“Triage in the castle…”

Mousecakes bandages up Blaster’s ear. Diamond Luck lay in the bed next to her moaning in pain. Her wounds had been treated first.

Blaster stared at her hooves. “I don’t know what to do.” She began sobbing. “There is just so much going on. First it was Honey Mead and Metalance coming back and we had to treat them like criminals! Then that attack happen. I just found out our foals have been kidnapped by Metalance. Catfish and Metalance were caught up in a fire and disappeared afterwards. On top of that Butterfree had given birth and is now basically by herself.”

Mousecakes hugs and pats Blaster on the back. “I know it’s a lot to take in.”

“Diamond!” A yellow pony with a dull yellow muzzle shouts as she rushes forward.

Mousecakes had to quickly step forward and hold her back. “Don’t touch her! She’s in great pain.”

“She’s right Gold Splitter,” Diamond Luck managed to say.

Gold Splitter starts crying. She was of an in between age. No longer a filly but not yet a mare. Her cutie mark was a piece of gold ore being split in half by a lightning bolt.

“It will be okay,” A kind filly’s voice spoke to Gold Splitter.

They turn to see Luna walking up to them. The sights had made the filly Alicorn a little pale.

Blaster and Mousecakes gives her a salute. Gold Splitter stood there stunned partly because she was seeing the great goddess Luna standing before her other half being that she looked so young and cute. This was nothing what the pony was expecting from a goddess.

“At ease,” Luna said dryly.

Blaster pours Luna a glass of water from a nearby pitcher. The filly drinks about half of it before taking a breath.

“That’s a little better,” Luna remarks.

“Should you be here princess?” Mousecakes asks Luna as the filly turns to Diamond Luck.

“Here take these protein pills you’ll need them to heal,” Luna says gently to the injured pony before turning to Mousecakes. “You call me princess and warship me and yet you wonder why I want to help!” She snaps.

“Not to be rude miss,” Mousecakes apologized.

“Celestia had said the same thing to me and I gave her the same reply,” Luna sighs as she casts a spell on the injured pony. “But I have the powers of the night and it is the night where the body does most of it’s healing. With a power like that I have to help.”

“Thank you for helping my sister,” Gold Splitter told the filly.

“Its an honor,” Luna replied, “But given the number of injured I think we could always use some help.”

“I understand,” Gold Splitter cringes and looks at her sister. “Do I have to see the wounds? With my sister burned like that I don’t think I can-“

“Luna?” Oubliette called out as she came trotting up.

“Yes what is it?” Lune turned and asked.

“I am Oubliette Diglette,” Oubliette introduced herself. “I helped stop some of the escaped prisoners that was captured during the cue.”

“Yes I know about their failed up raising,” Luna nodded her head.

“The triage staff is mostly ignoring them,” Oubliette said concerned, “I know these burnings are bad. But they have some stab wounds and broken bones that need to be attended to. I helped as much as I could but I’m no healer.”

Honey Mead wraps the wrist of Prime Key in a bandage.

“You’re Honey Mead right?” The stallion asked nervously.

“Yes,” Honey Mead replied.

“So, you sided with them,” Prime Key said displeased.

“I sided with my family or at least what’s left of it, what I hope is the majority,” Honey Mead answers.

“You’re not the only one that changed sides,” Prime Key told her.

“Not shocked,” Honey Mead smiles, “People tend to try to side their actions with their heart. Be itself gratification, protection of one’s family or keeping one’s honor. I suppose I sided with family.”

“I guess I sided with my honor,” Prime Key replied.

Honey Mead lowers her head and cries.

Prime Key puts his hoof on hers. “It’s not too late.”

“No, I feel bad but I still don’t know if the choice I made was right,” Honey Mead answered.

“Just don’t past the point of no return,” Prime Key told her, “You avoided killing my men that should say something.”

“It says I’m a bad ass bitch who can take out a group of enemies without killing them,” Honey Mead smiles and laughs.

Oubliette came trotting up with Luna and Gold Splitter behind her.

“Oubliette! You’re back and you brought a goddess with you,” Honey Mead cheered.

“I’m here to heal the captured prisoners,” Luna answers. She turns to a pony laying on the ground and with a glow of her horn his broken ribs pops back into place making the stallion scream out in pain.

“The sweetheart is all business isn’t she,” Honey Mead remarks.

“I think she had to shut herself off emotionally,” Oubliette tells the pony.

“She should take a break after this,” Honey Mead points out, “She does not look well.”

