Whipping Bumpkin, Mad Dasher, and Sweet Wind had started into the woods and after a few minutes it had became dark. “It is starting to become dark. I don’t seem to understand, if the princesses are trapped in a vortex, then why the moon is coming up?” Sweet Wind said. Whipping just shrugged at the question. They started to set up the camp and wait until the morning rises. Once the camp was made and the fire was set, Mad Dasher and Whipping Bumpkin sat next to each other.
“Why are you always helping my father?” asked Whipping. For a few minutes Mad Dasher was silent. Whipping just kept looking.
“Come on, we have been friends for years.” She thought. Suddenly, Whipping just walked away from him. She was still hurting, but was a little better from being knocked into the market. She went into her tent and let out sigh.
“So why didn’t you tell Whipping?” Sweet Wind asked. She knew why Mad Dasher always sided with Whipping’s father. She wanted Mad Dasher to explain why, but Mad Dasher never has.
“None of your business.” Mad Dasher said arrogantly. Mad Dasher thought that Whipping would understand why. Sweet Wind went into her tent as well.
“Good night.” Sweet Wind said.
“Night.” said Dasher with a sigh.
Meanwhile Umbra Aquila was watching above the in the sky. “So those three are trying to oppose me, huh?” Umbra said to himself. He shook his head in disbelief.
“Fools! They really have no clue on who they are dealing with.” He said. He soon let out a screech. “Waken my minions; it is time to attack the three ponies that oppose me! Show them no mercy!” screeched Umbra.
“Yes master!” they called as they were arising. “Let’s feast on their flesh!” some skeleton ponies said.
“No we must crush them, bone and all!” a Cyclops said.
“We much kill them by causing a course!” three unicorn witches said. The creatures started to argue on how to kill them.
“Don’t worry you all maybe get your chance. By maybe I mean if some of you fail, then another will take your place. If succeed, you will be highly rewarded.” Umbra said with a chuckle.
“Alright!” the creatures said. They suddenly started arguing who should go after them first.
“Relax, the Timberwolves first. I will keep monitoring how they do at a safe distance. If they fail, I’ll send the next.” Umbra said. “Of course if they can’t stop them from reaching the last temple, I’ll just stop them myself” Umbra said.
---
Whipping Bumpkin was twisting and turning. She was having some nightmares about her mother. “Mom…no…no…NO!!!” she screamed and woke up panting. She had the same gruesome dream that were the flashes of imagery she was having earlier. Mad Dasher came into her tent with a concern look on his face.
“You okay? I heard you screaming” he asked. Whipping just let out a sigh and shook her head. “Let me guess, a nightmare of your mother’s death. Look Whipping, I know you miss her and but just let it go. Just let your mother’s death go.” Mad Dasher said. “Please, your mother’s spirit will always be…”
“I can’t! I just don’t know how she died. I would accept her being dead, if I knew how…” Whipping said. Then she rolled on her side and grumbled.
“Do I tell her? No, I can’t, she wouldn’t want to be my friend. She would hate her father. She would leave Fillydelphia and never come back, because of us…” Mad Dasher thought. Even though he trying to hold back, his mouth dropped open to explain, suddenly a howl came outside. Whipping sprang in alert.
“You heard that? Sounds to me we have company…” said Whipping. Mad Dasher gave a sigh of relief, but then his face turn to concern as he was seeing Whipping Bumpkin was heading out the tent.
When Whipping Bumpkin got out of the tent, she saw ten Timberwolves looking at her. “What are they doing here? This isn’t the Everfree Forest!” She thought.
Mad Dasher followed looking just as surprised as she was. The Timberwolves jumped at them. Whipping used her lasso to stop a couple of them by using her lasso skills. Mad Dasher made three collide into each other. The other five attacked while their guard was down. Sweet Wind had woken from all the commotion and saw that the Timberwolves were ready to sink their teeth and claws into her friends. Sweet Wind was ready to cry, but suddenly, golden bracelets that she had on her legs started to glow. Once they were done, they shot gust of wind, blasting the Timberwolves into pieces.
“Thanks, Sweet Wind!” Whipping said.
“Yeah we owe you one.” Mad Dasher said. “No problem.” Sweet Wind said while blushing. The Timberwolves pieces started to get up and form a giant Timber wolf. The three ponies gaped at the sight of them forming. Once it was made, the creature let out a big roar.
