Lost in Mysticia

Chapters

The Shocking Arrival
Familiar But Unfamiliar
The First Night
World Of Mysticia
Ready To Uncage
An Unexpected Death

The Shocking Arrival

It was a peaceful, cool afternoon. Pipp’s salon, Mane Melody, was mostly empty at the time, besides three ponies. Pipp giggled happily as she approached Jazz who was sitting on a seat drinking one of Sunny’s smoothies. She was clearly enjoying her drink, she loved Sunny’s smoothies. No other smoothie tasted as good as years in her opinion.

“I totally have an idea for our dance routine next week for the anniversary of...” Pipp smiled, then sung. “Maaane Melodyyy!”

Jazz stopped slurping and looked at her friend with awe, “That’s great Pipp!” She exclaimed, “Can I see?”

Pipp grinned cheerfully, “Well, it needs some refining before I show anyone so... you’ll see it tomorrow!”

”C’mon Pipp, you can trust me, I won’t laugh if it’s kinda...” She paused, “not what you were going for...” Jazz smiled, knowing she would never do a thing to hurt Pipp.

Pipp smiled gleefully, “I know! But I want it to be a surprise! You’re gonna love it, Jazzy!”

”I’m sure I will! You’re so great at making stuff, Pipp!” Jazz smiled before the doors slammed open, apparently hitting someone as it did, as the victim exclaimed in pain. Pipp looked at the source of the noise in shock to see it was a familiar unicorn who had slammed the doors open.

“Oh! Izzy! You need something?” Pipp asked, worried by how quickly the doors opened. Was there something going on? Was it an emergency?

Izzy pranced around with excitement after kicking the doors closed. Pipp noticed the door’s victim was Rocky, he looked very unamused as he held his hoof in his muzzle. “Oh, hello Rockstarry!” Exclaimed Izzy as she waved at Rocky as he glared at her, he had a glance at his hoof in shock before running to the room at the back.

“What’s up with him?” Asked Izzy as she levitated an object in a sparkly pink cloth.

Pipp looked towards the back room, “Well... heh... not the first time you hit him with a door- he’ll be fine, just a bloodied-nostril- anyway- what’s up?”

Jazz and Pipp looked at the cloth in wonder as they questioned what it was. “What is that?” Jazz asked quietly.

”Something I’m so excited to show you, Pipp!” Izzy could not contain her excitement any longer! She just had to show them what she had. She carefully put the mysterious object on the floor with a huge grin. Pipp made a dramatic gasp as she watched Izzy undo the cloth, revealing a very ancient looking object.

Izzy revealed a large clamshell seemingly made of wood. The paint looked heavily worn away and damaged, making it look a few hundred years old. Also, there were odd markings, resembling dinosaur looking creatures resembling raptors. And raptor-like prints all around. At the top were three stones embedded in the middle three sections of the clamshell. Purple in the middle, aquamarine and yellow on either side of the purple.

The whole thing looked like it had seen better days.

”Ancient artefact you and Sunny found?” Jazz guessed, kinda confused by it. “I like it, I think it will look amazing when you restore it... if that’s what you’re gonna do?

”Nope and nope! I found it all on my own! We should open it!” Izzy squealed, jumping up and down. “It might have- no- it absolutely will have magic!” She exclaimed with joy.

”Uh...” Pipp had an unsure feeling in her gut, “I dunno- I think we should check with Sunny in case it isn’t some sort of... I dunno- magical device that’s sealing some evil?”

Izzy shook her head, she was internally shocked. There was no way this was holding in a villain. She noticed Pipp and Jazz’s worried glances as they looked at it.

“No... it won’t, Pipp- totally wont-“ Izzy grinned, “Cross my heart, hope for rye, stick glitter in my eye!”

It took Pipp a while to realise what Izzy was talking about. “Oh! Well... if you say so...”

“Ummm, Pippy... what did Izzy mean by-“

”Oh! it’s a thing... a promise thing, the ancient pony Pinkie Pie had a silly one, so Izzy made her own!”

”Oh, well, I suppose that makes sense...”

”So...” Izzy gained a wide grin, “Shall we open it?”

She knew it had to be open! It would change their lives, but she must not act too suspicious. For now, everything was going according to plan! But she had to still be more than just medium sneaky.

”Uh... sure!” Pipp shrugged. She still felt nervous about this. It didn’t feel right! But Izzy did promise it wasn’t sealing some sort of evil. Perhaps it is just some jewellery. Some old, but precious jewellery! She smiled slowly as she imagined opening the box and gaining a nice diamond necklace.

Jazz wasn’t sure either. What if Izzy was wrong about it? She did promise, but the gems. There wasn’t something normal about them, but she couldn’t pinpoint what. Perhaps it would spurt out some magic, maybe it was an old weapon!

”Hey, maybe we should open it outside?” Jazz asked.

Pipp hugged her close, “C’mon Jazzy! It’s just gonna be some treasure! Like jewellery! Or rare gems! Or even rare artefacts!”

”What if there’s a curse put on it and whoever opens-“ Jazz worried. She was the most worried out of the three. There was no way this would end well, she thought. She remained calm, trying to assure herself that it could just be a basic chest from the old times.

Izzy looked at the two ponies in front of her. “So who’s gonna open it?”

”You should,” Jazz nodded, “You found it, after all, so it’s fair that you do it.”

”Hmm...” Izzy noted. She didn’t exactly want to be the one to open it, it was far too special for her to open it. She felt Jazz should, she hadn’t been in the spotlight as much as her and Pipp. “Nah, you should, Jay-jay!” She informed, trying to hide her excitement.

Pipe sighed, disappointed, as Izzy stuffed the clam in Jazz’s hooves as she at on her rump. Pipe scoffed, ”I suppose she caaan... well- at least I can record it being opened-“ She grabbed out her phone, ready to film. This was not going to do the livestream, she was going to film it and upload it with commentary later.

”O-ok-“ Jazz was visibly nervous, she was not sure about it at all! But Pipp and Izzy seemed pretty keen on it. Pipp was on her right, filming with a lit smile. Izzy was on her right. Wide grin, giggling with hooves in her cheeks in an adorable way. It made Jazz feel a bit better as she put her hoof on the lid. She slowly lifted it.

As it was opened, the three mares were greeted by a blinding light to the face. They closed their eyes as soon as the yellow, purple and aquamarine light hit. All sound was gone as it happened. It happened so fast!

Rocky rushed out, ice pack on his head and blood-soaked napkin on his nostrils. “I saw a flash of light from the back- room?” He questioned as he looked around at the empty salon. No mares or magic clam box. Just him, in the salon alone, no trace or hint of the mares being there at the moment. “Guys?”

Pipp woke up, laid on her back. She gasped in shock as she saw a large scaly creature fly over from above. Fear filled her as she got up and grabbed her phone from the ground. It was still filming everything, but there was no internet connection. It took a while for Pipp to process that she didn’t know where she was.

“Wha- where am I?” Pipp asked, voice shaking in fear, as she looked around at the steep walls of a mountain she didn’t recognise. It can’t have been the same one Zephyr Heights was on. This mountain was more of a grey. She started to breathe heavily as she panicked, heart racing as she stepped back.

There was something not right about this. She had that feeling in the gut as she breathed heavily. She and Izzy were going to have a big chat when she got back- wait- Izzy can’t have known the box would have teleported her, right? Well, she can’t be that far from home, in fact if she turned right around then she might see it in the distance and simply fly over.

Pipp then turned around to see a vast forest stretching to the horizon. Her heart beat rapidly as she frantically looked into the distance. She was wrong! No sign of any towns anywhere! Forest went as far as the eye could see.

“Where the heck am I?” She asked herself before coming to full panic and realisation. “I’m lost! This can’t be happening! This can’t be happening!” She screeched as she desperately went into the contacts of her phone. Enough sweat soaked through her fur to create sweat drops.

She immediately went to Zipp’s name and pressed it to call her. “Pick up- please pick up!” Pipp shouted, tears forming into her eyes. “Plea- AAAH!” Pipp shrieked as it immediately disconnected.

She felt fear as she started to shake, “I can’t be lost! Izzy!? Jazz?! Where are they!? They were with me-” She said, recalling the fact those two were standing right next to her as Jazz opened the box!

“Where am I? Where are they? Where’s the way home!?” She founded hard to breath, “What do I do!? What do I do!?”

Pipp started to hyperventilate as she huddled in a fetus position on the hard, rocky surface. “Why me?” She sniffled.

Pipp’s hooves shook as she tapped another contact in her list. This time, Queen Haven. “Ple-please pick up-“ Pipp wheezed, now crying completely. Nothing, it simply disconnected, causing Pipp to cry out loud in pain and fear.

”Hey! I heard something over here!” A voice shouted. Pipp didn’t recognise it, but she had a feeling it was not coming from someone nice.

“Yeah- maybe a leviter or slayel spy- let’s beat ‘em up when we see them,” The other voice sounded cruel and cold.

Pipp panted, breathing heavily. There were people looking for her! They didn’t sound nice at all. Going up wasn’t an option, so she opened her wings with hope. She jumped up, flapping her wings, only to flop back on the ground.

“What!?” She yelped as she looked at her wings. She jumped back up, flapping her wings again, harder. Loudly, she squealed as she fell onto the ground. Her wings weren’t working.

”My wings! Magic isn’t working!? Why!? What’s happening!?” She shouted loudly, voice cracking, before making a horrified expression when she heard the voices again.

”Over here!” The grouchy one shouted.

”Must be below that edge!” Another one shouted.

”This is bad-this is bad-“ Pipp could hardly breathe. She decided to give it one last chance. Once again, her wings were opened, and she started flapping them as she jumped. Unfortunately, she was too close to the edge of the cliff, meaning she fell off as soon as she landed.

“No!” She exclaimed as she fell down towards the forest below, desperately flapping her useless wings.

Tears came from her eyes as she fell to her doom. Pipp closed them as she accepted her fate, unknown to her was a flying creature about to snatch her up. It was scaly and had two dragon wings. The back legs were chubbier than the front legs. It had spines all across its back. Also, it had no visible neck, but it had a long tail with thin spines at the end.

Its colours were a combo of deep reds with a white belly.

Izzy was on the ground, face planted. She got up with a grin. “It worked guys!” She exclaimed happily, unaware the two weren’t with her at all. She sat up and took on the view.

The ground was paved with cobblestone and the building looked from the old days that Sunny spoke about. Tall stone buildings decorated with jewels! Crystals and strange plants decorated the buildings and pathways.

She had a huge smile on her face as she walked up to a gold railing that gave her a huge overview of the city.

“Wow guys, it’s like a mix of Zephyr Heights, Canterlot and Bridlewood!” She shouted loudly as she admired the view. “I wonder what kind of creatures live here,” She wondered, unaware that they were all inside hiding from ‘the creature that appeared in a burst of light’

”Oh my goodness!” Izzy screamed, “There is a castle! We should totally go there and say hello!” She then stopped when she noticed no one was responding to her.

“Guys?” She turned around and saw no living thing. She only giggled and shrugged. “Oh, I get it! We are playing hide and seek! I’ll find you!” She ran around, giggling to herself.

Izzy ran around happily but soon slowed down confused, “Wait... where is everyone?” She wondered. “Hey... this town is empty- and-“ then she sighed.

“You guys aren’t playing hide and seek, are you? The box separated us and now... I’m alone...” She looked up, “Pipp... Jazz... I hope you’re okay... wherever you are...”

Then she shrugged, “They gotta be okay, they just gotta...”

She slowly walked, looking around. “Pipp? Jazz? You aren’t too far away, are you? I’m sorry!” She sighed, “I just wanted-“ She managed to say before she ended up falling from a bridge, onto the pavement below. The bridge had a rail missing and Izzy didn’t notice.

Izzy screamed in pain as she landed on the paved ground. “Oh!” She teared, “M-my leg!” She whimpered, “I-Izzy not okay!” She cried.

“P-Pipp!? Jazz!? Can you hear me!?” Izzy shouted as she tried to get up, exclaiming in pain when her injured hoof hit the ground.

Jazz was on her stomach, laying in a puddle of mud, unaware of the cold, dirty water soaking through her fur. She slowly opened her eyes to see green, she gasped in shock and confusion as she lifted her head.

Looking all around her, she only saw ferns and tall rainforest trees. Water dripped from the plants. Sounds of hissing and birds filled the area as she looked around with her eyes. Wide open in shock, like her mouth.

Then she looked down tho see her soaked belly and legs. Hoof was on the clam box. “What happened?” She wondered, trying to ignore the fact she was dirty.

“Did the box transport me somewhere?” She asked no one. She tried to ignore the fact that she was all wet and dirty, she had far worse things to worry about at the moment. Soon enough, she sat on her rump and took her phone from her sash.

Jazz quickly opened up ‘Hoofle Maps’ to find out where she was and how to get home. Water dripped from her hooves and belly as she desperately waited for the app to load.

When it finally loaded, the arrow glitched around. The arrow dashed around the screen as the map glitched out, flickering and darting around a blank screen before freezing. “Uh- I think the app is broken-“ She told herself before a pop-up appeared. “Location not found?” She was horrified, but mostly confused.

”O-okay, i’ll just need to reload,” Jazz nervously responded as sweat ran down her face. She pressed the reload button... The pop-pup was soon to return. “N-no- c-c’mon-“ She quietly begged as she radically tapped the reload button.

Her chest went up and down rapidly as she stared at the screen. No matter how many times she tapped the screen, she had the same results. “Okay, i’ll try again later, maybe I’ll have more luck when I get closer to a town. Maybe the box sent me here... maybe it can send me back!” She wondered to herself.

Like back at the salon, she sat there with the clam in one hoof and the other forehoof on top. She took a deep breath, prepared for the bright flash of light to blind her. As she slowly opened it, she closed her eyes, prepared...

“Here we go...” She was slightly nervous. But she proceeded to feel nothing. To her dismay.

“H-huh?” She questioned as she looked at the clam, ears drooping. “It-It didn’t work?” Her voice cracked like she was going to cry. A defeated sigh came from her mouth as she closed the box.

“Does this forest have any locals? I suppose some locals might know how to use the box and fix it... or give me directions to-“ She started to sweat as her heart raced.

”B-but what if they aren’t friendly!? What if there isn’t anyone for miles?- what if they don’t know to get to?-“ She looked down at the clam, nervously digging her hoof into the mud. “If I- W-what if-“ She worried before she exclaimed in despair, “What am I going to do!?” She cried out loud, her eyes watered slightly, but she wiped them away. Using a clean part of her leg.