“Believe it or not she considers this a break,” Oubliette told her, “Have you seen the main triage center? I don’t blame her. We are lucky that there isn’t more dead.”

“Still we should treat her to something after this to show her our thanks.” Honey Mead remarks.

“Excuse me,” A silver colored Unicorn spoke up.

The sight of the Unicorn something still pretty rare in the Earth Nation shocked the two mares.

“Are these the prisoners that Whirly Pop helped?” Velvet Rope asked.

“Umm, yes?” Honey Mead answers. “What happened to Whirly Pop?”

“She escaped,” Velvet Rope answered her question hastily.

Honey Mead wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Happy because Whirly Pop was a traveling companion that she was still feeling close to. Sad because she escaped from her new allegiance. She was also afraid that the mare would get hurt on the run.

“Did she have Inspiration with her?” Honey Mead asked.

“I’m not exactly sure that’s why I’m questioning-“ Velvet Rope then went wide eyed. “How did you know about that!”

“I was traveling with her not too long ago,” Honey Mead answered unsure if she said something wrong.

Velvet Rope examines the mare closely. “You were captured with her?”

“Yes, I’m Honey Mead,” Honey Mead said nervously.

“Shouldn’t you still be under some form of detainment? Velvet Rope asks.

“Well I was,” Honey Mead was trying to think what to say carefully, “I have sided with you people, but it’s not official yet.”

“She’s under my watch,” Oubliette adds.

“I see,” Velvet Rope nods her head, “The two of you may have to come with me later as part of my report.”

Velvet Rope walks up to one of the prisoners. She lifts up his foreleg with her magic. He starts twitching uncomfortably.

“I have a few questions for you so listen carefully,” The mare told him, “Did Whirly Pop free you correct? If so don’t answer yes just tell me how she did it.”

The stallion hesitated to answer. Velvet Rope’s horn glows brighter and he yelps as his joints in his foreleg pop.

“Hey don’t do that!” Oubliette shouted.

Velvet Rope then glares at her.

“It was a wire,” Prime Key answered hastily not wanting to see some pony under his command get hurt. “The thing changed its shape.”

“I thought so,” Velvet Rope smiled. She points at Oubliette and Honey Mead. “You two come with me.”

“What about the injured miss?” Oubliette asked.

Velvet Rope looks at Luna. “She looks like she has it handled.”

Velvet Rope leads the two mares away.

“Where are you taking us?” Honey Mead asked.

Velvet Rope opens up a pair of doors and they walked into a meeting room. Honey Mead and Oubliette froze at the sight of who was in the room. Blackstone, Mareseir, Celestia, King Mars, Black Rose, and Summer Harvest all sat around a table in the room.

“Shockingly the number of casualties reported from the Gryphus attack is only three,” Mareseir tells the group.

Celestia’s heart skips a beat as she remembers the burned pony that she had attacked.

“Is something the matter?” Summer Harvest asked her.

“No I’m fine,” Celestia lied.

“Does the filly need to have a nap?” Black Rose teased.

“Give her some respect!” Summer Harvest snapped, “She is goddess of the light that gives us plants energy.”

“Sorry,” Black Rose shook her head arrogantly. “I worship the earth, the life giving soil.”

“Will you two stop bickering?” Blackstone snaps. Blackstone then sees Velvet Rope “Ah,Velvet Rope done with your investigation?” Blackstone remarks then looks at the ponies behind her. “What’s up with them?”

“They are witnesses I brought directly to you.” Velvet Rope answered. She turns to Oubliette. “I think you two have something to say about a particular green pony?”

Oubliette was shocked for moment then she shook that shock off and began to speak. “Yes, the one called Metalance escaped from her house arrest taking two foals with her.”

“I can personally confirm a green pony with a couple of fillies that seemed familiar with another pony I know was from the same house that Honey Mead here lives in,” Velvet Rope told them.

“I was injured trying to stop her from escaping with the foals,” Honey Mead shows them her bandaged shoulder wound.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Blackstone nods his head. “But I hope this means that you are joining us?”

“Yes I am,” Honey Mead answered.

“Well anyway,” Velvet Rope continued, “Soon after the tavern inn that I spotted this Metalance in was one of the few buildings that caught on fire from the Gryphus attack.”

“I can confirm with my own eyes that this Generous Thread who I have been told has the magical blade Inspiration inside of her was last seen with Claymari exiting that building,” Mars told them.

“I have had reports of them heading to the restricted neighborhood near the harbor,” Mareseir reported.

