G5 Adventures in Treasure Buddiesby ponydog127ChaptersThe Grand Reopening of the Bridlewood History MuseumReturning to Fernfield, Hearing Stories and Making New FriendsTroubles in the Tomb (Part 2: Chases and Fights Ensue)Meeting Dr. Wellington and Ubasti, A Quest for Egypt and Ubasi's True MotivesHitching a Ride and Arriving in EgyptMeeting Babi, Faith, Tirako and Cammy, and a New Clue UncoveredTraveling Through the Desert and Finding the OasisSunny's Alicorn Worries/Mirages, Clues Uncovered, Reunions and Unexpected BetrayalsA Wild Balloon Ride, the Sandstorm and the Snake's Entrance to the TombTroubles in the Tomb (Part 1: Finding the Collar of Cleocatra)A Party in Bastati and the Unveiling of the Cat's Eye CollarThe Grand Reopening of the Bridlewood History MuseumAuthor's Note Before we get started, I'd... like to say something. Between the time my last story was posted and now... I lost my two best friends. There was a misunderstanding within a message that one friend sent me about the other friend and when I was confronted with that misunderstanding, I lied about it. That was something I never should have done. I learned that they never really forgave me about it, and... after that incident went down, and they got closer... I started getting jealous. I loved that I brought them together, but with my crazy schedule with school and this series and my own life... I felt left out. But... lying about the misunderstanding was wrong, and I should've just told the truth. I don't know if I'll ever get their trust back, and for that, guys... I am so sorry. You guys never gave up on me... at least, until now. Truth is... I deserve to be given up on. I never meant to drive you guys away, but I guess I did. I accept if we're not gonna be friends anymore, if that's what you guys really want, but... I at least wanna dedicate this story to you. One of the friends planned to write this story with me before we argued, and this was always one of the other friends' favorite movies. You'll always be my friends, even if you don't consider me your friend anymore. ...let the story begin, I guess. The Grand Reopening of the Bridlewood History Museum It had been a couple of weeks since the Mane 6's last Unity Quest ended, and needless to say, they were in some desperate need of some time off. On their last mission, they reunited with Mystery Inc and a bunch of new friends to save a maiden space voyage, and they once again had to face off against Alterro in order to successfully escape from the moon base, which the culprits behind the alien, former astronaut Shannon Lucas and a Sun Jaguar named Aruna, set to blow. Naturally, everyone escaped, but they knew that Alterro's thirst for revenge was only going to get more intense from that moment on. They had to be more careful on these Unity Quests, otherwise their next mission could be their last. After their last mission, the Mane 6 took the opportunity to spend some time on the Boardtrot, tending to their stations and going on rides when they had a free moment-- Sunny even got Comet a job so he could look after her shop when she wasn't there. But one day, Izzy got an invitation in the mail all the way from Bridlewood… and from her favorite crafting protege, Violette Rainbow! Violette’s aunt, Scarlet Cloud, had been restoring the Bridlewood History Museum for quite some time, and now, it was finally ready to be re-opened, and she wanted Violette to invite the Mane 6 to be guests of honor for the ribbon cutting ceremony! How could our heroes say no to that? And as we speak, they are currently heading to Bridlewood for this all-important ceremony, not knowing that this would lead to their most important Unity Quest mission yet... and this was a mission that would bring them back to a place they've already been with friends that they had already met. XXXXXXXX “Whoo-hoo!!!” Izzy cheered with her head out the window of the Marestream as it flew through the sky. “I can taste the wind!!!!” “And, you’re also going to catch a fly if you don’t stop sticking your head out the window,” Hitch said, pulling her away. “So… probably not the safest idea.” “Your loss, Hitchie-Poo,” Izzy shrugged. “Oooh… I’m just so excited to see Violette and meet her aunt!” “It has been a while since we’ve seen her-- probably since training camp to be ready for if Allura invaded,” Sunny said in thought. “And I know that she’s probably gonna be over the Luna moon to see us all again.” Misty noticed that Sunny had been unusually quiet during the course of their trip, and couldn’t help but wonder what it was about. “Sunny? Are you thinking about Alterro again?” “How can I not, Misty? He… he tried to manipulate me,” Sunny shuddered. “Maybe not with his magic, but he tried to make me think that I was superior to everyone else.” “I didn’t wanna admit it at first, but… our last encounter with Alterro scared me too, just like it scared Sparky,” Hitch said. “I’m glad I left him with Grandma Figgy for the day so, in case we had to face Alterro again, it wouldn’t bring back any bad memories for him.” “Good call, Hitch,” Pipp sighed before remembering something that honestly made her shudder. “Do you think… Alterro escaped from Sly Moon Prime before it went down in flames? He was trapped in that ice…” “I don’t know,” Zipp sighed, shaking her head from the driver’s seat. “I mean… the good side of me hopes he DID survive, but… then again, if he did, he would be free to search for the other map pieces.” “And if he did,” Misty sighed, “he would be two steps ahead of us.” “...hey, we can’t think like that, ponies,” Izzy said to her friends gently. “We’re gonna find the alicorns and Sunny’s mom, I can feel it in my hooves! Like Sunny always says... we just need to have hope.” “...you’re right, Izzy. My mom has to be okay, and we’re gonna find her soon enough,” Sunny nodded with a faint smile. “And, we might even find something to further our search in the Bridlewood History Museum!” “And speaking of Bridlewood,” said Zipp with excitement in her voice as the Marestream began to descend, “we’re here!” Turns out, Zipp was right-- they were touching down right in front of La Villa Izzy, the treehouse (quite literally) where Izzy used to live before she moved to the Brighthouse in Maretime Bay. And wouldn't you know it? Violette Rainbow was already there waiting for them! Violette Rainbow is quite the special filly-- not only is she Izzy's crafting pupil, but she also has a unique look. She had a purplish brown unicorn with white spots she has due to vitiligo, long lavender dreadlocks that swoop over to her right and she has a cutie mark with a pink heart-shaped paint board with two paintbrushes. And upon seeing her teacher getting out of the Marestream, Violette gasped and immediately ran over to her. “Izzy!!” “Violette!” Izzy squealed just before she hugged Violette tightly. “Oh, my glitter, it’s been so long since we’ve seen you!” “I hope it’s okay that you’re here to see us, Violette,” Sunny said. “The opening ceremony is gonna start soon, and your aunt might be wondering where you got off to.” “It’s not like when I ran away with the Buddies, trust me. I told Aunt Scarlet I was gonna come and escort you to the ceremony and she said that was a great idea,” Violette said. “Nothing to worry about. Oh! And Aunt Scarlet wanted me to ask Pipp if she wanted to perform a song before the ceremony started, to kinda get ponies hyped up.” “Oh, it would totally be my honor!” Pipp said with an excited tone in her voice. “And I know just the song I wanna perform!” XXXXXXXX Within just a few minutes of arriving, a huge crowd had gathered in front of the museum, which (like a lot of buildings in Bridlewood) was built into a large tree, and they were all eager to hear Pipp perform one of her biggest hits... ...and one of Pipp's personal favorites. Pipp: I'm feelin' fresh Like my mane is on fleek Happiness is all I need Spreadin love from you to me (Uh, uh) Somethin' about about the way I'm feelin' (Feelin') Like everypony got a glow (Glow) Shining brightly with a power (Power) Just spread the colors of the rainbow (Rainbow) I got my make up on Got that glitter and glam Oh, this my favorite song Yeah, they playing my jam I feel beautiful, I feel powerful I feel me... The crowd cheered at the top of their lungs as Pipp reached the second reprise of the chorus. Pipp: I'm feelin' fresh Like my mane is on fleek Happiness is all I need Spreadin love from you to me I'm feelin' fresh Magic all around my friends Celebration never ends Oh cuz we always a ten Wo, ho, ho, ho, ho I'm my best self everypony can tell Wo, ho, ho, ho, ho I'm my best self everypony can tell Izzy then tossed Pipp a hand mirror prop to use in the next verse of the song, and Pipp found it hard to stop admiring her reflection while doing so. Pipp: When did this mirror get so gorgeous? (Gorgeous) Who's that, is that me? (Me) I got my make up on Got that glitter and glam Oh, this my favorite song Yeah, they playing my jam I feel beautiful, I feel powerful I feel me I'm feelin' fresh Like my mane is on fleek Happiness is all I need Spreadin love from you to me I'm feelin' fresh Magic all around my friends Celebration never ends Oh cuz we always a ten Wo, ho, ho, ho, ho I'm my best self everypony can tell Wo, ho, ho, ho, ho I'm my best self everypony can tell And by the time the song ended, the crowd was on their hooves, cheering and applauding as Pipp left the stage to reunite with her friends. “Nice one, sis,” Zipp said to her sister with a proud smile. “You really got them hyped up.” “Thanks, sis,” Pipp said, flicking her mane to the side. “It takes a lot of work to keep your fans happy, you know.” “Look!” Violette said as she pointed to the stage again. “There’s my aunt!” As it turns out, Violette's aunt, Scarlet Cloud, was now taking the stage-- her pink coat glimmered in the sunlight, and there was a singular white streak in her pink mane and in her pink tail. She also had emerald-green eyes, and a cutie mark of a feathery quill, representing her need for writing down notes and studying different artifacts. And once the cheering had died down, Scarlet stepped up to the microphone and smiled. “Thank you, Princess Pipp for that astounding performance-- and thank you to all your friends for joining us today. We are so excited to be reopening the Bridlewood History Museum after such a long restoration, and I think you’ll all be thrilled to see more exhibits than ever before!” The crowd cheered once again to this, and Scarlet levitated a very large pair of scissors up into the sky for the crowd to see before levitating them over to Sunny. “Sunny, would you and your friends do the honors of opening the museum to the public?” “It would be an honor, Scarlet,” Sunny nodded with a smile, and she and her friends each put a hoof on the scissors. “And now, we declare the Bridlewood History Museum officially… reopened!” And with that, the ribbon was snipped, and everyone cheered before slowly making their way inside the museum, leaving the Mane 6, Violette Rainbow and Scarlet Cloud outside to oversee that everyone got their time inside. Scarlet Cloud happily sighed and rubbed her niece’s head affectionately once they were alone. “Your mother is lucky that I offered to take care of you while she was at a conference in Zephyr Heights. And I’m so glad I finally get to meet your friends in person.” “We’re glad to meet you too, Scarlet,” Misty smiled. “Violette’s quite the little adventurer, if you didn’t already know.” “Oh, I know all about my niece’s adventurous spirit,” said Scarlet with a chuckle. “She told me quite a bit about her Unity Quest adventure with all of you, and the golden retriever puppies she met and made friends with.” “The Pippsqueaks told me they got to meet the Buddies too,” Violette added. “And I’m glad they’re friends, but… I kinda sorta miss them.” “Aww, they miss you too,” Pipp said. “Especially Mudbud and Rosebud. But maybe we’ll get the chance to take you back to Fernfield.” Scarlet then turned to Sunny, a sympathetic smile on his face. “Violette also heard that you’re looking for the pieces of a map to Skyros in order for you to find your mother. I found a few alicorn related artifacts that I think might be able to help you in your search.” “Really?! Oh, that would be so amazing! Thank you so much!” Sunny said, gladly shaking Scarlet’s hoof before turning to her friends. “What are we waiting for, guys? Let’s go in and get searching!” “Aunt Scarlet, can I go in and help them?” Violette asked her aunt sweetly. “You know how much I love spending time with Izzy and her friends.” Scarlet nodded to this, a smile growing on her face. “Sure you can, sweetie pie. Just stay with them at all times, okay?” Violette nodded to this, a wide smile growing onto her face. “I will!” And so, the Mane 6 and Violette filed inside the museum to look for the Skyros and alicorn exhibit, hoping to get a good clue as to where the next piece of the map was going to be hidden. XXXXXXXX They managed to find the alicorn and Skyros section rather easily, and from what they found, alicorns were able to control all sorts of different elements-- fire, water, plants, crystals, ice, wind, dark magic, light magic… all the works. However, since Sunny could shift from earth pony to alicorn form, she wasn’t sure what kind of special alicorn magic she possessed. That was when Zipp found an interesting piece of parchment in a glass picture frame. “According to this, before Princess Cadence turned into an alicorn, she was found as a pegasus filly in the forest, and she was taken in and raised by a village of earth ponies. And as she grew, she filled their lives with love and compassion.” “Oh, I heard that story from my dad once!” Sunny nodded. “One day, Prismia, a reclusive sorceress who harbored jealousy toward the villagers, used a powerful necklace that amplified her evil and jealousy to drain the villagers of their love, causing them to become sad and afraid.” “Oof… that sounds like something Opaline or Alterro might try,” Misty said. “So, what happened next, Sunny?” Violette asked. “Did Prismia drain Cadence’s love too?” “I’m getting to that,” Sunny chuckled before turning to her friends and getting back to the story. “When she saw what Prismia had done, Cadence confronted her and defeated her with the very magic she stole, and Prismia changed her ways. And as a result, Princess Celestia, one of Opaline’s sisters as we now know, recognized Cadance as a true princess, turned her into an alicorn, and adopted her as her niece.” “So it sounds like ponies like Twilight Sparkle and Cadence were one of the VERY few ponies who ascended to alicorn-hood,” Misty said, “and Sunny is the first earth pony in history to do the same!” Sunny chuckled nervously to this. “Great… no pressure or anything.” “That just makes you really special, Sunny,” Hitch said, putting a hoof right on Sunny's shoulder. “And why you’re the perfect pony to lead us-- leading is in your blood.” Violette then looked down and saw a very familiar sight-- the Mane 6’s cutie marks glowing, and when she looked down, she gasped when she saw her cutie mark glowing as well. “I don’t think Sunny will have to wait long to put her leader skills to good use-- look!” And by the time the Mane 6 noticed their glowing cutie marks, their magic caused a portal to open up on a nearby wall. “All right!” Izzy cheered. “Unity Quest time again!” “And it looks like you’re coming with us, Violette,” Zipp smiled. “Just stay close and we’ll be fine.” “All right!” Violette cheered. “Let’s go go go!” And so, the Mane 6 leapt right into the portal on the wall with Violette Rainbow following behind, and soon, they were off on another Unity Quest mission... though they didn't have any idea where they were going this time. Returning to Fernfield, Hearing Stories and Making New FriendsDuring the grand reopening of the Bridlewood History Museum, the Mane 6 and Violette Rainbow (whose aunt was the curator and pony in charge of the museum) were summoned once again by the Unity Crystals for a new mission, and Violette couldn’t be more excited. She hoped that they were going to go back to Fernfield and see the Buddies again, but even she knew that was probably going to be a bit of a long shot. Nevertheless, Violette was eager for a new adventure, where she might get to show some of her adventurous spirit and explorer skills to Izzy and her friends. Now, let's get back to the story to see what's going to happen to our heroes next. XXXXXXXX When the portal on the other side finally opened, the Mane 6 and Violette stepped out of it much smoother than the last time they had a mission together, and this gave them a chance to look around the small community that they had landed in... ...a small community that Sunny recognized from earlier Unity Quests. “It looks like you’ll get your wish to see the Buddies again after all, Violette-- we’re finally back in Fernfield!” “Yes!” Violette pumped a hoof before looking toward a nearby building and pointing to it. “And look! We’re right in front of the Natural History Museum!” “Huh, I wonder if this is where the Buddies are,” Zipp hummed. “Or if the Unity Crystals want us to find something about the map of Skyros here.” “Only one way to find out!” Violette said with a smile. “Let’s go!” And with that, Violette raced toward the doors of the museum with the Mane 6 trying to keep up with the excited filly. The one thing Violette didn’t anticipate was accidentally barreling into somepony at the door. And this somepony was actually a young zebra filly named Skye, who had a black and white striped body, she has pink hair with purple streaks in it. She has lime green eyes, braces and black hooves. Her cutie mark is a post it note with a pen drawing on it. Violette gasped as soon as she saw the zebra filly, feeling bad for what she did. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there! Are you okay?” “Yeah, I’m okay,” Skye said as Violette helped her up. “I guess I was too much in my own thoughts to really pay attention.” That was when Skye saw Violette’s splotchy coat, her eyes widening in surprise. “Your fur… it’s so… different from other unicorns I’ve met.” “Oh… yeah, it’s sort of a me thing,” said Violette with a blush. “My name’s Violette Rainbow, and this is my crafting teacher Izzy, and all her friends-- Zipp, Hitch, Sunny, Misty and Pipp.” “Oh, I-I’ve heard of the six of you!” Skye said to the older ponies, a wide grin now on her face. “You’re the ones who went to space with the Buddies a few months ago!” “Hold on,” said Misty. “You know the Buddies?” “They’re kind of celebrities around here,” Skye admitted. “Mudbud’s owner, Pete? His grandpa is actually the owner of the museum, and my mom is sort of like his assistant. Oh, my name’s Skye by the way.” “Nice to meet you, Skye,” Sunny smiled. “We’re actually looking for the Buddies, to kinda… catch up with them. Are they here?” “They sure are-- Pete’s grandpa and my mom are giving a tour, and the Buddies are watching and listening to Mr. Howard's stories of when he was an archeologist,” Skye nodded. “I’ll take you to them!” “Awesome! Thanks, Skye!” Violette said, and without any further delay, the Mane 6 and Violette followed the little zebra filly into the museum, with Skye and Violette striking up a conversation rather quickly, and clearly becoming really good friends. XXXXXXXX And as it turns out, Skye was right-- the Buddies (composed of four brothers-- B-Dawg, Budderball, Buddha and Mudbud, along with their little sister, Rosebud) were following behind the tour group in question, with Pete (Mudbud's human) and Pete's grandpa, Thomas Howard, at the front of the group. But unlike the Mane 6 and Violette, Skye and a lot of other Equestrian creatures that lived in Fernfield couldn’t understand the Buddies… at least, not for long. As the Buddies followed behind the tour group, their canine ears picked up the sound of some excited voices behind them. “Buddies!” “Guys!” “We’re finally back!” “Hold on, dawgs,” B-Dawg said, glancing around warily. “Did anyone else hear that?” “It might just be me,” Buddha said, “but it sounded a lot like…” That was when the Buddies looked back and saw the Mane 6 and Violette with Skye, causing Pipp to fly up and vocalize. “We’re heeeeeeeeeeeere, yeah!!!” “Sunny! You guys are back!” Rosebud said before she and her brothers raced toward the group. “And you brought Violette!” The Mane 6 and Violette laughed as they were suddenly barreled over by a pack of very eager pups, but they didn't mind getting licked on for a change-- they were just happy to see their Golden Retriever friends again. Skye watched this reunion from where she was standing, and she felt her heart literally melt at seeing her new friends and the Buddies so happy to see one another. Finally, Sunny nudged Mudbud off of her and smiled. “So, how are Buddy and Molly doing?” “Great! Dad’s been winning his games as usual,” Mudbud said, “and we see them all the time when we’re in town-- we gotta take you to see them while you're in town.” “How long are you gonna be in town this time?” Budderball asked curiously. “You know, we’re not exactly sure,” Hitch admitted. “But, as long as we are here, we need to catch you guys up on current events.” “Sunny? Ponies?” That was when everyone turned to see Pete, Mudbud’s human, approaching them with a look of surprise. “Oh, hi, Pete!” Sunny greeted with a smile. “Skye here was just telling us about your grandpa ran this museum, and since we were in town, we had to check it out.” “Yeah, it’s pretty great,” Pete nodded with a smile before sighing. “It’s too bad the museum is closing, though.” “Closing?” Zipp’s head perked up at this. “Why?” “It’s kinda hard to explain, but… Grandpa and Mariama sure seem bummed out about it,” Pete admitted before getting what seemed like a good idea at the time. “Come on… you can join the tour and me and Skye can introduce you guys afterwards.” “That sounds great!” Violette smiled. “Come on, Buddies-- let’s go catch up with the group!” The Buddies barked excitedly before following Pete and the older ponies down the hall, giving Skye the chance to look over at Violette in surprise. “Wow, they really respond to you.” “Oh, uh… yeah. We’ve been through some really wild predicaments together,” Violette said, half-truthful with her claim. “It was a whole story that I gotta tell you later. Come on, let's catch up to the group.” And with that, Violette raced after her friends, leaving Skye a bit confused, but she decided to shrug it off before following after her new friends, excited to see where the tour was and what stories there were to be told. XXXXXXXX When Violette and Skye caught up with the rest of the group (which contained students from Pete's class from school), Pete’s grandpa, Thomas Howard, and Skye’s mother, Mariama (who had a striped coat and a pink and purple mane like her daughter, but also had aqua green eyes, an earring in her ear, a purple bag and a cutie mark is a little seaweed with a little heart on top) were standing in front of a display case that had half of a metal disk inside, and on the wall behind it was a picture of a younger Thomas, a younger Mariama and a Golden Retriever with an off-white bandanna around his neck that looked a lot like Mudbud... except Digger was covered in sand, and not dirt. And Pete's grandpa was right in the middle of telling the story of how he, his dog and best friend Digger and Mariama found it many years ago... 40, to those who want to be precise. XXXXXXXX A bark was heard across the Egyptian sand, and a Golden Retriever much like the Buddies, named Digger, stopped running right near a small cave sticking out of the sand dunes. Digger was actually the Buddies’ great-grandfather, and he and Thomas had been together ever since they were very young… right around the same time that Thomas met Mariama. Both of them, at the time, were very skilled archeologists, and once they found what was called the Bronze of Bastet, they would be able to find one of the most amazing treasures known to history-- the tomb and necklace of Cleocatra, the feline companion of Cleopatra. A young Mariama followed right behind Digger, panting slightly as she looked back at Thomas, who trailed behind. “Thomas, I think Digger wants us to stop here-- this must be where the Bronze of Bastet is!” Thomas nodded as he approached, rubbing Digger on top of his head. “I think you’re right. Okay, Digger-- see if you can track it down. We’ll be right behind you.” Digger did as he was told, entering the hole he had found with Mariama and Thomas right behind. They made sure to be careful where they stepped-- in ancient Egypt, booby traps were created to keep ancient treasures safe from horrible thieves who wanted to sell the ancient treasure for hard cash. Eventually, they stopped in a larger part of the cave, where a bit of sunlight from the desert above shone down through a small hole in the ceiling. And upon sniffing around a specific spot in the sand, Digger barked and began to dig at that very spot. “Good boy!” Mariama praised, rubbing the dog on the head with her hoof. “Now, we just need to keep digging.” “Here, grab a shovel,” Thomas handed her a small shovel. “The Bronze of Bastet isn’t gonna uncover itself.” And so, with Mariama and Thomas using shovels and Digger using his front paws to move the sand out of the way, they were soon able to uncover a stone chest under the sand, with a picture of a cat drawn onto the top, along with some other hieroglyphics that Mariama wasn't able to understand at the time. “We’ve done it, Digger!” Thomas put his shovel down and rubbed the Golden Retriever on the head. “Good boy.” “Now, if I remember the story of Cleocatra correctly,” said Mariama in thought, “there’s a secret mechanism that triggers the lid to come off. And if I’m right… that mechanism should be within the cat’s eyes.” Thomas pressed where the cat’s eyes were on the chest, and a secret mechanism was then activated, causing the chest to open all on its own, revealing half of a bronze disk, and in the middle was the symbol of a cat’s eye. And while this was an amazing find for certain, when Thomas lifted it out, he couldn’t help but express confusion. “The other half is missing.” “Someone must’ve gotten it before us,” Mariama hummed with a frown, “and we won’t be able to find the collar without both pieces!” Suddenly, Digger let out a bark just as the large cavern began to rumble, and Thomas was immediately figuring out what was going on. “The chest was booby-trapped!” “Run, boy!” Mariama exclaimed to Digger as the cave quickly began to collapse on them. “Run, boy! Run!” But as the three were beginning to escape the cave, Digger noticed that Thomas had dropped the first half of the Bronze of Bastet, and barked to let him and Mariama know about it. However, Thomas was smart enough to know that one half piece wasn't enough to risk their lives over. “Leave it, Digger! It's too dangerous! Let's go!” However, Digger was not one to give up that easily-- much like his future great grand-pups were. So, dodging the falling debris of the cave, Digger ran back and grabbed the first half in his mouth before running after Thomas and Mariama. Speaking of Thomas and Mariama, the two had managed to dive out of the cave just in the nick of time, but Mariama noticed that Digger wasn't with them and instantly feared the worst. What if he didn't make it out of the cave in time? But luckily, Digger was only a short distance behind them, jumping right out of the cave with the first half of the Bronze of Bastet in his mouth, right as the cave collapsed entirely. Thomas and Mariama sighed in relief, as seeing Digger safe and sound was the only thing on their minds in that moment. “Good boy,” Thomas praised, rubbing the dog down. “You really knew what to do back there, didn’t you?” “He may have just preserved a piece of history for the world to see,” said Mariama, taking the disc piece from his mouth before smiling at him. “What would we do without you, Digger?” Digger only panted to this question, knowing that the duo wouldn't be able to understand him... but honestly? He wouldn't have it any other way. XXXXXXXX “...and so, Digger, Mariama and I,” Thomas began to conclude the story for the tour group, “made it out just as the tomb collapsed.” “And,” Mariama added as she eyed her daughter with her new friends, along with Deputy Sniffer, “we brought this single half of the Bronze of Bastet back to Fernfield for everyone to enjoy. Now, if you’ll follow me.” And so, the tour group began to follow Mariama and Thomas away, including Pete and Skye, while the Mane 6, Violette and the Buddies stayed behind with Deputy Sniffer. And as the tour group left the area, Mudbud looked up at the picture of Digger, Thomas and Mariama, complete admiration within his gaze. “Whoa, Digger was the coolest dude ever.” “Perhaps Digger's spirit lives in you,” Buddha pointed out to his brother. “You both love dirt.” “I won’t argue that,” Pipp said with a bit of a giggle. “And I bet Digger disliked baths just as much as you do, Mudbud.” “Hey, I can’t help it,” Mudbud said with a bit of a slight pout. “How else am I going to show I’m a go with the flow kind of pup?” “Yo, Digger was old-school cool,” B-Dawg said, interjecting into the conversation with his chest puffed out in pride. “I'm the new fly dog.” “I met your great grandpappy when I was knee-high to a grasshopper,” Deputy Sniffer told the Buddies. “One of the bravest dogs I’ve ever met.” And when Deputy Sniffer said this, Budderball completely ignored what he said about Digger and focused on the part about grasshoppers, shuddering in complete disgust. “I heard grasshoppers and bugs are a delicacy in some countries. Can you imagine ever being so hungry you have to eat bugs?” “Yeah, right, Budderball,” Rosebud rolled her eyes playfully at the oldest of her four brothers. “You'd eat anything… other than vegetables.” “Hey, come on, Rosebud. It’s not Budderball’s fault he has a bunch of meat on his bones,” said Violette with a smile. “It’s one of the qualities I like about him.” “Aw, thanks, Violette,” Budderball smiled. “I like that about me too.” “But then again… the part about the Bronze of Bastet and the collar of Cleocatra sounds interesting,” Zipp said as she reviewed the notes she had taken from Thomas’ story. “We uncovered Cleopatra’s tomb, but I wonder if Cleocatra’s tomb will ever be uncovered.” “Well, we’re never gonna find out if we don’t get back to the tour,” Hitch said, gesturing for the group to follow him so they could catch up with the tour. “Besides, I wanna meet Mariama and Pete’s grandpa for myself.” XXXXXXXX At the same time, Thomas and Mariama had led the tour group over to an exhibit that showed Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, surrounded by a bunch of cat statues. But as the tour group got settled, Skye’s gaze settled on a man holding the strangest cat she had ever seen-- it had no hair! And it seemed to glance in her direction with a strange glare. However, her gaze snapped back to the tour when Thomas spoke up again. “As the legend goes, Cleopatra was given a necklace, which contained the powerful jewel of the Cat's Eye,” he said, not noticing the man with the hairless cat at first. “But, somehow, it became lost.” “But,” Pete added, “you almost found it, didn't you, Grandpa?” “We certainly tried, Peter,” Thomas told his grandson gently before turning to the tour group again. “Well… that concludes our last tour.” And with that, the crowd of people within the tour group applauded for Thomas and Mariama, being their tour guides and all, and Mariama smiled at them. “Thank you. Thank you all for being here. Have a wonderful day.” The tour group began to split off at this, except for Skye and Pete, who looked up at the adults with admiration in their eyes. “Wow, Mom!” Skye smiled. “That was great!” “Well, if you and Pete liked it, sweetheart,” said Mariama, “that’s enough for me.” “Why does the museum have to close?” Pete asked sadly. “It’s such a bummer.” “Yes, Pete, it is a... bummer,” Thomas said, using his grandson’s wording carefully as they walked past the Bronze of Bastet. “And,” Mariama said with a sad shine in her eyes, “we haven't had the funding to acquire a new exhibit in quite some time.” Mariama took out the Bronze of Bastet for a moment, glancing at it longingly before Skye put a hoof on her mother’s shoulder. “It's really too bad you and Digger never found the other half, and the lost necklace of Cleocatra.” “Yes… it is a shame,” Mariama nodded slowly before smiling at her daughter and Pete. “But I sincerely hope that someday, young archeologists like you find it, and not some greedy grave robber.” “Grave robber?” Everyone turned to see the Mane 6 and Violette approaching with all of the dogs, and Skye’s eyes lit up in recognition. “Oh! I nearly forgot! Mom, Mr. Howard, these are some of the Buddies’ friends from Equestria. They saved Buddy and Molly from the dognappers that Henry and Noah told us about, remember?” “Ah, yes, I remember now,” Thomas smiled and shook Sunny’s hoof. “Welcome back to Fernfield. I’m Thomas Howard, Pete’s grandfather.” “And I’m Mariama, Skye’s mother,” Mariama introduced with a smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” “The honor is ours. That story you told was pretty incredible,” Zipp said. “We’re sort of… explorers ourselves.” “It’s true!” Violette smiled. “Izzy and her friends have been on all sorts of adventures together, including going to Egypt and helping uncover the secrets of Cleopatra’s tomb!” Mariama gasped with recognition in her eyes. “Of course! I remember you now! I heard all about that on the news!” “Huh, our reputation really precedes us,” Pipp said with a smile on her face. “From Egypt, to Fernfield, and onto so many other places!” “But I guess we missed the rest of the tour,” Misty sighed. “I was kinda hoping to hear more about that Cleocatra legend.” “Well… we don’t normally do something like this,” Mariama said, glancing at Thomas, “but… why don’t you come back into the office with us? I’m sure we have a file all about the legend of Cleocatra, and the Cat’s Eye necklace.” “That would be glitter-rific!” Izzy said, bouncing in place. “And Violette can play with the Buddies while we’re busy!” “That’s definitely something I wouldn’t mind doing,” Violette said with a smile. “And I’ll make sure we don’t get into any trouble-- that’s a hoof to heart promise.” “Thanks, Violette. As soon as you’re done playing, head to the office and meet us there,” Hitch said, rubbing the filly on the head. “We’ll also see if we can find anything about Skyros while we’re there.” “Have fun!” Skye said before she left with her mother, Pete, Thomas and the Mane 6, leaving Violette, the Buddies and Deputy Sniffer in front of the statue of Cleopatra. “You know, I always wondered something,” said Violette curiously. “How did dogs become man's best friends if cats were first?” “The Cat's Eye necklace was believed to have magical powers,” Deputy Sniffer explained the story to the young ones. “Legend has it Cleocatra had plotted to steal it. They say she wanted to change the order, making cats rulers over all Earth's creatures, including man. But, somehow, she was foiled by the legendary pup, Buddasi. Cleocatra's necklace was never seen again.” “Buddasi, huh?” Violette mumbled to herself. “I wonder if he was some sort of distant relative to the Buddies from thousands of years ago…” “That’s definitely a theory, little one,” Deputy Sniffer responded with a bit of thought in his tone. “But all we know is the order was changed and dogs became man's best friend, and cats were banished.” “I guess that's why it's in our DNA to chase cats, dudes,” Mudbud told his brothers and sister with a smile. “When I see one, I just can't help it.” B-Dawg, on the other hand, was focused on something else-- one of the cats looked VERY lifelike, because it was the same hairless cat the British man was seen traveling with earlier. “Uh, did you see that?!” he asked when he saw the cat move slightly. “The cat's eyes moved!” “Huh,” Budderball tilted his head. “Must be one of those optical delusions.” “Oh, don’t worry, B-Dawg,” Deputy Sniffer chuckled reassuringly. “Those cats are just statues. Now come on-- I better take you pups home before it gets too dark.” “I’ll take Mudbud to the office to go see Pete and the others,” Violette offered. “I wanted to see if the ponies found anything else about Cleocatra anyway. Wanna set up a time for us to play tomorrow?” “Sure,” Rosebud nodded with an excited smile on her face. “We can’t wait.” Violette and Mudbud then walked toward the office while Deputy Sniffer took the remainder of the Buddies out of the museum to take them home. However, B-Dawg sniffed the cat that he could have sworn he saw move, and decided to try and be bold and take a stand against his fear. “Come on, cat, I'm gettin' all up in your grill. What are you gonna do about it?” However, as he thought, the cat didn’t speak, making B-Dawg smirk to himself. “Yeah, that's what I thought. You ain't nothing but a skinny, bald, scaredy-cat.” Unfortunately, the cat hissed at B-Dawg, causing him to gasp and run after his brothers and sister, not wanting anything to do with this cat before she stalked off. But who was this hairless cat anyway? And what was her and this British man’s deal? Well... we're just going to have to wait and see for ourselves. Troubles in the Tomb (Part 2: Chases and Fights Ensue)After a VERY long while of hiking across the desert, making new friends, tumbling down sand dunes, escaping a sandstorm and navigating the tomb of Cleocatra, the Mane 6, the Buddies and Violette finally managed to reach their destination... ...the central focus of Cleocatra's tomb, where the lost collar of Cleocatra lay in wait. And by the looks of it, Ubasti and the others hadn't made it their yet, so that was a good thing in itself. But you may be wondering when our two groups of heroes would finally reunite, right? Well, that question will soon be answered in the next to lass chapter of our story, so sit back, relax and lets see if our heroes can make their mark on history as we know it, as well as save their friends from certain doom if Ubasti's plans went through. XXXXXXXX In another part of the tomb, the group led by Thomas and Dr. Wellington approached the same quicksand trap that the Buddies and their friends passed through a few minutes earlier, which was evident when Dr. Wellington stuck his cane a good ways down into the sand before pulling it out. “Oh no!” Mariama realized. “It’s a quicksand trap!” “How are we gonna get across?” Skye asked her mother in confusion. “There’s no bridge or path that I can see.” “Ah, that’s an excellent idea, my dear,” Dr. Wellington said before turning to one of his lackeys. “Tarik, we need a bridge. Lie down.” However, by how scared Tarik looked, it was clear that he wasn't going to lay on his back to sink in a pit of quicksand. “All right,” Dr. Wellington nodded in confirmation before looking at Tarik’s cousin. “Seti, you lie down.” “Yes, you do it, Seti!” Tarik accused, prompting both cousins to get into an argument that ended with Seti pushing Tarik into the quicksand pit on his back. “Tarik!” Seti cried out, immediately regretting what he had done. “I'm very sorry!” “Well done, well done. Yes, very brave. Very brave,” Dr. Wellington commented before walking across Tarik, as if using him like a bridge, causing Tarik to groan in discomfort. And once Dr. Wellington had made it across, Thomas grabbed Pete’s waist, ready to hoist him up onto Tarik. “Are you ready? All right.” “Up you go!” Mariama said gently as Thomas lifted Pete onto Tarik, and Pete nearly lost his balance, if it weren’t for Skye stepping on behind him to keep his balance. “I got you, Pete!” Skye told her friend. “Just one step at a time.” And so, Skye and Pete began to move across Tarik's body, sometimes struggling to keep balance, but the encouraging words of Thomas and Mariama were enough to get them to keep going, all the way across to the other side. Then, it was Thomas and Mariama's turn, with Mariama helping to keep Thomas balanced, and once they had gotten across, Seti crawled across his cousin's body in order to reach the other side and to keep him from hurting his cousin. But by the time they had all made it across, Tarik's body was partially buried under the sand, with his face sticking out... and Dr. Wellington didn't really seem bothered by this fact. “Right, well, carry on.” “We can’t honestly leave Tarik there to suffer!” Mariama stomped her hoof defiantly. “There has to be a way to lift him out of the quicksand to safety.” But at the same time, Thomas found the button that Mudbud had pushed earlier and studied it, pressing it just as Pete looked over his shoulder. “What do you think it means, Grandpa?” “Mom! Pete! Thomas!” Skye pointed toward the quicksand. “Look!” And as the others looked, the platform that had helped the others get across the quicksand earlier was now raising, much to Thomas’ delight and amusement. “It's raising him up!” “Tarik!” Seti laughed in joy as Skye and Mariama pulled Tarik off of the platform and onto solid ground. “Tarik, you're safe! Tarik, you're safe!” XXXXXXXX Back in the central part of Cleocatra’s tomb, the Buddies, the Mane 6 and Violette stood around the collar of Cleocatra, unable to take their eyes off of it for a few moments. They had waited so long to find this thing, and now that they had… they felt a sense of relief wash over them. However, Budderball was still wondering one thing. “What should we do with the collar now?” “Well,” said Misty, “we’ve gotta take the collar for safekeeping, so Ubasti doesn't get her paws on it.” “Not just for us,” Mudbud continued with a serious look imprinted on his muzzle, “but for all mankind, creature-kind and dogkind.” “That bling is super fly, yo. I'll get it,” B-Dawg said before leaning forward and letting the collar slip around his neck, unaware that the Cat’s Eye jewel was glowing faintly. However, Rosebud didn’t think that B-Dawg wearing the collar was a very safe idea. “B-Dawg, why are you wearing the collar?” “Relax, sis,” B-Dawg brushed off his little sister’s worry. “I gave that monkey my bling, so I'm just borrowing this until we get home.” “As long as we keep the collar safe, I don’t care who wears it,” Zipp said sternly. “Just be careful with it, B-Dawg. We don’t want it falling into the wrong hands.” However, the group had no idea that Ubasti had seen B-Dawg putting on the collar, and while they were least expecting it, she ran into the room and hopped onto the sarcophagus, glaring over at the Buddies and their friends with disdain, much to Violette's surprise. “Ubasti?!” “Now,” Ubasti said with a sickeningly-sweet purr. “if you would kindly hand over what is rightfully mine.” “No way, Ubasti,” Sunny said defensively. “We found the collar fair and square,” Zipp added, “so it’s coming back to Fernfield with us!” “Besides,” Budderball said with a satisfied huff, “seems to me you're outnumbered five-to-one.” Ubasti merely hummed at this, a smirk coming across her face. “Well, we'll see about that.” Even though the ponies couldn’t use their magic at the time, they could still feel a strange energy echoing through the room, and the faintest meows could be heard as the cat statues around the room began to come to life right before the group’s eyes… …and to Budderball’s complete terror. “Guys, is it just me, or are those statues moving?” Ubasti merely smirked at the group’s stunned nature. “I believe the numbers just got more in my favor, Slip and Blubberball.” “Uh-oh…” Hitch and Budderball gulped nervously. “Uh, I’d like to point out that while those kitties might look kinda cute,” Izzy said, trying to remain optimistic, “they do NOT look very friendly!” This was obvious, as seen by one of the statues hissing and jumping at Izzy, only for Violette to kick it away before thinking of their only way out at the time-- fleeing for their lives. “Run, guys! Run!” And so, the Mane 6, Violette and their golden retriever companions broke into a sprint as they ran out of the main part of the tomb, with Ubasti and her new statue cat servants following right behind them. They had to get that collar back before the others got there... otherwise Ubasti's plans would go down in flames. XXXXXXXX Around the same time, the others arrived at the hallway with the symbols on the floor, and Skye let out a shriek as she saw the snakes beneath the floor, not wanting to get anywhere near snakes in general. “Wow,” Thomas commented, shining his flashlight around the hallway. “It’s like Senet, the ancient Egyptian board game.” “They played board games back then?” Skye raised an eyebrow. “Not like the board games we have today, dear,” Mariama said, “but something very similar.” “Right,” Dr. Wellington practically pushed Seti forward, further into the hallway. “Off you go!” Seti let out a scream as he jumped to one of the squares, and then, despite Thomas’ best efforts to try and warn him, Seti jumped to the wrong square, falling right into the pit of snakes, causing Thomas to shield Pete with a hug. “Don’t look, Peter!” “I already looked…” Skye said, covering her eyes with her front hooves, causing Mariama to try and comfort her. And not having a heart, Dr. Wellington turned to Tarik to give it another go. “Well, Tarik, you're next. Off you go!” However, seeing what happened to his cousin traumatized Tarik so much that he ran back the way he came, not wanting anything more to do with this expedition. This left the others on their own, to try and figure out how to get across the hallway and continue onto the main part of Cleocatra's tomb. XXXXXXXX The Mane 6, the Buddies and Violette panted as they finally came to a stop in another part of the tomb, having lost Ubasti and her cat statue minions after quite a long chase… much to Violette’s relief. “I think we lost them.” “Thank goodness,” Pipp sighed. “My hooves were gonna get tired from all that running!” “What are we gonna do?” Hitch asked desperately. “We don’t have any magic to protect us in here!” “We may not have magic, but we still have each other,” Sunny said gently. “We just need to remember what we learned about the booby traps in here, find our friends and get out of here before those statues find us again.” However, as they were talking, B-Dawg's eyes glowed green and became more feline like, and he felt a strange tingle suddenly wash over him. “Yo, dawgs, I feel kinda weird. Meow!” Budderball paused and blinked over at his brother. “Did you just meow?” “Oh, no you didn't call me a scaredy-cat. Them be fighting words,” B-Dawg threatened. “Meow!” “Okay, I may have sand in my ears,” said Izzy, “but I’m pretty sure you DID just meow, B-Dawg.” “There's no way I just meowed,” B-Dawg denied again, and Buddha instantly began to piece together what was going on with their usually canine brother. “I believe it's imperative that we remove the collar from B-Dawg.” “You’re right, Buddha,” Misty nodded. “It looks like its turning B-Dawg into a cat!” “Meow! No!” B-Dawg yowled. “You cannot take my bling!” And as B-Dawg meowed again, he ran off down the hall, much to Rosebud’s inner frustration. “B-Dawg, no! Come back here!” But before the others could go after B-Dawg, several of Ubasti's cat statue minions showed up in front of them, cutting them off from following B-Dawg. “Oh, great…” Zipp groaned. “Now what’re we gonna do?!” “Okay, I have an idea-- we just need to divide and conquer,” Sunny said sternly. “Violette, go with Mudbud and Misty. Pipp, you come with Rosebud and me. Budderball with Hitch and Buddha with Izzy. Zipp is gonna go another direction and find B-Dawg before he succumbs to the power of the collar completely.” “Sounds good to me!” Izzy nodded in compliance. “Let’s get crafty with it!” And so, the assigned groups ran their separate ways (with Misty giving Hitch her key in case he and Budderball might need it), hoping to lose the statues before long and get back to the mission at paw and at hoof. XXXXXXXX Pete had been looking at the floor for a few moments, and basing off of what his grandfather and Mariama said about the game, it looked like something that he and Skye might be able to do. “Skye and I can get across, Grandpa.” “We can?!” Skye blurt out before clearing her throat. “Oh, uh… totally we can!” “Wait, kids,” Thomas said sternly, getting down to their level. “Listen to me.” “Do it,” Dr. Wellington threatened, and after Mariama growled at him in anger, she turned back to the kids again. “Only jump on the squares that we tell you to, all right?” “Uh-huh,” Skye and Pete nodded in compliance. “Start here,” Thomas gestured to the first tile, and then went in order from that point onward. “Now, plow. Lion. Man. Trees. And life.” Skye and Pete leapt to each one with precision and quickness, eventually making it to the other side, much to Mariama and Thomas' relief. “Come on, Grandpa!” Pete beckoned for his grandfather to go next. “After you,” Dr. Wellington said with bitter politeness, and Thomas glared right back at him before jumping to the first square, with Mariama following shortly behind. XXXXXXXX Mudbud, Misty and Violette ran down the halls of the tomb as fast as their legs could take them, eventually coming right back to the quicksand trap that they encountered just a little while ago. Luckily, the three of them already knew what to do by this point-- roll across. And once they had, two of the cat statues came to the start of the quicksand pit, and Mudbud couldn't help but try and taunt them. “Come play in the kitty litter, dudettes.” However, the cat statues jumped right into the quicksand, prompting them to start sinking. “Come on, guys! Hurry!” Misty said. “Before they call for more of their friends for help!” And so, the three of them ran off just as the cat statues sunk further and further into the quicksand, never to be seen again. XXXXXXXX “Sunny, Pipp! Hurry!” Rosebud called to the ponies paired with her as they tried to escape two cat statues of their own. “The cats are still right behind us!” Pipp and Sunny panted as they knew Rosebud might be right, and they soon got to the hallway that looked like Senet, but luckily, Rosebud had memorized which squares to jump to, so she led Sunny and Pipp right across. But as they got across, the cat statues came up from behind, and tried jumping across the hallway, but eventually stepped on the wrong square and went falling into the snake pit. This caused Pipp to giggle slightly. “That'll teach them to underestimate a blonde with a pink bow and her friends. Come on!” “Wait for us, Pipp!” Sunny called as she and Rosebud soon ran after the pink pegasus princess, hoping that she wouldn't run so far ahead that they would lose her entirely. XXXXXXXX Hitch and Budderball used the key Misty had given them to enter the empty room where they had first entered Cleocatra's tomb, and two of the cat statues followed them inside, snarling and hissing quite dangerously. However, while Hitch prepared himself to charge at the cats, Budderball saw the button Rosebud had pushed and got another idea to get these cats off their tails. “Wait. I just need a little lunch break-- right, Hitch?” “Right!” Hitch said with a smile, realizing Budderball’s plan. “Hey, bugs! Bon appétit!” And with that, Hitch pressed the button, and the trapdoor sent him and Budderball screaming down the slide again, arriving in the main chamber of Cleocatra's tomb. But above them, they could hear the terrified yowls of the cat statues as they were presumably eaten alive by the bugs in the room. “Whoa,” Hitch shuddered in disgust. “The service must be terrible up there! Come on, Budderball-- follow me!” Budderball instantly pursued after Hitch, not wanting to see the remains of the cat statues if they ever came out of that empty room alive. XXXXXXXX As for Izzy and Buddha, they ran all the way to the opening of the tomb where they had met Slither, and the final two cat statues pursued them inside, with the cat statues hissing dangerously and frightening Izzy slightly. However, Buddha remained calm in the face of danger, merely smiling at the devious-sounding statues. “I believe meditation can help with your anger issues.” The cat statues, as expected, were a bit confused to this, but as they turned around, they came face to face with Slither, who smirked a menacing smirk of his own. “You,” he said to the statues, “will become by supper.” Of course, the cat statues were intimidated, slowly backing away from Slither and giving Izzy and Buddha a chance to escape, reunite with their friends/siblings and put a stop to this evil plan of Ubasti's once and for all. XXXXXXXX Around the same time, the others had finally stumbled into Cleocatra’s tomb, unaware that the Buddies, the Mane 6 and Violette had already been there, but at the moment… they wouldn’t have cared. It was too big of a discovery to notice anything else at the time. “Oh… oh my word…” Mariama gasped in awe. “It’s amazing!” “I don't believe it…” Dr. Wellington muttered before noticing that the necklace had gone missing. “There's... there's nothing here. Someone beat us to it!” XXXXXXXX “B-Dawg?! B-Dawg!!” Zipp cried out as she galloped through the tomb, searching for her cat-turned-dog friend. “Ohh… think, Zipp! If B-Dawg has been turned into a cat thanks to that necklace’s spell, then what might he do that’s cat-like?” Suddenly, as she perked her ears up to listen, she heard B-Dawg’s voice from around the next corner. “A mouse? I love chasing mice! Meow!” “Chasing mice?!” Zipp muttered to herself. “Oh, B-Dawg…” Zipp then ran in the direction that B-Dawg’s voice came from, hoping to find the pup before long, and eventually, she did-- B-Dawg had just missed a mouse that had been scurrying down the hallway, and B-Dawg was now sniffing where it had disappeared into the wall. “B-Dawg!” Zipp gasped as she trotted over to him. “Thank goodness you’re okay! I was so worried!” “Oh, hey, Zipster,” B-Dawg greeted as if nothing was wrong. “I was just gettin’ in on the mice-chasin’ hype. Wanna join in?” “Wha… no!” Zipp groaned before guiding the pup to a nearby mirror to prove her words were right. “B-Dawg, the collar is turning you into a cat! And if you don’t believe me… well... just look for yourself!” Of course, B-Dawg wasn't sure if he was going to believe Zipp's words at first, but when he finally looked in the mirror and saw his glowing, green cat-like eyes, he let out a scream of terror. “It's my worst nightmare! I'm turning into a cat! Get this collar off me!” “No problem there!” Zipp said, taking the collar off of B-Dawg and tossing it on the ground behind her, letting B-Dawg’s eyes return to normal, just as the others came from other hallways. Rosebud, however, was the first to try and check on her brother, frowning in concern. “Are you okay, B-Dawg?” “I... I think so,” B-Dawg said before trying to speak again, only to cough up a hairball instead, causing Zipp to back up in disguise. “Ewww, gross!” Izzy gagged. “Hairball!” “I’m glad I got you back to normal in time,” Zipp said, rubbing B-Dawg on top of the head. “You almost crossed over to the dark side!” “Now,” said Sunny, “all we need to do is wait for Misty, Violette and Mudbud to get here, and then we can find the others if they’re here and then leave Ubasti in the dust.” “Hey, speaking of which,” said Budderball, looking around, “has anyone seen Ubasti?” “Huh… come to think of it, no,” Pipp thought for a moment, but shook her head. “She was never around us during our chase. I wonder where she is.” However, Pipp didn't have to wonder long-- Ubasti came up right behind Zipp and B-Dawg as Mudbud, Violette and Misty came into the room, cackling as she slipped the collar on over her neck. “It’s finally mine!” “The collar!” Mudbud gasped as Ubasti ran down the hallway with the necklace, causing Violette to growl in anger. “That’s it! I’ve let this go on far enough! Come on, Mudbud! We’re not gonna let her hurt anyone else ever again!” “Violette, Mudbud! Wait!” Misty cried out as Mudbud and Violette ran off after Ubasti, causing the others to quickly try and pursue, so their friends wouldn’t get too hurt. XXXXXXXX Back in the main part of the tomb, Thomas couldn't help but marvel at the sights of the chamber that they had been waiting to uncover for the past few days... what he and Digger desired to find for so long. “This is, perhaps, the greatest historical discovery since King Tut's tomb!” “You were right, Grandpa,” Pete nodded, causing Skye to sigh a bit. “I just wish Violette and the others were here to see this.” “I don’t know, dear,” Mariama said comfortingly. “It seems to me that they might be closer than one might think.” It was then that Ubasti ran into the room with the collar around her neck as she jumped onto the sarcophagus, earning Dr. Wellington’s immediate attention. “The necklace. You found it, Ubasti,” he praised softly before slowly coming closer. “Ooh, bring it to me, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty. Yes.” However, Ubasti nearly hissed and clawed the side of Dr. Wellington’s face, scratching him and causing him to stumble back in surprise. “Ubasti…” Ubasti didn’t care about her human any longer-- she was so close to achieving her goal. And so, she faced the head of the sarcophagus, laughing and unknowingly letting those in the room with her understand her, thanks to the collar’s magic. “Finally, the moment I've been waiting for my whole life! Now is the time for cats to rule.” “M-Mom?” Skye blinked in shock. “I-Is Ubasti… talking?!” “I-It would seem so,” Mariama nodded slowly. “It must be the effects of the collar taking hold on her!” However, Ubasti paid no mind to the zebra’s stunned conversation, focused on the task at paw. “First, dogs will be banished, and shortly after them, all Equestrian creatures!” “UBASTI! STOP!!” Skye gasped as soon as she saw Violette and Mudbud enter the room, standing next to the sarcophagus, with Violette pawing the ground with her hoof. “You’re not gonna get away with this! If you just give the collar back, this can all be over!” “You’re too late, Failette,” Ubasti scoffed. “Your best friends here will be nothing more than my slaves! