A while later, Melody ventured further inwards. She calmly tried to find her way to her mother and brother. However, she had to be on high alert, as Queen Myra’s minions would ambush without warning.
She trotted slowly down the corridor. Just then…
“Aha! Another enemy spotted!”
“Gah!” Melody dodged in time to see a streak of rainbow narrowly missing her.
“Hey! Come back here!” the figure shouted. But then the figure came to light.
“Melody?” the figure stepped forward with a surprised look.
“Greenie Hats?” asked Melody. Both of them stared for a moment.
“How did you managed to come here?” Greenie asked.
“I volunteered.”
“Big Sissey! What’s going on?” Thunder Clash’s voice sounded from afar. His jaw dropped when he saw Melody as well. “Melody? I’m surprised you’re here!”
“I decided to help you all.”
But then, they heard hoofsteps.
“Uh-oh…” gulped Thunder.
“Don’t worry, we can take this down,” encouraged Melody. In no time they defeated the pack of minions.
“Gosh, you’re a great help!” cheered Greenie.
“How’s everything going, kids?” Soarin’s voice called from afar.
“Mom! Dad! Look who’s here!” Thunder replied.
“Who is it?” asked Rainbow Dash as they appeared. “Oh, Melody! Nice to see you here!”
“Everypony was dismayed last night when Princess Twilight said that you weren’t included,” told Soarin.
“Princess Celestia has now given me the pass to join you all,” explained Melody.
“Cool!” said Greenie.
“Now then, off you go continuing to scout. I want to talk to Melody for a moment,” said Rainbow Dash.
As the other three left, Rainbow turned to her.
“Melody,” she began. “I’ve been watching you and my children growing up. You’ve been one of my best flying learners. However, I’m getting old, and I can’t fly as better as always. Greenie and Thunder have also learned about the importance of loyalty, so they’re my future assets.”
“Rainbow Dash, you’re just as wonderful. Anyway, do you know where’s Mom?”
“Oh, uh, she and her brother went that way. Go on, accomplish the mission your future self wasn’t able to do it!”
“Thanks, Rainbow!” After hugging her she continued her way.
For the next several minutes, Melody trotted quietly. All of a sudden, she was rudely interrupted.
“Aha! Enemy spotted!” A familiar voice shouted and out of nowhere, party streamers and confetti spurted upon her.
“Pepper!” cried a dismayed Melody, turning to the direction of where the streamers came from.
“Melody?” asked Pepper, surprised by her presence. “How did you come here?”
“I came here to help,” she replied.
“Oh, I get it. Sorry I mistook you for a minion.”
“Meh, it’s alright.”
“Pepper Flake!” Peanut Butter’s voice sounded from afar, followed by Pizza Frenzy’s. “Taking fire, need assistance!”
“I think they need my help,” said Pepper, and they went ahead.
Sure enough, they could see the brothers fending off some minions. With Melody’s aid, the minions were finished instantly.
“I should feel grateful that you’re here,” said Peanut. “I just didn’t expect this number.”
“Basically we’re trying to lure all the minions,” added Pizza. “That would weaken Myra’s line of defenses.”
“I see about that. Princess Celestia just gave me the permission to join you all. Now all I have to do is to find my mom and brother and locate Queen Myra’s chamber,” Melody explained.
“I see about that. Welcome to the party!” said Pepper. “Anyway we’d better get going!”
“Alright then. See you all later.”
“Minions, come out now! Show me how you can handle a party!” Peanut called into the distance as they left.
As Melody stood for a while, watching them leave, Pinkie Pie spotted her.
“Hey, Melody! Glad to see you here!” Pinkie greeted.
“I came here for my will. Princess Celestia has given me the light.”
“Ah, I see about that. Let me have some words with you, Melly. I’m known all over Equestria as the best party planner with my hubby. I’m getting old, but you see, my tricks aren’t finished. But the good thing is that my kids have learnt the importance of laughter. That’s why, be optimistic, every day!”
“You really taught them well, Pinkie. By the way, where’s Uncle Cheese?”
“Somewhere around there. He’s keeping an eye on Pepper and her brothers!”
“Oh, Melody. Glad you’re still here.” Pizza returned suddenly.
“Pizza? Why are you back?”