After looking at the creature for a few seconds, Whipping flew at it. The Timber wolf knocked her into a tree. While trying to get back up; a flash of her mother having the same problem appeared in her mind. Whipping passed out after seeing that flash.
“Whipping!” Mad Dasher said.
He gave the big bad Timber wolf a very angry look and charged at it. The wolf struck Dasher on the left cheek and knocked him to the ground. Blood was gushing out Dasher’s cheek and he fainted from the quick blood lost. Sweet Wind again was alone. She didn’t know how to take down the creature and her bracelets were not even lighting up. The big Timber wolf was ready to lounge at, but a voice stopped the wolf and it turned its attention to the voice. Sweet Wind also tried to see who it was. She saw a purple earth pony standing there. It was her uncle, Skippy Day. She was about to scream when she saw the creature was heading towards him.
“Halt! Now, be a nice wolf and play dead. Look at the harm you done.” Skippy Day said. The Timber wolf took a few seconds to think, but it decided to raise its big paw.
“Like not cool. You are one bad puppy. Please be peaceful and like don’t harm any more ponies.” Skippy Day said. The creature stopped and then resumed. Sweet Wind had closed her eye to not what was going to happen. Soon Skippy blew on his panpipe, causing the wolf to fall apart.
After the wolf fell apart, Whipping started to gain conscience after being knocked into a tree. “Ngh, what happen?” Whipping asked.
“My uncle! He saved us.” Sweet Wind said.
Whipping slowly got back up and saw Skippy Day. After that she notice Mad Dasher was lying on the ground with a lot of blood out of his head. “Dasher?” Whipping shouted in concern.
“Oh I forgot about him…I don’t think he is going to make It.” Sweet Wind said with tears starting to fall down her face.
Skippy Day went over to check on him. “Like I have a medical technique I learned in Hollow Shades should do the trick.” Skippy Day said.
He started to pull a leaf off a bush. Then, he pulled out some water from his saddlebag and poor it into the leaf. Skippy Day follow that with sprinkling powder into the water. After that he patched the leaf with medical tape.
“Just give him until the morning. This medicine will not rid of the wound, but it will regain the blood he lost.” Skippy said.
“Are you sure?” Whipping asked.
“Yes. Now I will explain why I am here in the morning. We need our rest.” Skippy Day said.
Whipping let out a sighed and went back in her tent. “I hope Mad Dasher don’t end up like mom. Heck I’m just glad Sweet Wind didn’t have something bad happen to her. Even gladder the Timberwolves take advantage of my wounds.” She thought.
When it was morning, Whipping Bumpkin got out of her tent and she saw that Mad Dasher was okay. “You’re alive!” Whipping said.
“Yeah, and I’m a bit surprise that I am. You would think I lost a lot of blood and died.” Mad Dasher said.
“Well it was my uncle. He saved us from the giant Timber wolf.” said Sweet Wind. “Your uncle saved us? Wait isn’t he at Hollow Shades?” Mad Dasher asked.
“I was, man. I’m going to tell you why. So just sit down, have some breakfast and listen.” Skippy Day said.
Whipping Bumpkin, Sweet Wind, and Mad Dasher sat down. “We know it has been three years since I last saw all three of you. I wanted to live at Hollow Shades to learn about rituals involving nature. That is what I did with Mad Dasher. Now the reason I’m like here is because Hollow Shades was attack by this eagle like dude. Ponies were dying, the town was being destroyed, and he laughed at our torture. Some of us escaped, others he was able to prevent escaping. It was just a tragic sight, watching a town filled with nature rituals being destroyed like that.” Skippy Day said.
“So Fillydelphia and Hollow Shades, both cities attack by Umbra Aquila, will things get worse.” Mad Dasher said.
“We all die…” Whipping said. “Just like my mom…” she said and followed it with a sigh.
“Do not worry, we just need to go where our journey takes us and hopefully find a way to defeat the great evil my friend.” Skippy Day said.
“We do, uncle. There are eight crests that we need to find. The first one is around the area. Of course danger lurks us at every angle.” Sweet Wind said.
“Don’t worry we much go and get this crest. Our journey just began and it isn’t going to end soon. Not as long as we have each other and the ways of nature.” Skippy Day said. After they finish breakfast they start heading towards their destination.
