to get by.

Soon Armor Stark magically changed into his Buster Armor, and then used jet proportions to blast off with Ben getting a free ride which he kinda liked. Nyx changed into her Battle Form to give Spike & Phobos a ride, Gemini faded out to travel by phasing through the vine wall. Golden Heart picked up his sister to carry her over the thorn vines. Soon the group finds a green chubby ghost, who gives them a ‘Boo’ call to scare them.

“Boo yourself!” Pinkamena then let go from her brother, and to everyone’s surprise, bounced off the ghost’s head to land on the ground afterwards. “Wow, and I thought I go through him!” She stated to say this as the others landed near her.

“Sis, be careful the next time.” Golden Heart scolds Pinkamena for trying something without warning.

“Though it was interesting, perhaps some of these ghosts can’t perform intelligibility for things to go through them.” Armor Stark stated in seeing they got a glimpse of what to expect from these ghosts that might appear later on.

“Well as long as they don’t do anything but try to say ‘Boo’ to us, then we can take them!” Phobos smirked off to brag here about not being scared of funny chubby ghosts.

The group continues to travel through this strange place, and they face against Blue Mushroom color creatures which were disposed of easily. Then the group saw more chubby ghosts across the farther distance of where they currently are, the green ones look free to scare in a pathetic matter, the blue ones are chain to a head & hand board with lanterns, and there were red ghosts that shared the same appearance as the blue ones. In a surprise matter, Phobos step on the blue chubby ghost that he jump across any that were nearby to get to the other side and the others followed that example.

“Neat-o, it’s like hopscotch, only with hopping over ghost.” Nyx stated off in finding this to be a neat kinda thing to try.

“Look, there’s a free red ghost!” Pinkamena jumps over to bounce off the red chubby ghost, but suddenly…she went through it. “Yikes!” She yelps from having just touch the edge of a cliff to balance herself before falling off.

“Wooh-ho-hooo!” The red chubby ghost wiggled its fingers to taunt the pony and vanished away.

“MEANY!” Pinkamena yelled out in what that ghost almost did to her.

“Well, now we can say the red ghost will be intangible if you try to touch them.” Gemini stated off in seeing what they have learn here.

“Okay, let’s be careful around those guys then.” Ben nodded off in a serious manner of seeing what to be watching out for.

After learning of what to expect, the gang soon come across lily flowers that spit off bullet seeds from a distance towards them. They used the same technique of defense as before, shield, armor, and phasing through to avoid damage. Then from coming across more chubby green ghosts, much of the rescue team decided, what the heck with it, and bounce off those guys to reach the next distant area of where the lilies were firing at them before taking them out. Then they came across blue & red ghosts rotating in a circle up & down motion, and recalling from before, those that didn’t have wings step on the blue ghost with their wooden shackle board frame. Armor Stark hovered with his Buster Armor as the gang then bounce off green ghost that appear before making it to the other side.

“Look, more green ghosts going up.” Spike pointed out in seeing more green ghosts ahead of them and forming to go above the clouds.

“Whoever is last gets to be crown king of heights!” Phobos spoke off in making this into a contest now.

Then Phobos was rushing ahead to jump off a line of green chubby ghost sthat lead him higher, and higher, and higher until… Suddenly, Phobos found himself catapulted into the clouds which surprised the baby Moon Dragon. Then the rest of the group followed after Phobos, only to be caught off guard when they could…stand on the clouds like solid ground.

“What? How’s this possible? I’m not a Pegasus Pony?” Ben asked off in how he’s standing when only Pegasus and Alicorns can stand on clouds.

“Perhaps since this is Loki’s Illusion World, he makes the rules around what is logic or not.” Armor Stark stated off in thinking what the opponent is doing to make things different.

“Then what could be up here then?” Gemini asked in pondering the very question of the thought.

“Let’s search and find out.” Nyx suggested in what they do then from here.

The gang decided to explore this mysterious land that reminded some of Cloudsdale. And then for many, there was nothing up here but air. But when Spike was searching, he found one of those play cards and took it. But then without warning, something happened that the cloud he stood on lost supporting him, and he fell. Nyx change into her Adult Form, flew down with Phobos on her back, Armor Stark flew down with Pinkamena & Ben while Goldie flew on his own. And after a short flight, Armor Stark caught Spike while the group were back in the haunted forest that had its own ghost residents, but this time, Spike presented a playing card.

“Thanks guys, I just grab this and poof.” Spike sighs to say while handing Nyx another of the play cards.

“Man, that was random or what?” Pinkamena stated to say in what just happened out of no reason at all.

“Better stick around here to see where else to go.” Armor Stark stated to say in seeing they best not try anymore sky diving experiences.

The group continue to follow a path in which lead them down towards the next ghostly setup path to cross over a bottom towards the forest. Those that had no wings leap on the blue ghost and avoided a red ghost when they were in a rotating circle and were just bouncing across the green ghosts. But while some were bouncing across before reaching the edge of a cliff, across the distant was a familiar foe seen flying in the air. And as it stopped, it was actually Loki A. Fool and he lets off a cruel laughter at those from afar.

“Well, well, don’t you look foolish, running around…without a clue that your chances…are bottomless? Farewell and I’ll be certain to give your failed tries to your friends.” Loki taunted off to those here with a wicked smile before he was seen flying off towards the other mountain side.

“Loki!” Ben yelled out and was about to try to attack but….

“Ben, wait! He’s too far!” Gemini held Ben back from trying to fire a Sword Beam.

“I’ll go father!” Nyx spoke off in transforming to her Adult Form and was about to fly off after Loki, but…

“Hold on a minute, maybe that’s what he wants.” Armor Stark stops Adult Nyx from going with this train of thought.

“What do you mean?” Phobos asked off in not following.

“Loki’s taunting us right now to recklessly follow him, but perhaps…” Armor Stark spoke off in where we see the guy thinking about this for a moment in the mech suit. “He’s secretly worried about how close we’re getting.” He spoke off in exposing something Loki doesn’t want them to reach.

“You mean….to finding one of the Gem Keepers with a Rainbow Gem?” Pinkamena stated in realizing what Armor Stark was getting at.

“That’s right, if we stop, won’t that mean we gave up on stopping Loki then?” Spike asked in thinking that isn’t the right way to do things.

“Hugh, your right Spike. I guess my emotions got the better of me. Let’s keep going.” Ben sighs in admitting his wrong and nods to his friends that they need to keep going with what they MUST do then what they WANT to do.

Now the group continues from where they were as they got pass more Blue Mushroom creatures, went over blue ghost that went under a low cliff which some either duck way low or those that could fly just flew below. And soon the group made it on another spooky land spot, went down a wooden board to reach a path that lead to another sign label ‘EXIT’ that meant it was the way out of here, only when they approach, thorny vines emerge to block the path once again for the rescue team.

“Not these again!” Phobos moans to complain in seeing this tricky setup.

“Don’t worry, I’ve set my infer-red scans to find where those vines will pop up and we can get out a path leading to the exit.” Armor Stark spoke off to explain this with an easy smile in having thought three steps ahead of the gang.

“As expected of a guy who’s a tech genius.” Goldie nodded off in having heard what Armor Stark said.

“Lead on!” Pinkamena stated to let this guy lead them against the tricky popping thorn vines.

Soon the group was trying to navigate through this bunch of popping and blocking thorny vines. Going straight wasn’t cutting them any use, they had to make turns; right or left, etc. But after a few moments of coordinating through this thanks to Armor Stark’s guidance and stuff, the group finally made it out, and soon the door popped out as a part of the castle structure.

“Sir, I’m detecting a signature of a Rainbow Gem beyond here.” JARVIS’ voice is heard alerting the group of something they need to know.

“Hear that gang?” Armor Stark spoke off in what they just got word of.

“That means a Gem Keeper is beyond here.” Adult Nyx stated in what they are going to find.

“We have to get the gem!” Spike stated in knowing that they have to get the object in question.

“Right, wonder what Rainbow Gems taste like.” Phobos nods off to say while stating an unexpected question.

“Forget eating it, we need it!” Gemini protest to tell Phobos that a Rainbow Gem is not for eating.

“Come on, there’s no time to lose!” Ben issued off to say this in what they must do now.

Now everyone goes through the door as they will continue to get through whatever lies ahead of them next. And once they went through, the door vanished and things darken. What’s coming next, the group will have to be ready to face it…

The scene changes to another part of the Enchanted Forest that seem like a third act of what’s about to come as the same door appeared to let those of the Rescue Team appear out of it & onto the new area. Some were glad that the frights & spirits of that forest were behind them. But now the gang will have to face what’s the next part of the quest they are performing with some courage. In which then after, the door vanished in leaving those here in this part of the world to deal with. As they move down the path, they soon came across from a large tree with a hole shape like a seat, where a grumpy wooden tree creature slept.

“Sir, advise caution. These Wood Beasts have ferocious personality known to disguise themselves as trees to absorb the magical energy from other unsuspecting ponies.” JARVIS spoke from the mechs-armor in alerting those of the creature they are seeing.

“Just like all of Loki’s illusions, this guy is probably no friend to us.” Armor Stark spoke off to state how things might go here.

“Heads up, he’s waking up!” Goldie stated in noticing the Wood Beast creature waking up, narrow its eyes at the intruders before stepping down to the ground.

“Huurraarrrrughhhh!” The Wood Beast roared right in the faces of those before it as his breath blew the baby Dragons backwards from being the lighter weight bunch.

“Man, when’s the last time he brushed?” Pinkamena commented on how foul a tree creature’s breathe could be.

“Hurraarrrughhh!” The Wood Beast stomps its large arms on the ground, makes a battle cry before it started to roll its body towards the group.

“INCOMING LOOOOOOG!” Phobos yelled out in seeing what was coming at them now.

The group had to watch themselves as they either jump or flew above the creature coming to them. But since they were in a curve ‘U’ structure, the enemy rolled back behind them. Those that didn’t fly just simply jump or took off from the ground as the Wood Beast missed and crash into the large oak tree and was dazed. Course then falling walnuts the size of soccer balls fell and look like they could knock anyone out.

“Now’s our chance to attack!” Ben stated off to say, this was the moment to strike, as he summoned his Megaton Hammer here.

“KA-Powvhmm…” Ben took the first swing, and leaped up to deliver a splitting headache on the Wood Beast. “Ugh!” The Gem Keeper yelped from that pain, as it soon stood up. “Urraarrrughhh!” Then it let off another roaring battle cry in being ready to fight again.

“Here comes the rolling trick!” Spike issued off to say this, as the group was getting ready.

Like before, the Wood Beast rolled at them, but everyone flew or jump over the first time and again when the foe rolled backwards. But after hitting the old oak tree again, the Wood Beast was daze and the group was watching out from falling walnuts again.

“Leave this one to me…Rocket Knuckle/Powwwfruvhmm…” Then Gemini Sparks performed a feat where his golden arm glowed bright yellow and then launched a charged hoof fist out towards the target where it made an incredible impact.

“Ow-ho-hoooo!” The Wood Beast yelped from the received pain it got again as that smarted too. “Urrarrrughhh!” Then he stood up to let off a roaring battle cry in not giving up yet. “Nrruuaghh!” Then in a surprise twist, he climb up the oak tree and then jumped up before bouncing from the ground and up again as some sorta stomp attack pattern.

“Watch out!” Adult Nyx shouted out in what’s coming here.

Everyone managed to avoid that strange attack pattern before the Wood Beast reach the end curve hill to then roll behind them. Course the heroes jump or flew up to avoid that as the foe ram into the oak tree and was daze. And again, the gang watch out for falling walnuts again from when he hits the tree.

“Here’s a new headache for yah, Golden Knuckles/Packfruvhmm…” Then Golden Heart cast a spell on his front hooves to be coated in a glowing gold color and landed a heavy physical blow to break the foe’s wooden armor.

“Owww-Hooo!” The Wood Beast yelped again from that, his wood armor was cracking more & more. “Urrarrrughhh!” And once again, he stood up to roar in fury at not giving up. “Hrrruuaagh!” Then he climbs up the oak tree & repeated to jump and bounce off the ground to attack the heroes.

“Sorry, but I’m afraid your about to be made into toothpicks.” Armor Stark countered as he hurl his Buster Armor fist back and then delivered a jet thrust much that knock the wooden enemy away from the group to the other side.

There the enemy ended up rolling behind them and then they jump or flew above to dodge that while the Wood Beast knock himself against the oak tree. And while daze, more walnuts fell, but the group managed to chop them to bits.

“Wanna another serving, try this. Repulsor/Thrushvmm…Powwwchmmmm…” Armor Stark declared in where his palm was charging and fired a white beam that broke through more of the Wood Beast’s armor.

“Gwoh-ho-hoo!” The Wood Beast yelped from that pain again, that really smarted him, he’s on his last bit with how crack his body is. “Urrarrughhh!” And once more, he stood up to roar in frustration at going to end this fight right now. “Hruuuaugh!” Then in a surprise twist, the foe climb the oak tree, but then torpedo himself to hit the heroes.

“DUCK!” Pinkamena yelled out, as everyone ducks down to avoid being hit.

The Wood Beast missed and rolled up the hill, and roll back, but then smack against the same tree again. And while daze, more walnuts fell but the gang managed to take them out.

“Sorry, but…Your Time’s UP/Fruvhmmm…Chompfruvhmm….” Pinkamena declared off as she swung her Blades of Pinkie Pie from above that smack them on the guy’s wooden armor frame to break more the last bits.

“GRUUOOAAAUGH…UUUAGH!” Then at that sudden moment, the Wood Beast lets off a groan from having taken too much damage that he spun around on his last leg roots….and topple down, lying in defeat. Then as if signaling the win for the heroes, a familiar big gem hovered from above to glimmer before them.

“We did it! We got the Rainbow Gem!” Spike stated off in seeing what they obtained.

“Remember Phobos, no eating it!” Adult Nyx told her pet pal what not to do.

“Fine, I get it.” Phobos sighs in regret, and this gem looks tasty too.

“At last, we go one.” Ben stated to say in what they got now.

“That’s one Gem Keeper down!” Pinkamena smiled off in stating this.

“And six to go!” Golden Heart pointed out how many Gem Keepers are left with six other Rainbow Gems.

“Better be ready, the next ones might be more bark than bite than with this guy.” Armor Stark quoted off in stating the next Gem Keepers might be differently challenging then what they fought.

“We’ll have to risk it then, let’s grab the gem.” Gemini Sparks stated to say in knowing what they’ll have to do while getting ready to go.

With the Red Rainbow Gem finally in the gang’s possession, it was now time for the heroes to move on in continuing the rest of the gathering Rainbow Gems. Then a new portal appeared that happened when Ben grab hold of the gem as it was red, and allowed those to return to the Castle of Illusion. As everyone was firm of their action, they slowly entered the portal before it vanished. With this act, it help made the first step towards rescuing the Mane Six and stopping Loki from what he’s doing as everything fades to black with this act…now over…

Author's Note

The Wood Beast's is based on Woodmon.

Well this chapter is now done with. Next up, Loki entertains his captives but learns of what Ben's group has done in defeating a Gem Keeper & obtain the first Rainbow Gem. Next is an illusion world of toys. How strange will such an experience be for the Rescue Team? What will happen next, well...they don't know...JACK! So stay tune to find out...

Chapter 03: You Don't Know JACK!

Chapter 03: You Don’t Know JACK!

The scene opens up to what looks like a tower room, but inside the tower was what looked like something strange was going on. As we find six spheres that have imprisoned the Mane Six are being….rotated in a clock circle form pattern. And the one making the mares rotate to be getting some dizziness was seen sitting in a throne, concealing himself within his cloak, the one called Loki A. Fool.

“Tell me, little ponies, are you enjoying yourselves?” Loki asked off with a smile across his sly conceal face.

“I’m feeling…dizzy.” Fluttershy yelps to say from feeling a bit dizzy from such action.

“Loki, let us go right now!” Twilight spoke off in demanding that they be release.

“Tsk, tsk, princess, you must learn that Loki A. Fool likes it best when his subjects are entertained.” Loki toyed with the princess in seeing that she does not understand the situation at all.

“Oh, I know what the ‘A’ stands for before your last name! Your middle name is…April! Kinda like saying April Fools Day.” Pinkie Pie spoke off to randomly state this factor of realizing the truth behind Loki's name which caught her interest.

There was a sudden silence that filled the air while Loki was shown being quiet. Then Rainbow Dash was heard bursting with laughter in having heard that claim from Pinkie Pie.

“Ahahahaha…..your middle and last name are…April Fool as in April Fools, oh man, now THAT’s Ironic!” Rainbow Dash laughed so hard, she wipe a tear off her eye in finding that was too funny.

“Oh, think it’s funny, do you? Then maybe you’ll like this instead!” Loki made a remark measure in deciding to show who shall have the last laugh.

Then without warning, Loki made the six mares form up into a row of six. Then he held his cane which was forming a magical sphere which he fired off and…. Upon impact, caused the Mane Six to scatter off like Loki was playing pool table and the mares were the balls that were bouncing off the walls; literally.

“Gaaaugh! No more, no more of this! I’m getting more dizzy than before!” Rarity yelps out to say in feeling herself spin more and more while bouncing off the walls.

“Rainbow, ye gotta not taunt villains when we’re their prisoners!” Applejack yelled out to scold her friend for opening her big mouth.

The mares were yelping around from bouncing around all over the place, and they couldn’t do anything about it.

“Gwahahahah….” Loki laughs off in finding this to be both funny and entertaining for him.

“Loki! Loki!” Suddenly, some voices are heard before what look like two Munchkins that were males were seen.

“The Munchkin Brothers? Can’t you see I’m busy entertaining some guest?” Loki spoke off to the Munchkins that were brothers while stating that he’s busy here.

“But Loki, those folks that came into the Castle of Illusions just beat one of the Gem Keepers.” Munchkin One spoke up in stating about something that has happened.

“What?” Loki raised an eyebrow to look back, one of the Gem Keepers was defeated by those new visitors that followed him here.

“And they’re going after the others too.” Munchkin Two pointed off that now the Rescue Team that were coming to help the Mane Six are going after the other Gem Keepers.

“Humph, be as it may, so what if they defeated one Gem Keeper, the others are more trickier than the Wood Beast.” Loki huffs to say in not being bothered at all, it only shows the ones that defeated one Gem Keeper were lucky and that’s it. “They won’t be able to make it, and soon…I’ll gain a power that will aid me…and my curse…shall be at an end!” He spoke off to say this in having everything within his control, nothing will get in his way now.

With that, everything begins to fade out as Loki seem to smile off in watching the yelping mares bounce around in which he was giving out a fun entertainment for all; course the Mane Six could find a ton of reasons while this wasn’t fun for them, oh well…

The scene opens up to where a red portal appears in the Castle Entry, where Ben and his Rescue Team appear in. After they have return, the empty suits of armor where gone from the staircases on both left and right sides. So the group decides to explore more of the Castle Halls, now that they have one of the Rainbow Gems that would help them rescue the Mane Six. But as brought up by Armor Stark, they all knew there were more gems to find and the Masters of Illusion that held the other six wouldn’t give them up without a fight. When reaching the second floor, some saw a painting of the Wood Beast they defeated along with other wooden creatures from the Enchanted Forest they succeeded in. Then while searching, Gemini reached over to a lock door, phase through and let it be weaken enough to undo with the glow chains that faded afterwards.

“Hey guys, over here! This door is already unlocked!” Phobos called out in having spotted something that they should see.

The others were curious and went through the door that was not locked, but saw it had a picture logo above that showed a ’tower’ symbol. And as the group went through, they met with some stairs before finding themselves outside on a balcony. And just ahead of them a tower part of the castle with a door there, that must be where they need to go to reach their captured friends.

“Sir, I’m detecting the magic auras of the Mane Six ahead of where that isolated castle resides.” JARVIS spoke from the armor suit to inform Armor Stark of what lies ahead.

“Then that’s where Twilight and the others are kept.” Armor Stark stated to say in seeing what they got looking here.

“Then shouldn’t we just fly over? Or make a bridge appear with unicorn or Alicorn magic?” Spike asked off in thinking they can get across this easily.

“Let’s see…” Pinkamena stated in using her Blades of the Pinkie Pie thrown over to make a chain bridge path, but a magic barrier repel them away. “Guess not.” She stated in seeing that the way to go ain’t easy to go through at all.

“Looks like our only shot is to make the Rainbow Bridge appear when all 7 Rainbow Gems are collected. There’s a lot of work to still do.” Goldie stated to say in seeing that they need the Rainbow Gems after all, or else they aren’t going to get through this.

Now everyone leaves the balcony area, Ben was slow along with his family, they felt so close to save Twilight and the rest, but they need the other gems to do it. So upon reaching the seal room Gemini got as they went through it, the group found three more doors where only one was left unlocked and the other two were locked up tight.

“It’s just like the last room.” Nyx stated to say in seeing what they got going here, it’s like what they saw before.

“Not really, the other doors down there were unlocked one by one with the last one being where the Wood Beast resided in.” Gemini explained some things while sounding as if knowing what was going on from when they left, but how could he be in two places at once?

“How do you know that?” Spike asked off in being puzzled by such stated claims.

“Maybe I’ll tell you when it comes time to reveal my other ability.” Gemini smiled off to say this in thinking he’ll show the group the answer when it comes time.

“For now, let’s see where this next illusion world holds for us.” Ben stated off in making claim of what they best do here now.

Having gotten the courage to prepare what to face next, the Rescue Team ventures forth into the next door where another world of illusion awaits them. Everything goes dark at this time, as we await where we’ll end up in next….

The scene changes to show what looks like the separate castle door opening to let the Rescue Team out in another area in which they find themselves in a…shrunken state or that everything else is gigantic. But everything was different, instead of trees like the Enchanted Forest, things were….more fun. There was toys all around, building blocks shaped like walls and buildings, and different structures, you name it…it’s like a land of toys here. And like before, the door to leave this place vanished to leave the group where they stand.

“Wow, being a Pinkie Pie, I say this looks fun.” Pinkamena smiled off to say this in liking what she is seeing here.

“Someone wanna tell us where we ended up in?” Goldie asked off in to knowing what new area they have stubble upon.

“Sir, the new world of Illusion you are standing in is called Toyland.” JARVIS was heard speaking from the armor suit to explain where they are now.

“Great, just what every foal ever dreams of visiting. Looks like we emerged into a toy box of peril, no doubt it’s another of Loki’s illusions.” Armor Stark shrug off his shoulders in seeing this was another of Loki’s work to catch them off guard with a place of wonder.

“Look, there’s the exit!” Phobos pointed to see and approach the door they can take to leave, however…

“But it’s locked!” Spike stated that the door that had a sign that said ‘EXIT’ was chain and lock shut.

“Let me see.” Gemini approached to phase his hoof through, but narrow his eyes and retracted his hoof. “No good, we probably need to accomplish something here to unlock it and move on to the next area.” Gemini Sparks explained that they aren’t going to get this open without getting through more of this illusion world.

“Then I can only think of where to go…up.” Ben stated off to claim in staring up in where they may have to go.

As the group moves on, they encounter some Toy Soldiers marching to them, but one swipe from Armor Stark’s Repulsor tech sent them packing. And as Ben said, up was the only way to go, but it seem the toys were eager to keep playing their games with the Rescue Team, they’ll just have to improvise against it. There were signs of toy planes that flew near, but Pinkamena threw a dagger that clip its wings down. Surprisingly, those that saw flatten deck toy boats just jump on them like stepping stones. The next tricky part was watching out for toy jack-in-the-boxes with ‘?’ marks as they pop out from the side or the top to trip the gang up while letting off giggles.

“For a place that’s supposed to be fun, I ain’t having any!” Phobos groans to complain in seeing this is anything BUT fun.

“I know, and this place would make many feel like singing the Toyland song that it’s a place of dream and wonders.” Pinkamena sighs to say this in wishing this was the place to enjoy one’s self.

“I know me and the other CMC would love to have come to see this place.” Nyx sighs to say in feeling like this place be a dream come true to visit…if it wasn’t used for bad things.

“Come on guys, let’s just keep going and not let what we see distract us.” Ben stated off in knowing they need to keep going here without fail.

The group seem to have climb up to what maybe a shelf covered with building blocks, and as they climb up, found a red spring that launched them higher up into the air. When they landed, they appeared to keep climbing up until they came across more Toy Soldiers which Ben & Golden Heart used their swords to cut their way across when they vanished. And now the group stand before a giant magician’s top hat where they stare down into a deep hole.

“My scans aren’t finding anything, it’s weird.” Armor Stark spoke off to say that his armor can’t determine something of what’s at the bottom of the hat; how strange.

“Should we check it out?” Golden Heart asked in being curious if they need to investigate.

“You think it’s safe?” Spike asked in feeling that would be kinda dangerous.

“Remember, when dealing with magicians and their hat tricks, we just gotta get by and not get suckered by what tricks lay wait.” Armor Stark issued off in an advice of what they gotta do to stay alert and not be caught off guard by the magic acts; it might be what Loki wants them to do.

“Then looks like we’re going in.” Gemini Sparks stated to say in seeing how things are gonna go here.

Then against much else of reasons, the group soon jump down to go inside the magician’s hat. Everything fades out here, as we’re unsure what tricks are gonna be seen inside.

The scene opens up to to a realm void of violet color and a stack of play cards set all around. The gang landed on what was a play card bridge and saw it was slowly making more things to lead somewhere. But at the same time, the stuff behind them was showing the cards dropping into the abyss. The Rescue Team knew they had to move quickly & carefully to get by this place, for the cards were not playing fairly for them. Some cards appeared on the right that others had to jump to while rushing and other cards with laughing JOKERS showed they drop instantly if one steps on them.

“Yikes!” Nyx yelps to almost fall off the JOKER card, but…

“Careful, we said there were tricks to be seen here.” Armor Stark helped catch Nyx from almost falling as they continued to run.

“Great, I’ll never speak badly about ponies that use magic again if they can do this stuff.” Phobos stated off that he’ll never question the stuff about how ponies do magic acts again.

“You do and Twilight will really let you have it.” Spike lectured the guy to not say that to Twilight’s face.

“We’ll have to rely on flying to get us by.” Goldie stated that if they wanna avoid falling, they need their wings to help.

Nyx transform to her Adult Form to carry Spike & Phobos as Golden Heart fly carrying Pinkamena, Armor Stark used his Buster Armor to fly off with Ben riding with him while Gemini Sparks was jumping across the cards. The path was a bit long, the path split into two parts that the group took separately while avoiding to fall into the magic void.

“If we fall, there’s no telling what may happen. Keep moving as fast as possible.” Gemini issued to say that they gotta keep going.

The group continues to either run on cards that seem safe or fly off while avoiding the tricky JOKER cards that appear and then drop off. They are rushing to get away and reach someplace, but where they are going in this place is a mystery.

“Sir, I’m detecting an exit back to where you started from ahead.” JARVIS spoke out in alerting Armor Stark of what they are about to come across.

“Look alive gang, this is it!” Armor Stark spoke out in seeing their way out is ahead of them.

Soon they reach a card appearing structure leading upwards and heading for a pyramid card formation. And as they pass through the top of the triangle center, they went through a portal out of there. Everything faded out here as they seem to have transported to somewhere…

Then in another surprise twist, the gang find themselves popping out of the magician’s giant hat, and then as if by magic, the play cards launched out and some form a stairway leading upwards for them. Some sigh in relief to be out of that magician’s hat, many now knew how it felt to be a rabbit in a magic act. And soon they continued to climb up the building blocks, took out more Toy Soldiers, jump on a spring that shot them up. And soon they were jumping from spring to spring, and then on a floating sail boat to reach the high shelf spot with a railroad track and a toy robot in the middle.

“Hey look, there’s a juggling clown.” Phobos pointed to see a cubby Toy Clown rid a unicycle while juggling yellow balls, looked entertaining.

“Watch out, it’s one of those evil Toy Clowns!” Pinkamena suddenly felt uncomfy in being around such a bizarre creature.

“How can you tell….waaaah!” Spike was about to ask when he was almost hit by a red ball the Toy Clown threw.

“Golden Fireball!” Goldie soon was creating a golden fireball from his horn and blasted it that took care of the Toy Clown, but not the unicycle.

“Yikes, what’s with that unicycle?” Ben yelped to dodge that incoming unicycle which ended up taking down some Toy Soldiers & jack-in-the-box opponents.

“It’s coming back.” Gemini warn the group in seeing that a crazy uncontrollable unicycle was coming back towards them after making a return trip.

Soon the Buster Armor took a stand and then punched the dangerous unicycle into the ground, which took care of it from harming them anymore while they reach the other side. Then the group was jumping up to reach the hovering sail boats and dodge more jack-in-the-boxes by taking care of those popping head guys. When seeing Toy Planes fly by, Spike & Phobos used their respective Dragon Breaths to shoot them down as the group jump across a straight path of Toy Boats.

“Looks like we’re halfway up in this giant size room.” Armor Stark stated in seeing they are passing a toy setup castle.

“Think going down will be easier?” Ben asked off in wondering about the idea of getting down after this.

“I think you best not know until we cross that bridge.” Armor Stark stated off in thinking that it’s best not to think that far ahead, especially when they are going so high up.

“O…kay.” Ben raised an eyebrow in thinking that maybe is a good point to make.

Now the group jumps up more toy boats and bounce off a spring to get them up higher now. They were getting closer to reaching the ceiling now and as they climbed up more building blocks, more Toy Soldiers march down to them, but Pinkamena trip up their works with her chained blades that sent the Toy Soldiers falling off, easy for her part. As the group continues to go higher and higher, Golden Heart noticed a play card on a shelf to fly over to take it and bring it back to the group.

“Here Nyx, it’s another of those play card things.” Goldie handed a play card over for the black filly to take.

“Thanks, they must be important.” Nyx smiled off to say in not knowing what they got, but maybe they’ll figure it out.

“For what, playing Fifty-two Pickup?” Phobos asked off in thinking the play cards are for a game.

“Who knows, really?” Spike shrug off in not knowing what they may get out of it.

“Guys, look! There’s a key ahead!” Gemini pointed in spotting what looks like an important object.

As the group reached the top of a toy built castle, on top of it was like a display center with a jack-in-the-box. And there was a silver key that was glowing and hovered where it’s place.

“That must be to help unlock the door down below us. Let’s grab it and head down!” Ben stated in thinking they found what they were looking for to continue on.

“I don’t know…there’s something about this I just can’t shake.” Pinkamena rub her chin in finding this a bit strange; finding a key in the middle of nowhere, it’s so weird. Wasn’t long before everyone got on the thing and Ben reached up to grab the key.

“Alright, we got it!” Phobos cheered in seeing they grabbed the key here.

But then suddenly, the group felt a strange vibration from under their hooves, claws, and metal body feet. When it was over, the shaking stop, as if stating that whatever was gonna happen didn’t happen.

“Hugh, for a second, I almost believed we were gonna…” Nyx was about to say in thinking they were expecting something worse until…

Then without warning, the giant Jack-In-The-Box POPS its head out and launched the Rescue Team off its top by a surprise. While completely unaware of what happened, without knowing it, the group was suddenly going down quickly on the fast triangle form ramp.

“We’re running too fast to stop!” Golden Heart yelps off to say in seeing that they can’t stop down rushing here.

“Don’t stop! If we try, we’re gonna end up rolling down!” Pinkamena warned the group in seeing that they can’t stop once they are running this fast going down.

“Wooooo…maaaannn!” Ben yelps out to say in seeing this is gonna be one heck of a rush to get back down to the ground.

Deciding to just go with what’s happen, everyone was just letting gravity help them and were running down the ramp that was helping them get down to the ground quicker. They ran and race around the railroad track spot to go around it and then as they went down another ramp, they were pushed back against a magic play card stack of a wall. And soon the group were running down more and more until they finally came to the bottom of where they started and they had to step on their brakes then…and sigh in relief.

“Hugh-High….that was the most running I’ve done since…ever.” Phobos pants out from being out of breath here from so much running.

“Yeah…hugh…no kidding.” Spike panted in agreeing that they ran a lot down that ramp.

“I think…pant…we’re good.” Nyx slowly was smiling in thinking they were good.

“JARVIS, how’s the suit and everyone’s health looking?” Armor Stark asked his AI for any details about the case of everyone’s stature.

“Readouts show the armor is in tack, the others appear a bit exhausted, but they will be fine as long as they don’t rush.” JARVIS spoke up in having done a scan of things of their condition at this time.

“Well, shall we go through the door now?” Pinkamena slowly spoke off in feeling that they can now move on now.

“Hey, how come it’s already opened without the key?” Golden Heart asked in noticing the door that was locked with chains is gone the moment they return.

“Weird, I don’t have the key now.” Ben searched himself, and wasn’t finding that silver key no more.

“It may have vanished and unlock the door. For now, we best continue on.” Gemini exclaimed to say in thinking that the key did what those needed of it, so now they can just move along without any problems.

Soon those that had a few minutes to rest a bit began to walk through the next door that lead to the exit of this place. And soon the door closed itself while the scene fades out from where the gang ends up next will be another surprise…

Soon the same castle door appeared in a new area of the world illusion of Toyland. And the Rescue Team appear out of the door to witness another part of this place. Everything was like a giant’s toy room made to look like building block structures, dominos, pin-wheels, you name it. But while moving onward into the land of toys while the door vanished, the group knew these playthings were somewhat less than playful. Course reminding Phobos & Pinkamena were on a few noted matters. Spike touch a wrap present which popped out with confetti while making path for them.

“I didn’t expect to see presents that pop like that.” Spike stated to say in seeing something that Pinkie Pie would try someday to surprise folks.

