Team Superstars: Winds of Change

Rocky woke up that morning with the sounds of sniffling. He groaned as he sleepily lifted his head. The lights coming in through the window. He was nice and warm, but the sound of a buzz woke him up. Not coming from his phone. From someone else’s. He stretched his wings as he jumped out of bed, rubbing his eyes, yawning. Realising that the sobbing noise was coming from Jazz.

“Jazz?” He mumbled. “It’s early…” He mumbled sleepily. Looking at his own phone to check the time. He then looked over with worry. Seeing that Jazz was facing away from him. Sitting on her bed, sniffling a bit. He worriedly walked over. “Uh, Jazz?” He questioned. “Are you okay?”

She wiped her eyes, not doing much when Rocky sat on the bed next to her, seeing tears come from her eyes. “Jazz?” He questioned. She wasn't saying a word as he looked at her. “Is it about yesterday?” He asked. Feeling a little guilty about the cafe incident, he should not have found it as funny as he did. She made an innocent mistake. Also, he was kind of guilty for not sticking up for her when Zoom despised her scarves. He saw her look at her phone again. But not seeing the message. “I’m sure Zoom didn’t mean to be so mean with what she said…”

“I-It’s not that…” Jazz said, wiping her eyes.

“Is it the cafe? I-Im sorry I-“

“It’s not that, either!” She sniffled, leaning into him as he put a wing around her. She calmed down a little, this time he saw the message on her phone. Coming from her mother.

“What’s going on?” Said the text message.

Jazz hugged the phone close to her. Rocky’s heart ached as she looked down at her. Wishing he could help in whatever way her could. “Do you… Want to talk about it?” He offered. Petting her as she cried.

She did not want him to worry about her too much. But she felt him fell comforting as she rested against him. She looked down at her phone, seeing another one come. This time from her brother.

“I’m sorry…” Jazz cried.

“Sorry?”

Rocky was confused on why Jazz was sorry as she hugged herself. Sniffling as she wiped her tears.

“I-I pulled you and Dahlia from your families… They must be so worried sick! Because won’t stop texting me, I just don’t know what to say that won’t make them worry more. They are not taking ‘I am fine’ for an answer! I just don’t know what to say!” She shouted, her heart was racing as she looked at the message. But this was not all her problems, she was still hiding something else. These text messages were only a little part of her worries. Which Rocky did not know.

“Y-you didn’t strip us from our families!” He exclaimed, feeling a little upset she was feeling like she did. “You could tell them that you are in Zephyr Heights! That’s what I did with mine when they checked on me.” He shrugged. “They were fine with it.”

“Because they live in Zephyr Heights! They likely don’t know about the strict wall thing as much as we do! I’d just get a lecture from my father for not obeying the laws… They’d never believed me if I told them I have to save the world!”

Rocky paused. Not knowing how to answer this. But then he got an idea. “But they are concerned about you. Maybe if you texted them, or even face-timed them. Then they’d be really happy to see you are safe! You don’t even have to tell them about this quest. Yet…” He rubbed her as she sniffled.

“I dunno…” Jazz said, sighing as she rested on Rocky’s belly, with his wing wrapped around her. She stayed there, sniffing into his fur as he stroked her. Hoping to calm her down. "I never asked for this!" She cried out.

Zoom then slammed open the bedroom door quickly. Alerting the two ponies, disturbing them. Poor Jazz “Rocky! Jazz! Join us in the throne room after you have done what you need to do!!” She said before shutting the door behind her.

“Rude…” Jazz groaned, Rocky nodded in agreement as she got up off him.Heading towards the vanity to brush her mane. Rocky soon did the same.

Jazz sighed as she looked at another message. This time from her older brother. Who was a successful baker who opened his own store. She used to love his treats as a child. He was 27. About eight years older than she was, she was about 19. He was known for never supporting the cruelness and favouritism of baking contests. He even othered a few a job which were thrown aside and trashed because Lemmie Squeezy didn't like pink teddy bear shaped cookies.

“Are you safe?”