“I… just found this precious gem somewhere in this cave. Could you please give this to Prudence Aura to show my affection towards her?” he requested her, showing her the gem.
On Melody’s 18th birthday party, two weeks before their mission with Pipsqueak, Prudence dripped several drops of alcohol into a glass of punch intended as a payback for Thunder Clash because Thunder played a prank upon her several days back. Unfortunately, before Thunder could drink it, Pizza snatched the punch and drank it completely. Under his hallucination, he went to Prudence and kissed her in an awkward way, making her and the others shocked and embarrassed. Upon sobering up, Pizza realized what happened. At the same time, Prudence realized her mistake and she began to develop her affection towards Pizza who admired him the most for his party tricks. What about Thunder Clash? Well, he apologized to her upon knowing the truth.
“I think you’re still learning from that funny incident back, huh?” asked Melody.
“Yeah, and now I finally know what it means to her,” he said, blushing. “I really need her as my hair decorator the next time I go performing…”
“Man, you’re just as innocent. Anyway, I’ll keep this, and I’ll deliver it to her as soon as possible.” Using her magic, she kept the gem into a pouch she always carried.
“I’ve got to go now. See you all later.”
“Take care, Melly! Don’t let Myra bust you!”
So Melody kept wandering ahead. She was lucky all the way, with no encountering of any minions. Then, she noticed something abnormal.
“Oh, come on, I can fight, too!”
“C’mon, don’t argue. You still need a little protection.”
“I don’t need protection! I wanna show Melody that I’m good enough!”
“Malinae?” Without wasting time, she immediately hurried to the spot.
Sure enough, she could see Malinae, guarded by Fiji and Raisin Brandy who were confronting a group of minions.
“C’mon, let me do it!” pleaded Malinae.
“Now, sweetie. You don’t want to get hurt, don’t you?” asked Fiji.
Quick as lightning, Melody teleported herself ahead of the siblings, and easily finished all of them who were taken surprise by another predator.
“Melody! I knew you would come!” cried Malinae upon seeing Melody as her savior, rushing towards her.
“Malinae! You little girl…” responded Melody, hugging her.
“She’s the one who was the most worried when your mother said that you couldn’t come,” said Raisin.
“I came here by will, Ray. I was granted by Princess Celestia,” replied Melody. “Where are your parents?”
“Over there,” pointed Fiji to a passageway. “Helping Madam Zecora to keep an eye on supplies, with Aunt Apple Bloom and her friends.”
“Is that so?”
“Check them out. Maybe you need some,” encouraged Raisin.
“I wanna see you save the day, Melody!” called Malinae as she began to leave.
“Don’t worry, Malinae. Everything will be alright,” promised Melody, and she left.
There, she noticed Zecora, with bottles of fluid on the ground. Applejack and Nikula Alder were seen guarding with her.
“Applejack!”
“Melody? Is that you?” asked Applejack, who was surprised to see her.
“I thought you’re not called,” said Niku.
“I volunteered myself. Princess Celestia allowed me to do so. What are you all doing?”
“Keeping an eye on those supplies and remedies for anypony who gets stressed out,” answered Applejack.
“Need a bit of my remedies, for you looking so weary?” asked Zecora.
“Uh, no thanks, but I need to find my mother and brother.”
“But you still have to take these, or else defeating the queen won’t be at ease,” resumed Zecora, offering her two bottles of healing potion.
“Take these. They’re needed for emergency,” suggested Niku.
“Melody! Glad to see you here!” called Apple Bloom from afar, with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle showing up as well.
“She wants to help us,” explained Applejack. “She came for her will.”
“Oh, I see about that,” beamed Sweetie Belle.
“Then good luck for ya! I gotta help out Rainbow Dash now!” said Scootaloo, and she buzzed off.
As the other two followed her, Applejack approached Melody.
“I’ve been working hard with my family for many years, and I’m getting old. One day, Niku and I would not be able to work the land well, so I’ve chosen my children as my heirs to my land. I still have to teach them a lot of things about honesty, especially Fiji, who tends to lie sometimes. Yet, whatever they do, they’re still my children. Go on, help your mother, and make your late father proud.”
“Thanks, Applejack. I know what to do.”
