The Little Pony Legend: Journey of Iris

"Korra. Korra, wake up!"

The woman stirred, her vision blurry as the purple image before her manifested to reveal her best friend in her natural pony state. Korra's head felt heavy, like she had been hit by a ton of bricks. Being a former pro-bender and skilled earthbender she knew better than anyone how that felt like. She rubbed her head once she sat upright. Her hair was a tangled mess and her clothes were sprinkled with sandy dust. Part of it got into her nose and she sneezed. A purple hoof rested on her knee.

"Twilight?" Korra blinked, taking notice of not only the pony before her, but also the darkened room she was in. A single source of light illuminated the rocky ground with an eerie green glow. Looking forward, Korra saw a circular window with green coloring and blue hues. "Where are we?"

"I don't know." Twilight replied.

The sound of multiple groans could be heard from all around. Korra spun around to see the rest of the Mane Six all on the floor, just now waking up and assisting one another to stand back up. Upon closer inspection, it was very evident that the six ponies were not the only ones in this mysterious stone hard prison. Four alicorns rose from the ground, two colored in a similar dark blue coat, and one white with a shimmering pale rainbow mane, identical to the eldest alicorn while the youngest has a mane that resembled the starry night sky. Normally, their manes would move on their own in an endless invisible breeze, but at the moment they were still and fell down their shoulders, drape and lifeless, giving the illusion they had just risen from the water. Another alicorn was pink with a mane of pale gold, purple and magenta. Beside her was a white unicorn stallion and a slightly younger alicorn in comparison. Her coat was a lighter pink and her mane was a light purple with blue streaks, and blue eyes like her father.

"Girls? Celestia, Luna, Leilani! Cadance, Shinny, Flurry Heart? What happened?"

"We don't know." Luna replied, "We just woke up."

"Mom, Dad, are you alright?" the nineteen-year-old Flurry Heart asked her parents, assisting them back to their hooves. They nodded in reply and hugged their only daughter.

Pinkie Pie rubbed her head, feeling rather disoriented. "Eh, I haven't had a morning migraine like that since my bachelorette party."

"I told you not to overdo it with the frosting." Applejack said, still trying to fully recover herself as she shook the dust off of her body.

Rarity snipped the air around them. "Wherever we are it smells like dirty dogs."

"Hey! Don't forget me!" a voice came from out of nowhere, alerting the prisoners. Celestia instantly recognized the voice.

"Discord?"

"Where are you?" Fluttershy called out, searching for her friend.

"Down here!"

All eyes fell down towards where Korra sat, only to see something moving underneath her long hair, which was spread out on the ground. A little draconequus amerced, gasping for air. Korra gently scooped him up in her hands. He was the size of her entire palm.

"Discord?" Korra asked in disbelief. "What happened to you?"

"The last thing I remember was getting knocked out by some kind of smoke and then I wake up here." Discord explained. Despite his size, his voice was of the same normal volume if he had been his normal size.

"I think she meant, why are you so tiny?" Rainbow Dash clarified.

Discord then gulped and blushed in embarrassment. "Oh, well, I…may have shrunken myself to spy on Fluttershy and Thorax's date."

"You WHAT?!" Fluttershy exclaimed in anger, frightening the tiny Discord, who scurried like a frightened squirrel, up Korra's arm to her shoulder, hiding in her hair.

"I just wanted to make sure everything went smoothly is all. I know Thorax has a habit of stumbling on his words."

Korra rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. You just like watching those two being all cute and sweet together."

"Is it wrong for me to have an OTP?"

"I hate to interrupt this conversation, but I believe we have bigger problems right now." Cadance turned her head towards the opening. Korra managed to get back on her feet and approached the one source of light. She squinted her eyes a bit as the bright light hit her face. Her vision cleared quickly to see that the cave was closed up by some kind of solid transparent green tinted glass with blue hues. Upon closer inspection, Korra and the rest of the ponies, with Discord still ridding on her shoulder, noticed the sticky green substance around the walls. Flurry Heart touched the surface with her hoof and reeled back in disgust.

"Gross! What is that?!"

Twilight sniffed the substance before tapping it with her hoof. The sensation felt familiar. So familiar it trigged a repressed memory in her subconscious. The evening she had been kidnapped and was wrapped in some kind of encasement surrounded by the horrid gooey material.

"Korra…?" Twilight turned towards her human companion, her eyes trembling and Korra stared at her with widened eyes.

"That's not possible." she said, barely in a whisper. Korra then rubbed the surface of the glass, wiping away more of the sticky green material. The rest of the Mane Six assisted and cleaned it with their hooves, getting a clear view of what was outside.

They were placed in some kind of underground cave, surrounded by an assortment of lab equipment, and a large table filled with an assortment of ingredients. Upon closer inspection, Korra noticed that several of those ingredients were flowers. More specifically flowers from the park from which the mysterious creatures had dug up.