“They were lucky.” said Umbra, who was watching from above. “But it isn’t over yet. The Timberwolves were not the worse I have for them. Their next threat is much worst.” Umbra continued.
“Really if you want them dead, you should have me waiting to kill them!” the Cyclops said. Umbra landed and hit the Cyclops.
“You have to be more patience! Besides you may have strength and size, but your brain is too small!” He said after striking the Cyclops.
“I’m sorry, master!” the Cyclops cried while holding where he was hit.
“Anyone else?” Umbra asked. A bunch of his minions just shook their heads. “That is what I thought!” He huffed.
“Master, why don’t you try to kill them yourself? You are plenty capable to do so.” one of the unicorn witches said.
“It would be way too easy. They want to try to beat me, well if I took them on I would win, hands down, but I want to see what they can do.” Umbra said. He followed the statement by shaking his head. “Why much they question me? I don’t even think they would make it pass the Shadowy Nature Temple, the temple has many traps and my minion waiting them may not even get the chance.” He thought. Umbra went back into the air and flew to the next city he wanted to attack.
“Equestria will suffer, it will fall, and it would be nothing but a fragment of imagination once I’m done with it!” Umbra said with an evil laugh. After he finished laughing he look down to see if a town was nearby.
“The ones that brought to life were the fools. They turn themselves into crest that no pony will be able the bear!” He roared across the sky, the roar made it rain down very hard. Umbra thought that the rain would slow down Whipping and her friends.
---
Whipping Bumpkin, Mad Dasher, Sweet Wind, and Skippy Day all reach the Shadowy Nature Temple. “At least the rain stop once we got here.” Whipping said as she shook her body to get the water off.
“Nature has many wonders. Rain is one of them.” Skippy Day said.
“Oh uncle, you are always seemed to love nature.” Sweet Wind said.
“It is rather annoying. Ugh, not every pony gives a flying feather about nature.” Whipping said.
“Yes, I like know that, but I think the word of nature should be spread out.” Skippy said.
Whipping just scoffed at the comment and they all just enter the temple. Upon their arrival and awful smell greeted them. “Ugh, what is that stench?” Mad Dasher asked.
“I don’t know, but we just need to hurry and get the crest.” Whipping said.
“It isn’t easy; there are probably traps around here. So we much be careful. Besides I highly doubt that we can just take the crest. I mean somebody has to bear it. “Sweet Wind explained. Whipping just rolled her eye as she just wanted to prove Sweet Wind wrong.
The gang went truth a trial of many different traps. However they did suffer from them. Whipping while wasn’t hurt physically, but was very tired. Mad Dasher had a few bruises and cuts on him. Sweet Wind had a long and thin cut on her right cheek and she was tired. Skippy day had a couple of bruises on him, but he was the least tired. “We….got…to…be…nearly…there…already.” Whipping said.
Soon a big Troll came out of nowhere and tackles Whipping. Mad Dasher tries to knock the troll off, but it just backhands him away. Sweet Wind tried to use her wind charms, but it had no effect on the troll. The troll got off Whipping and whammed Sweet Wind into a pillar.
“Like chill, man why are you attacking us? Please don’t kill us especially my niece!” Skippy Day said.
“I do what I must, it is the master’s orders!” the troll said.
He soon started heading towards Skippy. “Hey man, I’m not looking for trouble.” said Skippy Day.
“Well you got trouble!” the troll said.
Stop right there!
“Master, is that you?” said the troll.
Yes, it is me, Ulga. Now I want you to save him for last. Kill the other three and have him suffer, and then kill him. Start with the weakest one.
Ulga turned his attention to Sweet Wind and Mad Dasher who were checking on the barely standing Whipping. “So I guess I know who the weakest one is.” Ulga said.
He started to charge at Whipping, again. Whipping even though was weak, was alarmed by the charging troll. Whipping pulled out her lasso and start twirling in the air, but Mad Dasher stopped her.
“No, look at you are…” Mad Dasher said, but before he could finish he moved Whipping out of the way.
“I…I…I can take...” Whipping said before hitting the ground again.
“Fools, you are no match for me!”Ulga said as he kicked Mad Dasher across the room. Sweet Wind came out of nowhere and hit Ulga hard in the stomach. Ulga then falls on one knee holding his gut.