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!” Suddenly, the eyes of the sarcophagus began to glow a bright green, and Ubasti felt elated-- in just a few moments, she would be granted full power, and no one would be able to stop her then. “It’s happening!!” Mudbud and Violette backed away from the sarcophagus when they saw this happening, but instead of granting Ubasti the power she desired, the sarcophagus merely turned her into a statue, just like the cats that used to surround this room before Ubasti brought them to life. Thomas, Pete and the zebras gasped in shock to this, while Dr. Wellington stared wide eyed for a few moments before finding his voice again. “Ubasti…?” However, the statue said not a word as the sarcophagus returned to its dormant state, the glow from its eyes slowly retreating. And once it had gone, Pete and Skye approached Mudbud and Violette, relief expressed all over their faces. “Violette!” “Mudbud?!” “Hey, guys!” Violette waved cheerfully and out of relief before she was caught in a bone-crushing hug by Skye. “Miss us much…?” “I-I have so many questions!” Skye stammered. “But above all… h-how did you get here?!” “It’s kind of a crazy story,” Violette admitted, “but the thing is…” Suddenly, before Violette could finish, a secret panel in the wall slid open, revealing a massive amount of gold, jewels and other priceless artifacts that made Thomas’ eyes grow wide. “My goodness!” “It’s mine… get out of my way!” Dr. Wellington, in his excitement, shoved Mariama aside, causing Skye to gasp and rush to her. “I’m rich! Ha ha ha ha ha!” “Philip!” Thomas finally had enough. “I can't let you steal these invaluable artifacts!” “You can’t?” Dr. Wellington got out his fencing spear. “I can take anything I like. Who's going to stop me?” “Us!” Mariama said as she got up and tossed Thomas a sword while she grabbed one for herself. “The both of us!” Dr. Wellington merely laughed at their pathetic attempt. “Oh, you dear dimwitted fools. It might interest you to know that I was fencing champion at Oxford.” Mariama spared a worried glance back at her daughter and her friends, who were now hiding behind the sarcophagus, and growled back at Dr. Wellington, gripping the sword tighter in her hoof. “So be it!” And that's when the sword fight began-- Mariama, Thomas and Dr. Wellington all went at each other with swords clashing, and Violette and Skye had to admit-- Dr. Wellington was pretty formidable. But if anyone could take him, it was Mariama and Thomas Howard. However, after a few moments, Skye could see that her mother and Thomas were losing ground, and they needed help fast. That was when she saw a shield laying on the ground and got an idea. “Mudbud, you stay here where its safe. Pete, grab that shield. Violette, you come with me and wait for my signal-- we’re gonna give this grave robber a lesson he’ll never forget.” “Oh-ho, I’m in for that,” Violette smirked. “Let’s do this!” At the same time, Mariama had been thrown down to the ground by Dr. Wellington, thankfully unharmed, and Thomas was thrown down just a few seconds later, with Dr. Wellington holding his sword at their throats. “Is that all you two have got, old man?” “Nope!” Pete said, holding the shield behind him. “This is!” And as Dr. Wellington was turning around, Pete bonked him on the head with the shield, dazing him. “Violette!” cried Skye. “Now!” “This is for hurting my new friend!” Violette said as she kicked Dr. Wellington in the butt, sending him toward Skye, who readied for a kick of her own. “And this is not just for my mom, but for ME!!” And with another heavy kick, Dr. Wellington fell to the ground unconscious, causing Mariama to pant for another moment as Skye ran over to her. “Mom!” “Oh, my baby!” Mariama hugged her daughter in relief. “Grandpa!” Pete rushed over to Thomas, hugging him tight. “Peter!” Thomas laughed. “Thank you so much!” “Mudbud! Violette! We’re here!” Zipp shouted as she, the other older ponies and the rest of the Buddies ran into the room. “We’ve got your… whoa…” “Kids!” Mariama sighed in relief as she saw them. “You’re truly a sight for sore eyes!” “We’re glad you all are okay,” Misty said as Izzy hugged Violette rather tightly, “but… what happened in here? And where’s Ubasti?” “Believe it or not,” Pete said, pointing to the black cat statue on the sarcophagus, “that’s Ubasti!” “What?” Hitch looked confused. “But… our magic doesn’t work in here! How could that have happened?” Thomas approached the plaque at the bottom of the sarcophagus and began to read the inscription carved in it, slowly realizing what had occurred, unaware that Dr. Wellington was regaining consciousness. “ It says here there was a curse put on the gem to prevent any cat from misusing it again. If a cat was greedy for power, it would get everlasting life…” “...but in the form of a statue!” Sunny realized with wide eyes. “Wow… for once, we didn’t have to end our mission in a flashy battle!” “Aww…” Izzy pouted. “But I like flashy final battles…” However, the devious laughter of Dr. Wellington drove the group away from the sarcophagus, and they immediately saw that Dr. Wellington had the collar! This did not sit well for Thomas, who glared at the grave robber in anger. “Philip!” “Let’s get him, Grandpa!” Pete said as Mudbud and Violette ran after Dr. Wellington, with the Mane 6 in pursuit. “Come back here, Philip!” Thomas shouted. “Get him!” “Come on, Mom! Come on, Buddies!” Skye shouted. “He’s getting away!” And so, the Buddies were the last to pursue the others in their desperate chase, going all throughout the tomb in order to catch Dr. Wellington before the lost collar of Cleocatra was lost for good this time. However, when Dr. Wellington finally got outside, he hadn't expected one LARGE minor detail-- the entire Bedouin tribe was following Cammy, Tirako, Babi and Faith to the tomb, where Dr. Wellington knew that he was going to be cornered if he didn't get out of there in time. Faith immediately saw that Dr. Wellington was trying to get away, growling in anger. “Let’s get him, Cammy!” “CHAAAAAAAAAARGE!!!” Tirako roared at the top of his lungs as Cammy trotted toward the retreating grave robber. And once she was close enough, Babi, Tirako and Faith leapt right off her back and attacked Dr. Wellington in three different places-- Babi hit him on the head, Tirako bit him at the ankles, and Faith hit him on the back repeatedly. And needless to say, no one wants all that at once-- especially if it meant dropping the necklace. “Bad man! Bad!” Babi said as he hit Dr. Wellington repeatedly. “Very, very, very bad man! Bad!” Eventually, Dr. Wellington had enough of the makeshift attack and threw Babi and Faith off of him, kicking Tirako back toward them, and this fueled Cammy's anger just enough as she glared right at him. “Nobody messes with my friends!” And with that, Cammy spit right in Dr. Wellington’s eyes, blocking his sight as the others emerged from the tomb. “I can’t see!” “Good-- you don’t deserve to see,” Mariama said as she picked up the collar and put it in her saddlebag for safekeeping. “Tirako! Cammy! Faith, Babi!” Sunny exclaimed in happiness as the group of friends reunited. “This is where you were this whole time?” “I did say we were gonna go find help,” Faith said with a sincere smile, “and this fox always keeps her promises.” At the same time, Farah's father approached Dr. Wellington with a stern look on his face. “We know all about you, grave robber, raider of sacred places,” he said before pulling out a government badge and holding it up for all to see. “Amir Sabak, Egyptian Secret Service. You are under arrest, Mr. Wellington.” Dr. Wellington, needless to say, was stunned by this revelation, and the others couldn't help but beam in pride. Once again, the greatest Egyptian treasures ever known were safe from harm, and it was all thanks to the power of teamwork and friendship. Now, you may be wondering what will be in store for our heroes next, right? Well, if you readers really were thinking this, then there's only one thing left to say... ...it's time for our heroes to party like they've never partied before! Meeting Dr. Wellington and Ubasti, A Quest for Egypt and Ubasi's True MotivesIt was truly a gift for Violette Rainbow and the Mane 6 to be back in Fernfield after such a long time of not seeing their Golden Retriever friends, the Buddies. And Violette seemed to be getting rather close to a young zebra filly named Skye, who was close to Mudbud's owner, Pete, and whose mother, Mariama, was close friends with Pete's grandpa, Thomas Howard, a famous archeologist. But, there was something a bit off with the Buddies-- the hairless cat that Skye had seen during the tour was right near the Buddies, Violette and Deputy Sniffer as the deputy was telling them the story of Cleocatra's magical necklace. Now, I'm sure many of you are wondering what's going to happen next, so I say we jump right back into it. XXXXXXXX The Mane 6 soon followed Skye, Mariama, Pete and Thomas into the office where Thomas did most of his important paperwork, and as the Mane 6 looked around in awe, Thomas remembered something and went to one of the shelves near his desk to find it. “Now, just wait a minute, Peter. Here's some stuff you and your friends might like,” he said, setting a toolbox full of explorer things on his desk. “Tools of the trade,” Mariama added. “Anything you want is yours.” “Mariama, Mr. Howard, this is so generous!” Sunny said as she and the others gathered around. “Thank you!” “Call me Thomas, Sunny,” Thomas said politely as the group dug through the box to see what they could find. “Our time as explorers is over, but I’m sure if you kids use the stuff in this box, you could be great explorers yourselves someday.” That was when Pete pulled out two compasses, both of them matching, and gave one of them to Skye while looking at his grandfather. “Even your compasses?” “Better young explorers like the two of you have it,” Mariama added kindly as Skye and Pete put them on. “Those compasses are very special. When infused with just a little magic, one of those compasses can lead you to the holder of the other one.” “Ooh, that might come in handy!” Skye said with excitement. “Thanks, Mom.” That was when Misty pulled out a small purple key with some intricate designs on it, causing her to hum in thought. “What’s this?” “Oh, that’s a very special key I picked up in China, on another archeology assignment,” Mariama explained as Misty put the key on a lanyard and then put it around her neck. “That key has the power to open any door, whenever you need to get inside a locked room. Take it, Misty-- it seems fitting that you have it, in case you get into a tight situation.” “Wow!” Misty smiled at Mariama gratefully. “Thank you so much!” “Now let me see here… ah, yes!” Mariama pulled out a silver sun brooch and put it on Sunny’s saddlebag. “Sunny, this is a magical brooch. Whenever you’re near danger, it’ll flash repeatedly-- sort of a magical danger radar, so to speak.” “Wow, it’s beautiful!” Sunny said as she smiled at the zebra mare. “Thanks, Mariama. I’ll take great care of it.” “Hey, I didn’t know you were so into music, Mariama!” Pipp said as she pulled a small flute out of the box. “This flute is so… unique!” “Oh, that is a very unique flute, Pipp,” said Mariama. “That flute has the ability to control the wind.” “The wind?” Pipp seemed surprised. “And you want me to have it?” “Why not? I feel it’ll come in handy on these missions of yours,” said Mariama with a wink before pulling a small jar of glitter out of the box and reaching it out to Izzy. “Here, Izzy. This is a special kind of glitter, used for…” “Totally out of the box, super-charged ideas?” Izzy guessed, causing Mariama to chuckle. “It can be, yes. But… it can also reveal hidden objects and footprints when tossed around you,” the zebra admitted. “Something I think you’ll enjoy.” Then, she pulled out a whistle and a glowing lasso from the box, giving the whistle to Zipp and the lasso to Hitch. “Hitch, this lasso will allow anyone caught up in it to tell the truth, whether they want to or not. And Zipp? That whistle will only let those closest to you hear it, so they’ll hear the whistle when no one else can.” “Wow… Mariama, this is so generous,” Hitch said as he put the lasso on his side. “What can we do to thank you?” “Just take good care of them,” Mariama said as Violette and Mudbud came into the office. “I have a feeling they’ll do you well in future endeavors.” “Oh. And here’s something for Violette and Mudbud,” Thomas said, getting an old off-white bandanna, a red bandanna and an explorer's hat down from the shelf. “It’s Mariama’s old explorer outfit and Digger’s favorite bandanna.” “Cool!” Pete said as he held the bandanna in his hands. “Come here, Mudbud,” Sunny said as she lifted Mudbud up. “Let Violette put her stuff on and we’ll put Digger’s bandanna on you.” And so, as Violette put on Mariama's old hat and bandanna, Pete replaced Mudbud's usual blue bandanna with Digger's off-white one, and Violette couldn't help but smile in pride. “Well… how do we look, guys?” “There’s no denying you look great,” said Zipp, “but Mudbud? He’s the spitting image of his great grandpappy!” Mudbud let out an excited bark to this, causing everyone to laugh in amusement as Sunny set Mudbud down onto the floor. It was then that Misty remembered something that she wanted to ask Thomas and Mariama, so she stepped forward. “Excuse me, Mr. Howard-- I-I mean… Thomas? I was hoping… do you and Mariama have any exhibits about Equestrian creatures? You see, we have this important mission to uncover something lost ourselves, and any information you can provide would really help.” “...well… I do remember putting an exhibit about different species of Equestrian creatures in the far wing of the museum,” Mariama said, pointing out the door with her hoof. “I think your best bet to find any information on whatever you’re looking for is out there.” “Then let’s go out there and take a look!” Sunny said eagerly. “Misty, Pipp, do you mind staying with Violette while we go look at the exhibit? I don’t wanna drag all of us over there in case we don’t find anything.” “Sure, Sunny. We’ll stay here and keep everyone company,” Pipp nodded. “You guys go ahead.” “But keep us updated on what you do find!” Misty called out as the other ponies ran out of the room. And after they were gone, Misty's eyes trailed to the key that Mariama had given her. She couldn't wait to try it out, but then again, she couldn't help but wonder what she was going to use it for if their main mission was going to be in Fernfield this time around. However, they were soon going to see that this wasn't the case at all. Pete saw that his grandfather was now looking at the half of the Bronze of Bastet that Digger had recovered before the cavern collapsed, and couldn't help but be curious about the item's fate. “What are we going to do with this now?” “Well, I'm not sure what we should do with it, Peter,” Thomas admitted as Violette and Skye played with Mudbud. “Well… we should definitely try to keep it safe,” Misty said out of thought. “Just in case somebody thinks about taking it right from under our noses.” Mariama looked at Misty in surprise. “You truly think that might happen?” “Knowing what we’ve been through in the past,” Pipp said, “I wouldn’t doubt anypony to pull something like this off.” Suddenly, there came the sound of someone clearing their throat, and everyone’s attention turned to a posh British man bringing in a hairless cat… the same man and cat that Skye saw during the tour. “Oh, my, I apologize,” Thomas said as he went to greet them. “I didn't see you there, Mister…?” “Wellington,” the man set the hairless cat down on the table to shake Thomas’ hand and Mariama’s hoof. “Dr. Philip Wellington.” “Of course, Dr. Wellington!” Thomas said with a proud smile. “What an honor,” Mariama added with just as much excitement as Thomas. “Your work is legendary.” Skye hummed in thought as she, Pete and Violette approached the hairless cat on the table, who seemed to be staring at them with the least bit of emotion in her gaze. “That sure is a strange cat… she doesn’t have any fur on her body!” “I think she’s a hairless sphinx cat,” Violette said in thought. “I remember Hitch saying from the ponies’ last Unity Quest in Egypt that cats were sometimes worshiped in ancient Egypt, and the hairless kind is pretty popular.” The cat meowed at them rather eerily, causing the fillies to jump back and run to Pipp and Misty out of fright, and despite her concern for her daughter, Mariama cleared her throat and turned back to Dr. Wellington. “Now, what can we do for you?” “May I... as you say in America, cut right to the chase and get to it with you and Ms. Mariama, professor?” Dr. Wellington pulled something out of his bag that was in a small drawstring pouch. “I have something that I think might... interest you.” Intrigued, Misty and Pipp tilted their heads so they could get a closer look, and what they saw stunned them-- Dr. Wellington was holding half of a bronze disk... and it had the same symbols as the Bronze of Bastet! However, no one could be more surprised than Thomas and Mariama themselves. “It can’t be…” Thomas muttered. “May I?” Dr. Wellington handed over the half of the disc, then with the others watching, he connected the two pieces, letting them fit just like a glove. “I-It’s unbelievable!” Mariama stuttered. “The complete disc! How did you find this?” Dr. Wellington took the chance to explain while taking his half of the disc back. “Well, let's just say it took a very long time and... considerable effort.” Skye and Violette looked at each other in complete confusion from where they were listening, and Misty and Pipp seemed just as confused, if not more. “But, if you found the other piece of the disc,” said Pipp, a bit suspiciously, I might add, “then why weren’t Thomas and Mariama informed of your discovery?” “Well,” Dr. Wellington told the pegasus, “the Egyptian government and I thought it best to keep it on the QT until we discover…” “Cleopatra’s tomb!” Thomas interrupted, his eyes wide. “Precisely,” Dr. Wellington said with a nod. “I have a plane waiting on standby. The three of us, we could go together and make history, old chap!” “T-This… this is completely flattering,” Mariama said, trying to process all of this information, “but… Thomas and I can’t just pick up and go to Egypt. We have lives here in Fernfield, and families to look out for!” “...I know we’re new to the whole archeology business and everything,” said Misty as she came forward, “but… I do think that if you and Mariama don’t go, Thomas… you’re gonna regret it later on. Dr. Wellington has a valid point-- this is your chance to make history by finding the lost collar of Cleocatra!” And while he had to agree with Misty on this part, Thomas was still a bit reluctant. “But Mariama and I promised her daughter Skye and my grandson a camping trip for spring break.” “Well, bring the young ones along,” Dr. Wellington invited warmly, looking at Pete and Skye. “Surely, a trip to Egypt is more exciting.” “Yeah!” Pete instantly agreed, while Skye seemed a little unsure. “Well… I’ve never been that far away from Fernfield before…” “Come on, Skye! This is the chance of a lifetime to go to Egypt! Sunny and her friends have already done it, and you can do it too!” Violette tried to encourage. “Besides, don’t tell my mom I said this, but helping with a huge archeology treasure hunt is WAY cooler than camping.” Skye considered this for a few moments, and seeing the encouraging look on Misty, Pipp and Violette’s faces made her slowly nod. “Okay… I guess it would be cool to see where a lot of other zebras live. Mudbud can come with us too, right?” “T-That?” Dr. Wellington seemed nervous as he looked over at Mudbud, who barked and tried to jump on the table to playfully bite at Dr. Wellington’s hand. “No, no, no. No dogs. I'm afraid my dear, sweet cat, Ubasti, is allergic to them, so your Mud dog will have to stay here.” “Oh…” Skye seemed a bit sad when this was said but quickly tried to understand where Dr. Wellington was coming from. “I guess if that’s what Ubasti needs, I’ll try and be supportive of it.” “Don’t worry. Me and the ponies can stay with Mudbud so we can keep him company,” Violette reassured. “Along with all the other Buddies too.” However, the more Misty got a good look at Ubasti, the more shivers went up her spine. “I don’t know about you, Pipp, but… that cat is sending out a flash warning to my brain.” “Well, even though her name is translated to ‘she of the ointment jar’ in Egyptian,” Pipp said as she looked this up on her phone, “I gotta admit… something about her definitely doesn’t feel right.” “Hey, guys!” Misty and Pipp looked up to see Sunny, Hitch, Zipp and Izzy re-entering the office with excited smiles on their faces. “This place is amazing! There are all sorts of artifacts about Equestrian creatures here!” Zipp said. “And while we didn’t find anything on alicorns yet, I’m sure we’ll find something by the time this is through.” “Oh! We’re sorry for interrupting,” Sunny said upon noticing Dr. Wellington. “Is there something we can help you with, sir?” “Actually, Dr. Wellington has proposed a… very interesting offer to me and Thomas,” Mariama admitted, trying to get over the initial shock. “He wants us to come to Egypt and help find the lost collar of Cleocatra, and he wants us to bring Skye and Peter along!” “No way!” Hitch smiled. “That’s incredible!” “But… Mudbud has to stay here,” Misty said, “so Violette said we could stay here in Fernfield to keep him company.” “What do you say, Thomas?” Dr. Wellington asked. “Do we have an arrangement?” “I-I don’t know,” Thomas said, unsure of what really to say… that is, until Dr. Wellington chuckled again. “Oh, my dear man. You don't want to be an old relic, like the things in this quaint, little museum, when you could show the world what a great archeologist team that Thomas Howard and Mariama really are.” “...you know, that is a good point,” said Sunny as she came forward. “Guys, finding Cleocatra's necklace is one of the greatest archeological finds in history. You’ve worked for this your whole lives!” “And, I know as well as anypony,” added Zipp with a smile, “that opportunities like this only come round once in a lifetime.” Thomas glanced over at the picture of Digger that was sitting on his desk, then to Mariama, who seemed rather enthusiastic about going back to Egypt and finishing where they had left off. Besides… this was what Digger would have wanted. How could he say no to this rare opportunity? Then, after a moment, Thomas finally smiled and spoke up again, turning to Dr. Wellington and Mariama. “You're right. Let's find that tomb!” “All right!” Zipp pumped a hoof while the Mane 6, Violette and Skye cheered, and Mudbud barked in agreement. “And, if I’m right,” said Mariama, pointing to a map of Egypt, “here is the town of Bastati-- that’s where we need to go.” Skye and Pete smiled excitedly at one another-- going to Egypt and being archeologists like their mom and grandpa was a dream come true! However, Violette couldn't help but be a little sad that she wasn't able to go with them, and Izzy could sense it a mile away. “Violette? What’s wrong?” “I know I promised that we would stay here in Fernfield with the Buddies,” Violette shrugged, “but… I kinda wanna go with them too. Helping uncover a treasure like that would be incredible.” “Aw, I know,” Sunny said gently, rubbing Violette on the head with her front hoof. “But sometimes, the greatest adventures come to those who wait. And I bet if you wait long enough, there’s gonna be a great adventure popping up anytime now.” “...tell you what?” Hitch said as he knelt down to Violette’s level. “Why don’t you and Skye have a sleepover with Mudbud and Pete tonight before you guys leave?” “Yeah!” Misty nodded. “That way you can spend all the time you want together before they have to head to Egypt!” “I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Mariama smiled. “What do you think, kids?” “Sounds great to me!” Skye smiled. “Me too!” Pete added before turning back to the Mane 6. “Do you guys wanna join?” “I wish we could,” Zipp said gently, putting a hoof on Pete’s shoulder, “but we really have to get back to looking for alicorn stuff in the archives. The mysteries of Skyros aren’t going to solve themselves. We’ll be back in time to see you guys off to Egypt in the morning-- promise.” This caused Violette and Skye to nod in compliance before smiling at each other. One thing was for certain-- this was DEFINITELY going to be fun. XXXXXXXX “Thanks for letting us use one of your guest rooms, Mrs. Howard,” Violette said to Pete’s mother later that night as she was guiding the two fillies to their room for the night. “We’re more than happy to sleep on the couch, though.” “Oh, that’s nonsense, girls,” said Mrs. Howard with a kind smile as she opened the door for them. “Any friend of Pete and Mudbud are friends of this family. Just let me or Pete’s dad know if you need anything.” “Thank you!” the fillies said before entering the bedroom to get settled for the night. The bedroom was quite cozy, with a plush bed that could fit both of them, along with a warm wallpaper color, a TV and a lamp so that way the girls would have a night-light, in case the dark made them a little bit uncomfortable. After getting into their pajamas, Skye sighed and flopped down onto the bed. “Man… going to Egypt is going to be super awesome! I really wish the Buddies were able to go with us, so you can come with us too.” “Aww, thanks, Skye,” smiled Violette. “But you’re gonna have a great time, with or without us. You’re gonna make an archeological discovery that no one has before!” “I guess that is pretty amazing in itself,” Skye said with a smile before realizing something. “Hey… you acted kinda peculiar with the Buddies at the museum when you and the older ponies first saw them, and you said you would tell me about it later. Do you… think you can let me in on your little secret?” Violette seemed to hesitate for a few moments, trying to decide if she should tell Skye the fact that she and the Mane 6 could understand the Buddies and other animals… but then again, she had never told anyone else about it before. What if Skye laughed at her, or thought she was crazy? No... Skye wouldn't do that. Even though they had just met earlier that day, Violette thought that Skye was a true friend. And a true friend is someone you can share practically everything with. After a few moments, Violette sighed and turned to Skye with a smile on her face. “Okay… so, the last time that me and the older ponies were here, we noticed something… different about us. We could do something that nopony else around here could.” “Really?” Skye tilted her head. “Was it flying? Levitating stuff? Growing plants?” “Well, sort of, but not quite. The second we got to Fernfield,” said Violette slowly, bracing herself for Skye's reaction, “we… realized we could understand the animals around here. Just like Hitch could back home in Equestria.” “Wait…” Skye paused the conversation. “You can… understand the animals? Even the Buddies?” “Even the Buddies,” Violette nodded. “But most of the other creatures and humans in town can’t, so we had to keep it on the downlow for as long as we could remember. You’re the only other one beside us who knows about this, so we need you to keep this a secret for now… okay?” “Of course I’ll keep your secret!” Skye said with a warm smile and an eager glimmer in her eyes. “I’ve never met anyone who could understand animals before!” “Really?” Violette blinked. “You’re not weirded out or anything?” “No way!” Skye shook her head. “I know that a lot of creatures have special gifts, and sometimes it can be really hard to share those gifts with others. But… I’m really glad you shared your secret with me.” “I’m glad I did too,” smiled Violette. “Hey, what do you say we watch a movie before we go to bed?” “Sounds good to me,” Skye nodded, picking up the TV to turn it on and decide their movie before they drifted off to sleep. XXXXXXXX The night seemed to pass by quickly, and as the sun rose over Fernfield the next morning, Thomas and Mariama arrived to see if Pete and Skye were ready, and the entire family, including Pete’s parents, helped bring the luggage outside. Thomas turned toward his grandson as Mudbud, Skye and Violette raced outside. “Are you and Skye ready to go, Peter?” “Oh, we’re ready,” Pete answered as a large SUV pulled into the driveway, and Dr. Wellington stepped out of it while Ubasti stayed in the car. “This is gonna be epic!” “Yeah!” Skye giggled. “Insanely epic!” Mrs. Howard turned to her father with a look of excitement and concern mixed into one. “Take care of my baby, Dad. Remember he's only ten,” she said as Mudbud barked. “And call me when you land. And then every day, twice.” “Don’t you worry, sweetheart,” Thomas reassured his daughter before Dr. Wellington checked his watch. “Well, we mustn't dawdle. Wheels up in precisely… 26 minutes. Chop-chop. Let's go.” “Let me help you, Mr. Howard,” Violette used her magic to lift some of the suitcases to the car. It was then that Mudbud whimpered, not wanting Pete to go, and Pete immediately reached down to pet his loyal dog before he left. “Hey, Mudbud. Bye…” “Violette and the older ponies will take good care of him, Peter, I know it,” Mariama assured with a gentle smile as Violette and Mr. Howard came back over. “And you’ll have plenty of stories to tell him when you get back.” Mrs. Howard then picked Mudbud up into her arms to comfort him while Skye and Violette hugged. “Make sure to tell me about Egypt when you get back,” Violette told Skye with excitement. “I wanna hear EVERY detail.” “Don’t worry,” Skye assured. “I’m gonna ask Mom to use her camera to take pictures of everything, so you won’t feel left out.” Mariama hummed in surprise, not seeing Sunny or the others anywhere in sight. “I thought Sunny and the others were going to meet us here to see us off.” “Maybe they got caught up at the museum or something,” Pete shrugged. “I’m sure we’ll see them when we’re driving through town.” “Hmm… yes,” Mariama nodded. “I suppose you’re right.” “Bye, Mom,” Pete hugged his mother and let her kiss his head. “Bye, baby,” Mrs. Howard bid farewell before Pete turned to his father. “Bye, Dad.” “Be good,” Mr. Howard offered Pete a fist bump and tussled his hair. “Have a good time.” “Let’s go, kids,” Thomas said as the four began to walk toward the SUV, and Mariama held the door open for Skye, but Pete turned back to Mudbud before he got in. “I'll bring you back some Egyptian mud!” However, unbeknownst to the other humans, Skye and her mother, Ubasti turned to Violette and Mudbud with a sinister smirk on her muzzle. “He won't be bringing you back anything, Dirtbud. Or you, Failette.” “Huh?” Mudbud and Violette chorused in surprise. “When we find the Cat's Eye jewel,” Ubasti continued sinisterly, “it'll be mine, and cats will finally rule, with me as their queen.” Knowing Violette couldn’t risk exposing her secret, Mudbud decided to take a stand against the hairless cat himself. “Not if the Buddies and ponies of Equestria have anything to say about it.” However, Ubasti only shot him a nasty look. “Bye bye… fleabag. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!” “No…” Violette murmured as the SUV began to drive away. “No no no no no no!!!” Mudbud began to squirm and bark in Mrs. Howard’s arms, and Mrs. Howard only thought of this as Mudbud missing Pete already. “Ohh. Poor Mudbud's devastated.” Mudbud continued to bark as the SUV drove out of sight, and Violette plucked the Golden Retriever pup out of Mrs. Howard’s arms. “I… uh… I got him, Mrs. Howard. You and Mr. Howard should go and relax. We’ll probably go find the other Buddies and go play.” “Oh, thank you, Violette,” Mrs. Howard smiled. “Such a responsible young filly.” And with that, she and Mr. Howard retreated into the house, leaving Mudbud and Violette on their own, and once they were FULLY alone, Mudbud let out a growl of anger. “That cat dudette cannot get away with this.” “And she won’t, Mudbud. We’re gonna save Pete, Skye, Thomas and Mariama from her plan,” Violette said. “But we’re gonna need some backup.” “You’re right,” Mudbud said after a moment of realization before turning to the way the car had drove off in. “Don’t worry, guys-- we’re coming to save you!” Then, releasing a determined howl to the sky to alert the other Buddies and the Mane 6, Mudbud led Violette away from the house and down the road, hoping to catch up to the plane and become stowaways to Egypt... ...and hopefully, they were going to be able to stop Ubasti and her evil plan before it was too late. Hitching a Ride and Arriving in EgyptUbasti had just revealed her true motives to Mudbud and Violette, since the other humans, Skye and Mariama couldn’t understand her-- once they found the collar of Cleocatra, she was going to use it to make cats rulers of all earth’s creatures, including dogs, humans AND Equestrian creatures! Violette and Mudbud knew they weren’t going to be able to pull this off on their own, so Mudbud howled for his fellow Buddies to join them, and hopefully, the Mane 6 would hear the call themselves. And hopefully, they would be able to reach the airport before it was too late to hitch a ride to Egypt and stop this horrible plot. XXXXXXXX The Mane 6 had slept over at the museum that night, looking through any information that might lead them to the next piece of the map to Skyros, and unfortunately... ...they hadn't found anything. Sunny had circles under her eyes by the time the sun rose that morning, completely drained and exhausted. “I can’t believe this is a museum and nopony has any information about alicorns in this world! Ohh… maybe this was a crazy idea.” “Hey… Sunny, it was a good thought,” said Pipp gently, putting a hoof on Sunny’s shoulder. “We’re just gonna have to keep pressing forward.” “And maybe,” Hitch said with a yawn, “Mariama and Skye will find something alicorn related that we missed in Egypt… even if the next piece of the map isn’t there.” Suddenly, a howl rang out through the air, causing all the ponies to gasp and sit up. “Huh…” Izzy tilted her head. “Is it just me, or did that howl sound kinda… familiar?” “It kinda sounded like it had Mudbud’s tone,” Zipp said, “but… why would he be howling for us?” However, as Misty approached the window, she saw Violette and Mudbud zooming across the lawn outside. “I don’t know,” she said, “but Violette and Mudbud just ran past, and it looks like they’re heading for the airport outside town!” “Okay, now I’m starting to get worried. If Violette was in trouble, she would have called and told us,” Hitch frowned. “What’s going on?” “I don’t know,” Sunny said, “but I think we need to find out more before we jump to any conclusions. Come on!” And with that, the Mane 6 ran out of the museum and tried to follow after Violette and Mudbud, with the other Buddies having heard the howl and were now heading in the same direction… …though a lot of them had no idea what was going on. XXXXXXXX A few minutes later, at the airport, the SUV with Pete, Thomas, Mariama and Skye arrived as the group was getting out as the Buddies and the Mane Six arrived with Violette and Mudbud. “We heard your emergency howl,” Rosebud told Mudbud. “Is everything okay? Or was someone just trying to give you a bath?” “It’s worse than that!” Violette argued. “Mariama, Skye, Pete and Grandpa Thomas are in trouble!” “What?” Hitch repeated. “How do you know that?” “Remember that collar that Sniffer told us about?” Mudbud asked. “The one that can be the end of all dogkind?” “Yeah…?” Pipp nodded slowly. “What about it?” “Well,” said Mudbud, glancing at Ubasti as the two zebras, Pete and Thomas got on the plane, “that creepy cat said she was gonna get the collar and use it to rule humans, Equestrians and dogs!” “Oh no!” Izzy gasped in horror. “I don’t wanna be ruled over by a cat!” “I hear you there, Izzy,” Misty nodded. “Ubasti could do so much damage with that kind of power!” “Yo, ain't no one gonna rule the B-Dawg, no how, no way,” B-Dawg said defiantly. “That’s for shizzle!” “Well, what are we waiting for?” Zipp asked, her wings spread. “We have to find a way onto that plane!” That was when Mudbud saw a crate nearby that they might be able to hide in so they wouldn’t be noticed. “Follow me!” “Team Buddies and Ponies to the rescue!” Rosebud cheered as they headed to the crate. “I’ll use my magic to make the box bigger so we can all fit inside,” Misty said before lighting her horn, causing the box to expand so all of them could fit inside comfortably. “Good thinking, Misty,” Sunny praised with a smile. “All right, everyone inside!” Hitch said as he lifted Buddha into the crate. “Quick!” The group all piled into the crate and managed to get in before some of the workers came over, not noticing a thing. But what the group didn’t realize, however, was that this wooden crate had explosives inside, and they were able to squeeze inside just before the crate was sealed and carried over to the cargo section of the plane. However, as they were being carried to the plane, Pipp wondered one important thing. “So, what exactly is our plan here?” Luckily, Mudbud already had a plan in mind. “We hitch a ride to Egypt and kick some serious kitty butt, dudes.” Violette let out a sigh at this. “I just wish that I had seen the signs of Ubasti being evil sooner. Then maybe I could have pulled Skye and Pete out of this.” “Violette, this isn’t on you,” Zipp said gently. “What matters now is saving all of human and dogkind, along with a lot of Equestrian creatures, Skye and Mariama included.” “Besides,” said Sunny with a guilty look on her face, “we’re partly to blame too. If we hadn’t stayed so late looking for information on alicorns and Skyros, we would have met you at the house and made sure that they didn’t leave.” “You guys shouldn’t blame yourselves either,” Buddha said to the ponies gently. “Like Zipp said, saving the day is all that matters right now.” And so, the plane's propellors began to spin at a rapid speed before the plane slowly drove forward, lifting off of the concrete runway and into the sky, heading in the direction of Egypt. The ride was a bit long, but it did give the older ponies a chance to catch up on sleep (and quite frankly, if you had seen them, you would have noticed they were really tired from their research the night before). When the plane finally landed in Egpyt, the plane landed at its location and the boxes were slowly unloaded to be taken to the nearest village along with its guests. Dr. Wellington, Ubasti, Skye, Mariama and Pete got off the plane, only for two men (who were hired by Dr. Wellington, no less) greeted them in the Arabic language... a language that Pete and Skye couldn't understand. “That means ‘good morning’,” Thomas said to Skye and Pete as he and Mariama shook hands/hooves with the two men. “I’m Thomas Howard, and this is my colleague Mariama, her daughter Skye and my grandson Peter.” “Hello, Mariama. Hello, children,” the first of the men greeted kindly. “My name is Seti. This is my cousin, Tarik.” “Hello,” Skye said to Tarik and Seti politely. “It’s nice to meet you.” “Come on, kids. Let's get in the jeep,” Mariama said to the kids gently, guiding them toward the waiting jeep. “Seti and Tarik will get all the gear and bring it to town.” And so, that’s just what they did-- Mariama and Thomas led the kids to the jeep, and they drove off toward the town of Bastati, which was only a few miles away. As for Tarik and Seti, they tried to move the box of explosives that the Buddies, Violette and the Mane 6 were hiding in, but with Tarik using one hand to hold his lunch, it wasn’t easy, and this immediately got Seti aggravated. “What, you crazy? This is explosive! Put that down,” he said, and Tarik set his lunch on top of the crate. “What is wrong with you?” XXXXXXXX The Mane 6 slowly began to wake up from their nap after a long trip, but as Izzy slowly began to regain consciousness, a white, saucy substance dripped down onto her face, causing her to yelp in surprise. “I think a cloud just melted on my face!!” Misty reached a hoof and wiped the substance off Izzy’s face, sniffing it. “I don’t think so, Izzy… this smells more like some sort of sauce.” “Besides,” Buddha said, “clouds don’t melt.” Budderball then licked Misty’s hoof to get a good taste, when more of the white sauce dripped down onto his own nose, causing him to lick it off. “Hey, you guys, we must've landed in Egypt. It's raining falafel sauce!” “Mmm…” Misty reacted with delight as she tasted what the falafel sauce that was left on her hoof. “Not bad!” “So, do we get out of the crate now, Sunny?” Rosebud asked. “Not yet,” Sunny advised. “We need to wait until we know EXACTLY where Pete, Thomas and the zebras are before we leap into action.” “So I guess we just sit back,” said Hitch with a yawn, “and enjoy the ride until then.” XXXXXXXX As for Skye, Pete, Mariama and Thomas, the jeep slowly pulled into the town of Bastati, which had a huge, bustling marketplace with all sorts of people selling things, including food, animals, jewelry and much much more. Skye and Pete stared at the scene with wide eyes as the jeep pulled up to the largest building in town, which also doubled as a hotel, and they climbed out first, followed by Thomas and Mariama. “Wow…!!” “Egypt,” Thomas sighed happily. “I’ve missed this place.” “Come on,” Mariama said to the kids. “Let’s get settled in our room for a bit.” “You think we can explore the bazaar?” Skye asked her mother. “I wanna bring back a gift for Violette and the ponies.” “That’s a nice thought,” Mariama said with a kind smile. “We’ll see what we can do.” XXXXXXXX At the same time, the truck that Tarik and Seti brought to load the supplies was now driving away from the plane that had brought them there began driving toward Bastati, and Tarik and Seti were completely unaware that the Buddies, the Mane 6 and Violette Rainbow were hiding in the back. And while our heroes couldn't see out of that crate, Zipp felt the truck begin moving, and the crate shook a bit as it did so. “Hey, guys, I think we're on the road again.” XXXXXXXX Back in Bastati, after getting settled into their room, Thomas suggested they all enjoy the bazaar before they had to get back to business finding Cleocatra’s tomb, so Thomas and Mariama took Pete and Skye to explore on their own… …completely unaware that they were being watched. Not by anyone evil, of course, but… by a duo that were a bit… misguided. It was a monkey named Babi, perched on a roof of one of the stalls, watching as Mariama, Thomas and the kids walked by. And there was someone watching the four go by from the ground… a young fennec fox named Faith, who had golden fur on her body, which has brown on the tips of her ears and on the tip of her tail, a brownish-black nose, creamish-colored fur on her chest, muzzle and paws and green eyes. Faith's eyes lit up when she saw the compass that Pete was holding, her tail wagging eagerly at the sight of it. “Babi, I think we just found our next grab-- that compass looks like it would be worth something. All we have to go is get it from that young boy with his grandfather and those zebras.” “All right,” Babi said to the fox eagerly. “Babi will follow Faith’s lead.” Faith slunk away from the stall, and Babi soon climbed down after her, the two of them being very careful not to be caught. Pete couldn’t help but look around in amazement, not sure exactly where to start their exploration of the bazaar. “This place is so cool.” “Yeah!” Skye nodded. “Violette, Mudbud and the others would have loved it.” “Let me show you something, kids,” Thomas said before approaching a vendor and speaking in a foreign language. And once the money had been given to the vendor, he handed them a bag of dried seeds, much to Skye’s confusion. “What are they?” “They’re dried seeds, dear,” Mariama explained, getting some and putting some into Skye's hoof. “They’re a great snack for people here.” Skye tried some of the seeds, and instantly, her eyes grew wide-- these were delicious! But as they snacked, Pete noticed something else that caught his attention… a young girl, dressed in traditional Egyptian clothing, and she appeared to be with her father. Pete waved at the girl, and she timidly waved back just as Skye caught notice and waved as well. However, while they weren’t looking, Babi ran over and grabbed Pete’s compass right out of his back pocket, chittering to himself before running back to Faith. “Aw, what a steal!” Faith pumped a paw. “Come on, let’s hide somewhere so we can put this on you.” And with that, the two snuck away, and Mariama, Thomas and the kids went on their way, not noticing a single thing. However, around the same time, Dr. Wellington was walking outside when Ubasti suddenly jumped out of his arms and ran into the market, much to Dr. Wellington’s concern. “No, no, Ubasti, come back. No, no, no. Don't go into that awful market.” Of course, Ubasti wasn't one to follow orders. She was on her own mission, and no one was going to stop her. At the same time, a market was going on, where there was a camel for sale, and the seller faced a crowd to see if anyone wanted to make a bid. “OK, let's go. Slightly used camel, low mileage, owned by little old lady. Do I hear 500 pounds? Five hundred? Sold! Okay. Let's have the money.” XXXXXXXX Dr. Wellington was now walking around the market looking for Ubasti, when Babi and Faith spotted him from the top of a nearby stall and noticed the gold watch in his pocket. Another perfect steal. Faith smiled before turning to Babi again. “Okay, I’ve got a plan. Once we jump down, I’ll hoist you up on my back so you can reach the watch, and I’ll keep a lookout for anyone who might try and take it back from us.” Dr. Wellington then saw some jars and goblets nearby and went to look at them as Faith and Babi leapt down from their perch. However, they were unaware that Ubasti was coming around the corner, witnessing Babi getting on Faith’s back while she got up on a stool so Babi could reach the watch. Faith giggled to herself. “With this watch, we might have enough to trade for some food that’ll last us a whole week! Just as long as no one...” However, Faith stopped herself when she and Babi noticed Ubasti glaring menacingly at them, causing them to freeze in their tracks. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” she warned the duo. “There's nothing I detest more than a petty, primate thief and a fickle fox.” Faith growled at the insult, her ears lowering while she glared at Ubasti with her shimmering green eyes. “I’d watch what YOU say, cat. In this town, Babi and I do whatever we want, whenever we want. No rules, no problems.” “But… Babi and Faith no steal,” Babi said innocently, putting the watch right back where he found it. “I was just admiring shiny object.” However, despite Babi putting the watch back, Ubasti still wasn't having it, and hissed right at the duo to scare them off. “Beat it!” “Sheesh, fine! We get it! You win!” Faith said, clearly alarmed by her hiss. “Come on, Babi, let’s split!” And with that, she and Babi ran and fled while Dr. Wellington turned to find Ubasti standing right behind him, oblivious to what Babi and Faith tried to do. “Ubasti, there you are!” And unluckily for her, Ubasti was swept up by her master and taken away from the scene, vowing to herself to do much worse to that fox and monkey if they ever tried to do that again. XXXXXXXX On the road to Bastati, Seti and Tarik were jamming to their favorite song in the Egyptian language, and Pipp honestly had to cover her ears from within the back of the truck, cause they sounded so bad. “Somepony SERIOUSLY needs to give them some singing lessons-- my ears are getting ready to fall off!” “At least it’s better than dead silence,” Izzy said with a giggle. However, the more he looked around, Budderball saw strange items in the crate with them that looked a lot like one of his favorite foods from home. “Guys, I think this is cheese! I'm starving.” “Cheese?” Sunny looked confused. “Are you sure, Budderball?” Rosebud took a sniff of the air and immediately gagged at the scent. “Yuck. Sunny’s right, Budderball. That cheese smells funny.” “This is stinky cheese!” Budderball said before gnawing on a piece, but after a few moments, paused and hummed in thought. “I guess stinky cheese is an acquired taste.” “Well, if it is an acquired taste,” said Violette, pushing another piece of the so-called stinky cheese toward him, “maybe you better acquire some more.” XXXXXXXX Back in the bazaar, Skye was sorting through some necklaces to see if Violette might like one of them, and Pete stood beside her, watching when all of a sudden, the girl they saw earlier appeared beside of them. Pete stood up instantly upon seeing her before trying to greet her in the Egyptian language. “As-salaam alaikum.” The girl responded with more that Pete and Skye couldn’t understand, but Skye took this as a welcoming statement nonetheless. “My name’s Skye, and this is my friend Pete.” However, the girl just looked at them, and Pete seemed to understand what was going on. “Oh! You don't speak English. Um…” Pete tried to say something else in the native Egyptian language, but he seemed mildly uncomfortable. And after he got done speaking, the girl giggled slightly. “You said that I am a cucumber.” “Oh!” Skye said in surprise. “You do speak English!” “Yes, my father taught me,” the girl answered a bit bashfully. “My name is Farah. You are both American.” “Yeah. We’re here with Skye’s mom, Mariama, and my grandpa. They’re both GREAT archeologists,” Pete said before leaning in to whisper. “We're going to discover Cleocatra's tomb.” “Cleopatra’s tomb?” Farah repeated. “No,” Skye shook her head. “Not Cleopatra. Her cat, Cleocatra. If we find the tomb, it'll be the biggest find in history! And just maybe... it can save the Fernfield museum from going out of business.” “Farah.” It was then that the three of them turned to see Farah’s father calling her over, causing her to turn back to her new friends. “Oh, that is my father, I must go. It was very nice to meet you, Peter and Skye. As-salaam alaikum.” “Bye,” Skye waved to Farah as she ran off to join her father, and they soon walked off, leaving her and Pete on their own once again. XXXXXXXX It was only a few minutes after this encounter that the truck that Seti and Tarik were driving arrived in the town of Bastati, and unknowingly, were bringing the Mane 6, Violette and the Buddies just where they needed to be. However, after eating all of that so-called stinky cheese, Budderball was having the worst stomachache a pup could have. “Ugh… I don’t feel so good.” Zipp then took out her visor to examine the stinky cheese Budderball had found, but when it showed her the results, she gasped. “Uh, Budderball… don’t panic, but that wasn’t stinky cheese you ate-- those were explosives!” “Like dynamite?!” Hitch cried. “Budderball! You know your stomach can get you into situations like this!” However, Budderball felt too bloated to even argue against this. “Oh, no… I’m… gonna explode!” “Don’t you dare dutch oven us!” Rosebud threatened her oldest brother. XXXXXXXX At the same time, Tarik and Seti were getting the crate of explosives off the truck when Tarik started hearing the ponies’ hushed whispers and the Buddies barking, instantly becoming concerned. “Box making noises.” “You're right, it is making noises,” Seti said as he and his cousin set the box down, and then he saw a couple of crowbars in the truck. “Hey... get the crowbar. I'll get this one.” The cousins then began to use the crowbar to pry open the crate lid, and if they did this, they would uncover the Buddies and ponies, completely blowing their cover! XXXXXXXX Sunny immediately sensed that the box was going to be opened, and she knew there was one thing they could do to stay safe. “Budderball, I really never thought I would say this, but… let her rip!” And that was when Budderball let forth the biggest and smelliest fart that he had ever unleashed, causing the others to cough, gag and react in complete disgust. But hopefully, it would be enough to get Tarik and Seti to not notice them. XXXXXXXX As soon as he and Seti undid the crate lid, Tarik smelled a horrible stench coming from it and groaned in disgust. “That's not good!” “Boom, boom?! RUN!!!” Seti screamed to his cousin as they ran for cover, causing others to do the same. “RUN!!! RUUUUUN!!!” “Let me outta here, yo!” B-Dawg exclaimed once it was safe, and the others immediately followed suit. “Everyone, head into the bazaar!” Misty shouted. “That’s where the others would go once they got here!” And that’s just where the group ran to… completely unaware that Ubasti was watching them. “It's Failette and Dirtbud and their team of putrid ponies and dim-witted wonder dogs,” she sneered. “How did they get here?” However, as the group ran out of her sight, Ubasti ran off to find her master again, determined to figure out how the Mane 6, Violette and their friends got to Egypt and make sure that her plans weren't foiled. She owed to her feline ancestors to make cats rule over all living creatures... and NOTHING was going to stop her once that happened. Meeting Babi, Faith, Tirako and Cammy, and a New Clue UncoveredA lot has happened in the last chapter of our story, let me tell you. Violette Rainbow and Mudbud managed to recruit all of Mudbud’s siblings and the Mane 6 to rescue Pete, Mariama, Skye and Thomas from the plan of Ubasti, the hairless sphinx cat of a very peculiar archeologist named Phillip Wellington. They managed to hide in a crate full of explosives all the way to the town of Bastati, where they had to get out thanks to one of Budderball’s massive farts (which was caused by accidentally eating explosives that were in the crate)... and they were completely unaware that Ubasti had seen them, and she knew that somehow, someway, they were going to ruin her plan to make cats rule over all Earth's creatures. Now, let's get back to the swing of things, so we can see how these events will fare for our heroes. XXXXXXXX As the Buddies and Violette ran ahead of them through the bazaar, the Mane 6 thought this might be a good idea to change into their archeology outfits, to kinda fit the mold of their environment. Sunny wore a short-sleeved shirt that was light pink, brown boots and her signature saddlebag. Izzy wore a a dark blue shirt with a white hat and brown boots as well. Hitch wore a teal long-sleeved shirt with a hat like Izzy's. Zipp wore a white and gray plaid shirt with a watch on her front left hoof. Pipp wore a light blue shirt with white polka dots and brown boots. Lastly, Misty wore brown boots as well, but her short-sleeved shirt was a color mix of dark purple and pink. And not long after the group had gotten changed, they regrouped with the Buddies and Violette, catching their breath while Mudbud looked around for his human, but ultimately didn't see anything. “Where did Pete, Grandpa Thomas and the zebra family go?” “I don’t know, Mudbud,” Zipp admitted. “I didn’t see them when we were running through here.” “Okay, we've got a lot of ground to cover. Let's split into groups,” Rosebud suggested before splitting her brothers up. “B-Dawg, you go with Buddha, so we can keep you out of trouble. Budderball, you stick with Mudbud, and I'll go by myself. I know how you boys hate shopping anyways.” “Good delegating, Rosebud,” Sunny praised before giving out her own group assignments. “Misty, Hitch? You two can go with Mudbud and Budderball. Izzy, Zipp? You guys go with Buddha and B-Dawg. The rest of us will go with Rosebud, and we’ll keep each other contacted with our phones if anything pops up.” “Okay, guys,” Violette nodded. “Let’s go track them down.” And with that, the groups split up in three different directions, hoping to find Pete, Thomas, Mariama and Skye before too much time had passed. XXXXXXXX Izzy, Zipp, Buddha and B-Dawg walked through the bazaar for a bit, with Zipp using her visor to keep an eye out for anything suspicious, and then, they saw a remarkable sight-- a man playing some sort of flute that made a hypnotic melody... a melody that Izzy was sure that Pipp would like. And to be honest, B-Dawg liked the melody too. “Not bad. I could lay down some sick beats to this.” “Yeah,” said Izzy, “but… why is he sitting in front of a pot and playing the music? Does the pot have ears?” It was then that a cobra began to rise out of the pot, swaying to the music while hissing, and this freaked B-Dawg out entirely. “SNAKE!!!” “Don’t worry, B-Dawg,” Buddha gently reassured his fearful brother. “The snake is in a trance. He's meditating to the music.” “It’s called snake charming. A lot of people can do it,” Zipp admitted, “but I’ve never actually seen it happen in real life.” “Pipp would love to see this!” said Izzy, pulling out her phone with excitement in her voice. “I’ll take a video and send it to her.” XXXXXXXX In another part of the bazaar, Pipp, Sunny and Violette walked with Rosebud past a few stalls, and when Rosebud passed one of the stalls, her eyes sparkled at the sight of a beautiful pink headdress that was sometimes worn by women in Egypt. “Wow, look at these colors!” “You like it, Rosebud?” Violette asked, causing Rosebud to nod. “Well, let’s see if we can get it for you.” That was when Sunny approached the woman operating the stall. “Excuse me, ma’am-- our little puppy friend likes that pink headdress you’ve got there. We were wondering how much it is.” The woman looked over at the excited Rosebud and smiled. “If it’s for your little friend, then let me give it to you in trade.” “Trade?” Violette tilted her head out of confusion. “Is that a thing?” “A lot of people have different ways of exchanging for what they want or need,” Sunny explained. “We just need to find the right thing to trade to get Rosebud what she wants.” Pipp then looked through her bag until she pulled out a fancy headband that she had made for anypony who wanted one at the Boardtrot. “Here you go-- a headpiece for a headdress!” “Ahh, very good choice, my dear,” the woman took the headband and then handed the headdress to Sunny. “It is yours. Enjoy, girls.” “Thank you!” Violette said to the woman with a warm smile. “Come on, Rosebud. Let’s put it on.” With that, Violette put the headdress on Rosebud’s head, and while Sunny, Violette and Pipp cooed at how adorable it looked, Rosebud looked at herself in the mirror. “OMG,” she said. “This is SO to die for!” XXXXXXXX Meanwhile, B-Dawg, Buddha, Izzy and Zipp were approaching a nearby auction, where a young camel was trying to be sold, but no one seemed interested with her, despite the auctioneer's best efforts. “Okay, next up we have beautiful animal. Very young, but will grow big and strong. Five hundred! Five hundred pounds!” However, one look at the camel caused Izzy to frown out of sympathy. “She looks a little too young to be sold off, don’t you think so, Zipperdoodle?” “Huh… now that you mention it, she’s a lot younger than other camels we’ve seen around here,” Zipp frowned. “And selling her off when she’s that young? It just doesn’t sound right.” However, as the two ponies were focused on the camel, they heard a rustling noise from behind them, B-Dawg and Buddha, but when