Jazz got up, looking ahead. ”I suppose if Pipp and Izzy were sent here like me, they’d be looking for a local town... But what if they weren’t- But if they were, I might cross paths with them- but what if I don’t- wait- no- what- we must- but-“

Jazz started to look around and pace, trying to think of what to do. “What if- the locals might- no- but- nope- If-“ She then stopped next to the clam box with a groan, “C’mon Jazz! This may be your only chance to find them and get home!”

After a pause with her just staring at it, she grabbed the box in her foreleg. Unaware that the gems were now all dulled, grey, colourless stones, unlike how they appeared in the salon. She walked ahead, slowly. She listened to the sounds, scared as ferns brushed against her.

Her heart was beating rapidly as she looked around her for any dangers. There was a sense of unfamiliarity within her as she nervously moved through the damp rainforest.

Jazz moved through some thick trees and greenery and found herself standing on a cliff, overlooking more rainforest stretching over the horizon. It looked vast, like it would take days to go through it all.

The wind blew against her softly as she hopelessly looked into the distance.

“Where is this place?” She whispered to herself, “I never knew there was a rainforest in Equestria! What do I do now!?”. She asked as she looked at the trees down the cliff, it was a high drop. Then she looked into the distance. “Pipp!? Izzy!? Are you out there!?” She called out, hoping someone would hear her.

Author's Note

This chapter will act like the promo. I’m not going to upload the next one until I have written more chapters

So I guess... tell me what you think so far, I’m excited for this one

Familiar But Unfamiliar

Author's Note

This chapter will be introducing the OC of the person I did the original roleplay with. Yes, permission was given.

Most of his character’s dialogue will be copy and pasted from the roleplay itself

Familiar But Unfamiliar

Izzy was laying on a hospital bed, in her own hospital room? The walls were white brick, decorated with an occasional picture frame of something. Next to her was a window with blue curtains. On the other side of the bed was a blue table, there were a few books and a vase with flowers on it. Izzy laid softly as two nurses outside spoke to each other. Neither of them had seen anything like Izzy before, meaning theye were cautious and gental. Izzy didn’t mind, she didn’t blame them.

She had never seen creatures like them either.

The nurses were very shocked when they found her near the bridge. But they decided to help her anyway. They gave her something called maroonge juice to drink as she relaxed. Izzy wondered what a maroonge was. It sounded such a silly name for a fruit! The juice was a green colour and tasted similar to orange juice but more fizzy. Izzy had a huge smile on her face. A new unknown adventure for her and Pipp! Plus, Jazz got to embark on her first adventure!

The critters in this kingdom were interesting. Tall-ish reptile looking creatures that stood on their hind legs! They were called Leviters and had a spine at the back of each arm and leg, plus their tails. In addition, they all had a pair of antlers and small tusks. Very different... She liked it! But it was time to find her friends. Where were they in this big kingdom?

A nurse walked in. She was a grey colour with purple hair cut to a bob. She wore a white hat with a black cross on it. Also, she had a blue shirt and a white apron on. “Hello... Izzy... You’ll have a visitor very soon...”

”Cool!” Izzy giggled, careful to not move her leg too much as it was in a cast. “Who is it?”

”Master Eclipse, also known as the History Master...” The nurse noted.

Soon a tall green leviter walked into the room. He had a purple shirt and black shorts on. Over top, he had an armour chestplate on. He also wore a weird swirly crown between his huge antlers. His black hair was short but tied into a ponytail. He looked extremely shocked as soon as he saw Izzy. “It’s true...” His expression turned into a smile, “It’s really true...”

”Hello there, new friend! I’m Izzy Moonbow!” Izzy waved with a huge smile.

Eclipse had a gentle smile as we waved back. Seeming like he knew something that no one else did. He couldn’t believe his eyes as he looked at her. But was there any more with her? He wondered about it but decided to not go too fast, he didn’t want to creep anyone out or anything.

“Nice to meet you, Izzy...” He responded.

It was warm but also cold. It was so wet and dirty. Jazz made sure to not slip off the cliff she was on. The drop looked fatal! The ends of her mane and over half of her tail was soaked in mud. Her legs, belly and neck dripped with mud, it felt all cold and gross! A light breeze blew against her, ruffling her loose mane slightly as she stared into the distance. Thinking about her next move. She knew she had to be careful.

Then she heard loud ruffling behind her, she gasped as she turned around, worried. But it as soon as she saw what it was her worry faded.

Standing there was a familiar weird being. His body was mostly of a white colour, shape resembling a mix of a cat and a slug. His chest had some visible white fluff. He stared at Jazz with his black bug-like eyes as he slowly swayed his thick tail. He moved his thin limbs slightly forward. His limbs only had two fingers and a single thumb. Jazz knew not much about him, but one thing was his body can change to suit the climate, like if the area is really hot or freezing cold.

He’s friends with Trixie, and a few of her team-members. Jazz would sometimes see him when one of them came to Mane Melody or something, or even when she was just walking around she would see him with them occasionally.

But... Why was he here?

”Ethanie? Is that you?” Jazz asked, wanting a confirmation that this was him. “What are you doing here?”

He also appeared a bit dizzy as he stood in place.

”I don’t feel well...” He mumbled.

Jazz was worried for him, he must have been nearby when they opened the box and they never noticed him. “Will you be okay?” She asked him, hoping for the best.

”My head is spinning...”

Jazz sighed in relief. It was just dizziness. She felt a bit off as well. ”Fair enough...” Sighed Jazz. She was grateful that she had a friend here with her. Even through he’s more Trixie’s friend, him and her did interact a few times before.

Then some more loud ruffling happened in the trees. She gasped as she looked back up, the trees stopped ruffling as she gulped.

“Hello? Pipp? Izzy? Is someone in those trees?” She asked, disregarding the feeling in her gut. Maybe Izzy was going to jump out and surprise her! Jazz still looked at the trees with worry before a creature skittered onto a branch. Giving her a perfect view of it. “Oh hello there,” She said to the unusual looking critter, trying to ignore how eerie it looked.

She was disappointed to be honest. A jump scare from Izzy would have been way better than whatever that thing was.

Its body shape resembled a monkey, but the back legs looked more like a squirrel’s. The tail was long, it looked fuzzy but was actually covered in sharp spikes. Around the critter’s neck and head was a mane, like a lion’s mane. The mouth had two long, sharp fangs on it. “Do you know the way to the nearest town?” Jazz asked it, soon realising it might not even understand her.

The creature made a squeak as it put a nut in its already full mouth. Jazz noticed the creature’s cheeks and mouth filled to the brim with nuts. At least that was what it looked like. It cocked its head as it stared at Jazz.

“I’m a pony, from Maretine Bay! You know where that is? This clam had teleported me here, and I don’t know where-“ Jazz desperately tried to communicate with it. Hoping it would understand her and point her in the right direction. A gasp followed when she noticed the vicious look on the creature’s face. It hissed loudly at her. Ethan also hissed angrily at the critter in the tree.

Another one had jumped out besides it. Also, a few heads poked out from the tree branches. There was at least a whole... Herd? Pride? Flock? Well, whatever it was they did not look nice!

“Uh... Oh...” Jazz’s ears went back as she stared nervously. She gasped quietly as she stepped back, ready to run if needed. The first one started spitting nuts at her causing her to struggle to evade them. As soon as she started running away the strange monkey-lion-squirrel looking things chased after her. Making loud screeches in the process.

Ethan was just behind her, running as fast as he could. Her heart raced as the vicious beasts gave chase. Squealing and growling as they did.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” She shouted back, hoping that apologizing would make them go away. “I only wanted to go home!” She ran the best she could on just three legs, she was holding the clam tightly in one foreleg.

It was clear they wanted to eat her! “Ouch!” One nipped at her heels, almost causing her to fall over. Her heart raced as she ran through the think ferns. She screamed when a few jumped on her. Their claws felt like pins being stuck into her body. She exclaimed loudly as one bit at her neck and another at her rump.

“Why!?” She screeched, “I’m only a hoof-icurist!”

Jazz tried to run faster but tripped over a hidden root, causing her to stumble into a pond. Ethan jumped in after, turning blue with fins along his back. Jazz held her breath as she sank under, and waved her hooves desperately trying to get above the water. Soon she grabbed onto a submerged root and pulled herself over the deep pond water. As soon as she emerged, she gasped loudly for air before coughing.

As she coughed,she looked around for the lion-monkey things. She did spot them. They didn’t follow her into the pond. The ones that fell in with her made loud noises as they all jumped out. She watched as they hissed at her and jumped away, in a manner similar to kangaroos.

Jazz pulled herself up a bit more on the root as she groaned. Now only her hind legs were submerged. “I hope Pipp is doing okay... And Izzy...” She muttered.

Ethan had the clam box as Jazz had dropped it when she fell in. Jazz looked in the deep water, wondering how to get out. Her mane was ruined, but she knew that wasn’t important at the moment. But then the root started to break and come lose. “No-no-“ She panicked as she tried to scramble up only to fail and fall back into the water.

“Help!” She screamed, scared.

Jazz sat there splashing the water in fear, frightened only to realise something important. She wasn’t going any deeper, that was weird... As soon as she stopped splashing, she noticed that her rump was on the ground. The water level was at her neck, calmly moving.

”Huh? Wait a minute...” She raised a brow.

She stood up on all fours. Realising it wasn’t as deep as she thought it was, it only went up to her chest. Feeling a little embarrassed she walked out of the pond, with a lily pad on her head. It flew off when she shook herself. Luckily she didn’t have a closer look at it. If she had, she would have seem claws and a sharp mouth on the underside that would give her nightmares.

Jazz was going to look at her wounds but to her horror there were small leech-like things all over her. They closely resembled leeches but more colourful and had tiny claws. Strangely some even had wings. She exclaimed in terror as she saw them sucking her blood.

“What the heck are these!?” Ethan shouted as Jazz stared in terror. He started swiping them off with his claws in disgust.

“Get off! Get off!” Jazz screamed as she hastily wiped them off with her hoof. They seemed more scared of her as they simply dropped off when she touched them. She used her tail to knock the ones from the back of her legs. She let out a sigh as she fought the temptation to play some tunes on her phone; she might need it later. Her mane and tail were completely soaked and ruined, and she didn’t have the stuff to fix it up. “Everything so familiar but unfamiliar”

”Ew... What were those things?” Ethan asked as he threw removed the last ones. Some even had wings which they used to fly back into the water.

Jazz let out a sad noise. “I wish I knew!” She responded with a hint of terror and panic, “We aren’t even in Equestria anymore, clearly!” She sighed as she looked around at ruffling greenery, breathing heavily in fear. “E-everything looks like animals I know, but they aren’t.... They just look similar... I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do to get home!? I don’t even know what’s dangerous here or not!” She screeched.

Jazz sadly walked ahead, staying alert as Ethan sniffed the air. As she walked, she tried to ignore the discomfort she felt. She was all wet, dirty and her mud-soaked forelock was all in her face. Also, she really hated that her sash was rubbing coarse dirt against her wet, dirty fur as she walked. It was uncomfortable, but she had to keep going. She held the clam box on her back. She felt unsafe as she walked, like something was about to grab her.

She was just a hoof-icurist at Pipp’s salon! Little to no survival skills whatsoever- besides a few survival stories she read or a few movies. But she never had to survive in the wilderness before. What she did know was how to get fresh water and know if fruit such like berries is safe to eat or not.

Plus, she could try making a shelter like one she’s seen from a movie, but she’d rather feel safe before doing that.

There were dried leaves, branches and plants on the ground as she walked. They crushed under her hooves, at least it sounded somewhat satisfying. Hopefully, she’d get back home by next week, in time for Mane Melody’s anniversary. She’d hate to miss it, working there with great friends was one of her favourite things in the world.

After a while Jazz heard the noise of running water. She didn’t even realise how thirsty she was until she heard it! It sounded close by so she ran towards the noise as fast as she could, she galloped as fast as her tired legs allowed. She jumped over a log as she ran to the noise with joy and hope! Then she saw it, a running stream!

Water went over and around mossy rocks as it rushed down. It even went through a lone tree that was in the middle of its flow. She happily wandered down the stream a bit. Listerning to the gushing water, plus her hooves and Ethan’s feet crunching on leaves as they walked. It was peaceful as she found a pleasant spot to relax, where the stream was a bit more flat.

She surveyed the water for a bit to make sure it was safe before entering. After assuring herself it was all fine she slowly stepped in, feeling the cool water soak through her fur. It was somewhat refreshing as she walked up to the part that was gushing down into the more relaxed part of the stream. It wasn’t that deep, it only went halfway up her legs.

She stretched down her neck peacefully just under the rushing part of the stream and started to drink up the water. It felt so good going into her dry mouth and down her throat. Water was so refreshing, especially if you were dehydrated! Jazz kept drinking the water. Specks of sunlight made the water look shiny as light bounces off it. It shone in the sunlight like crystals.

But her relaxation was quickly disturbed by something launching up in front of her. Surprised, she looked up to see a long, lanky scaly claw with three fingers. She managed to jump out the way just as it grabbed out her. “What is that?” Jazz freaked as she dodged the grabbing.

Before long more of them came out the water and started grabbing at her. Jazz squealed as a close call happened, her heart raced as she ran to the bank. She was horrified! Below her some yellow glowing eyes appeared, making her gasp. Then the arms barred her way to safety and started grabbing at her. They formed a circle around her as she backed up.

“Why me?” She asked as she kept dodging the grabs. But she tripped over something in the water causing her to fall. One claw grabbed her ear, tightly. “No!” She shouted, “You can’t- Ow!” She exclaimed as her ear was violently yanked. Another gripped her leg and started yanking at it. It was so painful! She felt they could easily pull off her ear they were that violent.

Another grabbed her foreleg and yanked it. Her heart raced as she tried to get free. One claw violently grabbed her neck. She struggled to breath as a result . The claws kept grabbing at her as she tried kicking it with her two remaining hooves. But to her horror both remaining hooves were grabbed.
Each claw tighter its grub on her.

Ethan then saw the creature’s eye in the water, glowing. He took out a long needle-like weapon from his pouch. It was a race against time as he heard Jazz’s desperate gasps for air. Wasting no time at all he jumped into the water and sliced at the eye making a deep cut. As a result the arms all released Jazz and went back into to water.

Jazz coughed and wheezed. She found it hard to talk, but she forced herself out the water. After a few gasps she groaned with a hoarse throat, “I-I would have never survived this long without you, Ethan...” She coughed.

After a long rest she was back up and walking. Her stomach ached a bit as she felt homesick. Jazz sighed as she walked through the leaves, unaware of a small critter than blended in. If she had noticed it then she’d possible think it looked like a bundle of hair. But the hair looked like hedgehog and porcupine spines. Also, it had two rabbit-like scaly ears and large eyes. The feet weren’t visible.