“I believe that Whirly Pop somehow has a piece of Inspiration with her,” Velvet Rope adds, “She and her group were spotted heading to the restricted district.”

“You suspect that your partner and Whirly Pop are working together?” Blackstone asks.

“Unfortunately I believe so,” Velvet Rope answers.

“Then we must retrieve them,” Mareseir points out.

Mars begins to laugh and looks at Black Rose and Summer Harvest. “If you are going after my daughter better be packing one of these Alicorn ghost things. If that Inspiration weapon is as strong as I heard you better be packing two.”

“Agreed,” Black Rose nodded her head.

“I suppose,” Summer Harvest agreed.

“Perhaps to test her loyalty we should have the yellow pony go along in the expedition?” Black Rose suggests.

“In that case her escorts should come along too,” Blackstone points out, “After all they are supposed to be watching her.”

“If we’re going to test wills,” Velvet Rope spoke up, “Then shouldn’t you have the one called Mousecakes come along as well her sister is part of the group that we are trying to track down I believe.”

“Okay, so the party has been set,” Blackstone announced.

“Whirly Pop’s party walks down the foggy streets…”

“Can’t believe this happened to this neighborhood,” Rat Tak-Tak remarks nervously.

“Over there was my favorite outdoor cafe,” La Dawn said somberly.

Ferngully’s antenna glows. “All of this fog is caused by magic,” She remarks, “Rune magic by the feel of it.”

“Not shocked about that,” Pot Shell points out, “Rune magic is quite common among Earth Ponies.” He turns to Whirly Pop. “Sure it’s okay to be here?”

“Not at first, but my suspicions have been rectified,” Whirly Pop answered.

“Okay,” Pot Shell said nervously.

Whirly Pop soon leads them to a large irongate. “The Wax and Taxidermy Museum,” She introduced.

“Yeah that sounds macabre,” Ferngully remarks.

“Says the Franken Bat Pony,” Pot Shell points out.

Ferngully’s reaction was to mockingly pout her lips and flutter her eyes at him.

Whirly Pop puts her hoof on the gate and it slides open with a slow creek. She takes a few steps in cautiously looking around. Once reasonably sure it’s safe, she waves her hoof for the others to follow her and heads for the front door.

The lobby was abandoned, there was a checkout stand and a small section for a gift shop. A small layer of dust was on the floor due to the lack of use.

“Looks like other ponies have recently been here,” Pot Shell points out at a bunch of hoof prints on the dusty floor.

“Stay close to me,” Rat Tak-Tak grits her teeth at the fact that she still didn’t have a weapon.

Everyone went quiet, when they did so they could hear hoof clops walking down the hallway. They all tensed up as a glossy figure of a pony steps out from around the corner.

Rat Tak-Tak attacks it with a scream. She knocks the undead thing into the wall making it drop the tray of food and hot drinks it was carrying. Rat Tak-Tak screams again as the hot liquid hits her body.

“Wait? Was that zombie carrying? Launch?” Ferngully points out confused.

“What are you doing!” Catfish shouted.

“Wait your Catfish?” Rat Tak-Tak points out.

“Oh yeah, you’re Mousecakes’s sister,” Catfish remarks, “Did you escape or switched sides?”

“We all escaped,” Whirly Pop steps forward announcing.

“Technically I was let go,” Ferngully raised her hoof.

“Good for you,” Whirly Pop remarks.

“We’ve kind of been waiting for you,” Catfish told them.

“What do you mean by waiting for us?” Whirly Pop asked.

“And what’s up with the zombie pony?” Rat Tak-Tak adds.

“All will be answered in due time, Come and follow me,” Catfish answered.

They followed the Cat Pony deeper into the building. She turns and leads them into an employee break room. There they saw Claymari and Generous Thread.

“All they have here are bags and bags of coffee,” Claymari complained as she brewed a pot of coffee. “Didn’t anyone believe in having any liquor around?”

“Claymari our friends are here,” Generous Thread points out.

Claymari acknowledges them with a slight glance. “That’s nice and all but I’m stone cold sober right now.”

Whirly Pop walks up to Generous Thread. “As we agreed,” Whirly Pop holds up her hoof. The wire snakes down it. Generous thread holds out her hoof and the wire goes inside of her with a spark of light.

“Okay what’s going on?” Pot Shell snaps, “You give her your last piece of Inspiration?”

“She can hold its power and handle it better than I you,” Whirly Pop told him.

“Yeah but it seems it doesn’t want to follow my instructions,” Generous Thread blushes, “If we find ourselves in combat you’re going to have to use it.”