“Melody,” called Raisin Brandy who suddenly appeared. “Please send my regards to Greenie Hats later. I’ve been trying to tell her, I have a huge affection towards her.”
“Don’t worry, Raisin. I’ll make sure she gets the message. How long have you been on a crush on her?”
“I think, about a fortnight or so already. I still remember the way she gave me a lot of presents when I was ill a month ago. Tell her, she means a lot to me.”
“I’ll pass the message, Ray. Don’t worry.”
“And yeah, Malinae says that your presence lifted her spirits!”
“Off you go,” said Niku. “Your mother might need you, so does your brother.”
“See you all later!” she bade as she continued.
“Good luck in finding her!” called back Applejack.
Melody continued to trot down within the darkness. The brightness from her horn was able to shine everything around her.
All of a sudden, she jumped with a fright as a beam of laser shot between her hooves.
“Hey! Watch it!” she bellowed.
“Wait, did you hear that?”
“It’s Melody!”
“How could she be here? That must be a changeling!”
“But changelings don’t dodge like that! And the real Melody would jump with fright if you attack her suddenly!”
Recognizing their voices, Melody decided to give them a surprise.
Platinum Royale, Prudence Aura and Bloodthirst were taken aback by her sudden appearance.
“This is my true identity,” she declared.
“Melody!” gasped Platinum. “You’re here!”
“But… but I thought…” said Bloodthirst.
“I wanted to help,” she explained. “Princess Celestia wasn’t happy at first, but seeing my determination, she decided to let me help you all save the day!”
“That’s incredible!” praised Prudence. “I thought it’s getting worse at first, but your presence added to this atmosphere!”
“Yeah. Oh, I’ve got this.”
“What is it?”
“Here.” She gave Pizza’s gem found earlier to Prudence. “This is from Pizza. He wanted to give this to you as an affection present, I think.”
“Oh really?” she asked, gracefully accepting the gem. “Yeah, it makes me uneasy to remind me of that embarrassing incident, but somehow, all those years, I’ve begun to feel my affection towards Pizza. He really lived up my life all the while.”
“Then try to tell him on your next date!”
“How are you all going?” Then, Rarity appeared. “Oh, goodness. I didn’t expect you to be here, Melody!”
“We almost mistook her for an enemy,” said Bloodthirst, rather embarrassed.
“It’s okay, Bloodthirst.”
“Anyhow, would you three resume your duty while I talk to her?”
“What are you going to tell her?” inquired Prudence.
“Just some advice. Now go, my children.”
“Right!” As they left, Rarity began to speak to her.
“You know what, Melody? I’m getting old now, and everything’s slightly changed since my surgery. My work efficiency isn’t as effective as before, but luckily, my daughters have learnt to help me on my business. More importantly, I’ve taught them to be generous. It’s one of the keys that made my business prosper all over Equestria. You can get the similar inspiration from your mother, darling.”
“I get it,” said Melody, hugging her. “You and your friends have been the best idols with my mom in building friendship. I’m amazed by how strong this friendship started since Mom came to Ponyville.”
“She’s got the best friendship qualities anypony can ever have,” added Rarity. “Now go on, and help your mother. We need to end this suffering and save this precious little world! Take that way.”
“Thanks, Rarity. Take care.”
Once more, Melody walked down the dark and lonely corridors. Then, she suddenly saw an unusual figure.
She saw Greenie Hats at a distance.
“Greenie Hats?” she called. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be near the entrance.”
“Me? Well, I’m not Greenie. You must be mistaken, Melody.”
The “Greenie Hats” quickly revealed his true identity.
“Trozan!” she exclaimed upon seeing him. “That was unexpected in seeing you!”
“Me, too,” he replied. “Just had to disguise as your friends to lure more of the enemies out here.”
“I see about that. Anyway how’s your duty going?”
“We’ve got some sticky situation going on now. Follow me.”
Both rushed ahead. From a distance, they saw Shining Armor and his son Paladin knight dealing with a pack of minions.
“I’m a little nervous,” Paladin told Shining Armor.
“Keep calm, sonny. They’re useless junk if you’ve got the instincts,” Shining Armor replied.
They knocked all of them, but they failed to notice another one behind them, preparing to pounce.
Melody quickly took down the minion, surprising father and son.