Jazz walked past it, almost crushing it under her hoof. It was a huge mistake in not noticing it. It was scared I ought to shoot out some spines into Jazz’s foreleg. She collapsed as pain spread though her foreleg. Ethan has dodged them, but Jazz was unfortunate enough to have been hit. The pain felt as if someone ripped her leg in two.

She held onto the clam, breathing heavily as she tried enduring the pain. Jazz tried to not make much pain, alerting a predator would only make things worse. Tears formed as she felt sweaty and her heart raced. It felt like she was overheating as the pain spread though her leg, it was unbearable.

“I-I don’t wanna die-“ She panted, “I cant take this!”

Was she going dying? She didn’t want to die. It was too soon. She panted as Ethan took the spines out of her leg. As he did that she rested her head on the clam trying to ignore the pain. Jazz was scared, she was even shaking a little, wanting to be home. Somewhere warm, safe and not so harsh.

Ethan picked her up and carried her. Her body temperature was getting warmer.

“You weigh a ton-“ complained Ethan as he walked. He walked for a while, looking for a town. Jazz’s pain only got worse, starting to spread through her body. Soon he gave up and sat on a log, resting Jazz against it.

Her stomach grumbled as she looked at her leg. It looked normal, but it was starting to feel numb. Soon she heard some weird noises and looked around to see really small critters. Their bodies resembled mice, but feathery. They had hind legs and a very long feathery tail. They had no mindless, wings were in those spots instead. Jazz watched them as her heart raced.

Ethan was busy eating random mushrooms, the same ones the weird mice things were munching on. A weak noise came from Jazz’s mouth as she looked at him, attempting to ask if he could pass her one. She panted a bit, her body felt hot and her head felt dizzy. Was this death? She tried moving her leg but it only hurt worse. Tears formed she looked at the light reaching through the leaves in the thick trees.

She reached for her phone in her sash and looked at the time. It was about 6.45 AM when she arrived, according to her phone. Seemed it had adapted to the different time. It was now 4pm... 6 hours trekking through the rainforest and four hours being in pain. That’s ten hours in total! Well, the pain was fading away at least. She really hoped Pipp was doing alright.

This place was so vile in her opinion. She almost died way too many times already. Attacked by monkey things, almost drowned. Then she was chased by a giant fluffy snake, chased by a massive scaly caterpillar with spines that suck blood through its tongue, chased by living trees! Then she was almost killed at the stream in a brutal way, and now this!

Hopefully Pipp and Izzy were doing better than her, if so that’s great!

10 hours earlier...

Pipp groaned as she opened her eyes the first thing she saw was a roof made of dark concrete. Seemed something had made her unconscious but she she didn’t know what. She looked ahead and saw a concrete wall. Behind her was more concrete wall with claw marks on it, and a red stain that she hoped wasn’t blood.

The wall to her left had more of that red stain along with a small window that was barred. To her right were the bars to a cell.

“Im in jail!?” Pipp screamed, in horror “This has gotta be a bad dream!” She shouted, brink of tears.

Pipp started to breathe heavily as she looked around. In the cell there were an old wooden table, chair and a shredded mattress and blanket.

She gulped nervously as she looked around the cold cell. Water dripped from the felling creating a puddle.

“Why did I let Izzy open that clam!?” She cried to herself, “I knew we should have checked with Sunny first!”

She ignored the tears rolling down her cheeks as she went to the window. It was a bit high so Pipp needed to balance on her hind legs to look outside.

Pipp missed her friends, Zipp and everyone else... It was hard to accept that she was lost. Her heart wretched as she thought of them. As she looked outside she held in her tears. All she saw was the horizon and the sky.

“How do I get out?” She wondered.

At that moment she heard some creaking of the wooden door of the room the cell was in. She turned around and quickly ducked under the table. Her fluffy wings were shaking as she breathed rapidly. The door opened more, revealing a reptilian creature.

The dark red creature’s muzzle was long and resembled a raptor’s. The body resembled a raptor too, but more upright like a bird. On each of his cheek was a large tusk.

He looked at the cell with his large blue eyes as his red wings on his back ruffled slightly. On the back of his arms and legs, plus at the edge of his tail was tufts of feathers.

“Scaredy-cat, eh?” He snarled as he grumbled. Pipp noticed he had a white belly and was wearing a pair of fuzzy, baggy grey shorts.

Pipp backed up as much as she could under the table. Hoping he couldn’t see her, he looked dangerous. Her heart raced as she tried to make as little noice as she could.

The creature took a key from his pocket with his sharp claws. He slowly opened the door to the cell and walked towards the table. Pipp was breathing heavily, and sweating as he approached.

He towered over her easily! The strange creature knew where Pipp was! He grabbed the table and threw it at the wall. Reducing it to splinters making Pipp gasp in horror.

“I am Prince Bloodfist, heir of the throne! You’ll do what I say!” He shouted as he stared down at Pipp who was curled up, scared.

Pipp whimpered, trying to find the courage. “W-well..” She soon found the courage to speak.

“I-I’m Princess Pipp Petals and I- You’re not gonna get away with this! My friends are coming for me! Along with my sister and my mother! The Queen! I just know they are!” Pipp shouted, a tear rolled down her cheek, she had a hint of doubt.

Bloodfist chuckled as he looked down at Pipp, “Princess of what? Crying?” He laughed, “I’ll make a fighter out of you, and you’re gone win me some money in creature fighting! To me, you’re nothing more than a tool-“

Pipp was horrified, a tool!? How dare he! “W-what kind of cruel freak are you!? Let me go!” She cried.

Bloodfist stepped forward, looking down at Pipp who was trembling. ”What even are you anyway? It’s like you came from another world or something? Why are you here anyway? If you’re planning to take over the land, you have no power against us!” He roared.

“Is it not obvious!?” Pipp snarled, “I’m a pony! Pegasus! The one PhD only Princess Pipp! Well- maybe I did come from another world, I dunno! All I want to do is find my friends and get home! That’s all!” Pipp barked back. “What even are you!? Some sort of denied child’s toy!?”

“You have no rule here!” Bloodfist violently stomped his foot down. “I’m a Skyter... Soon I will rule Sky View, the Skyter kingdom,” He Laughed as he headed to the cell door, “This is your new home. Otherworldly-freak-“

As soon as Bloodfist left Pipp let it all out. Crying loudly and deeply as she grabbed her phone from under her wing. She flipped through some photos of her friends. Stopping at one that included Jazz and Izzy.

In the photo Izzy was in the middle, taking a selfie with Pipp’s phone. Pipp was posing next to her doing such a cute face. Izzy’s foreleg was pulling Jazz in towards her, she was blurred a bit since Izzy took the photo a bit early. But she could make out Jazz’s shocked expression as she looked at Izzy.

”I wish you were here...” She cried, “Where are you? Are you two okay?”

Pipp curled in a corner, crying as she remembered her friend and family. What would they be doing now? The time in this world seemed to have been the opposite of Equestria’s. Meaning it is possibly night in Equestria and she never returned home. Everyone must be hopelessly searching for her in worry.

She imagined what everyone back home would be doing. By now a missing pony report was sure to have been made. The news must be hitting like a storm. Her pipsqueaks, family and friends must be devastated. Only for her to never return- No! She will return! She needed to stay optimistic! Pipp can’t lose hope, and she won’t!

“Jazz, Izzy... I’m gonna find you and get us home!” She exclaimed, “Well... After I get out of here first...”

Soon there was chuckling. She let out a gasp as the looked around. Then she saw it, Bloodfist sitting on a wooden chair with a huge grin on his muzzle. “Heh... So there is more of you?” He asked, “Jazper and Izabelle? Eh?”

“What, that’s not what I sai- Their name-“ She squeaked. ”Where did you even come from!?” Shrieked Pipp, “I thought you left!”

”Heh... I learned a lot from my training masters...” He let out a small grin, showing his sharp teeth.

Pipp gulped as he stared at him. Her body was shaking, she was terrified. She was in a place she didn’t know about, and she was going to be forced to fight. She didn’t have any magic or friends!

”Why can’t you just let me go!?” Pipp shrieked as tears escaped. She didn’t want to be here, she didn’t ask for any of this.

”Why would I? Are there more of you out there?”

“No... But you’re not getting any of them!” Pipp shouted, “Please just let me go!” She cried, “I just wanna go home...”

“Liar! Those two came to this world with you! Didn’t they?” He bashed on the bars, making a loud noise that caused Pipp to jump and squeal in fright. “This is your new home! I am your master! You’re going to do what I say, and I’m gonna find those other two of you!” He shouted angrily.

”N-no you won’t!” Pipp shivered as her heart raced. Her mane was all messed up and she had scruffs all through her fur.

”Watch me... I will find those small, four legged freaks! And I know what they look like!” He snarled.

Pipp gasped, he must have seen the photo somehow! “H-how do you know what they look like?” Her voice shivered.

“Obviously they must look like you. Small, pudgy, winged, whiny freaks with four legs... Easy,” He grumbled.

Pipp sighed, not saying anything more, him picturing them wrong should buy everyone time. Hopefully... She stood there, defeated as Bloodfist left for real this time. The damp cell was totally being unkind to her mane. Sadly she went up to the window and looked at the horizon. “I hope you have it better than me... At least...”

The First Night

Many hours later...
In the cell Pipp was looking at a stone bowl in disgust. It was filled with soggy oats, mushed vegetable and bread. Well, the guards did try serving her meat, but she threw it out the window in disgust. The food was tasteless and had a lumpy, sticky texture, and she hated it but she had to eat.

“Why me...” She sobbed. She had recently tried texting Sunny, Zipp or Haven... The message was saying it was sending and loading but it never did. But Pipp wasn’t giving up! She was going to find a way home, somehow!

Her face was soaked with tears. Mane was a total mess, coat was mattered and filthy. She let the tears fall as she looked at photos of her friends. Then her phone dinged. Indicating a message was sent to her.

”Wh-how?” Pipp questioned. “How is that possible!?” She exclaimed then realised she should be grateful! It must be someone from home! She went into the message to find it was from the group chat between her, Jazz and Rocky. “Huh?” She questioned then realised the incoming message was still loading.

“C’mon! Load!” Pipp grew impatient as she watched the ‘message loading’ icon on her screen. She never had to wait for a message to load this long before. Well, it should be worth it, right?

Earlier...

The pain was long gone now as Jazz walked, it seemed the sun was setting. She was scared still, odd noises filled the air as the sky darkened. Clouds were gathering, indicating rain. Hopefully the rain wasn’t going to be too unpleasant. She looked up slightly at the clouds. Strangely they had a blue glow to them. It was odd, everything here was odd.

She had no shelter, and it was going to rain! But on the bright side it would be like having a shower, and she dreaded those twigs, leaves and mud in her mane.

Her legs were so muddy, she couldn’t bear it but she knew she had to. Her fur was dirtier than she ever remembered it being. Her sash was rubbing dirt against her as she walked. Jazz hated every second of it but knew she had to keep moving.

Soon a drop of water hit her withers, and it was oddly colder than she expected.

”What the?” Ethan muttered under his breath.

Jazz felt the rain as it came down, it was freezing! Colder than any rain she had even felt! Like someone was pouring icy water on her, minus the ice. She decided to run for it. Ethan followed her, worried. It felt like snow in the form of rain! There was a hallowed out tree up ahead, so that’s where she ran into to get out of the rain. Her body shivered from the cold as she sat on dirt in the hollowed out part of the tree. She leaned against the dirt wall. Here she didn’t mind the dirt, she was already filthy.

She was cold, wet, scared and dirty! She cuddled the clam on her forelegs. She wanted comfort, she felt like she was fighting hopelessness.

“Pipp... Izzy... Where are they....” Her voice cracked like she was about to cry.

”We might find them soon...” Ethan responded as Jazz looked at an image on her phone. Her eyes watered as she stared at the screen with concern for herself and her friends.

She soon sighed, wiping her eyes. But then a bit of hope sparked within her as she gasped. Maybe there was a way to contact them!

Jazz quickly went into the video app on her phone and made the view face her. After a deep breath she started to film.

“Hey, you may be wondering where I am? Well... Izzy showed me and Pipp this thing that she had found. Out of curiosity we opened it up, and we seem to have been transported to some strange world... The clam isn’t sending me back for some reason... But I’ll try and find Pipp and Izzy and get home, okay?” She sighed, “I miss you...” She said softly as a tear formed and went down her cheek.

She stopped the video and went to send it to her contacts. So she went into a group chat in the texting app that involved her, Pipp, Rocky and a few others. Ethan watched as she sent it to the group chat. Both of them watched it load. But it kept loading...

“Please send...” Whispered Jazz as she watched the message load. It just kept saying It was loading but it wasn’t sending.... Defeated, shhe put her phone down as she cuddled the clam box. She curled up, stomach on the ground, tail around the clam and forelegs under her muzzle.

”Guess we’re stuck here...” Ethan responded before curling up against Jazz.

Jazz started to sniffle a little as tears ran down her cheek. She dug her muzzle into her legs, hiding it slightly as she felt the tears come. Her stomach hurt as she felt homesick, she didn’t know how to get home. Or if she could even get home. More tears came as images of home came to her.

Places and ponies she feared that she would never see again...

She never got to say goodbye...

Izzy had more luck. She found herself wandering down the hall of an ancient looking castle. The walls were marble lined with gold. The grounds was beautifully polished and shiny, she could even see her own reflection in it! In the centre was a red rug that went down the hallways. Each door had glowing crystals on either side. The windows were tall, some were even stained glass!

A strange reptilian creature led her through the hallways to a single door. The creature’s muzzle was long and resembled a raptor’s. It was wearing a gold chest plate and a guard hat. The body of the creature was like a raptor but it stood more upright. On each cheer was a tusk. There was a spike on the back of its legs and arms, also it had two antlers on the head. The hair was covered by the helmet.

Izzy knew the species in the place were called ‘leviters’. The guard was one of many of his kind. Apparently Izzy was the first sapient ‘non-leviter’ that entered Antletopia for generations. Antletopia was the name of the city, by the way.

“This is your bedroom, Mrs Moonbow. Enjoy your stay,” The guard bowed as he opened the door for her.

“Thank you!” She thanked as she walked in, “Oh my gosh!” She squealed, “It’s amazing!”

There was a large bed in the middle. The pillows and blanket seemed to have been made from a fine silk. The floor was marbled, but it was also covered by an aquamarine mat. The walls were printed with paintings of trees and plants over a concrete wall.

A window was on each side of the bed. The windows had pure white curtains decorated with flowers. Beneath the window were some drawers. There was even a bookcase in the space on the right wall, it was filled with plenty of books.