“I understand,” Whirly Pop replied.

Winkz walks into the room. “Catfish is my coffee ready yet?”

“Sorry,” Catfish blushed, “I had an accident with the meals.”

Winkz looks at the newcomers. “It’s okay, I thought I sensed some new companions around.”

Claymari grumbles, “Sure you can’t use your magic to locate some alcohol?”

“If it was my best friend instead of yours maybe,” Winkz giggled.

“Fine I’ll go find some embalming fluid or something,” Claymari walks off.

Winkz turns to Whirly Pop, “I thought I sensed you around.”

“How much of the old gang is here?” Pot Shell asked.

“We have Metalance, but Honey Mead is not with us, Mousecakes is gone as well,” Winkz points out.

“That’s sad because we did see Mousecakes at the inn,” Ferngully remarked.

“Yeah it seems that Mousecakes and Honey Mead has chosen their sides,” Winkz replied.

“And at this point where does she stand?” Rat Tak-Tak asked.

“Claymari? She wants to leave the city and find her daughter,” Ferngully remarks.

“She thinks that Philia is with Pudding Head and Smart Cookie’s forces,” Winkz points out.

“Well in that case I should go and talk to her,” Whirly Pop realized. She turns to the others in her group. “You should take this time to relax a bit.”

Whirly Pop walked out of the room. She was very familiar with the layout of the building and swiftly finds Claymari digging through one of the old storage rooms. She picks a jar off a shelf and reads it out loud.

“Do not consume may cause blindness,” Claymari reads, then she grits her teeth in goes on a rant. “That’s not fricken helpful! May cause blindness means that there is an amount that I can safely drink without going blind!” She sighs, “Maybe Explanation knows how much I can drink?”

“So she’s here too?” Whirly Pop asked.

“Explanation yeah,” Claymari answered.

“I’m going to have to find her later,” Whirly Pop remarks, “Anyway I’m here to talk to you about where I think Philia is.”

“East Apple Country,” Claymari said indifferently.

“How did you guess?” Whirly Pop asked.

“First, I’m a game changer you’re probably going to say anything to get me on your side,” Claymari remarks, “Not that I think you’re lying, second I used to live in that region and know the area has the Apples strongest supporters. So that would be the best place to look.”

“Now that thats out of the way, I suppose I should track down Explanation,” Whirly Pop points out.

“She should be on the main floor with Metalance and the foals,” Claymari told her.

“Thanks for the help,” Whirly Pop says as she leaves the room, “And please don’t drink that.”

As Whirly Pop walked out onto the main floor of the Museum she heard a voice.

“You see Lord Adipocere lived in constant fear due to his experiments,” Explanation explains to the foals showing them a wax zombie sealed away in a glass case as Whirly Pop approached.

“Explanation I’m shocked to still see you in town,” Whirly Pop said as she walked up.

“Whirly Pop,” Explanation answered with a smile. “Yeah with my grandfather still captured in the castle I couldn’t have it in my heart to leave this city and leave him alone.”

“I tried offering to help him escape but he said he had a plan and wanted to stay,” Whirly Pop told the mare.

“Yeah I know,” Explanation shrugged.

Whirly Pop looks at the case with the zombie pony in it and smiles. “So you got it to work? His weapon?”

“I even got the puppet to live,” Explanation points at the small pony figure at her feet with the glossy shell and trench coat.

Whirly Pop bends down to the puppet and waves a hoof at it. He watches her hoof by moving his head. “Creepy, how can it see me?”

“I don’t know exactly,” Explanation remarks.

Whirly Pop giggles, “And here I thought you knew everything.”

“The puppet is really nice too,” Weedie points out.

“We call him Lance, because of the pointy bits,” Caramel remarks.

Catfish walks up with a wax zombie pony. They were carrying more hot drinks and sandwiches.

“Thanks,” Metalance says as she takes a sandwich. As the pony ate she looked depressed.

“What’s the matter?” Catfish asked.

“It just seems like everything has gone so wrong,” Metalance wipes a tear from her eye. “I just wanted to leave with my son and the next thing I know we are stuck in this place both of us in more danger than if I just stayed at home with him.”

Catfish gives the pony a gentle smile. “You’re doing what you think is right, don’t blame yourself for that. Every journey sometimes has a dark road you must fight through it. If you forced yourself to stay you would have been dead inside. Then what kind of mother would you be?”

Metalance smiles back, “I suppose you’re right.”

“So is that really Lord Adipocere?” Whirly Pop points at the zombie stallion pacing around in the case.