Thunder walked into the throne room. Sadly looking at Zoom who was glumly staring at a large sheet of paper. Jazz and Rocky looked at this with awe.

“What is this?” Rocky asked Zoom who answered. Ignoring Thunder who was standing next to her. Awaiting an answer, not knowing what to say.

“It’s an ancient map of Equestria that was found in the drawers in an old room. Theres a few of these copies that have been found, one is in the museum, for example. But had not been taken out since the return of magic. This one is in a worse shape than the museum. But still a map. My hooves were glowing, so it must have been acceptable.”

Jazz looked down at the map. She could work out some letters and words near certain locations. But much of ink or pencil had faded away. Or been smudged. This map was going to be useful, the map they had in the current days did not show enough area. She had a feeling not every dungeon would be around that area. She was right.

“Equestria… I knew it was more lively in the past by what Zipp and Pipp said after they read an old book but… I didn’t realise it was like this…” Rocky looked at it. Amazed at how many towns and cities there were.

Jazz noticed how detailed it was, the huge snowy mountains in the north, with an illustration of some sort of a palace at the bottom. The desert in the bottom left. She noticed the huge mountain near the bottom and the dark looking forest near a village just below it. There was even a heckling city of clouds! Why didn’t that exist anymore? It sounds so cool!

“We are gonna need a map on our adventure…” Zoom looked down at it. She pointed at certain places on the map. “Zephyr Heights is in this mountain.” Zoom said, pointing at some mountains not too far on some horseshoe shape in the land. As she pointed, a drawing of the palace appeared as her hoof glowed. Then she pointed at the horseshoe shape itself. “Maretine Bay is here… And Bridlewood is in that forest over there.”

“Fascinating!” Jazz exclaimed with a smile but then worried. “How is this gonna help us find the dungeons?”

“I don’t know…” Zoom responded. “But the towns and city did appear when I pointed…” Noticing Thunder seemed kind of quiet. She was about to ask him a question before she noticed her own hooves glowing. Along with Jazz’s. Bits of light branched away towards the map. Sending a huge glow over it briefly.

Every one watched in awe as most the light washed away. Except for a few spots that simply faded out. Marking out certain spaces with dark brown dots. Almost like burn marks. But with a reddish glow as if they were stull burning.

“I guess that answers that.” Jazz responded bluntly. “There seems to be one in each terrain possible!”

There was one in the snowy mountains in the far north. One in the plains, desert in the south-west, in the forest/woods not far from Maretine Bay. Also there was another in the swamps to the south. Then there was two in the mountains not far from Zephyr Heights. There was one in the volcano in the Dragonlands, which was kinda scary. Also, there was one not far from Bridlewood and one in the sea. There was one in a sketch of some clouds near the mountain in the middle of the map. Then finally, one in the city in the north-east.

“Huh… That’s a lot!” Thunder exclaimed. “Why can’t we just go straight to Dark Matter?”

Jazz sighed. “I thought the same. But if we do, all the missing ponies will be killed in the dungeons…” Her voice was shaky and sad.

“Plus we would not collect the shard powering each dungeon. Who know’s what would happen if we dont’t collect one!” Dahlia groaned.

“Alright troops! We better start getting ready for our first dungeon today!” Zoom ordered. “So you all better get prepared and be back here in no more than ten minutes!”

“Asww.. But I haven’t had breakfast yet…” Thunder sighed as his tummy rumbled.

“I have not brushed my teeth!” Rocky exclaimed.

“Or had a shower.” Added Dahlia.

“Fine… We meet here in no more than two hours!”

“Yes sir!” Jazz exclaimed as she played along. Then she realised. “Wait. Today!?”

“Better now than later…” Dahlia shrugged, walking away.

“But- But-“ Jazz gulped as Zoom and Thunder left the room. Leaving no room for anyone to ask questions. “Awww…” She put her hooves on her face. Whimpering slightly. Heart racing as she slowly walked. “Why today?”