"I've seen those flowers before." Fluttershy voiced out. "Aren't those the fire lilies from the park?"

Leilani gasped upon seeing her original flowers having been ripped away from their home so forcefully. What's worse, the petals had been torn off, placed into small crystal containers or into wooden bowls to be mashed into bits.

"What is all of that?" Applejack asked, looking at all of the strange materials on display.

"These look like…potion ingredients." Celestia concluded. "But, none I've ever seen."

The sound of a distant groan grew louder, turning everyone's attention to something moving in the right hand corner. Once she rose from the ground, her body shimmered, transforming her pony body into that of a human, save for the pony ears, tail and horn that stuck out from her forehead.

"Starlight!" Twilight called out in relief to see one of their own out of their cage.

The pony rubbed her head and stood upwards, struggling to keep her balance. Her eyes fluttered open until she saw her friends inside the crystal and stone rock prison they were in.

"Twilight? Girls? What's going on? Where are we?" she asked, studying her surroundings.

"That's what we'd like to know." Korra replied before pounding her fist onto the glass in an attempt to break it. Once her hands made contact, the surface rippled and a light booming sound was heard. The glass remained perfectly in tact.

"Okay, stand back everybody. I'm gonna go classic R.D on this thing!" Rainbow Dash flew upwards and tried to fly right at the glass, only to get fly straight into the surface, releasing and even bigger ripple effect, and an even louder booming sound than before. She slid downwards and fell on her back, while her friends looked down and cringed in pain at the sight.

Rainbow Dash was perfectly alright, though a bit dazed. "Okay, I should know by now that doesn't always work. Also, that thing is unbreakable."

"Good to know." Twilight said somewhat sarcastically.

"Wait a minute." Korra felt something tingle at the back of her mind, pushing itself to the forefront of her memory. The images of the kidnapper and the smoke, and seeing her husband unconscious before getting dragged away. She gasped.

"Where's Mako?" she asked, looking back inside the cave, which was large enough to hold all of them, but could not go any farther back or farther ahead.

"I don't see Flash either!" Twilight exclaimed in shock. Has they not taken him along with them?

"Maybe they didn't take them." Rarity said.

"No." Korra said, shaking her head. "I remember. We were both knocked out and taken."

Starlight gasped as well. "So were me and Sunburst!"

A loud, booming growl pierced through the cave walls. The ground beneath them trembled and holes emerged from all sides. From them emerged four four legged creatures, hissing and snarling at the unicorn who backed away in fear, pressing her back against the table where all of the potion ingredients stood.

The creatures were, from what the others could decipher, were wolves. The same type of description from the eyewitness reports. But, these did not look like any of the wolves back in the human world, or even in Equestria. Their anatomies had been mixed with that of various animals. While hybrid animals weren't anything new for the humans, or the spirit world, these hybrids were unlike anything anyone had witnessed, and nothing they had seen in historical records.

The wolves were also somewhat larger than normal. One of then snarled at Starlight specifically.

As for each wolf, they all had their own unique appearance, a look unknown by either world the group was form:

One wolf amongst this pack appeared to be strongly reptilian. Large green scales ran down from its head to the bottom of its paws, the only furred areas of the wolf being the chest, stomach, and down to the tail, all of which were covered in dark grey fur. This confirmed what the scale they found belonged to. The scales all were dark green, with the exception fo greyish green stripes that ran down its back: one lining the neck, and two lining up with the front and back legs, both of which were also scaled. Speaking of, the front legs also had a set of characteristic quills which aimed backwards, a manor similar to the Quilled Chameleon. Small, yet bright spots ran down in a single row down the back up to the tip of the neck, stopping under a crest off the wolf's head. That, accompanied by three distinctive horns gave a Triceratops-like facial anatomy.

The second wolf was less exaturated in hybrid appearance, but still a menecing sight. Like the first one, it too had scales mixed with fur, but its body was mostly wolf. Its body consisted mostly of greyish blue fur, but the unique feture to this wolf was a viper-like half face! One side of the wolf was purely wolf, but the other half consisted of a scaley, diamond-linned viper! Brownish scales ran from the side of its head, down its spinal region, and ended in a fully scaled, rattlesnake tail (rattle included). The rattle gave a signature rattling shake during the wolf's growling, as it bared a set of long sabre teeth. Even its eyes were split between the two animals: one normal and blue color, the other slitted and grey.

Another wolf, which actually wasn't acting as aggresive as the others, stood boldly amongst the pack. This one was more recognizable when it came to what other animal it was hybridized with. Its whole body was completely furred, a darl yellowish-green color with a white chest and underbelly. Patterns on the wolf's face were especially recognizable to those of the Avatar world: a white muzzle, face and snout, with a black "mask" that went over its eyes, both white and black patches going down the back of the neck and ending at a point at the shoulders. These details clearly signify a Badgermole, no doubt.