On the left wall was a large glass door that opened up to a balcony that gave a view of the kingdom and the surrounding land. Not as much of a great view as the King’s- Well, the History Master’s balcony but it was still a breathtaking view.

Izzy was too busy admiring the room that she didn’t notice the guard had left after saying, “Let any of us know if you need something. Dinner is coming shortly.”

”I love it!” Screamed Izzy as she jumped onto the bed. She then took out her phone in the bag she had with her, she was worried about her friends. The king said he didn’t know where they were, and he seemed really surprised to see her, he even smiled. But on the bright side he said he’s send some leviters out to search for them.

Izzy, still feeling guilty walked onto the balcony. She looked into the night sky. It looked far different from back home. The moon was a slight lavender colour and had a smaller purple moon orbiting it. But the smaller one was more the size of earth’s. It was odd, but Izzy thought it was interesting.

But deep inside she felt some guilt. Her friends weren’t with her, what if they were in danger? She heard how dangerous the outside world is. She just hoped they were somewhere safe and okay.

(Sung in the tune of “Got to find a Way” since it’s a parody of that song)

I must go on my way

Cause my plan went astray

Why the magic clam make this mistake

Could’ve it had some sorta headache?

Alone, alone

Division upon us

Where did you guys go to?

Throughout Mysticia

I fear I’ll get lost searching for you

Alone, alone...

The sun rose peacefully, Pipp was laid in the cell, sniffiling. Her eyes were red, as well as having bags under them as she was crying most the night. She shook as she got up, scared for what was going to happen for her. She heard the creak of the door and gasped as her ear twitched. Sweat went down her face as the door opened slowly.

It wasn’t Bloodfist. It was a different skyter. This one was shorter, burgundy with pink feathers and wings. She wore a yellow jacket that was opened up reveling her reptilian chest, the hood was up hiding her hair. Also, she had a duffle-bag with her. “Uh... Hello?” She greeted, strangely she didn’t have any tusks.

Pipp didn’t trust her at all, she looked like him. Her breathing was rapid as she stared at it. She opened her mouth, trying to speak.

”Who are you!?” Pipp shouted, “You aren’t using me for anything!”

The Skyter took a step back, shocked but concerned. “Hey, hey... It’s okay, Pipp is it?” She asked as she moved her hands to gesture Pipp that it was okay and that she was safe.

”How did you know my name!? Who are you!?” Pipp shouted.

”My brother, Bloodfist told me. My name’s Skybreaker. You may call me Sky if you wish. It’s a pleasure to meet you...” She said softly.

”Likely story!” Pipp scoffed, “I just want to go home, you understand?! You and your stinking ugly brother won’t enslave me any longer!” Pipp’s voice cracked. “I-I just wanna see my friends and family again! I hate it here!” Pipp cried, “It’s ruining me!” She screamed.

Sky sighed, she reached into her pockets. “I offered to bring you breakfast. You don’t deserve to eat such bad food...”

Pipp scoffed and nodded, “Exactly!”

Sky took some stuff out of her bag. Weird looking fruits and vegetables. They were in many different shapes and colours. She even took out some mushrooms and what looked like cheese but purple. “I heard that you threw your meat out the window last time, so I assume you don’t eat that?”

Pipp nodded slightly as her mouth watered. She was starving! That food looked far better than her dinner.

Sky continued speaking as she slipped the food through the bars, “They were gonna give you gross mush but... I offered to deliver it. But of course I threw that out and gathered food from the kitchen instead.”

Pipp hungrily grabbed what looked like a fuzzy orange but it looked like three circles stacked together. She was about to bite it but then looked at Sky with suspicions. “What’s the catch?” She asked.

Sky put a concerned face, ”There’s no catch. I don’t want to see you suffer. I want to break you out. You deserve to be free.”

Pipp nodded, “Uh-huh! You speak the truth!” Pipp exclaimed as she took the bite, she chewed it up. Tasted like jelly but with edible seeds that tasted like peanuts. She swallowed her bite, ignoring the taste. It felt satisfying to eat decent food after a long time!

Sky got on her knees to the same level as Pipp, “I know you’re scared and I know you don’t trust me... But I won’t hurt you, okay?”

”I suppose..” Pipp sighed, “But I still don’t trust you...”

Sky wanted to get to know her a bit more, “So... What are your friends like? I’m sure they are as amazing as you!”

“They are-“ Pipp was about to say something but then she shook her head, “Wait! Why should I have to tell you? You’re just going to hunt them down! Well you almost got me there but nope! All I wanted was to go home!”

Sky looked down, “You’re right. I don’t blame you, sorry for asking...”

Pipp also sighed, she didn’t say anything. Then a loud voice shouted, “Skybreaker!?”

”Oh!” Sky popped up, “Sorry Pipp, I gotta go! I’ll visit you as often as I can! I promise!” She said before rushing out the door.

Pipp hungrily ate the food, satisfying her hunger. She was thankful Sky was kind but can she really be trusted?
Deep inside Pipp hoped Sky was on her side. She dearly hoped she wasn’t faking her kindness. Any help would be appreciated but she knew to be careful about who she trusts in a place like this. That’s what Zipp would do... Right?

Ethan was the first one up. He moved as he detected something large outside. Jazz was still asleep, looking peaceful so he was cautious to not wake it her up.

His long needle peaked out from the hallow just to a massive creature. It looked like a butterfly, but it had large spikes down its back along with a tail. Also, it was sucking blood out from a smaller creature.

”Ew...” He responded, slightly surprised as it flew away.

Jazz let out a yawn as she stretched, “Good morning...” She rubbed her eyes and sighed, “Still here... Well, at least we survived the night...” She yawned again
Wishing she had packed some of those mushrooms from yesterday. “Suppose we should get going, eh?” She asked Ethan.

”Yeah...” He softly agreed.

She snatched the clam, put her phone it its place in her sash and started to walk. Of course she moved slowly and cautiously, hoping it would be easier. Noises of creatures in pain were everywhere. But she kept moving hoping it would be safer.

Jazz was getting tired of this place. She had to run from another giant fluffy snake thing!

After a long walk, and a quick snack on some food that she knew was safe from seeing other creatures from eating it. She found herself looking at some mud. No way around it or over...

Her hooves were already filthy but she despised walking through it. She hated the noises and how it feels against her fur.
“Gross...” She mutted under her breath as she put her hoof down. She watched her whole forehoof get submerged in the mud. It was so cold and squishy.

As soon as the cold wetness soaked through the fur just above her hoof she quickly took it out. “It’s all wet, cold and squishy-“ She complained to herself as she looked down at the gloomy, bubbling mud. Knowing she had to pass through to try and get home.

“Ugh-“ Jazz shivered at the thought of walking through the mud. She couldn’t see where it ended. “C’mon Jazz... This is not the first time you walked through this stuff...“ Jazz groaned as she lowered her hoof into the mud, her breathing was heavy as she felt nervous. What kind of dangers could be hiding in the unforgiving mud?

Knowing she had to deal with it she walked farther in. Forcing her last three legs into the wet, cold, squishy mud. It covered her hooves completely. She loathed it so much! But knew she had to keep going. Standing there and being grossed out was not going to get her home!

Each step felt worse. Wanting to get out as soon as she could, she picked up her pace. Her hooves splashed mud upwards as she walked as quickly as she could. Splatters of mud hit her stomach and occasionally her face as she hurried through, wanting to be out as soon as possible!

Much to her dismay the mud slowly got a bit deeper to the point it was almost halfway up her leg. Jazz was about to wipe some mud from her face before pausing at that sight of her leg. It was hard to even see her fur colour, it was so wet and thick!

She could not believe the wet, mud-covered leg she was looking at was her very own! Mud dripped from it as she stared in disgust. Not wanting to see her muddy hoof anymore, she put it back down.

“How am I supposed to-“ She whimpered in distress, “I have to keep going!” She told herself.

After about ten minutes of transversing some muddy and rocky ground the mud got more watery to the point it was just dirty water.

She had walked through the wet for a while before she stopped under a low branch and looked into the distance. The clam was on her back, so she could walk properly. Ethan sniffed around for something familiar. Nothing was familiar.

“Seems the rainforest ends... Here?” She questioned, there was no rainforest seen up ahead. Just water with long grass poking out in some points. A marshland, but with muddier looking water. “I hope we find some help soon... I don’t know how much longer I can handle the wild unknown...”

Jazz then felt something small grab onto her leg. “Huh?” She questioned as she lifted it. It was a strange frog-like creature with a long tail and a long anteater-like snout. As soon as she saw it, she let out a-

“Eeek!” Quickly she shook her hoof in shock until it fell into the water as her heart raced, “Ew-ew-ew!“ She didn’t know if it was harmless or not but she wasn’t taking chances! It was terrifying! “Ew!”

”What was that thing!?” She shouted to herself, heart racing as she looked into the filthy water. Jazz’s ears drooped as she looked into the distance after a nervous gulp. Then she looked down to observe the reflection of her staring back, scared and filthy. After letting out a few breathes she looked back into the distance.

“Here we go...” She told herself as she started walking. Ethan watched the clam as she walked, to make sure it wouldn’t fall off her back. Water splashed around as she walked. Wasn’t as bad as the mud but was still unpleasant. It was cold and she could feel things touching her legs.

Harmless small fish bumped into her a few times, and plants life tickled her legs as it brushed past. But she kept moving. But the water was getting deeper and deeper as she progressed. That was not a good sign.

“Thats...Thats not good...“ Jazz commented as soon as the water-level reached just below her shoulder. It only seemed it was going to get deeper further on. Too deep to walk through.

She looked around, there were a few trees around, but not many. They resembled willow trees, but taller with thicker branches. Also, the leaves were more of an aquamarine or turquoise colour.

Jazz didn’t waste much at them, she required a way across the deep water! Well, with her luck she found a log casually floating near some fallen trees. Looked as if a storm hit them, gee, how convenient to the story.

She hurried over to it and placed the clam on it before holding on with both forelegs. Jazz struggled to balance a little, the log rolled, and she almost fell off. But after a bit she managed to get a good enough grip on it where it was totally stable and wouldn’t roll due to the weight on it.

“Please work...” She whispered.

Hoping the plan would work she started to kick her hind legs as if she was galloping. It was working! It was slow, but it was working! She didn’t need to worry about the deep water anymore!

After a while of kicking, she stopped for a break and catch her breath. Nearby the water started bubbling, the water there started to get a bit muddier too.

Jazz took no notice as she looked around her. Took a while before she noticed the rapid bubbling just in time to see the massive creature suddenly emerge from the water.

Holding her mouth open in surprise was a mistake as it spewed out mud into the air from its mouth as it went up. Mud went everywhere, including on Jazz and in her mouth.

”Ack- ugh-“ She spat out the muddied water, “I’m covered in- Oh yuck! It’s in my mouth-“ She kept spitting it out.

The large creature did not seem hostile. It was very spiky tho, and the body resembled a slug with its lower half emerged in the water.

Ethan hissed at it and spat goo as Jazz wiped the mud from her face the best she could. “That was extremely unpleasant...” Jazz stated, wishing she knew that it would spit mud out.

The mud tasted all grainy and just plain gross. Soon some buzzing could be heard, loud buzzing.

“Uh...” Ethan went to get Jazz’s attention by tapping her.

”What is it, Ethan-“ Jazz gasped as soon as she noticed what it was. She let out a small scream, “Uh-uh-oh!” She exclaimed, some sweat ran down her face as her heart raced.

They looked like wasps but had legs like a spider and two sets of eyes. Plus a beak-like mouth. Plus they looked absolutely vile! One of the mud slug things jumped up and swallowed one whole but the wasp things were targeted on Jazz and Ethan!

“We gotta get moving!” Ethan shouted as Jazz started kicking as hard as she could, breathing heavily and loudly as she did. Ethan swam alongside her in his blue form. Jazz went as fast as she could, whimpering and exclaiming in fear! The buzzing got louder and louder! A few of the slug things jumped up, eaither distracting Jazz or eating one of the wasp beasts. As she kicked her hind legs one of the slugs jumped up so close to Jazz that it knocked the log, causing her to almost fall off!

”Aah!” Jazz exclaimed as she quickly got it balanced agin. “Woah!” It was hard and her heart raced as she felt horrified but she didn’t stop.

“Eep!” She kept kicking! Until she felt a sudden sharp pain in her back. “Ack!” One of them had gotten her with their stinger!

”N-no...” Jazz whimpered as she kept kicking. Getting slower and slowly as her vision got fuzzier and fuzzier. Her body started to feel heavy as her grip on the log weakened. “M-must stay ... Awake...” She said before fainting. Allowing her to go under the water as she passed out. Just as that happened, an arrow impaled It. In shock, the others flew away, scared.

”Yeah, you buzzwings! Get away!” The voice belonged to a reptilian creature that stood on his hind legs. He had no wings or horns. But he had short brown hair and wore a baggy blue shirt, plus loose white shorts. Also, he was a greenish colour with a dark green back. He seemed young, about 9-13.

He went to jump in the water, “I got you!” He went it and grabbed Jazz and pulled her up, so she was above the surface, “You okay?” He asked before noticing the stinger. “Ugh, you were stung!”

He grunted as he struggled to haul her on some land that was out of the water. He then grabbed the buzzwing he shot. Ethan stared and growled at him.

“Your friend is gonna be okay, the stingers only cause their victims to faint. Never seen you around, are you lost? You’re not from here, are you?.”

”Hmm...” Ethan thought to himself as he observed him, “How do I know you won’t eat her?”

There was a pause.

“Good question... But I’m not really dumb, I don’t hunt critters if I don’t know what they are, or if they aren’t safe to eat. I have no idea what she is, so I don’t know if she’s safe to eat! Also, she has hooves like a Hooftrot... And we don’t eat anything with hooves since they are like livestock-“

He whistled, and a bigger critter ran towards him. It was horselike but had a horn on the muzzle. Also, it had large hooves. Spikes were along the back legs and the tail was long with feathers . Instead of a mane it had feathers down the neck and head.

At the bottom of the jaw, it had another just of feathers. It was a white colour with lavender feathers and pink hooves. Ethan curiously got out of the water, turning back into his white form.

“Good girl...” He reached into the saddle bag and took out one of those weird tailed frog things with the long snouts that Jazz encountered earlier.

“Thank goodness she’s still alive...” Reef said in relieved as he monitored her breathing. “This should help the injury...”

It splurged gel onto her back, where the stinger was. Almost immediately she violently started coughing up the water in her. It hurt in the chest badly, and she was confused on what had just happened.

She wheezed as she tried to process where she was and what had happened. She slowly looked at the mysterious creature that saved her. Jazz blinked a few times before stepping back in shock, wondering what he was. “Uhhhh-Ahhh!?”