“It’s best we take this stuff…” Jazz muttered to herself as walked into the throne room. Cheeks wet from tears, she must have been crying silently as she got ready. Her heart beating fast as she wiped her eyes. She sighed as she sat down, with her was her shoulder bag. But with most the stuff taken out. Inside was a used sketch book with some written information that was given to her by Stardust. A packet of bandaids, some mints, her phone and some other things. “Which dungeon have you decided on?”

She was wearing one of the scarves she had got custom made the day before. Rocky soon came in. Also with a shoulder bag, but a one he got cheap since he did not want to risk damage to his own. It was a pale yellow and had a pair of golden wings embroided on the flap, with a small guitar symbol just above it. There was even a few music notes. Jazz almost instantly gasped.

“Where’d you get that bag!?”

“Oh! I headed to my parents home to visit them briefly. I found this bag of mine I forgot I had! So I decided to bring it along, since it already has some wear and tear.” He gladly responded, seemingly not noticing that she had likely been crying earlier.

“Fair enough. But I love it!” Jazz had a closer look. It suited him well! Then she gasped in delight to see he was wearing one of the bandanas.

“Zoom, are we going to go over safety?” Thunder asked with concern. “Now that everyone’s here?”

Zoom eyes the scarf Thunder had on then shrugged, “Obviously, Thunder.” She bluntly responded before looking at everyone.

“Alright Troops. Listen up!” Zoom responded, talking like a serious pony who was talking to an army about their mission. Or something like that. “Now is our first day in the dungeon. That means we must follow the rules!” She shouted then looked at them sternly, pointing at Thunder with her hoof before looking at him.”Ahem!” She coughed.

“Huh?” Thunder questioned before realising. “Oh!” He exclaimed, grabbing a sheet of paper and unraveling it.

“Rule number one! Listen to the leader, me!” She pointed at herself. Haven was currently having a shower elsewhere in the palace. But was aware that the group was planning their adventure. Not minding much at all, it was their duty.

“I think this is happening too fast! We only discovered the locations this morning!” Jazz’s voice cracked. “We are under a lot of pressure. Besides, we hadn’t even found the unicorn yet!”

“You are not talking your way out of this, Hooves!” Shouted Zoom.

Everyone looked at her in shock as Jazz sadly looked to the ground. She did have a point, however. Even if she was scared. Dahlia felt like sticking up to her, but shut her mouth, not wanting to be shouted at.

“Rule Number Two! Stick together!” Zoom exclaimed. “We don’t want anyone becoming corrupted or any funny business!”

“That means no running off!” Thunder said with a smile.

“Rule Number Three! Only use Light Blast on the corrupted ponies. In case it can be warn out.”

“B-but I wanted to name it the ‘Dazzle Shot’” Dahlia added, not noticing Jazz freezing in fear next to her. Looking pale as her heart started to race after. Knowing she still had no clue on how to activate it. They hadn’t even practised the “Light Shot.” Or whatever it’s called.

“Z-Zoom?” Jazz stuttered.

“Not now, Hooves!” Zoom exclaimed explaining each rule one by one. About being careful, staying alert. Absolutely no eating unknown plants, bringing at least one first aid kit, stuff like that.”

“Understand!?” Zoom shouted.

“Yes sir!” Thunder and Rocky responded proudly. Zoom glancing over at Dahlia amd Jazz. “Did you understand!?”

“Well, yeah. But-“ Jazz was about to say before being interrupted.

“Good! Now let’s get to it!.” Zoom responded, leading the group out the castle.

“Dang. She’s acting like she'd be a sergeant…” Mumbled Dahlia quiet enough so no one heard. Jazz gulped as everyone walked into the lift at the end of the path outside the castle. Being the way down.

“Z-zoom?” Whispered Jazz. “I-I have a question.” She asked as she entered after her. Eying the golden inside and the giant glass window windows, allowing them to see outside. It would suck if you were scared of heights.

“Which is?” She said. Standing in the lift, pressing a button to send it down after everyone got inside.

“Uh… You know the light blast I told you about?” Jazz asked, stuttering as she felt her heart pound. But it wasn’t like Zoom could do much than shout at her? This would be a silly thing to punish her for, wouldn’t it?