they turned, they didn't see anyone there. Eventually, they shrugged it off, thinking it to be a rat or something that liked to scurry around the city looking for food. But little did the four of them know that sooner or later, they would find that whatever they heard wasn't a rat at all. XXXXXXXX Around the same time, Misty, Hitch, Budderball and Mudbud were wandering through the bazaar past some food stalls, where a voice from a nearby grill caught their attention, and a heavenly smell caught Budderball by the nose. “Kebab! Hot kebab! Come get your chicken kebab!” “Oh, sweet mama,” Budderball licked his chops. “Kebabs!” “We’re kind of on a mission here, Budderball,” Misty said gently. “We don’t have time to stop for a snack if we wanna find Pete, Thomas and the zebras!” “But I search much better on a full stomach,” Budderball tried to reason. “Besides, the best way to know a new culture is to sample its cuisine.” “...he’s not wrong,” Hitch said uneasily before sighing. “Okay, Budderball, go up and get you a kebab, but make it quick.” Budderball didn't need to be told twice-- he walked right over to the grill and began to whimper, waving his paw up in the air to get the shopkeeper's sympathy. However, what Budderball wasn't aware of at the time was that Faith was perched up above the grill, ready to jump down and grab a kebab so she could take it back to Babi, since the two friends hadn't eaten in quite some time. At the same time, the shopkeeper finished grilling Budderball’s kebab and was just now holding it out for the pup to take. “Okay, one kebab for you. Eat it.” “Ha!” Faith howled as she leapt from the roof of the stall. “You snooze, you lose, big fella!” And with that, she grabbed the kebab in her mouth and ran off, much to Budderball’s supreme frustration. “Hey, come back here!” “Come on, guys!” Hitch cried as Budderball ran off, prompting the others to run after him as well. “We have to stop that thief!” XXXXXXXX B-Dawg easily heard Budderball crying out from halfway across the bazaar, and instantly turned his head to see where it was coming from. “Yo, dawg, did you hear that?” “Yeah!” Zipp agreed. “It sounds like Budderball’s in trouble!” “It came from over that way!” Izzy pointed down a specific pathway. “Come on, guys!” And with that, the four of them ran off, following the sound of Budderball’s voice in the process. XXXXXXXX “Stop!” Budderball cried as he, his brothers and their friends rushed through the bazaar after a mischievously grinning Faith. “Somebody stop that kebab-a-robber!” However, the others passed right by Pipp, Rosebud, Violette and Sunny, and as soon as Rosebud saw her brothers run past, she let out a sigh of frustration. “Boys…” “Tell me about it, sister,” Pipp rolled her eyes. “Tell me ALL about it.” “Come on!” Sunny shouted, already pursuing after the other Buddies and her remaining friends. “We can’t let them get too far ahead of us!” “Wait for me, Sunny!” Violette called before pursuing after the alicorn/earth pony mare, causing Pipp and Rosebud to shrug at each other and immediately follow afterward. XXXXXXXX Faith panted tiredly as she continued to run through the market with the ponies and Buddies on her paws, and she knew it wouldn’t be too much further until she got to a place where she could lose them. But before she could get to this place… …Hitch got out his truth-telling lasso that Mariama gave him and threw it, causing it to wrap around Faith, which caused Faith to yelp and fall to the ground, losing the kebab in the process. “Ow…” Budderball growled angrily as he, his siblings and the ponies approached her. “Got you cornered, you chicken thief.” “That’s what this is all about?” Zipp asked in surprise. “This fox stole your chicken?” “That’s right,” Misty nodded. “Hitch, Mudbud and I saw it happen with our own eyes!” “And she was just about to tell us WHY she did it,” Hitch said as he tightened the lasso around the fox pup. “Isn’t that right?” “Uh… uh… yes!” the fox finally blurt out, forced to tell the truth while under the lasso's spell. “I’m sorry for taking it, I-I was just taking it to a friend!” “A friend?” Sunny asked in surprise. “What friend?” “Wait!” “Huh?!” everyone turned at the sound of a new voice, and a monkey wearing a fez came out of hiding and began to untie Faith from the lasso’s grasp. “Please, don't hurt Faith and Babi. Faith and Babi are but a humble monkey and fox.” “...is that true?” Violette asked the fox. “Did you really steal Budderball’s treat so you guys could eat?” “Yeah… it’s been a few days since we’ve had full bellies,” admitted Faith with an uneasy shrug. “I didn’t wanna steal it, but sometimes… you don’t really have a choice.” “Going hungry is one thing,” Budderball said, still a little ticked, “but you’re still no-good crooks.” That was when Babi took off his hat, seemingly getting an idea. “Here,” he said right before he put the hat on Budderball’s head. “See, now I give you something in trade.” However, Budderball wasn’t exactly sure about wearing a hat in this bustling Egyptian atmosphere. “I'm not much of a hat dog.” “I don’t know,” Izzy said in thought. “It looks good on you. Besides… they do look kinda eager to make things right with you.” “Come on, Budderball, give them a chance,” Misty said gently. “When the little fox said that she didn’t have much of a choice, I believe her.” Budderball took a moment to consider this-- he and his siblings had been raised that stealing was not a good thing to do, but since Misty was the element of empathy, being able to understand people on a deeper level than most, he had a feeling that she might be on the right track. “Okay,” Budderball eventually shrugged, looking over at Babi and Faith. “We’ll call it even-steven.” “I am Babi,” the monkey then said, “not Steven.” “And I’m Faith,” Babi’s fox friend introduced herself. “The fastest fennec fox this side of the Nile!” “I’m Budderball,” the oldest of the Buddies introduced. “And these are my brothers, Mudbud, Buddha, and B-Dawg, and our little sis, Rosebud.” “And I’m Violette Rainbow,” Violette spoke up. “And this is Sunny, Hitch, Zipp, Misty, Izzy and Pipp, the protectors of the world of Equestria!” “It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” Faith said, tipping her head respectfully. “What brings you guys to Egypt?” “Actually, we’re looking for two zebras, Skye and her mom Mariama, and Mudbud’s people,” Sunny explained. “His boy Peter and his grandpa, Thomas.” “Yeah,” Mudbud confirmed with a nod. “They were last seen with a bad man and a creepy cat with no fur.” “Ohh! I think we saw that cat today!” Babi recalled with a shudder. “Babi does not like cats.” “Hold on a second,” Zipp held up a hoof in surprise. “You’ve seen her?” “Only just a few hours ago,” Faith confirmed. “And the second she hissed, we ran.” Mudbud was about to add onto this when he saw Pete’s compass dangling around Babi’s neck, his eyes widening in surprise. “Hey, that's Pete's compass, dude!” “Babi see it fall out of boy's pocket,” Babi explained. “Yep-- first rule of our society,” said Faith, “is finders keepers, losers weepers.” “So you’ve seen Pete too?!” Misty asked. “That compass is VERY important to him. We’d really like to have it back in order to find them.” “Hmm… what do you think, Babi?” Faith asked, looking at her monkey companion. “Think we can turn the compass over?” “Of course Babi can give you compass,” Babi confirmed. “Perhaps in trade…” That’s when his eyes trailed over to the chain with the B on it that B-Dawg was wearing around his neck. “Babi likes shiny objects.” “My bling?!” B-Dawg was immediately against the idea. “You've gots to be trippin'.” “Faith and Babi will give you compass and help you with everything. Promise to get you to boy and friends,” Babi promised. “B for Babi look very nice on Babi's hairy chest.” “Sorry, dawg, you can't have it,” B-Dawg immediately denied. “B-Dawg, please!” Violette pleaded, looking desperate. “They know where Pete, Grandpa Thomas and the zebras are! We need their help-- give Babi anything he wants.” This genuinely surprised B-Dawg, as well as the others. They had never seen Violette so desperate for help-- probably because Skye and her mother, as well as Pete and Grandpa Thomas, meant a lot to her, not just to them. So, with as much reluctance as he had in him, B-Dawg handed his bling over to Babi, who took off Pete's compass and put it around Mudbud's neck, much to the others' happiness. It sure was gonna be easier to find their friends with a little bit of help nearby. That was when a strange, opera like call echoed through the bazaar, causing the Mane 6, the Buddies and Violette to look around, a bit bewildered. “Okay, I’m just gonna flat out ask this,” said Zipp. “What was that?” “It's the Muslim call to prayer,” Buddha answered. “It is getting late,” Babi added. “Market not safe at night.” “Babi and I can show you where you can sleep,” Faith offered. “And we’ll show you the way to your friends in the morning. Just follow us!” However, as they were following behind Babi and Faith, B-Dawg couldn’t help but feel strange without his bling. “This is so not happening. I'm practically naked without my bling.” “Suck it up, B-Dawg,” Pipp scoffed as she rolled her eyes. “I’m sure I can make you some temporary bling once I get the right material, but only if you stop whining.” “This way, guys!” Faith said as she and Babi rounded a corner. “You guys can sleep in here for the night.” Around the corner was a simple workshop that Faith managed to use her claws and pick the lock to, and once everyone was inside, they closed the door back so they wouldn't attract a lot of attention. “Wow, it sure is dark in here,” Sunny said as she used her phone flashlight to light up the place. “But there’s a lot of interesting stuff too!” Violette agreed. “Skye would totally love seeing something like this!” That was when B-Dawg spotted a sarcophagus resting on the nearby table and another one standing right beside of it. “Yo, what's that, dawg?” “It appears to be a sarcophagus, B-Dawg,” Buddha explained. “Where they put mummies in ancient Egypt.” However, this little bit of information caused B-Dawg to tense. “M-M-Mummies?!” “Relax,” Misty said gently. “We know for a fact since our last adventure that mummies don't really come to life.” “Oh, yeah,” B-Dawg tried to stay calm. “I knew that, dawg.” “So… Faith,” said Rosebud to the fennec fox, “do you and Babi not have a home?” “Oh, well… we kinda sleep in different places,” Faith admitted. “You see, I was the runt of my litter, and I didn’t really have a place among my brothers and sisters, so… I started wandering Egypt for a new home. But when I came across Bastati and met Babi, I knew that I could use my desert smarts to get us some food and some cool stuff. We don’t steal because we like it… we do it cause it’s really the only way we get by.” “Oh… I know how that is,” Misty said sympathetically. “I had to do a lot of things for an evil alicorn without much of a choice either… at least, until I met my friends. But… wanting to help us proves that you and Babi both have good hearts. Don’t ever forget that.” Faith had never met anyone so understanding of her and Babi's situation before, and it honestly surprised her, but after a moment, Faith smiled at Misty with a look of gratitude in her eyes. But after a few moments, Babi began to hear whistling getting closer and closer to the work shed, causing him to quickly shush the others and take action. “Quick, hide. Someone is coming.” “Come on, Violette,” Izzy whispered, urging the filly closer before Izzy and Misty used their magic to summon the invisibility spell, making the ponies disappear from sight while the Buddies, Faith and Babi hid in all sorts of different places around the room. The door to the work shed opened, and the auctioneer brought in the young camel that Izzy, Zipp and their group had seen earlier, and the young camel looked very unhappy. “Okay… okay, now tomorrow you must sell, or…” the auctioneer said before making a slicing motion across his neck. “Okay? Okay. Bye bye.” And with that, the auctioneer left the shed, locking the door behind him, and once he had gone, the little camel began to sniffle sadly, feeling rather lost and alone. Not wanting to see the little camel so sad, the Mane 6, Violette, Faith and the Buddies slowly crawled out of hiding, causing the camel to slowly cease her cries. “Hey…” Rosebud said sympathetically. “What’s wrong, little camel?” “That mean human stole me from my mother,” the camel admitted, “and he's trying to sell me.” Pipp gasped in sadness to this. “You were taken from your mother? That’s awful!” “I must find her,” the little camel continued. “My tribe is on their way into the desert. If I don't catch up with them soon, I might never see her again.” “Tribe?” B-Dawg questioned in confusion. “It is my family,” the little camel explained. “I belong with the Bedouin tribe. We are travelers.” That seemingly put things into terms B-Dawg could understand. “I get it. Kinda like my posse. The name's B-Dawg.” “My name is Cammy,” the camel introduced with a faint smile. “I’m Rosebud, and these are my friends and brothers,” Rosebud then introduced. “Maybe we could help.” “Cammy?” whispered another young voice, seemingly a male. “Cammy, are you in here?” Cammy seemed to recognize this voice immediately, perking up as she looked around to see where the voice was coming from. “Tikaro? Is that you?” “Yes, it’s me!” the voice, now known as Tikaro, answered excitedly. “Stay in there, I’m coming!” It was then that a young lion cub squeezed his way through some bars in a nearby window, causing the Mane 6 and Violette to gasp in surprise. This particular lion cub was moderately sized, albeit slightly thin and weakly built, not to mention he had a bleached grayish-tan coat, with a white muzzle and yellow eyes. However, it was B-Dawg's first instinct to panic. “LION!!!” “It’s okay, B-Dawg,” Cammy assured gently. “Tikaro is my lion friend from the Bedouin tribe!” “Cammy, I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” Tikaro said as he rubbed up against the camel. “I’m so happy you’re okay!” “I’m glad you’re okay too,” Cammy said to the lion cub. “Is your mom with you? Is she gonna get us out?” Tikaro seemed to turn a bit bashful at this. “Well… the thing is… I actually came without my mom. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving you behind, so… I kinda left to bring you back to the tribe on my own.” “Wow… you’re brave for a cub your age,” Zipp commented before she frowned a bit. “But… it was dangerous for you to come and find Cammy without your tribe to help you.” “I know…” Tikaro said softly, acknowledging his mistake before he looked up at Cammy with a smile. “Don’t worry. We’ll get back to the tribe together-- I promise.” Suddenly, the lid on one of the sarcophaguses began to rise, freaking B-Dawg and Violette out. “Mummy!! AHHHHHH!!!” However, the only thing rising up from the sarcophagus was a very cheeky monkey, who giggled nervously while B-Dawg and Violette glared at him slightly. “Babi!” “Is coast clear?” Babi asked curiously, causing the Mane 6 to nod in confirmation. “Babi,” Faith took the opportunity to introduce her friend to their new friends, “this is Tirako and Cammy.” This caused Babi to climb out of the sarcophagus to greet the young camel and lion cub duo. “As-salaam alaikum, little camel and lion.” “As-salaam alaikum to you too, Mr. Babi,” Tirako said as he tipped his head in greeting. “Thanks for wanting to help us-- it’s a lot of pressure off my shoulders.” “Hey, it’s no problem,” Pipp brushed it off with a smile, just as Mudbud began to paw the door and sniff at it, confirming his theories as he turned toward his siblings and friends. “Dudes, I hate to be a bummer, but the door is locked!” “Oh no!” Sunny cried. “We’re stuck in here! At least until someone unlocks it tomorrow morning.” “But Thomas, Pete, Mariama and Skye could already be long gone by then!” Hitch argued. “What are we gonna do?” “Babi going to solve everyone's troubles,” Babi reassured. “You all sleep now. Babi will go see what he can find out.” “Good luck, Babi! Be safe!” Faith wished her friend luck as he climbed out of the window into the marketplace, hoping to find the hotel room where the visitors were staying. And once they had gone, Sunny sat down and faced the others. “So, I guess now’s a good time to tell you guys a story from one of our past Unity Quest adventures. And I have the perfect story to tell to get us sleepy.” XXXXXXXX Babi wandered through the empty bazaar, careful to watch out for any humans, when he got to the hotel where Pete, Thomas and the zebras were staying with Dr. Wellington and Ubasti, using his monkey skills to climb up to the balcony where he had a good look at them. They were surrounding the table, with Thomas reading one of the clues on the Bronze of Bastet that will lead them to Cleocatra’s tomb. “It will lead you to the water's path.” “Perhaps someone misinformed you. We're in the desert, there's no water,” Dr. Wellington said before pointing to another part of the disc. “We’re here.” “Ah,” Thomas realized his mistake before reading again. “From the eye of the needle, take direction from Thoth.” However, Pete and Skye both seemed a bit confused. “What do you think it means, Grandpa?” Pete finally asked. “Thoth, the moon god,” Thomas explained. “Take direction from the moon.” “The moon, huh?” Skye muttered to herself. “Hmm…” “Now, let me see…” Mariama’s eyes trailed back to the paper as Skye and Pete both looked out of the balcony, not seeing Babi spy on them. “From the eye of the needle, take direction from the moon. On the 12th day, the moon will light the way.” “There’s a full moon tonight!” Thomas realized, just as Pete pointed up to the obelisk that he and Skye had been looking at. “That looks like a needle, and there's a half-moon carved in the top!” Thomas and Mariama soon joined the kids at the window, realizing quickly that they were right. “The obelisk!” Mariama gasped in realization. “Kids, let’s go!” “Wait for me, Mom!” Skye said quickly before darting after her mother, following her, Pete, Thomas and Dr. Wellington out of the hotel room, with Babi watching the entire thing from the balcony, going unnoticed. They rushed to the side of the obelisk, where it looked like there was a place for the Bronze of Bastet in the middle of a drawing of the lunar cycle. “Call me crazy,” said Skye, “but I think the disc goes here!” “I think you’re right, sweetheart,” Mariama nodded. “Dr. Wellington, your half of the disc, please.” “Yes, yes, of course,” Dr. Wellington handed it over, and once Thomas put it together, he put the disc in the slot and turned it slightly… just before something began to happen. A mechanism began to activate, causing everyone to look up as gears began to turn somewhere from inside the obelisk, much to Thomas’ complete awe. “Incredible!” As this seemed to get the attention of several passersby, the top of the obelisk began to rotate a full 360 degrees until the half-moon symbol at the top was now glowing with a blazing white light, which shot off a single beacon into the distance. And once this had happened, Dr. Wellington turned back to Thomas. “What now?” “Well, now,” said Thomas, trying to contain his excitement, “we need to calibrate the position of the beam and coordinate it on the map!” XXXXXXXX And that's exactly what Thomas and Mariama began to do when they got back to the hotel room, using some special gear as well as the map they had brought along with them. “Ah, given the height of the tower,” Thomas muttered, “60 feet…the light should be going…” “...south by southeast, 86 miles,” Mariama concluded before heading over to the map and figuring out what was in that direction. “And leading us... to this oasis.” “Oasis?” Skye tilted her head out of confusion and curiosity. “Isn’t that a place in the desert where there’s usually trees and water?” “Often times, yes,” Mariama nodded. “And that’s exactly where we need to go to get the next clue.” And this is exactly what Babi needed to hear. “They're heading to the oasis. I must tell the Buddies.” XXXXXXXX “...and so, right after we exposed the truth about Shannon and Aruna’s treachery,” Misty began to conclude the story, “they were taken to prison, leaving Umbra safe from her sister after a long time. Our new friends were going to take her sight seeing to get her back to being on Earth after so long, and then... we came back to Equestria.” “Whoa, dawg,” B-Dawg finally commented in surprise after the story was concluded. “That’s some story.” “Did you encounter Alterro any other times?” Rosebud asked. “No, just on the moon base and in Piqua, but… we have a feeling that Alterro has more agents of evil out there,” Sunny said with a shudder. “And I have a slight gut feeling Ubasti might be one of them.” “Ubasti? I don’t know, Sunny,” Zipp frowned. “Sure, Ubasti is evil and ugly…” “And don’t forget creepy!” Izzy chimed in. “Right, and creepy,” Zipp added, “but nothing about her strikes agent of evil. At least… not yet.” “Buddies! Pony friends!” That was when everyone turned to see Babi re-entering the shed, capturing Mudbud’s attention immediately. “What’s up?” “Your people are leaving in the morning. They're on their way to oasis, deep in desert,” Babi explained. “Oasis?” Cammy questioned before smiling. “I've been there with my tribe before!” “That could be where they’re heading too!” Tirako realized. “Cammy and I can show you the way.” “And we,” added Rosebud, “can help you find your tribe.” “Babi will hitch ride and slow them down,” Babi volunteered. “And I can go across the desert with you guys,” offered Faith, “so that way you really get the Egyptian experience.” “Thank you… both of you,” Violette smiled gratefully. “We really appreciate this.” “Hey, you can thank us later, when your friends are safe and sound,” Faith said before Babi left the room. “For right now… let’s just get some shuteye. We’re gonna need it if we’re gonna go after your group in the morning.” However, as the group was retiring to sleep for the night, Violette found her mind wandering with all these questions about Skye and her mother's safety, as well as Pete and Thomas'. She hoped that they were able to get to them in time... and they really hoped that Ubasti didn't find Cleocatra's collar before they did. XXXXXXXX Back in the hotel room, it was Pete and Skye's bedtime, so Thomas and Mariama went to tuck them in, with Thomas noticing the smile on his grandson's face. “What are you thinking?” “How rad this is,” Pete said. “Oh, yeah,” Skye agreed. “Mudbud, Violette and the others would’ve loved this.” Mariama giggled to this, a knowing smile on her face. “Knowing Mudbud and our new friends, they’re probably off on an adventure of their own.” “...but it’s funny, Mom,” Skye said after a moment, turning to face her mother. “For some reason, they don’t really feel that far away.” And little did anyone realize it at first, but our heroes weren't far away at all... and they would soon be reuniting further down the road. Traveling Through the Desert and Finding the OasisAnother clue to the secret location of Cleocatra’s tomb had been revealed, and it would soon take Dr. Wellington, Ubasti, Thomas, Pete and the zebra family (Mariama and her young daughter, Skye) to an oasis deep in the desert, so Babi had told the Mane 6, Violette, the Buddies and their newfound friends. And while they were going to go after their friends to warn them about Ubasti's secret agenda, our heroes were also going to help their camel friend Cammy and her little lion companion Tirako get back to their tribe, which was soon going to be migrating through the desert. However, as she slept, Skye could feel that Violette, the older ponies and the Buddies were much closer than one might think, though she had no idea why. Now, let's dive right back into the story to get back up to speed. XXXXXXXX By the time the sun began to rise that next morning, Babi already had a plan to slow the group down long enough so that way the Mane 6, the Buddies, Violette and their other friends had an opportunity to catch up to them when they were out in the desert environment. While Tarik and Seti were busy getting the supplies loaded into the back of the truck, Babi snuck under the open hood and began to pull on the coolant hose, disconnecting some of it from the engine. “Got it!” And once this was done, the clever little monkey giggled and snuck into the back of the truck where he wouldn't be seen, to make all the necessary adjustments so the others would not have to go so far in order to catch up to the travelers. Not long after Babi snuck onboard, Dr. Wellington, Thomas, Pete and the zebra family, along with Ubasti, came outside with their gear to get into the truck and get started on their long, hot journey. “Chop-chop, my good man,” Dr. Wellington said urgingly, wanting to get all the luggage into the truck before they left the town entirely. “We're seven minutes behind schedule.” XXXXXXXX The sun was just beginning to peek through the windows as the Buddies, the Mane 6, Violette Rainbow and their new friends-- Cammy, Faith and Tirako, were beginning to get their bearings. But as they did so, a faint sound began to reach Tirako's ears-- it almost sounded like whistling, but he wasn't sure where it was coming from. “Hey… does anyone else hear that sound?” Cammy listened intently to this sound that Tirako mentioned, but after a moment, gasped as she recognized the tune. “I know that whistle! The man is coming to take me away!” “Oh, no,” Pipp said with an angry tone in her voice. “Not if these ponies have anything to say about it.” “But what can we do?” Hitch asked. “We can’t just unleash our magic on that guy-- we could get into huge trouble ourselves!” Luckily, Mudbud and Zipp had been whispering to each other while this was going on, both coming up with the same idea, and after a moment, Zipp turned to look over at Cammy, a determined smirk on her face. “Mudbud and I have an idea, Cammy. You up for it?” And of course, Cammy smiled and nodded in compliance. “Anything to get me and Tirako back to our moms.” “Zipp?” Sunny looked at the white pegasus in surprise as Mudbud whispered the plan to Cammy. “What are you guys up to?” “Trust me, Sunny,” Zipp winked. “Just wait for the right time, and then make a break for it!” The whistling got closer and closer to the door of the work shed, and Cammy stood up and got closer to the door as she heard the man begin to unlock it, all while the Mane 6 braced themselves to protect Violette, the Buddies and their friends in case Mudbud and Zipp's plan went south. Once the man got done unlocking the door, he opened it to reveal Cammy waiting for him on the other side. And then, when he least expected it, Cammy shot a bunch of camel spit into his face, causing him to scream and groan in complete disgust... and the ponies couldn't help but hide their disgust as well. “Wow!” Mudbud said, impressed that this actually worked. “Gnarly loogey, dudette!” “Come on, everybody!” Faith said with an excited tone in her voice. “Let’s go go go!” With that, she and Tirako leapt right onto the man, knocking him down to the floor and allowing Cammy to run past, followed by Faith and Tirako with the Buddies, the Mane 6 and Violette not far behind. “No!!” the man shouted in desperation. “My beautiful camel! Oh!” “Sorry, mister!” Violette called back as the group ran through the bazaar. “You snooze, you lose!” And so, once making it to the entrance of the town, the Mane 6, the Buddies, Violette and their new friends began to venture into the desert, hoping to follow the trail that the trucks had made and hoping to catch up to Pete, Thomas, the zebras and the rest of their group before they got too far out. XXXXXXXX At the same time, Babi was riding on top of one of the trucks as the group made their way through the desert, honestly a bit surprised that no one had discovered him already. He could actually be a very sneaky monkey when it came down to it. Inside the truck, however, Skye was looking down at her compass, thinking about Violette and the others, who she thought were back in Fernfield, but after a lot of thinking... she wasn't so sure anymore. And then again... she was also thinking about someone else who would have loved this trip as much as she and Pete were... her father. According to Mariama, Tomas (Skye's father) died when she was only a few weeks old of a mysterious illness, and her mother didn't really talk much about him... other than the fact that he was a brave explorer who captured her heart. Mariama seemed to read her daughter’s thoughts as they drove along, and frowned sympathetically at the sad look on her daughter’s face. “You thinking about Dad again?” “He would love this, Mom… you know that,” Skye sighed. “I guess… being here in Egypt is making me think of him more and more.” Mariama sighed and nuzzled her daughter close. “I understand sweetheart… but he would also want the both of us to enjoy the time that we have together, and make the most out of this wonderful trip.” “...do you think… when we get back to the states… we can stop by his grave and I can tell him about the trip?” Skye asked hopefully. “You know talking to him by his grave always makes me feel better.” “Of course, sweetie,” Mariama smiled. “I was just thinking the same thing.” Skye seemed to smile at this, leaning into her mother just before the truck seemed to slow to a stop. A small tribe of travelers, the same tribe that Cammy and Tirako needed to get back to, was blocking their path, much to Pete’s confusion. “Who are they, Grandpa?” “They’re Bedouins, Pete,” Thomas explained. “They're a nomadic people of the desert.” “Nomadic?” Skye tilted her head. “That means,” Mariama explained, “that they move around quite frequently, instead of staying in one place.” But as the tribe made room for the trucks to pass through, one of the camels, belonging to Farah's father, was still in their path, much to Dr. Wellington's disliking. “Hey, you, move your disgusting beasts. I'm in a hurry.” Farah’s father, at the time, was with someone else-- a lioness named Haruma, who was sleek and well-built, with a gold-tinted tan coat and yellow eyes. And needless to say, both of them seemed a little bit wary by the archeologist's wording. “You should be very careful,” Farah’s father warned. “This area is known for bandits and thieves.” “B-B-Bandits?” Skye asked nervously, her ears pinned in fright. “Oh, not to worry, sweetheart,” Mariama said gently. “We can handle ourselves if something of the sort were to come up.” “I’m sure you would, but sometimes, the desert has a will of its own,” Haruma said to the group mysteriously, her golden eyes reflecting something that Mariama could not place. “Safe travels.” And without another word, Farah's father got the camel to move from their path, letting the group continue across the desert. But as they drove past the tribe, Pete and Skye saw Farah and waved to her, causing her to smile and wave back. However, none of them had any idea that Babi was hitching a ride on top of the truck, ready for another opportunity to slow the group down and give his friends a chance to catch up... hopefully before it got too dark and dangerous out in the desert sands. XXXXXXXX Speaking of the others, Cammy, Tirako and Faith bravely led the Mane 6, Violette and the Buddies across the desert, the Buddies and Violette panting slightly from the heat. But even though she, her brothers and her friends were all tired, Rosebud knew they had to keep going one way or another. “Come on, guys. We just have to make it to the oasis.” “I’m running on fumes,” Budderball panted as the group eventually stopped to take a breather. “Cammy, aren't you hungry?” “We camels were born to survive in the heat,” Cammy explained, “and go a long time without food and water.” “Yeah,” Tirako nodded. “Camels can even regurgitate the food in their stomachs and re-chew it, so they can go longer without a meal.” “Eww!” Pipp groaned in disgust. “That is so TMI, Tirako.” “Good idea,” Budderball said before intentionally trying to retch, trying to pull some food out of his stomach, to regurgitate and re-chew. However, this only made Hitch sick to his stomach as he watched the process. “I think I’m gonna be sick if Budderball keeps doing that.” “Yeah, Budderball,” Rosebud deadpanned. “Gross.” “Mmm,” Budderball commented in delight, getting a hint of flavor from his regurgitating. “I love leftovers.” “Okay… let’s just put that out of our minds for now,” Misty said with a shudder. “We have to keep going-- our friends are counting on us to warn them about Ubasti’s plans.” “Still not sure if she’s an agent of Alterro, Sunny?” Zipp asked. “She does have a pretty malevolent mind.” Sunny sighed to this. “I’m not sure, Zipp. All we can do right now is stop wondering about the what-ifs and get Cammy and Tirako back to their tribe… we owe it to them for helping Cammy escape from the clutches of that creep back in the bazaar.” And so, the group eventually decided to keep going, with Faith retaking the lead, hoping to reach the oasis before it got too dark to keep going. XXXXXXXX In another part of the desert, the truck that Seti and Tarik used to carry supplies eventually broke down, thanks to Babi pulling one of the hoses loose, causing the group to stop in their tracks temporarily. And needless to say, Seti was very aggravated with Tarik’s supposed carelessness. What happened? What you do? I told you, check out the truck before we left!” “But, I did!” Tarik protested. “You did?” Seti groaned wearily. “I swear, your brain is the size of a monkey's.” Babi, being able to hear this remark, stuck his tongue out at them, even though they were still unaware by his presence, and a few moments later, Dr. Wellington got out of the truck, holding Ubasti, clearly not pleased. “For heaven's sakes, what's wrong with it?” “Is broken,” Tarik admitted as Thomas and Mariama got out of the truck to join them. This caused Dr. Wellington to turn to look at Thomas, a hopeful look plastered on his face. “I don't suppose you know anything about motorized vehicles?” “Well, as a matter of fact, I do. Well, let's see what the problem is,” Thomas said as Mariama held a flashlight up for him to take a look at the problem, which Thomas immediately saw, causing him to partially chuckle. “Oh, my goodness. Hose came loose!” “No wonder that thing was smoking!” Skye realized. “With the hose loose, the truck must’ve overheated!” “Just put some coolant in it,” Mariama told the boys, patting Tarik on the shoulder, “and the truck should be up and running in no time. Besides, we’ve only got a little longer to go till we reach the oasis.” This caused Pete and Skye to smile at each other from inside the truck, knowing they were only a little ways from hunkering down for the night and finding the next clue that would lead to the lost collar of Cleocatra. But if only they knew about Ubasti's hidden agenda. XXXXXXXX The trucks were soon up and running within half an hour, and the group was able to continue driving south by southeast, just as the map said to, and soon, a patch of green trees were seen in the distance. “Look,” Thomas pointed out. “There’s there's the oasis just up ahead.” “Wow…” Skye said with wide eyes. “It’s so pretty! And green!” “But… how did all this grow in the middle of the desert?” Pete asked out of confusion. “Well,” Mariama explained to the kids as the trucks drove into the oasis, “even though we're in the driest of places, centuries ago, in Cleopatra's time, there was a river here. And that river is still running deep underground.” That was when Dr. Wellington turned back to them, still holding Ubasti in his arms. “We'll set up camp, look for the next clue at daybreak.” “Sounds good to me,” Skye shrugged. “It’ll give me time to see if I can get some cool pictures of the oasis for Violette! I wonder what she and the others are doing right now…” XXXXXXXX In another part of the desert, the Mane 6, Violette and all their friends were still trapsing on, even as the sun began to descend over the sandy horizon. After a while, Rosebud looked over at Faith, Cammy, and Tirako, who all seemed intent on figuring out which way to go. “Are we close, you guys?” “Well… we’re not exactly sure, Rosebud,” Faith responded back with an uneasy shrug. “But the way my ears are twitching, I’d say we’re definitely getting close.” “Aw, snap. We're doomed. Doomed!” B-Dawg howled mourningly. “Come on,” said Sunny with a kind smile. “Think positive, B-Dawg.” “I am positive,” B-Dawg responded back. “Positively sure we're lost in the middle of the desert!” “He’s… not wrong, Sunny,” Pipp said to the earth pony/alicorn mare, pulling out her phone and waving it around. “I can’t even get my GPS app to work out here!” “Do not worry, everyone,” Cammy reassured. “My tribe has been here. There's some camel poop on the ground right there.” Turns out, Cammy was not wrong-- on the ground was a pile of stinky brown pellets that Izzy unfortunately got a whiff of, causing her to gag and cover her nose with her hoof. “That's camel poop all right...” “We're gonna need a bulldozer to clean up that mess,” B-Dawg spoke up, “cause a pooper scooper’s definitely not doing it.” “Uh-oh, guys,” Faith frowned as she looked up at the sky. “We may have a problem. It's getting too dark to follow their trail.” “The dudette is correctomundo,” Mudbud told the others. “We'll rest here for the night, and get our groove back tomorrow.” However, this decision didn't seem to settle well with Violette, who was wondering what Skye and Pete were doing at the time... and she was also wondering if they were all right. XXXXXXXX Back at the oasis, the sun had fully set, and camp had already been set up too. Skye and Pete were roasting marshmallows over the campfire, and Mariama and Thomas sat in chairs beside them. And knowing that it was nearly time for bed, Thomas turned to his grandson and his zebra friend, eager to hear what story they wanted before going to sleep. “So, kids, what story would you like to hear this time?” Luckily, Pete had just the story in mind. “Can you tell us the story about the Cat's Eye necklace?” “Oh, yes, Mom! Please?” Skye begged. “That story is always SO good!” Mariama giggled enthusiastically to this. “All right, all right, hold your horses,” she smiled. “If that’s the story you want, that’s the story you’ll get.” “The cat goddess, Bastet, gave a special necklace with a Cat's Eye jewel to Cleopatra, the ruler of Egypt,” Thomas began the story, catching Skye and Pete’s interest immediately. “Cleopatra's favorite feline, Cleocatra, was furious that Bastet gave the necklace to a human. She decided to steal the necklace. But a vigilant puppy, Buddasi, saw Cleocatra.” “And upon realizing that she had been caught, Cleocatra fled the scene just as Cleopatra heard Buddasi’s barks and came into the room,” Mariama continued in Thomas' place, a mysterious twinkle in her eye. “And Cleopatra was so mad over being betrayed by her trusted cat, that she used the necklace to make dogs man's best friend. And cats were banished from the palace.” Suddenly, a lightning bolt shot down from the sky, as well as a clap of thunder, causing Skye to yelp, so into the story that she didn’t hear the thunder and lightning approaching. Pete, however, became a bit curious at the sight of the dark clouds in the distance. “Grandpa, is it gonna rain?” “No, no. That's just dry lightning from an electrical storm. Happens all the time out here in the desert,” Thomas told his grandson and Skye, looking out at the storm clouds in the distance for a few moments. “Ah, looks far enough away. I'm sure we're perfectly safe.” Mariama then let forth a tired yawn. “I’d say it’s time to hit the rack, though. We have an early day tomorrow.” “You’re right,” Thomas told the zebra mare before turning back to the kids. “You get a good sleep. I'm gonna go stretch these old legs of mine, and then me and Mariama will be right behind you.” “Mom? Mr. Thomas?” Skye spoke up. “Thanks for taking me and Pete on this adventure-- it’s been the best.” “Aww… it’s our pleasure, sweetheart,” Mariama said as she nuzzled her daughter. “We could never ask for better partners.” XXXXXXXXX Elsewhere in the desert, the Buddies and their friends, both Equestrian and desert animal, were settling down beside some large rocks for the night, far enough away from the electrical storm where they would be safe. However, Mudbud's thoughts kept drifting to Pete, Skye and Mariama, and he knew how worried Violette was about them, even if she wasn't saying anything. And he reciprocated her feelings to an exact T. Sunny and Rosebud seemed to sense both of their distress, but Sunny was the one to speak up out of genuine concern. “Violette? Mudbud? Are you guys okay?” “Yeah,” Violette nodded sadly. “We’re just sorry we got you guys into this mess.” Mudbud nodded in response to this claim. “We’re really worried about Pete, Mariama and Skye.” “Fate put us on this path, you two,” Buddha said gently. “Every journey has a deeper reason.” “Maybe it was because you guys were meant to help me and Cammy get back to our tribe,” Tirako said. “Not just to stop Ubasti and her plans.” “I guess you’re right,” Violette nodded with a slight shrug. “Doesn’t make it any easier, though.” “We understand,” Misty nodded gently. “We’ll get started again first thing tomorrow morning, and if things work out, we should catch up to them within the next day or so.” Cammy yawned tiredly after Misty said this, not sure if she was able to keep her eyes open for much longer. “Good night, everyone. You’re the best of friends.” “Sweet dreams, everybody,” Rosebud bid her friends and brothers good night, and under the flash of the dry lightning storm, our heroes retired to sleep for the night, ready to continue their journey by the time the sun rose into the sky the next morning. Sunny's Alicorn Worries/Mirages, Clues Uncovered, Reunions and Unexpected BetrayalsThe Mane 6, the Buddies, Violette Rainbow and their new friends (Cammy the camel, Faith the fennec fox pup and Tirako the lion cub) had been forced to settle down for the night under the cover of an electrical storm, a good ways away from the oasis that the others had stopped at for the night before they went to find the next clue to Cleopatra's tomb. It was not going to be an easy night for Violette Rainbow and Mudbud, cause of how concerned they were for the safety of their loved ones. But, little did anyone realize it, but it was also going to be a hard night for Sunny, because she was so sure she would find more answers to her alicornhood at the museum in Fernfield, but the Mane 6 ended up empty hoofed. Now... she wasn't sure if she would find answers on this mission at all. ...or would she? XXXXXXXX For some reason, in Sunny's dreams, she was standing in the secret room that Misty had told her a lot about over the past several months, while butterflies flew around as she looked at the alicorn tapestry that hung on one part of the wall. Misty had shown her a photo of the tapestry as soon as they started finding pieces of the map to Skyros, and in the back of Sunny's mind, she had a feeling that this tapestry might be important. “Mmm... who are they?” “Something on your mind?” a mysterious voice asked, causing Sunny to nearly leap out of her skin before remembering that Misty often heard a voice when she was here that answered a lot of her questions about magic, instantly calming Sunny down again. “Well, actually, yes.” Sunny said with an uncertain smile as she looked around. “But a little afraid to ask. I'm a little bit worried about what I might find out... how that might affect my search for my mom.” “Now is the perfect time to ask your question, Sunny,” the mysterious voice ensured the earth pony mare. “Well... I just can’t stop thinking about this tapestry.” Sunny said while looking at the tapestry. “Lately, I’ve been trying to understand more about what it means to be an alicorn. So... when we find Skyros, and my mom... I can be prepared for what I might find there.” Suddenly, everything in the mysterious room took on a very ominous vibe, and the tapestry in front of Sunny instantly came to life, and the Good and Evil Alicorns from the fabric flew around the room. “Since the beginning, alicorns have been the rarest of creatures,” the voice explained. “Given incredible power, their potential is limited only to their imaginations.” Sunny looked at the scene in awe before she saw some ponies in the field, surrounding the Good Alicorn in question. “Over the years, some have used their powers to spread goodness and hope, and to protect ponykind.” Sunny continued to look awe struck before she frowned and slowly turned to see the Evil Alicorn giving a dastardly look. “And some become so obsessed with power, that they would do anything to have more.” The Evil Alicorn quickly fired a magic blast at the good one, knocking her down as she was surrounded by fiery flames, right before the Good and Evil Alicorns started fighting, while Sunny looked in shock as the two sides clashed. “Being an alicorn is a great responsibility, Sunny,” the voice said gently, although a bit sternly as Sunny moved around to avoid the conflict of the two alicorns. “But the path you choose is always up to you.” Sunny couldn’t take the fighting between the Good and Bad Alicorns anymore, so she ducked down and covered her eyes with her front hooves. “No! Stop! Stop it! No more!” XXXXXXXX Sunny immediately woke up from her dream with a terrified expression on her face, and Misty, who was already awake, looked on in worry, never seeing Sunny so worked up like this. “Sunny! Are you okay?” Sunny panted as she looked up and saw Misty approaching her. “Misty! It was awful!” She cried out as she gave an anxious look. “Sometimes I wish I wasn’t an alicorn at all! I just... I can’t believe that Alicorns can be good or evil just like with Opaline! It made me wonder... do you think there's evil inside of me?” “Ah, are you kidding me?” Misty asked with a smile. “You are the kindest pony I have ever met. Your friendship changed my life forever.” “Really, Misty?” Sunny asked. “You think I’m good?” “Of course I do.” Misty said as she dried Sunny's visible tears. “I know you. You could never be evil.” Sunny gave a small chuckle and a heartfelt smile at the blue unicorn's words. “Thanks, Misty. Sometimes, I just feel so alone.” “Trust me, I get it. But you’re never alone,” Misty continued gently. “You have us. And our friendship is stronger than anything.” Sunny sighed in relief to this. “Yeah… I guess it really is.” “Now, come on-- let’s get you back to bed,” Misty said before nudging Sunny back toward the others so they could get some shuteye. “We still have a long trip in the morning, and Mudbud and Violette both need us at their best.” XXXXXXXX Needless to say, Sunny slept rather soundly knowing that she had some good advice from Misty to pull her through... and the fact that she had her friends was a good factor as well. In fact, Sunny couldn't remember waking up anymore throughout the long, cool desert night. By the time the sun rose the next morning, Cammy was the first one to wake up, and turned to her friends with a smile on her face. “Wake up, everyone! It’s morning!” Pipp yawned as she stretched her body out. “What a relief… the sand is soft, but it’s definitely gonna be hard to wash out of my mane when this is all over.” “We don’t have time to worry about your mane right now, dudette,” Mudbud told Pipp with a frown. “We gotta rock and roll!” “Mudbud’s right,” Violette nodded out of agreement. “Who knows how far ahead of us they are.” And so, Cammy got back up onto her hooves, prompting the others to do the same with their own hooves and paws before they set off into the desert once more. XXXXXXXX Back at the oasis, the Bedouin tribe was just beginning to settle in after a long night of traveling, and as it turns out, everyone in Dr. Wellington's group was up and at them as well. And seeing that they had some time on their hands, Pete had the perfect idea. “Grandpa, I’m gonna take Skye and we’re gonna go explore. Have you seen my compass?” “No… no, I haven’t, Peter,” Thomas said out of thought before brushing the subject off for now. “Well, you go ahead. Mariama and I will join you in a minute.” “Don’t worry, Pete. We still have my compass,” Skye said reassuringly as she lifted her compass up in her hoof. “Come on, let’s go see what’s over there.” Skye and Pete then began to wander further into the oasis, finding a stone well right in the center, where the people of Egypt probably got some of their water from. However, they weren't expecting Farah to jump out and surprise them, catching them off-guard. “You got us!” Peter said, trying to catch his breath. “Hello, Farah.” “Hello, Peter,” Farah smiled in greeting. “Hello, Skye.” “When did you guys get here?” Skye asked in genuine surprise. “Late last night,” Farah explained. “Sometimes we travel at night when it is cooler.” “Huh… that makes sense,” Skye said out of thought. “The desert did feel a lot cooler when we camped here.” “Where are you going?” Peter asked curiously just as Farah’s father approached with Haruma. “Our tribe is making its way through the desert,” Haruma explained with a gentle smile. “It is our way, nothing more.” “Oh, sorry,” Pete quickly apologized. “I didn’t mean to be nosy.” Haruma smiled at this. “No no, you’re just curious children. And curious children are supposed to ask questions. I’m Haruma, by the way.” “I’m Skye,” Skye introduced herself shyly. “And this is Pete.” “Ah, yes. My daughter says you are here with your grandfather and who I assume is Skye’s mother,” Farah’s father said to Pete, causing him to nod. That was before Farah’s father glanced in the direction of Dr. Wellington. “This man you are traveling with… do your elders know him well?” Pete shook his head to this. “They just met him a few days ago.” “Well… you would do well not to trust him,” Haruma advised mysteriously. “Please… both of you, be safe. The desert can be a very unforgiving place.” And with that, Farah’s father and Haruma walked away with Farah, but Pete was able to wave to her as they walked off. “See you later, Farah.” “Bye,” Farah waved back just before Thomas and Mariama approached. “Oh, hi, kids!” Mariama smiled. “I see you've made a new friend.” “Mom, Mr. Thomas!” Skye tried to warn her mother and Pete’s grandpa about what Farah’s father had said. “That man said not to trust…” “All right, chaps, no time for chattering,” Dr. Wellington said as he approached with Ubasti in his arms, cutting Skye off and causing her to go silent. “Time to find the next clue.” “Well… this well was built centuries ago. This was the widest part of the river,” Thomas said, walking away from the well in question. “And the Egyptians would have built an access to the river running down below.” However, as he was walking away from the well, Thomas tripped over something in the sand and fell to the ground, much to Pete’s concern. “Are you okay, Grandpa?” “Yes!” Thomas said, overjoyed as he and Mariama took out their brushes and began to brush the surface of whatever Thomas had just tripped on… and Mariama gasped as she saw the familiar symbol of a cat etched into the stone. “Jackpot!” “What? What have you found?” Dr. Wellington asked as he approached. “It’s the Cat’s Eye symbol!” Mariama exclaimed. “This must be the entrance!” “I’ll get the crowbars from the truck!” Skye offered, rushing back toward the truck. “That’ll help us get the stone off so we can get down there!” XXXXXXXX Babi had hid from sight as Skye rushed to the truck and grabbed the crowbars, not wanting himself to be given away just yet. But he had to admit, even a monkey like himself was curious about what they were going to do with those crowbars. Once Skye had brought them the crowbars, Dr. Wellington had Tarik and Seti remove the stone slab from the entrance to the well, revealing a hidden staircase going further down. “Whoa…” Skye muttered, amazed. “Do you… think it’s safe, Mom?” “There’s only one way to find out, sweetie,” Mariama said gently, rubbing her daughter’s head with her hoof. “Let’s go.” Slowly, but surely, the group began to descend down the staircase, deeper beneath the oasis until they arrived at a truly amazing sight-- a pool of water right under the ground, and the light shining in from the top made the water truly shimmer and shine. “Look how much light is coming in here,” said Thomas, looking around intently. “The sun must be directly over the opening of the well.” With that, Thomas put the Bronze of Bastet together and began to wade into the water until he reached the center of the well, placing the Bronze of Bastet in the slot and turning it slightly. Then, the light from the sun above reflected off the disc and lighting up some markings carved into the walls. And seeing that he wouldn’t be able to go over and get both markings, he decided to divide up the tasks. “Oh. Peter. You and Skye go clean off that part of the wall over there. And, Seti, you and Mariama clean that other spot.” The zebras nodded and then helped Pete and Seti into the well, making sure they didn’t lose their balance. “Hurry along, hurry along,” Dr. Wellington urged. And once they were in the right place, Skye and Mariama helped clean the spots on the wall until they could be seen better. “Well?” Skye seemed confused by what her and Pete’s symbol (which consisted of a U and an exclamation mark). “What does it mean?” Thomas first looked toward the marking that Seti had cleaned off, with that symbol being a strange, curved shape. “That one stands for royalty in this part of Egypt,” he said before looking at the symbol Pete and Skye had cleaned off. “And the other is called a menet. It's the source of great power for the gods. Tarik, the map!” Tarik immediately got the map out of the bag and handed it over to Thomas, who skimmed it over after getting out of the well. And then, after looking at the map for a few moments, Thomas' eyes lit up with recognition and extreme happiness. “I think we have it. I know where Cleocatra's tomb lies.” XXXXXXXX Back in the desert, the Buddies, the Mane 6, Violette and their desert animal friends continued making their way across the blazing hot sands of Egypt to find the oasis. But the further they went, the more tired they seemed to get. After a while, Izzy panted tiredly, her ears drooping and her lavender body coated with sweat. “So… hot! Can’t… go… on!!!” “I hate to admit it, but I’m not sure how much farther I can go either,” Rosebud admitted. “We need water!” “We can’t stop, guys,” Sunny said, carrying Violette on her back. “Our friends are counting on us, and we’re not gonna let them down.” And realizing that Sunny had a valid point, the group decided to keep going, no matter what desert obstacles laid in their path. XXXXXXXX Meanwhile, back in the oasis, Babi could see that the group of travelers were getting ready to leave the oasis soon, since they knew where Cleocatra's tomb rested, and he knew that the ponies and his other friends needed time to get there. Fortunately, he came up with a plan that he was sure would work. Taking the dagger out from his holder, Babi then began to work his way around the jeep, poking holes in some of the tires to let out the air. After all, they couldn't go anywhere if they had flat tires. However, one thing that Babi had not anticipated was Dr. Wellington and Ubasti coming back toward the jeep, and the archeologist (or so it seemed) was stroking the cat rather lovingly... much to Ubasti's disliking. “Yes, Ubasti, we're getting very, very close.” However, Ubasti had her narrowed gaze set on Babi, who was just finishing up poking the third of the four tires with his dagger. “What's that petty primate doing here? Up to no good.” With that, Ubasti meowed and leapt down from her owner’s arms, much to Dr. Wellington’s concern. “No, no, no, no!” And as Babi was about to poke a hole into the last tire, Ubasti came up from behind, causing him to scream in surprise. “Scary cat!” “What do you think you're doing?” Ubasti asked the monkey, who chuckled and hid his dagger behind his back. “Nothing,” Babi lied, but Ubasti could see right through him, her gaze narrowing further. “I've traveled far to find Cleocatra's tomb,” she declared, “and no one is going to stop me!” And with that, Ubasti hissed at Babi, causing him to screech in fright and run into the oasis to hide. “Ubasti… kitty,” Dr. Wellington cooed as he approached, picking the cat up into his arms. “There you are, my little darling.” For once, Ubasti wasn't all that focused on her master's overbearing cuddles. She had to make sure that they succeeded in finding Cleocatra's tomb... ...no matter what the time seemed to take. And soon, it was time to move on, and the Bedouin tribe seemed to be getting ready to head out as well. With that being said, Pete and Skye were able to wave to Farah one last time before they got into the jeep and set off into the desert once again... not having any idea of what was really going on. XXXXXXXX Back in the desert sands, Faith, Cammy and Tirako could sense that the oasis wasn't very far away, but with all the sand around them, it was hard to figure out where exactly the oasis was. Soon, Izzy stopped in her tracks, and Budderball did too, when they saw what looked like a picnic blanket with many different types of food spread out not too far away. “Hey…” Budderball spoke up after a moment of staring. “What’s that?” “I don’t know…” Izzy shook her head. “But I’m getting hungry just looking at it!” However, when the others looked around, they didn’t see anything of the sort. “Izzy, Budderball?” Violette seemed confused. “What is it?” “Can’t you see it, Violette?!” Izzy asked in excitement. “It’s food!” “Hot dogs! Pizza! And lemonade! They've even got ice cream! Oh, sweet mama!” Budderball said in excitement. “Come on, Izzy! Let’s dig in!” “Ha ha, yes!” Izzy pumped a hoof out of excitement. “No need to ask me twice, big fella!” And with that, Izzy and Budderball raced over to the picnic spread and began to laugh and roll around all over it... even though all the others could see was their friends rolling over and over in sand. “Uh, dudes?” Mudbud finally whispered. “I know Izzy can be a little erratic sometimes, but I think Budderball has lost his marbles.” “Oh, Izzy and Budderball are probably just seeing a mirage,” Tirako explained. “The heat makes your brain do funny things sometimes.” “Oh, you should have seen Shaggy and Scooby’s mirage when we had our Unity Quest with them in Egypt a month or two back,” Hitch said with a slight chuckle. “They actually drank sand thinking it was water from an oasis.” “Come on, guys!” Budderball called to his friends and siblings. “Dig