He grinned slightly, showing Jazz his sharp teeth. Then she looked at the weird horse-like creature next to him. “Uh...” At a loss of words, she looked at Ethan hoping for some sort of explanation.

She finally found some words. ”Wh-what’s going on? Who are you?” Jazz asked, nearly shaking in fear.

”It’s okay, I’m not gonna eat you, I just saw two sentient critters in trouble-“ He , not realising he used a wrong word. “My name is Reef, what’s yours? And what are you? I ne’er seen your kind before.”

Ethan responded to the question that was meant for Jazz before she could answer it. “For me, I have no idea, to be honest. As for her she can explain...”

Jazz explained, a bit confused. “Well... Uh... Jazz- and... That’s Ethan...” She said before she sighed, “We’re actually not from this world... At least I don’t think so. My friend, Izzy showed me this thing that she found. I opened it and now where I am... Trying to find out if I can get home or not...”

Jazz had been reaching for the box as she spoke. Thinking it was next to her before she looked. “Eh-“ She looked around her for the box on the floor somewhere. She let out a loud scream, “Wh-where-“

“N-no-“ She then gasped as she frantically looked. “Uh-oh- no!“ she started to sweat, “No, I lost it!”

Tears appeared in her eyes. Believing she had just lost any chances of getting home. “That was likely my way home! What have I done!?”

Jazz looked into the distance, eyes opened wide in horror. Breathing heavily as she held her hooves on her head in panic.

”I’ll get it!” Ethan exclaimed before jumping into the muddy water. Jazz watched nervously, hoping for the best.

”Interesting...” Reef noted as he looked at Jazz, she looked so odd to him. “So, you and Ethan were transported here together?”

“I-I-“ Jazz gulped, ears flat in fear. “W-Well yeah...” She paused for a moment before letting out a sigh. “A-and two others, actually- W-well, I assume Pipp and Izzy ended up here like I have-“

Her voice cracked a bit as she nervously brushed a hoof against the dirty grassy ground. “But it seems we were separated from each other somehow... I’m looking for them...” She shouted in panic, “But I don’t know where they are! Or where to look! Or if they are even here!”

Reef felt remorse... “Gee... Sounds serious... You’ll be facing a world you aren’t familiar too... Assuming you’re telling the truth, of course.” Reef started to think, “I know! You can stay with us for a while! Until you find your friends and a way home!” He exclaimed.

”Really?” Asked Jazz, “Are you sure your family would be okay with that?” Her breathing was still panicked, “I don’t wanna mess with anything.”

”They have to be! It’s far too dangerous for someone like you out there!” He stated before noticing something on Jazz’s ear as she was taking deep breaths.

“R-really!? Thank you so much!” Then realised he was staring at her. “Why are you looking at me like that? You’re freaking me out- even more than I already am-” She started to look more stressed as she stepped back in fear.

”There’s a little something on your ear...” He noted as he pointed with a slight smile.

Jazz swayed her head, she was wondering why one ear felt heavier than the other. She assumed it had something to do with almost drowning. The weight wasn’t going away, she started to panic more as she tried getting it with her hoof.

“Hold still,” He said softly as he approached Jazz. He gently took it from her ear. It was kinda small.

The head resembled an oyster. It had four crab-like claws and six spider-like legs on its long worm-like body. She stared at it, kinda confused on why it was on her ear.

“This creature loves to eat ears!” Reef exclaimed and chuckled when Jazz’s jaw dropped. “Nah, just kiddin’” Reef tossed the whole critter into his mouth, chewed then swallowed it. “Hmm, fresh Oystorm!”

Jazz slightly cringed at the loud crunching noise of the poor thing’s body. Ignoring it. After some deep breathes, “Breathe in...” She told herself, “Breath out...” She did it until she had calmed down a bit.

She decided to ask a question. “So...” She noted, “Would anyone in the town help?”

Reef shrugged, “No clue.”

Soon enough Ethan retuned with the clam box. “Found it!” He exclaimed before a pause. “Found a dead body too!”

“Uh...” Jazz responded, slightly disgusted. She felt bad for the victim too.

Reef got on the hooftrot, “C’mon, I’ll lead the way!”

Ethan nodded and got on with Reef, and holding clam before it started to walk. Jazz followed after, looking around curiously. She hoped that Reef would let her borrow his shower, if he had one. The fields looked vast. To the north Jazz could see mountains, especially a silhouette a large one in the far distance, looked so far that it would take days to get to it. Also, behind her was the rainforest and marsh, she didn’t miss it at all!

Up ahead was going to be the key to getting home. She could just feel it!

World Of Mysticia

Pipp laid up against the wall of the cell. Sad music played on her phone before it made a message ding again. He ears flickered as she picked up her phone from the cold floor. Of course she looked at the messages confused, to see there was a new one in the group chat. “Huh?” She questioned as she opened up the croup chat.

There was a new message from Jazz. She gasped in surprise, not expecting the message to actually load. A smile was on her face as she opened up the video, soon there was the sound of heavy rain. Then the view focused on Jazz, looking terrible! Pipp’s heart ached to see her friend so wet, scared, cold and dirty!

Jazz was talking in the video as Pipp watched. She had the clam box with her as indicated by what she said! Pipp listened to the video carefully, it seemed she was in a rainforest somewhere.

She watched sadly as a tear formed in Jazz’ eyes, “I miss you...” She cried slightly before the video ended,

Pipp was feeling many things at once! She stood there, phone in hoof with a wide open mouth! She felt scared, sad and hope!

Scared that her friend is in as much as a bad situation at her! Pipp was at least safe from predators, had decent food and was sheltered from bad weather! Jazz was out there having to survive! This also made her feel sad for her, hoping her situation gets better soon!

Also, she felt hopeful. Jazz had the clam box. All Pipp had to do was reunite with her, and use the clam box to get home!

But wait- She said it wasn’t sending her home for some reason. Was there something wrong with it!? Pipe sighed, hoping the problem can be fixed easily. But at least Jazz was still alive and seemed to uh... well, she could be in a worse situation, right?

Anyway, the Pipp gasped when the door creaked open. She put her phone away and watched nervously just to see Sky come into the room. “Just me, Pipp...”

“Oh, Sky? What bring you here?” Pipp asked, still a little suspicious. But she hoped that Jazz and Izzy found themselves with some creatures as kind as Sky.

“I brought in some stuff for you,” Sky responded as she put the bag on the ground. Pipp watched curiously as she reached into the bag. She stepped back, just in case it wasn’t something safe. But despite her worries what was pulled out wasn’t scary at all!

It was a silver hair brush. Sky passed it through the bars, “Thought you’d like that,” She then reached in and took out a plush toy of some creature that resembled a bear. The next thing was a jigsaw puzzle that showed scenery. Finally, she pulled out a warm, fluffy purple blanket.

“There, felt you deserved some things,” Sky smiled.

”Wow...” Pipp said with a huge smile, “Thank you so much Sky!” She exclaimed.

”You’re welcome!” Sky responded happily before noticing Pipp looked sad again, “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah...” Sighed Pipp, “I’m grateful but... this isn’t going to help me find my friends and family... or get home!”

Sky sighed, “Y-yeah... I hope they’re doing okay... I don’t know them but it hurts to know that you’re missing. I can’t imagine the grief they’re going through...”

Pipp was slightly surprised, she looked down sombrely, “Yeah... me too... it must be chaos without me...” A tear rolled down her cheek, “Zipp must be going crazy looking for me.... searching for clues everywhere! They all must be... The Pippsqueaks must be devastated!” Pipp cried, she started crying.

”Hey... it’s gonna be okay... I want to help you...” Sky said as she softly stroke Pipp’s leg.

”I-I miss them so much!” Pipp shouted.

Sky started to think, “Do you remember how you got here? Perhaps we can use that information to get you home?”

Pipp sniffled as she wiped her tears with her leg. “I was in my salon, Mane Melody talking to Jazz and Rocky-“ She sniffled, “Then Izzy came in and showed us something she found!” Pipp cried harder, “I was foolish enough to agree on opening it instead of checking with Sunny!” She sobbed loudly.

”Hey...” Sky said softly, “You made a mistake. That’s okay... You’ll learn from it...”

”How is any of this okay!?” Shrieked Pipp, “This is the opposite of okay! I’m away from my home! My friends, fans and family are in despair! My two friends who were transported with me here are possibly in grave danger!” Tears ran down her face, “I’m lost! I don’t know how to go on!” Pipe broke down. “I’m trying to hope b-but it’s hard- what if I can’t get home?”

“I’m sorry... I shouldn’t have said that, but I want to help and do what I can... Do you perhaps know anything about the box?” Asked Sky, “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,”

”I-It’s with my friend, Jazz... she’s in the rainforest-“ She sobbed, “She managed to send me a video on my phone and-“

”Phone?” Asked Sky, “What’s a phone?”

Pipe made a loud, dramatic gasp, “You don’t know what a phone is!?”

”no? Is it something from your world?”

Pipp sighed, “Well yeah but...” She took out her phone, “This is mine. You can do countless things on a phone... like livestream, video things, take photos, make memes, message friends, play games... and that’s just a few,” She shrugged.

There were some words there that Sky had never heard before and didn’t know the meaning of. But she went with it anyway, “Wow... sounds... magical? Like no need for paper to send someone a letter?” She then started to think, “Perhaps if Jazz was able to send you a message... you can send her one back!”

”I suppose that could work but what do I say!? I don’t want to put her in danger by making her come here!” Pipp exclaimed before looking down at it. Then she gasped, “Maybe if she keeps making those type of update videos. I might be able to go to her location when I break out!” Pipp gasped and started to type on her phone.

“Keep making those video updates when you can... I’m getting them!” She muttered as she typed, “Aaaand send!”

Sky was amazed as she watched, “Wow! I really like that magic box! It looks so useful!”

Pipp smiles, “Exactly!”

“And here we are!” Reef exclaimed as he got off the critter.

The house was just on the outskirts of town. It seemed to be two-story and made from wood. Jazz looked at it with awe, “Wow... that is... interesting?” Jazz commented.

From the front the house had four windows on each side of the door. Plus two at the top. The door was rounded and painted green like the roof, plus it had a window on it too.

There were a few trees near the cottages, leaves and branches swayed slightly in the breeze. Also, there was a wooden fence around a bunch of trees and a barn.

A pond with lily pads and reeds was near the fence too. Jazz saw some insects flying around it. Then a large screech filled the air. It came from a creature that resembled an eagle! But it had four wings and three claws, one seemed to be missing, implied by a stub. Plus, it had a muzzle with fangs instead of a beak. It flew into the pond, grabbing a few unfortunate fish as it flew back into the sky.

From where was standing Jazz could see the village in the distance. It looked small and peaceful. The buildings seemed to have been made from wood too. The paths looked paved with stones as from what she could see.

Reef opened the door, taking the dead wasp thing with him. Jazz wondered what he was going to do with it, perhaps it’s his food? Or turn it into medicine?

Jazz minded her own business, knowing that he was doing an extremely brave and kind thing. As soon as Ethan and Reef went inside, she followed.

As soon as she stepped inside and closed the door behind her, she looked at her surroundings. The floor was made with gorgeous planks of wood. To her right seemed to be the living room, it had two green couches in a way they almost created an L shape. The one facing her was parallel to the staircase that must go upstairs. The other couch was up against the wall, next to the window.

Next to the staircase, up against the wall where the rails ended was was book case. A large wooded bookcase filled with books! The bookcase was next to some drawers and a cupboard!

On the opposite side of the room in the corner was a desk with a table. On the desk was a stack of paper and a feather pen in a small tub of ink.

To her left was the kitchen. It had cupboards, draws and such plus a metal furnace. Jazz smiled a bit, looked far better than the rainforest!

After stuffing the wasp into a cupboard, Reef went up to her, chuckling slightly.

Jazz was a little suspicious and scared, “T-this isn’t a trap, right?” Her voice shook.

Reef gasped, realising he was caring her. He felt terrible! “No-no-... there’s just-“ He held up a mirror to show Jazz her reflection.

Jazz gasped as soon as she saw what he was looking at! A moth-like creature on each of her two ears. She wiggled her ears slightly, confused. They resembled moths. The centre of the wings were black and slowly came more transparent forwards the end of the wings. “Wh-What are these?” She asked.

Reef smiled, “Seeya moths,” He smiled, “It’s rumoured that anything they touch vanish within a few months!”

Jazz gasped in shock and shook her head to shoo the moths away, “Is... is that true?”

Reef only shrugged, “Well... last year Mr. Rickle’s arm got covered in them and two months later he came back from a hunting trip with that very arm gone!”

Jazz gulped nervously, “Oh no-“ She responded, worried. They sounded brutal! But was it really the moths?

”it’s just a rumour through, it’s most likely just a coincidence but...” He chuckled, “You better make your mark before those ears vanish or you’ll have to tell your tale..“ He chuckled a little.

Jazz looked at him confused, “I feel like that was a reference...”

Reef gasped as he noticed the time. “Oh! I’ll need to pick up my sister from school soon so... just wait here, okay? And I’ll ask around to see if anyone knows anything about travel between other worlds.

”Alright!” Jazz chuckled nervousy. Hoping the rumour was just a silly story that was made up.

”Got it!” Ethan added as he started exploring the house.

As Reef left the building Jazz went to the books curiously. She was careful as she looked at them, making sure not to damage any. The covers mostly looked made of paper, a few were made of leather, it seemed.

Black cobwebs were seen in the corners. Jazz avoided those like the plague, who knows what hidden dangers those had. A book with a reddish-brown leather cover caught her eye. On the spine the word “World of Mysticia” was written.

Curious about the word she took the book out gently. She sat on her rump as she held the dusty old book in her hooves. Dust was all over the front, strangely, despite being protected by the books it was between. Jazz blew the dust off, which was a mistake as the dust ended up rebounding onto her face.

Dust tickled her nostrils as she felt a sneeze about to start, making her quickly lift a foreleg. Just as it happened she sneezed into her foreleg then went back to paying attention to the cover.

“World of Mysticia” Was written in gold. At the bottom was some strangely shaped thing. Like a dragon head or something. Maybe the land’s name was Mysticia and looked like a dragon head?

Anyway, she laid it on the ground as she curiously turned the page, showing her a map. The dragon’s head was indeed a stillhoute of the land.

The map showed mountains, valleys, rivers, tundra, forests, deserts and more! Also, it showed a mysterious purple area, blue area and a pink area far apart from each other. Jazz looked at the rainforest, apparently named ‘Slay Rainforest’ “Whoah...” She commented, Ethan gave her a confused glance as a result.