“I’m assuming so,” Explanation replies, “I’m not letting him out, rumor has it he wasn’t a very good pony. And all the necro magic I’ve been using are remnants that he had left behind. Crap, if he got out of there he could overwhelmed my abilities and take over the wax zombies I summoned to protect me.”

“Do you have any plans to escape at any point?” Whirly Pop asked.

“I extended the fog spell to parts of the harbor,” Explanation answered, “I have a ship ready, from there you should be able to sail up river to the East Apple Country.”

“You said you,” Whirly Pop points out, “I guess that means you’re planning on staying again?”

“As I said I can’t leave my grandfather alone,” Explanation tells her, “I may have to hide in the greater city but once I help you with escape they will no longer allow this place to act freely.”

“I understand,” Whirly Pop nods her head.

“Outside… The harbor…”

“So this is where the body went,” Black Rose remarks at the Gryphus skull. “After all that crap Celestia gave me about using fire.”

Mousecakes wrinkles her nose at the charred skull. “I didn’t think I would ever have to be exposed to more dead Gryphus again.”

Honey Mead looks out at the fog covered neighborhood. “Looks like a trap to me.”

“If it’s a trap it’s one that’s been set for a while,” Mellow points out, “Remember it’s been like this since the cue.”

“It looks like a method of escape to me,” Black Rose notes the fog heading all the way down to a part of the harbor.

“Yeah, if I was escaping and I had all the time to plan it out, I would hide a boat there,” Oubliette points out.

“I’ll scan the area,” Summer Harvest states as she out stretches her wings allowing the bees to fly off her dress.

“Back at the Museum...”

Ferngully stands on the roof her eyes glazed over in a hypnotic trance. “Yes, we are at the Taxidermy Museum, you will send the Gryphus? I suggest you ambush us on the boat, it will allow you to get rid of all witnesses and acquire a method of escape.”

Ferngully sees a bee buzz by out of the corner of her eye.

“What is it?” Eclipso asked.

“It’s nothing just a bee,” Ferngully answered.

Within the museum the bees land on many tapestries, curtains, and carpets. They fused with the fabric as the threads wrap around the insects allowing them to take new larger forms. They went from the size of a marble to the size of a soccer ball.

Lance spots one of the bees as it was forming. He attacks the thing grabbing it with his hook and shooting a dagger from his mouth stabbing the thing. He cuts into the strands of fabric that the bee was made of. The strands come to life and grabs the puppet as the bee takes to the air.

“Where is Ferngully!” Rat Tak-Tak snaps, “We need to get ready to head out to the boat.”

“She was on the roof,” Winkz remarks as she packs some saddle bags.

“Who cares if she’s late?” Claymari shrugged, “She can fly right?”

Suddenly a bee with a puppet tingled in it smashes into the case holding Lord Adipocere causing the glass to shatter.

“Well that’s not good,” Winkz remarks.

Claymari pulls out her sword. “I suppose now we find out if the creepy guy is good or bad.”

“Elsewhere in the museum...”

La Dawn slices a fabric bee in half with a rapier. “Luckily this place had some old antique weapons lying around, but I do miss my old sword very much.”

Metalance whacks some bees with a spear. She motions for the foals to stay behind her. “Yeah, we wouldn’t stand a chance against these things if we didn’t have weapons.”

Catfish summoned Strawberry Breeze from her orb. Strawberry Breeze then looks at the bees. “This is Biollante magic.”

“What?” Catfish said shocked.

“I’m not going to fight them,” Strawberry Breeze stated, “I’m also not going to fight you until I completely understand what’s going on.” The Biollante disappears.

Catfish stood there speechless.

“It’s probably best not to summon her again,” Metalance remarks.

“Generous Thread!” Whirly Pop shouted.

“All you need to do is jump inside of me,” Generous Thread said as her body glowed.

Whirly Pop dashed into Generous Thread. She passes through the Holic Pony. A metal mask now covered the lower half of Whirly Pop’s face. Blades were attached to her hooves.

As she dashed out, Whirly Pop slices two bees with a spin motion and lands on her hind hooves sliding across the floor stopping precisely where she wanted to.

“You look better in a mask than I do Whirly,” La Dawn joked.

“It’s not shifting to my mental commands,” Whirly Pop remarks looking at the blades.

“That’s because I used my control over Inspiration to form lock it.” Generous Thread answered, “This will block the sword’s power from your mind. If you wish to change the configuration, simply think of the form you want and dash back into me.”