“You know, I think that was used by some small blue creature that gave out surprises that explode.” Pinkamena broke the Fourth Wall in stating a random fact of someone that used such a thing.

“Is she always so random at times?” Gemini asked Ben in seeing the random act that has earn some attention.

“Believe me, she, Pinkie Pie, even Nyx says some random stuff.” Ben pointed out in mentioning this was a common thing to get used to.

“Stay alert fellas, we’re about to meet more company here just like before.” Armor Stark issued off in knowing that they are gonna come across more bizarre toy creatures of this place soon.

Now the group continues ahead, watching out for any more bizarre creatures in this part of Toyland here. Course other surprises was when they duck down from a giant airplane flew down and almost got those that were flying too high. More Toy Soldiers, Toy Planes and the jugging Clown were coming. Armor Stark fired a Repulsor on the clown and the unicycle ran off to take care of the front enemies and the group jump or dodge that and let it come back to take care of more coming troops before scrapping the runaway unicycle. Once that was done, they approach a spot of seeing a large block mess with a drum that was used to let a large toy rocket land on it…this place was strange.

“First giant flying toy planes, now giant toy rockets, and they don’t look like any giant kids playing with them.” Goldie spoke off in finding this to be a weird thing to be seeing all the time.

“Probably more of Loki’s illusion work, pay no mind to it. It’ll only distract us from our task ahead.” Armor Stark stated to say that what they saw are probably distractions to divert their attention.

“Right, getting out of this place and find who’s got another Rainbow Gem.” Phobos nodded off in getting the big picture of what to do here.

“Look, the next path’s got more sail boats!” Nyx pointed ahead in seeing what was ahead of the group.

The group came across a cliff where there was yellow sail boats that had strings where one’s weight makes them go up, so it was tricky to do but Gemini Sparks used his incredible speed to determine what path to take. And the rest followed while seeing toy seagulls heard from a distance. Once they made it to the other side, they walk to approach what was another magician’s giant hat in where a wand was inside, but once one goes down, well…they know what to expect.

“Gulp….are we really going back down in there?” Spike swallowed hard in remembering the last magic hat they went into.

“JARVIS, anything here?” Armor Stark asked the AI for anything to report of what’s ahead of them.

“No sir, the magic wave-flow of this place seems different, perhaps it will be more reasonable to proceed with careful procession.” JARVIS spoke off in stating this magic hat may be different from the last one they jumped into.

“Like we can expect that from Loki.” Armor Stark sighs to remark in thinking that would be what their foe wants, to surprise them with more tricks and illusions at play.

“Well maybe if we complete it, we’ll be able to continue off like before.” Ben stated to say in what they can get out of this when they make it through.

“Like magic card steps, yah, that seems to be it.” Phobos nodded off in thinking that was the next step to take here.

So from getting ready in what to expect once again, the Rescue Team soon dives down into the magician’s hat here. And then everything was fading out around this time from where the gang shall magically be seen…

Unlike the last time, the Rescue Team land in a strange violet void where they apparently need to navigate an inside building block bridge path. It was hard to see how far, but one thing’s for certain, one will need to not go too far to the left or right or they’ll end up somewhere else…

“Well, this place is better than last time.” Pinkamena stated to say in seeing a major improvement than last time they saw this place.

“We better be careful, who knows what we gotta do to make it through here?” Golden Heart stated in sounding concern of knowing where they are here.

“Let’s chat while we move, shall we.” Armor Stark gave some good advised that they should follow along.

“Right, we got no time to waste.” Ben nodded off in agreement as they best get going now and try to make it out of here.

Trending lightly now, the group moves out while taking down easily Toy Soldiers marching. While going through, everything was like an upside-down structure of one’s view of this place. They came across a floating yellow jack-in-the-box toy that was over a hole with a floating block above it. Armor Stark was hovering over the spot, but his big armor touch the object and then the whole place got turn upside-down before he landed on the flatting block under his metal boots.

“Well now we know what to expect in this world.” Armor Stark stated to say in seeing what they can encounter than from before.

“What do you mean?” Nyx asked off in being curious about the question.

“Those yellow cube jack-in-the-boxes that hover and glow, if we come in contact, they may flip this thing from up to down and vice-versa.” Gemini explained what he was following by Armor Stark stating about how this next part of the world of illusions they entered in works.

“So in short, we can’t tell up from down.” Phobos rolled his eyes to state in guessing how things are gonna work out.

“But look, we saw that it made a pad for us to walk over then jump over that hole, right?” Ben pointed that what was a hole they needed to jump over, when the room flip, a hover pad above the ceiling became a bridge for them.

“Maybe we just gotta know how to make this room flip.” Goldie rub his chin in pondering the matter of how things work around here.

“Sounds tricky and we can tell who thought it up.” Pinkamena stated to say that Loki must have thought up this little trick which they know how to use now.

Now understanding the trick to this place, the gang will need to play by how such rules rule over this area. Course some still weren’t sure if they were upside down, downside up or a bit of both. But as the group moved, Toy Soldiers appeared from both sides to march towards them. Ben saw a jack-in-the-box object with the same up & down arrows, and touch it. That cause the room to shift, and while they stay where they stood, it caused the Toy Soldiers to be on the ceiling and fall down on the ground to disappear.

“Hey, that was kinda fun.” Ben smiled a bit in having done something that wasn’t so bad…for once in this place.

“I guess this place can be fun sometimes.” Nyx smiled off in thinking positive over their situation.

“Look, more of them. But this time, one above the other over a plate block & above is a hole.” Gemini pointed to see two jack-in-the-box arrows where they are above a block bridge, but above the ceiling was a hole.

“Then to avoid falling to our misery, get the top one after the bottom since the room’s shifting doesn’t affect us.” Armor Stark stated to theorize what to do, how to perform things and how to make sure they can get by it.

“Like this?” Phobos jumped up to touch the top cube and the room shift and he yelped before he touch the bottom cube that made everything right. “Phew, I thought I plunge to my doom there from above…or was it down? Ugh, this is too much!” Phobos sighs in sweating with relief, for a second, he almost was gonna fall to his doom.

“Next time, tell us before doing something like that.” Spike scolded Phobos as he and the others made it across to the other side.

“Like this?” Pinkamena saw another object cube to swing her chain blade out to hit it which made the room flip and caused new Toy Soldiers to fall from above and vanish on the ground impact.

Then three more jack-in-the-box room flippers are seen, Armor Stark had to calculated the right ones to touch if the group were gonna make it across without falling through the open holes. They managed to pull it off and made it to the other side, but there was a Toy Clown waiting. Nyx used a little magic blast the clown off and did the same for the unicycle; nice touch on her part. Then they made it to a room with more hover pads and glowing room box flippers that they had to activated and stand on one pad to not fall. Then as they made it through that, a white portal was seen below them.

“Where’s this gonna take us?” Golden Heart asked off in seeing this thing and wondered about where it would take them.

“Maybe back to the Toyland place.” Pinkamena shrug off to say to her brother about the idea.

“JARVIS?” Armor Stark was getting his I.A. ally to give them anything from this portal.

“There’s a 50 percent chance of that being accurate, sir.” JARVIS stated to say when it comes down to it of where this portal leads.

“Hate to ask what the other 50 is, but we’ve run out of areas of where to go next.” Gemini shrug off to say in seeing how things are, and they may as well just go with this.

“Okay, on three, we jump!” Ben nodded off to say in when they go in together.

“THREE!” Spike, Phobos & Nyx responded without warning to just skip to ‘three’ then count ‘one & two’ before that.

Seeing the way out, the gang took a dive of fate, and went down the white portal. Everything began to fade out from there as some hope they are getting out of the upside down or downside up place.

The scene changes to what looks like the bottom of the messy building block and toy structure area. And appearing from a white light, the Rescue Team lands on the ground, finds more present boxes in the way of continuing forward. At least the group succeeded in getting out of such a place, though not without getting a bit turned around.

“Well, let’ all agree not to go through that again.” Armor Stark stated to say in feeling like most have had enough going through magic hats and ended up in unusual magic void places.

“Sir, I’m detecting the presence of another Rainbow Gem nearby.” JARVIS spoke out in telling the group that there’s a gem they seek nearby.

“It’s near?” Spike asked off in having heard that news.

“But where?” Nyx asked off in looking around, but all these present gift boxes are in the way.

“Let’s cut through here!” Pinkamena was using her Sword of Pinkie Pie to chop through the presents. “Hugh?” Then as the group was moving, a familiar giant Jack-In-The-Box wobbled from on the ground, and then suddenly it was rattling itself away. “Man, that was weird, and I usually see random stuff!” She rub her noggin in feeling there was something strange about that Jack-In-The-Box.

“Watch out Pinkamena, some of these presents contact a Toy Soldier!” Goldie stated in cutting a present that had a hidden Toy Soldier that he cut through with his Golden Sword.

“There’s the giant toy robot! Looks like it’s not doing anything to harm us while seemingly shorted out.” Gemini stated in seeing the giant toy robot was moving from its fallen place, sparks a bit like it was damaged.

“Let’s just find where the Gem Keeper is, he must be around if he has a Rainbow Gem.” Ben stated to say in getting straight to the point of what they have to do now.

Seeing they gotta find the next Gem Keeper, the gang chop, cut, and blast through more presents and any unwanted surprises, namely Toy Soldiers & Toy Planes. They soon found a spring nearby that launched the group upwards and after avoiding jack-in-the-box creatures, the gang were on a toy railroad track. The group had to take down more Marching Toy Soldiers, Toy Planes, but also a Toy Clown, and when the clown was gone, the unicycle it rode on ran wild. But with the right planning, the group let the unicycle take out the toys before blasting it and moving on.

“Look, another magician’s hat!” Nyx pointed ahead of them that they are approaching.

“Oh no, not another one!” Phobos groans to say in seeing they are going back in another magic hat.

“Wait, it’s on the bottom with the top facing upwards.” Goldie stated to say in seeing that this one won’t be open for them to travel back into.

“Guess that means we can safely head towards it.” Pinkamena shrug off to say this with a little smile on the face.

“Well at least it won’t be a place to saw us in half. I hate to be there.” Spike responded to say in being relieved, they had enough magic surprises from one magic hat for the day.

The group then walk over a wand that was used as a bridge to make it across and then went around the magic hat. And soon they were coming across what look like a magician’s case, and once they approach the open case, saw from the open top was a mirror and on the ground was red & black square marks. The square marks look to lead a path if one follows them and not fall into the holes.

“Alright, lets…” Ben was about to cross over, then the Buster Armor reach it’s big metal hand to stop the stallion.

“Wait, this seems fishy to me. A Magician’s magic case, and we have to cross, doesn’t that bother anyone?” Armor Stark stated to say in finding this a little strange, knowing Loki as a trickster, things aren’t always as they appear.

“Perhaps he’s right, there must be a trick if Loki wasn’t making this easy for us.” Gemini nods in agreement from thinking calmly, there must be something they aren’t seeing.

“Oh, good point. But what?” Pinkamena nodded off in feeling there was a good debate, there must be something they aren’t seeing here.

“Hey, what about the mirror?” Nyx pointed to notice the mirror reflected the square pieces, but there were some that seem like they weren’t there.

“Well now, I can see you inherited your mother’s smarts, kiddo. Good eye.” Armor Stark complimented the black filly for her sense of noticing such things which Nyx smiled proudly in inheriting that from Twilight. “Looky here, we see the floor of where we wanna go, but on the mirror, some pieces are missing.” He points in seeing some reds & black square pads are not in the reflected left or right spots.

“Then that means…if we take a step on the wrong piece?” Spike was stating in sounding worried as he touch a black that wasn’t reflected and then the thing vanished.

“YIKES! We fall into a bottomless magician’s kit!” Phobos yelps in seeing the horror that awaits them if they choose poorly.

“JARVIS, plan our steps carefully in where we wanna step, and wanna avoid.” Armor Stark issued forth in having his A.I. system help them know where they gotta go from what the mirror shows.

“Oh course, sir.” JARVIS responded off to say while inside the armor mech suit, digital frames of the mirror’s reflection of what floor pad was real and fake were being finalize.

Soon the Buster Armor took the lead point, and in a safety precaution, everyone decided to be passengers to ride on the bulky suit’s shoulders or in the big arms and hands. As Armor Stark moved his mechs-suit to the right step while avoiding the fake step, everyone watch the mirror in where to go. Soon the group were able to safely make it across, as the gang got off the Buster Armor to sigh with relief, but then yelp when Armor Stark fired a Repulsor that its beam only shot off some marching Toy Soldiers coming at them.

“A little warning next time?” Goldie asked that the guy warns them if an enemy was coming.

“Okay, lookout, Toy Soldiers coming at yah.” Armor Stark sarcastically spoke off in having ‘given’ a warning.

“Look, another spring board!” Nyx pointed in what was ahead of them.

“Up-up and away!” Pinkamena chanted off before she and the others were shot upwards to watch out for a plane, but then came too close to a steep ramp. “Uh-oh!” Pinkamena yelps in seeing this familiar set up again.

“Here we go again!” Ben remotely stated in seeing where this will lead them to; down and really fast.

Soon the group was ending up running down another ramp of blocks held up by wooden sticks before they jumped off. And as they ran, they saw that from a distance, the Toyland of building blocks made it look like a city with moving toy cars to be like active city drivers. They had to watch out from when they reach down to run across a flat ground when one big toy car almost ram into them. The group managed to avoid that, and soon another door pops out of nowhere with the sign label ‘EXIT’ on it, stating what this means.

“Sir, I’m detecting another Rainbow Gem beyond this door.” JARVIS stated that the next Rainbow Gem lies ahead of them now.

“Then that means the next Gem Keeper is already there.” Armor Stark stated to say in seeing what they gotta be prepared for.

“What do you think it might be?” Spike asked off in what they might find of the next Gem Keeper.

“Probably no Wood Beast.” Phobos rolled his eyes to remark how they won’t be facing such an enemy.

“For now, let’s just head in and see what we’’ll find.” Gemini stated with reason in what they best do now.

Now the group soon went through the exit door in having completed this other part of Toyland and will be hoping to find the Gem Keeper ahead next. With that, the scene fades out with the door vanishing here, now the group shall be facing the next part of this illusion world, they best be ready.

Soon the castle door appeared in a different place once more, and for a third act, everyone came out from the door. All saw a bunch of toys plied around like an inner wall with a large drum set the size of an arena in the down center they had to walk down to with red blocks. So many had gone into a new corner of the Castle of Illusion since their arrival. But many saw an odd color red & white square pattern box within the center of the stage. It seemed chillingly familiar to some that have seen many toys within Toyland. Wasn’t long before the castle door disappeared in leaving the group where they are.

“Hey, isn’t that the same Jack-In-The-Box that shot us off from the highest point in the first area and ran down real fast?” Nyx asked off in noticing the same box toy they got the silver key from.

“Yeah, and also, we saw him when we were cutting through gift wrapped presents. What’s it doing here?” Pinkamena held her chin in being suspicious of this toy, how’d it get from one place to the next, they wonder.

“The more I see things, the more I get a bad feeling about it.” Goldie stated to say in feeling things were just getting weirder by the moment.

Just as the gang walked down to investigate the only spot to walk on the drum, the play card they pass fell off, meaning the way back was a no go. That act seem 'too' suspicious, meaning there was something close here and they are stuck with it, but what….? Then the Jack-In-The-Box rattled a bit, then leaped upwards to spin, then pops its head out with confetti with a creepy laughter to gaze down at the prey. It appeared like a red & black stripe design jester with a white hollow mask with a big red nose and a big yellow grin teeth and had little arms out.

“Of course! The Jack-In-The-Box! He was the REAL Gem Keeper!” Ben responded off in seeing that the real foe that they were looking for was nearby all along.

“JARVIS, what do we got on our toy adversary?” Armor Stark asked his A.I. system to give them some clues about this opponent.

“Sir, he appears to be a toy version of someone called Shaco, the Demon Jester. Might I suggest, being careful in how to play with this.” JARVIS explained forth what sorta Gem Keeper they are dealing with here, even made a light joke that such a toy is prohibited to those of a certain age group.

“No worries, we’re big enough to handle him.” Armor Stark lightly commented in seeing that they are of the right age to play with such a rough toy.

“We are?” The baby Dragons asked off in feeling uncertain about that topic; they never played with something this BIG or menacing before.

“Oh no! Now we are in trouble!” Phobos yelps in feeling like this fight maybe stranger than stranger.

“Keep it together Phobos!” Nyx stated to her pet pal before transforming into her Battle Form to get ready.

“He’s got a SPRING!” Pinkamena yelled out in seeing a spring pop out from under Shaco’s box.

And soon Shaco bounced upwards around the drum that was a wide arena for the gang while it look like circus lights were moving around. Much of those were seeing that the enemy was just bouncing upwards to land where they stopped. But by watching where the shadow would come now, that alone gave them the edge to know what to look out for.

“Is that all you got?” Ben challenged the guy that was gonna fight them by bouncing and hopping around.

Then without warning, Shaco stops bouncing to be watching those in front as a punching boxer glove is seen, as he seems to be timing it before…He fired it off to punch the gang, seeing that it was coming for Ben, Armor Stark cuts between to guard, the boxer glove impacted but only skid the bulky armor against the floor while surprisingly…it got sent back to hit the evil Shaco into a daze back in his box.

“Note to yourself Ben, never try to ask for more from evil clowns.” Armor Stark issued off to mention this while Shaco pops up from the box, looking dizzy from the punch he got and threw off springs.

“Look, springs!” Adult Nyx stated in seeing what it was that they got here.

“Oh, lets bounce up and hit him, his head seems to be the weakness!” Pinkamena suggested what they do with an idea.

“I’ll take this! Golden Knuckles/Powfruvhmmm…” Golden Heart rushes over, bounce off a spring and then delivers his glowing golden front hooves to the Gem Keeper’s face.

That act caused Shaco to retreat back into his box again as the group got ready for the next act to come. And it came from when two sides of the Jack-In-The-Box revealed to extend punching spring gloves stretch out and it was rotating to hit the gang. The Rescue Team had to either jump up over them or fly over from being hit by that attack.

“I’ve heard of giving a punch line from Pinkie Pie, but not like this!” Phobos stated to say in seeing things were not at all funny.

“Yikes, any ideas?” Spike yelps in watching out for more punches.

“Watch his battle, get an idea in how to fight him.” Gemini Sparks stated to say, as he used his ability to go superfast to not get hit by the attacks.

Once the attack pattern was over when the spring punch gloves retracted to the box, Shaco pops out and begins to spring hop again to crush those underneath him. But then without warning, he got into position to prepare to time off his next punching glove against Armor Stark. And then he let it fly to harm the guy in the suit of armor.

“Not this time! Lights out/Punchfruvhmmm…” Then Armor Stark reel’d in his Buster Armor’s right arm and delivered a punch against the giant boxing glove that redirected it to impact Shaco. “That, was for trying to punch me.” Armor Stark remarked off to say as Shaco retreated into his box again and then the foe pops out with more springs while looking dizzy.

“Dragon Punch/Moon Punch/Punchvhmmm…” Then Spike & Phobos jump on a spring that they used their respected dragon type punches that knock the enemy in his box again.

The circus light show seem to turn red now as if stating a change in the fight here. Then from all four sides, boxer gloves are seen, but Shaco was spinning around, and launch itself to attack the group, but they scattered to avoid that. Shaco wasn’t giving up, as he followed whoever it choose’d to attack. Then afterwards the lights changed, it was done before hopping off and soon brought another boxer glove to time it right to fire against…Adult Nyx. It fired the attack, but Adult Nyx faded into her Night Dust form, and let the spring box glove return to punch the evil toy to be shut in his box.

“Don’t underestimate me.” Adult Nyx stated her claim as Shaco pops more springs out, and the mare jumped off one to attack. “Night Blast/Powwfruvhmm….” Then from her glowing horn, fired a neon red beam that impacted Shaco’s head.

With Shaco in his box, what came next was the four boxer punch gloves extended out to all sides of the drum. Then the foe was rotating to have any of the four boxer springs take down the others, but they were jumping up and watching their steps or flew above. But then the next surprise back when Shaco reverse clockwise his trick and that’s where it got tricky!

“Watch out!” Goldie yelled out in seeing this unexpected tactic coming.

“Man, this guy won’t quit?” Ben groans to say as they were jumping over and back tracking what they were doing.

“Just be glad he isn’t throwing explosive pies.” Armor Stark tried to make a light comment of the situation here of what they got.

Then Shaco retracts his four boxing gloves and hops around before targeting Pinkamena this time with another boxing glove it was winding up. Luckily, Pinkamena knew this gag to duck down, the spring glove missed her, but went back and impacted Shaco into his box.

“Silly, I know my gag routine and seen your tricks.” Pinkamena commented off while seeing Shaco pop out with a dizzy head and more springs lie around. “Now taste my steel/Slashfruvhmmm…” Pinkamena issued off to say as she bounce upwards to use her Sword of Pinkie Pie to slash against Shaco’s head.

That attack knock Shaco in his box, but now something else was coming when he bounced upwards. When he landed, he created a semis-quake that let a shock-wave blow against anyone that wasn’t far enough and it got most of the gang off guard. Shaco lets off an evil laughter as he bounce up and smacks down hard to blast the targets across, and was going after their unprepared actions. Gemini seem to be okay in being faster, but the others needed help…

“Looks like I’ll need to be a little more serious. Here goes!” Gemini stated in seeing his friends need him, so it’s best to get a little more active.

Then without warning, Gemini’s body glows before it splits off into…two directions. Then soon, Shaco soon corners the others from knocking them on their sides, and prepares to time up his boxing fist. Then he launched it off, but the glove was knocked backwards by Gemini Sparks with a golden right knuckle that impacted Shaco into his box. The gang was about to thank their friend but saw…two of them, but the other guy looks exactly like Gemini Sparks, but the biggest change was one was all white, the other is the opposite with black fur and the golden gauntlet appears on his left front hoof instead.

“What the, when were there two of you?” Phobos yelps off in seeing Gemini…& Gemini lookalike.

“We’ve always been two, one Light…one Dark.” Gemini of the dark stated off in issuing this fact out.

“We’re the Twins of Light & Dark; Gemini Sparks!” Gemini of the light issued of who they are together.

Soon Shaco pops his head out of the box, being all dizzy and from loose springs to take. And both Gemini Sparks vanish to bounce off the spring to act with the enemy weaken.

“Hey, shall we use our favorite signature?” Dark Gemini asked off in seeing what this calls for here.

“Heh, that’s not even a question to ask.” Light Gemini let off a chuckle that he was thinking the same thing.

“GEMINI THUNDER!” Both Gemini's get together on the center place their golden arm hooves in a hold up, charge up before pointing their hooves out and outer edges lean a bit while in a close pattern motion in the center. “POWWFRUVVHMM….Brriizzizivhmmm…” And fire a bolt of lightning that spreads down Shaco’s path of his head.

“Guaaaaugh!” With that attack, caused Shaco to yelp upwards in the air from being blasted backwards before he retreated into his box. But from the smoking toy, the Jack-In-The-Box foe toppled over….signaling his defeat. And soon to signal this win for the heroes, what floated down from above was…the orange Rainbow Gem.

“That was amazing!” Pinkamena cheered off to say in what they just saw.

“Really incredible!” Nyx stated to change back to her filly form.

“Man, that attack look like it really packs a punch!” Spike stated from what they saw when their ally, or allies dealt the final blow.

“So that’s what your element can do.” Ben stated in having seen this first hand of Gemini’s ability; he creates a twin.

“More accurately Ben, the Element of Twin is a unique deal indeed. They say it gain portions of other Elemental Elements that are connected to another, a twin of light to a twin of dark.” Armor Stark explained the case in where Gemini Sparks holds a ‘twin principle’ of usage of his abilities.

“Now you know the answer about how I knew things, what we see & hear is sent to another.” Light Gemini explained forth in how both twins work in fields to help another.

“Right, for now, let’s take our prize here and get going.” Dark Gemini stated off in knowing what they gotta be doing now.

Now both Gemini Sparks obtain the orange Rainbow Gem and let it shine brightly from having displayed the power of the twins. For many, this gem swelled with renewed hope of saving their friends, but the quest to save those captured was far from over. Soon an orange portal appeared and many knew this was their ticket to get out of the illusion world. And so they all entered the portal while things began to fade out, and for what he Rescue Team faces next…we shall see next time.

Author's Note

Sharo is base around a reference towards League of Legends for the Jack in The Box character seen in the game.

Well I managed to get another chapter up here. In the next chapter, the Rescue Team prepares to enter a world that is filled with....water! What sorta things will happen when it's sink or swim? Just what sorta bizarre creatures lurk within the watery terrain? Stay tune to find out...

Chapter 05: Libraries & Sweets

The scene opens to a saloon theme stage where the Mane Six are dress like dancing girls in a pub. The place was created by illusions by Loki with Cowboy Cows that were ‘MOOING’ at the performance that seem to make the girls…uncomfortable. Loki was forcing them to dance by his magic & they had no say in the matter.

“Um, they’re staring at us.” Fluttershy nervously stated this to her friends of the weird stares.

“Yeah Fluttershy, we’re on stage, remember?” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes to tell her friend of their force gig.

“Ugh, must we dance for such uncultured creatures?” Rarity rolled her eyes in being force to do such things for such ruffian cows.

“Believe me, Ah wonder myself.” AJ rolled her eyes in agreeing on the part.

“Loki, this is really getting on our nerves.” Twilight stated off in getting fed up with these whacky entertainments they are putting on.

“Plus, I feel like shaking my tail is not under such conditions.” Pinkie Pie stated off in being uncomfy about their dance routine against such wild animals in the crowd.

“Too bad, my audience wants a show.” Loki smiled off to say this in being amused by the performance.

“Sir, bad news, the 3rd Gem Keeper failed.” Munchkin One along with his bro. came in to report more bad news.

“Again…this is getting annoying that you tell me the same song!” Loki stated off in being annoyed by such news. “Perhaps it’s time I make sure…their next travel is more…trickier by TWO, than ONE.” As Loki spoke, his shadow change to come alive & moved up near his face…

“You mean you’re using…uh oh!” Munchkin Two yelps in knowing what this means.

“Listen carefully, you & the 5th Gem Keeper shall deal with our troublemakers, understood?” Loki turn to his shadow in speaking something which the shadow nodded & sank down before returning to normal. “Now, the game is a foot.” Loki smiled with a sneaky expression, things are really gonna be interesting now…

With that, everything fades out with the Mane Six still performing for Loki & his illusion audience; the mares are hoping they get rescue soon before things go to the dogs.

The scene begins to open up back within the Castle of Illusion’s Entry Hall, just as a yellow portal appeared that made everyone appear in the spot. The Rescue Team believed that Loki must be starting to quiver in his boots about now as they had the 3rd Rainbow Gem. And the group was determined to get the other four along the way. Soon Ben and his group go up the flank of steps to try to find the next door to continue their mission to save the Mane Six. As they reach the top, they noticed a hidden set of stairs from one door side which lead up to the third floor of the castle and more picture frames of Skelefish Bats, even one with the Sea Monkeys.

“Hey, looky here.” Pinkamena came across some mirror that seem to reflect herself, but saw her wearing her Featherweight Armor. “This must be some enchanted mirror.” She stated in what this thing was doing to show her something that she isn’t outside now.

“Cool….there’s me.” Nyx stated to check the mirror out and saw herself, more grown up as a mare like she appears in her Battle Form.

“Hey guys, hate to break up this little moment, but don’t let Loki’s little fun mirror divert our focus here, kay?” Armor Stark spoke off in getting those that are too focus on the mirror to forget they are here to rescue the Mane Six.

“Too bad, I like this thing that gives me a mustache.” Spike stated to say in seeing himself in the mirror with a fine mustache.

“Which is clearly why it’s made to make ourselves admire what we see, just like Loki likes to admire himself, I’ll bet.” Armor Stark sighs to say this in seeing what Loki was trying to do in buying time.

So pretty much those that were having fun with the mirror had to say goodbye while continuing their task. And when Gemini Sparks found another lock door with chains, they phase through with their hoof to undo the glowing red chains to unlock it. This one had a picture symbol of an open book above when the group went through. And there were three doors, two were locked up while the other one was left open.

“So the next illusion world is through here.” Ben stated off in what they see before them.

“What’s it gonna be there?” Phobos asked off the big question on their minds.

“A forest, a toy area, sub terrain, they’re all strange places.” Goldie pointed out the areas they have been to thus far.

“Well then it shouldn’t matter where we end up in.” Light Gemini shrug off to say in knowing where they end up in, they’ll just get through.

“Right, we’re just going & getting gems, isn’t that right?” Dark Gemini nodded off to his twin in thinking that was the whole point of this mission.

Once everything was settled, the group slowly entered through the next door here. And soon everything went dark from what would happen next of the next world the Rescue Team are about to come across.

The magic castle door appeared and let out those into a new world of illusions. The gang found themselves in a giant library, and by giant, we mean everything was huge that a giant-size pony could hold the books piled around. And then the castle door vanished from sight, leaving those to navigate through this strange & puzzling world.

“We’ve entered a…library.” Ben responded off in being a bit…surprised by where they are.

“I think we know that Loki’s books and any bookworms here might be planning a ‘not-so-happy’ ending for us.” Pinkamena broke off to just randomly say something at this time.

“JARVIS, can you confirm what we’ve landed in now?” Armor Stark asked his AI in his mechs-suit of what this next world of illusion is.

“Sir, this next illusion world is what many called The Library.” JARVIS issued off in mentioning the name of this strange place.

“And as stated, Loki’s pretty much going for the simple name cases.” Armor Stark sighs to say in seeing the name fits of what they could already determine.

“Oh great, like being back home where it was once a library turn castle wasn’t enough, now we’re in a world like this!” Phobos slapped his forehead in seeing they enter a world where there’s nothing but books, books, & more books.

“Mommy would love this place.” Nyx smiled off in thinking that Twilight would love a world that was a library.

“Yah, but…I think the books are…too big for us to read!” Spike stated off in seeing this place had too many large books for even them to follow along.

“A…A…A…A…” Then something was heading towards the group, red letters of ‘A’ were heard and moving about to come get them. “Slash!” But then both Gemini Sparks sliced them in halves to which they vanished with their Electric Swords.

“Well these things aren’t much.” Light Gemini pointed out in seeing such weak little enemies here.

“But they were annoying though.” Dark Gemini stated to say in what sorta bizarre creatures those things are.

Soon the group had to plan their movement in this giant library, course one of the tricky parts is watching out for sliding books coming out and going in to knock one off to land on the ground. So the gang had to tread carefully and watch out for creepy bookworms that were on the desk, lamps, even books. The more bizarre creatures fought, the stranger things got when the group found sugar cube creatures in a jar, sounding like they wanted to get out, but couldn’t…and it was advised to not try anything as this was Loki’s little world of illusion.

“Okay, remind me not to ask how or why Loki had such things as sugar cubes in a jar that wanted to get attention.” Armor Stark remarked off in seeing how it was that Loki has weird taste in making such things.

“Probably cause he has high blood sugar.” Phobos shrug off to simply say this off as his own thought of the matter.

“Doubtful.” Spike shook his head in feeling that it was probably a nonsense kinda statement.

“Come on, let’s keep searching around here.” Ben stated that they need to keep searching.

“No signs of anything unusual.” Goldie stated off in not having found anything on his side.

“I say things are kinda quiet…but, it fits the theme of the library.” Pinkamena rub her chin in feeling that it’s hard to tell if things are too quiet, or if it’s cause they are in a library.

“Yah, it’s just…weird.” Nyx stated to say in thinking they can’t tell what could happen when things are meant to be…quiet.

The group continues while watching out for the sliding books, they knock Phobos off and he had to climb back up to rejoin the others which he was out of breath doing so. Then as the group reach down to find an open bottom that look to have had some sugary sweets inside, it pulled Pinkamena, Nyx, Spike & Phobos as the others decided to follow along to make sure the young & naive ones don’t do something without someone to watch them. But when those who had saw this, there was another world within the jar, they didn’t notice that they weren’t alone…For something fell from above to take the form of…a Shadow Form of Loki! And then it snuck behind the group and to blast its shadowy cane that sent them all through the jar….where everything faded out from the yelping voices of the Rescue Team.

The scene changed to where we find the Rescue Team yelped to either land on their hooves or crash into the ground and soon saw that they were in…a strange new place different from…The Library. There was like a sugar filled land made of cakes, whip-cream roof-tops on cake homes, marshmallow bushes, lollipop trees; it was like many had died and gone to Sugarland of dreams for all sweet lovers. Course for those that were the serious bunch felt this was a realm of dangerous delights & scrumptious scares…All around was a sea of ice cold milkshake, but not the sort one wanted to dive into…

“Wow, if Pinkie Pie was here, she feel this was like a dream come true.” Pinkamena smiled off in seeing this wonderful place filled with sweet treats and desserts.

“Sweets, sweets, and more sweets! I’m getting hungry just looking at them!” Phobos spoke off in feeling like this was the place to be in

“Guys, can we save that for later, we have bigger things to worry about.” Ben spoke in getting those to stop thinking about tasty sugar treats.

“Ben’s right, for starters…does anyone know how we got here?” Armor Stark stated to say in feeling like there was something about their coming here that was force against their wills.

“It felt like we were pushed from behind.” Light Gemini stated to say in what may have been the act of someone that was behind them.

“And it wasn’t a soft push to the backside either.” Dark Gemini pointed out that whoever got them sent here, didn’t want them to return.

“Well for now, let’s try and figure out how to get out of here.” Goldie suggested this in feeling they best find a way out of here.