“Spit it out, cadet Hooves!” Zoom scolded. "If it's important information, you can’t pause every five seconds.”

“W-welll… I actually don’t know how to, you know?” She said slowly. Trying to explain, which was kinda tricky with this strict royal guard staring at you. She had power over her, or at least she thought she did? “I don’t know how to do it!” She blurted out in one go, gasping as she did so. Finally feeling some pressure lifted off her for saying that.

It wasn’t a surprise to Dahlia or Rocky who had already knew her concerns. But Zoom was quiet. Thunder was heard whimpering as he stepped back. Feeling a little scared. He had never thought about these, he knew something was missing! But she was a lot less concerned that he was.

“Then you better figure it out, cadet!”

“I’m not the only one with these powers you know.” Jazz mumbled before she sighed as she looked out the glass, at Zephyr Heights as the elevator lowered. Getting closer and closer to the ground. “Well. It happened when I slammed my glowing hooves when facing a corrupted pony. A blast of light just shot put that moment!”

“Thats it then.” Zoom bluntly stated as the lift doors opened up and the group walked out. Jazz lagging behind slightly. “That’s exactly what we’ll do, then.”

Jazz groaned and sighed as she notified she was not concerned at all. She shivered as she followed to group.

“What if it doesn’t work? I can’t exactly hoof-file the shadows to death. Or give them manestyles so ugly they’d die!”

“Yeah… These are grasslands. Not plains…” Dahlia bluntly said. “Plains are dier. This is grassier.”

Everyone took note what she said. But did not really mind being corrected but found it unnecessary. Who cares? As long as they save whoever is trapped inside and disable the dungeon, it does not really matter.

Okay, maybe there are places you’d have to prepare for. But grasslands wasn’t that different from what they expected.

“Yeah, so?” Zoom exclaimed, grunting as she stepped into some hoof-deep water without realising it was there. “Be careful,” She looked back at the others as she walked over a tiny stream surrounded by rocks.

“Of what? I’m not scared of getting my hooves wet.” Thunder responded with a smile as he playfully splashed the water as he crossed. The others just walking normally.

“There it is!” Jazz exclaimed, now on top of a hill, pointing out to an arch she saw in the distance.

“Good job cadet Hooves!” Zoom complimented. The gang making their way to the stony arch. The other side of it blocked by unnaturally long grass.

“Well… I hope this is it?” Dahlia said quietly. Noticing the arch looking a little different from the one in the forest. This could easily be some accient ruins or something. But the lack of ruins nearby proved otherwise. Besides, the inside of the arch shimmered a little, like a pane of glass would.

“So…” Thunder said, back up behind Zoom. “Leader first.”

Her eyes widened as he nudged her forward, she would not budge. “Uh- I think Dahlia should be the one to enter first. She knows how to.”

“What!? I think Jazz should enter first!” Dahlia nudged Jazz towards it. Not noticing how much she was shaking and how pale she was, “She’s the one with the powers we need!”

“R-rocky can do it! H-he was going to come with us the first time. But backed out!” She said, shakingly pointing at Rocky who gazed over at Thunder. Seeing him cower and shake made him sigh as he swallows his spit and stepped forward.

“H-how bad can it be?” He assured himself. Walking into the arch slowly. Then he froze, everyone looked at him as he was inches from touching it. “Wait a second. Where are jy manners?” He asked, walking out the way, “Ladies first.” He smirked at Zoom.

“Oh yeah!” Jazz jokingly agreed. “The leader is the one in the lead, aren’t they?” She eyed her as she looked at Thunder.

"Nope! Without me, you'd be dead."

“I got an idea that no one can argue with!” Dahlia explained!

Thunder responding with a hop. “Me too! How about we do it alphabetical order? But with a twist?”

“That was not my idea…”

Zoom paused, finding sone time to speak. Realising since her name started with a “Z” it meant she did not have to go in first.

“Amazing idea, Thunder. I think I qgree with that.” She smiled. Then realised he mentioned a twist. “What’s the twist?”