“We should reconnect to the others,” Pot Shell said as he turns and bumps into a wax zombie.

The zombie lashes out at Pot Shell. The young stallion jumps away from it as Whirly Pop slips in and slices the zombie’s head off with her blade. The head drops to the ground and hisses. Whirly Pop slices the skull open to stop the snapping head.

Hooves hits Whirly Pop in the back, she was knocked to the ground as the headless pony rears up on her. Explanation dashes in with a hammer and brakes the wax zombie into pieces.

“It appears I lost control of the wax zombies,” Explanation said.

“In that case,” Whirly Pop dashes in and out of Generous Thread now equipped with some kind of hammer device to her chassis. “We better get smashing.”

“Did you just jumped in and out of that mare?” Explanation asked slack jawed.

“Back at the museum’s main hall…”

“Yes, now that I am free and alive again I can continue my experiments and perhaps bring the world into an era of the undead,” Lord Adipocere calls out.

“It’s talking, why is it talking?” Claymari frowns.

“Just do a flash step and kill him already,” Winkz rolled her eyes.

They were starting to get surrounded by wax zombies. Claymari flash steps slicing across Lord Adipocere. The base of his neck starts to slide away from his shoulders halfway then the wax starts to repair itself.

Claymari turns and shrugs at Winkz. “It’s never that easy.”

Winkz summons a shield as a wax zombie comes down on her. A couple of magic energy blasts hits the zombie knocking it back.

“Didn’t you guys already fight the whole undead thing when you met me?” Ferngully joked then mutters underneath her breath. “The whole controlling my body thing has been done before too.”

“Ferngully duck!” Whirly Pop shouts as she jumps into view. Ferngully ducks as her hammer flies over the Bat Pony’s head. The hammer smacks into a wax zombie breaking it apart.

“Thanks,” Ferngully replied.

“And another priceless artifact destroyed,” Explanation sighs.

“You couldn’t of waited a hour to lose control of the zombies could you!” Claymari shouted.

“I can’t see how this could not get worse for me,” Explanation groans.

“Never say that around Claymari!” Ferngully snaps.

“Why?”

“Ka-boom!”

A fireball bursts into the room taking out to wax zombies.

“That is why,” Ferngully points out.

“So who are you?” Claymari asked Black Rose as she fought off Lord Adipocere.

“She leads Blackstone’s Biollante army,” Generous Thread points out.

“I am Black Rose Biollante Lord of the earth,” Black Rose announced.

“You do realize that you have a fire ability right?” Claymari points out.

“I set the earth on fire!” Black Rose stomps her hoof igniting the ground below Claymari into flames. Claymari Flash Stepped out of the way to avoid the flames, Lord Adipocere was not so lucky.

The wax zombie screams as he melts and his melting wax sets on fire. Lord Adipocere charges at Black Rose covering her in a glob of living melting wax.

“Claymari!” Whirly Pop shouted, “It’s time to take our leave, the others have already gone ahead.”

“See you later miss Rose,” Claymari smirked as she gave a salute with her sword before leaving the room with the others.

“Whirly Pop, this is where we part ways,” Explanation said as they came out onto the street.

“Thanks for all the help,” Whirly Pop answered the mare.

Explanation nodded her head and ran off down the other street.

“The fog covered section of the harbor…”

“The fog starts to take on an orange hue…”

“Did they set the neighborhood on fire?” Metalance asked out loud as she looked at the glowing mist.

“I don’t feel any heat,” Pot Shell points out.

“No strange air drafts either,” La Dawn said as he held his wings out a little bit.

“Mommy I feel sleepy,” Caramel told Metalance.

“We are almost to the ship dear, you can sleep then,” Metalance said.

“I’m feeling sleepy too,” Weedie said as well then suddenly she collapses.

“Weedie! What’s the matter!” Metalance shakes Weedie.

Catfish had already pulled out her orb. “This fog is magic,” as she finished a statement the others start passing out.

Summer Harvest emerges from out of the fog. “I see you managed to counter my sleep powder.”

Mousecakes and Honey Mead emerge from the fog behind Summer Harvest. Mellow and Oubliette stayed farther back in the fog near the boat.

“Please,” Catfish begged, “I will accept any punishment but allow them to leave!”

“They are the enemy,” Summer Harvest shouted.

“Really you see enemies here before you?” Catfish asked, “Pot Shell a brave but scared boy, La Dawn held in a pit for months by a Dark One only to emerge to find his home in turmoil. Metalance a mother betrayed by her family!”