While watching out for gummy dolphins from the milk shake sea, there was some licorice that moved from the path and into the sea….which got the attention of Armor Stark & Gemini Sparks; what sorta bizarre creature was that they wonder. But soon some cookie treats pop out of the milk shake sea and made a path up to a cupcake spot. Many that were jumping to get across the sea, as they jumped, something wrapped up the cookie and took it below. Moving faster, they reach land before something below got any of them…

“Wha-wah…what do you think is down there?” Spike nervously asked off in thinking there was something that almost had them.

“I’m not sure Spike, everything’s base around sugar treats.” Nyx shook her head in not knowing the answer to the question.

“Then that means, the bizarre creatures are here too.” Light Gemini stated that there are foes in this strange and unexpected part of a world they came into visiting.

“Right, we best keep a sharp eye out for them.” Dark Gemini nods off in feeling that they’ll meet something that will be wanting to get at them.

Deciding to concern about what might be under the sea of milkshakes for later, everyone had to continue moving forward. That’s when the group came to a strange state of when Pinkamena went through…green jello. At first, the pink pony thought she suffocate, but…didn’t, in fact..she felt fine and seem…to be having fun. She moved in the jello to reach the other side and soon fell into red jello that strangely made her sink, and when she reach the green jello from the fall, bounce her off.

“Well, that is some strange jello.” Armor Stark stated off stump in seeing such jello in action that never works as such back home.

“Hey you guys should TOTALLY try the jello out, it’s really gooey and fun to pass through and wiggle and bounce around.” Pinkamena spoke out in feeling really good about how to have some fun with the jello.

“Leave it to my sister to make something sound fun when we’re just new here.” Goldie shrug off to say in seeing Pinkamena change the mood around, somehow, it’s like a Pinkie Pie trait.

“Well I wanna try that!” Nyx smiled off in wanting to get in on the jello action.

“Me too!” Spike replied off in wanting to be a part of this too.

“Me three!” Phobos also responded in wishing to join the jello fun.

“Oh boy….usually we watch on overeating too many desserts, but…I guess Twilight wouldn’t mind this one time.” Ben sighs to say this, but decides to let it slide in seeing everyone likes to have fun with the treats.

Following Pinkamena’s jello experience pattern, the group managed to slide down the red jello or go up before bouncing on the green jello types. The trip would have been faster if some hungry baby Dragons along with a pink pony weren’t eating the jello products along the way. But soon they reach what was like a milkshake whirlpool and the floating cookies were the ride. The group went on them to let it travel them towards an area they climb over and then rode another cookie that…began to pick up speed.

“We seem to be picking up speed.” Light Gemini stated in noticing the speed of the milkshake flow of the current.

“That can’t be a good thing now.” Dark Gemini issued off in knowing such things pop out suddenly aren’t a good meaning.

“What’s that noise ahead…” Goldie asked off in hearing something as everyone looks to see…

“MILKSHAKE FAAAAALLS!” Pinkamena screamed out in seeing they are heading straight for the falls.

“Quick, jump near something the first chance you get.” Armor Stark issued off the order in what to do in order to avoid falling to a sugary demise….

Seeing they were heading for like a milkshake falls, the group abandon their cookie flats to jump on the support of some stuck out lollipop boards from the cake wall. They leap from the lollipops and then had to go across a cookie bridge through a big milkshake falls while avoiding falling cookie treats above. Everyone had to either jump on ledges or fly while avoiding more falling cookies from the milkshake falls. Then as they made it through there, they walk down a low path of the falls, some saw free milkshakes pouring out and some stuck their tongues out to enjoy.

“Guys, can you save the time of enjoying milkshakes for later?” Armor Stark issued off that they need to keep going and not waste too much time drinking endless among of a free drink.

“Oh alright.” Spike, Phobos & Pinkamena responded off in seeing that they need to continue moving on.

After slicing through gummy fish, the group bounce on a green jello to make it up over the falls and saw a giant red gelatin serving & candy apple sticks and cherries on top of more desserts. It was enough to make some have mouth waters, but some had to stay focus as they were going over to notice a cook book lying ahead, but it was across the falls. And the only safe way to cross was hopping from cookie to cookie.

“Sir, I’m detecting another Rainbow Gem ahead.” JARVIS spoke out in telling his owner in the suit of the presence of a nearby Rainbow Gem.

“Wait a second.” Armor Stark responded to which he used his suit’s long-range scans to zoom in by the cook book and saw a sign that read ‘EXIT’ which meant a way out of this place, but also…a large green gem as well. “Gang, you’re not gonna believe this, but not only have we found an exit but also another Rainbow Gem!” He spoke off in telling the truth that ahead of them was one of their next targets to acquire.

“Really?” Spike, Nyx & Phobos responded off in hearing such great news.

“What about the Gem Keeper?” Golden Heart asked off if there was a Gem Keeper to keep them at bay.

“JARVIS, any signs of….well, life in this place?” Armor Stark rolled his eyes in feeling that there was hardly any foes to fight besides gummy fish and they barely did much anyway.

“The sweet taste & sugary bake goods are making the scans hard to determine, but there appears to be no signs of anyone guarding the gem.” JARVIS responded to say in having some difficulty within the area, but it’s certain there was no one around.

“Hmmm….either it’s a trap or maybe the Gem Keeper never thought we come here from the library and was lazy.” Pinkamena spoke off to think of a few things that might make sense.

“For now, we can’t miss this possible chance, let’s hurry to it.” Ben issued off that they need the gem, so they need to get it or risk losing the gem.

Now the rescue Team studied the cookies that were coming down on the milkshake river path & tried to think of this like jumping off logs. After a few short jumps across, the group managed to make it to the other side. And the fourth Rainbow Gem was there for the taking, not an enemy on sight…it seem, kinda hard to believe. Phobos and Spike decided to approach and obtain the gem, and smiled off to show everyone that all was well. But unknown to the group, a familiar shadowy being came from behind the book and used its shadow cane to trip the baby Dragons and snatch the green gem from the Rescue Team while pointing and laughing at them.

“What the?” Spike yelped off to look back at who attacked them.

“Is that…Loki’s Shadow?” Nyx asked off in seeing what looks like…the shadow form of Loki.

“Hey Loki! I mean other Loki! Stop!” Phobos spoke off in wanting the guy to stay where he was.

“Don’t let him escape with the gem!” Armor Stark issued off that they can’t let the gem be taken away.

Then Shadow Loki opened the cook book which flipped through pages and landed on an image that seem to direct itself to the Library world. And before anyone could stop the thief that snuck up behind the Rescue Team, grabbed the gem, and then made off by magically going through the page out of the Sugarland area as his escape plot.

“What the heck just happened?” Ben asked off in not knowing what it was that just happened here.

“That was Loki’s Shadow, but it look like it was moving on its own!” Goldie stated in trying to understand the situation here.

“And it stole our Rainbow Gem!” Pinkamena pointed out the shadow took the gem that they felt they got early too.

“Now I get it, shadows like that don’t give off a life unless connected to a body, Loki’s played us…and now we gotta chase his shadow.” Armor Stark spoke to think to himself in seeing what Loki’s game is, and it’s not funny in the least bit.

“Then we best hurry along.” Light Gemini suggested what they must be doing here.

“Right, let’s chase that shadow!” Dark Gemini issued off in seeing what comes next.

So without any further delay in having been taken as some fools, the gang soon leaped into the book to magically phase through the page to return to the Library. The cook book then closed on itself when no one else was around. And then everything faded out while many wonder how things will go for a chase to be in progress.

Now the scene begin to open up back in the Library for a second act to be played out as we find the Rescue Team pop out of a tip milk bottle. Phobos slipped from the milk to land on the ground which knock the cap back into the bottle after the others got out. As the group was out, they soon found Shadow Loki there and held the green Rainbow Gem in taunting them to say ‘Looking for This?’ kinda silent sign. This made Spike, Nyx, Ben & Pinkamena gasped, the gem that’s needed to rescue their friends was right before them.

“He’s got our gem!” Phobos snapped off in seeing the thief with their gem prize.

“Hey pal, we need that gem to save Twilight & the others!” Spike stated of what they need the gem for, to rescue their captive friends.

“Come back here!” Nyx yelled out, as Shadow Loki gave the group a raspberry and soon took off.

“Capture that shadow. And watch out for anything that gets in the way!” Armor Stark explained the order of how they are gonna do things here.

“Right!” The group responded in knowing what they gotta do to catch the thief.

Soon some ‘A’ creatures were coming along, but Ben sliced them through in wanting to get through this quickly and catch the thief. As the group was going up some books, they saw Shadow Loki above, taunting them to try and catch him. Pinkamena leaped over to catch the creep, but he slipped away and a book blocked her path. And as the others looked around in where the thief went, Shadow Loki was seen behind them.

“Hey! How did you…? We were just… Wait a minute!” Pinkamena was stating off in looking back and forth, not knowing how the feat was done, but wanted the creep to stop running.

“After him!” Goldie yelled out that they need to catch that shadow thief.

Now the gang turn to chase after the thief, jump over more book sets, and saw Shadow Loki on the other shelf side. There was a lamp off the wall side and those that didn’t fly grab the light dangle switch to swing across. Course it did turn off the lights, and when they landed on the other side, Shadow Loki was gone…just like that when the lights were off a few seconds.

“Aw come on, can’t this guy stand still?” Ben groans to say in seeing the enemy escape when the lights went out to slip into the shadows.

“We’ll get him Ben, JARVIS, can we keep at him with the Rainbow Gem he’s holding?” Armor Stark stated to calm Ben’s nerve down, while asking his AI about some tracking process.

“Of course sir, he’s just ahead. Might I advise a quick haste?” JARVIS responded to say in giving the straight answer to the question.

“Right, okay group, our bogey is ahead, so let’s try to catch him anyway possible.” Armor Stark responded to say in giving everyone the matter of what they got ahead of them here.

The group was about to move it when they felt the entire shelf vibrate to make them stubble themselves, wondering if everything was gonna be okay from the unexpected shaking. But then the next thing happened that the shelf broke, and soon hit the ground; the gang were alright, coughing from any dust that got in their lungs. After the dust cleared, the moment they went up, the books below were toppling and they had to get up faster…When they reach the desk top, Shadow Loki taunts them before running off ahead.

“Hugh-Hugh….he’s really in a mood for running!” Spike pants a bit from feeling tired out from the rushing up from toppling books.

“He’s like the gingerbread man, only this nursery rhyme I’m not liking!” Pinkamena stated to say in finding this kinda theme weird.

“Come on, we have to keep at him!” Goldie issued that they must keep up or they may lose the thief.

The Rescue Team continues to push forth in their efforts, but had to watch their approach from more moving books sliding in and out of their stack places. Golden Heart took out some Bookworms, just as they reach another ledge cliff with Shadow Loki waving a gem to their faces to come after him. They also saw another lamp with a dangle light switch, and soon those that didn’t fly off swing across when the lights went off

“Aw. Not again!” Nyx pouts in seeing the shadow thief got away again.

“He likes to vanish when it gets dark.” Light Gemini stated to say in having seen what was happening.

“Then we need to catch him off guard.” Dark Gemini suggested a course of action the next chance they get.

“Come on, we can still catch him!” Ben stated to say in knowing they can catch up with that shadow.

The gang ran near more sliding books, this time in vertical and horizontal patterns, so the Rescue Team had to make the right callings to not get shoved off. After making it through, the gang made it down to a strange spot where a lit candle was, another jar of sugar-cubes, and book showing the gang having to flee from….a serpent beast. While curious about that, the bigger puzzlement was seeing some sugar cube creatures by a tea cup filled with tea, two on top of the edge and the last one sat on the spoon.

“If this is Loki’s idea of a next meal, it’s not very funny.” Armor Stark stated in seeing the cook book of what’s next on the menu; not amusing.

“Which one, the book or the sugar-cubes?” Goldie asked in seeing two weird things present before them.

“They look like they aren’t dangerous.” Spike stated in seeing such creatures barely look threatening or coming at them.

“Great, why can’t all bizarre creatures be like that?” Phobos rolled his eyes in seeing that they meet the only creatures not bent on getting in their way.

“Hugh, this guy’s on a teaspoon, wonder what happen if….waaaaugh!” Pinkamena leans her head to get pass the others to see the spoon, but yelps from losing balance to push the others forward.

From a sudden accidental part from Pinkamena that knock the sugar cube creature upwards, but not in the cup. And when he hit the other spoon side, it launched the Rescue Team up and land straight into the tea. The other sugar cube creatures saw this and decided to join those that went in. And soon the scene began to fade out from some weird action happening here.

The scene opens up towards where we found those in a large void that was filled with tea, and floating sugar cube creatures. Armor Stark magically changed into his Hammerhead Armor for such watery fields…even in a tea base field. And then everyone saw a whirling cyclone coming towards them as it was swiping up the sugar cube creatures.

“Usually, I don’t mind enjoying a good tea with Rarity.” Spike stated off in feeling like he enjoys having tea time with Rarity occasionally.

“But I think after this, I’ll stick to orange juice from now on.” Phobos remarked off to say in what he’ll switch to later on.

“Everyone hold on, I’m gonna try to get us away from that thing!” Armor Stark stated as everyone held onto the Hammerhead Armor as they tried to get away from the cyclone.

“Hey, more of these guys keep dropping in the way!” Goldie yelps in seeing they are driving around more sugar-cube creatures coming down and almost blocking their path.

“They’re making a wall ahead of us!” Pinkamena points ahead in seeing a wall of sugar cubes that they couldn’t slip pass in time.

“Should we break through?” Light Gemini asked off if they need to get by quickly.

“Then we best decide, quick,” Dark Gemini stated in knowing they need to act as fast as they can.

“Too late!” Nyx yelps to say in seeing what’s coming and pulling them in.

“Hold on….waaahhh!” Ben shouts out before yelling from feeling themselves be dragged.

Soon everyone got swiped into the tea cyclone that got them, as it was spinning them upwards with the sugar cube blockade. That’s where everything began to fade out at this time here…

Then we see Shadow Loki looking at the tea cup, saw those that got shot out to land on the book. The group saw the thief rush over to the other side and so they had to catch up. And seeing another lamp on a wall, those that couldn’t fly swung on the light switch, which turn off the light again. But they made it to the other side, and were gonna continue the chase of Loki’s Shadow thief. But of course, there were some…unsettling feelings of what’s been going on lately.

“Guys, you ever get the distinct feeling that we’re being lead around, only to be lured into a trap?” Armor Stark asked off in feeling like this whole ‘chase a shadow thief’ seems to be a run around the room gag.

“If it’s a trap, then we’ll have to risk it. We need the gem!” Ben stated off that they need to get the gem that shadow version of Loki stole.

“Right, we’ll catch that sneaky thief yet!” Pinkamena proclaimed in knowing what they gotta do here firstly.

“I get it, just remember…Loki’s a trickster, we can’t let him pull us…we have to out-trick a trickster.” Armor Stark stated to say this in what they need to do and not be drag along.

“Hugh, makes sense.” Spike thought over that plan, it did sound good for them to consider.

“Then we’ll just have to be extra cautious ahead, is that a good plan?” Goldie stated in wondering if that could be a plan to follow through.

“Couldn’t agree more myself.” Armor Stark responded after changing to his Buster Armor to be ready now.

Now the group continues to run across more shifting books and seeing Spike & Phobos use their Dragon Punches on Bookworms WITHOUT resorting to flames that burn down the library. After getting pass a few more levels of horizontal and vertical shifting in and out books, the gang reach a ledge, but then look behind for the above view in finding…Shadow Loki taunting them for being slow.

“There he is!” Spike pointed in seeing the shadow thief.

“The creep!” Phobos insulted Loki’s Shadow for swiping their gem.

“After him!” Goldie issued out that they gotta chase after the foe.

But just like before, when the group was about to attack, Shadow Loki slipped out of harm’s way. The real Loki must be as slippery to catch as his shadow. But putting aside such thoughts, the group had to quickly jump over more shifting out & in books to go upwards. The jumping was becoming harder with the more closer to the ceiling of other books the group didn’t wanna topple, so they moved carefully. Reaching the other side, they went up further and took the right row down while watching the books until they pass by a giant apple and soon came to where the taunting Shadow Loki was.

“Gemini Sparks, you two are skilled with Trans Warp Speed, so catch him by surprise.” Armor Stark issued off in laying down a plan of action.

“Right!” Light Gemini responded off in hearing that plan.

“Got it!” Dark Gemini nodded off in also agreeing to.

“Pinkamena, use your chain blades to tie him up.” Armor Stark stated the next course of what to do when given the chance.

“Okay!” Pinkamena replied off in giving an ‘A’ okay reply.

“And….now!” Armor Stark waited for the right moment to strike, and…he quickly gave it out.

Using fast tactics from Pinkamena’s Blades of Pinkie Pie, Gemini Sparks fast speed, it look like they had the target…but he vanished. Once again, those that missed approached where Shadow Loki was, but was nowhere in sight, unaware that the shadowy thief was hiding behind a giant apple.

“Aww, come on, can’t you stand still!” Phobos complained in seeing the thief moved again.

“There he is!” Nyx pointed to seeing Shadow Loki, but he was pushing a giant apple.

“Oh no….I’m getting a bad deja vu feeling here!” Ben yelps in recalling an event of fleeing from a giant apple before.

“Woo! We should’ve seen this one coming!” Spike yelps off to say as Shadow Loki pushed the giant apple to roll…towards them.

However, from the weight shift, that broke the high shelf to which the gang had to run down with a rolling giant apple tailing them; and strangely, Shadow Loki was slipping down with them. But luck was on their side as the group fell into another tea cup while the giant apple rolled over it as it didn’t follow; but flipped the spoon up. Shadow Loki fell down and would have join, but the spoon repel his entrance and launch him away while the gem he took slip out. Everything begins to fade out again from what we’ve seen happen before…

And just like last time, the scene shows what is a void watery place made of tea which everyone was in again. Armor Stark magically brought out his Hammerhead Armor and everyone grab hold, and just in time too. The same cyclone was seen again and was taking in any sugar cube creatures and was coming for the gang. The sugar cube creatures were kinda moving upwards or downwards when they fell in, but that didn’t stop Armor Stark from going pass them. But then came the part about the wall forming before the gang with the cyclone approaching.

“Should we break through?” Ben asked off in what they should do here.

“No, best we don’t.” Armor Stark stated off in thinking what they’ll do.

“Why?” Spike asked off why they don’t break through this wall.

“That thing’s coming for us!” Phobos pointed at the cyclone coming for therm.

“Exactly, it’ll get us out of here, remember?” Armor Stark pointed out in recalling the last time they got swiped by that cyclone, they were out of the tea.

“Oh right, how silly that we forgot!” Pinkamena clapped her forehead in just recalling that just now.

“Hope your right, cause here it comes!” Goldie stated to say in seeing the cyclone approach them now.

“Trust me.” Armor Stark calmly stated in knowing this will work, his genius mind never fails him.

And soon everyone along with the sugar cube creatures were sucked into the cyclone to spin around and around. Everyone was holding on as best they could to brace for the wild ride in heading upwards again. As things began to darken around for the moment in where we’ll see the group land in next…

Now we find the gang shot out of the tea cup and are back in the Library again. And saw from a look a surprise, the giant apple that fell, along with a dizzy Shadow Loki and the green Rainbow Gem. Finally, Spike & Phobos reached over to snatch the Green Rainbow Gem that was now belonging to the gang and this time….watch carefully of Shadow Loki’s action to not swipe it under their noses. At that same moment, the milk bottle nearby suddenly opened up to which seem to reveal…the group’s way of travel needs. Perhaps it was the next exit since the door or portal didn’t show up.

“Well, at least we got the Rainbow Gem back!” Spike sighs to say this in seeing they got back what they wanted in the first place.

“And mister Shadow Face there is beat!” Phobos pointed in seeing that Shadow Loki is beaten.

“We’ve endured a lot of taunting from this pesky shadow, so let’s do some too!” Pinkamena issued off to say as she, Spike & Phobos felt like they couldn’t resist doing a little taunting of their own.

“Oh brother.” Nyx rolled her eyes in seeing such things and some folks think she acts childish.

“What do we do with him?” Golden Heart asked off in what they do with this foe.

“He’ll try to come and take another gem and we’re short almost maybe a day & a half of rescuing Twilight and the others.” Ben stated in knowing they have to save the Mane Six from Loki before he siphons their magical auras for a fiendish scheme.

“It’s made of shadow, so light will work, right…my half?” Dark Gemini issued off in knowing the enemy was made of shadow, so perhaps a spell of light will undo a thing made from darkness.

“Right, here goes. Light Sword/Slashfruvhmmm….” Light Gemini stated off before he created a blade of light energy from his golden gauntlet arm and strikes Shadow Loki. With that, Shadow Loki slowly dissipates into particles that fad from existence. The others were amazed so Gemini Sparks can even use Light Element base type spells and abilities, guess that’s why Light Gemini is the Twin of Light.

“Okay, that’s a handy trick to use in ridding ourselves of one dark annoyance.” Armor Stark stated off in seeing how well that got rid of Shadow Loki. “Still, something troubles me. If that was the Gem Keeper or not. JARVIS, any solid lead…” He was curious of something that was on the mind and it bothered him.

“Unknown sir, the other Gem Keepers were seemingly tie to their illusion worlds.” JARVIS responded off in not having an answer about if the enemy they defeated was a Gem Keeper at all.

“So let’s just go out through this thing and be on our way.” Goldie pointed out in seeing that the milk bottle was their best shot of leaving this place.

“Well, we have the gem, I suppose that’s the only thing that matters now.” Ben shrug off to say in seeing that they have what they wanted and that they can go now.

“Hmmm, it is true.” Light Gemini thought off a bit in thinking that statement was true.

“Right, guess it is.” Dark Gemini shrug off in feeling like there was no real issue left now.

Soon the group then begin to go through the bottle of milk…not knowing the cap soon flipped upwards when step on, and seal itself afterwards. With that, everything begins to fade out around now of what happens next…is a surprise…

Then without warning, the Rescue Team fell & braced themselves on a return entry into the same Sugarland from before. This surprise some as they were expecting to have return to the Castle of Illusion after obtaining the 4th gem, so why…?

“Why are we back here?” Spike asked off in seeing where they seem to have been brought.

“Yeah, why aren’t we back in the castle?” Phobos asked off in thinking they were expecting to be elsewhere.

“Maybe cause we’re not done yet.” Armor Stark stated off in scanning around, but this place was messing it up. “Probably cause what we took down was just a shadow of a Gem Keeper for the Library, but not of this place.” He stated that they have yet to defeat a Gem Keeper of this place.

“Wait, two Gem Keepers sharing the same Illusion World? Wouldn’t that mean two Rainbow Gems? And if so, where would the 5th opponent be?” Goldie asked off in seeing this was something they were not expecting at all to come across.

“Maybe if we search around, we can find him.” Pinkamena suggested that they search to find out where the foe they seek is.

The group saw cookies in a mix milkshake and ice cream river and decided to jump over some to get across. However, an unseen thing wrapped where the gang once stood before it was taken down. It almost got Nyx on one until Golden Heart pulled her away in time; looks like there was something else in this place after all. And they didn’t have long to wait, for a creature suddenly popped from above when the group were only three little cookie rafts. It was a gigantic red licorice Dragon that emerged from the melted ice cream and roared in their faces. There was no need to wonder of who this thing was, it was the 4th Master of Illusion of this place.

“Okay, don’t need to be a genius to know that THIS thing is the other Gem Keeper for this place!” Armor Stark replied off in seeing that this was the target they needed to take down to leave this other world of illusion.

“I think we all agree on that!” Nyx stated off before transforming into her Battle Form to be ready.

“Ready/Ready!” Light Gemini & Dark Gemini responded in being ready to go too.

“JARVIS, any idea how to stop a Dragon made of licorice?” Armor Stark asked his A.I. for any advice here.

“Sir, I am unsure if that is an actual question or sarcasm.” JARVIS spoke off in remarking the question that was hard to respond to.

“Watch out! He’s tossing his COOKIES!” Pinkamena yelled out in seeing the enemy used his tail to throw cookies at them to be crushed.

“Waahhh/Waaaugh!” Spike & Phobos yelped in ducking away from when cookies that were big could crush them on their cookie rafts.

Pretty much, the Licorice Dragon was tossing big cookies that it swipe around this place to hit the gang on one so few cookie rafts. The gang either evaded or managed to defeat or block off the attacks. Then the Dragon soon dove into the melted Authoice cream, many were waiting to see what was gonna happen here. Then without warning, the Licorice Dragon pops out to try to take a bite of the cookie with Ben on it, but Goldie pulled him in time. That gave Ben a chance to summon his Megaton Hammer to deliver a smack on the foe’s noggin. That caused him to retreat backwards and roar out against those that hurt him.

“Alright! I got him!” Ben cheered in seeing he got the enemy and it look painful to it.

“Did it take care of the creature?” Goldie asked off if that helped them defeat the Gem Keeper, hard to say, actually.

“Actually Goldie, I think since he’s not as strong as the last three Gem Keepers, maybe two more hits might work.” Pinkamena pointed out in seeing that this one may go down more easier than the other three foes.

“How can you tell it’s not as strong as the others?” Spike asked off in not sure why this guy was easier to beat.

“Cause it’s made of candy that’s soft, silly!” Pinkamena smiled off in making a ridiculous statement of this enemy.

“And we walked into that one!” Phobos rolled his eyes in seeing they really went into such a matter without knowing it.

Then the Licorice Dragon dives into the melted ice cream to which it then took away the cookie rafts the others had before only one was left to stand on. But in a lucky break, other cookies were popping out of the ice cream creak and the group had to jump across to get away from seeing a licorice tail take more cookie rafts down. The group was moving quickly enough to get away until more cookie line pads showed up and then that seem to be the end of the chase….But nope; the Licorice Dragon pops out again in preparing for another assault chance on the targets.

“Alright gang, it’s gonna try to attack us with the same pattern, you all know how to handle yourselves!” Armor Stark issued off the order in how to take down this thing with another plan of attack.

“Right, and if he tries to eat one of us, we just have to dodge.” Adult Nyx nodded off in seeing how they must defeat this enemy here.

“Hopefully not you or me, Nyx. Your mother would freak out like last time with a hungry reptile.” Ben stated to say in hoping there will be no one eaten, Twilight would kill them if that happened; he oughta know from one creature he saw during the last Winter Wrap-Up event who is Dragoking, the Hydragoon who helped them and Anakonda during the serpents incident.

“I know, I know, how can I forget that time with the Hydra in the End of Equestria?” Adult Nyx rolled her eyes in recalling that one time she was eaten by a Hydra and no one will ever let that down.

And just like last time, the Licorice Dragon was using its tail to toss more big cookies at the heroes on the rafts. The Rescue Team again was performing well to evade or counterattack what almost flatten them. Then the Dragon soon dives into the melted ice cream, the others knew the foe was gonna attack from below again, but from which direction. Then without warning, the Licorice Dragon pops out to try to take a bite of the cookie with Gemini Sparks on it, but the twins faded out into phasing through the creature’s chew. While distracted with its mouth on the cookie, Gemini Sparks appeared above the foe’s head to give it a double knuckle press attack. And that caused the Dragon to retreat backwards & once more roared out in pain from being hurt.

“That seem to get it to back off a bit.” Light Gemini stated to say in having push the Dragon back now.

“Right, looks like one more hit and it’s finished.” Dark Gemini issued in seeing that one more hit will end this fight.

“First, we gotta watch out when it strikes below, get ready everyone!” Armor Stark issued to say in knowing how they gotta attack here.

“Right!” The group responded off in knowing what to do next as part of the plan.

But just like from before, the Licorice Dragon dives into the melted ice cream to which it then took away the cookie rafts the others had before leaving one left hold the rest. But just like before with another lucky break, other cookies were popping out of the ice cream creak, the gang were jumping or flying across to get away from seeing a licorice tail take more cookie rafts down. Everyone made it to the last cookie line up pads to stand together on, but like before, this was not the end of what they have been dealing with. And right on time, the Licorice Dragon pops out again in preparing for another assault to take down the group.

“Yikes…” Phobos yelps in falling into the melted ice cream.

“Phobos!” Adult Nyx called out in seeing her friend fell into the sweet water.

“Help…can’t swim!” Phobos cried out in having trouble swimming here.

“Hugh, why do you say that?” Spike asked off confused, Phobos should know how to swim, so why?

“It’s ice cream, I’m eating too much that I can’t think about swimming! AHHH, Brain Freeze!” Phobos protest to say that he was swimming in dessert, how could he focus when he wants to eat?

“Someone get him out now before he becomes a snack!” Armor Stark issued off that they gotta get Phobos out before their foe gobbles the Moon Dragon. “JARVIS, looks like it’s time to pull out a little surprise on this Dragon?” He issued in seeing that they need to pull a sneaky surprise to catch the foe off guard.

“Very well sir.” JARVIS replied off in understanding the message.

Now like the other times, the Licorice Dragon was using its tail to toss more big cookies at the heroes on the rafts while some tried to help pull Phobos aboard. The Rescue Team was deflecting or dodging the shots to not be squash and they managed to get Phobos on a cookie raft. Then the Dragon soon dives into the melted ice cream as none knew where it was gonna strike next until it makes a move. Then without warning, the Licorice Dragon pops out to try to take a bite of the cookie where Armor Stark was…But then Armor Stark magically glowed, then vanished before the Dragon chomp on the cookie with no prey in sight.

“Wah, where’d he go?” Goldie asked off in seeing Armor Stark vanished.

“He just…disappeared.” Ben stated that the guy was completely gone, was that super speed?

“Actually, it’s just Stealth Mode…” Armor Stark’s voce was heard from a distance which was close by, but none could see him.

Suddenly, something appeared out of thin air or likely from blinding in to all surroundings to catch everyone by surprise in what new mechs-suit Armor Stark was wearing. It looked like a tall, bulky looking armored rogue in a bluish-black with red lights on the sides, the eyes & chest-plate. One thing’s for sure, if it looks pretty tough & strong and comes with a cloaking tech, then it’s gotta be packing some hidden stuff for stealth mission.

“Next time…chew your food more carefully. Unibeam/Powwfruvhmmm…” Armor Stark lectured the Licorice Dragon about his eating habits before firing his chest beam that bashed against the Dragon’s noggin.

The Licorice Dragon was blasted backwards from the blast it took full force against. And when it was finally done and over that the beam stopped, the Licorice Dragon soon dropped down in being all dizzy from taking such a beating. And then something appeared to float down towards the group…another Rainbow Gem. That was evidence enough to state that they defeated another Gem Keeper & earn their prize.

“Wow, a Stealth Armor, pretty impressive! Didn’t see it coming!” Pinkamena smiled off in finding that little feat to be a nice touch.

“Me neither!” Nyx replied off in changing back to her filly form by what Armor Stark brought to the table.

“Probably the point.” Light Gemini pointed out in seeing how that’s a new armor meant to not be seen.

“Right, to not be seen.” Dark Gemini nodded off in agreeing with his twin on that subject there.

“I have to say Armor Stark, you are just full of surprises.” Ben smiled off to nod in seeing their ally here can really surprise them with some new armors around any chance that requires them.

“Thanks Ben, & bet this was another surprise, getting two gems in one go.” Armor Stark responded off to say in seeing that from this latest feat, they acquired two more gems than just one.

“That means we’re almost done then.” Phobos stated to say in what this means for them.

“And then we can save the girls!” Spike smiled off to say in how this’ll help them out.

“Then let’s keep on going full speed ahead!” Goldie suggested that they keep this pace up until they win the day.

“Right!” The group responded off in making a sound in agreement.

Soon Armor Stark reached over to obtain the Blue Rainbow Gem in his metal suit’s hands. With this, they had instantly gain two more gems and that meant only two more were left to find. For Ben & his family & allies, when they get all of the Seven Rainbow Gems together, they can search for their precious friends; the Mane Six. Wasn’t long before a green & blue color mix portal appeared that was a signal for having got two gems that were shared in one world of illusion meant they can leave. And so the gang go through the portal before it vanished to return to the Castle of Illusions. And as the screen goes dark, what other things away them next…we be revealed slowly soon…

Author's Note

There we go. Next chapter, the Rescue Team enters another world of illusions in which it's exploring a castle. But what's with such a place & what about the turning gears? What sorta obstacles will Ben & his allies face next? Stay tune to find out...

Chapter 06: Tick-Tock, Watch Out

Within the area where Loki is station, he was having the Mane Six perform in a circus action. Rarity was tie to a knives spin dart board, Applejack was trying to tame berserk Manicores, Fluttershy & Rainbow Dash tried to balance themselves on a high rope with tied wings over a no net gig, Pinkie Pie ran from clowns in a fire-truck which were putting her out…WITH FLAMES, which makes no sense of it was a fire-truck to put out fires! And Twilight, oh boy, she was trying to use her levitation magic to juggle big, fat, ELEPHANTS in the air…poor girl was doing this for hours & was sweating hard, but if she lost focus, guess where she be under….you don’t wanna know! But as Loki was watching a fun circus entertainment of his own illusion creation, he was given news by those that came to report of what’s happening in the Castle of Illusion.

“What do you mean my shadow & the 5th Gem Keeper were defeated?” Loki snapped off to look at the Munchkin Brothers in having been told of the recent defeats of more Masters of Illusion.

“Just as we said sir, those guys pretty much got pass.” Munchkin One shrug off to say this as the honest truth.

“And now they are about to go for the last two gems.” Munchkin Two pointed out of what lies ahead of those wanting the last gems.

“Grrr…” Loki growls in frustration, five loses, how could this be…he didn’t expect the Rescue Team to make it this far.

“Um, should we help in securing the sixth gem?” Munchkin One asked off if they should get ready for the 6th Rainbow Gem to be protected.