“In reverse…” Everyone grinned as they went behind Zoom.

“Wit!” She exclaimed.

“Too late, you already said you agreed!” Jazz sung as she began to push. Dahlia at the back, behind Jazz who was behind Rocky. Thunder was pushing Zoom the best he could, with Rocky kind of behind and next to him at the same time, helping.

“Nooo!” Zoom flailed. “You tricked me!” She shouted as everyone pushed her closer and closer. "That's against the rules!" Her wings and hooves flailing. Until a poof! They all vanished in a flash of light.

Everyone groaned as they found themselves all piled up on a dirt floor. Poor Zoom was deservingly on the bottom.

“Get… Off of me…” She groaned, cussing the pile of ponies to topple over as she dragged herself out from underneath.

“Look how long that grass is!” Thunder exclaimed. Getting up first and brushing himself off. “It’s like a wall of grass, with dort paths leading the way!” He exclaimed.

Water could be heard, along with slight wind. Above them, the sky looked kinda unnatural. It was blue. But it seemed too… “Videogamey” would be one word to describe the sky.

“Stay alert.” Zoom said, walking ahead. Jazz and Thunder close behind. Staying alert until they got to a big open area.

“Zoom, wait!” Jazz whisper-yelled as she slowly walked in. Following her slowly. Watching as she proceeded to get blasted by a huge blast of water to her side.

“Hooves!” She shouted.

“That wasn’t Jazz!” Thunder exclaimed, watching as she turned to a log as he pointed at it.

“What am I supposed to be seeing?” She asked, before stepping back in shock upon seeing the log open wide, coming closer from the shadow. Showing its appearance as a creature that looked like a mix between a log and a crocodile. Created by two logs, one for the jaws and the other for the body. Legs were sticks. It’s mouth opened wide. The inside looked ss if you split a log in two.

“It’s a logodile.” Jazz gulped.

“It has a name, Hooves?” Zoom asked. “Do you have any mire information on it?”

“I do not, I only remember seeing it in a sketchbook. I assume Stardust, or anyone from her world, left it behind for us.

“And you didn’t care to read any possibly important information?”

“If you put it that way…” She sighed sadly. Not noticing as Dahlia wrapped vines around the creature. Only for them to get snapped as it growled angrily. Spewing out a large amount of water. Everyone jumping out the way just in time.

“Attack!” Zoom cried, grabbing a tennis ball. Attempting to sheild herself with it.

“Will these pegasus guards ever learn?” Dahlia groaned in disapproval as she watched as Zoom kept watch, looking very serious as she held the tennis ball like she’d do with an actual sheild.

“And they used to think we were the dumb ones.” Jazz added. Making them both snicker, before the Logodile sued its tail to flick balls of mud at them. Dahlia getting smashed in the face while Jazz narrowly dodged. Smalling her hooves to the ground. Expression going from fear and determination, to shock and terror as a vine impaled the Logodile through the torso. Some sort of clear sap acting as blood, oozing from where it happened.

There was no sign of suffering or pain at all. Much to her relief. It simply faded back to a log-like appearance. Looking like nothing more than a long pice of a log with a few sticks attached and a hole in it as the vine vanished. Of course, Zoom confidentially put away the tennis ball and looked at Jazz, proud.

“Good job, Hooves.” She patted Jazz on the shoulder. “Your training has come in handy.”

“T-thanks…” Jazz smiled slightly before following her farther in. Feeling more and more uneasy.

It was a tough trip. Luckily the earth pony plant magic was effective against these logodiles. Hopefully It’d stay this easy, right?

As they went on, deeper and deeper…

“Oh yeah. That was a funny scene.” Dahlia agreed with Jazz. They were talking about a movie. Trying to take their minds off this stressful environment. But remaining alert for anything.

Zoom turned around as soon as her ears picked up Dahlia and Jazz’s snickers. As they where chatting along about something. She didn’t care what they were chatting about. But now was not the time, right?

“I heard that!” She shouted. Alerting the two mares, turning around with a glare. Stepping on a pink flower hard with a part of her hind hoof without even realising it. It making a noise when she moved that particular hoof again.

