Is all Hope Lost?

It was exactly what Spike feared from Zuberi and his Cape buffalo tribe, for they refuse to help them and keep to themselves. However, he, Discord, king Imari, and the eland followers he had with him knew they couldn't give up now.

There were still followers to find and ask for their aid against the dark queen. Even with all the help from Kwame Savimbi from the zebras, the elands, and the kudus with their king: Kip, it probably wouldn’t be enough to take down a whole army of brainwashed ponies.

Not far from where they were walking, it was a village with rhinos thriving in it. Rhinoceri would also be very handy for this little fight to save Equestria. These magnificent beasts were known for their powerful strength and speed, and they are considered a living tank or a cannon that would go against anything that would get in their way. By the looks of them, they were black. For they had that hooked upper lip on their mouths.

“Of course. The beautiful city of ryneh, one of the wonderful settlements built by rhinos. We’re in a right direction from where we go.” Said Zecora.

“That’s perfect.” Said Imari. “White rhinos are a friendly bunch of creatures that we elands would be on good terms with for countless years and generations. The king over there is Kifaru, and he is a. Good, well-meaning rhino.”

“I hope they are more passive and nicer than those buffalo back there and Kuberi.”

“Indeed, Zuberi sounded like a nasty piece of work back there.” Said Discord.

“Give them time.” Said Zecora. “They’ll think about what they have just turned down inside.”

“We can’t wait that long.” Said Spike. “Who knows when Twilight and the long gang will come back and capture me.” A chill crept down his spine just thinking about it. “The last thing I want is to be a pet by this Roseblood, whatever she looks like.”

“I’ll tell you what she looks like, my dear boy.” Said Discord. “She is a ponyfication of pure evil, the exact opposite of princess Celestia and Luna. If they are pure good, then Roseblood would be their complete opposite.”

“You say it wisely, Discord.” Said Imari. “And after all this time, I thought you would have been the opposite of Celestia.”

“Everyone would say that about me.” The master of chaos admitted, “But I just want to have some fun.”

“What about the hoppogriffs? Do you think they can help us, Zecora?”

“Hippogriffs?” Said Imari. “I thought they were all wiped out by the Stork King long ago.”

“Nope, they are still around, you’re majesty.” Spike reassured. “They were in hiding from the Storm king by turning themselves into Hippodromes. Me and my friends went to their home before when the Storm King invaded Equestria and tried to get help to defeat him.”

“He speaks the truth.” Said Discord. “Now they are back, and having the will to turn back into hippogriffs on land, and turn into hippodromes while underwater.”

“Hmm, we have never thought of that before.” Said Lekan. “Perhaps they could be quite useful to us.”

“Did Princess Celestia tell you about them before?” Asked Zecora.

“She was going to tell us, but then she was cut off when she was turned to stone when the Storm King invaded Canterlot.” Then the baby dragon looked over at the rhino settlement. "But since that rhino village is closest to us, we'll go to them first."

"My thoughts exactly, my good son." said Imari. "Of course, I think it is best if you let us do the speaking to them."

"Is it because they have never seen a dragon before?" Spike asked curiously.

"Indeed. Never in the flesh have they seen a dragon, or an infant dragon."

"Wait. What about Silver Horn and Lighthoof?" Spike just remembered.

"We will see them soon enough. There are more than just those rhinos living here on this beautiful land." ssid Zecora. "We will get more help as much as we can."

"Okay." Setting foot inside the town, many black rhinos stared at Spike and Discord, for Imari spoke the truth: they have never seen a baby dragon before, not to mention an unusual creature such as a drancequus.

Some of the rhino folk were murmuring to one another about Spike, Good or bad opinions alike.

The baby dragon gulped while still riding on Imari's back. There was the chief of this tribe: Kifaru himself. He had the longest and most lethal-looking horns on his nose, and possibly the biggest Male out of the crash.

When the bull saw the group walking up to them, he recognized Imari and Zecora in an instant. "Ah. Zecora. It has been a long while since I last saw you. And King Imari, a pleasure for you to visit our village as always." Thej the eland Kony and the black rhino chief bowed their heads to one another in respect.

"Kifaru, my old friend," said Zecora. "We need the help of you and your fellow rhinos to save the land of Equestria from meeting a hellish end."

"What do you mean?" Asked the rhino.

Zecora and Discord explained the whole story to him, and it sounded unnerving to him and a couple of guards that were with him.

"So let me just get this straight:" said Kifaru. "You need our help to stop this villain named 'Roseblood', who is a powerful, demonic pony mate who has brainwashed many ponies. Including the princess'?"

"That's right, sir." Spike answered. The chief looked up at him and gave a curious look. "Oops. I know I shouldn't talk."

"No. It's quite alright, my dear Spike." Zecors reassured.

"Oh. We tried to get Zuberi and his tribe of buffalo to help, but he refused."

"Hmph. Zuberi was always one to keep to himself. Zebrican buffalo are one of the most stubborn tyle of creatures I have ever met."

"What if we all just force them to help you?" Said a guard named Ryan.