He walked over curiously and had a look at the map. Jazz followed an imaginary line to the east to a place called ‘Mud-Marsh’ then finally to a purple spot labling a village in the plains. She put her hoof on it, “Rainton,” She read the label next to it. “That must be where we are now!”

”Maybe!” Shrugged Ethan.

The realisation slowly set in. Her ears drooped as she looked at the purple dot compared to the rest of the land. She was no longer smiling as she studied the land. Her heart ached as she stared at the map. Mysticia was huge! Pipp, her and Izzy were only little ponies... it would take ages to find each other.

“I-I...” Jazz stuttered in defeat before shaking her head, “No, we can’t give up! We’ll... find them...?” She unsurely questioned as she stared down at the map. “R-Right?”

Jazz then took out her phone. Maybe if she tried to contact Pipp or Izzy then she could tell them where she was! Assuming they had their phones with them, of course. He first choice was Pipp, she was a closer friend and was more likely to have her phone with her than Izzy.

So she pressed the necessary buttons to call Pipp. Then a screen came up showing Pipp’s icon along with the word ‘Ringing’ above the icon.

Now all she had to do was wait! She and Ethan excitedly watched the screen as the letters danced around a bit. It was taking a little longer than expected... But surely Pipp would answer, right? Jazz’s phone continued to play that small tune before Pipp’s voice was heard. “You have reached the voicemail box of Princess Pipp Petals! Please feel free to leave fan-mail or a question and I’ll get back to you later!”

Jazz sighed as a result as her phone beeped, now recording a message for voice mail. “Hey Pipp... uh... I hope you’re doing okay... seems we can use our phones to contact each other... It’s slow but, maybe try and call me?” She sighed before letting the voicemail send.

Worry filled Jazz’s gut as she looked at her screen, why didn’t Pipp answer her phone!? She usually answers the phone! What’s going on!? Is she alright. Her teeth clenched as she looked down at the screen, now showing a list of her contacts. “M-maybe- she’s busy?” Jazz tried to ensure herself, “Like on the loo, or- or- trying to save her phone’s power!? Or-“ Sweat started to form, “M-Maybe fighting for her life or running from a predator!?”

Ethan interrupted her worry, “You know how my body changes due to the element thing I'm in?” He asked her.

Jazz sighed, still partly in panic. “Yeah... that’s kinda cool.”

”Maybe if I touch something that can have signal you might be able to use your phone!” He exclaimed.

Jazz looked at her phone and shrugged. It wasn’t a bad idea but... Getting signal wasn’t the problem since well... for some reason she was reaching Pipp, it was slow, but it seemed to have reached her. “Good idea but... guess it won’t hurt to try...”

He pointed to the map in the book, “See any mountains on that map that has electrical stuff?”

Jazz studied it for a good few minutes. There was nothing that indicated any sourced of electricity. There were three yellow dots on the map, but she had a deep feeling that wasn’t what she was looking for.

The huge mountain in the middle had a red spot on it, but she saw it from the distance earlier. Too high, too far and she didn’t know the dangers of the world yet, so she needed something more close and friendly.

It would be safer to get to know the world a bit before going on an adventure. “No clue...” She sighed, defeated.

“Hmm...” Wondered Ethan as he looked at the books with his eyes, “Is there a beastiary here?”

“A what?” Jazz questioned.

There had been a pause before he answered her question. “A book that catalogues creatures.”

“Right...” Jazz looked at the book she was looking at. The book was about the world so maybe it included information on the creatures too!

Curiously she flipped to another page. The page she landed on showed a few images of critters with some written information next to them. In ink.

”Oh, this is interesting,” Jazz read about a strange critter. It looked like the monkey things from the rainforest. Apparently they were named Mockons. The book noted that they come in browns, Blacks, yellows and greys and have black manes. They have sharp teeth and fangs, plus spiky tails. Also, they were omnivore.

”That explains it...” Jazz pointed out as she recalled being chased and attacked by them.

“Yeah!” Ethan agreed.

Jazz gently closed the book, hoping to not damage it and sighed. She got her phone, deciding to make a video like back in the rainforest. Slowly she went to the video app and started to film herself on her phone.

“Day two of being stuck in this... strange...” She whispered the last word before talking normally. “-Land. To get to where we are right now we traveled through a... ugh,” She shuddered, “... muddy marsh.” Jazz then noticed she forgot to ask if she could use the shower.

Didn’t, matter, she’d ask when he returned. She kept talking to the video. “While we were there we were attacked by some weird wasp things called Buzzwings... I think? But we were saved by this reptilian alien creature called a... Slayel, his name is Reef... he invited us into his home... and here I am... I hope you’re getting these... even through we are clearly worlds apart...”

Jazz sighed, as she looked at her phone. It made her feel better to at least pretend her friends were getting the videos. Ethan spoke up before she ended it.

“I found a dead body and have the clam thing in a hidden pouch on my body-“ He claimed.

Jazz felt it was necessary to reassure whoever would watch it. She chuckled nervously, “Surely the dead body was natural! He possibly means an unfortunate animal that fell into the marsh or was attacked by a predator-“ She sighed, hoping Pipp and Izzy didn’t fall to be prey.

A pause happened before she spoke again, ears drooped. “I hope I find Pipp and Izzy... I hope they’re okay...” She put on a slight, unsure smile as she got the book ready offscreen. “Well, if you’re curious...” She opened the book up to the map and changed the camera view to show it.

“This is where I am... The land’s called Mysticia, apparently. And well... my exact location is in this village...” She pointed her hoof to Rainton.”

There was another pause as she changed the camera view to show her again. “I will find them. I know it...” She uneasily claimed and ended the video. She sent it to the same group chat with friends as she did with the first one. Jazz looked at her phone sadly, wondering wether or not she was giving anypony false hope or not.

But soon Reef returned with a critter like him who was smaller and much younger than him. She was a pink-ish colour with yellow hair tied in a braid. She wore a pair of short overalls.

“H-hello,” She said quietly as she looked at her guests.

“Hey,” Ethan greeted with a wave.

Jazz put on a slight smile. Glad she was with some friendly critters. “Nice to meet you...” She said softly, still sad.

Ready To Uncage

Pipp was relaxed on the blanket with her back up against the wall. She was on her phone, listening to some tunes. It was odd, but there was a strange way to charge her phone. There were these small beetle things that resembled eels. They ignited static, enough to charge her phone when they crawled over it.

When Sky came with dinner in a few hours, perhaps she could discuss a way to escape. Well, she could wait, Sky was her key on escaping, the matter was on how? They needed a plan on how she may sneak Pipp through the castle. Also, Pipp needed to know more about the world, so she could be prepared.

It was a cool afternoon. She was very aware that her salon’s anniversary was going to be next week. Meh, she would be home by then, so she didn’t worry at all. Well, maybe a little because being there was a must! Soon the door started to creak open, causing Pipp to gasp. “Sky?”

“Nope!” Bloodfist’s voice sounded, much to Pipp’s dismay, her phone was quickly stuffed under her wing before he saw it. He stared hungrily at Pipp as he entered the room, “I see my weak little sister has treated you like a princess...”

”Well duh-“ Pipp responded, “I am a princess...” She grinned.

”Princess of Blood...” Snickered Bloodfist.

”What?” Pipp questioned, confused and worried.

”You’ll see...” He grinned mischievously.

Pipp started to breathe heavily as her ears were pinned back in fear. “Wh-“ She shook, “Wh-what a-are you gonna do to me?” Her voice was shaky and she could barely get the words out.

”Me?” Asked Bloodfist, “No, nothing... I’m not getting my hands grubby-“

”Then who-“ Pipp was about to ask before another leviter entered.

She was really muscular and towered over Bloodfist clearly. Her scales were mostly green, but her belly was light blue. Down her back and top of her head was black. Her wings were also black, going down to green. Pipp noticed she appeared to have been a royal guard, as she was wearing a similar uniform to the two or three others that she saw.

The armour was just a silver chest plate lined with gold. Plus a helmet that covered her hair from view. On a closer look, Pipp noticed her body had many scars on it, one being over her muzzle.

“S.Brutal here will handle it...” Bloodfist grinned as he took some stuff from his bag. Pipp couldn’t see what it was, but she was scared. It looked like a cloth damp with something. He gave it to Brutal, still holding a serious expression.

“P-please don’t hurt me-“ Pipp begged as Brutal went towards the cell door. Not changing expression at all. She showed no empathy at all. Pipp backed at into a wall as she opened the door, terrified of what she was going to do to her. Showing no emotion, Brutal tackled Pipp to the ground.

Pipp screamed and cried as she laid in her back. One whole arm was pushing her to the ground. Aggressively she beat Brutal with her hooves, but she didn’t even flinch as she grabbed the cloth and put it over Pipp’s muzzle. Forcing her to breathe the fumes.

Desperate to get away, Pipp kept kicking and shaking her head to try and shake it off. Her vision started to get fuzzy, but she didn’t give up! Her legs started to also feel heavy, so did her eyelids. Pipp’s kicking started to slowly as her head felt lighter. She tried to fight the fumes that were putting her to sleep, but they were too strong.

Soon enough, Pipp closed her eyes and her legs flopped to the ground, seemingly lifeless. Brutal got up with the cloth and looked down at Pipp, not moving, besides for her chest slowly going up and down. Bloodfist smiled as he looked down at her unconscious body, “Now we need to get her ready for tonight!” He exclaimed.

Pipp felt all groggy as she slowly opened her eyes. Her head was spinning as she laid on her side, confused. As she got up, she held a hoof to her head, rubbing it slightly. Legs wobbled as she stood there, trying to figure out her surroundings. Metal bars, dusty ground. Walls that were clawed up. Like the cell she was in, but something wasn’t right. She felt heavier, like something was pushing her down.

Dizzy, Pipp stood there, seemed the window was gone, also it seemed the cell was a bit smaller. She tried to speak, but no words came out. Pipp groaned as she tried to collect her memories, she looked at the cool dusty ground. Something wasn’t right here... but what was it. She gasped as she heard loud cheering, wondering where it was coming from.

Sounds of roaring, tearing and growling filled the air. A crowd’s excited roars. It sounded familiar as Pipp held her hoof on her head. Dizziness was fading as she closed her eyes... a vision came to her. The cell floor! This cell had a dusty ground. Pipp gasped as she looked around. This wasn’t the same cell! It was a smaller one!

She backed up to the bars, they were far different from the cell’s. They were thicker and the bars went down and across! Pipp moves her hoof up a bit and felt her mane. Something was missing, shouldn’t her hoof have touched... Her tiara!? Pipp gasped as she slumped on her rump. She frantically felt for her tiara with both fore-hooves. “Wh-where’s m-my?”

It was gone... absolutely gone! Pipp screamed in horror as she hyperventilated. The scream was bloodcurdling! “My tiara!” She panted as she looked around for it using her eyes, “Where is my-“ She then gasped as she noticed her body. Plates of metal were along her back. Armour? Why was she wearing armour?

The armour covered her back, including the flanks. It didn’t cover the wings at all, but there was a thick chest plate on her chest. Spikes were along the back of it and two large ones at the front on her chest. Also, she had metal shoes that had spikes on them. Pipp’s heart races as she stared at herself.

What was happening to her? Why was she dressed like this? Why was she wearing armour!?

Breathing heavily, Pipp looked out from the bars to see what she could see. An arena. Just those bars separating her from an arena where apparently a huge fight was happening. A fight was indeed happening, she didn’t see much, but she could work it out.

A large creature with eight tentacle arms, giant frog-like legs, bat wings and a fanged beak was in the air. On the ground was a large gooey creature with six legs with massive flows on the front ones. It also had a large scorpian-like tail and large fangs on its muzzle. Strangely, it had four eyes and no ears.

Her heart raced was she watched the flying one crash onto the one on the ground. Much to her horror, the ground one’s leg was ripped clean off, causing Pipp to scream in terror as she put her hooves on her eyes.

Soon, Pipp lifted her wing in panic, hoping to get to her phone. Only one thing, she didn’t have it. Her panic started to get worse as she reached into her other wing.

”No-no-!” Her eyes watered, “It’s go-o-o-ne! She shrieked,”

Still no phone. Tears went down Pipp’s cheeks as she stared at her hooves, wondering what was coming of her. She lost everything, her home, friends and her phone!

Pipp sat there, shaking and crying. She let out a shrill scream in pain before landing on her back, crying loudly in fear and hopelessness. Tears went down her face like a waterfall. Her gut hurt as she laid there. Lost and scared. Likely to be killed. She laid there as the sun set, listening to poor weird creatures get killed in such a barbaric event.

She felt sick inside as she remembered what she saw. Her stomach made noises as she put her hoof to her mouth. Pipp felt as if she was going to be sick. Closing her eyes, she tried to think of happy memories. But those happy memories were with places she’d never see again and ponies she’d never see again...

After the horrible noises of creatures fighting and stopped, Pipp lifted her head. Wondering what was about to come. She soon heard a dreaded voice on a megaphone.

“I’d like to welcome our newest fighter!” It was Bloodfist’s voice. He sounded too happy... this made Pipp angry. Even through the creatures were weird they were living things! “Our newest fighter came from another world!” Bloodfist announced, followed by sounds of awe.

Pipp gasped, “What!? no!” As the bars to her cell started to rattle and shake as they slowly lifted.

“I’d like to announce! The creature from another world!” Bloodfist exclaimed, “Put you claws together for... Pipperoni Killer!”

”What!?” Shrieked Pipp, disgusted about how he changed her name. “I’m not taking part of this!” She screamed despite no one hearing her. The audience was silent as they waited for her to come out. But she sat on her rump, securing her spot. Not moving at all! Never! She was not stepping hoof into that arena!

“Seems she’s being a little naughty... Maybe this will help,” Bloodfist scoffed as something was tossed into the arena, “If she doesn’t come out in five minutes I’ll send S.Brutal to get her!”

She growled as she crossed her forelegs, she also snorted and muttered. But then she had a quick look into the arena. It was night time but glowing crystals and torches of fire lit it up. But then something shiny caught her eye. It wasn’t the patches of blood-soaked sand. It was white and gold. Curiously got the best of Pipp as she stepped forward for a closer look.

“What is that?” Pipp whispered as she squinted her eyes... the shape and colours.... Then it hit her. “My phone!” She screamed in excitement, running towards the object. She grabbed it as fast as she could and hugged it tight. “I never thought I’d see you again!” She cried out in joy.

But first she needed to check if it still worked. The noises of a crowd were so not in her mind as she looked down wit it in her hoof. The first thing Pipp did was take a selfie of herself. It worked! But then she heard that voice.

”Guess the prissy little princess found her prissy little toy!” Bloodfist liaghed in the megaphone.