Another wolf in this group, snarling and showing its teeth, had the characteristic most suiting a Griffin over a wolf. For starters, it had a set of large wings, dark red in feathers colorations along them both. Its back legs, back, and forehead were tannish in color, with the front legs only having the tan color up to the ends of its paws. The fur on this one was grey, almost a violet kind of tint that went from its muzzle, down through its chest and underbelly, and fully covering the tail. Its head displayed a surprisingly impressive feather placement, with large feathers stretching out each side of its face, and two barbs at the tip of its snout like whiskers, and two single features aimed directly upwards. All of these gave it the look of wearing a feathered mask of a Fire Hawk.

Then came the largest wolf of the pack, easily standing a foot or two taller than the others. This wolf was mostly furred, the fur shining a silverish white, which patches of this creature were toned in black scales. These scales were over its head between the ears, stretching down its front legs, and going down the tail, which was exceptionally long. Patches of scales also covered the tip of the snout, cutting off to fur again as it went inward towards the face. Curved spikes dotted its scaley length, starting from the forehead, ending just at the base of its back. Its prominent, deep purple eyes stared them all down.

The larger wolf sneered and snapped its jaws at Starlight, who's horn gave a threatening cyan glow and aimed her hand towards the beasts, ready to strike. Only for it to strike first, by unleashing a blast of cold wind from its mouth. Starlight's entire body was now covered in a powerfully strong frost all the way from the neck down, save for some frost covering the tip of her horn, preventing her from being able to move and perform magic.

Korra and the rest of the girls prepared to break free with their magic, but quickly realized that even with all of thier focus, no energy coursed through their bodies and blasted from either Korra's hand on their horns. Even Discord tried to change back into his normal size, but found he couldn't do so.

"My magic isn't working!" Korra said in distress.

"Neither is ours!" Leilani exclaimed in horror.

Twilight concentrated and tried to change her body, but failed. "I can't even morph!"

The rest of the ponies tried to focus on changing their bodies from bodies to anthro humans, but failed miserable. "We can't either!"

Applejack exclaimed. "This prison is blockin' our magic somehow!"

"Don't even bother." said the white and black wolf as he approached them. His piercing purple eyes narrowing. "That prison is carved from an ancient stone which sucks away all of your magic. Any attempt would be fruitless."

"Suck at our magic?" Starlight whispered in realization. "But, how did you find it? What are you?"

"Nadare. And I see you met some of my pack, as well."

"You're the ones who have been causing trouble all around the world!" Korra concluded. "What do you want?"

"I believe you're confused. It is not what we want. It's about what she wants."

Everyone gasped and huddled closely together, with Discord clinging onto Korra's hair, also trembling, which was new for the spirit of chaos himself. Then again, he was only the size of a normal human palm without his magic so there really wasn't much he could do now. The echoing sounds of a sinister maniacal laugh came through the rocky walls.

The wolves all spliced themselves into position, keeping a close eye on the currently frozen anthro unicorn as the laughter continued. Korra's eyes widened as she and the Mane Six huddled together, each one protectively shielding the other. Cadance narrowed her eyes as her husband held both her and their daughter close. That laughter had echoed in her nightmares for years. She thought she had finally heard the last of it.

"No."

The badgermole wolf stomped its paw onto the ground and separated his front lets, commanding the rocks of the wall to rise upwards like a door. The interior was dark and cold as night, yet a pair of slender green eyes glowed became the only source of light.

A foot stepped outside into the light, revealing to be a disturbing inset-like foot, so slim it was almost skeletal-like, with sharp slim thorn-like talons for toenails. The rest of the figure emerged, revealing to be a sickly skinny looking woman with dark gray skin, covered in paler gray circles, resembling sickly spots, and her arms were so skinny they resembled a skeleton. Had not for the still visible, but only slightly evidence of solid thick layers of skin she would resemble a walking corpse. Her eyes and face, however, looked a bit healthier. The face was sharp, her nose and chin so pointed they could puncture a stone. Her eyes were slender like that of a cat's wide and large and green entirely, including the sclera. She had a full head of dark cerulean hair, drape and lifeless, with one single long strand falling down from her forehead all the way to her waist. She wore a long greenish gown with a gray blue sash around it. The sleeves hung loosely around her shoulders, indicating they were far too long to even stay there. The dress was torn and ragged, reaching just above her knees. Her ears were pony-like, though more pointed and when she smiled, it was revealed she had sharp fangs.

However, the most distinguishing feature about her was the torn, transparent insect wings on her back, and the sickly twisted horn that emerged from her forehead. The heroes were paralyzed in fear, minus Starlight who was already frozen in place, though even if she wasn't she would still be petrified, unable to find the right reaction to this chilling discovery.

"What's the matter, Starlight? Don't recognize your old friend?"

"H-How is this possible?" Starlight stammered, her heart pounding hard against her ribcage, as if trying desperately to break out and run as far away as possible. "You're dead!"