“Urk, you think that is going to stop me?” said Ulga.
Fool, don’t waste your time on her!
“I must do it master! I must kill her first!” Ulga said Charging at Sweet Wind. Sweet Wind closed her eyes hoping for the worse.
Ulga suddenly tripped and hit the ground face first. Whipping was back up and she tripped him by using her lasso. She soon started to twirl the troll. Once Whipping let go, she hit the ground. Ulga went flying into a wall.
See what happen for distracting yourself with her!
“I’m sorry, master.” The troll said while getting back up.
Ulga started rushing towards the downed Whipping. Mad Dasher use magic to get in front of the quickly and kick him in the gut. Ulga let out a loud growl while his gut.
I guess I was wrong, they out those two, the take out the weak one!
“Yes, master!” Ulga said Charging at Mad Dasher and knocking him down. Sweet Wind tried using her wind charms, again. They still ended up failing, however.
“Why aren’t they working? My wind charms that were given to me by Whipping’s mom, they usually help me when I’m in danger…” Sweet Wind said with a concerned voice.
Ulga let out a hearty laugh and then pounce on the helpless earth pony. “Your charms don’t have an effect on me silly little pony.” Ulga said as he continued to laugh.
The troll started to put on a lot of his wait, causing Sweet Wind to scream in pain and then cough blood.
Whipping got up and grabbed her lasso. Mad Dasher got back up slowly and once he did, he was ready to charge at Ulga. Suddenly, Skippy Day started plays his a panpipe and started singing:
Trolls may be great force of nature.
They like to say mean things because
They are bigger, yet lack of brains for
You may see, what rolls on plains
Turn trolls into trees to put them
A sleep and never again make us
Weep our hearts out, they are dead.
Soon every pony lived happily ever after.
Ulga started to charge at Skippy day, suddenly stopped in his tracks. “What is happening to me” He said. Soon a branch out of his skin and he let out a scream. Skippy Day kept playing the panpipe until the troll fully transformed into a tree. The tree was cover in blood that was inside Ulga.
“Wow, that was amazing!” Mad Dasher said. Whipping just had her mouth hung in astonishment.
“Where did you learn that song?” Sweet Wind asked.
“Hollow Shades is where I learned it, my dear niece. They have all kinds a rituals involving nature. You know that is like why I went there.” Skippy Day explained. Suddenly a beam light hit the center of the room and a pedestal started to rise from the ground.
The one that brings nature is the one I seek.
Defeating an enemy with that knowledge, leads to great things.
With such great abilities, nature will aid you on your journey.
I behold and grant you the Crest of Nature.
It is engraved into this golden panpipe.
Use this panpipe only when you need to call the nature.
I thank you for your efforts in stopping Umbra Aquila.
Take me and the others to the undergrounds of Canterlot Castle.
There you can put an end to Umbra Aquila forever.
Soon the golden panpipe was shown resting inside the pedestal. “Wait, but we don’t have the others! Also why should we go there?” Whipping said. The voice didn’t come back to answer her. Whipping was getting frustrated at the wait. “Come on, answer me!” she yelled. Mad Dasher put a hoof on her.
“We will get answers soon enough, Whipping.” He assured her. They booth limped towards the downed Sweet Wind who was still coughing up blood. Skippy Day rushed towards her.
“Sweet, are you okay?” He asked in concern.
“I…I…” Sweet Wind said before she passed out.
“We have to stay here for the rest of the night.” Mad Dasher said.
“We don’t have time! We need to go now!” Whipping screamed. Skippy Day was making some medicine for Sweet Wind. He soon turned his attention to Whipping and Mad Dasher.
“He is right. It is better to stay here for the night.” He said. Whipping just shook her head and went out. Mad Dasher try to go after her, but Skippy Day stopped him. He thought Whipping wasn’t going to get far, especially at a weak state.
Few minutes later, Whipping was limping away from the place. “I don’t need them. I can save the world myself.” She thought.
Umbra saw that she wasn’t with the others a soon he gave an evil smile. He had plan for her. He figured it would be easier to take to kill her without the aid of her friends. He needed to keep the same plan for friends though. He felt like he wasn’t going to fail. He soon flew off heading back towards Fillydelphia.