Pipp tucked her phone under her wing, safely and growled. “How dare you!” Pipp shouted as she took a few more steps before realising the crowd was looking at her. More Skyels... strangely most of them had tusks it seemed but there were more of them. Filling the seats in the dusty stone and brick arena.

“Uh oh...” Pipp shivered as she was frozen in place. She didn’t remember the last time she was scared in front of an audience. Maybe because this one had the ability to kill her, and wanted her to hurt other creatures or get hurt just for their joy. It made her stomach turn, just thinking they get the joy of seeing creatures get hurt or killed that aren’t one of them!

“Let’s see what she can do!” Exclaimed Bloodfist.

A large dummy was catapulted into the arena, almost hitting her. It was a bit bigger than her and seemed made of leather. To her it looked like a jelly fish with a muzzle and eyes plus with spikes and a tail. It was meant to resemble a creature apparently. Pipp looked at it and then back at the audience that started to chant.

“Fight! Fight! Fight!”

”No!” Shouted Pipp, using an app on her phone that amplified her voice. “I will not support the killing of innocent creatures- unless it’s in self-defence of course- but this is not! It’s disgusting!” She shrieked. She then proceeded to take ou5 her phone, “Allow me to show you disgusting barbaric beasts some actually, real entertainment!”

”Fight! Fight!” The crowd booed. Pipp held up her phone, trying to ignore it.

“Allow me to introduce you to the magic of music!” Pipp announced to an impatient audience, a few were curious and that was good enough for her.

Pipp scrolled on her phone until she found one of her own songs. It was labeled as “All You Need Is Your Beat.” It was close enough to being a close match, she wasn’t exactly in the mood or shape to make a new song. Didn’t have the time to either.

She played the music loudly so all of them could hear as she used the amplifying app to sing along. As the song started she wagged her tail and moved her hooves to ‘dance’ along.

(Song from Make Your Mark Ch2 BTW)

“First thing's first, you gotta look for the spark

That bit of magic way deep down in your heart

It's the rhythm that connects us, when you find it

Yeah now that's a great start start, start, start”

“Hey!

You gotta follow your beat beat, beat

And then soon you will see see, see

You won't have that far to go

Until your song starts to grow,”

Pipp noticed that some of the Skyters bopped their heads to the music slightly.

“All you need is your beat your beat, your beat

All you need is your groove groove

Hey, come on!”

“To get them stomping their hooves hooves

And then the next thing you'll know

Imagination will flow

All you need is your beat

All you need is your beat beat

Woo!

All you need is your beat

Ba-da-da, ba-da-da

All you need is your beat

Ba-da-da, ba-da-da”

She smiled as she looked at the audience. There were mostly confused or angry faces. A few of them were clapping, but then she heard growling.

“That’s enough!” Shouted Bloodfist.

Pipp scoffed, annoyed, “Because singing is less barbaric than killing?”

“no!” Shouted Bloodfist, “This is a sport!”

“Sport!?” Shouted Pipp, “Sport’s like totally not my thing... But even I know sport is supposed to be fun and safe for everyone included!” She shouted.

”Not this one!” Bloodfishht argued back. Followed by rotten fruit and rocks being thrown into the arena. Everyone was blowing at her.

Pipp’s heart raced as she tried to evade everything. A rock hit her in the head, however, knocking her to the ground. She cried in pain as she tried to get up, unaware of her open wound. Tears rolled down her face as everyone threw food at her and leagued. Rocks scratched her pink fur, scarring it.

“P-please stop...” Sobbed Pipp. Her body stung in pain as she stared at the crowd.

But then there was a loud, ear-piercing screech. Everyone stopped throwing to focus their attention on where it was coming from. Pipe frantically looked around, scared and confused. The ear-piercing screech happened once more! That’s when the crowd started to panic. Her heart was beating rapidaly, she was frozen in fear.

”Not a drill!” A voice shouted, sounding familiar. “Not a drill! A Dradoodon has been sighted! Get to the shelter”

All the skyters screamed in fright as they started to scatter. Pipp’s heart raced as she looked around, breathing heavily. She didn’t know where to go or what to do! She started to gallop, looking for somewhere to hide! The arena’s seating area was emptied quickly.

”Not a drill! Get to the shelter!” The voice shouted one final time.

Pipp gulped as she ran to the wooden doors that presumably led inside the arena. She started kicking at the doors in terror, “Open! Open!” She screamed as she frantically kicked the door, hoping to break it enough for her to get in.

A dradoodon was unknown to her, but judging by the Skyters, she didn’t want to find out. As she kicked, a tear rolled down her cheek before it opened. On the other side was Sky! She had a big duffle bag with her and looked frantic.

“N-no time to explain, follow me!” Sky noted before running down the halls.

Pipp follows, not saying a word, Sky must know what’s happening, but she must follow her before any questions. Her heart raced as she felt sweaty. Wondering what the heck was going on.

She ignored everything as she ran, only focusing on running after sky. The loud screech sounded again as they ran for their lives. Hooves and claws were the only noises in the arena as they ran through more doors leading into the town.

It looked poor, dirty and ruined. But Pipp didn’t pay much attention, she wanted to scream but focused on not losing Sky. The buildings in town looked made of old stone and wood. The dirt paths were lines with talk sticks with glowing stones stuck on top. Like tiki torches, oddly. Everything looked worn out.

Leviters ran past them, going the opposite direction, that was odd. But Sky must know what she’s doing, right?

Also, many of them wore old tattered clothes, or nothing, they didn’t really have anything to hide anyway. They looked like anthro raptors with wings. Crying babies filled the air as they ran against the crowd. But Pipp still kept an eye on Sky. Sky made sure Pipp was following her, she had a lot of explaining to do, but didn’t care.

Just as long as Pipp was safe from Bloodfist then she would be happy. She started to pant as she ran, but kept going, it wasn’t safe in the town. Pipp has a terrified expression and tears were in her eyes.

After running a bit, they saw fewer houses and more greenery. The noises of screaming and crying were gone. They heard another screech that didn’t sound as loud as the previous ones. It was getting darker as they didn’t have any more glowing stones along the pathways anymore. Pipp panted as she followed Sky, she was holding a glowing stone herself that made Pipp easy to see her.

“O-okay...” Sky panted as she stopped near the wooden fence that marked the boarders of the town. “We-we are out of Sky View...” She panted as she looked at Pipp who was all sweaty. “We just need to walk a bit more before we rest... best we get as far as possible before we rest... chances that someone will be after us...”

Pipp nodded, out of breath. She followed Sky down the mountain a bit, walking. Listening to weird critters in the dark, she yawned slightly as she walked. Looking back, the lights of the kingdom were getting dimmer and dimmer.

The cool breeze ruffled her feathers slightly, but she didn’t mind. The kingdom was getting further and further away... She didn’t know what happened back there, but...

She was free... finally free...

”There’s a hidden have down here,” Sky told Pipp as they slid down a bit of a slope into some thick bushes. Pipp wasn’t a huge fan of the dirt and muck her hooves were getting exposed to, but at least she wasn’t in the cell anymore.

Bloodfist didn’t know where she was, assuming Sky wasn’t tricking her and was genuine. They walked through the thick bushes a bit before Sky stopped in front of two large bushes in front of a mountain wall.

”Hmm?” Pipp wondered before Sky pushed some branches aside. She gestured her to go into the cavern. That’s what Pipp cautiously did, it was big and roomy. A bit of water dripped from the spikes on the ceiling. Sky followed her, hiding the entrance with the branches of the bush. Stone still lit the cave up slightly.

Also, there were some light spots floating around, like fireflies, but they had a blue glow.

”What is this place?” Pipp asked, amazed.

”It's a long story, but we should be safe here till morning... Then we’ll be on the road, I suppose. Hope you have more news on your friend's whereabouts...” Sky said as she walked ahead, crawling over and under rocks. Soon she sat down in front of a large opening that overlooked the forest below the large mountain. They were at the cloud layer, but it wasn’t a very cloudy night, so they got a clear view of the night sky. The stars were all purple.

“So...” Pipp said as she sat next to the opening, gazing into the open world. It was vast, but the view was so peaceful and the air was cool. “What happened back there? Why were all of those... skyters running from that noise?”

”I set the Dradoodon alarm...” Sky sighed, regretting her actions, but she knew she had to do it. “Likely they know I set it off so... they might be after me... but I deserved it, I just couldn’t bear what they were doing to you...”

Pipp looked down, a bit ashamed. She sighed as Sky used a stone and a stick to create a small fire, with some sticks between them. Then Pipp looked at her curiously, She cocked her head. “What’s a Dradoodon?” She asked.

Sky put her duffle bag besides her and reached into it. “It’s a massive creature that attacks the poor part of the village every once in a while. That’s why it’s so ruined and worn out. I wish there was a way we could live in harmony with it, but... it doesn’t seem to be the case.”

After a small mutter under her breath, she spoke again. “If a non-royal messes with the alarm then...it’s a death penalty, I’m not sure what they’d do with me... a royal abusing the alarm was unheard of until tonight...” She looked extremely sad as she looked at the flames. Her voice sounded like she was about to cry.

Pipp looked at the fire, feeling the warmth, “But... why did you do it? Wasn’t there a way where you... wouldn’t be on the run like this?” She asked, concerned. Also scared that Sky will be demoted from royalty and imprisoned if she returned.

“It was the first thing I could think of... when I heard you were taken to the arena, I freaked out- I panicked!” Sky sighed, “Only royals can access the alarm unless you have proof... so that’s the first thing that came on my mind. Bloodfist was going to unleash a deadly critter on you, I was scared, so I did what I thought was right...” She sighed. “Guess I’m on the run with you, having to help you find your friends...”

”Oh...” Pipp sighed, her gut hurt a bit. “I was on the run in my world too once... before magic, we pegasi couldn’t fly and us royals faked it. When it was discovered, me and Zipp were in the run from our kingdom too!”

”Oh that sounds horrible!” Sky worried as she looked at her.

Pipp nodded, “But well... once magic came back everyone had forgiven us and accepted us as royalty again... Real flying is so much better than fake flying!” She smiled.

“Flying sure sounds fun, wish I could do it...” Sky was interested as she laid with her back against the wall of the cave. “How’d you guys get magic back, anyway?”

Pipp was surprised. They couldn’t fly either, she thought it was her own magic that didn’t work in this world. Assuming that Skyel flight is powered by magic.

“Well...” Pipp noted, “Turns out uniting unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies as friends was what made the unity crystals work and bring magic back. Back before magic the three kinds were terrified of each other, but we learned that we weren’t so different.”

”Facisnating!...” Sky responded amused. “Well, Princess Pipp, I have a surprise for you,”

”Ooh! What is it!?” Gasped Pipp, happily.

As Sky dug through the bag, Pipp undid the armour from her. After it all fell on the floor with a clang, she sighed in relief. The extra weight was gone from her shoulders. Pipp got up, abandoning the armour in her former location. She moved to the other side of the duffle bag, curious.

“A-ha!” Exclaimed Sky before taking something from the duffel bag that formed a huge smile on Pipp’s face.

She couldn’t believe her eyes, “M-my tiara!” She squealed before taking it quickly. A few giggles came from her as she secured it in its proper and usual location. It was back! Finally, back! Pipp was quick to give Sky a huge hug, surprising her. “Thank you, thank you! Thank you!” Pipp exclaimed, a few tears of joy escaping.

A smile formed on Sky’s jaws too, she gave Pipp a little pet on the head. “You’re very welcome...”

Many hours earlier.

Reef didn’t look very happy as he entered. He slowly approached Jazz and Ethan apologetically. “No one knows anything about creatures coming from other worlds... Or anything to do with travel between worlds.”

Jazz grabbed the book gently and went back on the couch. She opened up the book and looked at the map. There was a town just above, well behind the mountain, that was labelled with a purple star. “That town labelled with the purple star looks important, maybe we should go there?”

He looks at the map. Then gasped in shock. “Antletopia?” He asked, “No-no-no, that place is filled with vicious beats! Even if it wasn’t it’s far too dangerous to venture over there at the moment. Beavesuars don’t start their hibernation till Autumn!, that’s next month, March!”

Jazz’s heart skipped a beat as she heard that! That would been she would be away from her home and friends far longer than she thought! Also... That means that she’ll miss Mane Melody’s anniversary was next week! Well, less than seven days away. “Wh- I’m stuck here for a-“ Her chest quickly went up and down.

She started to freak out! No friends, no home and no anniversary she was excited for! “But that means I have to miss-“ Her voice cracked, hoping he was wrong. “A-are you sure there isn’t a safe way around!? I have to be home next week! My friends miss me and- and I’m far from home and i’ll miss the anniversary of-“ She sniffled.

Reef didn’t understand what anniversary Jazz was upset about. But judging by her expression, perhaps something next month that was super important? Safety comes first, and beavesuars are lethal. Meaning, he had to break the bad news to her. His heart did hurt a bit, seeing how upset she was. “Yeah... you gonna have to miss it...” He sighed softly, He then shrugged, it off. She needed to deal with it. “so, what kind of things do you guys eat?” He asked.

Jazz couldn’t believe her ears as she looked at him. “I-I- I can't believe it! I-I’m not going to see my friends and family for a month!?” Jazz exclaimed with watery eyes as she tried to calm down, “B-but- I- I- I guess it’s better getting home late than never... I wonder how everyone- wonder how they’re going...” She sniffled before wiping away her tears

There was a pause as Jazz looked at the ground, still really upset. “I guess i’ll eat anything herbivores here eat? Like fruit, vegetables...” She explained.

Ethan added, “I eat anything -“

Jazz sighed as she looked at the ground. “I failed the salon... I failed my friends...” She whispered, “I won’t be there for the anniversary...” Her heart ached, holding it all goes well. She wondered that the anniversary was going to be like. But her gut also hurt as she thought of her family and friends... Hoping Rocky is handling the salon well alone.

The salon does have two occasional volunteers that come in on a busy day. Or when she, Pipp or Rocky are sick or can’t go to work for any reason. But Rocky sure must have his hooves full! Also, neither of the volunteers knew how to do hooves, so it meant no hooficures until Jazz made it back... none for at least a month. Hopefully not any more than a month!

Reef was in the kitchen cutting up meat and vegetables. Earlier Galaxy did say she had homework so she was in her room doing that. Jazz sighed as she laid on the couch. She was really hoping she would have made it back in time. It’s sucked but it was the truth...

After a while, Reef came back with a meat burger for Ethan and a plate of vegetable salad for Jazz. The vegetables were odd coloured and the meat was slightly burned. “Sorry if I burnt the meat, any hint of rawness in the meat makes anyone sick!”

Ethan shrugged before he took a bite of his burger, “I ate those sour mushrooms and rocks, I'll be fine.”