The creature laughed once more, showcasing her sharp fangs. Sharp as razor blades. "Oh, naivete is adorable. Did you honestly believe you could possibly defeat me? The Queen of the Changelings?"

"You're not the queen of anything anymore!" Korra called out, her eyes and entire being filled with a familiar unwavering anger that she had felt hundreds of times in the past. "Chrysalis…" she hissed at her name.

"Tough talk for someone who's now completely helpless." the changeling taunted, prompting Korra to pound harder onto the surface of their prison, despite the reality that no matter how hard she tried she could not break it. It was more so a responce in anger than anything.

"How are you still alive? Where are our husbands? What have you done to them?!"

"Now, now, don't go getting your feathers in a bunch, dear. Your precious hubbies are perfectly fine. Ciya!"

At her screeching demand, the badgermole wolf pounded his paws onto the surface of the ground, and above three holes opened up. There stalagmites grew from the cave ceiling, revealing to be Mako, Flash Sentry and Sunburst, gagged and chained by some form of rock/crystals that radiated with the same green color as the glass window of the girls's prison. Their mouths were covered by cloths, preventing them from speaking properly. Their voices muffled as they struggled to break free, refusing to give into their imprisonment.

"There, you see? Perfectly alright….for now, anyway." the insect-woman laughed to herself, prompting the rest of the wolves to laugh, except for Nadare.

Chrysalis affectionately petted the wolf's head. "Well done, Nadare. Exquisite job as always."

The large wolf bowed his head. "At your service as always, my queen." he said in a low, ominous voice that somehow reminded Korra is Amon in a way. He spoke with such suave and confidence mixed with an aura of vindictiveness that haunted Korra's dreams when she was a teenager.

"How are you even alive?" Starlight asked, still frozen in place and unable to use her magic. "We saw you fall!"

Chrysalis only cocked her head back in laughter. "While that is true, I never died, you pathetic little worm!" Chrysalis sneered at Starlight, but the unicorn only narrowed her eyes in anger. "But, might as well explain to all of you." she said as she continued to walk around her cave-like laboratory, with the wolves attentively by her side.

"Let's start from the beginning. As horrifying as it is to believe, I wasn't always this stunning." Chrysalis said, gesturing to her sickly almost bony proportions, which only made Korra and the others cringe in disgust.

"Delusional, much?" Discord whispered into Korra's ear. He was still staying safely behind her long dark brown locks.

"Like the other changelings, I used to give love rather than take it. But every time I "shared" love, I got nothing in return. So, one day, I dared to do what was originally forbidden to changelings. I decided to take love for myself. I continued this trend for several years. When I absorbed the love that came from the original changeling king, who had fallen for me at that point, I gained more power than I could ever imagine! The power of the king's love coursed through my bloodstream, and with the more love I absorbed I became immortal! Nothing could kill me, so with every "death" my blood would regenerate me."

Everyone could only watch in horror at the terrifying tale of the former queen. She truly was a wicked as they came.

"From a single drop of blood, I emerged once again. That's when I realized, if I could absorb love rather than share it, I could live for all eternity! Even longer than the Alicorns! Of course, it came with a price. I had to continuously absorb more and more love, but I couldn't do it alone. So, with my new power, I was able to get the changelings to believe the only way to live and become stronger was to devour as much love as possible!"

"And that's how the changeling's true history was lost." Cadance concluded. "With every new generation you deceived them all to the point all knowledge of their past was forgotten!"

"But changelings aren't immortal." Twilight said. "You never told them that, did you?"

"Of course not!" Chrysalis spatted. "If I did, then they would either try to steal my power or over-throne me! I became their one and only leader, and with my ageless wisdom they obeyed every word I said." Chrysalis's anger the boiled and her hands clenched tightly.

"But then, you ruined everything!" she spatted while pointing an accusing finger at Starlight Glimmer. "The love of the changelings and Thorax as the new king, that power I originally had was weakened. I was able to regenerate, but it took me years, and years, and years!" she hissed before smiling wickedly again. "Until Nadare and his pack found me. They watched over my cocoon like the good, loyal pups they were. Alone in the world, searching for a mother. A leader. A queen. When I emerged again, I knew my magic wasn't as strong as it once was. My magic limited. I knew I didn't stand a chance against my enemies in this state. Nadare so generously offered his services. So, with what little magic I had left, I used it to give these beautiful wolves a gift. With my changeling power, I was able to change their anatomies. Combining them with the most efficient animals this world had to offer. With their help, I was able to capture and imprison all of the most beloved figures in the three worlds."

"Nice bedtime story, but now that you have us what next?" Rainbow Dash said. "You don't have your changeling army anymore, so there was no way you could have replaced us."

"True. No doubt the other kingdoms are loosing their wings at the news that their beloved heroes and royals are missing. But don't worry. It's not your love, or threes I'm after this time. Oh, no, no." Chrysalis chuckled as she approached the glass, smiling tauntingly at Korra. "I'm after something far greater….power and revenge."