in!” “Izzy! Budderball!” Misty cried. “You’ve gotta snap out of it!” However, Izzy and Budderball realized it too late when they accidentally got a large mouthful of sand instead of ice cream, much to B-Dawg’s disgust and… honestly, slight amusement. “Now that's what I call a sand-wich.” “Where’d the buffet go?!” Izzy asked in surprise, looking around to see if she could find the picnic spread again. “I’m sure we’ll find you guys something to eat a little later,” Sunny said, helping Izzy onto her hooves. “For now, we still have a long way to go to the oasis.” However, Mudbud caught sight of something that looked a bit out of place in the hot steaming desert. “Look! What's that?” he asked, looking into the distance. “I see it too!” Zipp nodded. “It looks like trees!” “Trees?” B-Dawg asked skeptically. “You've gotta be hallucin-a-trippin', dawg.” However, when Mudbud shook his head, the trees were still visible. “I can still see them, it's real!” “And where there’s trees,” Faith realized, “there must be water!” “It’s the oasis!” Cammy then realized. “Oh-ho, yes!” Pipp cheered in excitement. “We are so totally saved!” “Come on, guys!” Violette said rather excitedly. “The sooner we get to the oasis, the sooner we find our friends and stop Ubasti!” “Right behind you, Violette!” Rosebud called, and the group immediately headed in the direction of the trees, knowing they were that much closer to catching up to their friends… ...or... so they thought. XXXXXXXX “Gone?!” Misty looked around. “They’re gone?!” “They must’ve left right before we got here!” Zipp groaned in frustration. “The second we think we’re on their tail, we lose them again!” “We’ll find them again,” Tirako said gently, rubbing up against Zipp’s side to comfort her. “But right now, we need to see if we can find water. I’m really thirsty.” That was when B-Dawg spotted the open entrance to the well that Mariama, Skye and their group had accidentally left open. “Yo, dawgs, check it out.” “Huh… well, at least we know they WERE here somehow,” Sunny said as she inspected the hole just before she started giving out orders. “Cammy, you stay up here and keep watch. The rest of you, follow me. We’re heading down below.” Cammy nodded to this, and soon, the Mane 6 were leading Violette, the Buddies, Tirako and Faith down the spiral staircase down into the darkness waiting for them... ...along with the pool of water at the bottom of the well, which immediately caused the group's eyes to widen in awe. And surprisingly, Mudbud was okay with taking a bath... at least, this once. “I've never been so happy to take a bath in my whole life!” “Come on, guys!” Violette cried out. “Let’s dive in!” “Surf’s up, dudes!” “Yippee!!” “Whoo-hoo!” “All right!” “Move it or lose it, coming through!” And once a lot of them had gotten into the water, they promised themselves that they weren't gonna regret the amazing gift of water again. However, while his siblings and friends took their swim, B-Dawg decided to take his leave. “There's no way I'm going in there without my floaties, dawgs.” “Suit yourself, B-Dawg!” Sunny said to the pup with a slight laugh as Izzy splashed her. “You can wait back up there with Cammy while we take a swim and grab some water to take on the rest of the trip!” XXXXXXXX Back in the desert, the air in three of the jeep’s tires finally gave out, causing the group of desert adventurers to stop temporarily. And needless to say, Dr. Wellington was not pleased. “What now?!” “Mr. Wellington, I think we have a flat tire,” Seti said bashfully, causing his employer to grumble in annoyance. “This is outrageous! How did this happen?” However, Seti and Tarik had no idea how to respond, only making Mr. Wellington that much angrier. “This is... This is all your fault, nitwits!” he said, kicking sand at the duo. “Idiots!” “Sheesh…” Skye muttered out of worry, looking up at her mother. “I think he has some serious anger issues to work out.” “Well, I guess we're going to be stuck here for the night,” Thomas told the others. “So we may as well make ourselves useful, Pete, and unload the truck.” “Good idea,” Mariama smiled as they prepared to unload the truck. “Only one more night, and we’ll be at Cleocatra’s tomb in no time.” XXXXXXXX It took a little bit longer for the others to finish their swim in the well, and once they were back up on the surface and all dried off, Cammy looked around with a concerned look on her muzzle. “It’s like you said, Misty-- my tribe and your tribe are not here.” “They must’ve moved on already,” Pipp frowned. “No need to worry,” Faith reassured. “We just need to figure out which way they went and try to catch up.” Suddenly, B-Dawg felt something hit him over the head, causing him to yelp in pain. “What was that?!” “Relax, B-Dawg. It was probably just the wind,” Buddha reassured before another object hit B-Dawg on the head again. “Ow!” B-Dawg yelped again. “Then that wind has sick paw-eye coordination.” “Ow!” Izzy yelped as soon as she felt something hit her on the head too. “I think we’re under attack by something!” “Yeah,” Hitch nodded slowly, “but by what?” Rosebud grunted as she was hit by an object similar to what the others felt, and looked down to see a brown, pellet-like object on the sand in front of her. “Hey, they're falling from that tree up there.” “Those are dates, Rosebud,” Tirako explained. “A delicacy here in Egypt. But, it's weird… dates don’t usually fall down on their own like that.” Suddenly, dates began to fall down on them at a rapid pace, causing them to yelp and groan in pain as the dates made impact-- not even Izzy and Misty's unicorn shields could keep the dates from hitting them. But then, the group looked up to see someone they knew shaking the tree and causing the dates to fall, much to their annoyance. “Babi?!” Babi merely stuck out his tongue at them and laughed before jumping onto Cammy’s back. “Babi!” Cammy said with a smile. “We’re so glad we found you!” “Buddies and my other friends!” Babi greeted with a smile. “I am so glad you have made it.” “Babi, what happened to the zebras, Pete and Grandpa Thomas?” Mudbud asked in concern. “Yeah!” Faith huffed. “They should be here, but they’re totally not!” “Babi was following boy and zebras and men and cat. Cat very scary,” Babi explained with a touch of fear. “She find Babi, so Babi run and hide in oasis.” “Are they okay?” Violette asked in concern. “Very much so, friend Violette,” Babi confirmed with a gentle smile. “They are on their way to Cleocatra's tomb.” “That’s great, dawg,” B-Dawg told him before frowning again. “Too bad we have no idea where it is.” “Babi has idea,” the monkey quickly told the others. “Babi see Bedouin tribe following, they can help.” “Cammy, our moms!” Tirako exclaimed in happiness. “We’re so close to getting back with them!” “Come on, guys!” Cammy exclaimed. “We’ll go to the camp!” “What about the others? We can't let them get to the tomb before us,” Pipp frowned, “and I can’t call them without any signal!” That was when Babi got out his dagger to show it off to his friends. “Babi has dealt with that.” “And if we hurry,” Zipp said with a determined smile on her face, “we can reach the Bedouin tribe before nightfall!” XXXXXXXX However, as they were following the camel tracks of the Bedoiun tribe to try and catch up, B-Dawg looked up at Babi, who was still riding on Cammy's back with Tirako and Faith. “So, Babi, dawg, how 'bout you give me back my bling?” “Deal is deal, friend,” Babi told B-Dawg, trying not to smirk. “All trades are final.” “We can’t wait for you to meet our tribe, guys,” Cammy said, looking back at all her and Tirako's new friends. “They will be very grateful for all you have done.” “Hey... do you think that's them?” Misty asked, pointing her hoof toward a group just up ahead. “There seem to be a lot of camels, and I think I see an adult, female lion!” Tirako glanced ahead at what Misty was pointing at and gasped, his golden eyes lighting up in recognition. “That’s it! Many thanks to you, Buddies-- and your pony friends too.” “And you and Faith too, Babi!” Cammy agreed. “We’re home!” Faith, Tirako and Babi hopped right off Cammy’s back, and slowly began to approach the tribe, all of them secretly hoping Cammy and Tirako's mothers would see them from a distance. XXXXXXXX Haruma and Cammy’s mother Mala had been so worried about their kids ever since Cammy had been taken and ever since Tirako snuck away from the tribe to find her. It made them wonder... would they ever see their little ones again? Suddenly, their ears perked up at the sound of someone approaching, and soon, Mala and Haruma saw their little ones approaching with their friends, both of them safe and sound. “Cammy!” “Tirako!” “Mom!” Cammy and Tirako both exclaimed in joy, prompting Haruma and Mala to begin approaching. “Oh...!” Haruma couldn’t help but sigh in relief. “I can’t believe it's you!” Even Farah, who recognized Tirako and Cammy from her tribe, gasped at the sight of them. “Tirako! Cammy!” Tirako and Haruma laughed in happiness as they rubbed up against each other and reunited after such a long while of being apart, and Cammy’s mother laid a big, slobbery camel kiss on her young daughter... ...much to the Mane 6's happiness. “Aww…” Violette cooed. “I gotta admit it, all the hiking through the desert sands really put this moment into perspective.” “You took the words right out of my mouth, Violette,” Zipp said with a smile. “And what matters is that Tirako and Cammy are back with their families.” “Tirako… my sweet, sweet baby,” Haruma purred to her son with a relieved expression on her face. “I was so worried when you snuck away. I never want you to go off on your own like that again.” Tirako’s ears lowered to this. “I’m sorry, Mom… I just wanted to go and find Cammy, and bring her home where she belonged.” Haruma sighed at this, deciding to not punish her son for once and kept on purring against him. “My dear Cammy,” Mala expressed her relief through words. “I thought I would never see you again.” “The bad man tried to sell me,” Cammy explained, “but Tirako and all of our new friends helped us to escape.” Mala and Haruma turned back to the Mane 6, the Buddies, Violette, Babi and Faith, both of them expressing deep relief and gratitude. “We can never thank you enough for bringing our babies back to us,” Haruma sighed with a sincere smile. “How could we ever repay you?” “We could do lunch sometime,” Budderball said with a shrug. “Soon, preferably.” “We welcomed the opportunity to create good karma,” Buddha said before closing his eyes. “Namaste.” “It was our pleasure,” Sunny told the mothers with a sincere smile. “Cammy and Tirako helped us out in more ways than one.” “Yo,” B-Dawg greeted with his signature slang. “B-Dawg's the name, and these dawgs are my tribe.” “My name is Mala,” the mother camel introduced herself, “and this is Haruma, and our tribe would be thrilled to have you as our honored guests.” “Honored guests, huh?” Hitch looked over at Zipp with a smile. “We humbly accept!” “Well, what’re we waiting for, ponies?” Violette asked with a smile. “We’ve got a party to go to!” XXXXXXXX The party that night was in full swing-- dancers, music, games, food… the whole nine yards. And the Mane 6, Violette and all their friends felt as if they were on top of the world… at least, temporarily. B-Dawg, Buddha, Izzy and Zipp sat in front of some musicians while Pipp was trying to copy and imitate some Egyptian dancers, and B-Dawg had to admit, the beat and rhythm of this music amazed him. “Yo, these dawgs got it going on.” “And Pipp’s got the dance moves going on!” Izzy cheered as Pipp soon got into the rhythm of the music and started dancing just like the dancers. “WHOO!!! Go, Pipp! Go, Pipp!” XXXXXXXX At the same time, Rosebud, Sunny and Violette were all sitting together when Rosebud noticed that a few of the Bedouin tribe members were playing something that looked like an ancient board game, causing her to hum in thought. “That looks like an interesting game.” “Let’s see how you play,” Violette suggested. “That way, maybe we can tell the others about it if we get bored on the search.” XXXXXXXX In another part of the camp, food was being passed around, including to Hitch, Misty, Budderball and Mudbud, with Tirako, Cammy, Faith and Babi sitting across from them. “Here you go, gang,” Faith smiled. “Dinner is served!” “My three favorite words!” Budderball hungrily licked his chops. “Pinch me, I wanna make sure this isn't a mirage.” However, when Budderball looked down at the food offered to him, he retaliated just a bit. “Cammy? No offense, but my dinner looks an awful lot like bugs.” “Uh… it doesn’t just LOOK like bugs,” Hitch said after inspecting the food. “Your dinner is bugs.” “They’re actually called scarab beetles,” Haruma explained as she walked over and sat next to them. “They are a true delicacy of the Bedouins.” “Do you have anything less delicate, like pizza or maybe some hamburgers?” Budderball asked, not sure how to feel about eating actual bugs, and Mudbud just stared at his older brother in shock. “Whoa! Budderball turning down food? That just blew my mind.” “They are quite good, Budderball,” Cammy said sincerely. “I promise.” “Besides,” said Misty, “you might like them if you just give them a chance.” Budderball seemed to consider this for a few moments, eventually weighing his options until he decided to trust Cammy and Misty's word. “Okay,” he sighed to himself before gulping nervously. “Here goes nothing. Over the teeth, past the gums, look out stomach, here the bugs come.” And so, Budderball picked up one of the beetles in his mouth and began to steadily chew it, while the others awaited a reaction, either of delight or disgust. When Budderball finally swallowed it, Babi turned to him, looking hopeful. “Budderball like scarabs?” “Crunchy, but not bad,” Budderball said with an honest shrug. “Tastes like chicken.” Babi chattered and clapped his hands excitedly to this, and even Hitch and Misty let out a laugh. This was definitely a way to unwind, even for a little while, before they had to get back on their friends' trail. XXXXXXXX Skye and Pete couldn't sleep-- they were too excited about finally finding Cleocatra's tomb. So, while Mariama and Thomas slept, they wandered outside to look at the stars, but ended up walking closer to Dr. Wellington's tent. Inside that tent, Seti and Tarik were tending to Dr. Wellington, who was enjoying a very relaxing massage. “That archeologist and his zebra pet are getting far too nosy. Typical American. Can't mind their Ps and Qs.” “Huh?” Skye muttered, prompting her and Pete to get closer so they could listen in. “But tomorrow,” Dr. Wellington continued, unaware of the kids’ presence, “we’ll be rid of them and their annoying children, and the treasure will be mine-- er, ours.” Skye and Pete looked at each other in shock-- Dr. Wellington was a traitor to all of them! But what could they do? They were just kids, after all. Pete, while trying to get back to the tent, stumbled over some supplies behind him, causing a loud crash to go off that alerted Dr. Wellington and his henchmen that someone else was there. “Oh no no no no!” Skye whispered in terror. “Come on, Pete! We have to tell Mom and Mr. Thomas!” And with that, the two kids raced inside the other tent and over to their guardians, shaking them out of desperation. “Mariama! Grandpa, wake up!” Pete said worriedly, causing Thomas and Mariama to stir. And once they did, Pete explained what had just happened. “Skye and I heard Mr. Wellington say he's gonna get rid of us and keep the treasure for himself!” “What?” Thomas questioned, now fully awake. “Peter… really?” Pete and Skye both nodded to this, causing Mariama to gasp in fear, realizing what they were doing. “Oh, no…” However, Thomas muttered to himself in guilt, not believing he had wandered right into the traitor’s trap. “I should've known he was just a grave robber.” “What are we gonna do?” Skye asked, obviously very frightened. “Well, first off,” Mariama said gently, but also sternly, “we need to be very careful. Philip could be dangerous.” However, the second Mariama said this, Dr. Wellington had Tarik and Seti grab Pete and Skye, holding them in a tight grip and causing Skye to scream while Dr. Wellington smirked. “Could he now?” “We’re done helping you, Philip!” Thomas declared in anger while Mariama looked terrified for the sake of her daughter and her friend. “Oh, I think not, Professor Howard,” Dr. Wellington said with a slight sneer to his tone. “For the sake of your precious grandson and your closest colleague’s daughter, you'll do exactly what I want you to do.” Mariama and Thomas both knew that he was using manipulation against them, trying to get them to comply in order to save Pete and Skye. And unfortunately... it worked. They knew they would have no choice with the kids' lives on the line. Pete and Skye had never been so scared in their entire lives... and they knew that if they led Dr. Wellington to Cleocatra's tomb... ...it would end badly for all of them. Now, Skye wished that Violette and the older ponies were here-- they would be able to get them out of this situation. Little did they know, they would be reuniting with the heroes of Equestria within the next day's time. A Wild Balloon Ride, the Sandstorm and the Snake's Entrance to the TombThe unexpected betrayal of the century had finally been revealed. Not only did Ubasti have her own agenda in mind, but Dr. Wellington had been revealed to be nothing but a grave robber, threatening Skye and Pete’s lives if Mariama and Thomas didn’t lead him right to Cleocatra’s tomb. Of course, Mariama and Thomas both knew they had no choice. They couldn't endanger the lives of their loved ones because they despised Dr. Wellington and all grave robbers... they would never forgive themselves. So throughout that next night, Skye stayed huddled up to her mother, fearing for her life and all of their lives, hoping that the next day would provide them with a way out of this dastardly and quite sickening situation. XXXXXXXX That night was probably the best night of sleep that the Mane 6 and their friends ever had since this adventure started-- the desert night was cool, and the fact they were surrounded by their friends made things a lot more reassuring, especially for Violette and Mudbud, who couldn’t shake the fact that Thomas, Pete, Mariama and Skye were in some serious trouble. By the time the sun began to rise the next morning, the tribe was already busy, and a hot air balloon was being set up a few yards from where the Buddies, the Mane 6, Violette and their friends were watching. Eventually, Violette had to ask about the event. “What are they doing?” “They are sending balloon up in sky,” Babi explained to the unicorn filly, “to look for bad man and cat.” “And Babi thinks,” said Faith, “that this is the best way to find your friends. Traveling by air as a lot faster.” “Now you’re speaking my language!” Zipp said, spreading her wings. “Let’s get up into the sky and find the others!” “Hold on a second, Zipp,” Faith said to the white pegasus princess warily. “The winds up here in Egypt can be a little… much at times. It would be dangerous for you flyers to be up there without knowing these lands very well. You better ride in the balloon with the rest of us.” “Aw, man…” Zipp groaned out of frustration. “Let me get this straight, monkey and fox dudes,” said Mudbud, wanting to clarify what Babi and Faith were saying. “You want us to fly up in that balloon?” “Babi…” Rosebud looked over at the monkey warily, “...do you know how to fly that thing?” “Babi is good pilot,” Babi said with a comforting nod. “The best.” Faith then stuck her tail up into the air, waiting for a moment before smiling and nodding over at Babi. “The wind is blowing in the right direction.” And once the wind’s direction had been confirmed, Babi and Faith snuck over to the hot air balloon and climbed into it. “Quick, friends!” Babi beckoned the others. “Come!” “You heard the monkey, team!” Sunny said urgingly. “Let’s move out!” The Buddies, the Mane 6 and Violette quickly climbed into the basket of the hot air balloon, even though it was a bit of a slight squeeze, and Babi then used his dagger to cut the rope holding the hot air balloon close to the ground. Cammy and Tirako were there to wish their friends a safe trip, and Cammy looked up at the group as the balloon began to rise into the sky. “Buddies, I can never thank you and your friends enough.” “Bye, kids!” Mala bid farewell. “Be careful!” Haruma warned. “And be safe!” “Bye, Tirako and Haruma!” Misty waved cheerfully. “Bye, Cammy! Bye, Mala!” Rosebud bid farewell. “I hope we see you again!” “Good luck, everybody!” Tirako called out as he waved to his friends, watching them go out of sight while many of the Bedouins, including Farah’s father, watched in shock as the balloon, their only key to finding the others, floated out of sight. XXXXXXXX Pipp sighed as she felt the wind blowing past her face. “I know we’re not actually flying ourselves,” she admitted, “but… it feels good to be up in the air again.” “I’ll say,” Zipp said, smiling in agreement as she shook some sand from her body. “I’ll never be able to get all this sand out from under my wings.” “Keep your eyes open, guys,” Hitch said as he tried to watch the desert sands below. “The vehicles that Babi mentioned back at the oasis must be down there somewhere.” “Right,” Sunny nodded, keeping her eyes on the sands below as well. “And where those vehicles are, the others can’t be too far away.” So that’s just what the group did-- they kept their eyes on everything, hoping for anything that might point to where their friends were. And after a while of flying over the dunes, Mudbud eventually did see one of the vehicles below. “Look! It's the bad dude's Jeep!” “You’re right, Mudbud!” Violette agreed. “And since the truck is gone, that must be what they took to keep going.” “Hurry!” Izzy said, pushing against the side of the hot air balloon slightly to try and get it to go in that direction. “Follow those tire tracks!” “Sorry, Izzy,” Faith apologized with a slight frown, “but Babi doesn’t control the wind-- Allah does.” XXXXXXXX It was a cold, stony silence down in the truck, and Thomas drove the criminals holding him, Pete and the zebra family hostage right to where he thought Cleocatra's tomb was resting. And then, after a while, they eventually stopped, with Thomas climbing out of the truck first. “I think this is it, Peter.” “Thank goodness…” Skye muttered softly. “I really need to stretch my legs…” But as they got out, Dr. Wellington didn’t see anything pointing to the tomb right away, his frustration steadily growing. “So... hmm? Where is it?” “I’m sure it’s here somewhere,” Mariama said, trying to back Thomas up. “We can feel the energy.” “But I have a plan too,” Zipp said, pulling out her magic whistle. “If we can get close enough to Mariama, Skye and the others, they’ll be able to hear the whistle, and they might be able to spot us!” “Let’s give it a try, Zipp,” Sunny said before covering her ears with her hooves. “But everypony cover your ears-- this is gonna get loud pretty fast!” XXXXXXXX “The energy?!” Dr. Wellington said, shuddering mockingly before turning to Mariama and Thomas out of anger. “You worthless twits! You've led us nowhere!” “Don’t call my mom a worthless twit, you big meanie!” Skye shouted in defiance as a strange sound got Pete’s attention. “If she thinks the tomb is here, then its… huh?” Skye began to hear the same sound Pete was hearing, and as Pete got out his binoculars and searched around, he saw the same hot air balloon our heroes were riding in, and the sound appeared to be coming from it as well. “Skye, do you see that?” “Yeah, and I hear it too,” Skye nodded. “It sounds like Zipp’s whistle! But since the others being in Egypt is impossible, it must be somebody else that's looking for us!” “Grandpa, look!” Pete said as he pointed up into the sky. “A balloon!” Thomas and Mariama soon saw the balloon and heard the whistle as well, but since he couldn’t let Dr. Wellington know that they were being searched for, Thomas knew he would have to stretch the truth a bit. “Oh, don't be silly, Peter. There are no baboons in the desert. I think maybe you and Skye have been out in the sun too long. You should drink some water.” XXXXXXXX Zipp panted tiredly as she finally put her whistle away. “Okay… that’s all the breath I can put into this whistle for now,” she said to the others. “We just need to keep our eyes open for anything out of the ordinary-- that'll lead us right to them.” But after a few seconds, Violette gasped excitedly as she saw the truck, along with all of their friends and loved ones, right near the truck. “Guys! There they are!” “You’re right, Violette!” Izzy cheered. “We found them!” “Come on, dudes!” Mudbud urged excitedly. “Let’s land this puppy!” However, this remark was enough to confuse Babi slightly. “Land?” “Babi?” Faith looked over toward her monkey friend. “Please tell me you know how to land this thing.” However, Babi shifted a bit uncomfortably to this. “This part Babi is not so familiar with.” “Oh, great!” B-Dawg seemed extremely worried. “We're just gonna float away forever!” “Don’t worry, B-Dawg,” Buddha said calmly. “Panic is a wasted emotion.” “But Buddha, the wind is too strong for us to try and pull the balloon down ourselves!” Sunny argued as Hitch tried to catch his hat, which was blowing away in the strong winds. “If we don’t find a way down soon, the wind could pull us in a different direction!” “Babi know what make balloon go down,” Babi then reassured after getting an idea. “Hold on!” “Gee,” said Zipp sarcastically, “what else are we gonna do?” Babi then put the handle of his dagger in his teeth, and then began to climb up to the top of the hot air balloon while Faith and the others stayed in the basket. And once he got to a good vantage point, Babi poked a large hole in the side of the balloon, causing the air to slowly start leaking out. This ought to get the balloon down to the ground. However, what Babi didn't anticipate was the balloon starting to descend a lot faster than anticipated, causing the Buddies and Violette to start getting rather frightened. “Forget about what I said before,” Buddha said to the others as Babi laughed nervously. “Time to panic!” “AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” the others screamed at the top of their lungs, but even with Zipp and Pipp flapping their wings, they couldn’t get the balloon to slow down enough to make a safe descent. “Hold on, everybody!” Faith cried out. “We’re going in for a crash landing!” And that’s just what happened-- the balloon crashed onto a nearby dune before rolling down the hill at a rapid pace, causing the group to scream again as they were thrown from the balloon’s basket and out into the sand, getting insanely dizzy in the process. But, while they were dizzy, none of them were harmed. Everyone groaned out of dizziness, and Babi sighed and put a hand on top of his head. “Babi is dizzy.” “You can say that again, dawg,” B-Dawg groaned, causing Babi to sigh and put his hand on his head again. “Babi is dizzy.” “He didn’t mean literally! He…” Pipp groaned to herself. “Never mind…” “Come on, guys,” Misty said, getting onto her hooves and beginning to move forward. “The others aren’t far away-- there’s still a chance we can catch up.” XXXXXXXX Mariama hummed in thought as she felt her mane begin to blow around in a sudden gust of wind. “It feels like there’s a sandstorm coming in.” “A sandstorm?” Skye’s eyes widened. “Have you ever got caught in one before?” “Once or twice, so I’ve learned when to recognize the signs,” Mariama explained, but Dr. Wellington seemed a bit reluctant to believe it. “No, nonsense. Just a little breeze,” he dismissed the zebra mare's concern before turning to look at Seti and Tarik, gesturing to a nearby sand dune. “You two. Go to the top of that dune and have a look around.” XXXXXXXX The Mane 6, the Buddies, Violette, Babi and Faith were on their way to find the others, hiking across the desert sands once again, when all of a sudden, Sunny felt a strange sensation wash over her… and it seemed to be coming from the silver sun brooch that Mariama had given her back in Fernfield. “Huh?” “Sunny, look!” Rosebud commented. “Your brooch is glowing!” Sunny looked down and realized that Rosebud was right-- her brooch was glowing, and it was glowing rather brightly. “Mariama said that the brooch would glow if we were near danger, but… I don’t see anything around here that says ‘danger’... do you?” However, when Faith looked around, she gasped, her ears folding back in fright. “I definitely see something-- look!” The others looked where the little fox was pointing with her paw, seeing a huge cloud of sand rolling in their direction, causing Babi to gasp as well. “It is a sandstorm!” “A sandstorm?!” Zipp groaned in anger as the wind blew Budderball’s fez right off his head. “Just great! Literally just what we needed!” XXXXXXXX Seti and Tarik had just finished climbing to the top of the sand dune by this point, and when Seti saw the sandstorm heading in their direction, he instantly began to panic, heading back down the dune as fast as his feet could take him. “Ahh! Run! RUUUUUUUN!!!!” “Run for the truck, kids!” Thomas picked Pete up into his arms while Mariama and Skye ran for the truck as well, leaving Dr. Wellington to freeze in place as Seti and Tarik ran by. “Be safe, Mr. Wellington!” Seti cried out. “Run, Mr. Wellington!” And seeing that he had no other choice, Dr. Wellington ran for the truck as well, getting inside just as the ;arge sandstorm began to get closer and closer to their location. XXXXXXXX “What are we gonna do, Sunny?!” Misty asked their leader in panic. “You know from experience we can’t outrun a sandstorm!” “No, but maybe we can out-think it!” Sunny reasoned. “There has to be somewhere we can hide!” That was when Faith spotted a small cave inside another sand dune, instantly getting an idea so crazy, it just might work. “Quick, guys!” she shouted, gesturing toward the cave with her paw. “We can take shelter in that cave!” “In other words, run!” Zipp shouted to her friends, and the group immediately took off for the cave at a very fast sprint, with Violette and Faith trailing behind the group because of their smaller legs. After a moment, they were able to get inside the cave, and they stopped once they were safely inside, with Misty, Izzy and Violette using their horns as temporary light sources. “This is most fortunate, my friends,” Babi told the group. “We shall be safe here until the storm passes.” “Hey, Babi?” Hitch pointed out a lantern that was sitting not too far away. “Think you can light that lantern so we can have more light?” “Absolutely!” Faith nodded. “Babi, maybe this is a good time to use those matches we, uh… borrowed a week or two back.” Babi nodded and brought out one of the matches he had in his pocket, lighting it and using it to light the lantern before shining it around the cave. Turns out, this cave had a tomb-like interior, and on the wall was an entrance that looked like a giant snake… …something that caused B-Dawg to scream, hiding behind Izzy in worry. “Dawgs! This is really freaking me out.” “What… is this place?” Violette asked, not wanting to admit that she too was a bit nervous. “Call me crazy,” Pipp admitted, “but I think this is some sort of secret entrance used by those who built Cleocatra's tomb!” “Yes,” Babi confirmed, “but this secret entrance is protected by a large serpent.” “Serpent?” Budderball questioned. “What’s that?” “It’s a really big snake,” Faith explained before shuddering. “Babi and I can’t stand snakes.” “Ah!” B-Dawg groaned. For once can't something be easy peasy? Why can't it be protected by a bunny rabbit or something vegetarian?” “Snake or no snake, we’re so close to finding the collar and sparing everybody from Ubasti’s evil scheme,” Zipp said. “But like Cleopatra’s tomb, we probably won’t be able to use our magic in here.” “Oh, great,” Mudbud groaned. “So what’ll we do then?” “We’ll just have to work together as a team, like we always do,” Sunny said gently. “And not let anything scare us, no matter how hard they try.” Suddenly, a hissing sound reached Mudbud’s ears, and he and Misty turned to see a large serpent slithering their way, causing Mudbud to gulp nervously. “Uh, dudes, long, creepy, slimy thing at 12 o'clock.” “Oh no!” Sunny gasped. “It must be the serpent!” “I am afraid where you go, I cannot follow, Buddies!” Babi said before screeching in panic and running right out of the cave. “Babi! You get back here!” Violette called. “We need you to help us!” “Uh… not to worry, ponies!” Faith reassured, though slightly panicked. “I’ll go get Babi, and then we’ll go and find help-- I promise! BABI!!! WAIT FOR ME!!!” And just like that, Faith had run after Babi, leaving our group susceptible to the serpent closing in on them. But while the ponies seemed unsure of what to do, Buddha made the first move, sitting right in front of the snake. “Buddha?” Hitch seemed surprised by the pup’s calm behavior. “What in Equestria are you doing?!” “Calm yourself, Hitch,” Buddha said calmly as the snake slithered up to him, looking Buddha right in the eyes. “I am Slither,” the snake calmly introduced. “The serpent protector of Cleocatra's tomb.” “That… thing has a name?!” Pipp whispered to Zipp, who quietly shushed her. “We were hoping,” Buddha explained to Slither, “to secure your permission to enter the tomb.” “It’s kind of important,” Sunny said. “All dogkind, humankind and creature-kind may depend on it!” However, Slither was dead set in his ways. “I was put here to protect the tomb from all those who would seek its riches without wisdom. Only the descendants of Buddasi may pass.” “But how do we know for sure that the Buddies are descendants of Buddasi?” Violette asked the older ponies with worry, but Slither, already looking at Buddha again, already had a challenge in mind. “You,” he told Buddha, “must look me in the eyes. If I can hypnotize you, then your intentions are not pure, and you will become my supper.” Budderball couldn’t help but grimace at the sound of this. “That's the worst dinner invite I've ever heard.” “And if I can hypnotize you?” Buddha asked, leaving Slither to propose another part of the challenge. “Then you are descendants of Buddasi, guardian of man, and I will let you pass.” “...perfect,” Zipp smiled. “This might actually work.” “What?!” Pipp looked stunned. “Sis, what are you talking about? Buddha doesn’t have hypnosis magic!” “No… but you have something that might help us,” Zipp whispered back, gesturing to the flute Mariama had given her back in Fernfield. “If you can use that magic whistle to provide Buddha with some music, he might be able to charm the snake into submission!” “Ohhhhh… I get what you’re saying!” Pipp said with a wink before looking at Buddha, getting out her flute. “Whenever you’re ready, Buddha.” Buddha nodded to this, and then turned to face Slither again. “I accept your challenge.” Hitch whimpered nervously to this, covering his eyes with his hooves. “I sure hope this works…” “Believe me, Hitch,” Zipp whispered. “I do too.” Pipp took a few moments to prepare herself, then began to play a snake charmer's tune on her flute, her eyes closed in precision as the tune continued. And as the tune played, Buddha stared right into Slither's eyes and began to chant to his own accord. “Shanti, shanti, shanti…” The other ponies and Buddies watched this in slight trepidation, worrying that Buddha's calm nature and Pipp's musical talent might not be enough to charm the snake. But, after a few moments of Pipp's flute playing and Buddha's calm chanting, Slither's eyes slowly closed, becoming completely entranced by the duo's calmness and talent. Rosebud was the first to silently gasp to this. “He’s gone…” “Buddha, Pipp!” Izzy gasped. “You won!” “Way to go, dudes!” “Yay, Pipp!” “All right, Buddha!” “That was incredible!” Pipp giggled slightly at her friends’ praise. “Thanks, ponies… but Buddha was the real snake charmer. I just helped.” Slither slowly opened his eyes and looked directly at Buddha, a smile now on his scaly face. “You are the descendants of Buddasi! I have been waiting so long for you. You and your friends may pass, but beware of what's ahead, for there are more tests along this path.” “Trust me,” Hitch said with a nervous sounding chuckle. “We are well aware.” Slither then turned back toward the entrance to the tomb, and fire spit out from the snake’s mouth, lighting the oil torches that lined the hallways, much to everyone's slight surprise and intimidation. And once the oil torches were lit, Slither turned his attention back to the group. “If you need Slither again, I will be here... waiting,” he said before slithering to the snake-shaped hole in the wall. “Good luck, ponies and Buddies.” And with that, the snake had disappeared once more. “Okay, you guys heard the snake,” Misty said sternly. “We’ve gotta be careful.” “Misty’s right,” Zipp nodded. “You never know what's around the next corner.” “I-In that case,” B-Dawg stammered, “ladies first!” “Collar of Cleocatra,” said Violette with excitement in her tone, “here we come!” And so, the group made their way inside the tomb, and as long as they stuck close together, they were ready for whatever dangers lay ahead of them. Or at least... this is what they hoped. Troubles in the Tomb (Part 1: Finding the Collar of Cleocatra)The Mane 6, the Buddies and Violette finally managed to make it inside Cleocatra’s tomb through a secret entrance, passing the serpent Slither’s test to determine if they were worthy of entering, and once Buddha and Pipp used their talents and successfully worked together to charm the snake and hypnotize him, he let them go through. But they knew that they had a lot of challenges to get through if they were to get to Cleocatra's collar unharmed, so they could stop Ubasti and her wicked plans before it was too late. Little did our heroes know that the others would soon be joining them in the tomb, and they would all be experiencing the same kind of danger... just not at the same time. XXXXXXXX The sandstorm seemed to last ages, but after a while of waiting, the blowing sand finally cleared, and thankfully, Thomas, Pete, the zebra family, Dr. Wellington, Ubasti and Dr. Wellington’s henchmen managed to make it through without any sort of injury. And once the storm had definitely passed, everyone climbed out of the truck to get a good look around, the sand having been moved thanks to the storm's heavy winds. Once getting a good look around, Pete's eyes widened as soon as he saw something that looked like a large tomb that had cat-like statues and details all around it, pointing to it so the others could see it for themselves. “Grandpa, everyone, look!” Mariama and Thomas individually gasped when they saw this, and even Skye’s eyes widened in surprise. “Whoa… i-is that…?” “It is, darling,” Mariama could barely believe it with her own eyes. “It’s Cleocatra’s tomb!” “We’re rich, my dear,” Dr. Wellington greedily whispered to his hairless feline friend. “We’re rich.” “Only in my dreams have I imagined this moment,” Thomas said as they moved closer to the tomb to get a closer look and figure out how they were going to get inside. And upon getting to the door, Mariama hummed, a frown now visible on her face. “This door is merely a solid stone slab. It must weigh thousands of pounds.” “Thousands?!” Skye repeated, her eyes wide. “There’s no way we can open it without heavy duty equipment!” “Even then,” Thomas added, “it'll take months.” “No, it won’t,” Dr. Wellington dismissed. “Why do you think I brought the explosives? For a fireworks display?” Thomas was appalled by the talk of using explosives on one of the greatest archeological finds in history. “But the tomb is thousands of years old. We can't just use dynamite on it.” “Watch me,” Dr. Wellington threatened before turning to his two lackeys. “Tarik! Seti! Get the explosives.” XXXXXXXX At the same time, the Mane 6, the Buddies and Violette were wandering through the tomb, with Izzy holding the lantern Babi had lit on her horn, since their magic wasn't working inside the tomb. But after a few minutes of wandering, the group stopped before a long hallway, with part of it filled with a sandy booby trap that Rosebud had seen in books. “Oh no! Quicksand!” Violette pushed her hoof down onto the quicksand, and yelped as it began to sink, causing her to quickly pull it back out. “Yep. That’s quicksand all right.” “But since we flyers can’t use our wings,” said Pipp, “and Izzy and Misty can’t use their horns…” “...and since me and Sunny can’t use our earth pony magic,” continued Hitch with a worried look on his face, “how are we gonna get across?” “No problem-o, dudes, I'm an expert in all things dirt-related,” Mudbud reassured, stepping a bit closer to the quicksand trap. “Just roll with it.” And so, that’s just what Mudbud did-- he rolled right across the quicksand just like it was mud in his own backyard, eventually making it to the other side of the quicksand and looking up just in time to notice a button with a paw print on the wall. “Huh?” Out of general curiosity, Mudbud pushed the button with his paw, and a long platform rose up from the sand, stretching all the way across the pit. “Whoa!” Sunny commented, a bit impressed that Mudbud was able to figure that out. “Nice move, Mudbud!” “Thanks,” Mudbud smiled. “You can make your way across now, dudes and dudettes.” And so, the group made their way across the pit using the platform, but as they went on, the platform lowered itself back down into the pit unti someone else could get across and push the button again. XXXXXXXX Back outside the tomb, Seti and Tarik were setting up the explosives just as Dr. Wellington told them to do, while Mariama and Thomas were trying to stop the criminals from accidentally destroying a piece of ancient history. “The discovery of Cleocatra's tomb is priceless,” Thomas protested. “It belongs to the Egyptian people.” “Oh, please,” Dr. Wellington scoffed. “I'm every bit the archeologist you are, Professor Howard. I simply do it for profit, not for silly accolades.” “No, Mr. Wellington,” Mariama said as her eyes narrowed in anger. “What you do is illegal and immoral. If my daughter’s life didn’t hang in the balance, we would have left you in the dust miles ago.” At the same time, Pete and Skye had approached the door to see what they could find, but as Tarik and Seti were just finishing up rolling out the explosives, Pete saw what looked like a giant coin slot in the middle of the stone door, and felt that his grandfather and the other grownups should know about it before the explosives went off. “Grandpa! There's a slot in the door!” “No! Pete! Skye!” Thomas immediately ran over with Dr. Wellington (with Ubasti in his arms) and Mariama at his heels. “Get away from there!” “I got it!” Mariama said quickly, pulling the cord attached to the explosives so they wouldn’t go off, and Tarik and Seti eventually unplugged their ears when they realized the explosives weren’t going to go off. And once he saw that Pete was right about there being a slot in the door, Thomas immediately brushed the slot off before realizing what went in there. “The disc! Philip!” “Yes, yes,” Dr. Wellington handed Thomas his half of the Bronze of Bastet, and once the two halves had been put together, Thomas slid the disc into the slot. There was a groaning sound, probably because of the mechanism being put into work, just before the large, stone slab started to move off to the side, revealing the inside of Cleocatra's tomb at long last. And as the door slid open, Thomas turned to look at Dr. Wellington with a narrowed gaze. “There, you see? I've gotten you here.” “...come on, kids,” Mariama said gently. “We’re gonna find our way through here.” And so, the group began to enter the tomb, but Mariama instantly stopped the group when she saw fire inside the oil torches that Slither had lit with his fiery breath. “That’s strange… the oil torches are lit. Someone else is here!” And unbeknownst to the others, Ubasti knew just who had beaten them to the tomb. “It can only be those filthy mutts and their meddling horse friends. They've beaten me to it!” However, Dr. Wellington refused to believe that someone had beaten them to the punch just yet. “The opening of the door must've triggered the lighting of the torches.” Unfortunately, Ubasti knew better than to believe her human’s foolishness, and began to wiggle around in his arms. “What is it, Ubasti? No, no, no!” Dr. Wellington said as Ubasti leapt out of his arms and down another hallway, determined to find her way to the collar on her own. “Ubasti, come back here! Ubasti! Ubasti. Whoo-hoo, Ubasti… Ubasti?” And seeing that they had no choice, the others were forced to follow Ubasti, wanting to make sure the hairless cat didn't get lost in the tomb on her own. XXXXXXXX Elsewhere inside the tomb, unaware that the explorers were entering the tomb as we speak, the Mane 6, Violette and the Buddies were climbing up a tall staircase that seemed to spiral on and on forever, and it was exhausting poor Budderball to the point that he was panting much heavier than his siblings. “I sure wish... that ancient Egyptians... invented elevators.” “You and me both, Budderball,” Violette panted slightly. “Sometimes I hate having small legs.” Suddenly, the group stopped at the end of a long hallway that seemed to have all sorts of strange tiles on the floor, and something in Sunny's mind was telling her that something was very off. Unfortunately, B-Dawg wasn't sure why Sunny was holding everyone up at the beginning of the hallway when they could be going on. “Yo, what's the holdup?” “It may be my alicorn side,” said Sunny, “but there’s something strange about this hallway.” “Psh, you guys are worrying too much,” B-Dawg scoffed. “This room looks pretty normal to me.” “Remember what Slither said,” Buddha tried to advise his brother, but B-Dawg was already walking onto one of the large tiles in the hallway. “Ah, that snake's been trapped here too long. He's loony, yo-- AHHH!!!” Suddenly, the tile under B-Dawg crumbled, and B-Dawg would have fallen if it weren’t for Budderball and Izzy reacting with speed and strength. “B-Dawg!!” Budderball quickly grabbed his brother by the tail while Izzy grabbed Budderball’s waist in her hooves, keeping B-Dawg from going down into the pit of snakes below the floor. And needless to say, B-Dawg was quite horrified with the thought of falling into the pit of slimy, crawly snakes below. “Hang on!” Rosebud called. “Budderball’s got you by the tail!” “And Izzy’s got Budderball too!” Hitch said. “Just don’t panic!” “HURRY!!!” B-Dawg cried, ignoring Hitch all together, and working together, Budderball and Izzy were able to pull B-Dawg to solid ground again. “Nice going, you guys!” Zipp cheered. “That was too close.” “Are you okay, B-Dawg?” Misty asked in genuine concern. “Yeah, but… uh…” B-Dawg tried to get himself together. “You know what? I'm gonna bounce. What do you say I meet you dawgs back in Fernfield?” “No way are we giving up,” Violette said sternly. “We just need to find some way to get across this hallway without triggering another snake pit… if there is one.” “Hey, Iz?” Zipp looked over at Izzy. “Think you can use that magic glitter Mariama gave you to see if there are any more of those pits under us?” “You got it, Zipperdoodle!” Izzy said, getting out the glitter and tossing it onto the floor, and the glitter glowed before revealing more and more snake pits underneath some of the floor tiles. “Whoa!” B-Dawg yelped. “No way, uh-uh! No way we can get across with all those slimy, legless... things under us!” However, as Rosebud glanced over at the markings on the wall, she started to connect several dots together. “Hmm… look at this, guys. It's ancient writing called hieroglyphics.” “Yeah,” Pipp nodded. “That’s how people in ancient Egypt wrote things to one another, but… what does that have to do with anything?” “Remember last night, Pipp? We saw Bedouins playing this, but much smaller!” Rosebud explained to the others, turning to look at the hallway again. “You have to get to the other side, but can only move on specific squares.” “Good remembering, Rosebud!” Sunny nodded with a smile. “Okay, guys… let me and Rosebud go first, to see if we can figure out the right combination.” And so, Rosebud and Sunny began to hop from square to square, with Izzy throwing her magic glitter on the tiles that they jumped on in order to keep track. And once they had successfully made it to the other side, Rosebud gestured for the others to follow suit. “Come on, guys-- jump only on the squares that Sunny and I did.” “Okay…” Zipp nodded slowly. “Sounds easy enough.” And so, with extreme precision, the group slowly made their way across the hallway by jumping on the squares that Sunny and Rosebud jumped on. And as they did this, they came across a door at the end of the hallway, but when Hitch tried to push against it to get it open, all he got was a boat load of struggling. “It’s no use… this thing just isn’t gonna budge!” “Wait a second,” Misty said before reaching for the key that Mariama gave her. “This key can be used to unlock any door, remember? This could be our ticket inside!” “It’s worth a try,” Sunny nodded. “Go for it, Misty.” Misty nodded to this and began to move her key in the direction of the door, and as soon as the tip of the key made contact with the door, the key glowed and the door opened, letting the group inside. But when they all finally got inside... ...all they found was an empty room, with nothing in particular to get them anywhere else within the tomb. “I don’t get it,” Mudbud frowned. “Yeah,” Violette nodded as she glanced around. “It's just a big, empty room.” But as soon as Violette said this, the door behind them closed, sealing them inside the empty room, which caused Pipp to whimper, her ears folding down slightly. “Not a good sign…” “I guess the key only works for a short time,” Misty said with a frown. “Gonna need to let Mariama know about that when we find her.” “But we need to get out of here first! And since we don’t have magic,” Sunny sighed, “does anyone have any other ideas?” Suddenly, a scarab beetle flicked right off the wall, landing right on Budderball's snout, causing him to gasp before gobbling the bug right up and off the floor. “Bugs. I love bugs.” “That’s disgusting,” Rosebud said as Pipp tried not to puke, and Budderball hummed to himself after a moment. “Hmm. A little slimy when they're uncooked, but still not bad.” However, more bugs started to appear from cracks in the walls, and soon, at least a thousand of them had started to crawl down the walls toward the group. “Uh, Budderball…?” Violette gulped nervously. “I don't think they appreciate you eating their cousin.” “We’re gonna get eaten by bugs!!” Izzy shrieked. “What do we do?!” “Uh… give me a minute to think, Iz!” Sunny said just before she yelped and staggered back. “Uh, actually, give me two minutes!” “We don’t have two minutes, Sunster!” Zipp shouted out of desperation. “We need a plan right now!” As the ponies tried to keep the beetles back as best they could, Rosebud looked down at the floor to see a button in front of her, similar to the one they had seen back at the quicksand pit. “Hey, it’s another one of those buttons!” And the second Rosebud pushed it, a trapdoor opened up, causing the group to scream as they slid down a long slide into another part of the tomb. And thankfully, none of them were harmed by the beetles that had closed in on them. Once everyone had gotten their breath after getting off of the slide, Zipp turned to look at her friends. “Is everypony okay?” “As far as we know, yes,” nodded Buddha. “But that brings up the question… where are we?” Pipp asked, but as Mudbud looked around and saw the cat themed sarcophagus, plus all the cat statues around the room, he suddenly knew where they were. “Dudes, this looks like Cleocatra's tomb!” “But… does that mean…?” Misty began to say. “I think so,” said Sunny, “but there’s only one way to know for sure.” And so, slowly, Mudbud and Sunny approached the sarcophagus, and not long after, they saw the golden necklace with the green jewel that looked like a cat’s eye, and instantly, they knew they had finally, at long last, found one of the greatest treasures in history. “It’s the lost collar of Cleocatra!” A Party in Bastati and the Unveiling of the Cat's Eye CollarAt long last, our heroes had completed their latest Unity Quest mission. The lost collar of Cleocatra was finally safe, Ubasti had been turned into a statue due to her greed, and Dr. Philip Wellington was now going to be arrested for his crimes in grave robbing, thanks to the help of the Egyptian Secret Service. Violette and Skye couldn’t be happier to be reunited with one another, and the Mane 6 even shared some of their magic with Skye and her mother so they would be able to understand animals too, but they had to promise they wouldn’t tell a whole lot of people. If word of this gift got out to the wrong people, things might not go over well. Now, let's get back to the story, to see what our heroes are going to do to celebrate their apparent success. XXXXXXXX Once our heroes had successfully completed their mission, they were able to use magic to get everyone back to Bastati for the biggest celebration of the year-- complete with dancing, food, friends, and the relief that the danger they were in had finally passed. Thomas, Pete, Farah, her father (now known as Amir), Mariama and Haruma were up on the balcony, watching all of the festivities, and Amir turned to Thomas with a pleased smile. “Thank you for your great discovery, Mr. Howard. The Egyptian government is most grateful, and is willing to compensate you for your efforts, of course. You are a national hero.” Thomas couldn’t help but smile to this. “Finding the treasure is all the compensation an archeologist needs,” he said before looking down at Pete. “And if I'm a hero, then one of my young archeologist partners is one, too.” “It’s true,” Mariama nodded. “Without Pete, my daughter and their friends, we wouldn't be standing here right now.” “Thanks, Mariama. Thanks, Grandpa,” Pete smiled. “But the other ponies, Violette and the Buddies deserve a lot of the credit.” “Hmm…” Haruma looked around, but didn’t see Skye anywhere in sight. “Mariama, where is your daughter? I thought she would be up here relishing in the glory of your victory.” “Oh, my daughter is down in the courtyard with her new friends,” Mariama said with a gentle smile, watching Skye interact with all of her new friends. “She deserves as much fun as anyone, and I’m happy to let her spread her wings and be on her own for a while.” XXXXXXXX Skye and Violette sat side by side as they, the older ponies and the Buddies conversed with Faith, Babi, Cammy and Tirako, since Skye could now understand the Buddies, Cammy and Babi... which was one of the best things that had happened to her on this trip. After a moment, Mudbud decided to display his thanks, a smile growing on his muzzle. “We'd like to thank you four dudes.” “Mudbud’s right,” Sunny nodded. “We couldn't have done it without you.” “Yeah, dawgs,” B-Dawg nodded. “You four are da bomb!” “It was Babi’s pleasure,” Babi said warmly, causing Cammy to smile. “And mine too.” “Maybe we’ll see you guys again,” Violette added. “Hopefully sometime soon.” “Oh-ho, you know it,” Faith said with a wink. “Next time there is a treasure to be found, you can count on me and Babi to be there!” Back up on the balcony, the others could hear the cries of Dr. Wellington, who was tied up against Mala and being watched over by some guards. “In the name of Her Majesty, the Queen, untie me!” Dr. Wellington commanded fiercely. “Take me to the British Embassy!” “We must go now and take this dirty grave robber to the jail, where he belongs,” Amir said before shaking Thomas’ hand and Mariama’s hoof. “Thank you, again. If there is anything I can do for you, please, let me know.” However, after looking at one another, Thomas knew what he and Mariama wanted most in the world, and Amir was just the guy they needed in order to successfully make it happen. “Amir, I do actually have a request.” XXXXXXXX Upon returning to Fernfield, the Mane 6 played an important part in planning the unveiling ceremony of the lost collar of Cleocatra, and Amir, Haruma, Farah and Tirako were flying all the way from Egypt in order to be in attendance. The day of the ceremony, a large crowd (including Pete’s parents) had gathered inside the museum, taking lots of pictures, and Thomas was the first to speak to the waiting crowd. “First off, I'd like to thank the Egyptian government,” he said, glancing in the direction of Amir, Farah, Haruma and Tirako, “for allowing the debut of this great archeological find to happen here in our hometown of Fernfield, saving our museum.” “And we must extend our gratitude to some very special archeologists,” Mariama added, looking at her daughter and Pete. “My daughter Skye and Thomas' grandson, Peter. And then, of course, the Buddies and their Equestrian friends!” Izzy giggled and waved her hoof at the crowd as Thomas prepared to move the cloth from the display case. “And now, without further ado... the lost Cat's Eye necklace of Cleocatra!” Once the necklace was revealed, the crowd erupted into cheers, and even Pete’s father couldn’t help but be impressed. And as the crowd continued to cheer and take pictures, Deputy Sniffer turned to the Buddies, with the Mane 6 and Violette listening in. “If only your great grandpappy, Digger, could see you. Chips off the old block, five doggone explorer pups. He'd be very proud.” Zipp giggled to this, rubbing B-Dawg on top of the head. “He sure would, deputy. He sure would.” At the same time, Pete looked over toward the necklace in the display case. “That's a cool necklace.” “Yeah... it is beautiful,” Skye nodded. “Isn’t it, Pete?” Thomas merely chuckled to this. “And I'm glad we found it so the world can enjoy it, too.” Mariama nodded to this, a smile growing on her own face. “But Thomas and I both learned a very important lesson on this trip, more valuable than even gold or jewels. We have the greatest treasures in the world right here.” Sunny smiled at this interaction, turning to her friends with a delicate smile. “And we have a treasure very similar to the bonds of family... true friendship. And no matter where we go, or what we do next... nothing is ever gonna change that.” And this was a very true statement. Because even though our heroes would have to return to Equestria within just a few hours... ...the bonds that they made on the Unity Quest would never be broken.