“Right, as it’s still in the treasure room for us keepers to….” Munchkin Two spoke off in seeing that this was there chance to act, but…

“Don’t bother.” Loki remotely stated in not sounding at all in a caring tone.

“Hugh?” Both the Munchkin Brothers responded off puzzled, what did Loki mean he didn’t want them to act.

“Don’t you see, they would defeat you easily if the Wood Beast, Sharo, the Sea Monkeys, my Shadow Loki & Licorice Dragon were all defeated; it’s now a waste & loss of good entertainment,” Loki shrug off to say that even the Munchkins that he appointed as the 6th Gem Keeper, stand little chance for they are not as strong as the other defeated five.

“But, what about the 7th Gem Keeper?” Munchkin One asked off in bringing this subject to light of the final strong keeper.

“Yes, surely no one could defeat him.” Munchkin Two nodded off in thinking the 7th foe is much more difficult to defeat.

“And you expect me to rely on that oaf?” Loki rolled his eyes in stating this about the last one couldn’t even be relied upon.

“Um…?” The Munchkin Brothers were lost for words since the last Gem Keeper was….a brainless oaf kinda character.

“I must take evasive actions now, my time is finally near….I won’t be stopped now.” Loki stated to say in long awaiting this, & shall not be stopped now. “Even if I must finish the task ahead of planning.” He stated in going to quicken the siphoning to end things before day 3 is over.

“Hugh, but…But you need to do it carefully in order for the curse to be safely removed!” Munchkin One gasped in stating that what Loki is planning is too risky.

“Loki, listen…As your best friends, this concerns us…rushing things may backfire &…” Munchkin Two was trying to get Loki to see reason of what may happen, but…

“Enough!” Loki snapped off to the two Munchkins to silence them. “Get things ready & alert me when the Rainbow Bridge is up. Understand…” Loki then orders those that were his so-called ‘best friends’ to make preparations & alert him once the rescue party has gotten all seven gems to form the Rainbow Bridge.

“Oh my…” Munchkin One gasped in seeing this behavior…

“Yes sir…” Munchkin Two nodded quietly in understanding their roles.

As the Munchkin Brothers were leaving to get things set, Loki turn his attention towards the Mane Six. He cancels his illusion of what he was making the mares do, levitated their prison spheres with his cane to get them closer to him.

“I am dreadfully sorry, ladies, but it seems the entertainment must cease for the time being.” Loki humbly spoke in stating this fact of the rude matter of stopping things when they were getting fun.

“So, does that mean we can go now?” Pinkie Pie asked off in thinking they can go free if they are done being Loki’s entertainment.

“Oh no, why you’re going to be the main event.” Loki waved off to playfully state a change in the role of bringing fun in his view.

“Main Event?” Fluttershy slowly asked off puzzled to hear this.

“What kinda twisted idea of yours you call fun are you gonna make us do now?” Rainbow Dash asked off in demand in having had enough fun & games, especially when they are force in the roles.

“Well now, it’s very much going to be a fun & entertaining event with everyone invited.” Loki shrug off to simply say this in giving some basic hints.

“Everyone invited?” Rarity raised an eyebrow in hearing this & tries to think for a moment.

“Who in blazes are ye yammering’ on about now?” Applejack asked off with a frown in what was Loki trying to say to them.

“I speak of your valiant rescuers who are almost close to coming to your aid.” Loki stated to simply say of whose coming that the Mane Six would know.

“Ben, Nyx, Spike, & Phobos….?” Twilight asked off in knowing her family was on the way to save them.

“Yes, along with others; like Golden Heart, his freakiest sister lookalike of Pinkie Pie, Pinkamena…” Loki spoke off in trying to recall those that are with Ben’s group, & would continue but…

“HEY! She don’t need that kinda sass!” Pinkie Pie cuts in to snap at what Loki said about Pinkamena, that was mean of him, but Loki paid her no mind.

“And lastly are Armor Stark, the Armor Stallion & Gemini Sparks, Twins of Light & Dark.” Loki finished up in stating of who the last ones were that were coming here. “They have caused quite a ruckus in my Castle of Illusion, but don’t worry…that will soon end.” He stated off to say before issuing another matter of what’s going to happen soon enough.

“What are you scheming, bud?” Rainbow Dash narrow her eyes in wondering what Loki was hatching now.

“If an ye think ye can win, think again!” Applejack protest to say that their friends won’t lose to this jerky guy.

“That’s right, our friends are going to stop you!” Rarity issued forth to say this in what they know is a result of belief.

“Um, that’s right!” Fluttershy meekly spoke to nod with a light firm & serious expression as best she could.

“Let them try…and you’ll see what happens when those get in the way of Loki A. Fool!” Loki stated to say this in holding his cane, declaring that anyone that gets in his way of entertainment & fun, then they’ll see an illusion…of their defeat at his clutches.

The scene begins to darken from the wicked smile Loki showed against the stern faces of the Mane Six. Tension is rising, what is the villain going to do, how will it be done, and can the Rescue Team make it in time? We’ll have to watch & see how it’s all gonna happen…

The scene opens towards where a green & blue portal appeared and return the Rescue Team back within the Castle Entry. So far, they have managed to secure both the 4th & 5th Rainbow Gems. And as the group was racing up for the top floor rooms, they were expecting them to be weaken for them to unlock the next door to travel into. But from what Armor Stark check his timer in his armor, the group had only one whole day to go. That made the Sparkle Family worry if they run out of time or if they could still get to the friends before it was too late. One thing’s for certain, the group is fighting to make sure they make it through. And soon Gemini Sparks found another lock & chain door to phase through and made the chains glow red to fall off. And ahead was two lock doors & one unlocked door, the choice was easy to state.

“So, how many more do we think are left?” Spike asked off in how many are left to deal with.

“Yah, considering the last one had TWO different worlds of illusions with TWO Gem Keepers sharing it?” Phobos asked in seeing the last place they went to, had two gems and two keepers than just one.

“Well, if we can look at the point here, maybe this next one will have the last two gems.” Goldie spoke in trying to look on the bright side of what they may come across.

“I guess Loki wanted to save some extra room usage by letting two Gem Keepers share a world of illusion.” Pinkamena shrug off to say this about how they got two Gem Keepers after going through one door, must be low on some extra rooms.

“So will this one have two gems or one?” Nyx asked off in being curious about the question at hand here.

“In any event, it’s best to continue.” Light Gemini stated to say this in what they’ll need to do.

“Right, we’re getting close now here.” Dark Gemini nods off in thinking the same thing as his twin.

“I agree, we’ll find those last two gems, be there a Gem Keeper or not.” Armor Stark issued off that if there is no other Gem Keeper, then they’ll just take the gem they want; plain & simple.

“Then let’s go, just two more & then we can save our friends.” Ben stated in knowing that they need to get going here.

So without much hesitation, the Rescue Team soon decided to open the next door & travel to whatever else they shall face to get another gem or two. With that, the scene begin to fade out with many wondering what will happen next very soon….

Now we open up towards finding another castle door open up to lead out the Rescue Team. The group didn’t respond to the door vanishing, but somehow felt they were still in the castle as everything still looks the same. As they race into the Castle Hall, they end up meeting what could be another of Loki’s illusions for this place; enhanced suits of armor that assembled itself to attack the group. They watch out for a mace attack, then Ben struck with his Master Sword that made the bizarre thing go to pieces as it was defeated.

“What the heck….moving armor?” Ben replied off in seeing such armor move on its own.

“Are they related to what Armor Stark uses?” Nyx asked in being curious of such similar things.

“No way, those were knight suits of armor, not mech-suits of armor.” Pinkamena pointed out a difference between the two types of armor.

“What’s the difference?” Phobos shrug off in not caring much for such details now.

“JARVIS, are we in the Castle of Illusions or is this another World of Illusions?” Armor Stark asked his AI to give them the heads up of where they landed in now.

“I’m certain you’ll find this somewhat amusing, sir, but this world of illusion is called; The Castle. It’s connected to the castle we were just in.” JARVIS explained forth that the group are in another world of illusion, base of the castle itself; name included.

“Seriously, Loki just picks a simple name for each world? Well, I suppose he’s too busy entertaining himself with illusions to bother with such things.” Armor Stark shrug off to shake his shoulders in seeing & hearing such a thing was somewhat unbelievable.

“Well let’s just forget the matter and continue on in finding any gems.” Goldie suggested that they just keep moving until they find a Rainbow Gem.

As the group was moving across the hallway, a suit of armor glowed from the eye visor to try to whack those with its javelin rod. The fact was some of the row of knights seem to glow and attack anyone that approach them and a spot the group almost went towards got a gate that shut down on it.

“Yep, thought as much. These tin suits aren’t very suitable for us to be near.” Pinkamena stated off in seeing what kinda suits these knight armors are.

“Too bad they aren’t fighting serious enough.” Light Gemini stated in how such things are only setup to be trigger traps.

“Right, they just swing something when near.” Dark Gemini nodded off in agreement that such things are hardly a challenge.

“Let’s just be quick enough to avoid being hit.” Spike stated in concerns in not wanting to cross a station suit of armor & only for it to attack when they pass.

From dodging more reacting suits of armor, the group came across an opening wooden floor board leading to a cellar with stash of supplies. After watching their steps in passing more enchanted knight suits, they made it down to below a cellar room. Watching out for bats, and more enhanced suits that came together to stop the group, but Gemini Sparks used their Electric Swords to cut them opponents down to size. Wasn’t long before they came to an underground build structure of the castle where some purple slime was seeing the crepes.

“Yuck, what is that stuff?” Phobos sticks out his tongue in seeing such funky stuff.

“Sir, I advise caution, this liquid substance seems highly toxic.” JARVIS spoke out in alerting those of what the goopy liquid seems to contain.

“Then it looks like Loki isn’t taking any chances to let us breath through this like the water.” Armor Stark stated in seeing that unlike the Storm place, this liquid will be bad if they are caught in it.

“Then let’s watch our steps while moving.” Ben suggested this out as a way to continue moving on.

After climbing up and avoiding another row of knight suits that tried to drop their weapons on the gang, the Rescue Team seem to be traveling deeper into the Castle Dungeons. For many that knew it, the group had to get the last two gems as fast as they could with only but a day left before time ran out…for the Mane Six. So going down they all went and Nyx used her magic to drop a big boulder on top of an enchanted armor that was gonna stop them…but got stopped instead. Something was popping out of the gooey purple slime stuff as the group watch off to cross and avoid a large swarm of bats flying pass them.

“Why is it that every villain’s castle is filled with bats?” Goldie asked off in looking annoyed by such things that they see in such places.

“Don’t know, but the sewage here looks terrible to boot.” Pinkamena shrug off to say while noticing how bad the polluted water is toxic.

“Man, fall in that, and well…rather not know what comes next.” Spike stated to say in seeing what happens if they touch that goopy stuff.

“Then we’ll trend lightly here.” Light Gemini stated off in knowing just what to do here.

“That sounds like a plan to me.” Dark Gemini replied off in agreeing with that plan made.

Next came the tricky stuff of crossing a slime pit, and they saw wooden boards pop out from the wall side that look to make a path for crossing, but it’s all about timing. So those that could fly helped guide the ones that didn’t have wings. Course those that followed the popping boards watch out for some purple goop that spit out and almost touch them while hopping on another board walk. At the most, when they moved forward or go backwards to climb upwards, the path they took vanished, but eventually, they made it up to the top. But after taking down an enhanced suit of armor, the group stopped when a large rolling boulder came up & went down a curve structure pattern.

“Anybody up for getting squashed?” Phobos rhetorically asked a stupid question which no one would answer.

“Don’t worry Phobos, we’ll think of something.” Nyx patted her friend’s back to ease his worries.

“Can we destroy it?” Ben asked if they can destroy that big rolling boulder in their way.

“Hard to say, we’ll need to avoid that if we face something worse.” Armor Stark stated in being cautious if they are meant to waste strength.

“Well Venture Jones came across such traps, he says you have to find openings to avoid getting crushed.” Ben stated out in what a friend of theirs went through a simple case of a rolling boulder trap & found a way through.

“Then he’s smart, cause I think I found them. Let’s move it.” Armor Stark stated from when his scans found something that can help those not get squash, they just need to time their approach.

Seeing that they need to move without getting crushed, the Rescue Team dives down to follow the rolling boulder until they reach a bottom hole to duck in. Then as the rolling boulder pass over them, the group made it out & fought more enchanted suits of armor before coming to climb up over more purple water during the moment in the area. Everyone moved with caution to avoid the popping goops from touching them while avoiding the station suits of armor dropping their weapons down. It was becoming quite a climb up the ledges of a nearly falling apart castle until the reach the other cliff side to go up the stairs. Then they made it to another area & saw more shifting boards in the walls to go over a bottom filled toxin pool below.

“Just what is with this place that its water is so toxic?” Goldie spoke off in seeing how much there was nothing but poisoned water in this dungeon.

“I know, it’s like if you fall, you’ll be poisoned!” Pinkamena pointed out in seeing what it was that they got going here.

“That would be effective.” Light Gemini stated to say in how things would work out.

“But not if we avoid it.” Dark Gemini pointed out that such matters won’t be bad if they avoid it.

“Right, so let’s just keep the pace up, shall we?” Armor Stark stated to say this that they best keep on going.

“Right!” Nyx & the baby Dragons replied off in agreement on the idea to keep going.

Acting with good timing like before, those that didn’t fly jump on the right boards to go forward or backwards to climb up. For the most part, it was just going around in a circle in climbing a tower portion of the castle. Then they reach a spot to which was defeating another enchanted suit of armor to walk through a path of a royal carpet & see & opening view of the skies. Then the gate ahead was starting to rise upwards to which those that got in, saw what was shockingly…a Treasure Room. The wonders filled here were marvelous to behold, even the baby Dragons felt like this was something to be awed over. But none more so that what was right in front of them….the Indigo Rainbow Gem.

“Wait, is that…” Ben yelps upon seeing this, but doesn’t believe it.

“It looks like another Rainbow Gem!” Golden Heart stated to say in wondering if that is the gem they seek.

“I think it is, brother of mine.” Pinkamena nodded off to say this; that is what they were searching for.

“JARVIS, is there anyone in here besides us?” Armor Stark asked his A.I. to make sure there was no sneaky enemies around like before.

“This time sir, there are no presence of others here beside ourselves. It seems there isn’t a Gem Keeper for this one safely locked away in a Treasure Room.” JARVIS responded off to say this & by the sounds of it, there was never a Gem Keeper when the 6th gem was kept in a safe stored place.

“Perhaps Loki never expected to need all seven Gem Keepers.” Light Gemini pointed out in thinking what Loki was thinking during the time.

“Right, & with a few not standing, they aren’t keeping up to stop us.” Dark Gemini shrug off to say that after they beat the other five Gem Keepers, they can’t guard this one.

“Come on Spike, Phobos, we found the gem, let’s go!” Nyx turn to the baby Dragons that were digging through the treasure to find something even after they got what they came here for.

“Aw, can’t we collect some of this treasure stuff? They got some tasty gems here too.” Phobos groans to say in seeing that they can collect something from all their trouble.

“Yah, just cause we can’t eat Rainbow Gems, doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy what's laying around.” Spike nodded off in thinking they can at least have a little snack right now, right?

“Come on you two, we’ll worry about that later.” Ben cuts the two off from doing such things, they need to finish their mission here without delay.

“O…kay.” Both baby Dragons pouted to say in having been told of this.

Soon Nyx went up to pick up the 6th Gem that the group had found as the gang were feeling proud. Ben began to feel that maybe Loki’s time was running out that they got the 6th gem without running into any Gem Keepers. Soon an indigo color portal appeared that seem to swallow up the group without warning and then vanished soon afterwards.

Then the same castle door appeared in a different act of the Castle, which let out those that were coming out. Before anyone could react, the door vanished away, but saw they were in a mix between a dungeon & a wine cellar.

“Gee, how big is this castle anyway?” Spike asked off in seeing how much more room this world of illusion has.

“I know, right? How big is this castle that we saw many weird worlds?” Phobos nodded off in agreement, this was just getting so weird.

“They were still illusions made into worlds, remember?” Light Gemini pointed out to remind the group of such things.

“Right, Loki only made them to be big, just to confuse us.” Dark Gemini stated in seeing how the trickster was trying to get them to be lost in surprise.

“Let’s find a path out of this place.” Nyx suggested in what they do if they wanna continue here.

As the group began to move towards an open passage, a gate fell shut in keeping them from going anywhere. Then the floor below them opened up as those fell down a pit trap, slide down a water slide before entering what was likely the castle’s water works & this time, the water was clean so even in the illusion world, they can breathe it. As Armor Stark magically switch to wear his Hammerhead Armor, the group watch out for skeleton fish & go down deeper near another opening to swim through a tunnel cavern.

“You know, you’re really talented in switching between different armor sets.” Ben pointed out in seeing how easy Armor Stark can change from one armor to the next.

“Gotta use your head to think what is best in different environments Ben, land, sea or air, advantage is the key to survival.” Armor Stark explained the case that he fits in the right environments & the right advantage to get by.

“Right…” Ben nodded his head in hearing this, the guy really does know his stuff.

“Heads up, there’s some nasty fish ahead!” Pinkamena interrupts in seeing something about to come their way.

After swimming through a water passage, the group had to defend against skelefish that were trying to bite them. The tricky problem was a strange force pushing them & it got stronger when it pushed many through a tunnel path. Everyone held onto the Hammerhead Armor that would navigate them best through such fast current forces. And if that wasn’t enough to slip pass through skeleton fish, try an open passage where big barrels were coming at the group to almost smack them.

“Great, we’re being hit with barrels!” Phobos rolled his eyes in seeing what was coming at them.

“Well this won’t be a barrel of laughs, that’s for sure.” Nyx stated off in knowing this will be no laughing matter.

“Then we’ll just have to break through!” Light Gemini issued off in what they’ll have to do here.

“Right, it’ll be a piece of cake for us!” Dark Gemini stated in getting ready to act out here.

“Relax guys, leave this…to me.” Armor Stark stated that he’ll handle this no problem.

The Hammerhead Armor helped used it’s turbines to put the petal to the metal in bypassing the skeleton fish, either watch out or smash or blast against the oncoming barrels before going up another path. They got caught in another fast current that was rushing them through more parts of the tunnel path until…they reach their spot. The gang had soon found themselves out of being in the water and over a bar gate that let pouring water drop. But as the group was trying to decide where to go with one light path block by a gate, the other path…was down through a dark corridor hall.

“Looks like Loki’s not playing by any rules now but his own.” Goldie shook his head in seeing what they are getting into here.

“Right, now we have to go through a pitch black castle corridor.” Pinkamena stated off in seeing what choice they are left to deal with.

“Yeah, where’d the lights go around here?” Nyx asked off in seeing they got no lights on to light the way.

“Relax guys, don’t forget, we have ways to ‘light up’ our situation.” Armor Stark stated that any of them can shed light on the situation.

“Watch out!” Ben yelled out in seeing something moved in the dark.

Suddenly, a familiar visor glow came & the group dodge a suit of armor line up from his weapon that clash the ground which made a spark. The light was bright enough to determine that there was a long row of knight suits & so they have to go pass them while avoiding some that move to attack what they sense comes by. So everyone quickly moves through to get by without taking any damage, just before reaching a spot with a light, which suddenly opened up for them to enter through. Only for the bottom to open up & let them fall through…& end up in the bottom part of another dungeon.

“Not again with the trap door!” Phobos yelled out to complain in what they have gone through.

Just then, Phobos step on a switch impended into the floor, which made everyone respond to. Then a part of the wall behind them broke off, & soon a giant rolling boulder was now coming at them.

“RUUUUUN!” Spike yelled out in seeing they had to run away from a boulder coming to squash them.

The group were running and came near an edge that lead to a toxic water pond, but there was a loose chain which the fliers got for the non-fliers to swing with. As the giant boulder sank in the poison pond, the others were leaping across some ruin pillars & watching out for popping goops. Then from swinging across another chain, the group had to run across a bridge that was coming undo to reach another door spot; but along the way, there were some…motion gears in the background, what was that about? But there was no time for that, the door had its gate shut when the gang made it into prison pit….as the toxic water began to rise up.

“You know, I’m not having fun with Loki’s games!” Goldie stated off in feeling like this was really getting annoying of what Loki’s doing to them.

“Join the club, but for right now, you don’t wanna get in touch with that gloop.” Armor Stark stated in seeing they touch that stuff & Loki will be the last of their worries.

“Hey, there’s an opening above!” Light Gemini stated in seeing what’s above them.

“We can reach it & be out of here!” Dark Gemini pointed out in what they can use this for.

With many that were getting an uncomfy feeling of the strange gloop of toxic ghostly liquid was rising up that seem more dangerous than it looks. So while the fliers took off, the non-flier group members had to jump on some wooden boards while watching out for enhanced suits of armor trying to throw their maces at the gang. There were times to fight & times to evade to keep going up, either way, no one was gonna waste any time. After reaching the top, Armor Stark got the bars above to move that allowed the gang to escape before the prison pit filled up completely & then the bars automatically lock itself.

“Phew…” The baby Dragons sigh with relief in having narrowly escape such close callings.

“That was close!” Spike wiped off the sweet in what they escape from.

“Right, TOO close!” Phobos pointed out in stating how close that was.

“Everyone okay?” Nyx asked off in checking how everyone is doing.

“Yah Nyx, I think we’re all good.” Ben nodded off in stating they are all good here.

“Then after we catch our breaths, we’ll move out.” Armor Stark issued off in what they do next here.

After sighing for the close calling in the dungeon, the Rescue Team moves on to discover that with all the motion gears seen around, that maybe they were in some clock tower. For tech folks like Armor Stark & Pinkamena in having to clean their clocks & other gears for mechanical stuff, judging from where they need to go…the moving parts could be a dangerous case to pass through if not done carefully to get to the top. As the gang was moving with care, something was seen from across the distance and spotted the group to make a noise before being out of sight.

“Did anyone notice something or was it just me?” Pinkamena asked off in having a feeling there was something behind the clock parts.

“I get the funny feeling something else is here with us.” Goldie stated in what he might guess that they aren’t alone.

“Perhaps it’s the other Gem Keeper.” Light Gemini stated off in what could be here with them.

“If it is, we’re ready to face it down!” Dark Gemini issued off in being ready for another fight.

“First off, let’s try to navigate through these clockwork gears or our time really will be up.” Armor Stark stated that they gotta get out or be crushed by giant clockwork gears.

Sensing that there was an enemy around in the area, the group had to be extra careful now. The group were riding on the pipe gizmos & trend on moving pads on gears & watch out for enchanted armor foes & bats. Seeing a loose chain, those that couldn’t fly swung across on that & they made it near the big gears which if too close, they’ll get crushed. Then after carefully riding up the gears without following along further, they came near a pressure & jump over it & more presser pads to get by.

“What kinda kooky clock tower is this?” Phobos asked off in who ever made something like this.

“Um, Phobos, you’ve never even seen the inside of a clock tower before.” Spike pointed out that Phobos hasn’t seen how clock towers are made from the inside.

“I don’t think many of us have. But I think there be a safer way to traveling.” Ben stated off that from traveling through this place, it’s not safe to explore in.

“Unfortunately, Loki’s world of illusion doesn’t come with ‘safety’ in their name.” Armor Stark shrug off to lightly say this as hard facts.

From making pass that, the group were near two shift gear pads where they move to the left, but there were openings to climb. This have to take timing to walk across such matters to leap over or duck low, it wasn’t easy. Then the group made it up while going through more turning gears to go safely under while avoiding them. However, from across the distance again, a big creature was seen riding on a bell pipe, wielding a big weapon to make a call out. The gang didn’t get much a look at who that was, but they had to get through the gears or get squash & then think about what they saw.

“Okay, did anyone get a good look at what was there?” Goldie asked off in thinking there was something else here with them.

"Nope/Nothing!" Gemini Sparks shook their heads in having miss seeing what was near.

“What could it be?” Nyx asked in being unsure what was with them.

“Trouble is my guess.” Armor Stark stated off in guessing what’s here, is to give them trouble.

“Then we better be careful then.” Pinkamena suggested what they best do if they cross paths with whoever is nearby.

Once reaching another top part, the group watch out for right bottom & left top motion gears that they had to plan a pattern through. Once they managed to get safely through there, & reach upwards while taking out another enchanted suit of armor…they found a sign label ‘EXIT’ in where across was the clock’s face; just before the door appeared to them like magic.

“Sir, I’m detecting the final Rainbow Gem beyond this door.” JARVIS spoke out in giving news that everyone managed to hear.

“Which means our little clock tower buddy we seen must be you-know-who.” Armor Stark stated off in figuring out who’s been following them.

“Um, I’m lost…who’s You-Know-Who?” Phobos rub his head in not following the discussion.

“Oh Phobos!” Nyx rolled her eyes in seeing how silly Phobos was for not getting the picture.

“But the main thing is that the last gem is near, right?” Ben stated in what the top matter of their mission was in getting the last gem.

“Then we’ll have to get it.” Goldie stated in knowing they are just about done now.

“Right, then it’s off to beat Loki!” Pinkamena cheered forth in knowing what happens afterwards.

“Ready for this?” Light Gemini looked to his twin with a question.

“You know it!” Dark Gemini looked back to reply to his twin.

“Alright, I guess this is it. Let’s go get that gem here!” Spike issued forth in getting brave, just one more gem & they can save the Mane Six.

Seeing that their chance to go forth & face whoever they might know to be another Gem Keeper, the gang soon goes through the door. With that, the door soon vanishes afterwards & for what the gang shall face will be for them to defeat while the scene goes dark now.

Now the scene opens up to the third act of the Castle, where the castle door was there & let out the Rescue Team at the top of the clock tower. Then when the door vanished, some thought that the danger of being squished was finally over if they were away from giant gears; unfortunately, they be wrong about that. But then something rode up on the pipe line & it made a loud noise in leaping off to land on what was like a large arena for all to see. It was some demi giant of a hunchback with long orange hair, wears a green shirt with yellow lines & has a blue sweater beneath it with ropes around it, acting as a belt & blue jeans & brown shoes. His appearance look like some big, dumb, not so bright foe, but he seem to know a thing about clocks. As it shows, this was the final Master of Illusion, the 7th Gem Keeper that was none other than an Oafish Clock Maker with a big mallet.

“Sir, it would appear this creature is the final Gem Keeper.” JARVIS spoke out in seeing who was directly in front of them.

“Yeah, no kidding!” Armor Stark rolled his eyes in figuring that much out without an A.I. to tell him.

“He’s huge!” Phobos stated in what they are now facing.

“Can we beat him?” Spike asked in wondering if the final Gem Keeper can be beaten.

“We’ve taken out the other five, let’s not lose against the last one!” Ben stated that they come too close now to give up.

“Right, let’s do this!” Nyx spoke off while transforming into her Battle Form in being ready to fight now.

Now the battle was beginning as the Clock Maker was leaping upwards with a stupid grin to attack. Golden Heart fired a Golden Fireball, but the opponent withstood it with no damage before he took a swing at the pony; but Pinkamena managed to save her brother. Missing the target, the Clock Maker slipped to fall on the ground, looking temporally daze from dizziness. So then Pinkamena took the chance to dive through and deliver a double chain sword side smack on the guy’s head, injuring him.

“Yes! I got him!” Pinkamena cheered in having landed a blow.

“Did that do some damage?” Goldie asked in being curious about battle damage to the enemy.

“Can’t tell, he might be able to have withstand it.” Armor Stark shook his head in not knowing the answer to the question.

After causing some form of damage, the Clock Maker got himself back up…only to roar a battle cry & spins around. What came from above was five big bells on chains that no one knew what was going on. Armor Stark took the lead point and watch to see the enemy spin around to hit them & he almost got the Buster Armor…but it took off. And the Clock Maker hit one of the giant bells, sent it flying downwards while getting the guy out of his spin form before the other four bells were pulled up.

“Well that one was a ringer.” Light Gemini quoted off in seeing what was done here when the giant hit a bell.

“Right, let’s show him our stuff!” Dark Gemini stated to say in seeing it’s their turn to attack the enemy now.

“Let me have a shot first.” Ben stated to the twins in wanting to have his shot first.

The Clock Maker then got himself together to leap forward to prepare to attack the group once again. He took a swing when he was inches from Ben Mare, but the stallion summoned his Hylian Shield that took the blow…and while it pushed the pony back, it knock the large oaf off his balance to be busy. So changing to summon his Megaton Hammer, Ben soon charged in & landed a blow on the foe’s noggin.

“You landed a blow, father.” Adult Nyx stated in having seen what Ben has done there.

“Yah, but it looked like even my heavy hammer did only so much.” Ben stated in having seen that was only basically done.

“Get ready, he’s up again!” Pinkamena warn out the group of who’s getting up again.

When the Clock Maker slowly got himself up from having suffered another damage, he was then set on performing his spin attack with his mallet. Ben was the target, & as he moved, he saw the four bells come down. At a lucky moment, Adult Nyx swooped in to pick her father up when the Clock Maker hit another bell at that moment. That caused the foe to shake up to be undone with what he hit while sending the bell downwards.

“It’s those bells, have him hit them & it causes him damage!” Armor Stark stated in studying the battle to see the Clock Maker’s weakness.

“Will that really work?” Spike asked off if such a thing was possible.

“Guess we’re gonna have to see.” Armor Stark stated to say in seeing what they’ll do by just doing.

“Clever hero words, you think we ever get any?” Phobos rolled his eyes in thinking if they ever get something like that.

“Hey you two, look out!” Goldie yelled out to warn the baby dragons.

Then the Clock Maker snapped himself to jump into position, spotted the baby Dragons to take a swing with his mallet. Spike & Phobos quickly yelped to duck which the enemy missed & fell on his back side. Seeing the chance, the baby Dragons showed sly smiles & leaped over to deliver a double Dragon Punch to the guy’s face. That caused the Clock Maker to topple back in having been hurt now.

“Yes! Got him!” Phobos cheered in having dealt a blow on the big guy.

“Haven’t you been paying attention?” Spike narrow his eyes to remind Phobos of what has been done so far.

“Oh right, he’ll get up again.” Phobos moans to say that they ‘didn’t get him’ yet.

Now the Clock Maker stood up to let off a battle cry as he was swinging his mallet even faster with sparkle dust. The baby Dragons yelped to run while the three bells came down now. The enemy was upon them, but Spike & Phobos ran to a bell, split off & let the Clock Maker hit another bell to drop it. That alone caused damage to the big brute to look a little woozy for wear.

“Looks like its working, keep pouring it on!” Armor Stark issued off that they need to keep this action up a bit longer.

“Hey, how are those bells doing more than we?” Dark Gemini asked off in not getting why bells are hurting the big brute then they are.

“Probably because sound & vibration hurts his sensitive ears.” Armor Stark explained the case that the Clock Maker has sensitive ears when he’s up to close to loud ringing bells.

“I see, that is a weakness to be used against alright.” Light Gemini stated in having understood that topic very well now.

Now from recovering, the Clock Maker leaps off to prepare to hit Armor Stark. But the stallion magically brought out his Stealth Armor & as the foe prepared to take a swing…Armor Stark disappeared & without visibility; the Clock Maker missed to fall on his backside. Then taking the chance, Armor Stark reappeared to fire a Repulsor beam that hurt & annoyed the enemy.

“Get back gang, he’ll be coming for me now.” Armor Stark issued off in wanting the others to stand back.

“You sure?” Goldie asked if that was smart to face this enemy alone.

“Trust him Goldie, he’s got a plan!” Pinkamena smiled off in thinking Armor Stark knows what he’s doing; being a genius.

When the Clock Maker slowly got up, he took another swing with a glittering mallet to spin after the stallion in the armor. But Armor Stark went into stealth mode & the enemy couldn’t find where the target was. Then Armor Stark appeared by a bell, the Clock Maker went after the corner prey…only for Armor Stark to pull another disappearing act. And in time for the Clock Maker to hit another bell that sent the bell falling while stopping the enemy’s spinning.

“Sir, the Gem Keeper is on his final legs.” JARVIS gave word to everyone that the enemy is not gonna last much longer now.

“Alright, Gemini, time to double up against this guy.” Armor Stark issued forth in who to send out next.

“Right!” Gemini Sparks responded from both twins agreeing on that.

Now the Clock Maker was really mad as he was going after Gemini Spark to get a two for one hit special. But the twins phase that attack which made the enemy miss & fall on his backside. Both Gemini Sparks delivered a double Rocket Knuckle on the oaf’s face to cause some hurt there. That temporally phase the foe to be slower from having been weaken as he is.

“Get ready, he’ll be standing soon!” Ben stated in knowing what’s bound to happen next.

“Any second…” Spike stated in watching carefully now.

“And…there it is!” Phobos slowly was saying before he cut to the chase.

But the Clock Maker roared off to stand again & soon perform a faster mallet spin attack to catch the gang; starting with Gemini Sparks. But the twins were far faster to vanish & appear anywhere, making the foe rush after them without thinking. The final bell had long since dropped down & soon Gemini Sparks was letting the Clock Maker follow them, he was gonna get them until…they phase through the final bell. The Clock Maker ended up hitting the last bell as that dealt the last blow to cause him to vibrate from the shock. He dropped his mallet, then fell on the ground, tried to get up, but fell again. With the oafish Clock Maker’s hour of terror at an end, the final prize slowly hovered to those in the center of the arena; the violet Rainbow Gem.

“Guys, we did it!” Goldie stated in seeing what has been achieved, they got the last gem.

“WE GOT THE FINAL GEM!” Pinkamena cheered out loud in being so happy.

“Alright!” Spike cheered out to pump up his claw.

“WAHOO!” Phobos held out his arms to celebrate the moment.