“Zoom! You hit that poor flower!” Thunder cried. Rocky, Dahlia and Jazz having also seen it. They did not feel as bad as they did, because they had not heard the hurt noise it had made when briefly stepped on. But it did seem undamaged other than two crushed petals and the stem being slightly bent..

“Just a flower, Thunder.” Zoom bluntly responded. Not noticing it close up and spit out a small amount of pollen before swelling up. "Considering what we saw. Killing it might have been for the best anyway."

The light pink flower started to swell up and slowly triple its size as it took a bulb shape, puffing up into a round shape. Slowly growing in side. Thunder backed up slowly. Getting closer and closer to Rocky and Jazz, who both gulped as they noticed the expanding flower as Zoom stepped forward, scolding Dahlia.

“This is not the time for small chitter-chatter, or whatever you mares call it!” She sternly claimed with a pause. “In case you have forgotten, rule number one: Stay together! Rule number two: Stay no funny business!”

“Wasn’t that number-“ Thunder whispered before gulping at the plant’s growing size. Zoom only just noticing them backing up.

“Where are you going?” She asked, yet to noticed the vines around her legs created by the flower. As if it was about to punish her for hurting it. She turned her head and gasped in horror at the bulb that was now just barely bigger than she was.

“I got a bad feeling about this!” Dahlia warned as she stepped back. Hiding behind Jazz as Zoom who grabbed a tennis ball. Ready for whatever was going to come their way.

“Show yourselves!“

“It’s gonna bow!” Screamed Jazz as it made a hissing sound. Running down the path the other way, Rocky and Thunder following after.

“That does not look good…” Dahlia gulped.

“Where are you going?! Rule Number one!” Zoom shouted, seeing them stop a few feet away. She rolled her eyes and glared. “Just a flower, what harm can it do?”

“I know we confirmed that flower resembled one that was not poisonous. But you never know in magical dimension pocket thing!” Jazz said, shouting back as Zoom looked up in fear, realising Jazz actually had a point. Quick to join them in running back in case the flower had some dangerous. Thing planned. Only to tripped over her hooves. Entangled with vines. She whimpered as she looked back. Her heart racing as she gulped. Hoping this thing wasn’t gonna put a spell on her, or poison her.

“Just my luck…”

The flower immediately exploding out a large amount of light yellow dust stuff. The remaining ponies being narrowly missed by from it as it floated in the air. It hardly even touching them.

“Zoom!?” Cried Thunder to the huge yellow cloud. Worried for her safety as the dirt was covered by the dusty pollen. He assumed it was pollen.

Everyone watched with shock and worried as the dust settled. Revealing Zoom was okay. But pretty much yellow now. Thanks to the pollen covering her, head to hoof.

“It’s pollen.” She sniffled before letting out a sneeze as the others approached her. Watching as she tried to wipe it off, with no luck as it stuck there.

“Stubborn pollen…” She grunted trying the wipe the stuff from her coat before giving up.

“What happened to the ‘be careful and alert?’ Rule?” Rocky asked with a smug smirk.

“Still-“ Zoom sniffled before coughing up some of the yellow pollen. Stomping over the remains of the exploded flower. Crushing it to the ground. Seems like the species die when they explode.

“What a strange flower?” Dahlia raised a brow. She knew a lot about plants, but a flower that expands into a huge size before it explodes, that’s new. As relief of the harmless explosion washed over her, she smiled a little. That flower would actually pretty cool. Maybe a little messy, judging by the fact Zoom was having a hard time wiping the pollen from her, but who knows. She couldn’t help but admire it as she thought about it.

She and Jazz couldn’t help but snicker at Zoom’s misfortune. It was pretty funny that she was shouting at them a minute ago. Only to end up yellow instead of her usual blue.

“Well done, exploding flower.” Jazz smiled with a quiet voice.

“New rule!” Zoom grumpily exclaimed. “We never speak of that exploding flower again!” She grunted. Hoping to get this pollen off before they were done.