"Well, you have us. Now what?" Korra asked in a cold voice, showing no visible signs of fear.

Chrysalis only chuckled and turned away, her teal hair swaying as she did. "Now, you come in, Starlight Glimmer."

"Me? What do you want with me?"

"What do I want with you?" the woman reached for the unicorns neck, the frost around her body immediately disappearing, minus the one on her horn, and she lifted her off the ground. Sunburst struggled in his bindings, his protests coming out in muffles. "Because of you and your pathetic friends, I lost everything! My kingdom! My power! My immortality is now hanging by a loose thread thanks to you!"

Starlight struggled to breath at how tightly Chrysalis was gripping her neck. Thankfully, she released the unicorn, dropping her to the floor. Starlight gasped for air, coughing roughly while gently reaching a hand to her neck, still feeling Chrysalis's powerful grip linger.

"But, there is a way for you to make it up to me. You see, Nadare and his pack have scattered the lands in search of specific ingredients for an ancient, long forgotten potion that was banished eons ago. Only to be uncovered by a reckless young unicorn scientist. An old comrade of Nadare." Chrysalis affectionately rubbed the wolf's head and he gave a soft affectionate growl, though his eyes narrowed in a threatening manner.

"He was kind enough to show it to me. Once it is complete, I will gain something fare greater than any "love" could ever give me….power of all the known Alicorns and the legendary Elements of Harmony!"

"Hey! What about me?" Discord exclaimed in annoyance.

Chrysalis only rose a brow. "Oh, yes, and one annoying chaos spirit."

"Now that's more like it." Discord smiled in satisfaction, only to realize what she just said. "Wait a second!"

"If that's what you want then why did you take me?" Starlight asked. 'To rub it in my face?"

"Well, that is a bonus, I'll admit." Chrysalis said with a light chuckle. "But, there is more to it than that. You see, because of my week magic I can't be able to make this potion. It requires somepony with a sustainable amount of magic and with the skills of an alchemist. It needs the perfect convergence of both arts in order for it to work."

Starlight's eyes widened in realization. "That's why you need me."

"Exactly. From my sources, you, Starlight Glimmer, have proven to be one of the most talented magic users in Harmony City. Expected given your past as the Princess's students."

Nadare loomed over the anthro unicorn. "Your talent of mixing specific spells to create a new one is identical to modern Equestrian alchemy. The same kind my former master once used. Before his experiments went haywire and he met his…unfortunate demise." his voice slithered, causing a shiver to run up Starlight's spine.

"Once I have the potion," Chrysalis continued, "I will regain my full changeling powers. Only, I won't use it to suck out love like I used to. Instead, I will be able to absorb the full power of the Alicorns and Elements, transforming into the most powerful being in existence!"

"What makes you think I will help you?" Starlight spat.

"Oooh, I was hoping you'd ask." Chrysalis flipped her hair vainly, "Ciya. Would you be a dear?"

"Yes, my Queen." Ciya bowed his head and bended a crater upwards from beneath where Mako, Flash and Sunburst hung. It was a rock crater, perfectly rounded…and filled with a familiar metallic looking liquid which rendered Korra's entire body freeze, and her memory to rekindle events she had long witnessed repeat in her nightmares.

Chrysalis laughed maniacally. "Mercury poison. Such nasty stuff. Of course, you of all people would know that. Wouldn't you, Korra?"

The Avatar began to slowly hyperventilate upon witnessing the substance underneath her husband's feet. Visions of when she was hung up and forced to be injected with the substance flashed before her eyes. Tears began to form and her hands trembled against her will.

Twilight shared the same reaction. She had witnessed, and felt just how horrible that material was, and now her husband was hanging over it, still trying desperately to escape his bindings. The rest of the Mane Six shared the same reaction, though Korra and Twilight appeared as if they would pass out, yet their anxiety and terror kept them wide awake.

"If you deny my request, Starlight Glimmer, these three will be dropped into the pool of mercury faster than you can blink. And no, you can't use your own magic to free them. Those chains, they're made of the same material as the prison, and my old throne. Any attempt you make will be for not."

Both Korra and Twilight's instincts took over and began punching the unbreakable wall with incredible furry. Korra didn't even care how much her knuckles were beginning to hurt.

"You monster! I'll end you!!" Twilight screamed, her eyes psychotic with rage.

"Ha! Keep throwing your empty threats, pony." Chrysalis taunted. "You couldn't kill me even if you wanted to."

Korra let out a powerful angry cry and pointed the glass once more, creating the biggest booming sound as of yet. "Even if we can't, I swear on Aang's grave, YOU WILL PAY!!"

"What's it going to be, Starlight?" the changeling said, turning her attention to the unicorn, who stared in horror at her husband and friends, literally, hanging over their deaths. "Unlike Korra, these three won't have any alicorn magic to protect them."