The Grand Reopening of the Bridlewood History MuseumAuthor's Note Before we get started, I'd... like to say something. Between the time my last story was posted and now... I lost my two best friends. There was a misunderstanding within a message that one friend sent me about the other friend and when I was confronted with that misunderstanding, I lied about it. That was something I never should have done. I learned that they never really forgave me about it, and... after that incident went down, and they got closer... I started getting jealous. I loved that I brought them together, but with my crazy schedule with school and this series and my own life... I felt left out. But... lying about the misunderstanding was wrong, and I should've just told the truth. I don't know if I'll ever get their trust back, and for that, guys... I am so sorry. You guys never gave up on me... at least, until now. Truth is... I deserve to be given up on. I never meant to drive you guys away, but I guess I did. I accept if we're not gonna be friends anymore, if that's what you guys really want, but... I at least wanna dedicate this story to you. One of the friends planned to write this story with me before we argued, and this was always one of the other friends' favorite movies. You'll always be my friends, even if you don't consider me your friend anymore. ...let the story begin, I guess. The Grand Reopening of the Bridlewood History Museum It had been a couple of weeks since the Mane 6's last Unity Quest ended, and needless to say, they were in some desperate need of some time off. On their last mission, they reunited with Mystery Inc and a bunch of new friends to save a maiden space voyage, and they once again had to face off against Alterro in order to successfully escape from the moon base, which the culprits behind the alien, former astronaut Shannon Lucas and a Sun Jaguar named Aruna, set to blow. Naturally, everyone escaped, but they knew that Alterro's thirst for revenge was only going to get more intense from that moment on. They had to be more careful on these Unity Quests, otherwise their next mission could be their last. After their last mission, the Mane 6 took the opportunity to spend some time on the Boardtrot, tending to their stations and going on rides when they had a free moment-- Sunny even got Comet a job so he could look after her shop when she wasn't there. But one day, Izzy got an invitation in the mail all the way from Bridlewood… and from her favorite crafting protege, Violette Rainbow! Violette’s aunt, Scarlet Cloud, had been restoring the Bridlewood History Museum for quite some time, and now, it was finally ready to be re-opened, and she wanted Violette to invite the Mane 6 to be guests of honor for the ribbon cutting ceremony! How could our heroes say no to that? And as we speak, they are currently heading to Bridlewood for this all-important ceremony, not knowing that this would lead to their most important Unity Quest mission yet... and this was a mission that would bring them back to a place they've already been with friends that they had already met. XXXXXXXX “Whoo-hoo!!!” Izzy cheered with her head out the window of the Marestream as it flew through the sky. “I can taste the wind!!!!” “And, you’re also going to catch a fly if you don’t stop sticking your head out the window,” Hitch said, pulling her away. “So… probably not the safest idea.” “Your loss, Hitchie-Poo,” Izzy shrugged. “Oooh… I’m just so excited to see Violette and meet her aunt!” “It has been a while since we’ve seen her-- probably since training camp to be ready for if Allura invaded,” Sunny said in thought. “And I know that she’s probably gonna be over the Luna moon to see us all again.” Misty noticed that Sunny had been unusually quiet during the course of their trip, and couldn’t help but wonder what it was about. “Sunny? Are you thinking about Alterro again?” “How can I not, Misty? He… he tried to manipulate me,” Sunny shuddered. “Maybe not with his magic, but he tried to make me think that I was superior to everyone else.” “I didn’t wanna admit it at first, but… our last encounter with Alterro scared me too, just like it scared Sparky,” Hitch said. “I’m glad I left him with Grandma Figgy for the day so, in case we had to face Alterro again, it wouldn’t bring back any bad memories for him.” “Good call, Hitch,” Pipp sighed before remembering something that honestly made her shudder. “Do you think… Alterro escaped from Sly Moon Prime before it went down in flames? He was trapped in that ice…” “I don’t know,” Zipp sighed, shaking her head from the driver’s seat. “I mean… the good side of me hopes he DID survive, but… then again, if he did, he would be free to search for the other map pieces.” “And if he did,” Misty sighed, “he would be two steps ahead of us.” “...hey, we can’t think like that, ponies,” Izzy said to her friends gently. “We’re gonna find the alicorns and Sunny’s mom, I can feel it in my hooves! Like Sunny always says... we just need to have hope.” “...you’re right, Izzy. My mom has to be okay, and we’re gonna find her soon enough,” Sunny nodded with a faint smile. “And, we might even find something to further our search in the Bridlewood History Museum!” “And speaking of Bridlewood,” said Zipp with excitement in her voice as the Marestream began to descend, “we’re here!” Turns out, Zipp was right-- they were touching down right in front of La Villa Izzy, the treehouse (quite literally) where Izzy used to live before she moved to the Brighthouse in Maretime Bay. And wouldn't you know it? Violette Rainbow was already there waiting for them! Violette Rainbow is quite the special filly-- not only is she Izzy's crafting pupil, but she also has a unique look. She had a purplish brown unicorn with white spots she has due to vitiligo, long lavender dreadlocks that swoop over to her right and she has a cutie mark with a pink heart-shaped paint board with two paintbrushes. And upon seeing her teacher getting out of the Marestream, Violette gasped and immediately ran over to her. “Izzy!!” “Violette!” Izzy squealed just before she hugged Violette tightly. “Oh, my glitter, it’s been so long since we’ve seen you!” “I hope it’s okay that you’re here to see us, Violette,” Sunny said. “The opening ceremony is gonna start soon, and your aunt might be wondering where you got off to.” “It’s not like when I ran away with the Buddies, trust me. I told Aunt Scarlet I was gonna come and escort you to the ceremony and she said that was a great idea,” Violette said. “Nothing to worry about. Oh! And Aunt Scarlet wanted me to ask Pipp if she wanted to perform a song before the ceremony started, to kinda get ponies hyped up.” “Oh, it would totally be my honor!” Pipp said with an excited tone in her voice. “And I know just the song I wanna perform!” XXXXXXXX Within just a few minutes of arriving, a huge crowd had gathered in front of the museum, which (like a lot of buildings in Bridlewood) was built into a large tree, and they were all eager to hear Pipp perform one of her biggest hits... ...and one of Pipp's personal favorites. Pipp: I'm feelin' fresh Like my mane is on fleek Happiness is all I need Spreadin love from you to me (Uh, uh) Somethin' about about the way I'm feelin' (Feelin') Like everypony got a glow (Glow) Shining brightly with a power (Power) Just spread the colors of the rainbow (Rainbow) I got my make up on Got that glitter and glam Oh, this my favorite song Yeah, they playing my jam I feel beautiful, I feel powerful I feel me... The crowd cheered at the top of their lungs as Pipp reached the second reprise of the chorus. Pipp: I'm feelin' fresh Like my mane is on fleek Happiness is all I need Spreadin love from you to me I'm feelin' fresh Magic all around my friends Celebration never ends Oh cuz we always a ten Wo, ho, ho, ho, ho I'm my best self everypony can tell Wo, ho, ho, ho, ho I'm my best self everypony can tell Izzy then tossed Pipp a hand mirror prop to use in the next verse of the song, and Pipp found it hard to stop admiring her reflection while doing so. Pipp: When did this mirror get so gorgeous? (Gorgeous) Who's that, is that me? (Me) I got my make up on Got that glitter and glam Oh, this my favorite song Yeah, they playing my jam I feel beautiful, I feel powerful I feel me I'm feelin' fresh Like my mane is on fleek Happiness is all I need Spreadin love from you to me I'm feelin' fresh Magic all around my friends Celebration never ends Oh cuz we always a ten Wo, ho, ho, ho, ho I'm my best self everypony can tell Wo, ho, ho, ho, ho I'm my best self everypony can tell And by the time the song ended, the crowd was on their hooves, cheering and applauding as Pipp left the stage to reunite with her friends. “Nice one, sis,” Zipp said to her sister with a proud smile. “You really got them hyped up.” “Thanks, sis,” Pipp said, flicking her mane to the side. “It takes a lot of work to keep your fans happy, you know.” “Look!” Violette said as she pointed to the stage again. “There’s my aunt!” As it turns out, Violette's aunt, Scarlet Cloud, was now taking the stage-- her pink coat glimmered in the sunlight, and there was a singular white streak in her pink mane and in her pink tail. She also had emerald-green eyes, and a cutie mark of a feathery quill, representing her need for writing down notes and studying different artifacts. And once the cheering had died down, Scarlet stepped up to the microphone and smiled. “Thank you, Princess Pipp for that astounding performance-- and thank you to all your friends for joining us today. We are so excited to be reopening the Bridlewood History Museum after such a long restoration, and I think you’ll all be thrilled to see more exhibits than ever before!” The crowd cheered once again to this, and Scarlet levitated a very large pair of scissors up into the sky for the crowd to see before levitating them over to Sunny. “Sunny, would you and your friends do the honors of opening the museum to the public?” “It would be an honor, Scarlet,” Sunny nodded with a smile, and she and her friends each put a hoof on the scissors. “And now, we declare the Bridlewood History Museum officially… reopened!” And with that, the ribbon was snipped, and everyone cheered before slowly making their way inside the museum, leaving the Mane 6, Violette Rainbow and Scarlet Cloud outside to oversee that everyone got their time inside. Scarlet Cloud happily sighed and rubbed her niece’s head affectionately once they were alone. “Your mother is lucky that I offered to take care of you while she was at a conference in Zephyr Heights. And I’m so glad I finally get to meet your friends in person.” “We’re glad to meet you too, Scarlet,” Misty smiled. “Violette’s quite the little adventurer, if you didn’t already know.” “Oh, I know all about my niece’s adventurous spirit,” said Scarlet with a chuckle. “She told me quite a bit about her Unity Quest adventure with all of you, and the golden retriever puppies she met and made friends with.” “The Pippsqueaks told me they got to meet the Buddies too,” Violette added. “And I’m glad they’re friends, but… I kinda sorta miss them.” “Aww, they miss you too,” Pipp said. “Especially Mudbud and Rosebud. But maybe we’ll get the chance to take you back to Fernfield.” Scarlet then turned to Sunny, a sympathetic smile on his face. “Violette also heard that you’re looking for the pieces of a map to Skyros in order for you to find your mother. I found a few alicorn related artifacts that I think might be able to help you in your search.” “Really?! Oh, that would be so amazing! Thank you so much!” Sunny said, gladly shaking Scarlet’s hoof before turning to her friends. “What are we waiting for, guys? Let’s go in and get searching!” “Aunt Scarlet, can I go in and help them?” Violette asked her aunt sweetly. “You know how much I love spending time with Izzy and her friends.” Scarlet nodded to this, a smile growing on her face. “Sure you can, sweetie pie. Just stay with them at all times, okay?” Violette nodded to this, a wide smile growing onto her face. “I will!” And so, the Mane 6 and Violette filed inside the museum to look for the Skyros and alicorn exhibit, hoping to get a good clue as to where the next piece of the map was going to be hidden. XXXXXXXX They managed to find the alicorn and Skyros section rather easily, and from what they found, alicorns were able to control all sorts of different elements-- fire, water, plants, crystals, ice, wind, dark magic, light magic… all the works. However, since Sunny could shift from earth pony to alicorn form, she wasn’t sure what kind of special alicorn magic she possessed. That was when Zipp found an interesting piece of parchment in a glass picture frame. “According to this, before Princess Cadence turned into an alicorn, she was found as a pegasus filly in the forest, and she was taken in and raised by a village of earth ponies. And as she grew, she filled their lives with love and compassion.” “Oh, I heard that story from my dad once!” Sunny nodded. “One day, Prismia, a reclusive sorceress who harbored jealousy toward the villagers, used a powerful necklace that amplified her evil and jealousy to drain the villagers of their love, causing them to become sad and afraid.” “Oof… that sounds like something Opaline or Alterro might try,” Misty said. “So, what happened next, Sunny?” Violette asked. “Did Prismia drain Cadence’s love too?” “I’m getting to that,” Sunny chuckled before turning to her friends and getting back to the story. “When she saw what Prismia had done, Cadence confronted her and defeated her with the very magic she stole, and Prismia changed her ways. And as a result, Princess Celestia, one of Opaline’s sisters as we now know, recognized Cadance as a true princess, turned her into an alicorn, and adopted her as her niece.” “So it sounds like ponies like Twilight Sparkle and Cadence were one of the VERY few ponies who ascended to alicorn-hood,” Misty said, “and Sunny is the first earth pony in history to do the same!” Sunny chuckled nervously to this. “Great… no pressure or anything.” “That just makes you really special, Sunny,” Hitch said, putting a hoof right on Sunny's shoulder. “And why you’re the perfect pony to lead us-- leading is in your blood.” Violette then looked down and saw a very familiar sight-- the Mane 6’s cutie marks glowing, and when she looked down, she gasped when she saw her cutie mark glowing as well. “I don’t think Sunny will have to wait long to put her leader skills to good use-- look!” And by the time the Mane 6 noticed their glowing cutie marks, their magic caused a portal to open up on a nearby wall. “All right!” Izzy cheered. “Unity Quest time again!” “And it looks like you’re coming with us, Violette,” Zipp smiled. “Just stay close and we’ll be fine.” “All right!” Violette cheered. “Let’s go go go!” And so, the Mane 6 leapt right into the portal on the wall with Violette Rainbow following behind, and soon, they were off on another Unity Quest mission... though they didn't have any idea where they were going this time.
Returning to Fernfield, Hearing Stories and Making New FriendsDuring the grand reopening of the Bridlewood History Museum, the Mane 6 and Violette Rainbow (whose aunt was the curator and pony in charge of the museum) were summoned once again by the Unity Crystals for a new mission, and Violette couldn’t be more excited. She hoped that they were going to go back to Fernfield and see the Buddies again, but even she knew that was probably going to be a bit of a long shot. Nevertheless, Violette was eager for a new adventure, where she might get to show some of her adventurous spirit and explorer skills to Izzy and her friends. Now, let's get back to the story to see what's going to happen to our heroes next. XXXXXXXX When the portal on the other side finally opened, the Mane 6 and Violette stepped out of it much smoother than the last time they had a mission together, and this gave them a chance to look around the small community that they had landed in... ...a small community that Sunny recognized from earlier Unity Quests. “It looks like you’ll get your wish to see the Buddies again after all, Violette-- we’re finally back in Fernfield!” “Yes!” Violette pumped a hoof before looking toward a nearby building and pointing to it. “And look! We’re right in front of the Natural History Museum!” “Huh, I wonder if this is where the Buddies are,” Zipp hummed. “Or if the Unity Crystals want us to find something about the map of Skyros here.” “Only one way to find out!” Violette said with a smile. “Let’s go!” And with that, Violette raced toward the doors of the museum with the Mane 6 trying to keep up with the excited filly. The one thing Violette didn’t anticipate was accidentally barreling into somepony at the door. And this somepony was actually a young zebra filly named Skye, who had a black and white striped body, she has pink hair with purple streaks in it. She has lime green eyes, braces and black hooves. Her cutie mark is a post it note with a pen drawing on it. Violette gasped as soon as she saw the zebra filly, feeling bad for what she did. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there! Are you okay?” “Yeah, I’m okay,” Skye said as Violette helped her up. “I guess I was too much in my own thoughts to really pay attention.” That was when Skye saw Violette’s splotchy coat, her eyes widening in surprise. “Your fur… it’s so… different from other unicorns I’ve met.” “Oh… yeah, it’s sort of a me thing,” said Violette with a blush. “My name’s Violette Rainbow, and this is my crafting teacher Izzy, and all her friends-- Zipp, Hitch, Sunny, Misty and Pipp.” “Oh, I-I’ve heard of the six of you!” Skye said to the older ponies, a wide grin now on her face. “You’re the ones who went to space with the Buddies a few months ago!” “Hold on,” said Misty. “You know the Buddies?” “They’re kind of celebrities around here,” Skye admitted. “Mudbud’s owner, Pete? His grandpa is actually the owner of the museum, and my mom is sort of like his assistant. Oh, my name’s Skye by the way.” “Nice to meet you, Skye,” Sunny smiled. “We’re actually looking for the Buddies, to kinda… catch up with them. Are they here?” “They sure are-- Pete’s grandpa and my mom are giving a tour, and the Buddies are watching and listening to Mr. Howard's stories of when he was an archeologist,” Skye nodded. “I’ll take you to them!” “Awesome! Thanks, Skye!” Violette said, and without any further delay, the Mane 6 and Violette followed the little zebra filly into the museum, with Skye and Violette striking up a conversation rather quickly, and clearly becoming really good friends. XXXXXXXX And as it turns out, Skye was right-- the Buddies (composed of four brothers-- B-Dawg, Budderball, Buddha and Mudbud, along with their little sister, Rosebud) were following behind the tour group in question, with Pete (Mudbud's human) and Pete's grandpa, Thomas Howard, at the front of the group. But unlike the Mane 6 and Violette, Skye and a lot of other Equestrian creatures that lived in Fernfield couldn’t understand the Buddies… at least, not for long. As the Buddies followed behind the tour group, their canine ears picked up the sound of some excited voices behind them. “Buddies!” “Guys!” “We’re finally back!” “Hold on, dawgs,” B-Dawg said, glancing around warily. “Did anyone else hear that?” “It might just be me,” Buddha said, “but it sounded a lot like…” That was when the Buddies looked back and saw the Mane 6 and Violette with Skye, causing Pipp to fly up and vocalize. “We’re heeeeeeeeeeeere, yeah!!!” “Sunny! You guys are back!” Rosebud said before she and her brothers raced toward the group. “And you brought Violette!” The Mane 6 and Violette laughed as they were suddenly barreled over by a pack of very eager pups, but they didn't mind getting licked on for a change-- they were just happy to see their Golden Retriever friends again. Skye watched this reunion from where she was standing, and she felt her heart literally melt at seeing her new friends and the Buddies so happy to see one another. Finally, Sunny nudged Mudbud off of her and smiled. “So, how are Buddy and Molly doing?” “Great! Dad’s been winning his games as usual,” Mudbud said, “and we see them all the time when we’re in town-- we gotta take you to see them while you're in town.” “How long are you gonna be in town this time?” Budderball asked curiously. “You know, we’re not exactly sure,” Hitch admitted. “But, as long as we are here, we need to catch you guys up on current events.” “Sunny? Ponies?” That was when everyone turned to see Pete, Mudbud’s human, approaching them with a look of surprise. “Oh, hi, Pete!” Sunny greeted with a smile. “Skye here was just telling us about your grandpa ran this museum, and since we were in town, we had to check it out.” “Yeah, it’s pretty great,” Pete nodded with a smile before sighing. “It’s too bad the museum is closing, though.” “Closing?” Zipp’s head perked up at this. “Why?” “It’s kinda hard to explain, but… Grandpa and Mariama sure seem bummed out about it,” Pete admitted before getting what seemed like a good idea at the time. “Come on… you can join the tour and me and Skye can introduce you guys afterwards.” “That sounds great!” Violette smiled. “Come on, Buddies-- let’s go catch up with the group!” The Buddies barked excitedly before following Pete and the older ponies down the hall, giving Skye the chance to look over at Violette in surprise. “Wow, they really respond to you.” “Oh, uh… yeah. We’ve been through some really wild predicaments together,” Violette said, half-truthful with her claim. “It was a whole story that I gotta tell you later. Come on, let's catch up to the group.” And with that, Violette raced after her friends, leaving Skye a bit confused, but she decided to shrug it off before following after her new friends, excited to see where the tour was and what stories there were to be told. XXXXXXXX When Violette and Skye caught up with the rest of the group (which contained students from Pete's class from school), Pete’s grandpa, Thomas Howard, and Skye’s mother, Mariama (who had a striped coat and a pink and purple mane like her daughter, but also had aqua green eyes, an earring in her ear, a purple bag and a cutie mark is a little seaweed with a little heart on top) were standing in front of a display case that had half of a metal disk inside, and on the wall behind it was a picture of a younger Thomas, a younger Mariama and a Golden Retriever with an off-white bandanna around his neck that looked a lot like Mudbud... except Digger was covered in sand, and not dirt. And Pete's grandpa was right in the middle of telling the story of how he, his dog and best friend Digger and Mariama found it many years ago... 40, to those who want to be precise. XXXXXXXX A bark was heard across the Egyptian sand, and a Golden Retriever much like the Buddies, named Digger, stopped running right near a small cave sticking out of the sand dunes. Digger was actually the Buddies’ great-grandfather, and he and Thomas had been together ever since they were very young… right around the same time that Thomas met Mariama. Both of them, at the time, were very skilled archeologists, and once they found what was called the Bronze of Bastet, they would be able to find one of the most amazing treasures known to history-- the tomb and necklace of Cleocatra, the feline companion of Cleopatra. A young Mariama followed right behind Digger, panting slightly as she looked back at Thomas, who trailed behind. “Thomas, I think Digger wants us to stop here-- this must be where the Bronze of Bastet is!” Thomas nodded as he approached, rubbing Digger on top of his head. “I think you’re right. Okay, Digger-- see if you can track it down. We’ll be right behind you.” Digger did as he was told, entering the hole he had found with Mariama and Thomas right behind. They made sure to be careful where they stepped-- in ancient Egypt, booby traps were created to keep ancient treasures safe from horrible thieves who wanted to sell the ancient treasure for hard cash. Eventually, they stopped in a larger part of the cave, where a bit of sunlight from the desert above shone down through a small hole in the ceiling. And upon sniffing around a specific spot in the sand, Digger barked and began to dig at that very spot. “Good boy!” Mariama praised, rubbing the dog on the head with her hoof. “Now, we just need to keep digging.” “Here, grab a shovel,” Thomas handed her a small shovel. “The Bronze of Bastet isn’t gonna uncover itself.” And so, with Mariama and Thomas using shovels and Digger using his front paws to move the sand out of the way, they were soon able to uncover a stone chest under the sand, with a picture of a cat drawn onto the top, along with some other hieroglyphics that Mariama wasn't able to understand at the time. “We’ve done it, Digger!” Thomas put his shovel down and rubbed the Golden Retriever on the head. “Good boy.” “Now, if I remember the story of Cleocatra correctly,” said Mariama in thought, “there’s a secret mechanism that triggers the lid to come off. And if I’m right… that mechanism should be within the cat’s eyes.” Thomas pressed where the cat’s eyes were on the chest, and a secret mechanism was then activated, causing the chest to open all on its own, revealing half of a bronze disk, and in the middle was the symbol of a cat’s eye. And while this was an amazing find for certain, when Thomas lifted it out, he couldn’t help but express confusion. “The other half is missing.” “Someone must’ve gotten it before us,” Mariama hummed with a frown, “and we won’t be able to find the collar without both pieces!” Suddenly, Digger let out a bark just as the large cavern began to rumble, and Thomas was immediately figuring out what was going on. “The chest was booby-trapped!” “Run, boy!” Mariama exclaimed to Digger as the cave quickly began to collapse on them. “Run, boy! Run!” But as the three were beginning to escape the cave, Digger noticed that Thomas had dropped the first half of the Bronze of Bastet, and barked to let him and Mariama know about it. However, Thomas was smart enough to know that one half piece wasn't enough to risk their lives over. “Leave it, Digger! It's too dangerous! Let's go!” However, Digger was not one to give up that easily-- much like his future great grand-pups were. So, dodging the falling debris of the cave, Digger ran back and grabbed the first half in his mouth before running after Thomas and Mariama. Speaking of Thomas and Mariama, the two had managed to dive out of the cave just in the nick of time, but Mariama noticed that Digger wasn't with them and instantly feared the worst. What if he didn't make it out of the cave in time? But luckily, Digger was only a short distance behind them, jumping right out of the cave with the first half of the Bronze of Bastet in his mouth, right as the cave collapsed entirely. Thomas and Mariama sighed in relief, as seeing Digger safe and sound was the only thing on their minds in that moment. “Good boy,” Thomas praised, rubbing the dog down. “You really knew what to do back there, didn’t you?” “He may have just preserved a piece of history for the world to see,” said Mariama, taking the disc piece from his mouth before smiling at him. “What would we do without you, Digger?” Digger only panted to this question, knowing that the duo wouldn't be able to understand him... but honestly? He wouldn't have it any other way. XXXXXXXX “...and so, Digger, Mariama and I,” Thomas began to conclude the story for the tour group, “made it out just as the tomb collapsed.” “And,” Mariama added as she eyed her daughter with her new friends, along with Deputy Sniffer, “we brought this single half of the Bronze of Bastet back to Fernfield for everyone to enjoy. Now, if you’ll follow me.” And so, the tour group began to follow Mariama and Thomas away, including Pete and Skye, while the Mane 6, Violette and the Buddies stayed behind with Deputy Sniffer. And as the tour group left the area, Mudbud looked up at the picture of Digger, Thomas and Mariama, complete admiration within his gaze. “Whoa, Digger was the coolest dude ever.” “Perhaps Digger's spirit lives in you,” Buddha pointed out to his brother. “You both love dirt.” “I won’t argue that,” Pipp said with a bit of a giggle. “And I bet Digger disliked baths just as much as you do, Mudbud.” “Hey, I can’t help it,” Mudbud said with a bit of a slight pout. “How else am I going to show I’m a go with the flow kind of pup?” “Yo, Digger was old-school cool,” B-Dawg said, interjecting into the conversation with his chest puffed out in pride. “I'm the new fly dog.” “I met your great grandpappy when I was knee-high to a grasshopper,” Deputy Sniffer told the Buddies. “One of the bravest dogs I’ve ever met.” And when Deputy Sniffer said this, Budderball completely ignored what he said about Digger and focused on the part about grasshoppers, shuddering in complete disgust. “I heard grasshoppers and bugs are a delicacy in some countries. Can you imagine ever being so hungry you have to eat bugs?” “Yeah, right, Budderball,” Rosebud rolled her eyes playfully at the oldest of her four brothers. “You'd eat anything… other than vegetables.” “Hey, come on, Rosebud. It’s not Budderball’s fault he has a bunch of meat on his bones,” said Violette with a smile. “It’s one of the qualities I like about him.” “Aw, thanks, Violette,” Budderball smiled. “I like that about me too.” “But then again… the part about the Bronze of Bastet and the collar of Cleocatra sounds interesting,” Zipp said as she reviewed the notes she had taken from Thomas’ story. “We uncovered Cleopatra’s tomb, but I wonder if Cleocatra’s tomb will ever be uncovered.” “Well, we’re never gonna find out if we don’t get back to the tour,” Hitch said, gesturing for the group to follow him so they could catch up with the tour. “Besides, I wanna meet Mariama and Pete’s grandpa for myself.” XXXXXXXX At the same time, Thomas and Mariama had led the tour group over to an exhibit that showed Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, surrounded by a bunch of cat statues. But as the tour group got settled, Skye’s gaze settled on a man holding the strangest cat she had ever seen-- it had no hair! And it seemed to glance in her direction with a strange glare. However, her gaze snapped back to the tour when Thomas spoke up again. “As the legend goes, Cleopatra was given a necklace, which contained the powerful jewel of the Cat's Eye,” he said, not noticing the man with the hairless cat at first. “But, somehow, it became lost.” “But,” Pete added, “you almost found it, didn't you, Grandpa?” “We certainly tried, Peter,” Thomas told his grandson gently before turning to the tour group again. “Well… that concludes our last tour.” And with that, the crowd of people within the tour group applauded for Thomas and Mariama, being their tour guides and all, and Mariama smiled at them. “Thank you. Thank you all for being here. Have a wonderful day.” The tour group began to split off at this, except for Skye and Pete, who looked up at the adults with admiration in their eyes. “Wow, Mom!” Skye smiled. “That was great!” “Well, if you and Pete liked it, sweetheart,” said Mariama, “that’s enough for me.” “Why does the museum have to close?” Pete asked sadly. “It’s such a bummer.” “Yes, Pete, it is a... bummer,” Thomas said, using his grandson’s wording carefully as they walked past the Bronze of Bastet. “And,” Mariama said with a sad shine in her eyes, “we haven't had the funding to acquire a new exhibit in quite some time.” Mariama took out the Bronze of Bastet for a moment, glancing at it longingly before Skye put a hoof on her mother’s shoulder. “It's really too bad you and Digger never found the other half, and the lost necklace of Cleocatra.” “Yes… it is a shame,” Mariama nodded slowly before smiling at her daughter and Pete. “But I sincerely hope that someday, young archeologists like you find it, and not some greedy grave robber.” “Grave robber?” Everyone turned to see the Mane 6 and Violette approaching with all of the dogs, and Skye’s eyes lit up in recognition. “Oh! I nearly forgot! Mom, Mr. Howard, these are some of the Buddies’ friends from Equestria. They saved Buddy and Molly from the dognappers that Henry and Noah told us about, remember?” “Ah, yes, I remember now,” Thomas smiled and shook Sunny’s hoof. “Welcome back to Fernfield. I’m Thomas Howard, Pete’s grandfather.” “And I’m Mariama, Skye’s mother,” Mariama introduced with a smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” “The honor is ours. That story you told was pretty incredible,” Zipp said. “We’re sort of… explorers ourselves.” “It’s true!” Violette smiled. “Izzy and her friends have been on all sorts of adventures together, including going to Egypt and helping uncover the secrets of Cleopatra’s tomb!” Mariama gasped with recognition in her eyes. “Of course! I remember you now! I heard all about that on the news!” “Huh, our reputation really precedes us,” Pipp said with a smile on her face. “From Egypt, to Fernfield, and onto so many other places!” “But I guess we missed the rest of the tour,” Misty sighed. “I was kinda hoping to hear more about that Cleocatra legend.” “Well… we don’t normally do something like this,” Mariama said, glancing at Thomas, “but… why don’t you come back into the office with us? I’m sure we have a file all about the legend of Cleocatra, and the Cat’s Eye necklace.” “That would be glitter-rific!” Izzy said, bouncing in place. “And Violette can play with the Buddies while we’re busy!” “That’s definitely something I wouldn’t mind doing,” Violette said with a smile. “And I’ll make sure we don’t get into any trouble-- that’s a hoof to heart promise.” “Thanks, Violette. As soon as you’re done playing, head to the office and meet us there,” Hitch said, rubbing the filly on the head. “We’ll also see if we can find anything about Skyros while we’re there.” “Have fun!” Skye said before she left with her mother, Pete, Thomas and the Mane 6, leaving Violette, the Buddies and Deputy Sniffer in front of the statue of Cleopatra. “You know, I always wondered something,” said Violette curiously. “How did dogs become man's best friends if cats were first?” “The Cat's Eye necklace was believed to have magical powers,” Deputy Sniffer explained the story to the young ones. “Legend has it Cleocatra had plotted to steal it. They say she wanted to change the order, making cats rulers over all Earth's creatures, including man. But, somehow, she was foiled by the legendary pup, Buddasi. Cleocatra's necklace was never seen again.” “Buddasi, huh?” Violette mumbled to herself. “I wonder if he was some sort of distant relative to the Buddies from thousands of years ago…” “That’s definitely a theory, little one,” Deputy Sniffer responded with a bit of thought in his tone. “But all we know is the order was changed and dogs became man's best friend, and cats were banished.” “I guess that's why it's in our DNA to chase cats, dudes,” Mudbud told his brothers and sister with a smile. “When I see one, I just can't help it.” B-Dawg, on the other hand, was focused on something else-- one of the cats looked VERY lifelike, because it was the same hairless cat the British man was seen traveling with earlier. “Uh, did you see that?!” he asked when he saw the cat move slightly. “The cat's eyes moved!” “Huh,” Budderball tilted his head. “Must be one of those optical delusions.” “Oh, don’t worry, B-Dawg,” Deputy Sniffer chuckled reassuringly. “Those cats are just statues. Now come on-- I better take you pups home before it gets too dark.” “I’ll take Mudbud to the office to go see Pete and the others,” Violette offered. “I wanted to see if the ponies found anything else about Cleocatra anyway. Wanna set up a time for us to play tomorrow?” “Sure,” Rosebud nodded with an excited smile on her face. “We can’t wait.” Violette and Mudbud then walked toward the office while Deputy Sniffer took the remainder of the Buddies out of the museum to take them home. However, B-Dawg sniffed the cat that he could have sworn he saw move, and decided to try and be bold and take a stand against his fear. “Come on, cat, I'm gettin' all up in your grill. What are you gonna do about it?” However, as he thought, the cat didn’t speak, making B-Dawg smirk to himself. “Yeah, that's what I thought. You ain't nothing but a skinny, bald, scaredy-cat.” Unfortunately, the cat hissed at B-Dawg, causing him to gasp and run after his brothers and sister, not wanting anything to do with this cat before she stalked off. But who was this hairless cat anyway? And what was her and this British man’s deal? Well... we're just going to have to wait and see for ourselves.
Troubles in the Tomb (Part 2: Chases and Fights Ensue)After a VERY long while of hiking across the desert, making new friends, tumbling down sand dunes, escaping a sandstorm and navigating the tomb of Cleocatra, the Mane 6, the Buddies and Violette finally managed to reach their destination... ...the central focus of Cleocatra's tomb, where the lost collar of Cleocatra lay in wait. And by the looks of it, Ubasti and the others hadn't made it their yet, so that was a good thing in itself. But you may be wondering when our two groups of heroes would finally reunite, right? Well, that question will soon be answered in the next to lass chapter of our story, so sit back, relax and lets see if our heroes can make their mark on history as we know it, as well as save their friends from certain doom if Ubasti's plans went through. XXXXXXXX In another part of the tomb, the group led by Thomas and Dr. Wellington approached the same quicksand trap that the Buddies and their friends passed through a few minutes earlier, which was evident when Dr. Wellington stuck his cane a good ways down into the sand before pulling it out. “Oh no!” Mariama realized. “It’s a quicksand trap!” “How are we gonna get across?” Skye asked her mother in confusion. “There’s no bridge or path that I can see.” “Ah, that’s an excellent idea, my dear,” Dr. Wellington said before turning to one of his lackeys. “Tarik, we need a bridge. Lie down.” However, by how scared Tarik looked, it was clear that he wasn't going to lay on his back to sink in a pit of quicksand. “All right,” Dr. Wellington nodded in confirmation before looking at Tarik’s cousin. “Seti, you lie down.” “Yes, you do it, Seti!” Tarik accused, prompting both cousins to get into an argument that ended with Seti pushing Tarik into the quicksand pit on his back. “Tarik!” Seti cried out, immediately regretting what he had done. “I'm very sorry!” “Well done, well done. Yes, very brave. Very brave,” Dr. Wellington commented before walking across Tarik, as if using him like a bridge, causing Tarik to groan in discomfort. And once Dr. Wellington had made it across, Thomas grabbed Pete’s waist, ready to hoist him up onto Tarik. “Are you ready? All right.” “Up you go!” Mariama said gently as Thomas lifted Pete onto Tarik, and Pete nearly lost his balance, if it weren’t for Skye stepping on behind him to keep his balance. “I got you, Pete!” Skye told her friend. “Just one step at a time.” And so, Skye and Pete began to move across Tarik's body, sometimes struggling to keep balance, but the encouraging words of Thomas and Mariama were enough to get them to keep going, all the way across to the other side. Then, it was Thomas and Mariama's turn, with Mariama helping to keep Thomas balanced, and once they had gotten across, Seti crawled across his cousin's body in order to reach the other side and to keep him from hurting his cousin. But by the time they had all made it across, Tarik's body was partially buried under the sand, with his face sticking out... and Dr. Wellington didn't really seem bothered by this fact. “Right, well, carry on.” “We can’t honestly leave Tarik there to suffer!” Mariama stomped her hoof defiantly. “There has to be a way to lift him out of the quicksand to safety.” But at the same time, Thomas found the button that Mudbud had pushed earlier and studied it, pressing it just as Pete looked over his shoulder. “What do you think it means, Grandpa?” “Mom! Pete! Thomas!” Skye pointed toward the quicksand. “Look!” And as the others looked, the platform that had helped the others get across the quicksand earlier was now raising, much to Thomas’ delight and amusement. “It's raising him up!” “Tarik!” Seti laughed in joy as Skye and Mariama pulled Tarik off of the platform and onto solid ground. “Tarik, you're safe! Tarik, you're safe!” XXXXXXXX Back in the central part of Cleocatra’s tomb, the Buddies, the Mane 6 and Violette stood around the collar of Cleocatra, unable to take their eyes off of it for a few moments. They had waited so long to find this thing, and now that they had… they felt a sense of relief wash over them. However, Budderball was still wondering one thing. “What should we do with the collar now?” “Well,” said Misty, “we’ve gotta take the collar for safekeeping, so Ubasti doesn't get her paws on it.” “Not just for us,” Mudbud continued with a serious look imprinted on his muzzle, “but for all mankind, creature-kind and dogkind.” “That bling is super fly, yo. I'll get it,” B-Dawg said before leaning forward and letting the collar slip around his neck, unaware that the Cat’s Eye jewel was glowing faintly. However, Rosebud didn’t think that B-Dawg wearing the collar was a very safe idea. “B-Dawg, why are you wearing the collar?” “Relax, sis,” B-Dawg brushed off his little sister’s worry. “I gave that monkey my bling, so I'm just borrowing this until we get home.” “As long as we keep the collar safe, I don’t care who wears it,” Zipp said sternly. “Just be careful with it, B-Dawg. We don’t want it falling into the wrong hands.” However, the group had no idea that Ubasti had seen B-Dawg putting on the collar, and while they were least expecting it, she ran into the room and hopped onto the sarcophagus, glaring over at the Buddies and their friends with disdain, much to Violette's surprise. “Ubasti?!” “Now,” Ubasti said with a sickeningly-sweet purr. “if you would kindly hand over what is rightfully mine.” “No way, Ubasti,” Sunny said defensively. “We found the collar fair and square,” Zipp added, “so it’s coming back to Fernfield with us!” “Besides,” Budderball said with a satisfied huff, “seems to me you're outnumbered five-to-one.” Ubasti merely hummed at this, a smirk coming across her face. “Well, we'll see about that.” Even though the ponies couldn’t use their magic at the time, they could still feel a strange energy echoing through the room, and the faintest meows could be heard as the cat statues around the room began to come to life right before the group’s eyes… …and to Budderball’s complete terror. “Guys, is it just me, or are those statues moving?” Ubasti merely smirked at the group’s stunned nature. “I believe the numbers just got more in my favor, Slip and Blubberball.” “Uh-oh…” Hitch and Budderball gulped nervously. “Uh, I’d like to point out that while those kitties might look kinda cute,” Izzy said, trying to remain optimistic, “they do NOT look very friendly!” This was obvious, as seen by one of the statues hissing and jumping at Izzy, only for Violette to kick it away before thinking of their only way out at the time-- fleeing for their lives. “Run, guys! Run!” And so, the Mane 6, Violette and their golden retriever companions broke into a sprint as they ran out of the main part of the tomb, with Ubasti and her new statue cat servants following right behind them. They had to get that collar back before the others got there... otherwise Ubasti's plans would go down in flames. XXXXXXXX Around the same time, the others arrived at the hallway with the symbols on the floor, and Skye let out a shriek as she saw the snakes beneath the floor, not wanting to get anywhere near snakes in general. “Wow,” Thomas commented, shining his flashlight around the hallway. “It’s like Senet, the ancient Egyptian board game.” “They played board games back then?” Skye raised an eyebrow. “Not like the board games we have today, dear,” Mariama said, “but something very similar.” “Right,” Dr. Wellington practically pushed Seti forward, further into the hallway. “Off you go!” Seti let out a scream as he jumped to one of the squares, and then, despite Thomas’ best efforts to try and warn him, Seti jumped to the wrong square, falling right into the pit of snakes, causing Thomas to shield Pete with a hug. “Don’t look, Peter!” “I already looked…” Skye said, covering her eyes with her front hooves, causing Mariama to try and comfort her. And not having a heart, Dr. Wellington turned to Tarik to give it another go. “Well, Tarik, you're next. Off you go!” However, seeing what happened to his cousin traumatized Tarik so much that he ran back the way he came, not wanting anything more to do with this expedition. This left the others on their own, to try and figure out how to get across the hallway and continue onto the main part of Cleocatra's tomb. XXXXXXXX The Mane 6, the Buddies and Violette panted as they finally came to a stop in another part of the tomb, having lost Ubasti and her cat statue minions after quite a long chase… much to Violette’s relief. “I think we lost them.” “Thank goodness,” Pipp sighed. “My hooves were gonna get tired from all that running!” “What are we gonna do?” Hitch asked desperately. “We don’t have any magic to protect us in here!” “We may not have magic, but we still have each other,” Sunny said gently. “We just need to remember what we learned about the booby traps in here, find our friends and get out of here before those statues find us again.” However, as they were talking, B-Dawg's eyes glowed green and became more feline like, and he felt a strange tingle suddenly wash over him. “Yo, dawgs, I feel kinda weird. Meow!” Budderball paused and blinked over at his brother. “Did you just meow?” “Oh, no you didn't call me a scaredy-cat. Them be fighting words,” B-Dawg threatened. “Meow!” “Okay, I may have sand in my ears,” said Izzy, “but I’m pretty sure you DID just meow, B-Dawg.” “There's no way I just meowed,” B-Dawg denied again, and Buddha instantly began to piece together what was going on with their usually canine brother. “I believe it's imperative that we remove the collar from B-Dawg.” “You’re right, Buddha,” Misty nodded. “It looks like its turning B-Dawg into a cat!” “Meow! No!” B-Dawg yowled. “You cannot take my bling!” And as B-Dawg meowed again, he ran off down the hall, much to Rosebud’s inner frustration. “B-Dawg, no! Come back here!” But before the others could go after B-Dawg, several of Ubasti's cat statue minions showed up in front of them, cutting them off from following B-Dawg. “Oh, great…” Zipp groaned. “Now what’re we gonna do?!” “Okay, I have an idea-- we just need to divide and conquer,” Sunny said sternly. “Violette, go with Mudbud and Misty. Pipp, you come with Rosebud and me. Budderball with Hitch and Buddha with Izzy. Zipp is gonna go another direction and find B-Dawg before he succumbs to the power of the collar completely.” “Sounds good to me!” Izzy nodded in compliance. “Let’s get crafty with it!” And so, the assigned groups ran their separate ways (with Misty giving Hitch her key in case he and Budderball might need it), hoping to lose the statues before long and get back to the mission at paw and at hoof. XXXXXXXX Pete had been looking at the floor for a few moments, and basing off of what his grandfather and Mariama said about the game, it looked like something that he and Skye might be able to do. “Skye and I can get across, Grandpa.” “We can?!” Skye blurt out before clearing her throat. “Oh, uh… totally we can!” “Wait, kids,” Thomas said sternly, getting down to their level. “Listen to me.” “Do it,” Dr. Wellington threatened, and after Mariama growled at him in anger, she turned back to the kids again. “Only jump on the squares that we tell you to, all right?” “Uh-huh,” Skye and Pete nodded in compliance. “Start here,” Thomas gestured to the first tile, and then went in order from that point onward. “Now, plow. Lion. Man. Trees. And life.” Skye and Pete leapt to each one with precision and quickness, eventually making it to the other side, much to Mariama and Thomas' relief. “Come on, Grandpa!” Pete beckoned for his grandfather to go next. “After you,” Dr. Wellington said with bitter politeness, and Thomas glared right back at him before jumping to the first square, with Mariama following shortly behind. XXXXXXXX Mudbud, Misty and Violette ran down the halls of the tomb as fast as their legs could take them, eventually coming right back to the quicksand trap that they encountered just a little while ago. Luckily, the three of them already knew what to do by this point-- roll across. And once they had, two of the cat statues came to the start of the quicksand pit, and Mudbud couldn't help but try and taunt them. “Come play in the kitty litter, dudettes.” However, the cat statues jumped right into the quicksand, prompting them to start sinking. “Come on, guys! Hurry!” Misty said. “Before they call for more of their friends for help!” And so, the three of them ran off just as the cat statues sunk further and further into the quicksand, never to be seen again. XXXXXXXX “Sunny, Pipp! Hurry!” Rosebud called to the ponies paired with her as they tried to escape two cat statues of their own. “The cats are still right behind us!” Pipp and Sunny panted as they knew Rosebud might be right, and they soon got to the hallway that looked like Senet, but luckily, Rosebud had memorized which squares to jump to, so she led Sunny and Pipp right across. But as they got across, the cat statues came up from behind, and tried jumping across the hallway, but eventually stepped on the wrong square and went falling into the snake pit. This caused Pipp to giggle slightly. “That'll teach them to underestimate a blonde with a pink bow and her friends. Come on!” “Wait for us, Pipp!” Sunny called as she and Rosebud soon ran after the pink pegasus princess, hoping that she wouldn't run so far ahead that they would lose her entirely. XXXXXXXX Hitch and Budderball used the key Misty had given them to enter the empty room where they had first entered Cleocatra's tomb, and two of the cat statues followed them inside, snarling and hissing quite dangerously. However, while Hitch prepared himself to charge at the cats, Budderball saw the button Rosebud had pushed and got another idea to get these cats off their tails. “Wait. I just need a little lunch break-- right, Hitch?” “Right!” Hitch said with a smile, realizing Budderball’s plan. “Hey, bugs! Bon appétit!” And with that, Hitch pressed the button, and the trapdoor sent him and Budderball screaming down the slide again, arriving in the main chamber of Cleocatra's tomb. But above them, they could hear the terrified yowls of the cat statues as they were presumably eaten alive by the bugs in the room. “Whoa,” Hitch shuddered in disgust. “The service must be terrible up there! Come on, Budderball-- follow me!” Budderball instantly pursued after Hitch, not wanting to see the remains of the cat statues if they ever came out of that empty room alive. XXXXXXXX As for Izzy and Buddha, they ran all the way to the opening of the tomb where they had met Slither, and the final two cat statues pursued them inside, with the cat statues hissing dangerously and frightening Izzy slightly. However, Buddha remained calm in the face of danger, merely smiling at the devious-sounding statues. “I believe meditation can help with your anger issues.” The cat statues, as expected, were a bit confused to this, but as they turned around, they came face to face with Slither, who smirked a menacing smirk of his own. “You,” he said to the statues, “will become by supper.” Of course, the cat statues were intimidated, slowly backing away from Slither and giving Izzy and Buddha a chance to escape, reunite with their friends/siblings and put a stop to this evil plan of Ubasti's once and for all. XXXXXXXX Around the same time, the others had finally stumbled into Cleocatra’s tomb, unaware that the Buddies, the Mane 6 and Violette had already been there, but at the moment… they wouldn’t have cared. It was too big of a discovery to notice anything else at the time. “Oh… oh my word…” Mariama gasped in awe. “It’s amazing!” “I don't believe it…” Dr. Wellington muttered before noticing that the necklace had gone missing. “There's... there's nothing here. Someone beat us to it!” XXXXXXXX “B-Dawg?! B-Dawg!!” Zipp cried out as she galloped through the tomb, searching for her cat-turned-dog friend. “Ohh… think, Zipp! If B-Dawg has been turned into a cat thanks to that necklace’s spell, then what might he do that’s cat-like?” Suddenly, as she perked her ears up to listen, she heard B-Dawg’s voice from around the next corner. “A mouse? I love chasing mice! Meow!” “Chasing mice?!” Zipp muttered to herself. “Oh, B-Dawg…” Zipp then ran in the direction that B-Dawg’s voice came from, hoping to find the pup before long, and eventually, she did-- B-Dawg had just missed a mouse that had been scurrying down the hallway, and B-Dawg was now sniffing where it had disappeared into the wall. “B-Dawg!” Zipp gasped as she trotted over to him. “Thank goodness you’re okay! I was so worried!” “Oh, hey, Zipster,” B-Dawg greeted as if nothing was wrong. “I was just gettin’ in on the mice-chasin’ hype. Wanna join in?” “Wha… no!” Zipp groaned before guiding the pup to a nearby mirror to prove her words were right. “B-Dawg, the collar is turning you into a cat! And if you don’t believe me… well... just look for yourself!” Of course, B-Dawg wasn't sure if he was going to believe Zipp's words at first, but when he finally looked in the mirror and saw his glowing, green cat-like eyes, he let out a scream of terror. “It's my worst nightmare! I'm turning into a cat! Get this collar off me!” “No problem there!” Zipp said, taking the collar off of B-Dawg and tossing it on the ground behind her, letting B-Dawg’s eyes return to normal, just as the others came from other hallways. Rosebud, however, was the first to try and check on her brother, frowning in concern. “Are you okay, B-Dawg?” “I... I think so,” B-Dawg said before trying to speak again, only to cough up a hairball instead, causing Zipp to back up in disguise. “Ewww, gross!” Izzy gagged. “Hairball!” “I’m glad I got you back to normal in time,” Zipp said, rubbing B-Dawg on top of the head. “You almost crossed over to the dark side!” “Now,” said Sunny, “all we need to do is wait for Misty, Violette and Mudbud to get here, and then we can find the others if they’re here and then leave Ubasti in the dust.” “Hey, speaking of which,” said Budderball, looking around, “has anyone seen Ubasti?” “Huh… come to think of it, no,” Pipp thought for a moment, but shook her head. “She was never around us during our chase. I wonder where she is.” However, Pipp didn't have to wonder long-- Ubasti came up right behind Zipp and B-Dawg as Mudbud, Violette and Misty came into the room, cackling as she slipped the collar on over her neck. “It’s finally mine!” “The collar!” Mudbud gasped as Ubasti ran down the hallway with the necklace, causing Violette to growl in anger. “That’s it! I’ve let this go on far enough! Come on, Mudbud! We’re not gonna let her hurt anyone else ever again!” “Violette, Mudbud! Wait!” Misty cried out as Mudbud and Violette ran off after Ubasti, causing the others to quickly try and pursue, so their friends wouldn’t get too hurt. XXXXXXXX Back in the main part of the tomb, Thomas couldn't help but marvel at the sights of the chamber that they had been waiting to uncover for the past few days... what he and Digger desired to find for so long. “This is, perhaps, the greatest historical discovery since King Tut's tomb!” “You were right, Grandpa,” Pete nodded, causing Skye to sigh a bit. “I just wish Violette and the others were here to see this.” “I don’t know, dear,” Mariama said comfortingly. “It seems to me that they might be closer than one might think.” It was then that Ubasti ran into the room with the collar around her neck as she jumped onto the sarcophagus, earning Dr. Wellington’s immediate attention. “The necklace. You found it, Ubasti,” he praised softly before slowly coming closer. “Ooh, bring it to me, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty. Yes.” However, Ubasti nearly hissed and clawed the side of Dr. Wellington’s face, scratching him and causing him to stumble back in surprise. “Ubasti…” Ubasti didn’t care about her human any longer-- she was so close to achieving her goal. And so, she faced the head of the sarcophagus, laughing and unknowingly letting those in the room with her understand her, thanks to the collar’s magic. “Finally, the moment I've been waiting for my whole life! Now is the time for cats to rule.” “M-Mom?” Skye blinked in shock. “I-Is Ubasti… talking?!” “I-It would seem so,” Mariama nodded slowly. “It must be the effects of the collar taking hold on her!” However, Ubasti paid no mind to the zebra’s stunned conversation, focused on the task at paw. “First, dogs will be banished, and shortly after them, all Equestrian creatures!” “UBASTI! STOP!!” Skye gasped as soon as she saw Violette and Mudbud enter the room, standing next to the sarcophagus, with Violette pawing the ground with her hoof. “You’re not gonna get away with this! If you just give the collar back, this can all be over!” “You’re too late, Failette,” Ubasti scoffed. “Your best friends here will be nothing more than my slaves! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!” Suddenly, the eyes of the sarcophagus began to glow a bright green, and Ubasti felt elated-- in just a few moments, she would be granted full power, and no one would be able to stop her then. “It’s happening!!” Mudbud and Violette backed away from the sarcophagus when they saw this happening, but instead of granting Ubasti the power she desired, the sarcophagus merely turned her into a statue, just like the cats that used to surround this room before Ubasti brought them to life. Thomas, Pete and the zebras gasped in shock to this, while Dr. Wellington stared wide eyed for a few moments before finding his voice again. “Ubasti…?” However, the statue said not a word as the sarcophagus returned to its dormant state, the glow from its eyes slowly retreating. And once it had gone, Pete and Skye approached Mudbud and Violette, relief expressed all over their faces. “Violette!” “Mudbud?!” “Hey, guys!” Violette waved cheerfully and out of relief before she was caught in a bone-crushing hug by Skye. “Miss us much…?” “I-I have so many questions!” Skye stammered. “But above all… h-how did you get here?!” “It’s kind of a crazy story,” Violette admitted, “but the thing is…” Suddenly, before Violette could finish, a secret panel in the wall slid open, revealing a massive amount of gold, jewels and other priceless artifacts that made Thomas’ eyes grow wide. “My goodness!” “It’s mine… get out of my way!” Dr. Wellington, in his excitement, shoved Mariama aside, causing Skye to gasp and rush to her. “I’m rich! Ha ha ha ha ha!” “Philip!” Thomas finally had enough. “I can't let you steal these invaluable artifacts!” “You can’t?” Dr. Wellington got out his fencing spear. “I can take anything I like. Who's going to stop me?” “Us!” Mariama said as she got up and tossed Thomas a sword while she grabbed one for herself. “The both of us!” Dr. Wellington merely laughed at their pathetic attempt. “Oh, you dear dimwitted fools. It might interest you to know that I was fencing champion at Oxford.” Mariama spared a worried glance back at her daughter and her friends, who were now hiding behind the sarcophagus, and growled back at Dr. Wellington, gripping the sword tighter in her hoof. “So be it!” And that's when the sword fight began-- Mariama, Thomas and Dr. Wellington all went at each other with swords clashing, and Violette and Skye had to admit-- Dr. Wellington was pretty formidable. But if anyone could take him, it was Mariama and Thomas Howard. However, after a few moments, Skye could see that her mother and Thomas were losing ground, and they needed help fast. That was when she saw a shield laying on the ground and got an idea. “Mudbud, you stay here where its safe. Pete, grab that shield. Violette, you come with me and wait for my signal-- we’re gonna give this grave robber a lesson he’ll never forget.” “Oh-ho, I’m in for that,” Violette smirked. “Let’s do this!” At the same time, Mariama had been thrown down to the ground by Dr. Wellington, thankfully unharmed, and Thomas was thrown down just a few seconds later, with Dr. Wellington holding his sword at their throats. “Is that all you two have got, old man?” “Nope!” Pete said, holding the shield behind him. “This is!” And as Dr. Wellington was turning around, Pete bonked him on the head with the shield, dazing him. “Violette!” cried Skye. “Now!” “This is for hurting my new friend!” Violette said as she kicked Dr. Wellington in the butt, sending him toward Skye, who readied for a kick of her own. “And this is not just for my mom, but for ME!!” And with another heavy kick, Dr. Wellington fell to the ground unconscious, causing Mariama to pant for another moment as Skye ran over to her. “Mom!” “Oh, my baby!” Mariama hugged her daughter in relief. “Grandpa!” Pete rushed over to Thomas, hugging him tight. “Peter!” Thomas laughed. “Thank you so much!” “Mudbud! Violette! We’re here!” Zipp shouted as she, the other older ponies and the rest of the Buddies ran into the room. “We’ve got your… whoa…” “Kids!” Mariama sighed in relief as she saw them. “You’re truly a sight for sore eyes!” “We’re glad you all are okay,” Misty said as Izzy hugged Violette rather tightly, “but… what happened in here? And where’s Ubasti?” “Believe it or not,” Pete said, pointing to the black cat statue on the sarcophagus, “that’s Ubasti!” “What?” Hitch looked confused. “But… our magic doesn’t work in here! How could that have happened?” Thomas approached the plaque at the bottom of the sarcophagus and began to read the inscription carved in it, slowly realizing what had occurred, unaware that Dr. Wellington was regaining consciousness. “ It says here there was a curse put on the gem to prevent any cat from misusing it again. If a cat was greedy for power, it would get everlasting life…” “...but in the form of a statue!” Sunny realized with wide eyes. “Wow… for once, we didn’t have to end our mission in a flashy battle!” “Aww…” Izzy pouted. “But I like flashy final battles…” However, the devious laughter of Dr. Wellington drove the group away from the sarcophagus, and they immediately saw that Dr. Wellington had the collar! This did not sit well for Thomas, who glared at the grave robber in anger. “Philip!” “Let’s get him, Grandpa!” Pete said as Mudbud and Violette ran after Dr. Wellington, with the Mane 6 in pursuit. “Come back here, Philip!” Thomas shouted. “Get him!” “Come on, Mom! Come on, Buddies!” Skye shouted. “He’s getting away!” And so, the Buddies were the last to pursue the others in their desperate chase, going all throughout the tomb in order to catch Dr. Wellington before the lost collar of Cleocatra was lost for good this time. However, when Dr. Wellington finally got outside, he hadn't expected one LARGE minor detail-- the entire Bedouin tribe was following Cammy, Tirako, Babi and Faith to the tomb, where Dr. Wellington knew that he was going to be cornered if he didn't get out of there in time. Faith immediately saw that Dr. Wellington was trying to get away, growling in anger. “Let’s get him, Cammy!” “CHAAAAAAAAAARGE!!!” Tirako roared at the top of his lungs as Cammy trotted toward the retreating grave robber. And once she was close enough, Babi, Tirako and Faith leapt right off her back and attacked Dr. Wellington in three different places-- Babi hit him on the head, Tirako bit him at the ankles, and Faith hit him on the back repeatedly. And needless to say, no one wants all that at once-- especially if it meant dropping the necklace. “Bad man! Bad!” Babi said as he hit Dr. Wellington repeatedly. “Very, very, very bad man! Bad!” Eventually, Dr. Wellington had enough of the makeshift attack and threw Babi and Faith off of him, kicking Tirako back toward them, and this fueled Cammy's anger just enough as she glared right at him. “Nobody messes with my friends!” And with that, Cammy spit right in Dr. Wellington’s eyes, blocking his sight as the others emerged from the tomb. “I can’t see!” “Good-- you don’t deserve to see,” Mariama said as she picked up the collar and put it in her saddlebag for safekeeping. “Tirako! Cammy! Faith, Babi!” Sunny exclaimed in happiness as the group of friends reunited. “This is where you were this whole time?” “I did say we were gonna go find help,” Faith said with a sincere smile, “and this fox always keeps her promises.” At the same time, Farah's father approached Dr. Wellington with a stern look on his face. “We know all about you, grave robber, raider of sacred places,” he said before pulling out a government badge and holding it up for all to see. “Amir Sabak, Egyptian Secret Service. You are under arrest, Mr. Wellington.” Dr. Wellington, needless to say, was stunned by this revelation, and the others couldn't help but beam in pride. Once again, the greatest Egyptian treasures ever known were safe from harm, and it was all thanks to the power of teamwork and friendship. Now, you may be wondering what will be in store for our heroes next, right? Well, if you readers really were thinking this, then there's only one thing left to say... ...it's time for our heroes to party like they've never partied before!