"No." Said Imari. "That will only make things worse. Besides. We can always look for more followers."

"We already got changelings, dragons, some elands, some zebras, and some kudu to help us with the fight." Spike remarked. "We'll need as much help as we can get."

"Dragons and changelings?" Said Kifaru. "I thought that they are evil creatures."

"The changelings are good now. Thanks to me. And not all dragons are monsters that are greedy, 'cause I'm a baby dragon."

"Hmm." the lead black rhino began sniffing Spike with his large nose. "To be fair, you don't really smell like a dragon, you smell more like a pony."

"That's because I was raised by ponies since I hatched from me egg. Rest assured, I'm a dragon."

"Well, can you trust them?"

"Of course. My new friend: Ember, is the new Dragon Lord. And she is a good ally to us."

"Please Kifaru. Savimbi and Kip both fledged their support against Roseblood and her wickedness, now we need your help and support." Imari begged. "This could be the end of Zebrica and all worlds everywhere."

"Is she that powerful?"

"She brainwashed Celestia, Luna, and Cadence with her magical mist." Said Discord. "Trust me, take it from a drancequus that has seen what she is capable of."

Kifaru was silent for a moment, and began thinking in his head, pawing his hoof at the ground three times. "If what you say is true, then I do believe you. We have come together because we will experience the world's destruction of we do not stop Roseblood."

Spike made a smile of hope. Knowing where Kifaru was going with his little speech.

"Celestia and Luna have been good allies, and we will return the favor for all the help they have given us. Me, and my people here offer you our horns to save the world from this chaos spreading like fire." He bowed to the baby dragon, and Zecora, then a bunch of other rhinos knelt to show them their horns as well.

"So do i." Said Ryan.

"And so will we." Said a bull with a family of his wife and three calves, all bowing to fledge their support.

"Thank you, Kifaru." Said Zecora gratefully. "Do you know where we can find Silver Horn and Lighthoof around here, my dear?"

"Yes, but have you thought of a plan?" Asked the black rhino chief.

"We're working on it. But we need to get as much help as we can. Roseblood has probably got almost all the ponies in Equestria under her control." Said Discord. "We do not know how long it will take, but the more help we gain, the greater chance we'll send her straight back to hell."

"Count us in for that." Said another rhino solider boldly.

"We need to find more support, farewell." Said Imari.

The heroes set foot out of the rhino village, feeling more confident in taking Roseblood down.

Back in the cave where the survivors of Roseblood's wrath. All of then were still quite scared, and worried about their friends or family that might have been turned evil by Roseblood.

They were even wondering if there were more survivors or stragglers out there in Equestria that needs shelter from the evil mare's wrath.

Pip was just sitting by himself, looking sad and lonely, despite many faces he knew around him in this cave. Lyra and Bon Bon couldn't help but sit next to him for comfort. "Pip, are you okay?"

"No. My parents have been turned evil and we'reball hiding from Roseblood sonwe wouldn't have to suffer, in a cave."

"We know, Pip. But what other choice do we have?" Said Lyra. "We're safe here as long as they don't find us here."

"But what if any one of our friends that turned evil are nearby?" Pip asked

"We'll just he very quiet and not make a sound so they won't know we're here." Bon Bon reassure. Besides, I thought that it was a genius idea of Discord to have us hide in this cave and make it look like it was nothing but a boulder.

Cloudchaser and Flitter were just sitting next to a small bonfire that they made themselves with a couple of rocks and twigs. Thunderlane and Rumble were sitting next to the mares and kept each other warm for comfort.

"Oh you guys!" Said Lilac Daisy. "Somepony's coming."

They all clamped their mouths shut and they heard Shining Armor's voice. On the other side of the rock wall, everyone inside kept quiet and listened in on the conversation.

"Any luck finding anypony rose, captain?" Said Shining.

"No sir." Said a stallion. "No such luck."

"Grr, Roseblood will not be pleased. Not pleased at all. I can imagine how mad our queen will be."

"What about that rock" asked another guard.

Everyone inside of the cave became scared, worried that they might be discovered.

"No. No, that wouldn't be possible. Everypony with a brain would know that if somepony hid under a rock, it would crush them to death, unless if you were a scorpion but that's different." Shining said.

"Yeay, you're right. But what about Spike and Zecora and Discord?" Asked another guard.

"Leave that to my sister and her friends." Shining said. "How hard can it be for them to capture a pathetic trio of ao-called heroes trying to stop o8r beautiful queen?"

And a sound of evil laughter was heard from them. "Yeah, you're right. They'll never defeat queen Roseblood." Said the first guard.

"Well enough yapping, come on. , we need to keep looking." Everyone insidenthebcave waited for a few moments longer and found out Shining and his little posse were gone. They all felt so relieved and went back to their other things.

"That was close." Said Cloudchaser.

"Safe at last." Said Thunderlane.

"But that's just the least of our problems." Said Bon Bon. "I hope Spike, Discord, and Zecora come back soon."

"We all do, Bon Bon." Saod Lyra. "We just need to wait a little longer.