Starlight was rendered mute. Her trembling preventing her from uttering a word. To "motivate" her decision, Chrysalis turned to Ciya. "Lower them."

"NO!!" Korra, Twilight and the rest all screamed in unison, and tried desperately to break the glass with punches and kicks as the three were slowly lowered towards the mercury poisoning. The three men struggled and screamed for help, which came out muffled underneath the bandanas covering their mouths.

"STOP! I'LL DO IT!!" Starlight screamed at the top of her lungs and the lowering of the three men ceased. They now hovered a good five feet away from the mercury. Rather than breath a sigh of relief, they stared in fear for Starlight, who was literally on her knees, crying and handing her head, practically bowing at the changeling woman.

"I'll make the potion for you. I'll do whatever you want, just please…please spare them!"

Chrysalis only smirked, but her ears flickered when she heard the stalagmites which held the men captive rise upwards back to where they were before. She turned her head rapidly towards Ciya. Despite his blindness he flinched when he felt the queen's gaze upon him. Chrysalis narrowed her eyes then turned to the still weeping unicorn. Crunching down to her level, she grabbed Starlight's chin and forced her to look straight into her glowing green eyes.

"A wise choice." she said with a slithery tone before angrily releasing her chin and stood back up. "The ingredients you need are all right here. Follow the instructions Nadare gives you to the letter. No mistakes. Am I clear?"

Starlight sat upright, wiping away her tears. "Yes."

"Yes…what?"

Starlight closed her eyes shut before answering. "Yes…my Queen."

Chrysalis smiled with glee then turned to the other wolves. "Pack, let us leave our guest to her work. Wouldn't want her to get distracted."

"Yes, My Queen." Nadare said with a bow and approached starlight. He opened his mouth to her head, sucking in the frost from her horn. He then whispered into her ear. "If you make so much as one slip up…I won't be so merciful."

With that, he and the rest of the wolfs left Starlight to weep. "I'm so sorry!"

Korra, Twilight and the others, while relieved Mako, Flash and Sunburst were alright, their lives literally hung in the balance, with Starlight holding them in her hands.

Sunburst shed tears, watching his wife so broken. The same went for Flash and Mako, all three feel guilty for being used a leverage to Chrysalis's goals. The dam broke for Korra as well. The idea of Mako, the love of her life, and her two best friends being poisoned as she once was, was just too much to bare. She never would wish that kind of torment of anyone. The Avatar broke down, got down on her knees pressing her forehead against the wall, crying hysterically. Just as they always have, the Mane Six weeped along with her, sharing her pain, fear and trauma all over again. Mako heard her cries from where he was, hatting he couldn't comfort her either. At least she wasn't alone. They were all together.

But still in grave danger.

(~)

"Thank you." Akari said, bowing her head in respect as Aiwei poured the tea into her cup. The former Red Lotus member kindly led the group back to his teashop, which was given to him by Iroh long ago.

"Be sure to fill yourselves up. You have a very hard journey ahead of you."

Hiro had no problem with that. He and Chi were already devouring the delicious spirits cakes Aiwei and his spirit companions handed out. Nori and Mai only rolled their eyes and covered their faces in humiliation.

"This is a very nice teashop you have here, Aiwei." Sunset Shimmer said, admiring the beautiful location. The shop was located on a stunning, grassy meadow, with several chairs and tables spread out for spirits to eat, drink and share together.

"Thank you. I try my best to keep it in good shape."

"I'm sure Iroh would be very proud of you." Iris said with a warm smile, which was shared by the elderly man.

"Thank you, Princess."

"What happened to this Iroh anyway?" Nova asked, "He was Lord Zuko's uncle, right?"

"Yes. He spent some time here in the spirit world after his work was done in the human realm. When I decided to remain here, he taught me everything he knew. After his work was done here, his spirit finally returned to his family." Aiwei lowered his head in respect. "Rest in peace, Master Iroh."

After taking a sip of his tea, Zaheer addressed the man. "Aiwei, we really apreciate you helping us. Especially given our…past." the airbender hung his head in regret.

"It's alright, Zaheer. Everything turned out alright in the end." Aiwei said with a reassuring smile.

"I'd hate to interrupt, but we really ned your help." Iris said, getting to the bottom of things.

"Yes, I am well aware of what happened to Queen Korra." Aiwei said with sympathetic concern. "Zaheer contacted me as soon as he heard."

"Do you have an idea as to who could have taken my parents, the Alicorns and the Elements of Harmony?" Iris asked. "You know almost everything there is to know about this place, more so than any of us."

"I have been hearing rumors." Aiwei said, getting the team's attention while Hiro swallowed the last bit of his spirit eta cake. "But, the details are very fuzzy. Some sprits have reported witnessing strange creatures roaming the lands, but they move so quickly and without warning it's difficult to pinpoint exactly where they are. If these beasts truly are the ones who kidnapped your family, I'm afraid I don't know where they could be, or why they have taken our friends."