Honey Mead lowered her head and turned to Summer Harvest. “She’s right, please allow them to take sides, let them go.”

“Keeping them here isn’t right,” Mousecakes agreed.

“What about Claymari and the others with her. Whirly Pop and Generous Thread?

“Well technically Claymari and her companions she originally came here with are free to go,” Oubliette stepped forward. “As for Whirly Pop and Generous Thread. It’s been confirmed that Whirly Pop attacked and assaulted several guards and Generous Thread is a trader by her actions. We have every right to contain those two.”

Summer Harvest looks out a head past Catfish and calls out to the fog. “You heard that right Claymari? Your kin and the other ponies are free to go if Whirly Pop and Generous Thread surrender themselves.

Claymari, Winkz, Ferngully, Rat Tak-Tak, Whirly Pop and Generous Thread steps out of the shadows of the fog.

“Really if I turn myself in you will let them go?” Whirly Pop restates.

“Yes, on my honor,” Summer Harvest replied.

Whirly Pop pauses to think.

“We don’t have time for this crap!” Claymari suddenly strikes Whirly Pop in the face knocking the mare out and she falls to the ground.

Claymari turned to Summer Harvest. “Would that suffice?”

“I suppose if we can hold her,” Summer Harvest nods her head.

Claymari then turns to Generous Thread. “I don’t know if I can knock you out but I will try my darnest.”

“I give in,” Generous Thread replied.

“See she’s Discord Neutral,” Ferngully smirks.

“I don’t know, her actions is for the greater good,” Winkz points out.

“Yeah but that’s only because it’s self serving to her.” Ferngully points out.

Rat Tak-Tak rushes to Whirly Pop’s unconsous body. “I’m staying too, she helped me escape.”

“Sister, you should go,” Mousecakes shook her head.

“Mouse, I forgive you,” Rat Tak-Tak cried.

Mousecakes turns away eyes welling with tears.

“You agree to willingly summit?” Summer Harvest asked.

“I do,” Rat Tak-Tak nods her head.

Summer Harvest turns to Honey Mead. “This is your last chance to go with them.”

“No,” Honey Mead shook her head, “I have two other foals and the rest of my herd to think about. Perhaps I’ll take the chance to be a house mare and get pregnant.”

“Okay enough talk, let’s get them on the boat,” Claymari rolled her eyes.

“Agreed,” Summer Harvest nods her head.

They take the unconsous ponies onto the boat.

“Wait!” Catfish points at Mellow as he puts Weedie’s body on the deck. “Take her off the boat she’s staying here,” She told him.

“What the heck is going on here!” A voice shouts.

Black Rose emerges out of the fog.

“Let them go Black Rose, We made a deal,” Summer Harvest points at Whirly Pop laying on the ground with Generous Thread standing next to her.

“I have a feeling letting these ponies leave will be a mistake for us,” Black Rose points out.

“It’s my choice,” Summer Harvest said in as a commanding tone as she could muster.

“Very well,” Black Rose glowed her horn. Lord Adipocere steps forward his body repaired by patching destroyed wax zombies together.

Black Rose looks at Claymari. “We made a deal if you were wondering.” She smirks.

“Everyone who is going a shore get your asses moving!” Claymari shouted as she went below deck.

Below deck there was a walk wheel attached to a propelling wheel at the end of the ship. Claymari steps inside the walk wheel and the thing moves with a loud creek. The propelling wheel on the outside of the boat starts moving. The boat moves away from the dock causing the boarding planks to break away from it.

“Jump for it!” Oubliette shouted as she jumped off the deck of the boat.

Mellow looks at Weedie the filly laying unconsous on the deck.

“Leave her there!” Catfish orders, “Keeping her here is much safer then taking her a shore on your back!”

“But she’s suppose to-“ Mellow starts to say.

“I know but nothing I can do about that now,” Catfish answers.

Both ponies jump off the deck.

“Ferngully? You have inherent weight nullifying magic like Pegasus do right?” Winkz asked.

“Can I fly?” Ferngully said cheerfully.

“I’ll take the helm you pull up the anchor,” Winkz orders.

“On the dock…”

Honey Mead smiles at Rat Tak-Tak as the two ponies draw their weapons and faced Lord Adipocere. “Looks like one last battle,” She tells the purple pony.

“Lady, You never know when your last battle happens,” Rat Tak-Tak smiles back as they charge at the zombie pony.

Summer Harvest sends out a mist of pollen at Black Rose. Black Rose uses her magic to ignite the pollen into a ball of flame.