“Melody?” asked Paladin.
“Since when did you come here?” questioned Shining Armor.
“Just came. I wanted to help out, and Princess allowed,” she smiled.
“Oh, hey, that’s good to hear it,” said Mistral Violet who just arrived.
“Mistral!”
“I see you’ve came a long way. Have a break with us.”
“Thanks. I really need to find Mom quickly.”
At that moment, Princess Cadance with Queen Chrysalis came in.
“Look who’s here,” spoke Cadance.
“Aunt Cadance!”
“Princess Celestia let you come now, isn’t it? If so, thank you for helping us.”
“We will owe you a lot of efforts,” added Chrysalis. “I don’t personally know Myra, but I believe you will have the potential to defeat her.”
“Man, you all…”
“Off you go quickly, Melody,” said Shining Armor. “We need to find and defeat her quickly before it’s too late!”
“We’re all counting on you, Melody,” said Mistral.
“All the best,” said Trozan. “I don’t really want to see you get hurt.”
“Thanks, guys. Good luck to you all as well!” she said and continued to gallop off.
“I sense a lot of maturity within her,” said Princess Cadance as she saw her leave.
“Is that so, Cadance?” asked Queen Chrysalis.
“She’s got a lot of spirit of friendship learned from her mother and her friends. She can be the heir to her mother one day.”
“You’ve got a point, Mom. I still have a lot to learn from her and her brother,” agreed Paladin.
“I see her as the inspiration everypony can learn,” said Shining Armor.
Further down, Melody kept venturing down the passage. There was nothing alarming so far.
Then, a surprise came, but rather unexpected.
“Aha! Got you!” The voice of Chaos Control boomed. Without warning, Melody felt herself being pounced over.
“Hey! Chaos!” She cried, rather annoyed.
“Melody?” asked Chaos upon checking out his victim. “When did you came here?”
“I came here… to help out,” she replied, feeling dazed. “Princess Celestia allowed me…”
“Really, my love?” he asked, kissing her several times.
“Easy there, Chaos,” chuckled Melody. “Didn’t you know it was me?”
“Sorry, my bad. I just got carried away by suspicious figures.”
“Anyhow, where’s your family?”
“Right there. Follow me.”
Escorting her, Chaos led her to a chamber where Discord, Fluttershy, Honey Drops and Beryl were waiting.
“Hey guys, look who’s here.”
“Princess Melody! Kind of a surprise to see your presence,” began Discord.
“I thought that this dampened your spirits. You still had the determination to come here,” commented Beryl.
“A nice sign to see you here, Melody,” said Honey Drops.
“Wonderful arrival, Melody,” said Fluttershy. “I think everything can go more systematic with you here.”
“Thanks, guys.”
“Now, Melody,” Fluttershy spoke to her. “I’ve always had my heart of kindness since my youth, and I had passed this to my own children. Kindness will always capture those even the hot-headed, remember this. I’ve seen my efforts being paid off all those years, that’s why I don’t need to be very worried upon my children’s future.”
Melody glanced at the others, with eager expressions.
“We all learned that,” said Chaos. “This is the phrase that motivates me to care for you.”
“And my love for Orion,” said Honey Drops. “He has helped me. I can’t ever help him back enough.”
“And please pass this word for Peanut Butter as well, Melody,” said Beryl, approaching her. “I’ve always fancied his wonderful baking stuff, and I was surprised when he told me when he and Pizza are going to open a new restaurant.”
“Oh, really, Beryl? I’ll tell him when I had the chance.”
“Tell him after we’ve saved the world. Now go get your mom, Melody,” encouraged Chaos.
“Your mother needs you, Princess Melody. Go get her,” added Discord.
“Go, we’re counting on you!” said Honey Drops.
“You guys…” said a very touched Melody.
“Just to let you know, this way goes to Myra’s chamber,” said Fluttershy as she pointed to there.
“Good luck, Melody,” said Chaos holding her hooves. “You must try to end this terror once and for all.”
“I know,” she replied and they shared another kiss. When they finished, Melody immediately went on her way.
“Feels like yesterday,” said Discord. “When you told me about your love to her.”
“I know that, right?” Chaos replied. “We’ll have some surprise once this danger’s over.”