Meeting Dr. Wellington and Ubasti, A Quest for Egypt and Ubasi's True MotivesIt was truly a gift for Violette Rainbow and the Mane 6 to be back in Fernfield after such a long time of not seeing their Golden Retriever friends, the Buddies. And Violette seemed to be getting rather close to a young zebra filly named Skye, who was close to Mudbud's owner, Pete, and whose mother, Mariama, was close friends with Pete's grandpa, Thomas Howard, a famous archeologist. But, there was something a bit off with the Buddies-- the hairless cat that Skye had seen during the tour was right near the Buddies, Violette and Deputy Sniffer as the deputy was telling them the story of Cleocatra's magical necklace. Now, I'm sure many of you are wondering what's going to happen next, so I say we jump right back into it. XXXXXXXX The Mane 6 soon followed Skye, Mariama, Pete and Thomas into the office where Thomas did most of his important paperwork, and as the Mane 6 looked around in awe, Thomas remembered something and went to one of the shelves near his desk to find it. “Now, just wait a minute, Peter. Here's some stuff you and your friends might like,” he said, setting a toolbox full of explorer things on his desk. “Tools of the trade,” Mariama added. “Anything you want is yours.” “Mariama, Mr. Howard, this is so generous!” Sunny said as she and the others gathered around. “Thank you!” “Call me Thomas, Sunny,” Thomas said politely as the group dug through the box to see what they could find. “Our time as explorers is over, but I’m sure if you kids use the stuff in this box, you could be great explorers yourselves someday.” That was when Pete pulled out two compasses, both of them matching, and gave one of them to Skye while looking at his grandfather. “Even your compasses?” “Better young explorers like the two of you have it,” Mariama added kindly as Skye and Pete put them on. “Those compasses are very special. When infused with just a little magic, one of those compasses can lead you to the holder of the other one.” “Ooh, that might come in handy!” Skye said with excitement. “Thanks, Mom.” That was when Misty pulled out a small purple key with some intricate designs on it, causing her to hum in thought. “What’s this?” “Oh, that’s a very special key I picked up in China, on another archeology assignment,” Mariama explained as Misty put the key on a lanyard and then put it around her neck. “That key has the power to open any door, whenever you need to get inside a locked room. Take it, Misty-- it seems fitting that you have it, in case you get into a tight situation.” “Wow!” Misty smiled at Mariama gratefully. “Thank you so much!” “Now let me see here… ah, yes!” Mariama pulled out a silver sun brooch and put it on Sunny’s saddlebag. “Sunny, this is a magical brooch. Whenever you’re near danger, it’ll flash repeatedly-- sort of a magical danger radar, so to speak.” “Wow, it’s beautiful!” Sunny said as she smiled at the zebra mare. “Thanks, Mariama. I’ll take great care of it.” “Hey, I didn’t know you were so into music, Mariama!” Pipp said as she pulled a small flute out of the box. “This flute is so… unique!” “Oh, that is a very unique flute, Pipp,” said Mariama. “That flute has the ability to control the wind.” “The wind?” Pipp seemed surprised. “And you want me to have it?” “Why not? I feel it’ll come in handy on these missions of yours,” said Mariama with a wink before pulling a small jar of glitter out of the box and reaching it out to Izzy. “Here, Izzy. This is a special kind of glitter, used for…” “Totally out of the box, super-charged ideas?” Izzy guessed, causing Mariama to chuckle. “It can be, yes. But… it can also reveal hidden objects and footprints when tossed around you,” the zebra admitted. “Something I think you’ll enjoy.” Then, she pulled out a whistle and a glowing lasso from the box, giving the whistle to Zipp and the lasso to Hitch. “Hitch, this lasso will allow anyone caught up in it to tell the truth, whether they want to or not. And Zipp? That whistle will only let those closest to you hear it, so they’ll hear the whistle when no one else can.” “Wow… Mariama, this is so generous,” Hitch said as he put the lasso on his side. “What can we do to thank you?” “Just take good care of them,” Mariama said as Violette and Mudbud came into the office. “I have a feeling they’ll do you well in future endeavors.” “Oh. And here’s something for Violette and Mudbud,” Thomas said, getting an old off-white bandanna, a red bandanna and an explorer's hat down from the shelf. “It’s Mariama’s old explorer outfit and Digger’s favorite bandanna.” “Cool!” Pete said as he held the bandanna in his hands. “Come here, Mudbud,” Sunny said as she lifted Mudbud up. “Let Violette put her stuff on and we’ll put Digger’s bandanna on you.” And so, as Violette put on Mariama's old hat and bandanna, Pete replaced Mudbud's usual blue bandanna with Digger's off-white one, and Violette couldn't help but smile in pride. “Well… how do we look, guys?” “There’s no denying you look great,” said Zipp, “but Mudbud? He’s the spitting image of his great grandpappy!” Mudbud let out an excited bark to this, causing everyone to laugh in amusement as Sunny set Mudbud down onto the floor. It was then that Misty remembered something that she wanted to ask Thomas and Mariama, so she stepped forward. “Excuse me, Mr. Howard-- I-I mean… Thomas? I was hoping… do you and Mariama have any exhibits about Equestrian creatures? You see, we have this important mission to uncover something lost ourselves, and any information you can provide would really help.” “...well… I do remember putting an exhibit about different species of Equestrian creatures in the far wing of the museum,” Mariama said, pointing out the door with her hoof. “I think your best bet to find any information on whatever you’re looking for is out there.” “Then let’s go out there and take a look!” Sunny said eagerly. “Misty, Pipp, do you mind staying with Violette while we go look at the exhibit? I don’t wanna drag all of us over there in case we don’t find anything.” “Sure, Sunny. We’ll stay here and keep everyone company,” Pipp nodded. “You guys go ahead.” “But keep us updated on what you do find!” Misty called out as the other ponies ran out of the room. And after they were gone, Misty's eyes trailed to the key that Mariama had given her. She couldn't wait to try it out, but then again, she couldn't help but wonder what she was going to use it for if their main mission was going to be in Fernfield this time around. However, they were soon going to see that this wasn't the case at all. Pete saw that his grandfather was now looking at the half of the Bronze of Bastet that Digger had recovered before the cavern collapsed, and couldn't help but be curious about the item's fate. “What are we going to do with this now?” “Well, I'm not sure what we should do with it, Peter,” Thomas admitted as Violette and Skye played with Mudbud. “Well… we should definitely try to keep it safe,” Misty said out of thought. “Just in case somebody thinks about taking it right from under our noses.” Mariama looked at Misty in surprise. “You truly think that might happen?” “Knowing what we’ve been through in the past,” Pipp said, “I wouldn’t doubt anypony to pull something like this off.” Suddenly, there came the sound of someone clearing their throat, and everyone’s attention turned to a posh British man bringing in a hairless cat… the same man and cat that Skye saw during the tour. “Oh, my, I apologize,” Thomas said as he went to greet them. “I didn't see you there, Mister…?” “Wellington,” the man set the hairless cat down on the table to shake Thomas’ hand and Mariama’s hoof. “Dr. Philip Wellington.” “Of course, Dr. Wellington!” Thomas said with a proud smile. “What an honor,” Mariama added with just as much excitement as Thomas. “Your work is legendary.” Skye hummed in thought as she, Pete and Violette approached the hairless cat on the table, who seemed to be staring at them with the least bit of emotion in her gaze. “That sure is a strange cat… she doesn’t have any fur on her body!” “I think she’s a hairless sphinx cat,” Violette said in thought. “I remember Hitch saying from the ponies’ last Unity Quest in Egypt that cats were sometimes worshiped in ancient Egypt, and the hairless kind is pretty popular.” The cat meowed at them rather eerily, causing the fillies to jump back and run to Pipp and Misty out of fright, and despite her concern for her daughter, Mariama cleared her throat and turned back to Dr. Wellington. “Now, what can we do for you?” “May I... as you say in America, cut right to the chase and get to it with you and Ms. Mariama, professor?” Dr. Wellington pulled something out of his bag that was in a small drawstring pouch. “I have something that I think might... interest you.” Intrigued, Misty and Pipp tilted their heads so they could get a closer look, and what they saw stunned them-- Dr. Wellington was holding half of a bronze disk... and it had the same symbols as the Bronze of Bastet! However, no one could be more surprised than Thomas and Mariama themselves. “It can’t be…” Thomas muttered. “May I?” Dr. Wellington handed over the half of the disc, then with the others watching, he connected the two pieces, letting them fit just like a glove. “I-It’s unbelievable!” Mariama stuttered. “The complete disc! How did you find this?” Dr. Wellington took the chance to explain while taking his half of the disc back. “Well, let's just say it took a very long time and... considerable effort.” Skye and Violette looked at each other in complete confusion from where they were listening, and Misty and Pipp seemed just as confused, if not more. “But, if you found the other piece of the disc,” said Pipp, a bit suspiciously, I might add, “then why weren’t Thomas and Mariama informed of your discovery?” “Well,” Dr. Wellington told the pegasus, “the Egyptian government and I thought it best to keep it on the QT until we discover…” “Cleopatra’s tomb!” Thomas interrupted, his eyes wide. “Precisely,” Dr. Wellington said with a nod. “I have a plane waiting on standby. The three of us, we could go together and make history, old chap!” “T-This… this is completely flattering,” Mariama said, trying to process all of this information, “but… Thomas and I can’t just pick up and go to Egypt. We have lives here in Fernfield, and families to look out for!” “...I know we’re new to the whole archeology business and everything,” said Misty as she came forward, “but… I do think that if you and Mariama don’t go, Thomas… you’re gonna regret it later on. Dr. Wellington has a valid point-- this is your chance to make history by finding the lost collar of Cleocatra!” And while he had to agree with Misty on this part, Thomas was still a bit reluctant. “But Mariama and I promised her daughter Skye and my grandson a camping trip for spring break.” “Well, bring the young ones along,” Dr. Wellington invited warmly, looking at Pete and Skye. “Surely, a trip to Egypt is more exciting.” “Yeah!” Pete instantly agreed, while Skye seemed a little unsure. “Well… I’ve never been that far away from Fernfield before…” “Come on, Skye! This is the chance of a lifetime to go to Egypt! Sunny and her friends have already done it, and you can do it too!” Violette tried to encourage. “Besides, don’t tell my mom I said this, but helping with a huge archeology treasure hunt is WAY cooler than camping.” Skye considered this for a few moments, and seeing the encouraging look on Misty, Pipp and Violette’s faces made her slowly nod. “Okay… I guess it would be cool to see where a lot of other zebras live. Mudbud can come with us too, right?” “T-That?” Dr. Wellington seemed nervous as he looked over at Mudbud, who barked and tried to jump on the table to playfully bite at Dr. Wellington’s hand. “No, no, no. No dogs. I'm afraid my dear, sweet cat, Ubasti, is allergic to them, so your Mud dog will have to stay here.” “Oh…” Skye seemed a bit sad when this was said but quickly tried to understand where Dr. Wellington was coming from. “I guess if that’s what Ubasti needs, I’ll try and be supportive of it.” “Don’t worry. Me and the ponies can stay with Mudbud so we can keep him company,” Violette reassured. “Along with all the other Buddies too.” However, the more Misty got a good look at Ubasti, the more shivers went up her spine. “I don’t know about you, Pipp, but… that cat is sending out a flash warning to my brain.” “Well, even though her name is translated to ‘she of the ointment jar’ in Egyptian,” Pipp said as she looked this up on her phone, “I gotta admit… something about her definitely doesn’t feel right.” “Hey, guys!” Misty and Pipp looked up to see Sunny, Hitch, Zipp and Izzy re-entering the office with excited smiles on their faces. “This place is amazing! There are all sorts of artifacts about Equestrian creatures here!” Zipp said. “And while we didn’t find anything on alicorns yet, I’m sure we’ll find something by the time this is through.” “Oh! We’re sorry for interrupting,” Sunny said upon noticing Dr. Wellington. “Is there something we can help you with, sir?” “Actually, Dr. Wellington has proposed a… very interesting offer to me and Thomas,” Mariama admitted, trying to get over the initial shock. “He wants us to come to Egypt and help find the lost collar of Cleocatra, and he wants us to bring Skye and Peter along!” “No way!” Hitch smiled. “That’s incredible!” “But… Mudbud has to stay here,” Misty said, “so Violette said we could stay here in Fernfield to keep him company.” “What do you say, Thomas?” Dr. Wellington asked. “Do we have an arrangement?” “I-I don’t know,” Thomas said, unsure of what really to say… that is, until Dr. Wellington chuckled again. “Oh, my dear man. You don't want to be an old relic, like the things in this quaint, little museum, when you could show the world what a great archeologist team that Thomas Howard and Mariama really are.” “...you know, that is a good point,” said Sunny as she came forward. “Guys, finding Cleocatra's necklace is one of the greatest archeological finds in history. You’ve worked for this your whole lives!” “And, I know as well as anypony,” added Zipp with a smile, “that opportunities like this only come round once in a lifetime.” Thomas glanced over at the picture of Digger that was sitting on his desk, then to Mariama, who seemed rather enthusiastic about going back to Egypt and finishing where they had left off. Besides… this was what Digger would have wanted. How could he say no to this rare opportunity? Then, after a moment, Thomas finally smiled and spoke up again, turning to Dr. Wellington and Mariama. “You're right. Let's find that tomb!” “All right!” Zipp pumped a hoof while the Mane 6, Violette and Skye cheered, and Mudbud barked in agreement. “And, if I’m right,” said Mariama, pointing to a map of Egypt, “here is the town of Bastati-- that’s where we need to go.” Skye and Pete smiled excitedly at one another-- going to Egypt and being archeologists like their mom and grandpa was a dream come true! However, Violette couldn't help but be a little sad that she wasn't able to go with them, and Izzy could sense it a mile away. “Violette? What’s wrong?” “I know I promised that we would stay here in Fernfield with the Buddies,” Violette shrugged, “but… I kinda wanna go with them too. Helping uncover a treasure like that would be incredible.” “Aw, I know,” Sunny said gently, rubbing Violette on the head with her front hoof. “But sometimes, the greatest adventures come to those who wait. And I bet if you wait long enough, there’s gonna be a great adventure popping up anytime now.” “...tell you what?” Hitch said as he knelt down to Violette’s level. “Why don’t you and Skye have a sleepover with Mudbud and Pete tonight before you guys leave?” “Yeah!” Misty nodded. “That way you can spend all the time you want together before they have to head to Egypt!” “I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Mariama smiled. “What do you think, kids?” “Sounds great to me!” Skye smiled. “Me too!” Pete added before turning back to the Mane 6. “Do you guys wanna join?” “I wish we could,” Zipp said gently, putting a hoof on Pete’s shoulder, “but we really have to get back to looking for alicorn stuff in the archives. The mysteries of Skyros aren’t going to solve themselves. We’ll be back in time to see you guys off to Egypt in the morning-- promise.” This caused Violette and Skye to nod in compliance before smiling at each other. One thing was for certain-- this was DEFINITELY going to be fun. XXXXXXXX “Thanks for letting us use one of your guest rooms, Mrs. Howard,” Violette said to Pete’s mother later that night as she was guiding the two fillies to their room for the night. “We’re more than happy to sleep on the couch, though.” “Oh, that’s nonsense, girls,” said Mrs. Howard with a kind smile as she opened the door for them. “Any friend of Pete and Mudbud are friends of this family. Just let me or Pete’s dad know if you need anything.” “Thank you!” the fillies said before entering the bedroom to get settled for the night. The bedroom was quite cozy, with a plush bed that could fit both of them, along with a warm wallpaper color, a TV and a lamp so that way the girls would have a night-light, in case the dark made them a little bit uncomfortable. After getting into their pajamas, Skye sighed and flopped down onto the bed. “Man… going to Egypt is going to be super awesome! I really wish the Buddies were able to go with us, so you can come with us too.” “Aww, thanks, Skye,” smiled Violette. “But you’re gonna have a great time, with or without us. You’re gonna make an archeological discovery that no one has before!” “I guess that is pretty amazing in itself,” Skye said with a smile before realizing something. “Hey… you acted kinda peculiar with the Buddies at the museum when you and the older ponies first saw them, and you said you would tell me about it later. Do you… think you can let me in on your little secret?” Violette seemed to hesitate for a few moments, trying to decide if she should tell Skye the fact that she and the Mane 6 could understand the Buddies and other animals… but then again, she had never told anyone else about it before. What if Skye laughed at her, or thought she was crazy? No... Skye wouldn't do that. Even though they had just met earlier that day, Violette thought that Skye was a true friend. And a true friend is someone you can share practically everything with. After a few moments, Violette sighed and turned to Skye with a smile on her face. “Okay… so, the last time that me and the older ponies were here, we noticed something… different about us. We could do something that nopony else around here could.” “Really?” Skye tilted her head. “Was it flying? Levitating stuff? Growing plants?” “Well, sort of, but not quite. The second we got to Fernfield,” said Violette slowly, bracing herself for Skye's reaction, “we… realized we could understand the animals around here. Just like Hitch could back home in Equestria.” “Wait…” Skye paused the conversation. “You can… understand the animals? Even the Buddies?” “Even the Buddies,” Violette nodded. “But most of the other creatures and humans in town can’t, so we had to keep it on the downlow for as long as we could remember. You’re the only other one beside us who knows about this, so we need you to keep this a secret for now… okay?” “Of course I’ll keep your secret!” Skye said with a warm smile and an eager glimmer in her eyes. “I’ve never met anyone who could understand animals before!” “Really?” Violette blinked. “You’re not weirded out or anything?” “No way!” Skye shook her head. “I know that a lot of creatures have special gifts, and sometimes it can be really hard to share those gifts with others. But… I’m really glad you shared your secret with me.” “I’m glad I did too,” smiled Violette. “Hey, what do you say we watch a movie before we go to bed?” “Sounds good to me,” Skye nodded, picking up the TV to turn it on and decide their movie before they drifted off to sleep. XXXXXXXX The night seemed to pass by quickly, and as the sun rose over Fernfield the next morning, Thomas and Mariama arrived to see if Pete and Skye were ready, and the entire family, including Pete’s parents, helped bring the luggage outside. Thomas turned toward his grandson as Mudbud, Skye and Violette raced outside. “Are you and Skye ready to go, Peter?” “Oh, we’re ready,” Pete answered as a large SUV pulled into the driveway, and Dr. Wellington stepped out of it while Ubasti stayed in the car. “This is gonna be epic!” “Yeah!” Skye giggled. “Insanely epic!” Mrs. Howard turned to her father with a look of excitement and concern mixed into one. “Take care of my baby, Dad. Remember he's only ten,” she said as Mudbud barked. “And call me when you land. And then every day, twice.” “Don’t you worry, sweetheart,” Thomas reassured his daughter before Dr. Wellington checked his watch. “Well, we mustn't dawdle. Wheels up in precisely… 26 minutes. Chop-chop. Let's go.” “Let me help you, Mr. Howard,” Violette used her magic to lift some of the suitcases to the car. It was then that Mudbud whimpered, not wanting Pete to go, and Pete immediately reached down to pet his loyal dog before he left. “Hey, Mudbud. Bye…” “Violette and the older ponies will take good care of him, Peter, I know it,” Mariama assured with a gentle smile as Violette and Mr. Howard came back over. “And you’ll have plenty of stories to tell him when you get back.” Mrs. Howard then picked Mudbud up into her arms to comfort him while Skye and Violette hugged. “Make sure to tell me about Egypt when you get back,” Violette told Skye with excitement. “I wanna hear EVERY detail.” “Don’t worry,” Skye assured. “I’m gonna ask Mom to use her camera to take pictures of everything, so you won’t feel left out.” Mariama hummed in surprise, not seeing Sunny or the others anywhere in sight. “I thought Sunny and the others were going to meet us here to see us off.” “Maybe they got caught up at the museum or something,” Pete shrugged. “I’m sure we’ll see them when we’re driving through town.” “Hmm… yes,” Mariama nodded. “I suppose you’re right.” “Bye, Mom,” Pete hugged his mother and let her kiss his head. “Bye, baby,” Mrs. Howard bid farewell before Pete turned to his father. “Bye, Dad.” “Be good,” Mr. Howard offered Pete a fist bump and tussled his hair. “Have a good time.” “Let’s go, kids,” Thomas said as the four began to walk toward the SUV, and Mariama held the door open for Skye, but Pete turned back to Mudbud before he got in. “I'll bring you back some Egyptian mud!” However, unbeknownst to the other humans, Skye and her mother, Ubasti turned to Violette and Mudbud with a sinister smirk on her muzzle. “He won't be bringing you back anything, Dirtbud. Or you, Failette.” “Huh?” Mudbud and Violette chorused in surprise. “When we find the Cat's Eye jewel,” Ubasti continued sinisterly, “it'll be mine, and cats will finally rule, with me as their queen.” Knowing Violette couldn’t risk exposing her secret, Mudbud decided to take a stand against the hairless cat himself. “Not if the Buddies and ponies of Equestria have anything to say about it.” However, Ubasti only shot him a nasty look. “Bye bye… fleabag. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!” “No…” Violette murmured as the SUV began to drive away. “No no no no no no!!!” Mudbud began to squirm and bark in Mrs. Howard’s arms, and Mrs. Howard only thought of this as Mudbud missing Pete already. “Ohh. Poor Mudbud's devastated.” Mudbud continued to bark as the SUV drove out of sight, and Violette plucked the Golden Retriever pup out of Mrs. Howard’s arms. “I… uh… I got him, Mrs. Howard. You and Mr. Howard should go and relax. We’ll probably go find the other Buddies and go play.” “Oh, thank you, Violette,” Mrs. Howard smiled. “Such a responsible young filly.” And with that, she and Mr. Howard retreated into the house, leaving Mudbud and Violette on their own, and once they were FULLY alone, Mudbud let out a growl of anger. “That cat dudette cannot get away with this.” “And she won’t, Mudbud. We’re gonna save Pete, Skye, Thomas and Mariama from her plan,” Violette said. “But we’re gonna need some backup.” “You’re right,” Mudbud said after a moment of realization before turning to the way the car had drove off in. “Don’t worry, guys-- we’re coming to save you!” Then, releasing a determined howl to the sky to alert the other Buddies and the Mane 6, Mudbud led Violette away from the house and down the road, hoping to catch up to the plane and become stowaways to Egypt... ...and hopefully, they were going to be able to stop Ubasti and her evil plan before it was too late.
Hitching a Ride and Arriving in EgyptUbasti had just revealed her true motives to Mudbud and Violette, since the other humans, Skye and Mariama couldn’t understand her-- once they found the collar of Cleocatra, she was going to use it to make cats rulers of all earth’s creatures, including dogs, humans AND Equestrian creatures! Violette and Mudbud knew they weren’t going to be able to pull this off on their own, so Mudbud howled for his fellow Buddies to join them, and hopefully, the Mane 6 would hear the call themselves. And hopefully, they would be able to reach the airport before it was too late to hitch a ride to Egypt and stop this horrible plot. XXXXXXXX The Mane 6 had slept over at the museum that night, looking through any information that might lead them to the next piece of the map to Skyros, and unfortunately... ...they hadn't found anything. Sunny had circles under her eyes by the time the sun rose that morning, completely drained and exhausted. “I can’t believe this is a museum and nopony has any information about alicorns in this world! Ohh… maybe this was a crazy idea.” “Hey… Sunny, it was a good thought,” said Pipp gently, putting a hoof on Sunny’s shoulder. “We’re just gonna have to keep pressing forward.” “And maybe,” Hitch said with a yawn, “Mariama and Skye will find something alicorn related that we missed in Egypt… even if the next piece of the map isn’t there.” Suddenly, a howl rang out through the air, causing all the ponies to gasp and sit up. “Huh…” Izzy tilted her head. “Is it just me, or did that howl sound kinda… familiar?” “It kinda sounded like it had Mudbud’s tone,” Zipp said, “but… why would he be howling for us?” However, as Misty approached the window, she saw Violette and Mudbud zooming across the lawn outside. “I don’t know,” she said, “but Violette and Mudbud just ran past, and it looks like they’re heading for the airport outside town!” “Okay, now I’m starting to get worried. If Violette was in trouble, she would have called and told us,” Hitch frowned. “What’s going on?” “I don’t know,” Sunny said, “but I think we need to find out more before we jump to any conclusions. Come on!” And with that, the Mane 6 ran out of the museum and tried to follow after Violette and Mudbud, with the other Buddies having heard the howl and were now heading in the same direction… …though a lot of them had no idea what was going on. XXXXXXXX A few minutes later, at the airport, the SUV with Pete, Thomas, Mariama and Skye arrived as the group was getting out as the Buddies and the Mane Six arrived with Violette and Mudbud. “We heard your emergency howl,” Rosebud told Mudbud. “Is everything okay? Or was someone just trying to give you a bath?” “It’s worse than that!” Violette argued. “Mariama, Skye, Pete and Grandpa Thomas are in trouble!” “What?” Hitch repeated. “How do you know that?” “Remember that collar that Sniffer told us about?” Mudbud asked. “The one that can be the end of all dogkind?” “Yeah…?” Pipp nodded slowly. “What about it?” “Well,” said Mudbud, glancing at Ubasti as the two zebras, Pete and Thomas got on the plane, “that creepy cat said she was gonna get the collar and use it to rule humans, Equestrians and dogs!” “Oh no!” Izzy gasped in horror. “I don’t wanna be ruled over by a cat!” “I hear you there, Izzy,” Misty nodded. “Ubasti could do so much damage with that kind of power!” “Yo, ain't no one gonna rule the B-Dawg, no how, no way,” B-Dawg said defiantly. “That’s for shizzle!” “Well, what are we waiting for?” Zipp asked, her wings spread. “We have to find a way onto that plane!” That was when Mudbud saw a crate nearby that they might be able to hide in so they wouldn’t be noticed. “Follow me!” “Team Buddies and Ponies to the rescue!” Rosebud cheered as they headed to the crate. “I’ll use my magic to make the box bigger so we can all fit inside,” Misty said before lighting her horn, causing the box to expand so all of them could fit inside comfortably. “Good thinking, Misty,” Sunny praised with a smile. “All right, everyone inside!” Hitch said as he lifted Buddha into the crate. “Quick!” The group all piled into the crate and managed to get in before some of the workers came over, not noticing a thing. But what the group didn’t realize, however, was that this wooden crate had explosives inside, and they were able to squeeze inside just before the crate was sealed and carried over to the cargo section of the plane. However, as they were being carried to the plane, Pipp wondered one important thing. “So, what exactly is our plan here?” Luckily, Mudbud already had a plan in mind. “We hitch a ride to Egypt and kick some serious kitty butt, dudes.” Violette let out a sigh at this. “I just wish that I had seen the signs of Ubasti being evil sooner. Then maybe I could have pulled Skye and Pete out of this.” “Violette, this isn’t on you,” Zipp said gently. “What matters now is saving all of human and dogkind, along with a lot of Equestrian creatures, Skye and Mariama included.” “Besides,” said Sunny with a guilty look on her face, “we’re partly to blame too. If we hadn’t stayed so late looking for information on alicorns and Skyros, we would have met you at the house and made sure that they didn’t leave.” “You guys shouldn’t blame yourselves either,” Buddha said to the ponies gently. “Like Zipp said, saving the day is all that matters right now.” And so, the plane's propellors began to spin at a rapid speed before the plane slowly drove forward, lifting off of the concrete runway and into the sky, heading in the direction of Egypt. The ride was a bit long, but it did give the older ponies a chance to catch up on sleep (and quite frankly, if you had seen them, you would have noticed they were really tired from their research the night before). When the plane finally landed in Egpyt, the plane landed at its location and the boxes were slowly unloaded to be taken to the nearest village along with its guests. Dr. Wellington, Ubasti, Skye, Mariama and Pete got off the plane, only for two men (who were hired by Dr. Wellington, no less) greeted them in the Arabic language... a language that Pete and Skye couldn't understand. “That means ‘good morning’,” Thomas said to Skye and Pete as he and Mariama shook hands/hooves with the two men. “I’m Thomas Howard, and this is my colleague Mariama, her daughter Skye and my grandson Peter.” “Hello, Mariama. Hello, children,” the first of the men greeted kindly. “My name is Seti. This is my cousin, Tarik.” “Hello,” Skye said to Tarik and Seti politely. “It’s nice to meet you.” “Come on, kids. Let's get in the jeep,” Mariama said to the kids gently, guiding them toward the waiting jeep. “Seti and Tarik will get all the gear and bring it to town.” And so, that’s just what they did-- Mariama and Thomas led the kids to the jeep, and they drove off toward the town of Bastati, which was only a few miles away. As for Tarik and Seti, they tried to move the box of explosives that the Buddies, Violette and the Mane 6 were hiding in, but with Tarik using one hand to hold his lunch, it wasn’t easy, and this immediately got Seti aggravated. “What, you crazy? This is explosive! Put that down,” he said, and Tarik set his lunch on top of the crate. “What is wrong with you?” XXXXXXXX The Mane 6 slowly began to wake up from their nap after a long trip, but as Izzy slowly began to regain consciousness, a white, saucy substance dripped down onto her face, causing her to yelp in surprise. “I think a cloud just melted on my face!!” Misty reached a hoof and wiped the substance off Izzy’s face, sniffing it. “I don’t think so, Izzy… this smells more like some sort of sauce.” “Besides,” Buddha said, “clouds don’t melt.” Budderball then licked Misty’s hoof to get a good taste, when more of the white sauce dripped down onto his own nose, causing him to lick it off. “Hey, you guys, we must've landed in Egypt. It's raining falafel sauce!” “Mmm…” Misty reacted with delight as she tasted what the falafel sauce that was left on her hoof. “Not bad!” “So, do we get out of the crate now, Sunny?” Rosebud asked. “Not yet,” Sunny advised. “We need to wait until we know EXACTLY where Pete, Thomas and the zebras are before we leap into action.” “So I guess we just sit back,” said Hitch with a yawn, “and enjoy the ride until then.” XXXXXXXX As for Skye, Pete, Mariama and Thomas, the jeep slowly pulled into the town of Bastati, which had a huge, bustling marketplace with all sorts of people selling things, including food, animals, jewelry and much much more. Skye and Pete stared at the scene with wide eyes as the jeep pulled up to the largest building in town, which also doubled as a hotel, and they climbed out first, followed by Thomas and Mariama. “Wow…!!” “Egypt,” Thomas sighed happily. “I’ve missed this place.” “Come on,” Mariama said to the kids. “Let’s get settled in our room for a bit.” “You think we can explore the bazaar?” Skye asked her mother. “I wanna bring back a gift for Violette and the ponies.” “That’s a nice thought,” Mariama said with a kind smile. “We’ll see what we can do.” XXXXXXXX At the same time, the truck that Tarik and Seti brought to load the supplies was now driving away from the plane that had brought them there began driving toward Bastati, and Tarik and Seti were completely unaware that the Buddies, the Mane 6 and Violette Rainbow were hiding in the back. And while our heroes couldn't see out of that crate, Zipp felt the truck begin moving, and the crate shook a bit as it did so. “Hey, guys, I think we're on the road again.” XXXXXXXX Back in Bastati, after getting settled into their room, Thomas suggested they all enjoy the bazaar before they had to get back to business finding Cleocatra’s tomb, so Thomas and Mariama took Pete and Skye to explore on their own… …completely unaware that they were being watched. Not by anyone evil, of course, but… by a duo that were a bit… misguided. It was a monkey named Babi, perched on a roof of one of the stalls, watching as Mariama, Thomas and the kids walked by. And there was someone watching the four go by from the ground… a young fennec fox named Faith, who had golden fur on her body, which has brown on the tips of her ears and on the tip of her tail, a brownish-black nose, creamish-colored fur on her chest, muzzle and paws and green eyes. Faith's eyes lit up when she saw the compass that Pete was holding, her tail wagging eagerly at the sight of it. “Babi, I think we just found our next grab-- that compass looks like it would be worth something. All we have to go is get it from that young boy with his grandfather and those zebras.” “All right,” Babi said to the fox eagerly. “Babi will follow Faith’s lead.” Faith slunk away from the stall, and Babi soon climbed down after her, the two of them being very careful not to be caught. Pete couldn’t help but look around in amazement, not sure exactly where to start their exploration of the bazaar. “This place is so cool.” “Yeah!” Skye nodded. “Violette, Mudbud and the others would have loved it.” “Let me show you something, kids,” Thomas said before approaching a vendor and speaking in a foreign language. And once the money had been given to the vendor, he handed them a bag of dried seeds, much to Skye’s confusion. “What are they?” “They’re dried seeds, dear,” Mariama explained, getting some and putting some into Skye's hoof. “They’re a great snack for people here.” Skye tried some of the seeds, and instantly, her eyes grew wide-- these were delicious! But as they snacked, Pete noticed something else that caught his attention… a young girl, dressed in traditional Egyptian clothing, and she appeared to be with her father. Pete waved at the girl, and she timidly waved back just as Skye caught notice and waved as well. However, while they weren’t looking, Babi ran over and grabbed Pete’s compass right out of his back pocket, chittering to himself before running back to Faith. “Aw, what a steal!” Faith pumped a paw. “Come on, let’s hide somewhere so we can put this on you.” And with that, the two snuck away, and Mariama, Thomas and the kids went on their way, not noticing a single thing. However, around the same time, Dr. Wellington was walking outside when Ubasti suddenly jumped out of his arms and ran into the market, much to Dr. Wellington’s concern. “No, no, Ubasti, come back. No, no, no. Don't go into that awful market.” Of course, Ubasti wasn't one to follow orders. She was on her own mission, and no one was going to stop her. At the same time, a market was going on, where there was a camel for sale, and the seller faced a crowd to see if anyone wanted to make a bid. “OK, let's go. Slightly used camel, low mileage, owned by little old lady. Do I hear 500 pounds? Five hundred? Sold! Okay. Let's have the money.” XXXXXXXX Dr. Wellington was now walking around the market looking for Ubasti, when Babi and Faith spotted him from the top of a nearby stall and noticed the gold watch in his pocket. Another perfect steal. Faith smiled before turning to Babi again. “Okay, I’ve got a plan. Once we jump down, I’ll hoist you up on my back so you can reach the watch, and I’ll keep a lookout for anyone who might try and take it back from us.” Dr. Wellington then saw some jars and goblets nearby and went to look at them as Faith and Babi leapt down from their perch. However, they were unaware that Ubasti was coming around the corner, witnessing Babi getting on Faith’s back while she got up on a stool so Babi could reach the watch. Faith giggled to herself. “With this watch, we might have enough to trade for some food that’ll last us a whole week! Just as long as no one...” However, Faith stopped herself when she and Babi noticed Ubasti glaring menacingly at them, causing them to freeze in their tracks. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” she warned the duo. “There's nothing I detest more than a petty, primate thief and a fickle fox.” Faith growled at the insult, her ears lowering while she glared at Ubasti with her shimmering green eyes. “I’d watch what YOU say, cat. In this town, Babi and I do whatever we want, whenever we want. No rules, no problems.” “But… Babi and Faith no steal,” Babi said innocently, putting the watch right back where he found it. “I was just admiring shiny object.” However, despite Babi putting the watch back, Ubasti still wasn't having it, and hissed right at the duo to scare them off. “Beat it!” “Sheesh, fine! We get it! You win!” Faith said, clearly alarmed by her hiss. “Come on, Babi, let’s split!” And with that, she and Babi ran and fled while Dr. Wellington turned to find Ubasti standing right behind him, oblivious to what Babi and Faith tried to do. “Ubasti, there you are!” And unluckily for her, Ubasti was swept up by her master and taken away from the scene, vowing to herself to do much worse to that fox and monkey if they ever tried to do that again. XXXXXXXX On the road to Bastati, Seti and Tarik were jamming to their favorite song in the Egyptian language, and Pipp honestly had to cover her ears from within the back of the truck, cause they sounded so bad. “Somepony SERIOUSLY needs to give them some singing lessons-- my ears are getting ready to fall off!” “At least it’s better than dead silence,” Izzy said with a giggle. However, the more he looked around, Budderball saw strange items in the crate with them that looked a lot like one of his favorite foods from home. “Guys, I think this is cheese! I'm starving.” “Cheese?” Sunny looked confused. “Are you sure, Budderball?” Rosebud took a sniff of the air and immediately gagged at the scent. “Yuck. Sunny’s right, Budderball. That cheese smells funny.” “This is stinky cheese!” Budderball said before gnawing on a piece, but after a few moments, paused and hummed in thought. “I guess stinky cheese is an acquired taste.” “Well, if it is an acquired taste,” said Violette, pushing another piece of the so-called stinky cheese toward him, “maybe you better acquire some more.” XXXXXXXX Back in the bazaar, Skye was sorting through some necklaces to see if Violette might like one of them, and Pete stood beside her, watching when all of a sudden, the girl they saw earlier appeared beside of them. Pete stood up instantly upon seeing her before trying to greet her in the Egyptian language. “As-salaam alaikum.” The girl responded with more that Pete and Skye couldn’t understand, but Skye took this as a welcoming statement nonetheless. “My name’s Skye, and this is my friend Pete.” However, the girl just looked at them, and Pete seemed to understand what was going on. “Oh! You don't speak English. Um…” Pete tried to say something else in the native Egyptian language, but he seemed mildly uncomfortable. And after he got done speaking, the girl giggled slightly. “You said that I am a cucumber.” “Oh!” Skye said in surprise. “You do speak English!” “Yes, my father taught me,” the girl answered a bit bashfully. “My name is Farah. You are both American.” “Yeah. We’re here with Skye’s mom, Mariama, and my grandpa. They’re both GREAT archeologists,” Pete said before leaning in to whisper. “We're going to discover Cleocatra's tomb.” “Cleopatra’s tomb?” Farah repeated. “No,” Skye shook her head. “Not Cleopatra. Her cat, Cleocatra. If we find the tomb, it'll be the biggest find in history! And just maybe... it can save the Fernfield museum from going out of business.” “Farah.” It was then that the three of them turned to see Farah’s father calling her over, causing her to turn back to her new friends. “Oh, that is my father, I must go. It was very nice to meet you, Peter and Skye. As-salaam alaikum.” “Bye,” Skye waved to Farah as she ran off to join her father, and they soon walked off, leaving her and Pete on their own once again. XXXXXXXX It was only a few minutes after this encounter that the truck that Seti and Tarik were driving arrived in the town of Bastati, and unknowingly, were bringing the Mane 6, Violette and the Buddies just where they needed to be. However, after eating all of that so-called stinky cheese, Budderball was having the worst stomachache a pup could have. “Ugh… I don’t feel so good.” Zipp then took out her visor to examine the stinky cheese Budderball had found, but when it showed her the results, she gasped. “Uh, Budderball… don’t panic, but that wasn’t stinky cheese you ate-- those were explosives!” “Like dynamite?!” Hitch cried. “Budderball! You know your stomach can get you into situations like this!” However, Budderball felt too bloated to even argue against this. “Oh, no… I’m… gonna explode!” “Don’t you dare dutch oven us!” Rosebud threatened her oldest brother. XXXXXXXX At the same time, Tarik and Seti were getting the crate of explosives off the truck when Tarik started hearing the ponies’ hushed whispers and the Buddies barking, instantly becoming concerned. “Box making noises.” “You're right, it is making noises,” Seti said as he and his cousin set the box down, and then he saw a couple of crowbars in the truck. “Hey... get the crowbar. I'll get this one.” The cousins then began to use the crowbar to pry open the crate lid, and if they did this, they would uncover the Buddies and ponies, completely blowing their cover! XXXXXXXX Sunny immediately sensed that the box was going to be opened, and she knew there was one thing they could do to stay safe. “Budderball, I really never thought I would say this, but… let her rip!” And that was when Budderball let forth the biggest and smelliest fart that he had ever unleashed, causing the others to cough, gag and react in complete disgust. But hopefully, it would be enough to get Tarik and Seti to not notice them. XXXXXXXX As soon as he and Seti undid the crate lid, Tarik smelled a horrible stench coming from it and groaned in disgust. “That's not good!” “Boom, boom?! RUN!!!” Seti screamed to his cousin as they ran for cover, causing others to do the same. “RUN!!! RUUUUUN!!!” “Let me outta here, yo!” B-Dawg exclaimed once it was safe, and the others immediately followed suit. “Everyone, head into the bazaar!” Misty shouted. “That’s where the others would go once they got here!” And that’s just where the group ran to… completely unaware that Ubasti was watching them. “It's Failette and Dirtbud and their team of putrid ponies and dim-witted wonder dogs,” she sneered. “How did they get here?” However, as the group ran out of her sight, Ubasti ran off to find her master again, determined to figure out how the Mane 6, Violette and their friends got to Egypt and make sure that her plans weren't foiled. She owed to her feline ancestors to make cats rule over all living creatures... and NOTHING was going to stop her once that happened.