"Well, we do at least know where they are." Nori pointed out. "The Friendship Map showed us they're in this desert-like area past the Dark Spirit realm."

"Only, it just showed us the location, not how to get there." Mai said.

"That is because the pathway to the Dark Spirit realm is interchanging." Aiwei explained.

"What do you mean?" Sunset Shimmer asked, cocking her head in suspicion.

One of the winged spirits flew over to Awiei, carrying a rolled up scroll and placed it into his hand. Once he unfolded it, it revealed varies locations of the spirit world. Each place was different, contrasting with each other. The only things that connected them were there luminescent threats that wiggled like worms.

"This is a spirit map from Wan Shi Tong's Spirit Library.

"What are those things?" Akari asked, pointing to the wiggling threads.

"Those are the threads that connected each location of the Spirit World." Awiei said, tracing his hand over the map. "They go in a never ending repetitive cycle. One minute they connect with one realm, the next they connect with another."

"Yeah, ya hit the nail on the head there." Chi said, "One minute, you're in a meadow with with cute sparkly butterflies, next thing you're either swimming through rapid waters, or lost in some neon light show forest."

"This is not the case for every realm, however." Aiwei said, "Some pathways are more constant than others. In your case, the pathway to the Dark Spirit Realm is one of the constant changing pathways." he pointed his finger towards the intertwining threads before they separated and connected to somewhere else again. "As of this moment, if you follow this pathway, you should arrive within a day's time.

"How long do these pathways stay connected?" P'Li asked.

"Usually about a day." Nova explained.

"How do you know that?" Gallant asked.

"My ancestors came from the Spirit World. Spirits are the only ones who can navigate through the pathways even when they're changing."

"Of course, Nova's only half spirit, so we did get lost a few times." Chi pointed out, crossing her arms. "I spent a week getting orange goop out of my hair and from places where goop should never be!" her eyes darted to the others, who all gave her confused, and curious looks. "Trust me, you don't want to know."

"Hang on." Iris began. "If the pathway to the Dark Spirit realm is constantly changing, how come my mother could always get to and from no problem?"

"Even if she and Raava are no longer sharing the same body, Korra still has much of Raava's energy within her. Over the years, she mattered a way to travel through the pathways with ease. But, I'm afraid since you are only just starting to discover your Avatar powers, it probably won't work for you at this moment."

Iris hung her head in disappointment. Akari placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Aiwei rolled up the map and handed it to Zaheer. "All you need to do is think about where you wish to you, and the map will reveal to you which pathways to take."

Zaheer bowed before his old ally. "Thank you, my friend."

"Oh, before you leave." Aiwei quickly bended a rock up from the ground, which resembled a box with a golden lock on it. Once opened, shimmering green stones radiating with mystical auras were seen.

The children surrounded the box, their eyes shimmering in wonder. "Those are Zenith stones!" Gallant said in surprise.

Aiwei pulled out several into his palm and handed them to the four adults. "Yes. These will allow you entrance into the Dark Spirit realm. Aside from Korra, their hybrid energy of spirit and magic is enough to allow one to enter through the Dark Spirit Realm. Of course, since the whole Kuvira incident the majority of them are kept under lock and key, sort of speak."

"But, won't my Avatar powers be enough?" Iris asked, already feeling a little bit disappointed.

Aiwei crunched down to her level. "I'm not entirely sure. Your powers have only just started to develop, child. There's really no telling just how powerful they are right now. It's best to be prepared just in case." he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, genuinely feeling regret for his words. He wasn't trying to lower her spirits, he was simply thinking rationally.

Iris understood this, and simply took in a deep breath and swallowed it. "Thank you, for your help."

"And for the food!" Hiro mentioned, right before stuffing the last bit of cake into his mouth. Frosting got smothered on the side of his mouth. Mai only rolled her eyes.

With their stomachs, and backpacks full, the team prepared to head out once again, only for Sunset Shimmer to suddenly wince in pain, gripping her stomach. Nova rushed to her aid, using his upper body to help support her balance.

"Sunset! Are you alright?"

The unicorn rubbed her head and straightened herself, groaning a bit from brief deliriousness. "Y-Yeah. I guess I over did it with the tea cakes there." she said. She really did eat more than was expected. Guess she was a lot hungrier than she thought. Good thing they had now twice as much food as when they started.

Aiwei led the group towards the mountain range around the meadow, far off from the mountain where the Dragon Birds resided. He pointed to one particular mountain, which was colored with a faint purple and red tint, in contrast to the pure grayish-light blue coloring of the rest of the mountains, or the brownish coloring belonging to the home of the Dragon Birds.

"We gotta climb that?!" Hiro exclaimed in shock, while pointing at the tall hill. "It'll take us more than one day just to reach it!"