“All organic material is earth based,” Black Rose declared, “Unfortunately we Biollante are beings of energy or I would have finished you off by now.”

“You’re that arrogant,” Summer Harvest remarks at Black Rose.

“No, just observant,” Black Rose said as she glowed her horn. The earth below the water explodes in flame in the dock suddenly collapses. The collapsing dock snags the boat anchor trapping it.

The sudden snag causes Ferngully to drop the anchor chain. “Crap it’s stuck,” She snaps.

Catfish sees the anchor get snagged and she dives underneath the water to where the anchor is at. With a few shoves the Cat Pony dislodges the anchor from the pile of wood above it. Ferngully gives a great pull on the chain. Catfish grabs the sliding chain and rides it up the side of the boat.

“No!” Black Rose shouted as she took to the air. Summer Harvest knocks her out of the sky with a well placed magical blast. The pony falls crashing into the water.

“At this point I think we are almost scot free,” Ferngully remarks as the city grows smaller in the view.

“At least you guys are,” Catfish said sadly.

“Sorry man,” Ferngully replied.

Winkz does a quick number check of the boat’s crew with her horn. “Ferngully, there are two more persons aboard this boat then there should be.”

Ferngully shook her head, “No there isn’t.” She said darkly.

“Below deck…”

A magical blast hits Claymari in the back of the head knocking her out. The wheel stops turning as she collapses.

“Above deck…”

The ship’s propeller stops leaving it floating on the river currants.

“Ferngully! What’s the meaning of this!” Catfish shouted.

“Sorry, I had no choice,” Ferngully looked away.

“What do you mean by no choice,” Catfish snapped.

“I have her under my spell,” Eclipso said as he walked up on the deck with Ponyville behind him.

“A Gryphus is approaching,” Winkz announces analyzing the air with her horn.

Polis then lands on the deck.

Eclipso smiles, “Now I’m not sure whether to kill all of you or to find a way to put you all under my mind control.” The Dark One sighs. “On a second thought I have a hard enough time controlling who I have now. Perhaps I should wait until I settled down before I get more minions.” He turns to Polis, “Kill them all please.”

“I hope you know what you are doing,” Polis mutters under his breath as he opens his good claw. He had itched symbols into his flesh the wounds still seeping blood. The Gryphus suddenly puts his claw against Ferngully’s forehead and she screams her eyes glowing white.

Eclipso screams as he feels the spider in Ferngully’s heart die. “What did you do!” He shouted.

“I don’t know yet,” Polis answered.

The glow in Ferngully’s eyes dimmed down and her cutie mark switched from green to white.

“That was strange, I feel like something was ripped away from my heart?” Vanilla remarks.

“I see, that was what Ferngully was trying to tell me,” Polis noted, “Switching souls switches the metaphorical heart that the spider feeds off of ripping it apart.”

“I still have the serpent!” Eclipso shouted. His command made the serpent come out of Vanilla’s mane.

“Shouldn’t have said that,” Vanilla stated as she fries the snake with a glow of her antenna. “I’m not sure all of what’s going on, I think Ferngully’s intent of allowing me to take her body again is for me to handle those little beasties. I suppose I should.”

With a glow Vanilla attacks the spider in Polis’s heart. With another flash of magic the earwicks became destroyed. This caused both the pony and the Gryphus to flinch.

“Stop doing that!” Eclipso snaps.

“Or what?” Vanilla replied with a smile.

“I’m stronger than you!” Eclipso shouted taking a few steps back.

“You’re outnumbered,” Vanilla replied.

Eclipso’s horn begins to glow, but his magic spell was interrupted when Ponyville attacked him. Eclipso was flung into the railing. Polis grabs Eclipso with his good arm lifting the Crystal Pony up. He smiles at the ponies.

“I’m going to make sure he isn’t going to hurt anyone again,” Polis said just before jumping into the water. The pony and the Gryphus sinks like a rock. Eclipso was the first to give in and inhale water. Polis soon followed suit.

“Well that was a thing?” Winkz remarks.

Ponyville collapsed sobbing, Catfish walks up to console her.

“So is Ferngully coming back?” Winkz asked Vanilla.

Vanilla shrugs, “I’m not a hundred percent sure, I may have to return home to do it. Meanwhile should we worry about our transportation?”

Both ponies looks at Catfish.

“Why are you looking at me?” Catfish asked nervously.

“We assume that Claymari is discapacitated in some way she may not be able to power the ship,” Vanilla points out. “You’re technically an Earth Pony right?”

“I get the point,” Catfish grumbles as she walks below deck.