Jazz let out a relived sigh, “Thank goodness they were safe to eat,”

Reef looked at them slightly confused, “Safe to eat?” He questioned, “All mushrooms are safe to eat. Sure there are magical ones, but they are rare and only found in mystical places like the Mysterious Blue.” Mushrooms not being safe to eat was confusing to him.

”Oh!” Jazz exclaimed, “Not in the world I’m from... most wild mushrooms can be extremely dangerous or even lethal!”

”Gee... that sucks!” Reef exclaimed.

Jazz shrugged, “Eh, not to me,” She slowly chewed and ate a piece that tasted like capsicum but more smooth.“So, can you take us to that important city, when the beavesuars are in hibernation?”

”No!” Grunted Reef as he crossed his arms. “I told you, too dangerous. The beasts that live there are lethal!”

”But you said you’d help...” Jazz sighed.

”And I am, by keeping you safe!”

Jazz stared at him confused, “But... maybe there’s someone there who can help! How is staying here gonna get me home?”

”I dunno...“ He muttered softly, “We’ll have to wait till our father gets home from Taste Town...” He sighed.

“I suppose that’s fair... He would be pretty freaked to see his child missing in a world this dangerous” Jazz sighed.

He then looked at a clock, ignoring the last part of Jazz’s sentence. “Oh! I gotta milk the Duocow!” He goes outside and hurried to a paddock

Jazz accepted it as the name of a critter from this world. But Ethan was confused. The what?” He asked.

Curious, she followed them to the paddock that wasn’t that far. Neither her nor Ethan entered, they sat near a pond as they watched Reef approach a strange critter.

It looked very odd. Like a cow, but had two heads and fangs! Each head had horns. The necks were slightly longer than a usual cow’s neck. It also had two tails, they were more monkey like as they didn’t have a tuft of fur at the end. Also, the hooves weren’t cloven like a cow’s.

Jazz looked closely and noticed the udders were a bit bigger and oddly positioned right under the stomach.

”Uh...” Jazz watched it for a bit before approaching the pond to see what weird creatures were in it. Ethan was just tasting random plants on the ground. There were more odd critters in the paddock. They were woolly like sheep, but their muzzles resembled duck beaks. They were eating some hay in the corner.

“Duck beaked sheep with six legs?” Jazz questioned. Suddenly water, a squirt of water hit her in the face. “Hey!” She exclaimed a bit surprised but not angry.

“Heh” Gasped, Ethan before he jumped into the pond to go after it. He soon came back up with a fish, it seemed. The body shaped resembled a dolphin. The tail was sideways like a fish but triangle. The fin went down its back a bit before going upwards. It also had one large rectangler fin on each side.

”Kinda cute!” Jazz commented.

“FOOD!” Ethan exclaimed

After a while, Reef carried a bucket of milk towards the house. Jazz was enjoying the sunset before she saw that the milk was brown. Brown... why was it brown?

“ew-“ Ethan responded.

As everyone gathered inside, Jazz looked at the milk closely, “So, milk is brown in this world... and cows have two heads?”

Ethan let out his response, “Weird-“

Reef shrugged a bit confused, “Dunno what a cow is, but I assume they have more than two heads?” He asked, “What colour is milk in your world? Our one turns white when heated.

”One actually,” Jazz corrected, looking at the bubbly milk. “And cow milk is white from the start...”

“Interesting...” Reef noted as he looked at her. “So, where do you want to sleep tonight?” He asked

”Anywhere... that’s alright with you guys, I suppose.” Jazz responded with a slight smile

“Couch.” Ethan bluntly replied as he pointed at it.

“Sure! You’re our guests!” He goes into a cupboard and takes out two blankets, one for Ethan and one for Jazz. They were both fluffy and thick. One with pink with white stripes and the other was green.

Jazz took the pink one happy, she thanked Reef as she went to the couch.
Ethan smiled and took the green blanket.

Reef went towards the stairs, “Galaxy, I expect you to be in bed in half an hour. I know school taught you how to read a clock,”

“Okay Reefie!” Exclaimed Galaxy cutely as he went up.

Jazz got up in the couch. She laid on her back with her head on a pillow, she hadn’t put the blanket on yet, she didn’t feel cold enough. She laid there and closed her eyes peacefully before she saw Galaxy standing on the ground next to her.

“You’re cute,” She complimented her.

”Uh... Thanks!” Jazz smiled.

Ethan sat on the end of the couch, looking a bit left out. “What about me? I'm a pet creature thing.”

“Yeah maybe,” She giggled before petting Jazz’s stomach. It was filthy, but she didn’t seem to mind.

Jazz watched her a bit confused. Soon enough, Galaxy started to rub her belly, giving her a belly rub. Her ear flicked as she watched confused, but as it progressed she started to enjoy it. Subcontiously, she kicked a hind leg slightly like a dog when they get a belly rub. Ethan watched, he was jealous!

She kicked her hind leg happily as she relaxed, swishing her tail slightly. “This... feels... amazing!...” Jazz enjoyed exclaimed.

Much to Jazz’s dismay, Galaxy stopped the belly rub. She looked at the pink sash on Jazz. It was all muddy and gross. Each pouch was filled with mud, and it still rubbed mud against her body.Despite it being filthy the colour could be worked out. “What’s that?” Asked Galaxy as she poked it.

Jazz replied after a yawn, “It’s my sash... it holds my hoof stuff... like my hoof file...”

”What’s that?” Asked Galaxy, “What does it do?”

She explained happily, “In my world I work at a salon... with... Pipp and Rocky...” She sighed before perking up slightly. “I give hooficures to customers!” She smiled as she remembered the fun she had. It was so oddly satisfying and relaxing to do! The happiness of the customers after she did it made it even better!

Galaxy was confused, not knowing what hooficures or salons were. Slayels did get their claws trimmed, but salons didn’t exist.

Ethan responded before Jazz could, “They make the nails at the end of your fingers look good!”

“Cool!” Galaxy exclaimed, “Can you make mine look good?”

Jazz yawned, she was exhausted. “Yeah... maybe in the morning...”

She giggled as she happily ran to her room. Jazz checked the time, 10PM... must be 10 Am back in Equestria... she laid on her back under the blanket and relaxed, she closed her eyes and laid there. Ethan curled up on the back of the couch and dozed off.

An Unexpected Death

“Alright! Cut!” A young pony’s voice exclaimed.

“Heh, better than practice last week!” Trixie added

On stage were props and walls to make it seem like the inside of an old wooden house. Jazz was curled up on the couch, pretending to sleep. She soon got up with a yawn. “Did I do good, Stardust?” Jazz asked.

”You did amazing!” The small white filly, Stardust, exclaimed. Next to her was Trixie, who was in charge of special effects. There was also a Pegasus stallion, a unicorn mare and a young, male yak named Tiny who were doing the cameras.

Pipp and Izzy joined Jazz onstage. “I’m liking this story so far!” Izzy exclaimed.

“Yeah, I love it how I escaped thanks to a friend!” Pipp added. “The skyters, slayels and leviters are pretty interesting...”

Jazz nodded, “Getting unicorns and kirin. Plus, working your friends from your original world to create the creatures was pretty fun.”

The trio got offstage. It was a very big area. In fact, the building itself was the old Canterlogic factory. It was perfect for the filming, props and acting! Stardust was excited from this whole thing! When she had a roll call thing, she was surprised when Pipp, Jazz and Izzy actually agreed to play their parts. Phyliss was not very keen on the whole idea, but Sunny convinced her that it was going to be okay. Besides, it hadn’t been used in a very long time.

“So, when will this new episode be released?” Asked Trixie.

”After a lot of editing, of course,” Pipp scoffed.

”Yeah yeah, we know...” Pipp muttered.

Ash was holding the filming camera happily. “I just love this story so much!”

Stardust went to her bag, she then took out all the script papers for the next episode and gave them to the actors with a big smile on her face. Izzy excitedly read over it. She knew the basic plot, but she still liked reading the scripts, mostly because she was excited about her next appearance! Well, Stardust did tell her that it would take a while since it was based on a cartoon from her original world. About someone who gets lost in a world of frogs, apparently, and has to find her friends and a way home.

But to avoid trouble, Stardust changed the lore, sapiens land and more. The plot had a few similarities, but it got more original as it went along!

So much of the script was pre-written, proofread and edited before they even started! So errors weren’t really going to happen. They came in a few times a month to practice on the new episode before coming in on the last day of the month to do it for real. There were obviously certain months when they weren’t gonna film or so much world on it. AKA having a break. Like in December, for example. One episode was released each month. But Stardust decided to go on hiatus over the weekend, so they could work on some more, to the point they could release two a month.

Pipp looked at her phone, smiling as she read the comments of their previous episode. They uploaded last month. It had plenty of new comments, and they just loved Pipp’s role! Hoping that she was going to get out of danger and reunite with the others soon. Meanwhile, Jazz was also looking at the comments, she had a slight smile, feeling happy for Pipp. Also, she felt happy for Stardust’s episodic play getting some good reviews and such.

Obviously, there were plenty of haters and all. Which was understandable since the plot was a bit rough as Stardust didn’t really plan much before writing.

“They really like your play!” Jazz exclaimed, “You do such a good job!”

”Hehe, thanks, Jay-jay.” Stardust giggled happily. She then noticed Jazz sigh a little. “Uh, why so blue?”

”It’s just that...” Jazz scanned through a lot of comments. Barely any mentioned her, sure it wouldn’t matter. But most of those that did clearly hate her role and felt she was hogging up the screen time. “How many more episodes until me and Pipp reunite?” She felt kinda hurt from those comments, she was trying hard, it wasn’t her fault. Besides, the episodes did cut to Pipp occasionally.

Pipp chuckles, “Aw Jazz! No spoilers!” But Stardust answered anyway, “This episode is the one where you meet Rebel and I think Reef and Galaxy’s father. Along with learning about the world a little more. Then after this one, you reunite with Pipp!”

”Spoilers!” Grumbled Pipp.

Jazz smile, “Don’t worry, Pipp! I won’t tell anypony!”

Izzy looked up, “But what about the readers!?” She shouted before meting muffled by Trixie

”Good point! Oh, well...” Pipp noticed the time, “Oh! We should get back to the salon!” Pipp exclaimed as she walked towards the doors with Jazz. “See you here next week, Stardust?” Pipp asked as Stardust waved.

”Yeah!” Stardust giggles.

”Oh yeah!” Pipp smiled as Jazz walked besides her.

Jazz looked st the filly, “I can’t wait until the next part! Your story is really great! I am having fun with it! Well... maybe besides how muddy I had to get before- Did it really have to be real mud?”

“Makes it better!” Stardust smiles, “Besides, you looked like a chocolate coloured jellybean!

“I did?” Jazz questioned, confused, since she never saw turquoise jelly beans. Or jelly beans covered in chocolate, in that case.

Trixie smiled as she watched them leave. “Heh, Trixie thinks she could have done better...”

Stardust smiled as Ethan, still the slug thing, sat beside them. “Silly Trixie!” Stardust chuckled as she went to go help the others pack up. Putting everything away, ready for next time.

One week later...

The whole cast except for one pony sat in the old Canterogic building. It had only been a few days since the incident tag took away a friend... but it felt like it had just happened. As a result, everyone arrived to practice, feeling glum. Everyone sat around quietly. Except for Ethan, who was nowhere to be found.

Trixie sat, facing away, wiping tears with her hoof. She didn’t want anyone to see her like this. Stardust sadly looked down at her book she wrote the plot in, along with information of the world of Mysticia. Now it was going to all go to waste because one of the stars of the show was gone... Because of some some selfish, greedy pony.

They were only there for like a minute, but it felt way longer.

”So... what will we do now?” Izzy asked softly as she looked around to see many glum faces. Along with expressions of sadness.

Stardust looked down at the script, she didn’t know what to say. She felt angry that all her work went to nothing, thanks to that selfish brat! “I-I tried...” She cried, “I tried finding a replacement but no-pony felt right, the script was written in a way to make it feel like it really happened...” She sighed, “And no one else is a manicurist at Mane Melody, so it’d be a hassle to change to somepony else!” She exclaimed.

“Yeah...” Pipp agreed as she sat down... “No other earth pony, besides Hitch and Sunny, were as close to me as Jazz... I just can’t replace her-“ Pipp felt angry about happened to Jazz. It was hard enough to say goodbye to her, she didn’t want to replace her. She felt irreplaceable.

“Maybe it doesn’t have to be a female earth pony, maybe we can use somepony else like Rocky?” GC, a purple griffin, asked.

“Yeah but...” Stardust sighed, “We already have a pegasus. Each of the trio needs to be a different race of pony...”

“We aren’t going to cancel, are we?” Izzy asked, really worried. She was so excited about her part in the story. She was loving it. She really didn’t want the story to go to waste after what happened.

“We can’t, the show has to go on!” Stardust exclaimed.

“But how?” Minty, a pink kirin asked. “I don’t think we can.”

Stardust looked around a bit, “Maybe we can ask Hitch or Sunny?”

“Hitch is extremely busy with other things...” Pipp explained. She then sighed, “It won’t be easy to replace her.

“Sunny?” GC suggested, shrugging.

Trixie shook her head in denial. “She and Stardust hasn’t been getting along since-“ Trixie then covered her mouth with her hoof as if she was keeping a secret.

“Since... what?” Minty asked.

Trixie looked to the ground, “I shouldn’t say...”

Everyone decided that it was something personal. It wasn’t the focus anyway. They needed answers on what to do next. Everyone felt mix thoughts of disgust, sadness and anger.

“What about Sprout?” Izzy asked. Hoping that he would be able to join in.

“I don’t think he’d be okay with this...” Pipp answered, “Also... he and Jazz didn’t have much in common.”

Stardust looked at Ash, “Maybe... Ash?”

Ash gasped, “No-no-no... no!” She was clearly scared. “B-besides! I’m not a manicurist at all! I can’t just replace someone like Jazz! Remember that I will have to play her part like nothing happened! I can’t just snatch that role from Jazz!”

Minty nodded, “Also. Since Jazz was playing as herself, I don’t think anyone would want to replace her. They wouldn’t fit.”

Pipp stood up, “She’s right! Stardust made that role for Jazz! No one else can play the part, it’s just so wrong!” She shouted, “I miss her, like every one of us, but that part was made special for her!”

“Maybe we have to rewrite everything... to fit someone else?” Minty suggested, looking glum.

“Still can’t believe Jazz is gone...” Izzy whimpered, ”I never thought a pony would have such thoughts to murder...”

Stardust sighed, “You’re right... maybe it’s best to put everything on hold... for now...”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Cancelling it seemed the best option... for now...