“We collected them all!” Nyx cheered in changing back to her filly form with joy.

“At last, we got them all…we did it Twilight. We’re coming for you.” Ben smiled off to say this in seeing they did it, with this…they can now save Twilight & the girls from Loki.

“Sir, I have recently uncovered something that you asked I search up & tell you right away.” JARVIS spoke in the com-link to tell something to Armor Stark only about something of a request search.

“Really JARVIS, we won the last gem & this is what you tell me? Oh well, let me look over it.” Armor Stark spoke off to say to himself within the armor, but shrug off to see what was uncovered that he wanted.

“Very well, it’s the recent data about Loki A. Fool.” JARVIS stated to say this about info concerning the last foe to face.

Armor Stark was looking through the data that was coming to him as he was studying it all quickly. No one noticed the armored stallion was busy while they were lost in their conversation in obtaining the final Rainbow Gem.

“Now that we have all the gems, we’ll probably head back now.” Light Gemini stated to say in seeing they can get back to the Castle of Illusion now.

“Right & go across that Rainbow Bridge with them.” Dark Gemini nodded off in agreement of what will happen when they get back with 7 gems.

“Right, let’s all touch the gem together as a sign of defeating the last Gem Keeper. Everyone ready?” Ben spoke out this in wanting everyone to join since this was a team effort, as he spoke out in wanting everyone ready.

“Yeah!” All the members but Armor Stark replied at the moment, until the latter caught on….

“Hugh?” Armor Stark broke off his own train of thought to get back to reality of what was going on. “Oh, yeah….we’re ready. Let’s get busy here.” He stated off in being his usual self to step forth in his armor that it’s time to go beat Loki & free their friends.

Now since this was the final gem to claim, everyone reached over to take the Violet Rainbow Gem. Then a violet portal appear and for them to take, for their next stop…the rescue of the Mane Six! So no sooner was everyone quickly rushing through the portal before it vanished afterwards. As the scene fades out, the final enemy lies ahead, how will the band of heroes do with the last trickster around…best left to be seen than heard….

Author's Note

The Clock Maker's appearance is like a version of Quasimodo seen from Shriek Super Slam game, only more of an oafish brute working for evil.

Now this chapter is done. In the next chapter, the final showdown against Loki is near after the Rainbow Bridge appears, but first the Rescue Team has to get up the tower. And then comes the truth about who Loki A. Fool is & why he's doing such things. What will happen, how will Ben & his allies defeat the guy that has put much of Equestria in an illusion trap? Stay tune to find out...

Chapter 07: Defeat Loki!

The scene soon opens up towards the Castle of Illusions within the Castle Entry. From a familiar portal that appeared, the Rescue Team appeared before the portal vanished. After finally acquiring all the Rainbow Gems, now was the time to prepare to cross the Rainbow Bridge…& save the Mane Six. Wasting no time, the group went over toward the door that would lead to the Castle Tower, once passing through it, & up a set hall before reaching their destination. Onto the castle balcony were the heroes wasting no time, but some felt an eerie chill within the air when they stare up at the Tall Tower. For many, they knew that was where Loki was as they could no doubt sense the trickster’s magic aura from where they stood.

“I never notice it before, but Loki’s magic aura seems very strong.” Goldie stated off in being curious to notice about Loki’s magic now that surrounds the tower.

“Yah, hard to believe when he only came & kidnaped our pals.” Pinkamena nods off in recalling that this guy didn’t even present his magic aura when he came & left the next minute.

“Well for now, we can worry about that later.” Armor Stark stated off to simply say this during the time being.

“Right, we done what was needed, we collected all seven gems.” Ben stated that they now have all Seven Rainbow Gems.

“So, how do we use them?” Spike asked off in how they use them now.

“D’oh! Don’t tell me we forgot to ask that part!” Phobos slapped his forehead that they fail to ask that stranger in how to make the Rainbow Bridge thing.

“But they were needed to help us, right?” Nyx stated in knowing what they had to go through was get the gems.

“Perhaps they need to be brought out together after being separated.” Light Gemini issued about how the gems seek the other out in order to function.

“Right, there are seven gems & seven of us. Eight if we twins are counted.” Dark Gemini smiled off in seeing that they can each hold a gem, the twins are one in the same anyway.

Soon everyone held one of the seven gems as they flew off from being in their hold & circle above the ledge of the balcony. Then in an instinct, they broke through the barrier Loki setup to keep everyone out & the Rainbow Gems form the Rainbow Bridge across. It was breath taking, & while marveling at such a sight, the group slowly started to walk on it. It was like walking on the Rainbow of Light of legends, but different in a way.

“Wow, it’s like the Rainbow of Light.” Spike awed at what they saw was made here.

“Top bad we don’t have that to beat Loki.” Phobos stated off in what they should have brought along to help out.

“Now we can cross it!” Nyx smiled to say in seeing what they needed was here.

“Alright, let’s do this!” Ben nodded to say in getting ready to move out.

“First off everyone, when we meet Loki, we need to fight him as about as serious as we can get.” Armor Stark spoke to give this little advice to those here in what happens when they see their foe.

“No problem there of doing that plan.” Light Gemini replied off in seeing that was a plan worth doing.

“We’ll fight with everything we got!” Dark Gemini stated to say that they will take down the enemy, hard.

“Why the need to ask the question?” Goldie asked Armor Stark of why they need to be ready to fight with a lot more of their strength.

“Cause unlike the Gem Keepers, they were probably nothing to the mastermind behind this whole thing.” Armor Stark stated off in knowing that Loki is the true brain behind Castle of Illusion, so they gotta take down the head to make everything fall apart.

“That is a good point. So when it comes to it, we’ll hit Loki hard!” Pinkamena nodded off in agreement, as she gets her sword ready in getting ready to fight.

Soon everyone was ready, motivated & all the other stuff as they now brave themselves by approaching the door that would lead them into the tower. Ben was the first to enter, then his family, then Goldie, Pinkamena, Gemini Sparks & Armor Stark. Once they entered, everything begins to go dark before the final stage to taking down Loki was now beginning here…

The scene shows those that have entered Loki’s Tower as we find the gang coming out from one side of a door that lead to….a balcony. What was this, where was the path to go further up? Then something zip pass by & stop to stare down to those that were there…it was Loki A. Fool.

“Hah-hah-haaahh….welcome, my guests! I give you more a greeting, but a-last…I must tend to those I’ve kept waiting!” Loki spoke off to taunt those before him about having to deal with other things.

“Does he mean Twilight & the others?” Spike stated in what Loki was talking about before them.

“There’s no way we’re letting you hurt our friends & love ones!” Ben issued off in stating they won’t let Loki getaway with such things.

“So please…take this while I’m away. Heheheh-haahhh….” Loki then blasted a spell at the balcony which the group watch out as he was seen laughing while flying away.

“Looks like we’ll have to fly after him and I got the perfect armor for long-term flight & flying into & maneuvering through space. So he won’t get away!” Armor Stark responded off in seeing that it’s time to not give Loki any chances to slipping away. “JARVIS, time to bring in the Space Armor.” He issued to his A.I. that they are gonna fly after the trickster.

“At once, sir.” JARVIS responded off in having heard the words.

Then without warning, Armor Stark was magically change into wearing another of his different armor sets for all to see. This one was a mouth-less, black & gold armor, looking like that of a bulk-up astronaut with a dome helmet with a glass visor with another human-head helmet inside it. This was probably the one called the Space Armor & soon Armor Stark took off at a fast flight speed that wowed the crowd.

“Let’s go too! We can catch up using our Trans Warp Speed!” Light Gemini spoke to his twin in what they can do to chase after the target.

“We can try to catch Loki by surprise that way, let’s go!” Dark Gemini responded back to his twin in following this plan of attack.

Soon Gemini Sparks zipped away before anyone knew where the twins headed off to, but they may have gone to help Armor Stark catch up to Loki.

“Hey, wait up! I’m not missing out in stopping Loki! The rest of you try to climb this tower to reach where the Mane Six are, we’ll try to keep Loki distracted.” Goldie called out to the twins before looking to Pinkamena & the rest in stating he’ll go one way while the rest get to their captured friends.

“Gotta bro!” Pinkamena saluted to say while her brother soon took to the skies.

With only the non-fliers left along with Nyx who transform into her Battle Form, it was time to climb up the tower. And as luck had it, some wooden boards were popping out, which gave the group a chance to hop from one to the other. But from around the other side, Loki was seen flying away from his pursuers before firing his cane blast at the ground bunch, causing their way across some stones to tumble & fall off.

“Hey! Watch where you’re aiming!” Phobos yelled out in what the guy almost did to them.

“That’s the idea.” Loki smiled off to say that he was trying to hit the heroes.

“Solar Inferno Flare!” Gemini Sparks was heard as they are seen hurling a huge ball of fire that Loki dodged. But when it impacted the other tower of the Castle of Illusion, that attack struck 3x3 area & it looked powerful.

“Give it up Loki!” Armor Stark issued in wanting the trickster to give up now as they got the bogey.

“Never! I’ve just gotten started!” Loki stated to say before flying off with Armor Stark & Gemini Sparks going after him.

“Keep going guys, don’t stop!” Goldie spoke off to those below before continuing the chase.

“Right, see you at the top!” Adult Nyx responded to shout off that they will meet the rest at the top.

“Let’s move.” Ben issued this out to the group that they keep climbing.

The ground group continue to climb up more popping boards off the side of the tower. But they had to rush it from crumbling structure from their weight, even jumped off some spider creatures to make it to the other side. And they had no time to rest, the ground crumbled from their weight, Ben’s group ran towards a rope off a flagpole to swing across the other side. But they had to move fast when Loki came around to blast off more of where the group were climbing, but they managed to escape.

“Golden Flames!” Golden Heart then breathed out flames of a golden color that almost fried Loki to dodge that when he was gonna attack the tower climbing party with Ben.

“Grrr….you’re very persistent, for mere Equestrians.” Loki growls in being infuriated by those that aren’t giving up chasing him.

“What does that even mean?” Golden Heart raised an eyebrow in feeling that question raised suspicion.

“Rocket Knuckle!” Then Gemini Sparks was heard firing their golden knuckles off which Loki had to dodge from taking.

“Repulsor!” Then Armor Stark fired his beam that almost graze off Loki’s cloak if he didn’t move fast enough.

“I’m not about to let you stop what I’ve long to gain!” After Loki said that, he turns to fly away from those that are interfering with him.

“What’s he talking about?” Light Gemini questioned the subject of Loki’s rambling.

“Beats me, don’t know myself.” Dark Gemini shrug off to say in not getting the issue himself.

“Don’t worry about us, we’ll keep going from down here!” Ben yelled out to those flying around to not worry about those following on the castle tower.

“Hurry, we can’t let him stop us!” Spike shouted that those who can fly can catch up & stop Loki.

Soon those that could fly continue to chase Loki while those climbing on the tower continue their own work ahead of them. Ben’s group were climbing from one pop board from the side to another before swinging from another rope line to reach another pop board….or was it? Those that didn’t see it, Loki made an illusion of what the group tried to step on, they fell but luckily caught a rope line.

“Pity, you were going to have such a nice fall this season.” Loki taunted off in looking forward to seeing such a thing, what a shame.

“Loki! Keep away from my family! Night Blast!” Adult Nyx snapped off to say before firing her neon blast beam which Loki dodged from being hit by.

“Hmmm…for one so small, you seem to be as temperamental as your mother.” Loki remarked off in seeing where Nyx got such a temper from…maybe from Twilight.

“Frusssvhmmm…Banm-Bam-Bamfruvhmm…” Then Loki yelped from sudden rockets & missile fires that blew up around his spot as he saw Armor Stark approaching him. Gemini Sparks & Golden Heart were coming from left, right & center while Armor Stark came from below.

“Will I never lose you?” Loki cursed in seeing such determine pursuers before turning to fly away while the others flew after him.

“We have to keep going!” Spike stated this off in what they gotta do.

“Time to swing it, Ben!” Phobos issued off in what Ben’s gotta do for them.

“Right!” Ben nodded off in hearing the plan on how to get by this.

Soon after swinging the rope across, the ground bunch along with Adult Nyx had to rush across the crumbling steps. And even jump off crumbling ledges they jump across to jump off another spider creature that was nearby to help them when it wanted to stop the group. They managed to reach for another rope line, but yelp when Loki flew near with the other heroes flying to pursue him; Ben’s group almost went for a path until it crumbled off.

“Give it up Loki, you can’t run forever!” Armor Stark gave another warning for the trickster to surrender than run away from them.

“Oh, I am not going anywhere, but you all will soon enough.” Loki remarked off to say before flying away with the others still chasing after him.

“Father, there’s another path we can take.” Adult Nyx stated in noticing a new path that they can take to climb the tower.

“Thanks Nyx, hang on everyone!” Ben responded off to say in seeing what they need to do.

Seeing another way to get up, Ben’s group swing across behind them for a board that pop out of the tower. And they ran across more step paths before Loki spotted them from circling around the tower to blast them with his cane, but missed. And Loki couldn’t aim with pursuers chasing him after Ben, Spike, Phobos, Adult Nyx & Pinkamena made it off safely over the crumbling ledges & grab onto another rope line.

“We almost have him!” Light Gemini stated in almost having got Loki that time.

“Just a little more here!” Dark Gemini stated to say that they need to keep at it.

“I’ve waited years for this chance, you shall not stop what I’ve long wanted!” Loki snapped back before flying away with his chasers behind him.

“The more we hear, the less any of us understand.” Ben stated off in not getting anything Loki was rambling on & on about.

“It’s weird, maybe we’ll understand when we reach the top.” Pinkamena raised an eyebrow in not figuring out much of this case like the others.

Now the ground group swung across to the other side, race across the crumbling path, & jump off the heads of two spider creatures. Wasn’t long before Ben’s party reach what look like the balcony of the highest tower.

“Kurpowwfruvhmmmm…/Graaaaaughhhh!” Then a big explosion happened in the air where the ones on the balcony turn to see that those fighting Loki in the air landed some powerful explosion that covered the enemy’s spot…showing a screaming foe vanishing within the light when it died down.

“Sweet! You beat Loki!” Phobos cheered in seeing that they finally got rid of Loki.

“No, we didn’t.” Armor Stark shook his head off when he & the other fliers landed beside Ben’s ground party. “What we destroyed was an illusion of Loki.” He explained off to say that the Loki they got was a fake, an illusion to keep them busy.

“Oh man…I thought for sure you had him!” Spike groans to say in having believed that was the end of Loki.

“We all did.” Goldie sighs to say in having believed they beat Loki, when it was a trick.

“For an illusion, he sure could hit with those attacks.” Pinkamena pondered off to say that for illusions, they hit pretty hard to be real; must be a magic power that helped out or something.

“Sir, I’m detecting the Mane Six inside through this stairway.” JARVIS spoke to Armor Stark with news of what lies ahead of them now.

“For now gang, Loki…the REAL one, is ahead where the Mane Six are kept.” Armor Stark stated off in where to find the real villain along with the captives they are gonna rescue.

“Then that’s where we’ll go!” Ben issued off in knowing where they are gonna head to next.

“Right! One for all!” Light Gemini issued off in making a claim here.

“And all for one!” Dark Gemini finished the claim his twin started.

“Let’s go save everyone.” Adult Nyx declared off in becoming serious at this moment here.

Soon the Rescue Team enter through the door from the highest balcony of Loki’s Tower. Everything began to fade out from here, but the final battle was approaching, many could feel it…it’s do or die time, and hopefully…not the latter part.

The scene changes to what was likely the final spot of the journey through the Castle of Illusion. As we find the Rescue Team having reach the top & final floor of the tower, the doors were opened & there was evil laughter heard around. The gang looked ahead to see within a large chamber surrounded by large glass windows, there was Loki, as he swung his cane while preparing a spell as the spheres that held the captive Mane Six are there. But there was a stream of magic around the spheres that belong to the mares that was slipping into Loki’s cane. The group that came to rescue those in trouble thought if they were too late to save those like Twilight & her friends, or that perhaps…there was still some hope.

“Oh dear, girls…I’m afraid!” Fluttershy yelps in being afraid of what was happening here.

“Hang tough Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash issued off to encourage her friend to not be scared.

“Right, our friends are on de way!” Applejack issued off in honestly believing they are gonna be saved.

“They won’t let this creep getaway with this!” Rarity stated firmly in knowing Loki won’t get away with this act.

“Funny, I seem to be getting away with it, either the siphoning is making you delusional or your just plain fools.” Loki spoke off to remark the fact that he’s getting what he wants while the others here speak nonsense.

“I know fools & today…I ain’t the fool here!” Pinkie Pie issued off to say that while she maybe a random goofball, but even she’s not a blind fool like Loki is.

“We believe in our friends, Loki! They will stop you!” Twilight declared in stating that their friends will stop Loki in his scheme of what he’s up to; she knows it.

“Ah, such lovely forms of friendship, a shame I must siphon such magic to curse you afterwards.” As Loki spoke off his little scheme, the Rescue Team became determine to approach Loki while he was ranting. “What I once had will be gone, but you’ll gain a curse & vice-versa. You’ll be empty of your friendship, while I shall be free of what I was curse to be seen as that could never be removed.” While going on, the Rescue Team approached after passing by some magical candles that were lit suddenly… “Soon those of the Mystic Realm will see me anew & will not banish me from not learning self-control, just cause my illusions ended up going to much in bringing the brink of disaster to all.” What Loki was saying was very mind puzzling, what was he meaning by his ‘curse’ & that he was banished from the Mystic Realm….?

“Unibeam/Powwfruvhmm…” Then without warning, Armor Stark fired a beam blast from his chest that plowed against Loki’s body when he was not paying attention.

The Rescue Team was on the scene & they apparently caught Loki off guard with a surprise attack. When the dust cleared, something was seen of what their foe was hiding under a cloak & hood. Loki was an Earth stallion with blue fur, black well-mannered medium mane & tail & red eyes. But he wore an outfit that made him appear like a jester, even came with bells, & let’s just say for a bad guy, appearance makes one threatening and this…had an opposite effect: it was laughable.

“HAH! He really is a FOOL in that getup!” Phobos taunted to laugh it up in seeing the getup of a jester look Loki was pulling off.

“Why is he dress like…a jester?” Spike raised an eyebrow in being lost by what they are seeing.

“Because he can’t take it off, try blasting him with something to burn off those clothes & you’ll see.” Armor Stark stated to say this that no matter what, the jester getup will not come off of Loki.

Then without much a second thought, each of the Rescue Team fired off attacks that would shred or burn off Loki’s jester out. But when Spike & Phobos blew their Dragon Breaths to burn the thing off, it change to a different color & style theme. Then Golden Heart & Pinkamena fired a Golden Sword Beam or launched the Blades of Pinkie Pie, the shredded jester outfit was torn only for a new color & style theme clothing to replace it. And even as the others did something, the jester outfit wouldn’t come off, even when Loki saw a last rip, he tore it himself only for another jester outfit to take its place.

“He’s right, every hit & he’s still wearing that jester outfit.” Goldie stated to say in being puzzled in what they are seeing.

“Even I’m lost in this, just what does it mean?” Ben scratch his head in not getting why such silly clothes can’t be burn off or cut off, it makes no sense.

“When JARVIS was looking up info on Loki A. Fool, there was nothing about him on Equestria. So JARVIS dug deeper to find any place with Intel & it was found…right in the Mystic Realm.” Armor Stark explained the case that he was still looking up info about Loki.

“The Mystic Realm?” Gemini Sparks responded off that surprised the twins a bit.

“Are you saying…Loki is…a Mystic?” Adult Nyx slowly asked off in not believing that claim.

“Wait, is he supposed to be a Dark Mystic or one of them Rogue Mystics?” Pinkamena asked off in not knowing which area Loki is if he’s not a good Mystic.

“Neither, he’s just been banished by the Jade Emperor. Wanted to teach his so-called 'grandson' a lesson from not having self-control & continuing such matters of foolish fun & entertainment.” Armor Stark shook his head in stating that Loki wasn’t a Dark Mystic but wasn’t a Rogue Mystic, just some banished fool for having caused trouble that upset his…family.

“What!” The others responded off in having heard that & they do NOT believe that Loki is even related to the Jade Emperor.

“To think you Equestrians would see me in this cursed getup, you will pay for such things!” Loki snarled off to say in having had enough of this game against those beneath him.

“No Loki, it’s you who’ll pay! Now let the girls go!” Ben snapped off in wanting Loki to give up & free the Mane Six.

“Oh no, I’m sorry, but did I fail to mention that…when you defeated my last Gem Keepers, I decided to speed up the process.” Loki smiled off to slyly say this in having just begun to fight unlike the Gem Keepers.

“Hugh?” Spike raised an eyebrow in having heard that.

“What?” Phobos replied off confused by the subject as well.

“And though I skip the safe process, it matters little before…what I’ve achieved was…this!” Loki spoke off in sounding like he still had another trick up his sleeve to…reveal here.

Then as before the Rescue Team could stop Loki in what he's doing, a bright flash blinded them. Loki was soon laughing out wickedly, as magical forces gather around him & soon he was in a sphere of his own. But when inside, it slowly began to reshape much of his pony form into being almost…human. Even the jester getup that looked silly seem to be getting a ‘slight’ new makeover change. Once the sphere was gone, there stood a new form of Loki standing up tall before the Rescue Team. He appeared like a slim human adult male that had blue color skin, black medium lock of hair & still had his red eyes. The jester outfit that was once something silly, was turn into a more medieval form of something a trickster/warlord. The outfit was of dark emerald, emerald boots with gold plates, wore an gray overcoat armor with shoulder pads & gauntlets with god plate designs. The once jester three bells turn into a gold helmet with two curve horns sticking out & pointing behind. Even the cane grown longer of gold coloring & had a silver spike blade off it. This was now the Loki A. Fool that has apparently, obtain both power from the Mane Six’s pure friendship magic to break the curse & become…something more.

“Uh oh! Now we got a Loki who looks like his Marvel Counterpart from TV!” Pinkamena yelps in seeing what they got dealing with after Breaking the Fourth Wall, much to everyone’s puzzlement which was step aside for a bigger threat matter.

“Heh-Heh-Hah-Hahhh….You thought you would be a match for me?” Loki responded off in taunting those before him as he hovered off as the Rescue Team got into a defense position. “Now that’s rich, it would be a Castle of Delusion!” Afterwards, he let off an evil laugh while letting his magic run across the inner tower chamber as it soon made it so large & expanded out…it was enough to be a battlefield in the tower?

“I think he just pulled a Doctor Who’s Tardis ability for this room.” Adult Nyx stated in what just happened in Breaking another Fourth Wall to say while everyone was still confused.

“Speechless from beyond the grave, heed my bidding…heed my claim.” Loki chanted in swirling his cane to summon rotating emerald flame spheres to rotate and tried to spin them around to attack the heroes. “Ride me of those before me, crush their wills; feed to them their fall, attack!” As Loki chanted, he soon had the flaming emerald spheres spread out to attack all points.

“INCOMING!” Phobos yelled off in ducking from the attacks coming.

“Yikes! What’s with these things, they’re hotter than our flames!” Spike ducks to avoid while feeling those attacks are hotter than their Dragon fire.

“Hylian Shield!” Ben summoned his shield to protect him from the attacks.

“Barrier!” Armor Stark created a magical energy barrier field to protect him from the attacks. “We need a hit while he’s distracted!” Armor Stark issued off that they need to hit Loki after he’s attack them with this spell.

“Leave it to me! Haaaughhh!” Adult Nyx dives in to charge up a spell & shot her Night Blast directly at Loki’s back side.

“Gwaaaugh!” Loki cringe from feeling that blow as he was toppled, but stood back up. “You all still don’t quite realize what my Castle Of Illusion is, now do you? It is a trap to which none of you will escape from!” Loki stated forth in using his cane to recall the emerald flame spheres to give him aid.

“Ho, then that means we’ll be the first to escape!” Light Gemini smiled off in taunting the opponent in what he said.

“Right, since your Gem Keepers were defeated.” Dark Gemini replied off in knowing that if the Gem Keepers are all defeated, then someone is gonna make it out of here.

“Come to me, my fiendish ghouls from beyond!” Then Loki was chanting to which the emerald spheres for a two line form & begin to spread across the field to catch & burn away the Rescue Team. “Spin around, fiends & spectators. Spin & twist. Twirl & whirl. Let your phantom’s fury swirl & envelop the fools!” As he calls forth, the gang was trying to watch out for those burning ghoul blades of heat.

“I’m not liking the looks of what’s coming.” Goldie stated in fearing what’s coming their way next.

“STRIKE! Hah-hah-haaahhh!” Loki held up his arms in commanding the spheres to attack everyone, they just barely managed to avoid a fatal blow.

“What is he trying to do?” Adult Nyx asked off in turning herself to stardust to avoid the hits.

“Fry us, I think.” Phobos stated off blankly of what the enemy was up to.

“How many tricks does he have?” Spike asked in seeing that at this rate, Loki may catch them.

“It’s useless, you cannot best me.” Loki taunted off that no one will be able to stop him.

“You ain’t the only one with tricks!” Pinkamena snapped off before using her Blades of Pinkie Pie to tie around Loki’s cane & then had the free one slice across his front.

“GWAAAAAUGH!” Loki yelped from feeling that blow he took, that one actually hurt. “Pathetic little pony. You dare to challenge me? Me, Loki A. Fool!?” He snapped off in making the floors around begin to break away to reveal a ghostly depth in which one step & the heroes are gone.

“Trick question, who of us is the BIGGER Fool?” Pinkamena quoted off to make a little tease on the enemy.

“Fly, faster I say, like going round & around!” Loki summoned his emerald sphere flames again, this time they were rotating like extended fans to whip around the Rescue Team that had to evade as best they could. “Leave them not a reach. No safe route to take. Make them curl in & out, then wind them about.” As Loki chanted, the attack grew faster that everyone has been given a hard task of watching out for this stuff. “Take possession this space and then give forth the chase!” Loki declared forth in preparing for another big attack to be sprung as the spell shrunk in.

“Uh oh!” The baby Dragons yelped in seeing what’s coming could be bad.

“NOW FLY!” Loki then extended his arms which caused the spell to attack everyone, grazing a few members that couldn’t dodge all of that. “Wwh-hahahahaaaahhh…” Loki was letting off another mad laughter in having given his prey much difficult to face him.

“Fire Sword!” Gemini Sparks shouted off as each twin stop that attack from coming.

“Fire Arrow!” Ben took a shot with his Hero’s Bow to fire a magic arrow bunch of flames to fight fire with fire.

“Gatling Guns!” Armor Stark took up to be in his Buster Armor to unleash his heavy fire-power here. “Golden Heart, take a shot!” He issued off in wanting the golden stallion to hit Loki.

“Right! Golden Sword Beam!” Goldie responded off to say in charging his sword to fire a golden version of a Sword Beam that got the target.

“Gwaaaurrghhh!” Loki yelps from taking that heavy attack weighted by gold, but still the trickster stood up in refusing to fall down. “How foolish can you all be? I, a Mystic, can't & will not lose to the likes of Equestrians!” Loki scolds off to snap at those that have started to drive his patience thin here.

“So he says.” Light Gemini remarked off to tease over the case.

“Yet here it shows!” Dark Gemini shrug off that they are beating a Mystic.

“Oh shades of darkness or torrents of night! Destroy these wretched fools with all your might!” Loki chants off in summoning the emerald spheres to circle around in preparing to unleash another big attack. “The six maidens’ friendship is mine to take. Their magic of bound shall rid my curse, now curse the rest with sorrow ploy.” As he chants, it was raining spheres that the Rescue Team had to avoid any contact as they were breaking parts of the floor where a wrong step & it’s into a terrible end of a ghostly depth. “Bring forth their doubt, a sad demise!” Loki excluded his final claim in readying his next strike on the heroes to pay.

“JARVIS, it’s time to bring out my next armor.” Armor Stark issued an order to his A.I. of what it’s time to bring out.

“At once, sir.” JARVIS responded off in understanding the message.

“Show Them NO MERCY!” Loki yelled out in unleashing another blast of spreading out all of his sphere attacks around the room.

“Here comes another round!” Adult Nyx yelled out in seeing another attack as they are all bracing themselves.

“Hehahahahahh….” Loki was letting off a wicked laughter as nothing was gonna stop that move now.

“Lightning Repulsers!” Armor Stark was heard, as he fired a repulsor of a blue force that blasted Loki’s attack & impacted the trickster to.

“GWUUURROOOAAGHH!” Loki yelped from feeling a shocking pain course through him as he drops slightly; what was that attack. It came from Armor Stark which was sure, but his armor was different as it was a silver & gray armor with features to look like a mechanical mighty Viking character even with the ‘V’ crown on the forehead.

“Wow, another armor we’ve never seen! And it even hurt Loki a whole lot!” Pinkamena spoke off in seeing how well Armor Stark has got things, even something that harm Loki a lot.

“Of course it did, the Storm Armor is powered by a mystical element as well as a unique metal called ‘Uru’ that makes in indestructible & grants power to use lightning abilities. It’s impervious to any kinds of harm except, oddly enough, Mystics. But the Mystical crystal empowers the armor and allows it to absorb and manipulate Mystic magical energies effectively, giving me a shot of using Mystic Lightning.” Armor Stark spoke off to give a little explanation about what this other armor mechs-suit of his does, & it’s the type to even hurt a Mystic like Loki.

“Sweet! Now we got one to fight a Mystic with Mystic powers!” Phobos cheered in seeing they got an advantage here.

“Man, your chalk full of surprises today.” Ben stated in seeing that having this guy for an ally comes in handy.

“It helps to be prepared for anything Ben.” Armor Stark stated of what he does is being ready on any occasion.

“Very clever…I didn’t even know that you stubble across the rare Uru metal…I’ve misjudged you.” Loki slowly spoke in getting himself up once more to continue the fight. “But we have only just begun, heroes. I still have so much more to share with you & much to entertain with my fun!” Loki declared forth that this was just the beginning, as the room felt like it was turning purple from what was outside the windows to look like a ghostly void was beneath everyone’s feet & hooves.

Everyone stood ready in what was coming next...

“Abominations, soar from the crepes! Confuse their minds, bottle their bricks.” Loki chanted in calling his emerald spheres as the flaming balls rotated like a hula-hoop ring around the caster to get the Rescue Team. “Wine about them two & four, steal from them all that they own!” Loki chanted forth in rotating the spell to cause great harm around all those that were trying to evade or block off, some like the baby Dragons & Adult Nyx & Goldie got too confused to get a little more damage.

“Here comes another attack!” Adult Nyx warns the group of what’s coming at them again.

“Get them…NOW!” Loki declared forth in firing off the spheres to attack all as those that used barriers or used speed to protect themselves were lucky. “Heheeh-Hahahaaa…” Loki was busy laughing at this display while not noticing living chain moving near the baby dragons.

“Spike! Phobos! Grab my blades!” Pinkamena issued the order for her friends to grab her blades.

“Why?” Phobos asked off in not getting this.

“For THIS!” Pinkamena then hurl her Blades of Pinkie Pie upwards with the baby Dragons holding on.

“Waaaughhh!” Spike yelps out as he & Phobos were going straight for Loki & needed to act fast.

“Dragon Breath/Moon Breath!” Then Spike & Phobos had to perform their Dragon Breaths when Loki wasn’t expecting their attack from behind from the living chains.

“Grawwwouurrrgh!” Loki cringe down from taking another heavy hit, these fools were driving him into a corner. “Ehehehahahaha…Oh, no, no, no! This is MY Domain! My Rules! And what I say GOES!” Loki stood up in feeling the loss of sanity in being push back this far as he used his magic to cause nearly 85 percent of the floor to vanish with little stepping pads for the group to stand on. Soon Loki was bringing back his emerald spheres again in about to prepare his grand finale.

“This looks like he’s not taking any chances.” Ben stated with worry in what Loki’s about to unleash maybe his strongest spell of an attack yet.

“If worse comes to worse, I may have to bring out my Top Secret Weapon.” Armor Stark stated to say in what they may have to prepare for & what he may have to resort to.

“Top Secret Weapon? You never told us you had one?” Pinkamena asked off in becoming curious of having heard about a top secret weapon.

“If I did, it wouldn’t be a secret.” Armor Stark pointed out to the random pink pony of such a thing as keeping a secret…a secret.

“Oh, good point.” Pinkamena slowly nodded in understanding the topic now.

“But maybe we may not need it.” Armor Stark stated to say in looking at the other group yet to attack & realized what power is needed. “Gemini Sparks, you two are the Twins of Light & Dark, surely that means you can use combination moves with different elements.” He asked off in wanting to know if the twins could use a very strong and effective spell.

“Like Light?” Light Gemini stated in looking to his other twin right now.

“And Dark?” Dark Gemini looked to his twin in where this was going.

“Right, if we work this out, then you may have the power to deal the final blow that even a Mystic level like Loki can’t come out unscratched.” Armor Stark stated off that with Gemini Sparks Element of Twin, they may have something to even defeat Loki. “Question is, do you have a technique to topple either one of Ultimate Warrior Ranks or say one close to a Demon General?” He asked off if the twins had a power that could even take down a top contender or not.

“The answer is very simple…” Light Gemini smiled off to say in forming a Light Sword from his gauntlet.

“We have the perfect choice…” Dark Gemini issued off with a smile in making a sword come from his gauntlet which was dub; Dark Sword.

“Gather to me, my wretched fiends.” Loki chanted in where the emerald flaming spheres form another line formation to go around both sides to cut across the Rescue Team just like before. “Spin around, fiends & spectators. Spin & twist. Twirl & whirl. Let your phantom’s fury swirl & envelop the fools!” As he calls forth, the gang was trying to watch out for those burning ghoul blades of heat.