"Oh, no, you don't have to climb it." Aiwei said, making Hiro breathed a sigh of relief. The earthbender then created an opening onto the side of the mountain, revealing a dark cave, with a purple radiating light at the very end of it. When Iris reached her head inside, her hair suddenly "fell" forward. She quickly reeled back and her hair was back in its rightful position. When she poked her head in again, she noticed that the inside of the cave felt more like a tunnel.

Akari poked her head in next and fearlessly jumped in, her wings tucked into her back, screaming as she "fell" into it.

"Akari!" everyone shouted in terror, only for the young anthro alicorn to fly right back out with her wings.

"Wow! That was fun! And a lot farther down than it looks."

Gallant too looked into the cave/tunnel and coked his head in confusion. "The logics of the spirit world never cease to amaze me."

Everyone else turned their heads towards Aiwei, who simply nodded his head. Akari jumped back in again and let out a rousing "Woohoo!!" as she went further downwards, with everyone looking on. "I'm still falling!" she called out, sounding like she was having the best time.

Iris playfully rolled her eyes before turning once again to Aiwei, thanking him with a nod before jumping down as well, screaming as she did so. At first, it was a terrified scream, which quickly changed into one of child-like enthusiasm. One by one, the kids jumped into it, but Nori hesitated.

"Uh, yeah, I don't do well with falling, unless there's water involved. Is there water at the bottom of--AH!" the merpony screamed when she was pushed in by the blue wisp, who smiled smugly. "CHI!!!"

"Oops." Chi said sarcastically before diving in as well. The four remaining adults jumped in as well, spiraling downwards into the tunnel, and Aiwei poked his head in to shout at the team.

"Good luck! Be safe!"

(~)

The team screamed as they fell down the, abnormally horizontal tunnel/cave. Akari outstretched her arms, falling down face first. She smiled with exhilarated glee, and Iris followed soon afterwards. Hiro was cheering like crazy, the adrenaline being very familiar to what he felt when pro-bending, while Mai, Gallant Nori hugged one another, screaming in terror. The only ones who showed zero emotion to the whole ordeal with the four adults, who kept their focus on the very end of the tunnel, and where they would wind up.

Finally, the group exited through the tunnel, only to find themselves hovering in mid air…and upside down. Bellow them was a clear sky with blue and golden hues, and above them was a sandy beach. Akari, Iris, Chi, Gallant, Nova and Sunset were able to stay afloat. The two alicorns using their wings, the three unicorns with their self levitation spells, and Chi because she was a wisp and those her feet barely touched the ground anyways.

Zaheer managed to cushion his and P'Li's fall with his airbending, while Mai, Hiro and Nori landed into a pile on the beach. The three looked disoriented.

"I…hate…heights!" Nori exclaimed as she stood back up, with Gallant's help. Nova and Sunset helped the Sato siblings stand back up as well. Nori then sniffed the air. "Wait a minute." she said, taking another whiff. "Salt water?" she beamed once she saw the large body of water before her. The merpony gasped with delight.

"Water! Sweet, salty, large body of water!" Nori didn't waste a minute and dove right into the waters, her legs quickly changing into a fish tail. Once she surfaced, she flipped her now wet hair back, sighing contently to be in her natural element again. "Ahhh. Much better."

"Where are we?" Akari asked.

Zaheer unfolded the map to reveal that the image had changed. Now, the corner of the map showcased the meadow where Aiwei's tea shop was, with the pathways connected to a vast beach like area. The large body of water connected to a land, where they would travel through a forest before reaching the Dark Spirit Realm.

Zaheer smiled. "Looks like Aiwei got us the fastest route." he said, as everyone else huddles together to see the map set. Mai pulled out her geo-phone and took a quick picture. "We just have to cross this ocean, find this island, and after we get through this forest we'll be at the entrance of the Dark Spirit Realm."

"Sounds simple enough." P'Li said. "Only, how are we supposed to cross all of that?" she pointed to the large body of water, which Nori then walked out of, back on her two legs.

Nova's ears perked upwards in alarm. "Wait…this place looks…" he didn't even finish his sentence as he walked along the shoreline and ran behind a tall rock. "Guys! Look at this!"

Everyone quickly followed and were surprised to see an old and worn boat, made entirely out of wood, with a sail and everything. Chi flew up to the old boat, which had the sails already torn due to age. "Oh, yeah! I remember this place! We used this boat to sail across!"

"Well, that was surprisingly convenient." Hiro said, cocking his head and scratching his neck in both surprise and…well, more like bewildered, yet happy they found the solution to their problem.

"Looks like it could use some work, though." Gallant said, scratching his chin in thought. He then snapped his fingers once the idea formed in his mind. "Nori, you still got that sowing kit Rarity gave you?"

"Phst! Don't be ridiculous." Nori said, rolling her eyes and scoffing….right before pulling it right out of her pocket, with a wide smile. "Of course I did!"