Meeting Babi, Faith, Tirako and Cammy, and a New Clue UncoveredA lot has happened in the last chapter of our story, let me tell you. Violette Rainbow and Mudbud managed to recruit all of Mudbud’s siblings and the Mane 6 to rescue Pete, Mariama, Skye and Thomas from the plan of Ubasti, the hairless sphinx cat of a very peculiar archeologist named Phillip Wellington. They managed to hide in a crate full of explosives all the way to the town of Bastati, where they had to get out thanks to one of Budderball’s massive farts (which was caused by accidentally eating explosives that were in the crate)... and they were completely unaware that Ubasti had seen them, and she knew that somehow, someway, they were going to ruin her plan to make cats rule over all Earth's creatures. Now, let's get back to the swing of things, so we can see how these events will fare for our heroes. XXXXXXXX As the Buddies and Violette ran ahead of them through the bazaar, the Mane 6 thought this might be a good idea to change into their archeology outfits, to kinda fit the mold of their environment. Sunny wore a short-sleeved shirt that was light pink, brown boots and her signature saddlebag. Izzy wore a a dark blue shirt with a white hat and brown boots as well. Hitch wore a teal long-sleeved shirt with a hat like Izzy's. Zipp wore a white and gray plaid shirt with a watch on her front left hoof. Pipp wore a light blue shirt with white polka dots and brown boots. Lastly, Misty wore brown boots as well, but her short-sleeved shirt was a color mix of dark purple and pink. And not long after the group had gotten changed, they regrouped with the Buddies and Violette, catching their breath while Mudbud looked around for his human, but ultimately didn't see anything. “Where did Pete, Grandpa Thomas and the zebra family go?” “I don’t know, Mudbud,” Zipp admitted. “I didn’t see them when we were running through here.” “Okay, we've got a lot of ground to cover. Let's split into groups,” Rosebud suggested before splitting her brothers up. “B-Dawg, you go with Buddha, so we can keep you out of trouble. Budderball, you stick with Mudbud, and I'll go by myself. I know how you boys hate shopping anyways.” “Good delegating, Rosebud,” Sunny praised before giving out her own group assignments. “Misty, Hitch? You two can go with Mudbud and Budderball. Izzy, Zipp? You guys go with Buddha and B-Dawg. The rest of us will go with Rosebud, and we’ll keep each other contacted with our phones if anything pops up.” “Okay, guys,” Violette nodded. “Let’s go track them down.” And with that, the groups split up in three different directions, hoping to find Pete, Thomas, Mariama and Skye before too much time had passed. XXXXXXXX Izzy, Zipp, Buddha and B-Dawg walked through the bazaar for a bit, with Zipp using her visor to keep an eye out for anything suspicious, and then, they saw a remarkable sight-- a man playing some sort of flute that made a hypnotic melody... a melody that Izzy was sure that Pipp would like. And to be honest, B-Dawg liked the melody too. “Not bad. I could lay down some sick beats to this.” “Yeah,” said Izzy, “but… why is he sitting in front of a pot and playing the music? Does the pot have ears?” It was then that a cobra began to rise out of the pot, swaying to the music while hissing, and this freaked B-Dawg out entirely. “SNAKE!!!” “Don’t worry, B-Dawg,” Buddha gently reassured his fearful brother. “The snake is in a trance. He's meditating to the music.” “It’s called snake charming. A lot of people can do it,” Zipp admitted, “but I’ve never actually seen it happen in real life.” “Pipp would love to see this!” said Izzy, pulling out her phone with excitement in her voice. “I’ll take a video and send it to her.” XXXXXXXX In another part of the bazaar, Pipp, Sunny and Violette walked with Rosebud past a few stalls, and when Rosebud passed one of the stalls, her eyes sparkled at the sight of a beautiful pink headdress that was sometimes worn by women in Egypt. “Wow, look at these colors!” “You like it, Rosebud?” Violette asked, causing Rosebud to nod. “Well, let’s see if we can get it for you.” That was when Sunny approached the woman operating the stall. “Excuse me, ma’am-- our little puppy friend likes that pink headdress you’ve got there. We were wondering how much it is.” The woman looked over at the excited Rosebud and smiled. “If it’s for your little friend, then let me give it to you in trade.” “Trade?” Violette tilted her head out of confusion. “Is that a thing?” “A lot of people have different ways of exchanging for what they want or need,” Sunny explained. “We just need to find the right thing to trade to get Rosebud what she wants.” Pipp then looked through her bag until she pulled out a fancy headband that she had made for anypony who wanted one at the Boardtrot. “Here you go-- a headpiece for a headdress!” “Ahh, very good choice, my dear,” the woman took the headband and then handed the headdress to Sunny. “It is yours. Enjoy, girls.” “Thank you!” Violette said to the woman with a warm smile. “Come on, Rosebud. Let’s put it on.” With that, Violette put the headdress on Rosebud’s head, and while Sunny, Violette and Pipp cooed at how adorable it looked, Rosebud looked at herself in the mirror. “OMG,” she said. “This is SO to die for!” XXXXXXXX Meanwhile, B-Dawg, Buddha, Izzy and Zipp were approaching a nearby auction, where a young camel was trying to be sold, but no one seemed interested with her, despite the auctioneer's best efforts. “Okay, next up we have beautiful animal. Very young, but will grow big and strong. Five hundred! Five hundred pounds!” However, one look at the camel caused Izzy to frown out of sympathy. “She looks a little too young to be sold off, don’t you think so, Zipperdoodle?” “Huh… now that you mention it, she’s a lot younger than other camels we’ve seen around here,” Zipp frowned. “And selling her off when she’s that young? It just doesn’t sound right.” However, as the two ponies were focused on the camel, they heard a rustling noise from behind them, B-Dawg and Buddha, but when they turned, they didn't see anyone there. Eventually, they shrugged it off, thinking it to be a rat or something that liked to scurry around the city looking for food. But little did the four of them know that sooner or later, they would find that whatever they heard wasn't a rat at all. XXXXXXXX Around the same time, Misty, Hitch, Budderball and Mudbud were wandering through the bazaar past some food stalls, where a voice from a nearby grill caught their attention, and a heavenly smell caught Budderball by the nose. “Kebab! Hot kebab! Come get your chicken kebab!” “Oh, sweet mama,” Budderball licked his chops. “Kebabs!” “We’re kind of on a mission here, Budderball,” Misty said gently. “We don’t have time to stop for a snack if we wanna find Pete, Thomas and the zebras!” “But I search much better on a full stomach,” Budderball tried to reason. “Besides, the best way to know a new culture is to sample its cuisine.” “...he’s not wrong,” Hitch said uneasily before sighing. “Okay, Budderball, go up and get you a kebab, but make it quick.” Budderball didn't need to be told twice-- he walked right over to the grill and began to whimper, waving his paw up in the air to get the shopkeeper's sympathy. However, what Budderball wasn't aware of at the time was that Faith was perched up above the grill, ready to jump down and grab a kebab so she could take it back to Babi, since the two friends hadn't eaten in quite some time. At the same time, the shopkeeper finished grilling Budderball’s kebab and was just now holding it out for the pup to take. “Okay, one kebab for you. Eat it.” “Ha!” Faith howled as she leapt from the roof of the stall. “You snooze, you lose, big fella!” And with that, she grabbed the kebab in her mouth and ran off, much to Budderball’s supreme frustration. “Hey, come back here!” “Come on, guys!” Hitch cried as Budderball ran off, prompting the others to run after him as well. “We have to stop that thief!” XXXXXXXX B-Dawg easily heard Budderball crying out from halfway across the bazaar, and instantly turned his head to see where it was coming from. “Yo, dawg, did you hear that?” “Yeah!” Zipp agreed. “It sounds like Budderball’s in trouble!” “It came from over that way!” Izzy pointed down a specific pathway. “Come on, guys!” And with that, the four of them ran off, following the sound of Budderball’s voice in the process. XXXXXXXX “Stop!” Budderball cried as he, his brothers and their friends rushed through the bazaar after a mischievously grinning Faith. “Somebody stop that kebab-a-robber!” However, the others passed right by Pipp, Rosebud, Violette and Sunny, and as soon as Rosebud saw her brothers run past, she let out a sigh of frustration. “Boys…” “Tell me about it, sister,” Pipp rolled her eyes. “Tell me ALL about it.” “Come on!” Sunny shouted, already pursuing after the other Buddies and her remaining friends. “We can’t let them get too far ahead of us!” “Wait for me, Sunny!” Violette called before pursuing after the alicorn/earth pony mare, causing Pipp and Rosebud to shrug at each other and immediately follow afterward. XXXXXXXX Faith panted tiredly as she continued to run through the market with the ponies and Buddies on her paws, and she knew it wouldn’t be too much further until she got to a place where she could lose them. But before she could get to this place… …Hitch got out his truth-telling lasso that Mariama gave him and threw it, causing it to wrap around Faith, which caused Faith to yelp and fall to the ground, losing the kebab in the process. “Ow…” Budderball growled angrily as he, his siblings and the ponies approached her. “Got you cornered, you chicken thief.” “That’s what this is all about?” Zipp asked in surprise. “This fox stole your chicken?” “That’s right,” Misty nodded. “Hitch, Mudbud and I saw it happen with our own eyes!” “And she was just about to tell us WHY she did it,” Hitch said as he tightened the lasso around the fox pup. “Isn’t that right?” “Uh… uh… yes!” the fox finally blurt out, forced to tell the truth while under the lasso's spell. “I’m sorry for taking it, I-I was just taking it to a friend!” “A friend?” Sunny asked in surprise. “What friend?” “Wait!” “Huh?!” everyone turned at the sound of a new voice, and a monkey wearing a fez came out of hiding and began to untie Faith from the lasso’s grasp. “Please, don't hurt Faith and Babi. Faith and Babi are but a humble monkey and fox.” “...is that true?” Violette asked the fox. “Did you really steal Budderball’s treat so you guys could eat?” “Yeah… it’s been a few days since we’ve had full bellies,” admitted Faith with an uneasy shrug. “I didn’t wanna steal it, but sometimes… you don’t really have a choice.” “Going hungry is one thing,” Budderball said, still a little ticked, “but you’re still no-good crooks.” That was when Babi took off his hat, seemingly getting an idea. “Here,” he said right before he put the hat on Budderball’s head. “See, now I give you something in trade.” However, Budderball wasn’t exactly sure about wearing a hat in this bustling Egyptian atmosphere. “I'm not much of a hat dog.” “I don’t know,” Izzy said in thought. “It looks good on you. Besides… they do look kinda eager to make things right with you.” “Come on, Budderball, give them a chance,” Misty said gently. “When the little fox said that she didn’t have much of a choice, I believe her.” Budderball took a moment to consider this-- he and his siblings had been raised that stealing was not a good thing to do, but since Misty was the element of empathy, being able to understand people on a deeper level than most, he had a feeling that she might be on the right track. “Okay,” Budderball eventually shrugged, looking over at Babi and Faith. “We’ll call it even-steven.” “I am Babi,” the monkey then said, “not Steven.” “And I’m Faith,” Babi’s fox friend introduced herself. “The fastest fennec fox this side of the Nile!” “I’m Budderball,” the oldest of the Buddies introduced. “And these are my brothers, Mudbud, Buddha, and B-Dawg, and our little sis, Rosebud.” “And I’m Violette Rainbow,” Violette spoke up. “And this is Sunny, Hitch, Zipp, Misty, Izzy and Pipp, the protectors of the world of Equestria!” “It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” Faith said, tipping her head respectfully. “What brings you guys to Egypt?” “Actually, we’re looking for two zebras, Skye and her mom Mariama, and Mudbud’s people,” Sunny explained. “His boy Peter and his grandpa, Thomas.” “Yeah,” Mudbud confirmed with a nod. “They were last seen with a bad man and a creepy cat with no fur.” “Ohh! I think we saw that cat today!” Babi recalled with a shudder. “Babi does not like cats.” “Hold on a second,” Zipp held up a hoof in surprise. “You’ve seen her?” “Only just a few hours ago,” Faith confirmed. “And the second she hissed, we ran.” Mudbud was about to add onto this when he saw Pete’s compass dangling around Babi’s neck, his eyes widening in surprise. “Hey, that's Pete's compass, dude!” “Babi see it fall out of boy's pocket,” Babi explained. “Yep-- first rule of our society,” said Faith, “is finders keepers, losers weepers.” “So you’ve seen Pete too?!” Misty asked. “That compass is VERY important to him. We’d really like to have it back in order to find them.” “Hmm… what do you think, Babi?” Faith asked, looking at her monkey companion. “Think we can turn the compass over?” “Of course Babi can give you compass,” Babi confirmed. “Perhaps in trade…” That’s when his eyes trailed over to the chain with the B on it that B-Dawg was wearing around his neck. “Babi likes shiny objects.” “My bling?!” B-Dawg was immediately against the idea. “You've gots to be trippin'.” “Faith and Babi will give you compass and help you with everything. Promise to get you to boy and friends,” Babi promised. “B for Babi look very nice on Babi's hairy chest.” “Sorry, dawg, you can't have it,” B-Dawg immediately denied. “B-Dawg, please!” Violette pleaded, looking desperate. “They know where Pete, Grandpa Thomas and the zebras are! We need their help-- give Babi anything he wants.” This genuinely surprised B-Dawg, as well as the others. They had never seen Violette so desperate for help-- probably because Skye and her mother, as well as Pete and Grandpa Thomas, meant a lot to her, not just to them. So, with as much reluctance as he had in him, B-Dawg handed his bling over to Babi, who took off Pete's compass and put it around Mudbud's neck, much to the others' happiness. It sure was gonna be easier to find their friends with a little bit of help nearby. That was when a strange, opera like call echoed through the bazaar, causing the Mane 6, the Buddies and Violette to look around, a bit bewildered. “Okay, I’m just gonna flat out ask this,” said Zipp. “What was that?” “It's the Muslim call to prayer,” Buddha answered. “It is getting late,” Babi added. “Market not safe at night.” “Babi and I can show you where you can sleep,” Faith offered. “And we’ll show you the way to your friends in the morning. Just follow us!” However, as they were following behind Babi and Faith, B-Dawg couldn’t help but feel strange without his bling. “This is so not happening. I'm practically naked without my bling.” “Suck it up, B-Dawg,” Pipp scoffed as she rolled her eyes. “I’m sure I can make you some temporary bling once I get the right material, but only if you stop whining.” “This way, guys!” Faith said as she and Babi rounded a corner. “You guys can sleep in here for the night.” Around the corner was a simple workshop that Faith managed to use her claws and pick the lock to, and once everyone was inside, they closed the door back so they wouldn't attract a lot of attention. “Wow, it sure is dark in here,” Sunny said as she used her phone flashlight to light up the place. “But there’s a lot of interesting stuff too!” Violette agreed. “Skye would totally love seeing something like this!” That was when B-Dawg spotted a sarcophagus resting on the nearby table and another one standing right beside of it. “Yo, what's that, dawg?” “It appears to be a sarcophagus, B-Dawg,” Buddha explained. “Where they put mummies in ancient Egypt.” However, this little bit of information caused B-Dawg to tense. “M-M-Mummies?!” “Relax,” Misty said gently. “We know for a fact since our last adventure that mummies don't really come to life.” “Oh, yeah,” B-Dawg tried to stay calm. “I knew that, dawg.” “So… Faith,” said Rosebud to the fennec fox, “do you and Babi not have a home?” “Oh, well… we kinda sleep in different places,” Faith admitted. “You see, I was the runt of my litter, and I didn’t really have a place among my brothers and sisters, so… I started wandering Egypt for a new home. But when I came across Bastati and met Babi, I knew that I could use my desert smarts to get us some food and some cool stuff. We don’t steal because we like it… we do it cause it’s really the only way we get by.” “Oh… I know how that is,” Misty said sympathetically. “I had to do a lot of things for an evil alicorn without much of a choice either… at least, until I met my friends. But… wanting to help us proves that you and Babi both have good hearts. Don’t ever forget that.” Faith had never met anyone so understanding of her and Babi's situation before, and it honestly surprised her, but after a moment, Faith smiled at Misty with a look of gratitude in her eyes. But after a few moments, Babi began to hear whistling getting closer and closer to the work shed, causing him to quickly shush the others and take action. “Quick, hide. Someone is coming.” “Come on, Violette,” Izzy whispered, urging the filly closer before Izzy and Misty used their magic to summon the invisibility spell, making the ponies disappear from sight while the Buddies, Faith and Babi hid in all sorts of different places around the room. The door to the work shed opened, and the auctioneer brought in the young camel that Izzy, Zipp and their group had seen earlier, and the young camel looked very unhappy. “Okay… okay, now tomorrow you must sell, or…” the auctioneer said before making a slicing motion across his neck. “Okay? Okay. Bye bye.” And with that, the auctioneer left the shed, locking the door behind him, and once he had gone, the little camel began to sniffle sadly, feeling rather lost and alone. Not wanting to see the little camel so sad, the Mane 6, Violette, Faith and the Buddies slowly crawled out of hiding, causing the camel to slowly cease her cries. “Hey…” Rosebud said sympathetically. “What’s wrong, little camel?” “That mean human stole me from my mother,” the camel admitted, “and he's trying to sell me.” Pipp gasped in sadness to this. “You were taken from your mother? That’s awful!” “I must find her,” the little camel continued. “My tribe is on their way into the desert. If I don't catch up with them soon, I might never see her again.” “Tribe?” B-Dawg questioned in confusion. “It is my family,” the little camel explained. “I belong with the Bedouin tribe. We are travelers.” That seemingly put things into terms B-Dawg could understand. “I get it. Kinda like my posse. The name's B-Dawg.” “My name is Cammy,” the camel introduced with a faint smile. “I’m Rosebud, and these are my friends and brothers,” Rosebud then introduced. “Maybe we could help.” “Cammy?” whispered another young voice, seemingly a male. “Cammy, are you in here?” Cammy seemed to recognize this voice immediately, perking up as she looked around to see where the voice was coming from. “Tikaro? Is that you?” “Yes, it’s me!” the voice, now known as Tikaro, answered excitedly. “Stay in there, I’m coming!” It was then that a young lion cub squeezed his way through some bars in a nearby window, causing the Mane 6 and Violette to gasp in surprise. This particular lion cub was moderately sized, albeit slightly thin and weakly built, not to mention he had a bleached grayish-tan coat, with a white muzzle and yellow eyes. However, it was B-Dawg's first instinct to panic. “LION!!!” “It’s okay, B-Dawg,” Cammy assured gently. “Tikaro is my lion friend from the Bedouin tribe!” “Cammy, I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” Tikaro said as he rubbed up against the camel. “I’m so happy you’re okay!” “I’m glad you’re okay too,” Cammy said to the lion cub. “Is your mom with you? Is she gonna get us out?” Tikaro seemed to turn a bit bashful at this. “Well… the thing is… I actually came without my mom. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving you behind, so… I kinda left to bring you back to the tribe on my own.” “Wow… you’re brave for a cub your age,” Zipp commented before she frowned a bit. “But… it was dangerous for you to come and find Cammy without your tribe to help you.” “I know…” Tikaro said softly, acknowledging his mistake before he looked up at Cammy with a smile. “Don’t worry. We’ll get back to the tribe together-- I promise.” Suddenly, the lid on one of the sarcophaguses began to rise, freaking B-Dawg and Violette out. “Mummy!! AHHHHHH!!!” However, the only thing rising up from the sarcophagus was a very cheeky monkey, who giggled nervously while B-Dawg and Violette glared at him slightly. “Babi!” “Is coast clear?” Babi asked curiously, causing the Mane 6 to nod in confirmation. “Babi,” Faith took the opportunity to introduce her friend to their new friends, “this is Tirako and Cammy.” This caused Babi to climb out of the sarcophagus to greet the young camel and lion cub duo. “As-salaam alaikum, little camel and lion.” “As-salaam alaikum to you too, Mr. Babi,” Tirako said as he tipped his head in greeting. “Thanks for wanting to help us-- it’s a lot of pressure off my shoulders.” “Hey, it’s no problem,” Pipp brushed it off with a smile, just as Mudbud began to paw the door and sniff at it, confirming his theories as he turned toward his siblings and friends. “Dudes, I hate to be a bummer, but the door is locked!” “Oh no!” Sunny cried. “We’re stuck in here! At least until someone unlocks it tomorrow morning.” “But Thomas, Pete, Mariama and Skye could already be long gone by then!” Hitch argued. “What are we gonna do?” “Babi going to solve everyone's troubles,” Babi reassured. “You all sleep now. Babi will go see what he can find out.” “Good luck, Babi! Be safe!” Faith wished her friend luck as he climbed out of the window into the marketplace, hoping to find the hotel room where the visitors were staying. And once they had gone, Sunny sat down and faced the others. “So, I guess now’s a good time to tell you guys a story from one of our past Unity Quest adventures. And I have the perfect story to tell to get us sleepy.” XXXXXXXX Babi wandered through the empty bazaar, careful to watch out for any humans, when he got to the hotel where Pete, Thomas and the zebras were staying with Dr. Wellington and Ubasti, using his monkey skills to climb up to the balcony where he had a good look at them. They were surrounding the table, with Thomas reading one of the clues on the Bronze of Bastet that will lead them to Cleocatra’s tomb. “It will lead you to the water's path.” “Perhaps someone misinformed you. We're in the desert, there's no water,” Dr. Wellington said before pointing to another part of the disc. “We’re here.” “Ah,” Thomas realized his mistake before reading again. “From the eye of the needle, take direction from Thoth.” However, Pete and Skye both seemed a bit confused. “What do you think it means, Grandpa?” Pete finally asked. “Thoth, the moon god,” Thomas explained. “Take direction from the moon.” “The moon, huh?” Skye muttered to herself. “Hmm…” “Now, let me see…” Mariama’s eyes trailed back to the paper as Skye and Pete both looked out of the balcony, not seeing Babi spy on them. “From the eye of the needle, take direction from the moon. On the 12th day, the moon will light the way.” “There’s a full moon tonight!” Thomas realized, just as Pete pointed up to the obelisk that he and Skye had been looking at. “That looks like a needle, and there's a half-moon carved in the top!” Thomas and Mariama soon joined the kids at the window, realizing quickly that they were right. “The obelisk!” Mariama gasped in realization. “Kids, let’s go!” “Wait for me, Mom!” Skye said quickly before darting after her mother, following her, Pete, Thomas and Dr. Wellington out of the hotel room, with Babi watching the entire thing from the balcony, going unnoticed. They rushed to the side of the obelisk, where it looked like there was a place for the Bronze of Bastet in the middle of a drawing of the lunar cycle. “Call me crazy,” said Skye, “but I think the disc goes here!” “I think you’re right, sweetheart,” Mariama nodded. “Dr. Wellington, your half of the disc, please.” “Yes, yes, of course,” Dr. Wellington handed it over, and once Thomas put it together, he put the disc in the slot and turned it slightly… just before something began to happen. A mechanism began to activate, causing everyone to look up as gears began to turn somewhere from inside the obelisk, much to Thomas’ complete awe. “Incredible!” As this seemed to get the attention of several passersby, the top of the obelisk began to rotate a full 360 degrees until the half-moon symbol at the top was now glowing with a blazing white light, which shot off a single beacon into the distance. And once this had happened, Dr. Wellington turned back to Thomas. “What now?” “Well, now,” said Thomas, trying to contain his excitement, “we need to calibrate the position of the beam and coordinate it on the map!” XXXXXXXX And that's exactly what Thomas and Mariama began to do when they got back to the hotel room, using some special gear as well as the map they had brought along with them. “Ah, given the height of the tower,” Thomas muttered, “60 feet…the light should be going…” “...south by southeast, 86 miles,” Mariama concluded before heading over to the map and figuring out what was in that direction. “And leading us... to this oasis.” “Oasis?” Skye tilted her head out of confusion and curiosity. “Isn’t that a place in the desert where there’s usually trees and water?” “Often times, yes,” Mariama nodded. “And that’s exactly where we need to go to get the next clue.” And this is exactly what Babi needed to hear. “They're heading to the oasis. I must tell the Buddies.” XXXXXXXX “...and so, right after we exposed the truth about Shannon and Aruna’s treachery,” Misty began to conclude the story, “they were taken to prison, leaving Umbra safe from her sister after a long time. Our new friends were going to take her sight seeing to get her back to being on Earth after so long, and then... we came back to Equestria.” “Whoa, dawg,” B-Dawg finally commented in surprise after the story was concluded. “That’s some story.” “Did you encounter Alterro any other times?” Rosebud asked. “No, just on the moon base and in Piqua, but… we have a feeling that Alterro has more agents of evil out there,” Sunny said with a shudder. “And I have a slight gut feeling Ubasti might be one of them.” “Ubasti? I don’t know, Sunny,” Zipp frowned. “Sure, Ubasti is evil and ugly…” “And don’t forget creepy!” Izzy chimed in. “Right, and creepy,” Zipp added, “but nothing about her strikes agent of evil. At least… not yet.” “Buddies! Pony friends!” That was when everyone turned to see Babi re-entering the shed, capturing Mudbud’s attention immediately. “What’s up?” “Your people are leaving in the morning. They're on their way to oasis, deep in desert,” Babi explained. “Oasis?” Cammy questioned before smiling. “I've been there with my tribe before!” “That could be where they’re heading too!” Tirako realized. “Cammy and I can show you the way.” “And we,” added Rosebud, “can help you find your tribe.” “Babi will hitch ride and slow them down,” Babi volunteered. “And I can go across the desert with you guys,” offered Faith, “so that way you really get the Egyptian experience.” “Thank you… both of you,” Violette smiled gratefully. “We really appreciate this.” “Hey, you can thank us later, when your friends are safe and sound,” Faith said before Babi left the room. “For right now… let’s just get some shuteye. We’re gonna need it if we’re gonna go after your group in the morning.” However, as the group was retiring to sleep for the night, Violette found her mind wandering with all these questions about Skye and her mother's safety, as well as Pete and Thomas'. She hoped that they were able to get to them in time... and they really hoped that Ubasti didn't find Cleocatra's collar before they did. XXXXXXXX Back in the hotel room, it was Pete and Skye's bedtime, so Thomas and Mariama went to tuck them in, with Thomas noticing the smile on his grandson's face. “What are you thinking?” “How rad this is,” Pete said. “Oh, yeah,” Skye agreed. “Mudbud, Violette and the others would’ve loved this.” Mariama giggled to this, a knowing smile on her face. “Knowing Mudbud and our new friends, they’re probably off on an adventure of their own.” “...but it’s funny, Mom,” Skye said after a moment, turning to face her mother. “For some reason, they don’t really feel that far away.” And little did anyone realize it at first, but our heroes weren't far away at all... and they would soon be reuniting further down the road.
Traveling Through the Desert and Finding the OasisAnother clue to the secret location of Cleocatra’s tomb had been revealed, and it would soon take Dr. Wellington, Ubasti, Thomas, Pete and the zebra family (Mariama and her young daughter, Skye) to an oasis deep in the desert, so Babi had told the Mane 6, Violette, the Buddies and their newfound friends. And while they were going to go after their friends to warn them about Ubasti's secret agenda, our heroes were also going to help their camel friend Cammy and her little lion companion Tirako get back to their tribe, which was soon going to be migrating through the desert. However, as she slept, Skye could feel that Violette, the older ponies and the Buddies were much closer than one might think, though she had no idea why. Now, let's dive right back into the story to get back up to speed. XXXXXXXX By the time the sun began to rise that next morning, Babi already had a plan to slow the group down long enough so that way the Mane 6, the Buddies, Violette and their other friends had an opportunity to catch up to them when they were out in the desert environment. While Tarik and Seti were busy getting the supplies loaded into the back of the truck, Babi snuck under the open hood and began to pull on the coolant hose, disconnecting some of it from the engine. “Got it!” And once this was done, the clever little monkey giggled and snuck into the back of the truck where he wouldn't be seen, to make all the necessary adjustments so the others would not have to go so far in order to catch up to the travelers. Not long after Babi snuck onboard, Dr. Wellington, Thomas, Pete and the zebra family, along with Ubasti, came outside with their gear to get into the truck and get started on their long, hot journey. “Chop-chop, my good man,” Dr. Wellington said urgingly, wanting to get all the luggage into the truck before they left the town entirely. “We're seven minutes behind schedule.” XXXXXXXX The sun was just beginning to peek through the windows as the Buddies, the Mane 6, Violette Rainbow and their new friends-- Cammy, Faith and Tirako, were beginning to get their bearings. But as they did so, a faint sound began to reach Tirako's ears-- it almost sounded like whistling, but he wasn't sure where it was coming from. “Hey… does anyone else hear that sound?” Cammy listened intently to this sound that Tirako mentioned, but after a moment, gasped as she recognized the tune. “I know that whistle! The man is coming to take me away!” “Oh, no,” Pipp said with an angry tone in her voice. “Not if these ponies have anything to say about it.” “But what can we do?” Hitch asked. “We can’t just unleash our magic on that guy-- we could get into huge trouble ourselves!” Luckily, Mudbud and Zipp had been whispering to each other while this was going on, both coming up with the same idea, and after a moment, Zipp turned to look over at Cammy, a determined smirk on her face. “Mudbud and I have an idea, Cammy. You up for it?” And of course, Cammy smiled and nodded in compliance. “Anything to get me and Tirako back to our moms.” “Zipp?” Sunny looked at the white pegasus in surprise as Mudbud whispered the plan to Cammy. “What are you guys up to?” “Trust me, Sunny,” Zipp winked. “Just wait for the right time, and then make a break for it!” The whistling got closer and closer to the door of the work shed, and Cammy stood up and got closer to the door as she heard the man begin to unlock it, all while the Mane 6 braced themselves to protect Violette, the Buddies and their friends in case Mudbud and Zipp's plan went south. Once the man got done unlocking the door, he opened it to reveal Cammy waiting for him on the other side. And then, when he least expected it, Cammy shot a bunch of camel spit into his face, causing him to scream and groan in complete disgust... and the ponies couldn't help but hide their disgust as well. “Wow!” Mudbud said, impressed that this actually worked. “Gnarly loogey, dudette!” “Come on, everybody!” Faith said with an excited tone in her voice. “Let’s go go go!” With that, she and Tirako leapt right onto the man, knocking him down to the floor and allowing Cammy to run past, followed by Faith and Tirako with the Buddies, the Mane 6 and Violette not far behind. “No!!” the man shouted in desperation. “My beautiful camel! Oh!” “Sorry, mister!” Violette called back as the group ran through the bazaar. “You snooze, you lose!” And so, once making it to the entrance of the town, the Mane 6, the Buddies, Violette and their new friends began to venture into the desert, hoping to follow the trail that the trucks had made and hoping to catch up to Pete, Thomas, the zebras and the rest of their group before they got too far out. XXXXXXXX At the same time, Babi was riding on top of one of the trucks as the group made their way through the desert, honestly a bit surprised that no one had discovered him already. He could actually be a very sneaky monkey when it came down to it. Inside the truck, however, Skye was looking down at her compass, thinking about Violette and the others, who she thought were back in Fernfield, but after a lot of thinking... she wasn't so sure anymore. And then again... she was also thinking about someone else who would have loved this trip as much as she and Pete were... her father. According to Mariama, Tomas (Skye's father) died when she was only a few weeks old of a mysterious illness, and her mother didn't really talk much about him... other than the fact that he was a brave explorer who captured her heart. Mariama seemed to read her daughter’s thoughts as they drove along, and frowned sympathetically at the sad look on her daughter’s face. “You thinking about Dad again?” “He would love this, Mom… you know that,” Skye sighed. “I guess… being here in Egypt is making me think of him more and more.” Mariama sighed and nuzzled her daughter close. “I understand sweetheart… but he would also want the both of us to enjoy the time that we have together, and make the most out of this wonderful trip.” “...do you think… when we get back to the states… we can stop by his grave and I can tell him about the trip?” Skye asked hopefully. “You know talking to him by his grave always makes me feel better.” “Of course, sweetie,” Mariama smiled. “I was just thinking the same thing.” Skye seemed to smile at this, leaning into her mother just before the truck seemed to slow to a stop. A small tribe of travelers, the same tribe that Cammy and Tirako needed to get back to, was blocking their path, much to Pete’s confusion. “Who are they, Grandpa?” “They’re Bedouins, Pete,” Thomas explained. “They're a nomadic people of the desert.” “Nomadic?” Skye tilted her head. “That means,” Mariama explained, “that they move around quite frequently, instead of staying in one place.” But as the tribe made room for the trucks to pass through, one of the camels, belonging to Farah's father, was still in their path, much to Dr. Wellington's disliking. “Hey, you, move your disgusting beasts. I'm in a hurry.” Farah’s father, at the time, was with someone else-- a lioness named Haruma, who was sleek and well-built, with a gold-tinted tan coat and yellow eyes. And needless to say, both of them seemed a little bit wary by the archeologist's wording. “You should be very careful,” Farah’s father warned. “This area is known for bandits and thieves.” “B-B-Bandits?” Skye asked nervously, her ears pinned in fright. “Oh, not to worry, sweetheart,” Mariama said gently. “We can handle ourselves if something of the sort were to come up.” “I’m sure you would, but sometimes, the desert has a will of its own,” Haruma said to the group mysteriously, her golden eyes reflecting something that Mariama could not place. “Safe travels.” And without another word, Farah's father got the camel to move from their path, letting the group continue across the desert. But as they drove past the tribe, Pete and Skye saw Farah and waved to her, causing her to smile and wave back. However, none of them had any idea that Babi was hitching a ride on top of the truck, ready for another opportunity to slow the group down and give his friends a chance to catch up... hopefully before it got too dark and dangerous out in the desert sands. XXXXXXXX Speaking of the others, Cammy, Tirako and Faith bravely led the Mane 6, Violette and the Buddies across the desert, the Buddies and Violette panting slightly from the heat. But even though she, her brothers and her friends were all tired, Rosebud knew they had to keep going one way or another. “Come on, guys. We just have to make it to the oasis.” “I’m running on fumes,” Budderball panted as the group eventually stopped to take a breather. “Cammy, aren't you hungry?” “We camels were born to survive in the heat,” Cammy explained, “and go a long time without food and water.” “Yeah,” Tirako nodded. “Camels can even regurgitate the food in their stomachs and re-chew it, so they can go longer without a meal.” “Eww!” Pipp groaned in disgust. “That is so TMI, Tirako.” “Good idea,” Budderball said before intentionally trying to retch, trying to pull some food out of his stomach, to regurgitate and re-chew. However, this only made Hitch sick to his stomach as he watched the process. “I think I’m gonna be sick if Budderball keeps doing that.” “Yeah, Budderball,” Rosebud deadpanned. “Gross.” “Mmm,” Budderball commented in delight, getting a hint of flavor from his regurgitating. “I love leftovers.” “Okay… let’s just put that out of our minds for now,” Misty said with a shudder. “We have to keep going-- our friends are counting on us to warn them about Ubasti’s plans.” “Still not sure if she’s an agent of Alterro, Sunny?” Zipp asked. “She does have a pretty malevolent mind.” Sunny sighed to this. “I’m not sure, Zipp. All we can do right now is stop wondering about the what-ifs and get Cammy and Tirako back to their tribe… we owe it to them for helping Cammy escape from the clutches of that creep back in the bazaar.” And so, the group eventually decided to keep going, with Faith retaking the lead, hoping to reach the oasis before it got too dark to keep going. XXXXXXXX In another part of the desert, the truck that Seti and Tarik used to carry supplies eventually broke down, thanks to Babi pulling one of the hoses loose, causing the group to stop in their tracks temporarily. And needless to say, Seti was very aggravated with Tarik’s supposed carelessness. What happened? What you do? I told you, check out the truck before we left!” “But, I did!” Tarik protested. “You did?” Seti groaned wearily. “I swear, your brain is the size of a monkey's.” Babi, being able to hear this remark, stuck his tongue out at them, even though they were still unaware by his presence, and a few moments later, Dr. Wellington got out of the truck, holding Ubasti, clearly not pleased. “For heaven's sakes, what's wrong with it?” “Is broken,” Tarik admitted as Thomas and Mariama got out of the truck to join them. This caused Dr. Wellington to turn to look at Thomas, a hopeful look plastered on his face. “I don't suppose you know anything about motorized vehicles?” “Well, as a matter of fact, I do. Well, let's see what the problem is,” Thomas said as Mariama held a flashlight up for him to take a look at the problem, which Thomas immediately saw, causing him to partially chuckle. “Oh, my goodness. Hose came loose!” “No wonder that thing was smoking!” Skye realized. “With the hose loose, the truck must’ve overheated!” “Just put some coolant in it,” Mariama told the boys, patting Tarik on the shoulder, “and the truck should be up and running in no time. Besides, we’ve only got a little longer to go till we reach the oasis.” This caused Pete and Skye to smile at each other from inside the truck, knowing they were only a little ways from hunkering down for the night and finding the next clue that would lead to the lost collar of Cleocatra. But if only they knew about Ubasti's hidden agenda. XXXXXXXX The trucks were soon up and running within half an hour, and the group was able to continue driving south by southeast, just as the map said to, and soon, a patch of green trees were seen in the distance. “Look,” Thomas pointed out. “There’s there's the oasis just up ahead.” “Wow…” Skye said with wide eyes. “It’s so pretty! And green!” “But… how did all this grow in the middle of the desert?” Pete asked out of confusion. “Well,” Mariama explained to the kids as the trucks drove into the oasis, “even though we're in the driest of places, centuries ago, in Cleopatra's time, there was a river here. And that river is still running deep underground.” That was when Dr. Wellington turned back to them, still holding Ubasti in his arms. “We'll set up camp, look for the next clue at daybreak.” “Sounds good to me,” Skye shrugged. “It’ll give me time to see if I can get some cool pictures of the oasis for Violette! I wonder what she and the others are doing right now…” XXXXXXXX In another part of the desert, the Mane 6, Violette and all their friends were still trapsing on, even as the sun began to descend over the sandy horizon. After a while, Rosebud looked over at Faith, Cammy, and Tirako, who all seemed intent on figuring out which way to go. “Are we close, you guys?” “Well… we’re not exactly sure, Rosebud,” Faith responded back with an uneasy shrug. “But the way my ears are twitching, I’d say we’re definitely getting close.” “Aw, snap. We're doomed. Doomed!” B-Dawg howled mourningly. “Come on,” said Sunny with a kind smile. “Think positive, B-Dawg.” “I am positive,” B-Dawg responded back. “Positively sure we're lost in the middle of the desert!” “He’s… not wrong, Sunny,” Pipp said to the earth pony/alicorn mare, pulling out her phone and waving it around. “I can’t even get my GPS app to work out here!” “Do not worry, everyone,” Cammy reassured. “My tribe has been here. There's some camel poop on the ground right there.” Turns out, Cammy was not wrong-- on the ground was a pile of stinky brown pellets that Izzy unfortunately got a whiff of, causing her to gag and cover her nose with her hoof. “That's camel poop all right...” “We're gonna need a bulldozer to clean up that mess,” B-Dawg spoke up, “cause a pooper scooper’s definitely not doing it.” “Uh-oh, guys,” Faith frowned as she looked up at the sky. “We may have a problem. It's getting too dark to follow their trail.” “The dudette is correctomundo,” Mudbud told the others. “We'll rest here for the night, and get our groove back tomorrow.” However, this decision didn't seem to settle well with Violette, who was wondering what Skye and Pete were doing at the time... and she was also wondering if they were all right. XXXXXXXX Back at the oasis, the sun had fully set, and camp had already been set up too. Skye and Pete were roasting marshmallows over the campfire, and Mariama and Thomas sat in chairs beside them. And knowing that it was nearly time for bed, Thomas turned to his grandson and his zebra friend, eager to hear what story they wanted before going to sleep. “So, kids, what story would you like to hear this time?” Luckily, Pete had just the story in mind. “Can you tell us the story about the Cat's Eye necklace?” “Oh, yes, Mom! Please?” Skye begged. “That story is always SO good!” Mariama giggled enthusiastically to this. “All right, all right, hold your horses,” she smiled. “If that’s the story you want, that’s the story you’ll get.” “The cat goddess, Bastet, gave a special necklace with a Cat's Eye jewel to Cleopatra, the ruler of Egypt,” Thomas began the story, catching Skye and Pete’s interest immediately. “Cleopatra's favorite feline, Cleocatra, was furious that Bastet gave the necklace to a human. She decided to steal the necklace. But a vigilant puppy, Buddasi, saw Cleocatra.” “And upon realizing that she had been caught, Cleocatra fled the scene just as Cleopatra heard Buddasi’s barks and came into the room,” Mariama continued in Thomas' place, a mysterious twinkle in her eye. “And Cleopatra was so mad over being betrayed by her trusted cat, that she used the necklace to make dogs man's best friend. And cats were banished from the palace.” Suddenly, a lightning bolt shot down from the sky, as well as a clap of thunder, causing Skye to yelp, so into the story that she didn’t hear the thunder and lightning approaching. Pete, however, became a bit curious at the sight of the dark clouds in the distance. “Grandpa, is it gonna rain?” “No, no. That's just dry lightning from an electrical storm. Happens all the time out here in the desert,” Thomas told his grandson and Skye, looking out at the storm clouds in the distance for a few moments. “Ah, looks far enough away. I'm sure we're perfectly safe.” Mariama then let forth a tired yawn. “I’d say it’s time to hit the rack, though. We have an early day tomorrow.” “You’re right,” Thomas told the zebra mare before turning back to the kids. “You get a good sleep. I'm gonna go stretch these old legs of mine, and then me and Mariama will be right behind you.” “Mom? Mr. Thomas?” Skye spoke up. “Thanks for taking me and Pete on this adventure-- it’s been the best.” “Aww… it’s our pleasure, sweetheart,” Mariama said as she nuzzled her daughter. “We could never ask for better partners.” XXXXXXXXX Elsewhere in the desert, the Buddies and their friends, both Equestrian and desert animal, were settling down beside some large rocks for the night, far enough away from the electrical storm where they would be safe. However, Mudbud's thoughts kept drifting to Pete, Skye and Mariama, and he knew how worried Violette was about them, even if she wasn't saying anything. And he reciprocated her feelings to an exact T. Sunny and Rosebud seemed to sense both of their distress, but Sunny was the one to speak up out of genuine concern. “Violette? Mudbud? Are you guys okay?” “Yeah,” Violette nodded sadly. “We’re just sorry we got you guys into this mess.” Mudbud nodded in response to this claim. “We’re really worried about Pete, Mariama and Skye.” “Fate put us on this path, you two,” Buddha said gently. “Every journey has a deeper reason.” “Maybe it was because you guys were meant to help me and Cammy get back to our tribe,” Tirako said. “Not just to stop Ubasti and her plans.” “I guess you’re right,” Violette nodded with a slight shrug. “Doesn’t make it any easier, though.” “We understand,” Misty nodded gently. “We’ll get started again first thing tomorrow morning, and if things work out, we should catch up to them within the next day or so.” Cammy yawned tiredly after Misty said this, not sure if she was able to keep her eyes open for much longer. “Good night, everyone. You’re the best of friends.” “Sweet dreams, everybody,” Rosebud bid her friends and brothers good night, and under the flash of the dry lightning storm, our heroes retired to sleep for the night, ready to continue their journey by the time the sun rose into the sky the next morning.