“Is he gonna fire that move again?” Phobos asked off in thinking something familiar is coming.

“Wait, something’s different.” Pinkamena stated in feeling something was different about this attack.

Loki never unleashed the attack, instead they gather to him & then made the next spell to attack the group by surprise.

“Phantoms & Ghost, bring conclusion!” Loki chanted off as now a ghostly tail swung from across the floor to attack the group. “Band yourselves together in my Castle of Illusion.” Then another twist was coming, as Loki was making more flaming spheres rain down from above onto the gang. “Here, hope is but a fade of a delusion. And soon, a dying bunch shall meet their dire conclusion!” Loki chanted off in sounding like everything was coming together while the heroes evaded the many spells & counter as best they could until… “THEY MUST NOT PREVAIL!” Loki yelled forth in unleashing a large gathering of all the emerald spheres to blast off in a shock-wave that seem to push the heroes backs against the corners.

Adult Nyx, Spike, Phobos, Goldie, Pinkamena, Armor Stark & Ben Mare hit the side of the wall, they seem to be holding strong…even Ben with his shield to have taken the rest of that while Armor Stark withstood the attack with his armor.

“Hahahahaaaahhh…” Loki lets off a wicked laughter in having overpowered the group to kneel before him.

“Laugh while you can, it’s over!” Ben’s voice spoke off in suddenly removing his Hylian Shield to charge forth & jumps above the enemy. “Hurraarghhh!” Ben prepares to drive down his Master Sword to give the final blow here… But Loki blocks with his cane in not about to be given the final blow when he had his guard down.

“Really Ben Mare, did you think I fall like the Gem Keepers? I will not fall so easily!” Loki smiled off in stating he shall not be defeated & underestimated as such.

“No, but you sure live up to being a fool to fall for this distraction.” Ben smiled off to say this in what Loki has got caught in.

“What?” Loki looked to Ben with a frown, what was the stallion saying.

“Gemini Mergence: Oblivion Oathkeeper Slash!” Gemini Sparks shouted off as both the twins changed their golden hooves into a representative blade of light and darkness. “Harrrughhhh/Slashfruvhmm…” Both Geminis then will roar out their finally attacks to strike, with both their swords glowing with their brightest energy of light and darkness. That broke through Loki’s defense from so much power that he was left speechless when the twins were across the room.

“GAaaugh…Aaaugh!” Loki gasped off to hold himself together, but the pain was…even greater than ever felt from…two great magical element powers. “In…inconceivable! A Force of using the strongest elements of Light & Dark? They don’t have the true full versions, yet….they landed a blow this…critical to injure me. It’s not…possible.” Loki tries to figure this out, Gemini Sparks don’t have the REAL Elements of Light & Dark, but they could pull off a force in which even in lacking, combine, that power dealt such heavy damage; was such a thing possible?

“No, THIS is possible! With TEAMWORK!” Ben stated from charging up his sword before breaking off from Loki’s cane. “Beam Sword/Slashfruvhmm…” Then he fired a crescent beam slash that cut right through the enemy in a vertical manner.

Soon Loki was slice clear across his body which made a tiny light crack on his surface. “GRAAUUGHHHH!” Loki screamed out as his humanoid form was decomposing its structure little by little….before he fell to his knees, trying to keep himself together while temporally dazed.

Then something magically appeared beside Loki, it was like another gem glittering with colors of the rainbow. Ben took the silver gem as a sign of having defeated Loki, & to his surprise, it was another Rainbow Gem.

“Loki had a Rainbow Gem?” Goldie asked off in seeing this for the first time.

“Didn’t expect that.” Pinkamena shrug off to say in seeing this little thing.

“Looks like we got another Rainbow Gem out of this.” Spike pointed out in what they get in the end of this battle.

“Is Loki now stopped?” Adult Nyx asked off from seeing the dazed Loki, but the question was answered ahead.

“Nrruaagh…” Loki was seen struggling to shake his head, trying to regain his focus.

“Looks like Loki still wants another go.” Light Gemini stated to say in seeing the enemy wasn’t completely defeated yet.

“Then we’ll hit him with an even harder blow.” Dark Gemini stated in preparing an even bigger blow then before.

“Hold it, Loki’s drawn his new power from taking it from the Mane Six, correct?” Armor Stark stated off in recalling the recent actions that have happened here. “JARVIS, if the Gem Keepers’ Rainbow Gems made the Rainbow Bridge, what happens if we hit Loki with this new Rainbow Gem we got from besting him?” He asked his A.I. for any ideas of what would happen if they used a Rainbow Gem against the trickster of tricks.

“Hard to say sir, but perhaps if you all focus your magic into it, the result may undo Loki’s evil spell on Equestria.” JARVIS explained off in what will happen that will undo much of Loki’s damages.

“Then it might be our one & only shot! Let’s do it!” Ben stated to say in readying for this chance.

“Okay Loki, take this!” Phobos remarked off to say in what they are gonna do next.

Soon the Rescue Team channel their magical aura flows into the Rainbow Gem they had before launching the silver gem right at the weaken Loki. Time seem to have almost froze for a moment before the gem itself burst into a cascade of rainbow light filling every inch of the tower.

“NOOOOOOO!!!….This can’t be, my curse….ws so close…..” Loki screamed out from being enveloped by the rainbow’s burst of light as it trapped him to be encased in the spreading light while being powerless to stop it.

When the brightness began to fade out, the Rescue Team saw a surprising shock. Loki was reverted to his pony form & back into his curse jester outfit while the Mane Six were free from their prison spheres & their bound of magical friendship return to them. As the Mane Six landed, they saw their friends & family & leaped over to hug their saviors from such a close calling.

“Loki!” Then approaching the weaken Loki were the Munchkin Brothers as they saw the whole battle & knew of Loki’s loss.

“Ugh!” Loki aches in pain to try to stand up, but was very weak.

“It’s okay Loki.” Munchkin One spoke to help Loki up.

“We got yah.” Munchkin Two stated in helping out as well.

“Th…thank you.” Loki weakly spoke in having been helped up by his…only friends.

“Sir, I hate to interrupt this touching moment, but the gem used against Loki is showing unstable side-effects.” JARVIS issued from where Armor Stark turn to find the silver Rainbow Gem turn black & began to admit a strange radiation effect.

Then without warning, the castle was begging to shake under a terrible tremor effect. It was like the whole castle was beginning to come undone here.

“Wha-what’s happening now?” Fluttershy nervously asked off in what was happening here.

“Goodness, I don’t know,“ Rarity gasped off in not knowing what’s happening.

“Gang, we got a problem, this gem’s about to go nuclear! If we don’t get out fast, we’ll be buried under tons of rubble!” Armor Stark warn the group that they need to leave or they won’t be getting out at all.

“Oh, then why not teleport or levitate us out? Twilight, Ben, anyone?” Pinkie Pie stated off in thinking of a way that they can get out of here easily.

“I’m sorry, but even from our return magic, I’m too poof to cast a spell.” Twilight shook her head that she doesn’t have enough magic to pull that off.

“And we’re pretty much spent ourselves, so now what?” Ben sighs to admit they are spent from fighting a tough battle against Loki.

“I can…get us out.” Someone spoke, but when everyone turn around to see who said that, they found it was Loki that spoke.

“You! You tried to toy with us in crazy stuff & you expect us to believe you?” Rainbow Dash snapped off in not about to trust the guy that cause this problem to begin with.

“Please….Loki was ever wanting to be rid of his curse all this time.” Munchkin One steps up to have the group understand why Loki did all of this.

“He can help get us all out, his cane should have enough to help levitate us.” Munchkin Two stated that Loki can help get them out of here if they let him.

“An wha makes ye think he honestly not let us drop?” Applejack raised an eyebrow in not knowing if Loki will drop them & perish when they hit dirt.

“Cause we’ll hang onto you, cause we’re his friends.” The Munchkin Brothers stated to say this in putting their lives on the line cause they trust Loki.

The group was having a hard time deciding if Loki wanting to help them escape was another trick or not, but there was no time.

“Alright, we’ll let him fix this mess, but if he tries something….his time will be UP FOR GOOD!” Pinkamena stated off in making this an acceptation, but if Loki doesn’t owe up to what the Munchkin Brothers value their lives to believe in the guy, then she’ll make Loki very sorry.

Soon Loki took his cane to use a little spell to help them all float off the ground. Then everyone soon flew off to escape with their lives out the tower window. Everyone escaped the tower that was falling down entirely from all the damage as everyone had escaped. Everyone soar through the skies as they were making their way to travel back towards Ponyville. As everything began to fade out, something strangely interesting may begin to happen…next time around…

Author's Note

Loki A. Fool's Equestrian Human appearance is base around Marvel Loki's look, especially from Marvel Disk Wars.

At last, it's over. In the final chapter, everything in Equestria returns to normal as Loki's illusion spell fads away. And once more, Loki seems to have been...reformed. From something that he acknowledges that truly best'd him in the end. So how will things go from here, stay tune, cause it'll be up very soon!

Chapter 08: Lesson for A Fool

The scene shows Loki A. Fool flying with those that were both his captives & his foes. After being defeated & lost to Ben’s Rescue Team with rescuing the Mane Six & the fall of the Castle of Illusion. Loki was trying to ponder how things went wrong, how did Equestrians defeated him, a Mystic who had more magic, was there something...special about this particular group. Was it from mostly their chosen Elements they wielded or was there something even Loki wasn’t seeing that perhaps…he needs but simply ask the question.

“Is it…is it alright if I ask something?” Loki spoke towards the group in wanting to ask the ones here a question. “How?” He asked this simple question out of nowhere.

“How what?” Phobos raised an eyebrow to the ex-enemy here.

“How was it that you overcame everything I threw at you? My world of illusions, my bizarre creatures, my Gem Keepers, all of it? And in the end, you defeated me…a Mystic?” Loki asked off in how those that were a part of the Rescue Team managed to do what they did, beat everything the trickster threw at those that should have lost, how did they do such an achievement.

“Actually, we were just trying to rescue back those we cared about.” Adult Nyx simply stated about what they were doing from the start.

“Right, Twilight’s family to us. And the others are our friends. We couldn’t just leave them.” Spike stated off in what they were doing that was right.

“Your…friends…& family?” Loki raised an eyebrow in hearing what they seek'd all this time, the group wanted back those who were friends & family.

“Sure, when you have those that care about you, life isn’t all bad. You even got these Munchkin guys with you.” Pinkamena smiled off to pat the heads of the Munchkin Brothers in making this statement for Loki to get.

“Those who care for you, I doubt that means something for me.” Loki looked away in stating this dry fact about such things. “The Jade Emperor banished me because I lack self-control to stop foolish acts around when my fun & entertainment for all became too dangerous & he cursed me.” He issued off in being annoyed by how things went for him & was cursed because of it.

“Maybe it’s because it was to teach you a lesson, maybe he wanted you to reflect your actions and…mature a little.” Goldie stated in what the Jade Emperor was trying to teach Loki what he was lacking.

“But my way was always the most fun, no one understood what I wanted!” Loki protest to state his claim over the matter.

“But did that even help you keep those to be your friends?” Twilight asked off to say which earn Loki’s attention. “Think about how you put us through, what if we did that to you, would you like it?” If Loki was treated in such a way, would it be ‘fun’ & ‘entertaining’ to be a part of such a bizarre act.

“I…I guess not. When I picture it.” Loki slowly look down in feeling a bit bad when he comes to realize that.

“Right, ye try constantly doing stuff ye force into.” Applejack nodded off in knowing what they almost went through nearly became the end of the Mane Six.

“And nearly hurt in the process that is traumatizing.” Rarity stated off in knowing what was too much for them to handle.

“Right, maybe you need to know how to be more in control of the fun, so that everyone can have fun.” Pinkie Pie nodded off to state this fact of what would be better in a cheeky manner of speaking.

“Everyone…can have…fun?” Loki raised an eyebrow in having heard the pink pony say such a thing.

“Right, if someone is doing something they shouldn’t be doing, a good & loyal friend helps you see through it.” Rainbow Dash stated to say in how things can be fixed in a loyal friend that is there to straighten up the guy in need of it.

“And, well…maybe if you not put ponies in danger with your illusions, maybe you can do something that you can enjoy that’s for everyone & not just for you.” Fluttershy shyly spoke meekly in stating this fact of what Loki can do that would better him & others.

At that particular moment, even a Mystic as old as Loki had to reflect upon his defeat & why it was so. He may have learned something that he never understood from not having enough self-control. That there was more magic powerful than anything Loki could conjure with his illusions & exploit it all in meaningless fun. The gang also knew of it as well & even after what Loki put them all through, they told him of the secret that seem to hit Loki in a place he never felt before…his heart.

“Perhaps…all these years of vengefully seeking a cure for my curse….lead me nowhere.” Loki spoke off to say this in feeling somewhat regrettable of where he stands. “And so I’ve been plotting to give my misery to everyone in Equestria.” He stated in feeling regretful in the action he’s done that’s come to this.

“Loki?” The Munchkin Brothers spoke off in having seen Loki think so seriously about this.

“Truly, perhaps after all these years…all this time, I’ve been saying everyone else was a fool.” Loki stated to say this in starting to see things a bit more clearer than every by himself. “But perhaps, the biggest fool around wasn’t anyone around my presence…it was only me, in the end. Could it even be possible, to begin anew?” Loki admits his fault, & wishes that he could change so that it would be better…for everyone.

From Loki’s matter of reforming his actions, he felt a different kind of magic…it was a feeling of love & friendship. Perhaps learning self-control isn’t a bad thing & fun can’t be restricted, just…level it out of what is nice fun against the dangerous kind of fun. At that moment, the silly jester outfit suddenly was disappearing into particles of light, surprising everyone & they saw what Loki’s cutie mark was; a smile & sad masks for plays. Loki was amazed as well, his curse was lifted, was it perhaps he’s reform of his mischievous actions.

“My…curse…it’s gone! How?” Loki replied off shock, how was this possible?

“Perhaps you just solve a riddle that you yourself finally wise up to learn. That you needed to change instead of staying the same old ‘fool’ the Jade Emperor saw you becoming.” Armor Stark explained off what maybe Loki learn was something that was his hardest task to do; admitting he’s wrong about something & giving in that he lack self-control.

“Unbelievable…I’m no longer in that ridiculous jester costume.” Loki slowly stated in still finding this very hard to believe even for himself.

“But it may return, if you don’t decide to change for good.” Light Gemini spoke off in stating if Loki doesn’t change himself, that jester outfit may come back.

“So you best keep to being reform if you don’t want that.” Dark Gemini issued off that if Loki doesn’t wanna wear such an outfit, he best change for the better.

“Yes…I see clearly now.” Loki slowly stated in following along the pattern.

“Loki.” The Munchkin Brothers spoke towards Loki in what was about to happen next here.

“Thank you both for always being my friends even under my harsh behavior on you.” Loki spoke to the Munchkins in feeling like he wanted to ask for forgiveness from those he didn’t treat right. “I feel…glad to stop being so foolish to mature a bit.” He stated in feeling glad that he could now see the error of his foolish act.

“Aw, gee Loki…” Munchkin One blush a bit in having heard such nice things.

“You’re welcome…” Munchkin Two replied off to say in being glad to hear this.

Wasn’t long before Loki brought the group to the outskirts of Ponyville, stating that the illusion over it should have disbanded by now; with farewells & goodbyes & wishing Loki & his two Munchkin friends luck in where they head off to, the trickster flew up into the skies & then vanished without a trace. Everything begins to fade out while those on the hill turn to head down towards Ponyville.

The scene opens towards Ponyville in where everyone that was under an illusion were slowly getting back to their senses now. Even the Royal Sisters were back to normal to see no one is seeing what isn’t there. Then arriving on the scene was those that were gone for everyone to notice their return. Even Nyx had reverted to her filly form and Armor Stark was back to walking around as a pony than in a big mech-suit of armor.

“Twilight….Ben…thank goodness your safety.” Celestia sighs in relief to seeing those here are safe.

“Thou are not hurt, tell us what has become of our state of confusion?” Luna asked forth in liking an answer to their question.

“It’s a long, & tricky story.” Twilight shook her head off in stating it’s a long story, & very tricky to tell concerning a certain trickster.

“Involving a guy named Loki A. Fool.” Phobos pointed out in mentioning the name of the guy who caused the problem.

“Who kidnapped mommy & my aunts,” Nyx stated off in also mentioning what happened at the time.

“But we beat him & now he’s a reform bad guy.” Spike declared that after they beat Loki, things got better & Loki might be a reformed Mystic from his earlier actions.

“My word, you all certainly have been busy. Even we recall having heard of Loki.” Celestia responded in being surprised by those that have managed to face & defeat someone like Loki.

“You even have with you two powerful Element Users: Armor Stark & Gemini Sparks.” Luna stated in knowing who else is present, those that have very powerful elements on their side.

“That’s nothing compared to what else we had to tolerate with.” Rainbow Dash waved off in stating how much they have been through with Loki.

“Believe us, we rather leave dat part out, if an ye don’t mind.” Applejack rolled her eyes in thinking they leave out the part involving the weird entertainment Loki was giving them.

“But thank goodness it’s finally over! And everyone in town is better, right?” Rarity spoke off to say this in relief while being curious of if all are doing okay.

“Looks like it, they aren’t attacking or acting weird. So, it’s a yes to the question!” Pinkie Pie replied off to say in seeing that no one was acting weird.

“Then I guess the illusion really is gone.” Fluttershy smiled off to say in seeing how things gone.

“How about we make some discussions back at Rainbow Castle?” Armor Stark stated in what they do now to take this conversation elsewhere.

“Hey yah, besides…we felt like we haven’t eaten anything in three days.” Phobos stated off to say in holding his tummy from feeling a lack of food; three days on a rescue mission & this was the limit to that.

“Guess when we go through those illusion worlds, we’re not able to tell how long it’s been.” Spike rub the back of his head in feeling like the three days they been at the Castle of Illusion didn’t affect them until just about near the end.

“Well it sounds like a plan.” Light Gemini replied off in thinking that plan sounded good.

“Right, let’s go see the palace.” Dark Gemini nodded off in liking to see Rainbow Castle.

“You guys coming with us?” Ben looked to Pinkamena & Golden Heart if they are coming with them.

“Sorry, but we gotta check up on Omega & the others.” Pinkamena shook her head off to decline the invite, as they gotta meet with their other friends.

“But for now, we’re just glad everything is back to normal.” Goldie smiled off to say this in how glad they are fines have calmly return to normal.

“Take care then!” Twilight replied off in wishing these guys a good time after everything.

Soon the Mane Six were moving along to take their conversation with the Royal Sisters back to Rainbow Castle. Golden Heart & Pinkamena soon were leaving to find their other group members at this time.

“Look, there they are!” Jack Zen’s voice was heard before he, Omega, Sombra & Autumn Gem came up to stand before Goldie & Pinkamena.

“Mistress, you & your brother have return.” Omega spoke off in being glad that those here have return.

“Yep, so tell me…was everything peaceful?” Pinkamena smiled off to nod while liking to know how things have been while they been away.

“No enemy attacked when everyone was under the illusion effect.” Sombra explained forth the good news that nothing bad had happened during a time of confusion.

“Right, the other Element Users in town also help with the defense.” Autumn Gem stated off in what was happening that they had some help during such an issue.

“And what about Azure?” Pinkamena asked off in wondering how her Kirin Dragon pal was doing.

“He’s fine.” Both Sombra & Autumn Gem stated in union about the one big Dragon that Pinkamena would ask about in the end.

“He has watch out for enemy sights in the skies & is resting now when the matter was over.” Omega stated in what Azure was doing before returning to rest.

“Well I’ll thank him the next time I go up and visit him.” Pinkamena smiled off in what she’ll do the next time she sees her Kirin Dragon pal.

“For now, I feel like having a long rest after going from one world of illusion to the next.” Goldie sighs in feeling exhausted from so much work that was kinda tiring for him.

“Oh my, it must have been hard!” Autumn Gem responded in not even knowing what this bunch has been through.

“You must tell us about it when you’re up for it.” Sombra stated to say that those here can tell them more when they have rested.

“You bet & we got new allies that are sure to be a great help in the upcoming future battles against our enemies.” Pinkamena smiled to nod in saying this in how things are gonna be in the future with more allies that use Elements.

“I am looking forward to such an event.” Omega replied off in finding such things to be a nice thing to think about in hearing.

“But for now, let’s head back. I think we all had enough excitement from what we saw as mere illusions.” Jack Zen stated in feeling it’s time to get back after having such a busy time from what event Loki pulled over them.

With that, Goldie’s group begins to leave the scene while hearing a few things that happened as they left. The scene darkens right now in slowly closing things here, as for what happens next shall be more interesting along the way…

At this time back at Rainbow Castle, Twilight had long explained things in detail information about what was going on as Loki’s captives in order to free himself of a curse the Jade Emperor put on Loki. Ben even filled in the details of the strange, mysterious wonders that he & a ragtag group of rescuers went off to save the six mares in peril. Plus, while that was already over, Armor Stark & Gemini Sparks were going over background stories in how they each became Element Bearers.

“So as you now know, I was born under the Stark family, taught a few things since the day I could walk and talk. One of the interesting abilities I shown was promise of mind and how to make technology that could be so complex to be even for my age, even to figure out science methods to help others.” Armor Stark explained off in how he came to be the child of a wealthy family while also having a talent with his mind for inventing & making tech.

“So then one day, your father, Howard, asked you to figure out a compelling mathematical equation that was place in an old abandon facility that use to make weapons during times of war?” Nyx asked off in recalling how the story went that they were told that Armor Stark went through.

“Right, I not only solve the math problem, but uncovered a secret room that had an altar where a strange ‘power-core unit’ rested. It was labeled Element pf Armor, fourth strongest of the Weapon Element Class, and gave details about how with this core: ‘a user could create powerful armors of any shape, figure and form for battle, but only if they are one’.” Armor Stark responded off in explaining how he had to understand something of a core-power unit, to make an armor move.

“The one…what?” Phobos repeated off in not getting the weird riddle clue they heard.

“Shhh, let him finish.” Spike hushed Phobos so they can hear more.

“So I put a theory to the test that to so willingly use an element, had to build an armor to which the core could function right, and so I did with the piles of junk the room had.” Armor Stark stated off that he built his first armor with whatever was left around that he could use, even if it was all junk.

“With junk? Come on, even I know that’s like a foal’s idea to make a not-so-good armor.” Rainbow Dash stated off in finding that to be the hardest bit to absorb.

“How in blazes did ye work with scarp metals?” Applejack asked off in how Armor Stark even got his first armor to work with his parts nothing but junk.

“Hey, you work with whatever you got.” Armor Stark shrug off to say that building something with what you got ain’t easy…unless you’re a genius. “From having built a first mech-armor suit and used the core to power it, as a colt, took it for a test drive, and it was working…what could have been out of everyone’s current brainiac minds, I figured out. But at the same time, the core then fuse with me as I let out a scream before crashing on the ground, and when I came to…a Cutie Mark appeared on my flank in showing what I am now; the new Element Wielder to Armor.” He explained in what happened next, & how something unexpected happened that the core fuse with him, even to point it as it was the one on his flank now as his Cutie Mark.

“My word; that is something extraordinary!” Rarity gasped forth in finding this so exciting to hear.

“So over the next couple of years, my fame grew, along with a little ego, but my Armor designs to which best suited for the Element of Armor, made me a powerful foe against many enemies across Equestria; even to go toe to toe against supernatural magic users of all kinds. I’ve kept building and improving to which I have armor that can even fight against Mystics & Dark Mystics.” Armor Stark continued to explain his story in what he’s done since then to use what he’s build to better Equestria against those that would do it harm.

“So as years gone by, you’ve become a fine business stallion of Stark International to provide ways of helping ponies with their advance tech while the owner & present you, plays hero in the citizens eyes and also doing when you…Armors-Up to go into action. Hugh….right?” Pinkie Pie explained off the last part of the story before taking a deep breather at the moment of being done.

“Right on the money, Pinkie Pie.” Armor Stark replied off in seeing Pinkie Pie had that all down.

“Wait, am I sitting on a fortune? I don’t think so?” Pinkie Pie replied off to check under her seat, there was no money.

“It’s an expression.” Armor Stark pointed out in filing in the random pony that earn some laughs.

“And you now know about us or rather…myself. I was but a lonely colt without any siblings as I lived life in Yan Hoover. My father & mother were just basic local doctors that ran a small clinic in the area. It was a hard living and there were not much business, but the family was just holding out to continue living.” Light Gemini spoke up in having explained their own story of how he & his other twin came to be by what was first a beginning where two was only one.

“But a day came when some thugs came to town, and were wrecking the place that even the authorities couldn’t stop their daily visits.” Dark Gemini stated in what happened to them around the time of one’s past.

“While the clinic was busy, I felt like this was wrong that we shouldn’t be this busy when we are only so few and believed those that caused the damage should be stopped. Even if by one brave colt, I left the clinic to go out searching for where the thugs were located.” Light Gemini stated off that he couldn’t let an action continue, & set off to fix it even when as a colt, being on one’s own.

“But he discovered a secret tunnel that goes underneath of Tall Tale that leads near Smokey Mountain in where they are located. He ventured there, but soon fell into a deep hole that lead him to something underneath Tall Tale; a hidden altar chamber with what looks like twin figures in every corner & those representing elements earth, fire, wind, water, ice, lightning, dark & light, and so forth.” Dark Gemini explained another part of the story of when they are one had stubble across something which lead to something else of where the certain element was place.

“As I approached the altar, found what look like a gem with a swirling vortex of rainbow colors in the center. And once I touched it, there was a voice in responding to my deepest wish ‘One who wants another, can be another…as two are one.’ Then the gem burst with several rainbow colors swirling and fusing with my body, changing my outer form a bit and granting me a Cutie Mark symbol.” Light Gemini stated in what happened when he found the object & how it did something to him before being knocked out.

“When he woke up, he discovered he wasn’t alone as he had me for company then.” Dark Gemini stated off with a smile in what happened that his light half soon had his other half seen. “While he was confused, I explained I was him as because he is the Element of Twin, and gain me life to be a twin sibling to one who had none.” He pointed out how thanks to one of them, when the one pony became an element bearer, it gave birth to a lonely pony without siblings…one who be his own twin.

“From closer looking, I saw I and my newborn ’twin’ were different by a light & dark color patterns. Once becoming a new wielder of an element, did I learn of all there is to know, we set off…and unleashed our newest abilities to which felt was like a dream, but it was real.” Light Gemini explained off the next course of what the two did soon afterwards.

“Yah…Soon the thugs were defeated, brought back to Yan Hoover where they would go through trial and sentence to community service. He, or rather us, were seen as the first spark of hope in that little town, even to his parents who were proud of him, or in this case, proud to have a second child like me in the family.” Dark Gemini issued off that in the next part, they had taken care of the thug matter & the family grew with a second child.

“And since then, the two of us work together and even became known as…Gemini Spark.” Light Gemini stated off in what was the conclusion to their story of how the twins became who they are.

“The Twin of Light & the Twin of Dark. In short, The Twins of Light & Dark, when seen together.” Dark Gemini explained how each twin has their own separate title, but together means something else.

“Even I have to admit, that is a crazy story to believe.” Twilight stated to say in having heard Gemini Sparks story, it was amazing. “But seeing how strong you both are, there’s no questions needed.” She stated that with Gemini Sparks, the twin factor of such an element to use things related by a twin side was amazing.

“So, what are your plans now?” Ben asked off in what the two new allies they made are gonna do now.

“Well let’s see, I think I’ll keep having Stark International help out things around Equestrian.” Armor Stark spoke up in having come across an idea he’ll be doing for the time being. “But you shouldn’t worry, we’re friends here. Which means that if you need help, then I’ll be able to come when you need a guy with the right tech to get the job done. I’ll just push my schedule back when the world is endangered.” He stated off that if those here need him, then he’ll gladly offer some aid, even to make a little humor joke along the way.

“And you don’t have to worry, we’re good friends too if you need us.” Light Gemini stated that if the group need them, then they shall also assist as well.

“If you need us, we’ll be on the ‘radio’ touch to listen in.” Dark Gemini pointed out to say this in how to reach them, by a radio transmission kinda calling.

“We thank you all for having done so much in our hour of confusion.” Celestia smiled off in being thankful that these new allies have helped her son out in saving Twilight & the rest.

“Indeed, we hope to see both of you, or…the three of you someday.” Luna was stating before she corrected herself that Gemini Sparks was two, not one, so she change her count of him with Armor Stark.

Soon everyone came near the exit of Rainbow Castle, & soon were saying farewell to their new allies. Armor Stark took off in his Space Armor in making off, with style, as one would expect. Gemini Sparks both wave their hooves farewell before vanishing without a trace, that’s some super warp speed they got.

“Think we’ll come across them again?” Applejack asked off in seeing those new allies of theirs again.

“I’m hoping so AJ, they got a lot packing!” Rainbow Dash smiled off in liking what was seen by both of those guys.

“And they did help stop Loki with Ben & the others.” Rarity stated that if those that can even defeat a Mystic are on their side, then they can be grateful to have such allies against evil forces.

“And in the end, Loki’s turn over a new perspective.” Pinkie Pie smiled off in stating what else has happened along the way.

“I hope everyone will be much happier now.” Fluttershy smiled off to say in being curious of the case itself.

“You think Loki has changed?” Phobos asked if Loki A. Fool will be a better person from now on.

“Everyone deserves another chance Phobos.” Nyx stated to remind her pet pal of such lessons.

“Right, just recall the other reformed foes we faced.” Spike nodded off in recalling those that they faced & those that started with a second chance.

“Well, at least we’re all back home together.” Ben smiled to say that in the end, they are all home with those they care about.

“I for one, am glad. And here’s something for saving me.” Twilight nodded off in hearing Ben’s claim before turning to give something to her lover.

Soon without warning, Twilight then leans in to give Ben a little kiss on his lips. Ben felt happy and continued to let it play off. The others saw this to ‘awe’ at such a happy little moment between lovers. Phobos of course rolled his eyes at this while eating a gem. Soon the scene begin to zoom away from Ponyville, as everything & everyone appears to be happily going about their lives. Soon things begin to fade out as this was one view of a happy little matter, that is no…illusion…

Unknown to everyone, the mysterious stallion from before was watching, chuckling as he changes into his real form, saying, “You did good, my friends.” The stallion looks to the skies as well. “Loki A. Fool, my grandson, I hope for the day that you can return home.”

And thus, the mysterious stallion, now revealed to be the Jade Emperor, disappeared from sight, returning to the Mystic Realm, having done his role in saving Equestria from his grandson’s foolishness and bringing Loki A. Fool one step closer to ending his own exile…

The End

Author's Note

Major Cast List
Jason Marsden: Ben Mare
Daveigh Chase: Nyx
Tabitha St. Germain: Adult Nyx, Rarity, Princess Luna, Mrs. Cake
Cathy Weseluck: Spike the Dragon
Chris Sanders: Phobos the Dragon
Andrea Libman: Pinkamena Diane Pie, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy
Orlando Bloom: Golden Heart
Adrian Pasdar: Armor Stark
David Kaye: JARVIS
Patrick Seitz: Light Gemini
Atsushi Kisaichi: Dark Gemini
Tara Strong: Twilight Sparkle
Ashleigh Ball: Rainbow Dash, Applejack
Martin Short: Loki A. Fool
Matt Lucas: Munchkin Brothers
Kevin Michael Richardson: Wood Beast
Frank Welker: Shaco, The Licorice Dragon, Ghost
Tony Anselmo: Sea Monkeys
Brad Garrett: Oafish Clock Maker

Minor Cast List
Nicole Oliver: Princess Celestia
Scott McNeil: Tough Apple
Brian Drummond: Jack Zen, Mr. Cake
Jim Miller: Sombra
Lara Jill Miller: Autumn Gem
Vic Mignogna: Omega
James Arnold Taylor: Fred Flintstoneward
Jeff Bergman: Barney Rubblestone, Various Colts
Lee Tockbar: Snips
Richard Ian Cox: Snails
Michelle Creber: Various Fillies
Claire Corlett: Various Fillies
Madeline Peters: Various Fillies
Cody Ruegger: Various Colts
Nathan Ruegger: Various Colts
William Lawrenson: Various Colts

With special voice appearance by
George Takei: The Jade Emperor

And there we go, this chapter is now complete! Thanks to VISION-KING for helping out. And now, here is the next fan-fic…

“True Harmony at Last? (Short story; takes place after What about Discord?): Discord, although reformed, still feels regret for his actions in The Return of Harmony and for always causing trouble. He decides that he must spend time with the Mane Six and try not to let any chaos ruin things for him. Can the Mane Six comfort him and reassure him that he is still their friend?”

Another Discord short story apparently. Let’s see how this goes. Until next time, read, review and suggest!

Chapter 01: Blind-Eye to Illusions

Pony of Illusions

Chapter 01: Blind-Eye to Illusions

At this time, we focus on what looks like a lovely day that was going by peacefully within Ponyville. And at the moment, we find two ponies on the balcony of Rainbow Castle seemingly chatting. Right now, one of them was Twilight Sparkle, but the other one, was a different character. He appears like a Unicorn stallion with tan/dark red fur coat, well-manner short mane & straighten tail that are both jet black color, and turquoise blue color eyes. He appears a bit on a well-fit build body, wears a gray & white stripe business vest, and he appears to be quite the handsome charmer from a certain viewpoint. And on his flank is a strange Cutie Mark, a blue sphere with a triangle symbol, and it seems to be an active source of power; as it stating more than a talent, but something…more. And from what was gather on this picture, something interesting was going on.

“I must say, Armor Stark, your visit with us seems to be…well, surprising.” Twilight lightly spoke off in seeing how things have gone at this time.

“I’ll take that as a compliment, Mrs. Sparkle.” Armor Stark responded off with the upmost kind reply to the question at hand.

“What you brought and what you’re able to build, the tech, it’s amazing!” Twilight stated in being almost amazed by what this pony has brought into their lives at this moment.

“Again, glad to be of help.” Armor Stark smiled off to say this in accepting such warm responses.

“Augh, I feel like I’m gonna hurl.” Phobos groans to say as he, Spike, Nyx & Ben along with the Mane Six watch this from inside the palace. Twilight and Armor Stark were discussing boring stuff and it sounded like nerd stuff.

“Come on Phobos, he’s a nice guy?” Nyx asked off her Dragon pet pal to be nice here.

“Nyx is right. He’s been pretty good to us since he came.” Spike nodded off to say this in how they have seen this guy so far.

“At least I know he’s not stealing Twilight from me, he’s at least knowing that she loves me very much.” Ben spoke off in being glad their new friend isn’t trying to take the mare he loves, even if Armor Stark looks like he be popular with the mares.

“You know, speaking about how great the guy is, I remember it like it was yesterday!” Pinkie Pie spoke off in feeling like it was only yesterday when things were starting.

“Pinkie Pie, it was two days ago.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes to remind her friend that they met Armor Stark two days ago today.

“Oh right! But can I still remember it?” Pinkie Pie replied off to say while wondering if she can still look over that.

“May as well darling.” Rarity shrug off to say that it may as well be alright.

“Ye would have brought it up anyway.” Applejack rolled her eyes in thinking there was no use stopping Pinkie Pie once she wants to start something.

“Oh, I don’t mind remembering.” Fluttershy spoke off to say this in liking to recall such moments.

“Okay, so let’s see. It all started one morning two days ago.” Pinkie Pie smiled off to say in getting herself ready for how things went by just two days ago….

The PAST: TWO DAYS AGO

We see the Rainbow Castle where the Sparkle Family was doing their regular things; Twilight reading books, Ben playing with his wolf cub, Nyx doing her studies while Spike & Phobos do a little chore work around the castle. But then the usual Royal Guards; Fred & Barney, pops in from looking like something major has occurred.

“You’re highnesses! We got an emergency!” Fred spoke out in having something urgent to report here.

“Ugh, yeah! A Big celebrity has come into town!” Barney nodded off in stating someone famous is in the neighborhood.

“Really, who would that be?” Twilight asked off in being interested to know a bit more.

“Just come out and see for yourself?! Fred stated off that it’s better that the royals here see this for themselves.

“Right, he’s gotten the attention of crowds already.” Barney nodded off in mentioning this as something to be seen.

The Sparkle Family leaves to find the soon to be known Armor Stark as he was showing off magical tech for the crowds and the kids to 'wow' over. Even allowed Snips & Snails to try a sphere tech with a hole in the center in where unicorns practice their levitation to aim and land the thing on the other unicorn’s head.

“Oh man, this is SO COOL!” Snips replied off in looking like he was having the time of his life.

“Yah, it’s pretty AWESOME!” Snails replied off in happily enjoying this gizmo.

“Wait till you try this baby out!” Armor Stark stated to say in showing another little surprise to get the crowd wowing him more. As he shows more of his little ‘toys’ for the kids to adore.

“Cool!” The colts and fillies responded off in seeing the new device, and all of them wanted to try it out.

With everyone being impressed with different tech from mane curlers, vibrating pads for back pains, the new visitor was a hit wonder. But it wasn’t long before Armor Stark soon meets the Sparkle Family that was watching the events from afar.

“Ah, I see I’ve attracted royal attention. Like to try this or prefer something a little more….intriguing?” Armor Stark spoke towards the Sparkle Family while holding out a magic disc with a center stone. “Gem Puzzle Matcher is a few game that will guaranteed a child’s mind, to be very sharp.” He stated in what was gonna be a good game to help keep one’s mind sharp by being active.

“Wait, you can use gems to sharpen minds? I thought they were for eating with Dragons?” Phobos asked off puzzled in not understanding this sorta stuff with his limited intelligence.

“Not really, this is a magic hologram of gems in a stack puzzle, you match one with three to earn points.” Armor Stark explained while using his next tech device to show different shape gems, and how one can match three gems to get points by using their heads.

“Oh, let me try!” Nyx spoke out to suddenly try to play the nifty little game.

“Be my guest.” Armor Stark handed the object to Nyx, as the black filly was playing it through.

“Wow, she’s already gotten five in a row!” Spike spoke out amazed in seeing how fast Nyx has gotten through.

“Oh! She’s got a bonus, nice!” Phobos whistled out in seeing how good Nyx was getting into this.

“Um, can I ask…Who are you?” Ben slowly was looking from the game his daughter was playing to who this new pony was in giving out such things.

“Armor Stark, business stallion of Stark International.” Armor Stark introduced himself for those that do not know him.

“Hugh! The Stark International? I’ve only heard about it from recent gossip!” Twilight gasped off in realizing who this guy was, and the smart mare knows very much who this guy is. “Your company provides ways of helping ponies with your advance tech. And that you play the hero before all citizens.” She was pointing out all of the facts about this guy of who he is from being a famous company stallion of business in tech areas.

“Guilty as charge, Princess Twilight.” Armor Stark shrug off to say in being the friendly straight guy here. “Why don’t we talk this over someplace with a little something to eat?” He stated off in thinking they talk more where it’s not so noisy here with cheering crowds loving his little tech displays.

One Hour Later…

The scene changes to Sugarcube Corner where the rest of the Mane Six gather with the Sparkle Family seen, and with Armor Stark joining them. They were all enjoying a little bit of their order of some sugar treats brought out by Mrs. Cake while Mr. Cake handled the register and their twins; Pound & Pumpkin Cake. Pretty much, the gang were learning some more things about their new friend, Armor Stark.

“I’ve heard much about you all, how you’ve faced some heavy problems, well you can rest easier knowing that’ll be in the past.” Armor Stark was speaking about how he’s heard much about the Mane Six and friends, and like to help them out with their problem. “Um Mrs. Cake, another pastry round please. And here’s a tip for the good waitering.” As Armor Stark spoke off, he used his magic to make a big sack filled with coins land on the counter by the Cake Family.

“Oh my, this is more than my usual tip! Thank you sir!” Mrs. Cake yelps in surprise, this is a lot of money than her usual tipping, but she’s grateful.

“Holy Cupcakes! Th-that’s enough to feed us for 3 mouths!” Mr. Cake responded off to say while the babies were trying to nibble on the coins thinking they were made of chocolate.

“Ye sure like ta use yer fame & wealth ta get around, don’t yah partner?” Applejack raised an eyebrow in seeing how easy going this new fella is.

“Well I for one marvel at it, he’s a gentleman pony after all.” Rarity smiled off in finding this little display to be a classic show of a gentleman.

“Funny how after everything we told you about our problems with our major enemies, you seem like you’re not bothered.” Rainbow Dash stated in noticing how even with such big threats, Armor Stark isn’t looking too worried.

“I know, who can be serious with all these pastries around? Ah-chomp!” Pinkie Pie smiled before taking a bite of her sweets, much to the puzzlement of the others.

“So Twilight, let’s talk business in helping Ponyville move into the next century.” Armor Stark spoke off to say in making the subject focus around the more bigger picture. “As Celestia’s top student, surely you wanted to use your smarts to help better the ponies’ lives that are in danger of any threats.” He stated in knowing how Twilight wants to protect those from harm.

“That’s true.” Twilight nodded off in agreeing on the topic.

“Well as one user to the next, we each gotta help one out.” Armor Stark spoke off in getting on the down low of the topic of things.

“What do you mean, one user to another? I can follow language statements of how bookworms chat, but…that seem off.” Ben raised an eyebrow in not following what Armor Stark was speaking here.

“Oh, didn’t you know how I am a hero?” Armor Stark look to Ben in stating that he never said how he became a hero to begin with. “Because like many of you, I also have an Element in me, this cutie mark of mine is proof of that.” He pointed to his flank in showing his Cutie Mark that flash up ever of so often as proof of who he is.

“You’re an Element User too?” Spike asked of surprise to learn this without warning here.

“Hugh, now that I look closely at it, do Cutie Marks do a weird…glow work from time to time?” Phobos asked off in finding that Armor Stark’s little cutie mark seems the most strange from the usual types.

“That’s cause it’s an active source of power, for something around a weapon type model one can wear, like armor. Hence forth, the Element of Armor.” Armor Stark stated off to explain his Cutie Mark has a vast amount of power to give him the edge in powering his weapons to be on hand, and it was more around an armor type than a sword, axe, spear, or shield.

This made everyone feel surprised, they never knew that armor could be used as an element, well sure some blacksmiths forge armors with different element type materials, but that’s a different story. Maybe they’ll come to know what sorta surprises Armor Stark can show them when he goes into his Armor Mode or something.

“Well for now, how’s about we look over your Royal Guards basic equipment and see if maybe some improvements on shields and spears can help them out?” Armor Stark smiled off in thinking it’s time they head off towards Rainbow Castle to see if there’s anything he can do to help those in need of tech upgrades.

“Oh, well yes of course.” Twilight nodded off to say this in feeling honor to do something like that.

Soon Armor Stark was getting up to head out the door with more of the gang to follow along. The scene darkens here as if showing an ending to what’s next to come…

BACK IN THE PRESENT

“And boy have we got nifty new stuff, even Dashie’s got a new lap-top!” Pinkie Pie smiled off in commenting on the things Armor Stark has given them. “Okay, it’s still her current one, but it’s new!”

“Yah, he did improve my old one, now it runs twice as fast.” Rainbow Dash smiled off in thinking how cool her lap-top can run now.

“He help make Tough’s MechaBull run smoother, dat’s fer sure.” AJ smiled off to simply state this off in what else has been going on.

“And the idea of new tech has inspire my next fashion line.” Rarity smiled for in having developed something new for the occasion.

“I wonder if he might help me with my animals.” Fluttershy pondered to think that maybe Armor Stark and his tech can help with her animal needs…if he doesn’t mind.

“Well Mr. Stark, we’re glad you’ve been able to help us out.” Twilight smiled off to say this in feeling glad to have this new stallion around.

“No problem, after all, my company is here to help all in need.” Armor Stark issued forth in mentioning this of what he’s simply doing to better all pony kind.

Just when things were going well, Fred & Barney burst into the room with worried looks on their faces.

“Your highnesses! Something’s happening again!” Fred stated off to break the bad news of what’s going on.

“What, another celebrity arrival?” Phobos rolled his eyes in thinking that’s the next emergency.

“Nope, all the ponies in town are acting strange.” Barney shook his head to explain about something odd going on.

“Acting strange?” Spike repeated off to raise an eyebrow; that does sound strange to them.

“The Royal Sisters are checking it out, but…” Fred pointed out in stating that Celestia & Luna were on the case, but…

“Something happened and now they’re…” Barney was about to say something, but was cut off before he could.

“Twilight, we have to go and see what’s wrong with mom and the town’s folks!” Ben cuts in from sounding worried, they may need help.

“Right! Sorry Armor Stark, we’ll have to finish this discussion later.” Twilight spoke off to say while ending her time in chatting with Armor Stark now.

“Well, sure thing…I’ll just sit tight here…” Armor Stark responded to say while watching everyone else leave him. “And also look into the matter.” He stated to say this in looking out a window in sounding…serious.

Then a little light escape from the balcony from where Armor Stark was, as it may seem like the guy will be active soon. And everything goes dark at this time from what else was about to happen here…

Within Ponyville, as the gang was reaching the center of the town, they saw some strange things. Everyone either had strange looks in their eyes and they were behaving weirdly. For example, many were laughing like there was no tomorrow and they couldn’t help themselves.

“What’s with this scene?” Rainbow Dash asked off in seeing the weirdness of this level.

“Why is everyone laughing? Did we miss a joke?” Pinkie Pie asked off in seeing many were laughing uncontrollably, did they miss hearing something funny or what.

“Ah doubt we did.” Applejack rolled her eyes in thinking that be impossible to think.

“And look, some ponies are not laughing, but behaving strangely still!” Rarity stated in seeing what else was going on with more ponies that were either arguing or fighting, or acting scared; what is this?

“There’s Celestia & Luna!” Twilight pointed in seeing the Royal Sisters ahead of them.

The gang approach the spot Celestia & Luna stood, hoping to get answers but were unaware that the Royal Sisters seem to show eyes as if…they were unwell.

“Keep away, you won’t have them!” Celestia shouted off in trying to protect something she believes to be holding in her hooves.

“Have who, mom?” Ben asked off puzzled in seeing his mother was acting weird here.

“Ben, where are you?” Celestia asked off looking puzzled as if feeling lost and confused to leave the group to search…

“I’m right here!” Ben called out, but Celestia flew off…what was that about, she barely even notice his presence.

“Princess Luna!” Twilight spoke towards Luna, but she too was acting weird.

“Thou is nowhere, where are thee hidden? I see only darkness?” Luna asked off in what from her look in the eyes, they see…nothing.

“Oh my, what’s causing all of this?” Fluttershy stated in feeling like everyone was seeing and behaving weirdly, what could this mean.

“Better question….DUCK!” Spike spoke off before he ducks down.

“Where?” Phobos asked off in not getting the duck thing until…

“Bang-Bang-Bang!” Then Tough Apple’s gun was firing which made everyone duck down. “Get off my property, ye dirty things!” Tough yelled out in looking crazy for unknown reasons.

“Great, Tough Apple’s lost it again!” Phobos rolled his eyes in seeing this weirdness was spreading.

“But he shouldn’t, he knows his property is back on Sweet Apple Acres, and…” Nyx was stating in feeling this was all wrong, everyone is either reacting out of place or don’t know where they are.

“Golden Heart, where are you?” Jack Zen was heard calling out, as the gang saw him and a few others that were reacting weirdly.

“Autumn Gem, speak to me!” Sombra called out in trying to find his love who was behind him.

“Sombra, where are you?” Autumn Gem called out to her love, but neither of them notice the other was near.

“Even parts of Pinkamena’s group are effected!” Twilight stated in seeing what was going on, what was happening around here.

“That would be correct.” Omega steps up with Golden Heart & Pinkamena as they appear to still be…normal. “While I’m immune, Pinkamena and Golden Heart seem to have miss catching this unusual feat.” He stated from being uncertain of what was causing this random strangeness.

“Something has been effecting everyone in town to act strangely lately.” Pinkamena stated in having deduce what was happening around them.

“If we don’t find out the cause, no one is gonna start acting like their selves.” Golden Heart stated to say this in imagining the worse case to be dealt with.

“Perhaps you best ask those you can’t see are behind this.” Armor Stark’s voice was heard from above in having responded to the question with an answer.

Then dropping down to join the gang was something that look human form, but much bigger before he breaks the ground and stood up with loud metallic gear rotation noises. Many that could identify its features, it was a large bulky red armor with some yellow design lines & black-gray boot layer, inner leg, waist, under shoulder region, and fingers, and its helmet is a dome shape with a tough expression on the front. Its very appearance makes it look in use for heavy & deep duty fighting, even dangerous to boot.

“Sorry for the delay, had to get suited up, this here’s my Buster Armor. Don’t worry, it won’t harm nobody.” Armor Stark’s voice came from inside the armor, and boy of boy did it leave some major impressions.

“Wow, now THAT’S a suit of armor!” Phobos whistled off in liking what they are seeing, as expected of the user to the Element of Armor.

“Wow is right, though I think many were expecting to see a pony mech-suit of armor, but this is nicer still!” Pinkie Pie randomly stated off to say this while still impressed by the mecha-armor.

“JARVIS, activate the radio wave frequency so we can catch if those here are doing what I think is being done.” Armor Stark issued the order in wanting something to be done here, pronto.

“Very well, sir.” Spoke a voice that was heard within the armor that many of the others heard the male remix voce.

“Wow, is there someone else in there with you?” Fluttershy asked off in having heard such a strange voice being.

“That would be JARVIS, my own personal A.I. to help me out. Now step aside and watch the action be done.” Armor Stark spoke off in mentioning this to the group in who he has inside helping him out.

Then soon some strange radio magical waves were spread out around the area the gang are in. And it did do something, as some strange invisible ghostly being was coming into the light before taking form. His fur has a dark tan-green, wears gray turquoise suit with gray silver bands, and the suit has white lines & white hoof-wear. His mane is spiky orange while he wears a helmet of the same coloring pattern of his fur, but with his spike horn sticking out of it, and his eyes are crimson red. Not to mention, his entire right front hoof is in a golden gauntlet with one horn spike out of the shoulder and that looks bulk enough to be used to make himself seem stronger. His Cutie Mark is in the form of two red Dragon twins spin around their lower bodies, spread one wing and gaze to another, stating the talent of what it means…to be a twin. The one notice that everyone was looking at him, and that made him surprise, no one was supposed to see him, so how…unless. Armor Stark managed to do something to bring him into the light…

“Just as I thought, the infamous Gemini Sparks.” Armor Stark spoke off in seeing who it was that was present before them.

“Hugh?” The Mane Six and Goldie’s small group responded in being puzzled in what’s going on here.

“He’s an Element User of the Element of Twin, a very rare kinda element. And from what it’s been said to do in the field work that Gemini here can do…. is it can affect the nerve system of living beings to act weird.” Armor Stark spoke off in explaining that this guy was another Element User, and while not giving much about the ’Twin’ part, stated he could affect everyone’s actions.

“Wait, I just arrived in town when I felt something out of place. I saw the citizens were trying to harm another and tried to counter the effects.” Gemini spoke up in wanting to explain himself, he’s not actually doing any harm, in fact he’s trying to stop some from hurting the other.

“You expect us to believe that?” Rainbow Dash narrow her eyes in having a hard time to believe that stuff.

“Begging the pardon of Miss. Dash’s outburst, sir. But this one is telling the truth, there is still something effecting the others including the Royal Sisters.” JARVIS’s voice spoke up to tell his owner i the armor suit that Gemini was speaking true, he isn’t responsible for the latest weir actions.

“Say what now?” Applejack raised an eyebrow in having heard this now.

“But if Gemini isn’t the one doing it, who else is?” Rarity asked off in wondering who was pulling the strings here.

“We need a plan to help us out.” Ben spoke off in what they need to do here.

“But how?” Nyx asked off in what they can do to help everyone out.

“I can tell you…whatever is effecting this town is on a level of illusions. I’ve been trying to break it with my own unique abilities.” Gemini explained himself, as he was making Autumn Gem, Sombra & Jack Zen go into a laughter feast, even the gun blasting Tough Apple stop to laugh himself uncontrollably.

“Illusions?” The gang responded off in having been told of this piece of news.

“But who could be able to even effect the Royal Sisters to see illusions?” Golden Heart asked off in finding this feat hard to even fool an Alicorn.

Then suddenly, something struck the ground that caused an eruption that caused some members to scatter apart; the Mane Six, Goldie, Pinkamena & Omega, Armor Stark & Gemini, and Ben, Nyx, Spike & Phobos. When the dust began to clear away, there was something missing….six leading mares actually. And suddenly above the skies, there was a snickering laughter, and we find the Mane Six were imprisoned in six magic spheres that neither could get out with muscle, wing power, or magic. And the one in the center look like some stallion pony in a dark emerald cloak wielding a golden forge style cane in front of his cloth. One thing was certain, this guy was kidnapping the Mane Six.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing with Twilight and the others,” Pinkamena snapped off in seeing the guy was doing something to their pals.

“You poor deluded creatures. You never appreciate what you have until it’s long gone. Such fragile things, don’t you think?” The mysterious stallion spoke off in sounding quite evil and cunning.

“Who are you?” Ben snapped out in wanting to know who it was they are meeting.

“I…am Loki A. Fool!” The revealed stallion spoke in presenting himself to all. “I hope you have enjoyed what I’ve done to your precious little town. All ponies from not just here, but everywhere in Equestria, are under my illusion spell.” He explained that all that is being done, was from his own handy work.

“Okay, I’m just gonna go straight ahead and ask, what is it you want, Loki?” Armor Stark spoke off in getting straight to the main point without wasting anytime to chit-chat.

“Nothing at all…except…” Loki smiled off to playfully state this while about to announce something. “To gain control over Equestria by entrapping them in an illusion spell that none will ever wake and continue to last for years to come.” He explained his wicked little plan, trapping many in an illusion that none can wake will cause much havoc. “And as part of a package deal, six known heroes to be my entertainment while they are powerless to stop my plan.” He pointed to the struggling Mane Six in their prison spheres, the guy taunted them while being very easy going.

“You will not get away with such a scheme, preparing Omega Cannon!” Omega stated from preparing to fire his cannon here.

But as Omega fired, Loki suddenly seem to vanish like…an illusion while the sphere prison Mane Six yelped from feeling themselves be pulled by where the REAL Loki was. With an evil cackle, Loki was seen taking to the skies while taking the Mane Six that tried to break out with no success with him.

“The rest of you go on ahead, we’re gonna make some preparations here before joining.” Armor Stark issued the order to the others to follow Loki and catch up later.

“Right, come on!” Ben nodded off in having heard that while going off now.

“Right!” Nyx, Phobos & Spike responded off in also agreeing on the same thing.

“Omega, give this quick note to Azure.” Pinkamena quickly made a written note and gave it to her bot pal.

“What is it?” Omega asked off in not knowing what the note says.

“A message stating to watch over if any evil activities hit towns under an illusion effect. Goldie and me are going with Ben’s group.” Pinkamena explained the contents of the note and what it will serve to do here.

“Right now, see if Jack Zen, Sombra & Autumn Gem can hold the fort here while we’re away, last thing we want is unexpected actions.” Goldie stated in knowing that if they are all away, Ponyville will be left defenseless without some protection with the missing heroes.

“Understood.” Omega nodded off in having understood the duty he must do.

Now we see Goldie & Pinkamena rushing off to follow Ben and his group, while Armor Stark & Gemini Sparks prepare a few things of their own side. The scene darkens in whatever happens next, things are truly gonna be tricky now with everything and every pony in a trap illusion state…

The scene shows Ben and his family rushing as fast as they can in finding where Twilight and the captured Mane Five are with Loki flying ahead. And as things were showing, the mares saw those trying to come to their rescue while also trying to break free even if it’s futile.

“Heeeeelp/LET ME OUTTA HERE!/Let Us Go!/Out-Out, OUT!/Oh dear, Oh Dear!/Beeeennn!” Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, & Twilight were heard calling out to those either behind or in front of them to hear what they are saying.

Ben, Nyx, Phobos & Spike ran with all their might, Nyx even changed to her Battle Form to give the baby dragons a lift. Pinkamena & Golden Heart were right behind those chasing after Loki who had their friends through the EverFree Forest. The ones trying to perform a rescue were scampering and scurried all the way through much of the forest to which they paid less attention to where they were actually heading towards until…they saw it. The heroes gasped to suddenly cease their pursuit when some without wings stop and so did the ones that didn’t wanna leave the rest behind as they reach…and edge. And ahead, saw what look like a foggy region with a castle and moon light from behind even though it was day time, as Loki flew off with the Mane Six in that direction.

“Where’d he take Twilight and the others?” Spike asked off in not knowing where Loki took their family and friends.

“I don’t know, I don’t recall seeing this apart of the forest location before.” Adult Nyx stated in just noticing this forest was different from what they once saw last time they visit the place.

“That’s cause it was kept hidden until recently.” Armor Stark’s voice was heard before his Buster Armor came stomping on the ground, rose up very tall like a bulky demi giant figure.

“You made it.” Ben stated in seeing that Armor Stark caught up to them.

“Brought with me some backup.” Armor Stark pointed to Gemini Spark who appeared out of nowhere to be here to help them.

“Only one guy? What about more?” Phobos complained in seeing they need an army to rescue Twilight and the others.

“Can’t risk it. So far I’ve done a wide network scan, and 90 percent of all of Equestrian ponies are under an illusion. Only a few managed to not get cast, some of them are a few Element Users.” Armor Stark explained that much of Equestria normal pony population is under the illusion spell and only so few are not which much of them are Element Users. “Right now, I’ve contacted the Dragons of Equestria, had JARVIS connect to the Machines of War in the Vault to spread out to protect much areas where security was lacking.” He explained the many steps he’s taken precaution of setting up before having arrived here in the next few minutes.

“You managed to do all that? But how did you even make contacts and give out such coordinated plan steps in such a short time?” Goldie asked off surprise in thinking that kinda planning take an hour or 2, this guy did it in 5 to 3 minutes.

“Hey, you’re talking to a stallion who’s a genius here.” Armor Stark smiled off inside his advance mechs-suit with much magical screen charts around for him to look over and study through.

“True that, I also had Omega do some work as well.” Pinkamena nodded off in agreeing that what Armor Stark did was a smart move.

“Nicely done Pinkamena, good work on the machinery by the way.” Armor Stark spoke off in complimenting Pinkamena on also thinking ahead while noticing her own work on Omega; it was impressive.

“Aw, thanks!” Pinkamena blushed in feeling bashful that a tech-wise guy like Armor Stark noticed her own handy patch-work in developing Omega.

“If you’re done, what are we looking at?” Gemini Sparks asked off to cut to the chase of what it is they are seeing of the strange enemy castle.

“I’ve dug up whatever I could get on Loki A. Fool, but its taking time to get things on a guy that hardly has ever been seen out in public much. Whoever he might be, what I can give is facts about where we are…The Castle of Illusions.” Armor Stark stated in not having much data to follow who Loki is, what he’s up to, but at least they know where he’s taken the Mane Six to; and by the sounds of it, sounds fishy for a guy that makes illusions to live in.

“Well I don’t care what it’s called, we’re getting Twilight and our friends back, and undoing the illusion set upon Equestria.” Ben spoke off in being determine to not leave without getting back his love one and the rest of his friends.

“We’ll come too father.” Adult Nyx spoke forth in making up her mind to help out as well.

“Right, Twilight & the girls need ALL of us!” Spike stated off in also wanting to help get the Mane Six back to.

“And don’t get us to change our minds!” Phobos sternly stated in that they aren’t changing what they set their minds to.

“Alright, but stay close to me, okay.” Ben nodded off in accepting that his family wants to come, but they must be near him.

“Right!” Adult Nyx, Spike & Phobos responded in understanding the concept of that message clearly.

“If you guys wanna head back to keep Ponyville safe, then I won’t stop you. We’ll go and save the others from Loki.” Ben turn to those that also followed after them, knowing that if those here wanna help out then come along, that’s fine.

“You’re not going alone, we’ll accompany you.” Gemini Sparks stated to say that they will also come to help Ben and his family out.

“As will we! Right brother of mine?” Pinkamena proclaimed to announce while looking for her brother’s support.

“Right Ben, we may not have gone to help you all in the End of Equestria, but this time…is different.” Goldie issued that this time, they shall help Ben and his family and not turn away when they need help the most.

“Well Ben, looks like you got quite a rescue crew. In my view of business, we’re a little dysfunctional, but we’ll cover our flaws. Just a matter of the right teamwork.” Armor Stark shrug off in his suit to say this in seeing that they may be a bit of an unexpected team, but they’ll work something out with their strengths & weaknesses.

“Thanks you guys, then we best get started.” Ben smiled to nod in seeing he has such good and loyal comrades.

With much of the decision now made, everyone slowly finds a way down the edge cliff to continue their pursuit with Loki and to rescue the Mane Six. What challenges await them in the Castle Of Illusions? Can it be so simple to just walk in, find where their friends are captive and get out of there? Well things are not as easy to think in a reality of it all, the trick is within…the illusions. And with that, everything grows dark with much mystery revolving in what shall await Ben and his group’s next act to perform…

Author's Note

Author’s note
Looks like trouble has just started, and only Ben Mare, his family, and some reliable allies are his best chance to save the Mane Six. In the next chapter, the rescuers are outside the Castle Of Illusions, they meet a stranger in the area who alerts them of what Loki's sinister plans are and the heroes must hurry. They enter in hopes to stop the villain by simply going through the right doors that lead to Loki, but is it simple...no! For certain doors are locked, and other paths lead to...different worlds? Just what is it that the group will find, what sorta illusions will they face inside the Castle Of Illusions. Stay tune to find out.

Chapter 04: What's lurking in the Water?

Chapter 04: What’s lurking in the Water?

We soon see what looks like an illusion of a magical castle with a lake & moon light. And we find the Mane Six in their sphere prisons, only they are in…TUTUS?! Yes, and some ballet music is heard like something heard in Christmas Theaters, showing stuff like swans flying around. But are the mares having fun while Loki sits in his throne, fiddles his cane to make them move to his will…NO!

“AuUAAAAAAAAAGH! I DON’T DO TUTUS!” Rainbow Dash protest to yell in being against this shameful display.

“I ain’t into this Fru-fru stuff!” Applejack complained that she doesn’t do dress ups like this, she’s a cow-girl.

“What’s wrong, I thought every mare loves to see ballets.” Loki spoke out in hearing some complaints to his entertaining show.

“Normally, I wouldn’t mind starring in a show, but your version is not correctly done. These outfits miss much needed fashion sense!” Rarity issued off in making a fashion emergency debate about their costumes not being okay to her eyes.

“And, um, I hate to impose…but I don’t think these swans are very friendly…they even have sharp teeth.” Fluttershy nervously spoke in having to dance away from big swans with sharp teeth.

“It’s a way where your beauty must handle what is a beast, my dears.” Loki smiled off in thinking this was a spin off twist to a ‘Beauty & the Beast’ theme.

“Loki, this kinda fun isn’t much fun if we get hurt!” Twilight protest to this sorta action was not right.

“Oh, you won’t get hurt…much. Hahh-hah-hah-haahh…” Loki whispered off the last word said with a sly tone before he laughs off in simply watching the act continue on while the mares dance and avoid getting close to angry big swans with big teeth.

“Loki….” Then entering the room again, were the Munchkin Brothers in sounding concern.

“What is it now, can’t you see I’m envisioning my own entertaining spin on a Swan Lake Performance?” Loki groans to look at those that are interrupting his fun here yet again.

“Actually, many other folks have made different Swan Lakes, so you’re not really the first.” Pinkie Pie broke the Fourth Wall to mention this sorta action here.

“Why not dance faster, my dear mares?” Loki smiled off to say in using his magic to do something here.

“Waaahhhhh….” Now the Mane Six were in a fast forward dancing act, as it look cartoony while they almost seem to be spinning out of control and can’t stop while some were getting dizzy.

“Loki, those in the Castle have defeated Sharo!” Munching One stated in what was the emergency.

“And have taken a second Rainbow Gem too!” Munchkin Two pointed out the after effect of the issue.

“What? I was certain he prove challenging.” Loki questioned in believing the rescuers wouldn’t have best’d that Gem Keeper.

“There’s more, we thought Armor Stark could be a problem for helping Ben, but…” Munchkin One was stating that they thought the guy in the many mechs-suits of armor was trouble, however…

“But Gemini Sparks is also with them, he holds the Element of Twin.” Munchkin Two finished in stating that there was another one, or two, and they are twins with much power indeed.

“What! He was among the group? Hmmm…I must have ignore his presence during my little performance in taking these six.” Loki responded shock, he didn’t expect that Gemini Sparks was also helping the rescue team. “Well then, perhaps if they wish to outnumber my Gem Keepers, let them try the next one and see if quality can beat quantity.” Loki smiled off with a sneaky expression that the next Gem Keeper, will be a ’surprise’ against Ben Mare & his increase number of allies.

Then with that, the screen begins to darken while Loki continues to let the Mane Six do his little entertaining amusement. But at this rate, the mares are not sure how much they can stand this kind of ‘FUN’ this trickster is making them do while unaware of the magic being siphoned from them. Things are really looking kinda hard for the Mane Six while we change the scene now…

The scene begins to open up with a magic orange portal that brought the Rescue Team back within the Castle Entry just like before. With the second Rainbow Gem safely gathered with the first, Ben felt a bit happy. But he and the others knew they had no time to congratulate themselves, there was still much more things to get done. Another five more gems to go and with Twilight and the other Mane Six members still need to be rescued. From walking up the stairway, they came across other portraits of other bizarre creatures, like the Toy Soldiers and….

“Look, Sharo’s picture is on the wall too.” Nyx pointed out in seeing the Jack-In-The-Box foe on the wall side.

“Guess any of the Gem Keepers are seen here when they are defeated.” Spike shrug off to say in what they can guess happens here.

“Right, it’s like a gallery of defeated foes.” Phobos pointed out another idea of how to look at this picture.

“Hey fellas, you may wanna check this door here.” Dark Gemini spoke out, as he and Light Gemini phase their hooves through another door that had chains and a lock before they glowed red and vanished.

Once they entered the open door with a logo symbol of ‘waves’ over it, it seem to state what might be the next theme. And just like before, there were two doors still locked up, but there was one door that was not seal shut.

“So where do you think we’ll end up this time?” Ben asked off in being curious about what they shall find.

“By my guess, somewhere…with water.” Armor Stark stated off in having recall the image of a wave of water that must be what’s beyond in this room.

“Will your armor be okay?” Goldie asked off in thinking a mechs-suit of armor might have problems.

“Don’t sweat, I’m not slow-withered not to waterproof my armors, besides…I got a special armor just for such an event.” Armor Stark stated off in having something that will be handy if it comes to water areas.

“Well, we’ll be okay, now that we got another ally on our side.” Pinkamena smiled off to say this in seeing that all things are good with Gemini, both twins actually. “By the way, do you usually call out your twin or does he sleep in you?” She was asking a random question at this sudden hour.

“Let’s just say, we’re close, very close to our element.” Light Gemini smiled off to say this as the two look to the other with shared expressions.