Sunny's Alicorn Worries/Mirages, Clues Uncovered, Reunions and Unexpected BetrayalsThe Mane 6, the Buddies, Violette Rainbow and their new friends (Cammy the camel, Faith the fennec fox pup and Tirako the lion cub) had been forced to settle down for the night under the cover of an electrical storm, a good ways away from the oasis that the others had stopped at for the night before they went to find the next clue to Cleopatra's tomb. It was not going to be an easy night for Violette Rainbow and Mudbud, cause of how concerned they were for the safety of their loved ones. But, little did anyone realize it, but it was also going to be a hard night for Sunny, because she was so sure she would find more answers to her alicornhood at the museum in Fernfield, but the Mane 6 ended up empty hoofed. Now... she wasn't sure if she would find answers on this mission at all. ...or would she? XXXXXXXX For some reason, in Sunny's dreams, she was standing in the secret room that Misty had told her a lot about over the past several months, while butterflies flew around as she looked at the alicorn tapestry that hung on one part of the wall. Misty had shown her a photo of the tapestry as soon as they started finding pieces of the map to Skyros, and in the back of Sunny's mind, she had a feeling that this tapestry might be important. “Mmm... who are they?” “Something on your mind?” a mysterious voice asked, causing Sunny to nearly leap out of her skin before remembering that Misty often heard a voice when she was here that answered a lot of her questions about magic, instantly calming Sunny down again. “Well, actually, yes.” Sunny said with an uncertain smile as she looked around. “But a little afraid to ask. I'm a little bit worried about what I might find out... how that might affect my search for my mom.” “Now is the perfect time to ask your question, Sunny,” the mysterious voice ensured the earth pony mare. “Well... I just can’t stop thinking about this tapestry.” Sunny said while looking at the tapestry. “Lately, I’ve been trying to understand more about what it means to be an alicorn. So... when we find Skyros, and my mom... I can be prepared for what I might find there.” Suddenly, everything in the mysterious room took on a very ominous vibe, and the tapestry in front of Sunny instantly came to life, and the Good and Evil Alicorns from the fabric flew around the room. “Since the beginning, alicorns have been the rarest of creatures,” the voice explained. “Given incredible power, their potential is limited only to their imaginations.” Sunny looked at the scene in awe before she saw some ponies in the field, surrounding the Good Alicorn in question. “Over the years, some have used their powers to spread goodness and hope, and to protect ponykind.” Sunny continued to look awe struck before she frowned and slowly turned to see the Evil Alicorn giving a dastardly look. “And some become so obsessed with power, that they would do anything to have more.” The Evil Alicorn quickly fired a magic blast at the good one, knocking her down as she was surrounded by fiery flames, right before the Good and Evil Alicorns started fighting, while Sunny looked in shock as the two sides clashed. “Being an alicorn is a great responsibility, Sunny,” the voice said gently, although a bit sternly as Sunny moved around to avoid the conflict of the two alicorns. “But the path you choose is always up to you.” Sunny couldn’t take the fighting between the Good and Bad Alicorns anymore, so she ducked down and covered her eyes with her front hooves. “No! Stop! Stop it! No more!” XXXXXXXX Sunny immediately woke up from her dream with a terrified expression on her face, and Misty, who was already awake, looked on in worry, never seeing Sunny so worked up like this. “Sunny! Are you okay?” Sunny panted as she looked up and saw Misty approaching her. “Misty! It was awful!” She cried out as she gave an anxious look. “Sometimes I wish I wasn’t an alicorn at all! I just... I can’t believe that Alicorns can be good or evil just like with Opaline! It made me wonder... do you think there's evil inside of me?” “Ah, are you kidding me?” Misty asked with a smile. “You are the kindest pony I have ever met. Your friendship changed my life forever.” “Really, Misty?” Sunny asked. “You think I’m good?” “Of course I do.” Misty said as she dried Sunny's visible tears. “I know you. You could never be evil.” Sunny gave a small chuckle and a heartfelt smile at the blue unicorn's words. “Thanks, Misty. Sometimes, I just feel so alone.” “Trust me, I get it. But you’re never alone,” Misty continued gently. “You have us. And our friendship is stronger than anything.” Sunny sighed in relief to this. “Yeah… I guess it really is.” “Now, come on-- let’s get you back to bed,” Misty said before nudging Sunny back toward the others so they could get some shuteye. “We still have a long trip in the morning, and Mudbud and Violette both need us at their best.” XXXXXXXX Needless to say, Sunny slept rather soundly knowing that she had some good advice from Misty to pull her through... and the fact that she had her friends was a good factor as well. In fact, Sunny couldn't remember waking up anymore throughout the long, cool desert night. By the time the sun rose the next morning, Cammy was the first one to wake up, and turned to her friends with a smile on her face. “Wake up, everyone! It’s morning!” Pipp yawned as she stretched her body out. “What a relief… the sand is soft, but it’s definitely gonna be hard to wash out of my mane when this is all over.” “We don’t have time to worry about your mane right now, dudette,” Mudbud told Pipp with a frown. “We gotta rock and roll!” “Mudbud’s right,” Violette nodded out of agreement. “Who knows how far ahead of us they are.” And so, Cammy got back up onto her hooves, prompting the others to do the same with their own hooves and paws before they set off into the desert once more. XXXXXXXX Back at the oasis, the Bedouin tribe was just beginning to settle in after a long night of traveling, and as it turns out, everyone in Dr. Wellington's group was up and at them as well. And seeing that they had some time on their hands, Pete had the perfect idea. “Grandpa, I’m gonna take Skye and we’re gonna go explore. Have you seen my compass?” “No… no, I haven’t, Peter,” Thomas said out of thought before brushing the subject off for now. “Well, you go ahead. Mariama and I will join you in a minute.” “Don’t worry, Pete. We still have my compass,” Skye said reassuringly as she lifted her compass up in her hoof. “Come on, let’s go see what’s over there.” Skye and Pete then began to wander further into the oasis, finding a stone well right in the center, where the people of Egypt probably got some of their water from. However, they weren't expecting Farah to jump out and surprise them, catching them off-guard. “You got us!” Peter said, trying to catch his breath. “Hello, Farah.” “Hello, Peter,” Farah smiled in greeting. “Hello, Skye.” “When did you guys get here?” Skye asked in genuine surprise. “Late last night,” Farah explained. “Sometimes we travel at night when it is cooler.” “Huh… that makes sense,” Skye said out of thought. “The desert did feel a lot cooler when we camped here.” “Where are you going?” Peter asked curiously just as Farah’s father approached with Haruma. “Our tribe is making its way through the desert,” Haruma explained with a gentle smile. “It is our way, nothing more.” “Oh, sorry,” Pete quickly apologized. “I didn’t mean to be nosy.” Haruma smiled at this. “No no, you’re just curious children. And curious children are supposed to ask questions. I’m Haruma, by the way.” “I’m Skye,” Skye introduced herself shyly. “And this is Pete.” “Ah, yes. My daughter says you are here with your grandfather and who I assume is Skye’s mother,” Farah’s father said to Pete, causing him to nod. That was before Farah’s father glanced in the direction of Dr. Wellington. “This man you are traveling with… do your elders know him well?” Pete shook his head to this. “They just met him a few days ago.” “Well… you would do well not to trust him,” Haruma advised mysteriously. “Please… both of you, be safe. The desert can be a very unforgiving place.” And with that, Farah’s father and Haruma walked away with Farah, but Pete was able to wave to her as they walked off. “See you later, Farah.” “Bye,” Farah waved back just before Thomas and Mariama approached. “Oh, hi, kids!” Mariama smiled. “I see you've made a new friend.” “Mom, Mr. Thomas!” Skye tried to warn her mother and Pete’s grandpa about what Farah’s father had said. “That man said not to trust…” “All right, chaps, no time for chattering,” Dr. Wellington said as he approached with Ubasti in his arms, cutting Skye off and causing her to go silent. “Time to find the next clue.” “Well… this well was built centuries ago. This was the widest part of the river,” Thomas said, walking away from the well in question. “And the Egyptians would have built an access to the river running down below.” However, as he was walking away from the well, Thomas tripped over something in the sand and fell to the ground, much to Pete’s concern. “Are you okay, Grandpa?” “Yes!” Thomas said, overjoyed as he and Mariama took out their brushes and began to brush the surface of whatever Thomas had just tripped on… and Mariama gasped as she saw the familiar symbol of a cat etched into the stone. “Jackpot!” “What? What have you found?” Dr. Wellington asked as he approached. “It’s the Cat’s Eye symbol!” Mariama exclaimed. “This must be the entrance!” “I’ll get the crowbars from the truck!” Skye offered, rushing back toward the truck. “That’ll help us get the stone off so we can get down there!” XXXXXXXX Babi had hid from sight as Skye rushed to the truck and grabbed the crowbars, not wanting himself to be given away just yet. But he had to admit, even a monkey like himself was curious about what they were going to do with those crowbars. Once Skye had brought them the crowbars, Dr. Wellington had Tarik and Seti remove the stone slab from the entrance to the well, revealing a hidden staircase going further down. “Whoa…” Skye muttered, amazed. “Do you… think it’s safe, Mom?” “There’s only one way to find out, sweetie,” Mariama said gently, rubbing her daughter’s head with her hoof. “Let’s go.” Slowly, but surely, the group began to descend down the staircase, deeper beneath the oasis until they arrived at a truly amazing sight-- a pool of water right under the ground, and the light shining in from the top made the water truly shimmer and shine. “Look how much light is coming in here,” said Thomas, looking around intently. “The sun must be directly over the opening of the well.” With that, Thomas put the Bronze of Bastet together and began to wade into the water until he reached the center of the well, placing the Bronze of Bastet in the slot and turning it slightly. Then, the light from the sun above reflected off the disc and lighting up some markings carved into the walls. And seeing that he wouldn’t be able to go over and get both markings, he decided to divide up the tasks. “Oh. Peter. You and Skye go clean off that part of the wall over there. And, Seti, you and Mariama clean that other spot.” The zebras nodded and then helped Pete and Seti into the well, making sure they didn’t lose their balance. “Hurry along, hurry along,” Dr. Wellington urged. And once they were in the right place, Skye and Mariama helped clean the spots on the wall until they could be seen better. “Well?” Skye seemed confused by what her and Pete’s symbol (which consisted of a U and an exclamation mark). “What does it mean?” Thomas first looked toward the marking that Seti had cleaned off, with that symbol being a strange, curved shape. “That one stands for royalty in this part of Egypt,” he said before looking at the symbol Pete and Skye had cleaned off. “And the other is called a menet. It's the source of great power for the gods. Tarik, the map!” Tarik immediately got the map out of the bag and handed it over to Thomas, who skimmed it over after getting out of the well. And then, after looking at the map for a few moments, Thomas' eyes lit up with recognition and extreme happiness. “I think we have it. I know where Cleocatra's tomb lies.” XXXXXXXX Back in the desert, the Buddies, the Mane 6, Violette and their desert animal friends continued making their way across the blazing hot sands of Egypt to find the oasis. But the further they went, the more tired they seemed to get. After a while, Izzy panted tiredly, her ears drooping and her lavender body coated with sweat. “So… hot! Can’t… go… on!!!” “I hate to admit it, but I’m not sure how much farther I can go either,” Rosebud admitted. “We need water!” “We can’t stop, guys,” Sunny said, carrying Violette on her back. “Our friends are counting on us, and we’re not gonna let them down.” And realizing that Sunny had a valid point, the group decided to keep going, no matter what desert obstacles laid in their path. XXXXXXXX Meanwhile, back in the oasis, Babi could see that the group of travelers were getting ready to leave the oasis soon, since they knew where Cleocatra's tomb rested, and he knew that the ponies and his other friends needed time to get there. Fortunately, he came up with a plan that he was sure would work. Taking the dagger out from his holder, Babi then began to work his way around the jeep, poking holes in some of the tires to let out the air. After all, they couldn't go anywhere if they had flat tires. However, one thing that Babi had not anticipated was Dr. Wellington and Ubasti coming back toward the jeep, and the archeologist (or so it seemed) was stroking the cat rather lovingly... much to Ubasti's disliking. “Yes, Ubasti, we're getting very, very close.” However, Ubasti had her narrowed gaze set on Babi, who was just finishing up poking the third of the four tires with his dagger. “What's that petty primate doing here? Up to no good.” With that, Ubasti meowed and leapt down from her owner’s arms, much to Dr. Wellington’s concern. “No, no, no, no!” And as Babi was about to poke a hole into the last tire, Ubasti came up from behind, causing him to scream in surprise. “Scary cat!” “What do you think you're doing?” Ubasti asked the monkey, who chuckled and hid his dagger behind his back. “Nothing,” Babi lied, but Ubasti could see right through him, her gaze narrowing further. “I've traveled far to find Cleocatra's tomb,” she declared, “and no one is going to stop me!” And with that, Ubasti hissed at Babi, causing him to screech in fright and run into the oasis to hide. “Ubasti… kitty,” Dr. Wellington cooed as he approached, picking the cat up into his arms. “There you are, my little darling.” For once, Ubasti wasn't all that focused on her master's overbearing cuddles. She had to make sure that they succeeded in finding Cleocatra's tomb... ...no matter what the time seemed to take. And soon, it was time to move on, and the Bedouin tribe seemed to be getting ready to head out as well. With that being said, Pete and Skye were able to wave to Farah one last time before they got into the jeep and set off into the desert once again... not having any idea of what was really going on. XXXXXXXX Back in the desert sands, Faith, Cammy and Tirako could sense that the oasis wasn't very far away, but with all the sand around them, it was hard to figure out where exactly the oasis was. Soon, Izzy stopped in her tracks, and Budderball did too, when they saw what looked like a picnic blanket with many different types of food spread out not too far away. “Hey…” Budderball spoke up after a moment of staring. “What’s that?” “I don’t know…” Izzy shook her head. “But I’m getting hungry just looking at it!” However, when the others looked around, they didn’t see anything of the sort. “Izzy, Budderball?” Violette seemed confused. “What is it?” “Can’t you see it, Violette?!” Izzy asked in excitement. “It’s food!” “Hot dogs! Pizza! And lemonade! They've even got ice cream! Oh, sweet mama!” Budderball said in excitement. “Come on, Izzy! Let’s dig in!” “Ha ha, yes!” Izzy pumped a hoof out of excitement. “No need to ask me twice, big fella!” And with that, Izzy and Budderball raced over to the picnic spread and began to laugh and roll around all over it... even though all the others could see was their friends rolling over and over in sand. “Uh, dudes?” Mudbud finally whispered. “I know Izzy can be a little erratic sometimes, but I think Budderball has lost his marbles.” “Oh, Izzy and Budderball are probably just seeing a mirage,” Tirako explained. “The heat makes your brain do funny things sometimes.” “Oh, you should have seen Shaggy and Scooby’s mirage when we had our Unity Quest with them in Egypt a month or two back,” Hitch said with a slight chuckle. “They actually drank sand thinking it was water from an oasis.” “Come on, guys!” Budderball called to his friends and siblings. “Dig in!” “Izzy! Budderball!” Misty cried. “You’ve gotta snap out of it!” However, Izzy and Budderball realized it too late when they accidentally got a large mouthful of sand instead of ice cream, much to B-Dawg’s disgust and… honestly, slight amusement. “Now that's what I call a sand-wich.” “Where’d the buffet go?!” Izzy asked in surprise, looking around to see if she could find the picnic spread again. “I’m sure we’ll find you guys something to eat a little later,” Sunny said, helping Izzy onto her hooves. “For now, we still have a long way to go to the oasis.” However, Mudbud caught sight of something that looked a bit out of place in the hot steaming desert. “Look! What's that?” he asked, looking into the distance. “I see it too!” Zipp nodded. “It looks like trees!” “Trees?” B-Dawg asked skeptically. “You've gotta be hallucin-a-trippin', dawg.” However, when Mudbud shook his head, the trees were still visible. “I can still see them, it's real!” “And where there’s trees,” Faith realized, “there must be water!” “It’s the oasis!” Cammy then realized. “Oh-ho, yes!” Pipp cheered in excitement. “We are so totally saved!” “Come on, guys!” Violette said rather excitedly. “The sooner we get to the oasis, the sooner we find our friends and stop Ubasti!” “Right behind you, Violette!” Rosebud called, and the group immediately headed in the direction of the trees, knowing they were that much closer to catching up to their friends… ...or... so they thought. XXXXXXXX “Gone?!” Misty looked around. “They’re gone?!” “They must’ve left right before we got here!” Zipp groaned in frustration. “The second we think we’re on their tail, we lose them again!” “We’ll find them again,” Tirako said gently, rubbing up against Zipp’s side to comfort her. “But right now, we need to see if we can find water. I’m really thirsty.” That was when B-Dawg spotted the open entrance to the well that Mariama, Skye and their group had accidentally left open. “Yo, dawgs, check it out.” “Huh… well, at least we know they WERE here somehow,” Sunny said as she inspected the hole just before she started giving out orders. “Cammy, you stay up here and keep watch. The rest of you, follow me. We’re heading down below.” Cammy nodded to this, and soon, the Mane 6 were leading Violette, the Buddies, Tirako and Faith down the spiral staircase down into the darkness waiting for them... ...along with the pool of water at the bottom of the well, which immediately caused the group's eyes to widen in awe. And surprisingly, Mudbud was okay with taking a bath... at least, this once. “I've never been so happy to take a bath in my whole life!” “Come on, guys!” Violette cried out. “Let’s dive in!” “Surf’s up, dudes!” “Yippee!!” “Whoo-hoo!” “All right!” “Move it or lose it, coming through!” And once a lot of them had gotten into the water, they promised themselves that they weren't gonna regret the amazing gift of water again. However, while his siblings and friends took their swim, B-Dawg decided to take his leave. “There's no way I'm going in there without my floaties, dawgs.” “Suit yourself, B-Dawg!” Sunny said to the pup with a slight laugh as Izzy splashed her. “You can wait back up there with Cammy while we take a swim and grab some water to take on the rest of the trip!” XXXXXXXX Back in the desert, the air in three of the jeep’s tires finally gave out, causing the group of desert adventurers to stop temporarily. And needless to say, Dr. Wellington was not pleased. “What now?!” “Mr. Wellington, I think we have a flat tire,” Seti said bashfully, causing his employer to grumble in annoyance. “This is outrageous! How did this happen?” However, Seti and Tarik had no idea how to respond, only making Mr. Wellington that much angrier. “This is... This is all your fault, nitwits!” he said, kicking sand at the duo. “Idiots!” “Sheesh…” Skye muttered out of worry, looking up at her mother. “I think he has some serious anger issues to work out.” “Well, I guess we're going to be stuck here for the night,” Thomas told the others. “So we may as well make ourselves useful, Pete, and unload the truck.” “Good idea,” Mariama smiled as they prepared to unload the truck. “Only one more night, and we’ll be at Cleocatra’s tomb in no time.” XXXXXXXX It took a little bit longer for the others to finish their swim in the well, and once they were back up on the surface and all dried off, Cammy looked around with a concerned look on her muzzle. “It’s like you said, Misty-- my tribe and your tribe are not here.” “They must’ve moved on already,” Pipp frowned. “No need to worry,” Faith reassured. “We just need to figure out which way they went and try to catch up.” Suddenly, B-Dawg felt something hit him over the head, causing him to yelp in pain. “What was that?!” “Relax, B-Dawg. It was probably just the wind,” Buddha reassured before another object hit B-Dawg on the head again. “Ow!” B-Dawg yelped again. “Then that wind has sick paw-eye coordination.” “Ow!” Izzy yelped as soon as she felt something hit her on the head too. “I think we’re under attack by something!” “Yeah,” Hitch nodded slowly, “but by what?” Rosebud grunted as she was hit by an object similar to what the others felt, and looked down to see a brown, pellet-like object on the sand in front of her. “Hey, they're falling from that tree up there.” “Those are dates, Rosebud,” Tirako explained. “A delicacy here in Egypt. But, it's weird… dates don’t usually fall down on their own like that.” Suddenly, dates began to fall down on them at a rapid pace, causing them to yelp and groan in pain as the dates made impact-- not even Izzy and Misty's unicorn shields could keep the dates from hitting them. But then, the group looked up to see someone they knew shaking the tree and causing the dates to fall, much to their annoyance. “Babi?!” Babi merely stuck out his tongue at them and laughed before jumping onto Cammy’s back. “Babi!” Cammy said with a smile. “We’re so glad we found you!” “Buddies and my other friends!” Babi greeted with a smile. “I am so glad you have made it.” “Babi, what happened to the zebras, Pete and Grandpa Thomas?” Mudbud asked in concern. “Yeah!” Faith huffed. “They should be here, but they’re totally not!” “Babi was following boy and zebras and men and cat. Cat very scary,” Babi explained with a touch of fear. “She find Babi, so Babi run and hide in oasis.” “Are they okay?” Violette asked in concern. “Very much so, friend Violette,” Babi confirmed with a gentle smile. “They are on their way to Cleocatra's tomb.” “That’s great, dawg,” B-Dawg told him before frowning again. “Too bad we have no idea where it is.” “Babi has idea,” the monkey quickly told the others. “Babi see Bedouin tribe following, they can help.” “Cammy, our moms!” Tirako exclaimed in happiness. “We’re so close to getting back with them!” “Come on, guys!” Cammy exclaimed. “We’ll go to the camp!” “What about the others? We can't let them get to the tomb before us,” Pipp frowned, “and I can’t call them without any signal!” That was when Babi got out his dagger to show it off to his friends. “Babi has dealt with that.” “And if we hurry,” Zipp said with a determined smile on her face, “we can reach the Bedouin tribe before nightfall!” XXXXXXXX However, as they were following the camel tracks of the Bedoiun tribe to try and catch up, B-Dawg looked up at Babi, who was still riding on Cammy's back with Tirako and Faith. “So, Babi, dawg, how 'bout you give me back my bling?” “Deal is deal, friend,” Babi told B-Dawg, trying not to smirk. “All trades are final.” “We can’t wait for you to meet our tribe, guys,” Cammy said, looking back at all her and Tirako's new friends. “They will be very grateful for all you have done.” “Hey... do you think that's them?” Misty asked, pointing her hoof toward a group just up ahead. “There seem to be a lot of camels, and I think I see an adult, female lion!” Tirako glanced ahead at what Misty was pointing at and gasped, his golden eyes lighting up in recognition. “That’s it! Many thanks to you, Buddies-- and your pony friends too.” “And you and Faith too, Babi!” Cammy agreed. “We’re home!” Faith, Tirako and Babi hopped right off Cammy’s back, and slowly began to approach the tribe, all of them secretly hoping Cammy and Tirako's mothers would see them from a distance. XXXXXXXX Haruma and Cammy’s mother Mala had been so worried about their kids ever since Cammy had been taken and ever since Tirako snuck away from the tribe to find her. It made them wonder... would they ever see their little ones again? Suddenly, their ears perked up at the sound of someone approaching, and soon, Mala and Haruma saw their little ones approaching with their friends, both of them safe and sound. “Cammy!” “Tirako!” “Mom!” Cammy and Tirako both exclaimed in joy, prompting Haruma and Mala to begin approaching. “Oh...!” Haruma couldn’t help but sigh in relief. “I can’t believe it's you!” Even Farah, who recognized Tirako and Cammy from her tribe, gasped at the sight of them. “Tirako! Cammy!” Tirako and Haruma laughed in happiness as they rubbed up against each other and reunited after such a long while of being apart, and Cammy’s mother laid a big, slobbery camel kiss on her young daughter... ...much to the Mane 6's happiness. “Aww…” Violette cooed. “I gotta admit it, all the hiking through the desert sands really put this moment into perspective.” “You took the words right out of my mouth, Violette,” Zipp said with a smile. “And what matters is that Tirako and Cammy are back with their families.” “Tirako… my sweet, sweet baby,” Haruma purred to her son with a relieved expression on her face. “I was so worried when you snuck away. I never want you to go off on your own like that again.” Tirako’s ears lowered to this. “I’m sorry, Mom… I just wanted to go and find Cammy, and bring her home where she belonged.” Haruma sighed at this, deciding to not punish her son for once and kept on purring against him. “My dear Cammy,” Mala expressed her relief through words. “I thought I would never see you again.” “The bad man tried to sell me,” Cammy explained, “but Tirako and all of our new friends helped us to escape.” Mala and Haruma turned back to the Mane 6, the Buddies, Violette, Babi and Faith, both of them expressing deep relief and gratitude. “We can never thank you enough for bringing our babies back to us,” Haruma sighed with a sincere smile. “How could we ever repay you?” “We could do lunch sometime,” Budderball said with a shrug. “Soon, preferably.” “We welcomed the opportunity to create good karma,” Buddha said before closing his eyes. “Namaste.” “It was our pleasure,” Sunny told the mothers with a sincere smile. “Cammy and Tirako helped us out in more ways than one.” “Yo,” B-Dawg greeted with his signature slang. “B-Dawg's the name, and these dawgs are my tribe.” “My name is Mala,” the mother camel introduced herself, “and this is Haruma, and our tribe would be thrilled to have you as our honored guests.” “Honored guests, huh?” Hitch looked over at Zipp with a smile. “We humbly accept!” “Well, what’re we waiting for, ponies?” Violette asked with a smile. “We’ve got a party to go to!” XXXXXXXX The party that night was in full swing-- dancers, music, games, food… the whole nine yards. And the Mane 6, Violette and all their friends felt as if they were on top of the world… at least, temporarily. B-Dawg, Buddha, Izzy and Zipp sat in front of some musicians while Pipp was trying to copy and imitate some Egyptian dancers, and B-Dawg had to admit, the beat and rhythm of this music amazed him. “Yo, these dawgs got it going on.” “And Pipp’s got the dance moves going on!” Izzy cheered as Pipp soon got into the rhythm of the music and started dancing just like the dancers. “WHOO!!! Go, Pipp! Go, Pipp!” XXXXXXXX At the same time, Rosebud, Sunny and Violette were all sitting together when Rosebud noticed that a few of the Bedouin tribe members were playing something that looked like an ancient board game, causing her to hum in thought. “That looks like an interesting game.” “Let’s see how you play,” Violette suggested. “That way, maybe we can tell the others about it if we get bored on the search.” XXXXXXXX In another part of the camp, food was being passed around, including to Hitch, Misty, Budderball and Mudbud, with Tirako, Cammy, Faith and Babi sitting across from them. “Here you go, gang,” Faith smiled. “Dinner is served!” “My three favorite words!” Budderball hungrily licked his chops. “Pinch me, I wanna make sure this isn't a mirage.” However, when Budderball looked down at the food offered to him, he retaliated just a bit. “Cammy? No offense, but my dinner looks an awful lot like bugs.” “Uh… it doesn’t just LOOK like bugs,” Hitch said after inspecting the food. “Your dinner is bugs.” “They’re actually called scarab beetles,” Haruma explained as she walked over and sat next to them. “They are a true delicacy of the Bedouins.” “Do you have anything less delicate, like pizza or maybe some hamburgers?” Budderball asked, not sure how to feel about eating actual bugs, and Mudbud just stared at his older brother in shock. “Whoa! Budderball turning down food? That just blew my mind.” “They are quite good, Budderball,” Cammy said sincerely. “I promise.” “Besides,” said Misty, “you might like them if you just give them a chance.” Budderball seemed to consider this for a few moments, eventually weighing his options until he decided to trust Cammy and Misty's word. “Okay,” he sighed to himself before gulping nervously. “Here goes nothing. Over the teeth, past the gums, look out stomach, here the bugs come.” And so, Budderball picked up one of the beetles in his mouth and began to steadily chew it, while the others awaited a reaction, either of delight or disgust. When Budderball finally swallowed it, Babi turned to him, looking hopeful. “Budderball like scarabs?” “Crunchy, but not bad,” Budderball said with an honest shrug. “Tastes like chicken.” Babi chattered and clapped his hands excitedly to this, and even Hitch and Misty let out a laugh. This was definitely a way to unwind, even for a little while, before they had to get back on their friends' trail. XXXXXXXX Skye and Pete couldn't sleep-- they were too excited about finally finding Cleocatra's tomb. So, while Mariama and Thomas slept, they wandered outside to look at the stars, but ended up walking closer to Dr. Wellington's tent. Inside that tent, Seti and Tarik were tending to Dr. Wellington, who was enjoying a very relaxing massage. “That archeologist and his zebra pet are getting far too nosy. Typical American. Can't mind their Ps and Qs.” “Huh?” Skye muttered, prompting her and Pete to get closer so they could listen in. “But tomorrow,” Dr. Wellington continued, unaware of the kids’ presence, “we’ll be rid of them and their annoying children, and the treasure will be mine-- er, ours.” Skye and Pete looked at each other in shock-- Dr. Wellington was a traitor to all of them! But what could they do? They were just kids, after all. Pete, while trying to get back to the tent, stumbled over some supplies behind him, causing a loud crash to go off that alerted Dr. Wellington and his henchmen that someone else was there. “Oh no no no no!” Skye whispered in terror. “Come on, Pete! We have to tell Mom and Mr. Thomas!” And with that, the two kids raced inside the other tent and over to their guardians, shaking them out of desperation. “Mariama! Grandpa, wake up!” Pete said worriedly, causing Thomas and Mariama to stir. And once they did, Pete explained what had just happened. “Skye and I heard Mr. Wellington say he's gonna get rid of us and keep the treasure for himself!” “What?” Thomas questioned, now fully awake. “Peter… really?” Pete and Skye both nodded to this, causing Mariama to gasp in fear, realizing what they were doing. “Oh, no…” However, Thomas muttered to himself in guilt, not believing he had wandered right into the traitor’s trap. “I should've known he was just a grave robber.” “What are we gonna do?” Skye asked, obviously very frightened. “Well, first off,” Mariama said gently, but also sternly, “we need to be very careful. Philip could be dangerous.” However, the second Mariama said this, Dr. Wellington had Tarik and Seti grab Pete and Skye, holding them in a tight grip and causing Skye to scream while Dr. Wellington smirked. “Could he now?” “We’re done helping you, Philip!” Thomas declared in anger while Mariama looked terrified for the sake of her daughter and her friend. “Oh, I think not, Professor Howard,” Dr. Wellington said with a slight sneer to his tone. “For the sake of your precious grandson and your closest colleague’s daughter, you'll do exactly what I want you to do.” Mariama and Thomas both knew that he was using manipulation against them, trying to get them to comply in order to save Pete and Skye. And unfortunately... it worked. They knew they would have no choice with the kids' lives on the line. Pete and Skye had never been so scared in their entire lives... and they knew that if they led Dr. Wellington to Cleocatra's tomb... ...it would end badly for all of them. Now, Skye wished that Violette and the older ponies were here-- they would be able to get them out of this situation. Little did they know, they would be reuniting with the heroes of Equestria within the next day's time.
A Wild Balloon Ride, the Sandstorm and the Snake's Entrance to the TombThe unexpected betrayal of the century had finally been revealed. Not only did Ubasti have her own agenda in mind, but Dr. Wellington had been revealed to be nothing but a grave robber, threatening Skye and Pete’s lives if Mariama and Thomas didn’t lead him right to Cleocatra’s tomb. Of course, Mariama and Thomas both knew they had no choice. They couldn't endanger the lives of their loved ones because they despised Dr. Wellington and all grave robbers... they would never forgive themselves. So throughout that next night, Skye stayed huddled up to her mother, fearing for her life and all of their lives, hoping that the next day would provide them with a way out of this dastardly and quite sickening situation. XXXXXXXX That night was probably the best night of sleep that the Mane 6 and their friends ever had since this adventure started-- the desert night was cool, and the fact they were surrounded by their friends made things a lot more reassuring, especially for Violette and Mudbud, who couldn’t shake the fact that Thomas, Pete, Mariama and Skye were in some serious trouble. By the time the sun began to rise the next morning, the tribe was already busy, and a hot air balloon was being set up a few yards from where the Buddies, the Mane 6, Violette and their friends were watching. Eventually, Violette had to ask about the event. “What are they doing?” “They are sending balloon up in sky,” Babi explained to the unicorn filly, “to look for bad man and cat.” “And Babi thinks,” said Faith, “that this is the best way to find your friends. Traveling by air as a lot faster.” “Now you’re speaking my language!” Zipp said, spreading her wings. “Let’s get up into the sky and find the others!” “Hold on a second, Zipp,” Faith said to the white pegasus princess warily. “The winds up here in Egypt can be a little… much at times. It would be dangerous for you flyers to be up there without knowing these lands very well. You better ride in the balloon with the rest of us.” “Aw, man…” Zipp groaned out of frustration. “Let me get this straight, monkey and fox dudes,” said Mudbud, wanting to clarify what Babi and Faith were saying. “You want us to fly up in that balloon?” “Babi…” Rosebud looked over at the monkey warily, “...do you know how to fly that thing?” “Babi is good pilot,” Babi said with a comforting nod. “The best.” Faith then stuck her tail up into the air, waiting for a moment before smiling and nodding over at Babi. “The wind is blowing in the right direction.” And once the wind’s direction had been confirmed, Babi and Faith snuck over to the hot air balloon and climbed into it. “Quick, friends!” Babi beckoned the others. “Come!” “You heard the monkey, team!” Sunny said urgingly. “Let’s move out!” The Buddies, the Mane 6 and Violette quickly climbed into the basket of the hot air balloon, even though it was a bit of a slight squeeze, and Babi then used his dagger to cut the rope holding the hot air balloon close to the ground. Cammy and Tirako were there to wish their friends a safe trip, and Cammy looked up at the group as the balloon began to rise into the sky. “Buddies, I can never thank you and your friends enough.” “Bye, kids!” Mala bid farewell. “Be careful!” Haruma warned. “And be safe!” “Bye, Tirako and Haruma!” Misty waved cheerfully. “Bye, Cammy! Bye, Mala!” Rosebud bid farewell. “I hope we see you again!” “Good luck, everybody!” Tirako called out as he waved to his friends, watching them go out of sight while many of the Bedouins, including Farah’s father, watched in shock as the balloon, their only key to finding the others, floated out of sight. XXXXXXXX Pipp sighed as she felt the wind blowing past her face. “I know we’re not actually flying ourselves,” she admitted, “but… it feels good to be up in the air again.” “I’ll say,” Zipp said, smiling in agreement as she shook some sand from her body. “I’ll never be able to get all this sand out from under my wings.” “Keep your eyes open, guys,” Hitch said as he tried to watch the desert sands below. “The vehicles that Babi mentioned back at the oasis must be down there somewhere.” “Right,” Sunny nodded, keeping her eyes on the sands below as well. “And where those vehicles are, the others can’t be too far away.” So that’s just what the group did-- they kept their eyes on everything, hoping for anything that might point to where their friends were. And after a while of flying over the dunes, Mudbud eventually did see one of the vehicles below. “Look! It's the bad dude's Jeep!” “You’re right, Mudbud!” Violette agreed. “And since the truck is gone, that must be what they took to keep going.” “Hurry!” Izzy said, pushing against the side of the hot air balloon slightly to try and get it to go in that direction. “Follow those tire tracks!” “Sorry, Izzy,” Faith apologized with a slight frown, “but Babi doesn’t control the wind-- Allah does.” XXXXXXXX It was a cold, stony silence down in the truck, and Thomas drove the criminals holding him, Pete and the zebra family hostage right to where he thought Cleocatra's tomb was resting. And then, after a while, they eventually stopped, with Thomas climbing out of the truck first. “I think this is it, Peter.” “Thank goodness…” Skye muttered softly. “I really need to stretch my legs…” But as they got out, Dr. Wellington didn’t see anything pointing to the tomb right away, his frustration steadily growing. “So... hmm? Where is it?” “I’m sure it’s here somewhere,” Mariama said, trying to back Thomas up. “We can feel the energy.” “But I have a plan too,” Zipp said, pulling out her magic whistle. “If we can get close enough to Mariama, Skye and the others, they’ll be able to hear the whistle, and they might be able to spot us!” “Let’s give it a try, Zipp,” Sunny said before covering her ears with her hooves. “But everypony cover your ears-- this is gonna get loud pretty fast!” XXXXXXXX “The energy?!” Dr. Wellington said, shuddering mockingly before turning to Mariama and Thomas out of anger. “You worthless twits! You've led us nowhere!” “Don’t call my mom a worthless twit, you big meanie!” Skye shouted in defiance as a strange sound got Pete’s attention. “If she thinks the tomb is here, then its… huh?” Skye began to hear the same sound Pete was hearing, and as Pete got out his binoculars and searched around, he saw the same hot air balloon our heroes were riding in, and the sound appeared to be coming from it as well. “Skye, do you see that?” “Yeah, and I hear it too,” Skye nodded. “It sounds like Zipp’s whistle! But since the others being in Egypt is impossible, it must be somebody else that's looking for us!” “Grandpa, look!” Pete said as he pointed up into the sky. “A balloon!” Thomas and Mariama soon saw the balloon and heard the whistle as well, but since he couldn’t let Dr. Wellington know that they were being searched for, Thomas knew he would have to stretch the truth a bit. “Oh, don't be silly, Peter. There are no baboons in the desert. I think maybe you and Skye have been out in the sun too long. You should drink some water.” XXXXXXXX Zipp panted tiredly as she finally put her whistle away. “Okay… that’s all the breath I can put into this whistle for now,” she said to the others. “We just need to keep our eyes open for anything out of the ordinary-- that'll lead us right to them.” But after a few seconds, Violette gasped excitedly as she saw the truck, along with all of their friends and loved ones, right near the truck. “Guys! There they are!” “You’re right, Violette!” Izzy cheered. “We found them!” “Come on, dudes!” Mudbud urged excitedly. “Let’s land this puppy!” However, this remark was enough to confuse Babi slightly. “Land?” “Babi?” Faith looked over toward her monkey friend. “Please tell me you know how to land this thing.” However, Babi shifted a bit uncomfortably to this. “This part Babi is not so familiar with.” “Oh, great!” B-Dawg seemed extremely worried. “We're just gonna float away forever!” “Don’t worry, B-Dawg,” Buddha said calmly. “Panic is a wasted emotion.” “But Buddha, the wind is too strong for us to try and pull the balloon down ourselves!” Sunny argued as Hitch tried to catch his hat, which was blowing away in the strong winds. “If we don’t find a way down soon, the wind could pull us in a different direction!” “Babi know what make balloon go down,” Babi then reassured after getting an idea. “Hold on!” “Gee,” said Zipp sarcastically, “what else are we gonna do?” Babi then put the handle of his dagger in his teeth, and then began to climb up to the top of the hot air balloon while Faith and the others stayed in the basket. And once he got to a good vantage point, Babi poked a large hole in the side of the balloon, causing the air to slowly start leaking out. This ought to get the balloon down to the ground. However, what Babi didn't anticipate was the balloon starting to descend a lot faster than anticipated, causing the Buddies and Violette to start getting rather frightened. “Forget about what I said before,” Buddha said to the others as Babi laughed nervously. “Time to panic!” “AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” the others screamed at the top of their lungs, but even with Zipp and Pipp flapping their wings, they couldn’t get the balloon to slow down enough to make a safe descent. “Hold on, everybody!” Faith cried out. “We’re going in for a crash landing!” And that’s just what happened-- the balloon crashed onto a nearby dune before rolling down the hill at a rapid pace, causing the group to scream again as they were thrown from the balloon’s basket and out into the sand, getting insanely dizzy in the process. But, while they were dizzy, none of them were harmed. Everyone groaned out of dizziness, and Babi sighed and put a hand on top of his head. “Babi is dizzy.” “You can say that again, dawg,” B-Dawg groaned, causing Babi to sigh and put his hand on his head again. “Babi is dizzy.” “He didn’t mean literally! He…” Pipp groaned to herself. “Never mind…” “Come on, guys,” Misty said, getting onto her hooves and beginning to move forward. “The others aren’t far away-- there’s still a chance we can catch up.” XXXXXXXX Mariama hummed in thought as she felt her mane begin to blow around in a sudden gust of wind. “It feels like there’s a sandstorm coming in.” “A sandstorm?” Skye’s eyes widened. “Have you ever got caught in one before?” “Once or twice, so I’ve learned when to recognize the signs,” Mariama explained, but Dr. Wellington seemed a bit reluctant to believe it. “No, nonsense. Just a little breeze,” he dismissed the zebra mare's concern before turning to look at Seti and Tarik, gesturing to a nearby sand dune. “You two. Go to the top of that dune and have a look around.” XXXXXXXX The Mane 6, the Buddies, Violette, Babi and Faith were on their way to find the others, hiking across the desert sands once again, when all of a sudden, Sunny felt a strange sensation wash over her… and it seemed to be coming from the silver sun brooch that Mariama had given her back in Fernfield. “Huh?” “Sunny, look!” Rosebud commented. “Your brooch is glowing!” Sunny looked down and realized that Rosebud was right-- her brooch was glowing, and it was glowing rather brightly. “Mariama said that the brooch would glow if we were near danger, but… I don’t see anything around here that says ‘danger’... do you?” However, when Faith looked around, she gasped, her ears folding back in fright. “I definitely see something-- look!” The others looked where the little fox was pointing with her paw, seeing a huge cloud of sand rolling in their direction, causing Babi to gasp as well. “It is a sandstorm!” “A sandstorm?!” Zipp groaned in anger as the wind blew Budderball’s fez right off his head. “Just great! Literally just what we needed!” XXXXXXXX Seti and Tarik had just finished climbing to the top of the sand dune by this point, and when Seti saw the sandstorm heading in their direction, he instantly began to panic, heading back down the dune as fast as his feet could take him. “Ahh! Run! RUUUUUUUN!!!!” “Run for the truck, kids!” Thomas picked Pete up into his arms while Mariama and Skye ran for the truck as well, leaving Dr. Wellington to freeze in place as Seti and Tarik ran by. “Be safe, Mr. Wellington!” Seti cried out. “Run, Mr. Wellington!” And seeing that he had no other choice, Dr. Wellington ran for the truck as well, getting inside just as the ;arge sandstorm began to get closer and closer to their location. XXXXXXXX “What are we gonna do, Sunny?!” Misty asked their leader in panic. “You know from experience we can’t outrun a sandstorm!” “No, but maybe we can out-think it!” Sunny reasoned. “There has to be somewhere we can hide!” That was when Faith spotted a small cave inside another sand dune, instantly getting an idea so crazy, it just might work. “Quick, guys!” she shouted, gesturing toward the cave with her paw. “We can take shelter in that cave!” “In other words, run!” Zipp shouted to her friends, and the group immediately took off for the cave at a very fast sprint, with Violette and Faith trailing behind the group because of their smaller legs. After a moment, they were able to get inside the cave, and they stopped once they were safely inside, with Misty, Izzy and Violette using their horns as temporary light sources. “This is most fortunate, my friends,” Babi told the group. “We shall be safe here until the storm passes.” “Hey, Babi?” Hitch pointed out a lantern that was sitting not too far away. “Think you can light that lantern so we can have more light?” “Absolutely!” Faith nodded. “Babi, maybe this is a good time to use those matches we, uh… borrowed a week or two back.” Babi nodded and brought out one of the matches he had in his pocket, lighting it and using it to light the lantern before shining it around the cave. Turns out, this cave had a tomb-like interior, and on the wall was an entrance that looked like a giant snake… …something that caused B-Dawg to scream, hiding behind Izzy in worry. “Dawgs! This is really freaking me out.” “What… is this place?” Violette asked, not wanting to admit that she too was a bit nervous. “Call me crazy,” Pipp admitted, “but I think this is some sort of secret entrance used by those who built Cleocatra's tomb!” “Yes,” Babi confirmed, “but this secret entrance is protected by a large serpent.” “Serpent?” Budderball questioned. “What’s that?” “It’s a really big snake,” Faith explained before shuddering. “Babi and I can’t stand snakes.” “Ah!” B-Dawg groaned. For once can't something be easy peasy? Why can't it be protected by a bunny rabbit or something vegetarian?” “Snake or no snake, we’re so close to finding the collar and sparing everybody from Ubasti’s evil scheme,” Zipp said. “But like Cleopatra’s tomb, we probably won’t be able to use our magic in here.” “Oh, great,” Mudbud groaned. “So what’ll we do then?” “We’ll just have to work together as a team, like we always do,” Sunny said gently. “And not let anything scare us, no matter how hard they try.” Suddenly, a hissing sound reached Mudbud’s ears, and he and Misty turned to see a large serpent slithering their way, causing Mudbud to gulp nervously. “Uh, dudes, long, creepy, slimy thing at 12 o'clock.” “Oh no!” Sunny gasped. “It must be the serpent!” “I am afraid where you go, I cannot follow, Buddies!” Babi said before screeching in panic and running right out of the cave. “Babi! You get back here!” Violette called. “We need you to help us!” “Uh… not to worry, ponies!” Faith reassured, though slightly panicked. “I’ll go get Babi, and then we’ll go and find help-- I promise! BABI!!! WAIT FOR ME!!!” And just like that, Faith had run after Babi, leaving our group susceptible to the serpent closing in on them. But while the ponies seemed unsure of what to do, Buddha made the first move, sitting right in front of the snake. “Buddha?” Hitch seemed surprised by the pup’s calm behavior. “What in Equestria are you doing?!” “Calm yourself, Hitch,” Buddha said calmly as the snake slithered up to him, looking Buddha right in the eyes. “I am Slither,” the snake calmly introduced. “The serpent protector of Cleocatra's tomb.” “That… thing has a name?!” Pipp whispered to Zipp, who quietly shushed her. “We were hoping,” Buddha explained to Slither, “to secure your permission to enter the tomb.” “It’s kind of important,” Sunny said. “All dogkind, humankind and creature-kind may depend on it!” However, Slither was dead set in his ways. “I was put here to protect the tomb from all those who would seek its riches without wisdom. Only the descendants of Buddasi may pass.” “But how do we know for sure that the Buddies are descendants of Buddasi?” Violette asked the older ponies with worry, but Slither, already looking at Buddha again, already had a challenge in mind. “You,” he told Buddha, “must look me in the eyes. If I can hypnotize you, then your intentions are not pure, and you will become my supper.” Budderball couldn’t help but grimace at the sound of this. “That's the worst dinner invite I've ever heard.” “And if I can hypnotize you?” Buddha asked, leaving Slither to propose another part of the challenge. “Then you are descendants of Buddasi, guardian of man, and I will let you pass.” “...perfect,” Zipp smiled. “This might actually work.” “What?!” Pipp looked stunned. “Sis, what are you talking about? Buddha doesn’t have hypnosis magic!” “No… but you have something that might help us,” Zipp whispered back, gesturing to the flute Mariama had given her back in Fernfield. “If you can use that magic whistle to provide Buddha with some music, he might be able to charm the snake into submission!” “Ohhhhh… I get what you’re saying!” Pipp said with a wink before looking at Buddha, getting out her flute. “Whenever you’re ready, Buddha.” Buddha nodded to this, and then turned to face Slither again. “I accept your challenge.” Hitch whimpered nervously to this, covering his eyes with his hooves. “I sure hope this works…” “Believe me, Hitch,” Zipp whispered. “I do too.” Pipp took a few moments to prepare herself, then began to play a snake charmer's tune on her flute, her eyes closed in precision as the tune continued. And as the tune played, Buddha stared right into Slither's eyes and began to chant to his own accord. “Shanti, shanti, shanti…” The other ponies and Buddies watched this in slight trepidation, worrying that Buddha's calm nature and Pipp's musical talent might not be enough to charm the snake. But, after a few moments of Pipp's flute playing and Buddha's calm chanting, Slither's eyes slowly closed, becoming completely entranced by the duo's calmness and talent. Rosebud was the first to silently gasp to this. “He’s gone…” “Buddha, Pipp!” Izzy gasped. “You won!” “Way to go, dudes!” “Yay, Pipp!” “All right, Buddha!” “That was incredible!” Pipp giggled slightly at her friends’ praise. “Thanks, ponies… but Buddha was the real snake charmer. I just helped.” Slither slowly opened his eyes and looked directly at Buddha, a smile now on his scaly face. “You are the descendants of Buddasi! I have been waiting so long for you. You and your friends may pass, but beware of what's ahead, for there are more tests along this path.” “Trust me,” Hitch said with a nervous sounding chuckle. “We are well aware.” Slither then turned back toward the entrance to the tomb, and fire spit out from the snake’s mouth, lighting the oil torches that lined the hallways, much to everyone's slight surprise and intimidation. And once the oil torches were lit, Slither turned his attention back to the group. “If you need Slither again, I will be here... waiting,” he said before slithering to the snake-shaped hole in the wall. “Good luck, ponies and Buddies.” And with that, the snake had disappeared once more. “Okay, you guys heard the snake,” Misty said sternly. “We’ve gotta be careful.” “Misty’s right,” Zipp nodded. “You never know what's around the next corner.” “I-In that case,” B-Dawg stammered, “ladies first!” “Collar of Cleocatra,” said Violette with excitement in her tone, “here we come!” And so, the group made their way inside the tomb, and as long as they stuck close together, they were ready for whatever dangers lay ahead of them. Or at least... this is what they hoped.
Troubles in the Tomb (Part 1: Finding the Collar of Cleocatra)The Mane 6, the Buddies and Violette finally managed to make it inside Cleocatra’s tomb through a secret entrance, passing the serpent Slither’s test to determine if they were worthy of entering, and once Buddha and Pipp used their talents and successfully worked together to charm the snake and hypnotize him, he let them go through. But they knew that they had a lot of challenges to get through if they were to get to Cleocatra's collar unharmed, so they could stop Ubasti and her wicked plans before it was too late. Little did our heroes know that the others would soon be joining them in the tomb, and they would all be experiencing the same kind of danger... just not at the same time. XXXXXXXX The sandstorm seemed to last ages, but after a while of waiting, the blowing sand finally cleared, and thankfully, Thomas, Pete, the zebra family, Dr. Wellington, Ubasti and Dr. Wellington’s henchmen managed to make it through without any sort of injury. And once the storm had definitely passed, everyone climbed out of the truck to get a good look around, the sand having been moved thanks to the storm's heavy winds. Once getting a good look around, Pete's eyes widened as soon as he saw something that looked like a large tomb that had cat-like statues and details all around it, pointing to it so the others could see it for themselves. “Grandpa, everyone, look!” Mariama and Thomas individually gasped when they saw this, and even Skye’s eyes widened in surprise. “Whoa… i-is that…?” “It is, darling,” Mariama could barely believe it with her own eyes. “It’s Cleocatra’s tomb!” “We’re rich, my dear,” Dr. Wellington greedily whispered to his hairless feline friend. “We’re rich.” “Only in my dreams have I imagined this moment,” Thomas said as they moved closer to the tomb to get a closer look and figure out how they were going to get inside. And upon getting to the door, Mariama hummed, a frown now visible on her face. “This door is merely a solid stone slab. It must weigh thousands of pounds.” “Thousands?!” Skye repeated, her eyes wide. “There’s no way we can open it without heavy duty equipment!” “Even then,” Thomas added, “it'll take months.” “No, it won’t,” Dr. Wellington dismissed. “Why do you think I brought the explosives? For a fireworks display?” Thomas was appalled by the talk of using explosives on one of the greatest archeological finds in history. “But the tomb is thousands of years old. We can't just use dynamite on it.” “Watch me,” Dr. Wellington threatened before turning to his two lackeys. “Tarik! Seti! Get the explosives.” XXXXXXXX At the same time, the Mane 6, the Buddies and Violette were wandering through the tomb, with Izzy holding the lantern Babi had lit on her horn, since their magic wasn't working inside the tomb. But after a few minutes of wandering, the group stopped before a long hallway, with part of it filled with a sandy booby trap that Rosebud had seen in books. “Oh no! Quicksand!” Violette pushed her hoof down onto the quicksand, and yelped as it began to sink, causing her to quickly pull it back out. “Yep. That’s quicksand all right.” “But since we flyers can’t use our wings,” said Pipp, “and Izzy and Misty can’t use their horns…” “...and since me and Sunny can’t use our earth pony magic,” continued Hitch with a worried look on his face, “how are we gonna get across?” “No problem-o, dudes, I'm an expert in all things dirt-related,” Mudbud reassured, stepping a bit closer to the quicksand trap. “Just roll with it.” And so, that’s just what Mudbud did-- he rolled right across the quicksand just like it was mud in his own backyard, eventually making it to the other side of the quicksand and looking up just in time to notice a button with a paw print on the wall. “Huh?” Out of general curiosity, Mudbud pushed the button with his paw, and a long platform rose up from the sand, stretching all the way across the pit. “Whoa!” Sunny commented, a bit impressed that Mudbud was able to figure that out. “Nice move, Mudbud!” “Thanks,” Mudbud smiled. “You can make your way across now, dudes and dudettes.” And so, the group made their way across the pit using the platform, but as they went on, the platform lowered itself back down into the pit unti someone else could get across and push the button again. XXXXXXXX Back outside the tomb, Seti and Tarik were setting up the explosives just as Dr. Wellington told them to do, while Mariama and Thomas were trying to stop the criminals from accidentally destroying a piece of ancient history. “The discovery of Cleocatra's tomb is priceless,” Thomas protested. “It belongs to the Egyptian people.” “Oh, please,” Dr. Wellington scoffed. “I'm every bit the archeologist you are, Professor Howard. I simply do it for profit, not for silly accolades.” “No, Mr. Wellington,” Mariama said as her eyes narrowed in anger. “What you do is illegal and immoral. If my daughter’s life didn’t hang in the balance, we would have left you in the dust miles ago.” At the same time, Pete and Skye had approached the door to see what they could find, but as Tarik and Seti were just finishing up rolling out the explosives, Pete saw what looked like a giant coin slot in the middle of the stone door, and felt that his grandfather and the other grownups should know about it before the explosives went off. “Grandpa! There's a slot in the door!” “No! Pete! Skye!” Thomas immediately ran over with Dr. Wellington (with Ubasti in his arms) and Mariama at his heels. “Get away from there!” “I got it!” Mariama said quickly, pulling the cord attached to the explosives so they wouldn’t go off, and Tarik and Seti eventually unplugged their ears when they realized the explosives weren’t going to go off. And once he saw that Pete was right about there being a slot in the door, Thomas immediately brushed the slot off before realizing what went in there. “The disc! Philip!” “Yes, yes,” Dr. Wellington handed Thomas his half of the Bronze of Bastet, and once the two halves had been put together, Thomas slid the disc into the slot. There was a groaning sound, probably because of the mechanism being put into work, just before the large, stone slab started to move off to the side, revealing the inside of Cleocatra's tomb at long last. And as the door slid open, Thomas turned to look at Dr. Wellington with a narrowed gaze. “There, you see? I've gotten you here.” “...come on, kids,” Mariama said gently. “We’re gonna find our way through here.” And so, the group began to enter the tomb, but Mariama instantly stopped the group when she saw fire inside the oil torches that Slither had lit with his fiery breath. “That’s strange… the oil torches are lit. Someone else is here!” And unbeknownst to the others, Ubasti knew just who had beaten them to the tomb. “It can only be those filthy mutts and their meddling horse friends. They've beaten me to it!” However, Dr. Wellington refused to believe that someone had beaten them to the punch just yet. “The opening of the door must've triggered the lighting of the torches.” Unfortunately, Ubasti knew better than to believe her human’s foolishness, and began to wiggle around in his arms. “What is it, Ubasti? No, no, no!” Dr. Wellington said as Ubasti leapt out of his arms and down another hallway, determined to find her way to the collar on her own. “Ubasti, come back here! Ubasti! Ubasti. Whoo-hoo, Ubasti… Ubasti?” And seeing that they had no choice, the others were forced to follow Ubasti, wanting to make sure the hairless cat didn't get lost in the tomb on her own. XXXXXXXX Elsewhere inside the tomb, unaware that the explorers were entering the tomb as we speak, the Mane 6, Violette and the Buddies were climbing up a tall staircase that seemed to spiral on and on forever, and it was exhausting poor Budderball to the point that he was panting much heavier than his siblings. “I sure wish... that ancient Egyptians... invented elevators.” “You and me both, Budderball,” Violette panted slightly. “Sometimes I hate having small legs.” Suddenly, the group stopped at the end of a long hallway that seemed to have all sorts of strange tiles on the floor, and something in Sunny's mind was telling her that something was very off. Unfortunately, B-Dawg wasn't sure why Sunny was holding everyone up at the beginning of the hallway when they could be going on. “Yo, what's the holdup?” “It may be my alicorn side,” said Sunny, “but there’s something strange about this hallway.” “Psh, you guys are worrying too much,” B-Dawg scoffed. “This room looks pretty normal to me.” “Remember what Slither said,” Buddha tried to advise his brother, but B-Dawg was already walking onto one of the large tiles in the hallway. “Ah, that snake's been trapped here too long. He's loony, yo-- AHHH!!!” Suddenly, the tile under B-Dawg crumbled, and B-Dawg would have fallen if it weren’t for Budderball and Izzy reacting with speed and strength. “B-Dawg!!” Budderball quickly grabbed his brother by the tail while Izzy grabbed Budderball’s waist in her hooves, keeping B-Dawg from going down into the pit of snakes below the floor. And needless to say, B-Dawg was quite horrified with the thought of falling into the pit of slimy, crawly snakes below. “Hang on!” Rosebud called. “Budderball’s got you by the tail!” “And Izzy’s got Budderball too!” Hitch said. “Just don’t panic!” “HURRY!!!” B-Dawg cried, ignoring Hitch all together, and working together, Budderball and Izzy were able to pull B-Dawg to solid ground again. “Nice going, you guys!” Zipp cheered. “That was too close.” “Are you okay, B-Dawg?” Misty asked in genuine concern. “Yeah, but… uh…” B-Dawg tried to get himself together. “You know what? I'm gonna bounce. What do you say I meet you dawgs back in Fernfield?” “No way are we giving up,” Violette said sternly. “We just need to find some way to get across this hallway without triggering another snake pit… if there is one.” “Hey, Iz?” Zipp looked over at Izzy. “Think you can use that magic glitter Mariama gave you to see if there are any more of those pits under us?” “You got it, Zipperdoodle!” Izzy said, getting out the glitter and tossing it onto the floor, and the glitter glowed before revealing more and more snake pits underneath some of the floor tiles. “Whoa!” B-Dawg yelped. “No way, uh-uh! No way we can get across with all those slimy, legless... things under us!” However, as Rosebud glanced over at the markings on the wall, she started to connect several dots together. “Hmm… look at this, guys. It's ancient writing called hieroglyphics.” “Yeah,” Pipp nodded. “That’s how people in ancient Egypt wrote things to one another, but… what does that have to do with anything?” “Remember last night, Pipp? We saw Bedouins playing this, but much smaller!” Rosebud explained to the others, turning to look at the hallway again. “You have to get to the other side, but can only move on specific squares.” “Good remembering, Rosebud!” Sunny nodded with a smile. “Okay, guys… let me and Rosebud go first, to see if we can figure out the right combination.” And so, Rosebud and Sunny began to hop from square to square, with Izzy throwing her magic glitter on the tiles that they jumped on in order to keep track. And once they had successfully made it to the other side, Rosebud gestured for the others to follow suit. “Come on, guys-- jump only on the squares that Sunny and I did.” “Okay…” Zipp nodded slowly. “Sounds easy enough.” And so, with extreme precision, the group slowly made their way across the hallway by jumping on the squares that Sunny and Rosebud jumped on. And as they did this, they came across a door at the end of the hallway, but when Hitch tried to push against it to get it open, all he got was a boat load of struggling. “It’s no use… this thing just isn’t gonna budge!” “Wait a second,” Misty said before reaching for the key that Mariama gave her. “This key can be used to unlock any door, remember? This could be our ticket inside!” “It’s worth a try,” Sunny nodded. “Go for it, Misty.” Misty nodded to this and began to move her key in the direction of the door, and as soon as the tip of the key made contact with the door, the key glowed and the door opened, letting the group inside. But when they all finally got inside... ...all they found was an empty room, with nothing in particular to get them anywhere else within the tomb. “I don’t get it,” Mudbud frowned. “Yeah,” Violette nodded as she glanced around. “It's just a big, empty room.” But as soon as Violette said this, the door behind them closed, sealing them inside the empty room, which caused Pipp to whimper, her ears folding down slightly. “Not a good sign…” “I guess the key only works for a short time,” Misty said with a frown. “Gonna need to let Mariama know about that when we find her.” “But we need to get out of here first! And since we don’t have magic,” Sunny sighed, “does anyone have any other ideas?” Suddenly, a scarab beetle flicked right off the wall, landing right on Budderball's snout, causing him to gasp before gobbling the bug right up and off the floor. “Bugs. I love bugs.” “That’s disgusting,” Rosebud said as Pipp tried not to puke, and Budderball hummed to himself after a moment. “Hmm. A little slimy when they're uncooked, but still not bad.” However, more bugs started to appear from cracks in the walls, and soon, at least a thousand of them had started to crawl down the walls toward the group. “Uh, Budderball…?” Violette gulped nervously. “I don't think they appreciate you eating their cousin.” “We’re gonna get eaten by bugs!!” Izzy shrieked. “What do we do?!” “Uh… give me a minute to think, Iz!” Sunny said just before she yelped and staggered back. “Uh, actually, give me two minutes!” “We don’t have two minutes, Sunster!” Zipp shouted out of desperation. “We need a plan right now!” As the ponies tried to keep the beetles back as best they could, Rosebud looked down at the floor to see a button in front of her, similar to the one they had seen back at the quicksand pit. “Hey, it’s another one of those buttons!” And the second Rosebud pushed it, a trapdoor opened up, causing the group to scream as they slid down a long slide into another part of the tomb. And thankfully, none of them were harmed by the beetles that had closed in on them. Once everyone had gotten their breath after getting off of the slide, Zipp turned to look at her friends. “Is everypony okay?” “As far as we know, yes,” nodded Buddha. “But that brings up the question… where are we?” Pipp asked, but as Mudbud looked around and saw the cat themed sarcophagus, plus all the cat statues around the room, he suddenly knew where they were. “Dudes, this looks like Cleocatra's tomb!” “But… does that mean…?” Misty began to say. “I think so,” said Sunny, “but there’s only one way to know for sure.” And so, slowly, Mudbud and Sunny approached the sarcophagus, and not long after, they saw the golden necklace with the green jewel that looked like a cat’s eye, and instantly, they knew they had finally, at long last, found one of the greatest treasures in history. “It’s the lost collar of Cleocatra!”
A Party in Bastati and the Unveiling of the Cat's Eye CollarAt long last, our heroes had completed their latest Unity Quest mission. The lost collar of Cleocatra was finally safe, Ubasti had been turned into a statue due to her greed, and Dr. Philip Wellington was now going to be arrested for his crimes in grave robbing, thanks to the help of the Egyptian Secret Service. Violette and Skye couldn’t be happier to be reunited with one another, and the Mane 6 even shared some of their magic with Skye and her mother so they would be able to understand animals too, but they had to promise they wouldn’t tell a whole lot of people. If word of this gift got out to the wrong people, things might not go over well. Now, let's get back to the story, to see what our heroes are going to do to celebrate their apparent success. XXXXXXXX Once our heroes had successfully completed their mission, they were able to use magic to get everyone back to Bastati for the biggest celebration of the year-- complete with dancing, food, friends, and the relief that the danger they were in had finally passed. Thomas, Pete, Farah, her father (now known as Amir), Mariama and Haruma were up on the balcony, watching all of the festivities, and Amir turned to Thomas with a pleased smile. “Thank you for your great discovery, Mr. Howard. The Egyptian government is most grateful, and is willing to compensate you for your efforts, of course. You are a national hero.” Thomas couldn’t help but smile to this. “Finding the treasure is all the compensation an archeologist needs,” he said before looking down at Pete. “And if I'm a hero, then one of my young archeologist partners is one, too.” “It’s true,” Mariama nodded. “Without Pete, my daughter and their friends, we wouldn't be standing here right now.” “Thanks, Mariama. Thanks, Grandpa,” Pete smiled. “But the other ponies, Violette and the Buddies deserve a lot of the credit.” “Hmm…” Haruma looked around, but didn’t see Skye anywhere in sight. “Mariama, where is your daughter? I thought she would be up here relishing in the glory of your victory.” “Oh, my daughter is down in the courtyard with her new friends,” Mariama said with a gentle smile, watching Skye interact with all of her new friends. “She deserves as much fun as anyone, and I’m happy to let her spread her wings and be on her own for a while.” XXXXXXXX Skye and Violette sat side by side as they, the older ponies and the Buddies conversed with Faith, Babi, Cammy and Tirako, since Skye could now understand the Buddies, Cammy and Babi... which was one of the best things that had happened to her on this trip. After a moment, Mudbud decided to display his thanks, a smile growing on his muzzle. “We'd like to thank you four dudes.” “Mudbud’s right,” Sunny nodded. “We couldn't have done it without you.” “Yeah, dawgs,” B-Dawg nodded. “You four are da bomb!” “It was Babi’s pleasure,” Babi said warmly, causing Cammy to smile. “And mine too.” “Maybe we’ll see you guys again,” Violette added. “Hopefully sometime soon.” “Oh-ho, you know it,” Faith said with a wink. “Next time there is a treasure to be found, you can count on me and Babi to be there!” Back up on the balcony, the others could hear the cries of Dr. Wellington, who was tied up against Mala and being watched over by some guards. “In the name of Her Majesty, the Queen, untie me!” Dr. Wellington commanded fiercely. “Take me to the British Embassy!” “We must go now and take this dirty grave robber to the jail, where he belongs,” Amir said before shaking Thomas’ hand and Mariama’s hoof. “Thank you, again. If there is anything I can do for you, please, let me know.” However, after looking at one another, Thomas knew what he and Mariama wanted most in the world, and Amir was just the guy they needed in order to successfully make it happen. “Amir, I do actually have a request.” XXXXXXXX Upon returning to Fernfield, the Mane 6 played an important part in planning the unveiling ceremony of the lost collar of Cleocatra, and Amir, Haruma, Farah and Tirako were flying all the way from Egypt in order to be in attendance. The day of the ceremony, a large crowd (including Pete’s parents) had gathered inside the museum, taking lots of pictures, and Thomas was the first to speak to the waiting crowd. “First off, I'd like to thank the Egyptian government,” he said, glancing in the direction of Amir, Farah, Haruma and Tirako, “for allowing the debut of this great archeological find to happen here in our hometown of Fernfield, saving our museum.” “And we must extend our gratitude to some very special archeologists,” Mariama added, looking at her daughter and Pete. “My daughter Skye and Thomas' grandson, Peter. And then, of course, the Buddies and their Equestrian friends!” Izzy giggled and waved her hoof at the crowd as Thomas prepared to move the cloth from the display case. “And now, without further ado... the lost Cat's Eye necklace of Cleocatra!” Once the necklace was revealed, the crowd erupted into cheers, and even Pete’s father couldn’t help but be impressed. And as the crowd continued to cheer and take pictures, Deputy Sniffer turned to the Buddies, with the Mane 6 and Violette listening in. “If only your great grandpappy, Digger, could see you. Chips off the old block, five doggone explorer pups. He'd be very proud.” Zipp giggled to this, rubbing B-Dawg on top of the head. “He sure would, deputy. He sure would.” At the same time, Pete looked over toward the necklace in the display case. “That's a cool necklace.” “Yeah... it is beautiful,” Skye nodded. “Isn’t it, Pete?” Thomas merely chuckled to this. “And I'm glad we found it so the world can enjoy it, too.” Mariama nodded to this, a smile growing on her own face. “But Thomas and I both learned a very important lesson on this trip, more valuable than even gold or jewels. We have the greatest treasures in the world right here.” Sunny smiled at this interaction, turning to her friends with a delicate smile. “And we have a treasure very similar to the bonds of family... true friendship. And no matter where we go, or what we do next... nothing is ever gonna change that.” And this was a very true statement. Because even though our heroes would have to return to Equestria within just a few hours... ...the bonds that they made on the Unity Quest would never be broken.