“Hey, partner, you want that I should stay out to help out more?” Dark Gemini asked if he can stay out and that way, they can do more things together.

“Will if everyone’s okay with that, then I think we’re good.” Light Gemini stated to say it was up to the others, but there was no need to worry at all…

“Well I think it’s great having another member to help us get through.” Spike smiled off to say that one more ally can make a big difference.

“Well at least we can tell you apart. One’s Light, the other’s Dark.” Phobos pointed out in seeing each Gemini are white or black; like Light & Dark.

“Oh Phobos.” Nyx rolled her eyes in seeing her pet pal make such a silly claim.

From coming to terms, the group then open the new door to go into it, and venture in what new world of illusion that awaits them. Everything goes dark as we shall see what will be seen for the gang to face next…

The scene begin to change where a castle door appeared in a strange rocky land with a few set trees, clouds blocking the setting sun, and looks like…there was rain on the other side. And coming out of the door was the Rescue Team, as they are looking around their newest surroundings at this time before the door vanished. The group surveyed this new world, many noticed colossal storm clouds gathering in the skies…that can’t be good.

“Where have we landed in now?” Goldie asked off in looking around the new area.

“Looks like the forest again, but with rain clouds.” Pinkamena pointed out in seeing what could be seen from a quick view.

“JARVIS, are we back in the Enchanted Forest again?” Armor Stark asked his A.I. companion a question of the right location.

“No sir, this is a different world of illusion, it is called The Storm.” JARVIS responded off to say in mentioning the name of this location they entered in.

“Really now, I guess Loki needs to work on his naming skills if he’s making such places.” Armor Stark rolled his eyes in his armor in stating that Loki needs to work up on his naming skills. “Well let’s hope the rain would hold off long enough for us to make it back to the castle.” He stated to say this in making a light joke of the situation.

“There’s some of those Blue Mushroom creatures.” Nyx pointed to seeing some Blue Mushroom creatures coming up to them, before she blasted them with a little of her Night Blast attack.

“Come on, let’s get going before the rain slows us down.” Ben stated off that they need to get going and not let the weather stop them.

The group was walking across the path of land, just as they reach a wooden log bridge. But then without warning, the log bridge came undone and soon everyone fell from a few feet down and into the water below them. Many were either going too far down or some managed to stay afloat.

“Graauaghhh….Can’t breath! Drowning…Drown….eh?” Phobos was panicking in feeling like he’ll drown until…he wasn’t drowning at all; why’s that when he’s underwater?

“We can breathe in this stuff, but how?” Spike asked off to say that they can breathe, even talk in the water, why?

“Well I know I have gotten some gills from mermaid ponies, but I’m not sure.” Pinkamena stated off in thinking how she may have gotten by with such things, but this seems really weird.

“It could be because this is an illusion world, the rule of drowning doesn’t apply for the water.” Light Gemini spoke up in making a stated claim of how such things may have turn out to be here.

“Which means the only thing is floating and swimming around in here are our options,” Dark Gemini pointed out that if they are in the water, they either swim to the top or bottom.

“Wait, what about Armor Stark? His Buster Armor look pretty heavy.” Nyx questioned in where the other member of their Rescue Team went.

“Watch out, skeleton fish!” Golden Heart yelps in noticing that some fish that swam with its body showing skeleton was trying to come up to eat them when…

“Powfruvh…KABAMM….” Without warning, a torpedo was fired that blew the bizarre fish to…well, more pieces. And soon the gang saw what look like Armor Stark’s armor suit, but much different. A medium bulk humanoid size mech-suit of dark silver design and light-bronze knee & elbows, guard wrist and on the chest & forehead. It has a backpack which has turbines to help it be mobile in water areas as well as expose jet thrusters on dry land to fly.

“Told you had a suit made for something like this. This here’s the Deep Sea Suit or as I like to call it…Hammerhead Armor.” Armor Stark’s voice spoke out from where his head was seen inside talking by a view screen of his friends. “Now follow me, I think I found us a way to get back above. Everyone hold on tight to me.” Armor Stark issued from allowing those to grab onto him, as he used his armor’s turbines to dive down further to find a hole…

“Why...Aaahhhh!” Ben was about to ask when, he was cut short…

For everyone was hanging on from the wide water current they were experiencing as Armor Stark was keeping the Hammerhead in a steady process of not being tossed around. Then finally, they were jettison upwards and then shot out from a geyser and the gang found themselves back on land just as the Hammerhead stomps it’s metal feet into the ground. Everyone was letting go of Armor Stark to get on the ground while getting their minds together of what happened.

“That’s why. JARVIS said there were unexpected fast currents in those tunnels, one wrong slip up and we be bashing our heads against stones.” Armor Stark spoke off in finishing what he was saying earlier at this point of the talk of what they were gonna run into.

“Phew, thanks for the save.” Nyx sighed in feeling glad they made it out of there in one piece.

“Yah, but now I’m wishing yah told us sooner.” Phobos held his head from feeling dizzy from the water works.

“Well, guess we better just keep going.” Spike stated off to say in knowing they just keep moving on now.

“Watch out for any more unstable bridges, if not, then I think we’ll be okay to be going swimming.” Pinkamena warns the group in thinking that’s the next thing to be careful about coming across.

While getting what Pinkamena said out of some of their heads, the ground move on which Armor Stark used his Repulsor tech from the Hammerhead to clear away some Blue Mushrooms; guess even a mechs-suit armor for water comes with other things than just torpedoes. But as they cross and looked around the land, there was nothing else to go by other than seeing a large ruin ring in the rising water.

“Hate to say this, but it looks like we’re going back in the water.” Armor Stark spoke off to say that they have to get wet again.

“Why do you say that?” Goldie raised an eyebrow in hearing that out of nowhere.

“My instruments aren’t picking up where to go from this path, but seeing Loki made this place, The Storm seems to be where one has to go where there’s water.” Armor Stark explained the case that there’s nothing above for them to find, so it looks like they have to search within the area with lots of water.

“So it looks like we’ll get wet again, it seems.” Light Gemini pondered off to think in seeing how things are gonna go.

“Best we don’t use electricity to not fry anyone else.” Dark Gemini stated to say in what they best not use when in the water.

Then from approaching the next log bridge as it broke, everyone fell through and landed in the water again. As they were slowly letting themselves go down, there was something underneath that was more than water and tunnels, there look like…a ruin temple was place here. The gang had to be ready in using their weapons and spells against the skeleton fish, but two things; one, movement is slow in the water unless one is partly fish or has gills or wearing a special armor for such movement & two, Dragons that breath fire can’t breathe fire under water. So after taking care of that, the group were exploring but being careful until…

“Waaaughhh!” Ben yelps from when he was near a bright yellow light coming from a hole which its current pulled him in.

“Waaaughh!” Nyx, Spike & Phobos yelped off in being dragged along with Ben in the water current that pulled them under.

“Hold on tight, we’re going after them!” Armor Stark issued this off to those that weren’t drag down by the current that they are going after their friends.

“Right!” Gemini Sparks responded from both of the twins to hold on tight.

“Dive! Dive!” Pinkamena grab onto the armor and gave the command to dive.

“Really, sis?” Goldie raised an eyebrow in hearing such a liner.

Soon everyone went down the glowing golden light hole, and then everything went black. Where are they ending up in, we’re seeing it right now as everyone was traveling through a current tunnel path. It wasn’t long before that was gonna end, and then without warning, everyone soon found themselves coming out of the water and in an underground area where the water above was pouring in. The Rescue Team soon found they were deep underground, some wondered what sort of subterranean strangeness they may encounter, especially when the place they stand on had eight circle pillars rise up. And then there was an unfamiliar sound screeching monkey noises…

“Okay….finding ourselves in creepy places, with creepy voices, not a good time!” Phobos complained off in seeing how things were looking here.

“How do we get going from here? Do we fly or teleport?” Nyx asked off in what they do to keep going.

“Wait a second here. Hmm…” Armor Stark studied this structure that was where they were on, and images of eight lines and from underneath where they stood was…a sea-monkey drawing. “Now I get it, this here’s a typical test.” He stated in finding this hardly a challenge.

“Typical?” Spike pondered off that if really smart guys understood stuff they don’t get make claims so lightly; well maybe Twilight might, but…

“Simple, match the lines to make this symbol drawing here and something’s bound to happen. Have to say, Loki should have tried something a little more challenging.” Armor Stark pointed off that each top pillar had a drawn line image in where matching them gets a picture of the symbol they stand on.

“I for one rather not deal with such things. But, let’s try your idea.” Golden Heart stated that he’ll take simple challenges over hard ones any day.

Soon Goldie along with the twin Gemini Sparks took the South pillar, Southwest & Northeast that had a mouth, a head line, ear and eye markings. Then something happened that all eight pillars sank into the ground. Then geysers shot off with pads on top, like a daring feat to jump over each one like hopscotch. And soon those that did or those that flew, reach over to solid ground where they observe more of the sub terrain place they are in.

“Wow, this place sure is huge!” Pinkamena complimented in seeing how big this was.

“Come on, lets…” Phobos was cut off when he was moving until a large amount of water poured down his body and went through a wooden net board until the water cease coming. “Great, how many baths am I taking today?” He groans to say in having just been given his next water dunking experience.

“Best be careful when that happens.” Light Gemini stated to tell the Moon Dragon some advice here.

“Right, get hit and you’ll fall.” Dark Gemini pointed off that one large amount of fallen water will shove anyone downwards.

“Gulp….I see how far down.” Spike gulps in seeing the drop, if they get hit, and hit the ground, it won’t be pretty.

“Let’s wait for the right moment to go up while watching our timing.” Armor Stark suggested a careful step plan, one that had a good moment of cautions and perception in the mix.

The group then begin to move upwards on some ruin climbing stacks while watching out for pouring water. Heck, the group had to be careful when skeleton fish pop from below a cliff to take a bite out of anyone, but Pinkamena chop them to bits with her sword. As they climb the ruin boards while carefully watching the eruption of any surprise water coming down, those that didn’t have wings yelp when a part of the ground broke and they swung on a rope across. Those that could fly followed while seeing those that got ahead, like Ben, Pinkamena, Spike & Phobos leap from stone to stone downwards and upwards, it was crazy. When reaching another building structure split path to jump across, they saw in the background what look like a temple with a pony head.

“I can’t wonder if some of this was seen from somewhere.” Goldie asked off from noticing how such made structures of a temple area were made in this world.

“Maybe Loki made this place to be from a few Daring Do books.” Pinkamena stated off in where the inspired ideas came from.

“I didn’t even know guys like him were interested in such stories.” Nyx thought off to say in being slightly curious.

“Probably to entertain others by making what they see in books come alive.” Goldie rolled his eyes in thinking Loki wanted to pull one’s leg by living out an adventure from one’s own story fantasy; that’s typical trickster action alright.

Deciding to save the history stuff for later, the group continued to move forward. But for those that had to jump, the ruin support structure broke and water came pouring behind them, they had to pick up the pace. They managed to just safely get through while Armor Stark saw one play card to pick it up. Even the same wingless group were swinging on ropes in feeling like it was like an adventure tale of exploring a forgotten underground ruin city.

“You know, the swinging pass those giant carved pony statues reminds me of Venture Jones’ advice on adventures.” Ben spoke off to say something in recalling what he was told by a guy that helped them out who lives for this kinda thing.

“Was it; ‘Never Have them, if you value to live’ sorta claims?” Phobos asked off remotely of the answer to a rhetorical statement.

“I doubt it.” Spike shrug off to say in thinking that couldn’t be the answer even if they hoped it be.

“Come on guys.” Ben spoke off in wanting the baby Dragons to move along here.

Continuing to travel through the period of where they are, the group jumps on more structure boards while watching out for more pouring water. The task wasn’t easy, it takes skill, and more importantly patience that won’t get one kill unless they wanna get splash and crash at the bottom. But after a peerless climb, the group made it in a cavern room that lead downwards and right towards…another pop up castle door with the sign read ‘EXIT’ nearby.

“Well, we made it to the exit.” Goldie sighs to say in seeing that this was a good little moment to catch a bit of their breath.

“But where will it take us?” Spike asked off in being curious about what lies beyond here.

“Probably with more water again!” Phobos complains to roll his eyes, water, water, everywhere.

“Regardless, we need to find the next gem and who’s holding onto it.” Armor Stark stated in knowing that they need to proceed to collect the other Rainbow Gems.

“Then we should best continue then.” Light Gemini stated off in what they must do next here.

“Right, let’s find out what’s next here.” Dark Gemini declared off in knowing that they shall handle it.

“I agree, let’s keep going.” Ben responded to say in agreement as he knew they mustn’t have second thoughts.

Seeing this was the way for them to leave this part of The Storm, those nod their heads in preparing to go through the door. And as they went through, the door itself began to vanish again while things went dark. For what other part of this illusion world will the Rescue Team face is a question to be seen…

Now the scene opens up for the second act of another part of where the castle door appears in the Storm world. As the heroes came out, they weren’t sure just how deep underground they were, but one thing was clear…The next Rainbow Gem had to be somewhere around this place, they just got to keep searching. As the door vanished afterwards, it was more of the underground area with more pouring water and more ruin structures of some lost civilization. The group was active since a rock fell that broke the bridge they were on to move towards part of the next area were rapid waters were rushing…then stopping.

“How do we make it across?” Ben asked off in seeing what they got going for them, fast rapid currents.

“Right, if we get caught in the water current, it looks strong enough to push us away.” Goldie stated in feeling like that’s the last thing they want as to go for a swim.

“Sir, it seems the water current follows a motion where it’ll rise up and then drains itself for only a mere few seconds.” JARVIS spoke out in explaining what it was that those here need to know about the water’s working flow.

“So from the steps ahead, we take the high road and only take the low road if we got no choice.” Armor Stark stated off in following that plan as simple as a stand above the water on something higher.

“Sounds almost like a familiar phase.” Nyx stated to say in having heard something with the ‘high’ & ‘low’ road.

“I can sing it if that’ll help!” Pinkamena smiled off in thinking it’s time for a little song.

“Let’s not and say we did.” Phobos remarked off to say they are not in the mood when dealing with a world of illusions made by some tricky guy who’s made everyone be under his illusion spell…well almost everyone.

So without any delay, the group were taking their careful jumps or just flew on from one high structure over the water from the next. But then a bat came out to attack the group, causing Spike & Phobos to fall in the water to get drag off. Armor Stark dived in and then quickly pulled them out before arriving back with the group with two wet Dragons by the tail. But they had to quickly go under a low rock where the water came from when it drained up and they made it there to the other side and got above the next flow of water.

“Well, this is one fishing trip that no one will believe. Catching a couple of baby Dragon guppies.” Armor Stark stated to say in putting the two Dragons down after having save them.

“Great, a bath and loss of dignity!” Phobos moans to say in seeing what’s happened here.

“Well at least we didn’t fall off.” Spike shrug off to say that they didn’t go over where the water was going.

“Gotta watch out for bats, they always attack in caverns like this.” Goldie stated this as fair warning for those that need to watch out for incoming bats.

The group continued to get through until they reach what was a water vein ahead of them. They went above the thing and soon they walked across another pave path while seeing more surroundings of some forgotten made temple city. But just as they were about to reach over to a bridge leading somewhere, the ceiling was collapsing and the rocks fell around them. Try to get by as they could, the bottom of the floor broke off and soon the gang fell into a hole. And with a giant splash, the Rescue Team had plunge into an underwater depths of a creepy cave system, teeming with some hungry skelefish….which was a nickname Pinkamena gave them. But when the group dealt with any of the skeleton fishes…a strange watery creature swam across from nearby that didn’t seem natural.

“Hugh? Did anyone else see that?” Pinkamena turn around in feeling like there was something there but they missed it. “It look like something for this water environment, but…it swam off before I could tell.” She scratched the back of her head in not understanding what just happened.

“While that maybe a nice fish story to hear, we best be getting out before ending up as…fish food.” Armor Stark stated to say here in what they best be doing, so they aren’t gonna be some fish’s dinner.

“Yuck, no thank you!” Nyx held out her tongue in not wanting to become fish food.

“You and me both, Nyx.” Ben quoted off in agreeing with his daughter on the idea.

Soon the group was swimming through the underwater caves and either avoiding or defending against some skeleton fish…but some things from above were falling; parts of stone structures. The gang had to watch where those things were coming so they wouldn’t get flatten. Course from following Armor Stark’s Hammerhead Armor, he helped swim through this easily with the gang holding onto him while the fish…got splat by not watching above. However, the deeper the group went into the ruins, the more sure some felt that something…or someone was watching them…from the dark shadows in the water.

“Sir, I’m detecting the presence of another Rainbow Gem.” JARVIS spoke out in having located where the next Rainbow Gem is.

“A Rainbow Gem? Here in a sunken temple, kinda cliche, really?” Armor Stark stated off in thinking that just sounds too much like of where they are already and what the theme of this seems to be.

“Perhaps it’s whoever is watching from afar.” Light Gemini stated from who has the gem was watching them.

“Hump, they’re watching us carefully, are they?” Dark Gemini stated to say in seeing that someone wanted to keep an eye on them.

“Then we better get moving and make sure they don’t keep on watching us.” Goldie stated in what they best do if they are being watched…by Loki…or whoever the Gem Keeper might be in this place.

Soon from going deeper and avoiding more falling things coming down from above, they went below an opening, and soon had to navigate through little slow falling debris in a tight spot. But when they reach a hole in the side of the wall, it pick them up and the gang held onto the Hammerhead Armor as they were zipping across on a fast current taking them in a strange pathway going zig-zag and then finally…up. And soon they are spit out of a water path and land in a large filled pond. But before they could go out, the path was blocked by more falling rubble & then four more geysers shot up with pads on them; just peachy.

“Well this is just terrific! Now what?” Phobos groans to say in what they do from here.

“We can fly up if that would help.” Goldie suggested in what they can do to make things easier.

“Don’t know brother of mine, wouldn’t be an adventure if we could just fly out of here all the time.” Pinkamena spoke out in being curious of something that was on her mind now.

“Then just jump across the pads on the geysers.” Light Gemini stated to say in what they should be doing and get some workout along the way.

“Right, like how we do it. Watch closely now.” Dark Gemini stated before the twins vanished but their blurs were dashing across the pads to reach the top.

Seeing that for some, they needed to jump from one small geyser to climb up to the top. The fliers help navigate those that couldn’t fly, but they watch out as two pads flipped a bit from the geyser’s water force. It seem normal for a few seconds, then did a flip, and it seem the pads didn’t had star marks on them. Realizing what action to take, Armor Stark explain to those that had to get on the ones quickly and stop to time the next jump right, and though Phobos trip up some, they managed to get through and over the fallen boulder of rocks. There was a path below that was rushing with some water and so those that fly, flew, and the others leap from crumbling paths and took a swing on a rope to land on a top cliff.

“Man, I can’t remember the last time I did something like this without…” Ben stated off in never gone on such an adventure that didn’t involve Twilight or the Mane Six with him, but he stop from realizing that.

“Without Twilight and her friends? Come on Ben, every stallion has to face things when it’s either them or with others.” Armor Stark spoke off to tell Ben that even in such times, each hero has to do things on their own or with different folks.

“I guess so.” Ben rub the back of his head in lightly agreeing to that. “It was like when I rescued Mangani when he was sealed away.” Ben recalls he went away to help someone without Twilight or her friends around.

“And now you’re rescuing those you also wanna help, different but the same.” Armor Stark stated off in making a little conversation here.

“Come on guys, let’s keep moving.” Goldie called out in wanting those to keep up with them.

The group was about to move forth down the corridor path, until when they got through, the path was blocked by a surprise fallen rubble and the light from the other path they were gonna take. And worse, they couldn’t back track and water filled up before their eyes. The thing was, the water went up very fast, but then drain itself again, weirder still was it kept doing tha.?

“How do we get out of this?” Phobos asked off in seeing this was a stuck situation.

“When in doubt, go up.” Armor Stark stated to say in looking upwards as it was a clear path.

“But the water goes up and down, it’s kinda puzzling.” Pinkamena stated in seeing that the water fills this spot, but then drains down.

“Don’t worry, just hold on to the Hammerhead Armor, be it drylands or wetland, I’m confident we’ll make it.” Armor Stark issued off to say this in having a plan to get everyone up there.

“Well, I’m for it!” Spike stated to say in wanting to get out of here.

Soon as the water started to fill up, the Hammerhead Armor took up with max turbine thrust with everyone holding onto it. It was a very tall order, but Armor Stark was pushing it to which many felt like they had weird faces…like Phobos, Spike & Pinkamena from feeling wind burns…only this was more water burns. But just as the water began to drain, the Hammerhead Armor pops out of the water to land by a spot in which was where a sign label ‘EXIT’ was before another door pops out to appear.

“Sir, the next Rainbow Gem lies ahead here.” JARVIS spoke out in having located another gem they seek behind the next door here.

“Guess what gang, we get to find another gem beyond door number three.” Armor Stark spoke up in making this sound lightly as a fragment of humor.

“What’s the next Gem Keeper gonna be?” Ben asked off in trying to think for a minute here.

“First a Wood Beast from Enchanted Forest.” Light Gemini pointed out who they fought the first time.

“Next, Sharo, a Jack-In-The-Box from Toyland.” Dark Gemini pointed out the second foe that they faced.

“I’m hoping it ain’t a squid…or an octopus…or a SHARK!” Phobos yelps off in imaging the worse sea predators to face against.

“Right, doubt we be helpful if we were in underwater fights.” Spike nodded off in seeing if they are in the water, dragons flaming breath won’t work.

“Don’t worry guys, we’re all gonna pitch in.” Nyx smiled off to encourage her friends to be positive.

“Right, just let me at whoever’s behind the door!” Pinkamena spoke off in being determine to take on whoever they are bound to face.

“First, let’s learn what we’re dealing with.” Goldie stated to speak some form of reason before jumping into action.

“Then if we’re ready, then let’s do this.” Ben nodded off to his friends in seeing what they best be doing.

Seeing that once they go through here, they’ll be able to meet with the next Gem Keeper, everyone was getting ready. And now they gone through the door before it vanishes from sight. Now the next step to obtaining another Rainbow Gem was on as everything began to fadeout.

The scene soon opens to what seems to be the third act within the illusion world The Storm. Within a center heart of a ruin temple of pillars and a large gong, as the Rescue Team came out of the door to look around. The door soon vanishes from sight, leaving those here to compete what lies ahead. But then without warning, everything quaked & creaked from what was happening around or popping pillars that surprise the group. The gang tried to find safety, but found none when a second pillar popped in front, trapping their path. Suddenly, the entire chamber was flooding with water and it might have been a sign of luck running out.

“Great….I feel like someone wants us to drown and we can’t!” Phobos groans to say in seeing how things are turning out once again.

“Is this the enemy’s doing?” Spike asked off in seeing that this must be the work of their opponent.

“Where is he, I don’t see any signs of a Gem Keeper.” Golden Heart asked off in looking for where the foe was hiding himself.

Then without warning, one of the pillars that had a strange sea monkey drawing on it was busted out, and what appeared was…something else. Upon close examination, it was like some larger, but around average human height size, deform sea monkey that looked more like a monster. As it swam out in smirking with a sly expression, didn’t take long for everyone to realize that this was the lair of the third Master of Illusion; the 3rd Gem Keeper.

“Alright fellas, looks like we found ourselves a Gem Keeper.” Armor Stark issued off in seeing that they found their opponent. “Though gotta be honest, a sea monkey…probably the furtherest thing from my mind.” He commented in expecting something a little more….scary.

“I think we all agree on that.” Ben nodded off to agree that such an opponent was not what they expected to cross blades with.

“Maybe mutated forms of Sea Monkeys are also scary in a way of thinking.” Pinkamena commented in what she could think of this state.

“We best be ready, cause he looks real mean and ready for a fight.” Nyx stated off to say while transforming into her Battle Form.

Now things were really starting as the Sea Monkey was swimming after the group, they all scattered to keep a distance to learn just what sorta stuff this sea monkey enemy has to offer. But they also watch out for falling debris which made it hard to avoid them and the enemy as well. But with the right planning step, Adult Nyx made the Sea Monkey come to her before ducking down to let the guy smack into a debris that came out when the mare saw it falling. As this battle was continuing of playing Marco-Polo kinda act, the water suddenly started to drop which lead to the Sea Monkey retreating to the hole he came from in the pillar.

“Why’d he go back there?” Ben asked off in seeing the foe retreat to where he popped out of.

“He’s an amphibian, they like swimming in water, no water, then they’ll have to change their tactics.” Armor Stark stated off in what he can figure was the attack pattern of this foe.

“Then let’s hope we can handle what he brings.” Spike stated off in hoping they get by what’s coming next.

The battle was now on dry land as the Sea Monkey pops out to attack, but miss the group, as he circle from back and forth, but missed. And then the guy shot out his tongue like a frog to capture them…But the Hammerhead Armor snatch the tongue in holding the guy and then pointed its Repulsor.

“Say Cheese/Powwfruvhmm…Bamvhmm…” Armor Stark responded before blasting the Sea Monkey right out of where they were and he landed against some rocky junk piles.

“Hey look, he’s cowering! Wow, this was easier than I thought!” Phobos smiled off in thinking they won the battle here.

“I don’t know, seem too easy here.” Pinkamena spoke off in feeling like this seem too easy for some reason.

Then the room started to fill up with water again, the gang had to be ready if the enemy was gonna come at them again. But then two more parts from two pillars broke off with two heads of sea monkeys, for the same type of enemy to appear. Some were wondering if they were seeing double, but no…there were truly two of them, but some thought there was only ONE Gem Keeper, not more than one.

“Wait, there were more of them?” Spike yelps in seeing two Sea Monkey creatures that were the Gem Keeper.

“Well this is certainly a new trick.” Light Gemini stated off to say in what they have seen be done.

“But it’s not the same trick we perform.” Dark Gemini stated in knowing this was no duplication feat to make two.

“Of course, how could I forget, sea monkeys are a group…it wouldn’t make sense if there was only one.” Golden Heart slapped his forehead in recalling that Sea Monkeys are a lot of creatures in a single fish tank.

“Then we better be ready to face two more.” Ben issued off in getting themselves ready in what’s coming at them.

Soon everyone was swimming in which two more Sea Monkeys were chasing after the individual targets. The plan was the same as before, let the Sea Monkeys try to chase them, but let some falling debris above slow them down. The Hammerhead Armor fired some torpedo to get the foes to yelp to keep them away from getting too close to Armor Stark’s friends. That alone cause them Sea Monkeys to turn and hid in the holes they came from on the pillars when the water drain again.

“Remember the plan, wait till they leave themselves open to attack. And careful about the tongue slobber, trust me on that.” Armor Stark explained the plan of what to do, but also a fair warning to not touch the tongue, the slobber seems icky to get off.

“Right!” Light Gemini nodded in hearing that matter.

“Roger!” Dark Gemini replied off in understanding that.

Then what happened next was the Sea Monkey from the left pillar came out to attack, missed the baby Dragons to roll across the area. Then as it spit out its tongue, it missed the baby Dragons to touch the wall, but the Sea Monkey got whacked on the head by Ben’s Megaton Hammer across the field to be out of the spot.

“Head’s up, here comes the second guy!” Ben warned the gang of who else was gonna come at them.

Then the second Sea Monkey from the right pillar came out to leap and attack the group, it missed, but was rolling across the field. When it was done, the foe spit out its tongue to get Golden Heart…but an angry Pinkamena swung her Blades of the Pinkie Pie; one for the blocking tongue, the other to knock the foe off to join the other cowering Sea Monkeys.

“Mess with my bro, you get a beating!” Pinkamena snapped off to the cowering Sea Monkeys to not mess with her brother Golden Heart.

“Is that all of them?” Phobos asked off the question if they are now done here.

“Hey, the pillars had a one and two sea monkey heads, right, then what about the three with three heads?” Spike points in noticing something they seem to have overlooked apparently, and…

Then as the water was filling up the room, the three sea monkey drawings on the two pillars were busted out, showing three more Sea Monkey foes coming out. At this point, some began to wonder if there was an entire gang of these green gilled guppies and that they all were the Gem Keeper. So many questions with little time for an answer.

“Aw, come on!” Phobos groans to say, one was bad, two was terrible, but three….three is just the worse luck they have.

“Gotta hand it to Loki, he doesn’t know when to not kid around.” Armor Stark shook his head in seeing Loki was really giving them a bigger headache to content to.

“Let’s try not to get caught by them, everyone!” Adult Nyx stated in what they best do here for the time of handling three foes.

Now the group had to split off thinner when three Sea Monkeys were giving chase here. Gemini Sparks each performed a feet of summoning an elemental sword from their golden gauntlet part; which was called Aqua Sword. And as the twins kept one foe at bay, the Hammerhead was maneuvering its own target while more debris fell from above to hit the foe. The third enemy was trying to get the Pinkamena but felt her tail get pulled by Goldie so that she was away from another debris that landed on the Sea Monkey’s head. After a few mere moments, the three Sea Monkeys had to return to their pillars to get out before the water drain down again though one had to share room with another.

“The same tactic?” Golden Heart asked off in knowing what comes next.

“The same tactic.” Armor Stark nodded his armor head in responding to the question.

“Alright, then let’s do this.” Ben issued forth in seeing that it’s time to end this.

Soon one Sea Monkey came out in preparing to attack, but missed its targets to roll around. Then as it stood up, it launched its tongue to grab Ben, but he used his Hylian Shield to protect him. Then Spike & Phobos snuck up behind and delivered a double Dragon Punch combo that sent the Sea Monkey off to crash into the rubble pile where the cowering Sea Monkeys watched from a distance.

“That’s one down, two to go.” Phobos spoke off in seeing how many are left now.

“And here comes the second one!” Spike pointed out in seeing whose coming next here.

Then the second Sea Monkey left his buddy to launch off an attack, but missed before rolling around the area as everyone evaded. Then as the Sea Monkey stood, it fired its tongue off, but missed when the baby Dragon duck down and had its own tongue whack his head. Then Golden Heart delivered a Golden Sword whack that knocked the foe out and landed right where the cowering Sea Monkeys beaten are gathered.

“Two down.” Goldie exclaimed in seeing how many that makes now…

“And here comes the last one.” Pinkamena issued off in seeing what was left to deal with.

Now the final Sea Monkey leaped off angrily from his pillar hiding spot to attack, but missed while rolling to get anyone but wasn’t so lucky. Then it got up to spit it’s tongue to capture someone or two…Gemini Sparks as it’s tongue wrapped around their Aqua Swords. It smiled in having caught someone…but failed to see the twins had hidden smirks and changed their Elemental Swords from Aqua to….Electric Swords. And they gave out a shock that travel and shock the poor Sea Monkey to let go and cough out smoke.

“Time for a double hitter!” Light Gemini suggested this out in what they unleash next.

“Oh yah, let’s do it then!” Dark Gemini responded in liking that idea as it’ll be affective.

“Rocket Knuckle!” Both twins had their golden arms glow bright yellow and then launch their charged hoof fist out towards the target. “Powwfruvhmmm…” And let’s just say that taking one rocketing fist was painful alone, but two…wasn’t too healthy on the last Sea Monkey that was knocked around in a spin cycle for a few moments.

“Hrruaugh…uurrraghh!” The last Sea Monkey twirled a bit before it fell behind some rubble while the other defeated five Sea Monkeys didn’t act out from being so scared of the strong heroes. And then something was falling down towards the Rescue Team, it was a large gem of a yellow color; this was the third Rainbow Gem that they were working hard to obtain. Now at last, the Yellow Rainbow Gem was theirs; it was like a reward sign for such courage & cunning in the face against many foes.

“We did everyone!” Nyx smiled off to say in seeing they made another victory here while turning back into her filly form.

“We sure did Nyx!” Pinkamena smiled off to nod this to the brave black filly.

“This makes our third gem.” Goldie stated in seeing how many this makes now.

“Just hang on Twilight, we’re nearly there now.” Ben whispered this under his breath, as they touch the yellow gem.

“Once we have all the Gems, we’ll be able to build that rainbow bridge straight to where the girls are.” Armor Stark issued off in knowing it won't be long now; halfway there.

“For now, it looks like it’s over.” Light Gemini stated in seeing this battle was theirs, all of the Sea Monkeys look too afraid to challenge them anymore.

“Too bad, it was almost interesting.” Dark Gemini remarked off to quote this fact in a rhetorical sense of the meaning of almost liking if there was more.

“I’ll be glad when we get out of this place.” Phobos sighs to say with relief, he’s had enough baths for one day.

“Well you won’t have to wait long.” Spike patted Phobos on the back in knowing how much this guy had to deal with here.

“Thanks for the help gang, this was definitely a sign of our courageous teamwork & thinking ahead of how to handle things. Now, let’s head back and continue our mission.” Ben stated off in giving a few words in thanking everyone here, if not, then they almost would have lost to the many Sea Monkeys trying to corner them.

From everyone’s team work, this was a good sign of showing that they can do something if they set their mind to it. Then a yellow portal appeared and the gang knew it was their next ticket out of this illusion world and back to the castle. Soon everyone went through the yellow portal with more determination, they are almost halfway now. And as the portal closed and the screen grew darker, what was the gang gonna face up next time….remains to be seen…

Author's Note

The Sea Monkeys that look mutated are base around a reference of when they became monsters in the Frankenweenie film.

Another chapter made. Next chapter, the Rescue Team will have to handle a bizarre illusion world of...LIBRARY & CANDY! And what is with the deal with such a place and what is the 'shadow' that is toying with Ben's group? Better stick around, cause something bitter sweet is going on, and it's enough to be something scary...maybe. Till then, stay tune to see more...