Twilight looked at her bag filled with a few things for at least two week’s worth of travel.
“So… where is Osaka anyway?” Sunset asked Kota.
“All the way back in Neighpon. It’s located around this specific area here,” Kota explained as he pointed to a spot on the map, “Osaka is kind of close to the edge of Neighpon and nearest to the ocean, it’s a bit more modern than Ponkiyo, and it’s about… almost 250 miles away from Ponkiyo,”
The two girls nodded, before Sunset noticed something...
“So… are Applejack and the others going to come with us?” Sunset asked Twilight.
“I have no idea to be honest with you,” Twilight sighed, “After what happened, I doubt they’ll want to see me for a while.”
“True…” Sunset sighed, “So… is Ai staying here?”
“I did ask her, but AJ insisted she stay here,” Kota informed, “Something about not wanting to risk her ‘falling into the hands of the bad guys’. Any idea what that’s all about?”
“Well-” Sunset began, when Twilight quickly spoke up.
“Nope! No idea!”
“Eh? What do y-”
“Let’s just hurry to the boat before it leaves!”
“Hold on a sec Twilight,” Spike’s voice announced as he and Philomena headed over to the group, “You weren’t seriously thinking about leaving without your number one assistant,”
“...maybe?” Twilight responded, earning a scowl from Spike, “Kidding, kidding…”
“Good. Because I’m feeling as if I’m not that important to the story,” Spike stated before blinking a bit, “...Did I just pull a Pinkie Pie?”
“And I haven’t been with Philly for years… so, she’s coming with,” Sunset smiled as the bird perched itself on her shoulder.
“Alright, let’s go,” Twilight smiled.
“Hold it!” Velvet stated as she walked in, giving her daughter a stern look, “Twilight Sparkle…”
“Before you say anything mom, let me explain something real quick.”
“...You got 2-3 minutes, young lady,” Velvet stated.
“The cure we need to help Fluttershy is in Osaka. We need to go there and get it before it’s too late,” Twilight explained, “...please mom. I have to do this, otherwise I’ll lose two of my best friends forever…”
“...ugh….alright. You can go,” Velvet sighed, “But I want you to promise me something.”
“...what’s that?”
“Be safe.”
“I will,” Twilight smiled.
“...I love you…” Twilight Velvet whispered as she walked over and hugged her.
“I love you too, mommy,” Twilight couldn’t help but say in response.
“Heh...you haven’t called me that in years,” Velvet giggled a bit.
“Let’s give them a moment,” Spike told them.
---
The small group got onto the boat, Spike carrying the last of the luggage onto it.
“Phew...why is it everytime we go somewhere, I have to be the one carrying stuff around?” the purple dragon panted a bit.
“Force of habit?” Twilight shrugged, earning her a blank look from Spike, “...What?”
Philomena just snickered a little bit at this, the phoenix finding this a bit too funny.
“So, how much of that flower do we need?” Twilight asked.
“...who knows,” Kota shrugged, “Regardless… we’ll at least need more than a dozen, if the translations from this book are accurate,”
“It’s based on your own language. How do you not fully get it all?” Sunset asked.
“Age, different symbols, and some pages are missing,” Kota replied.
“Oh…”
“We should get there before nightfall if things go well,” the boat driver informed.
“Thank you,” Twilight responded.
---
Dash stared at Platinum Knight, who was fighting back Silver Hawk’s attempt to regain control, slamming his head against the stone wall.
“Damn it...stay...back you!” Platinum Knight exclaimed as he hit his head on the wall once more, this time drawing some blood as it dripped from his forehead.
‘No! This is my body, and you’ve overstayed your welcome!’
“...You are certainly a masochist," Rainbow spoke up, catching the bat pony knight's, "You keep hurting yourself and you don’t seem to be in any pain…”
“Do you even know what the Tartarus that word means?!” Platinum Knight snapped.
“...A pony who doesn’t feel pain when they get hurt?”
“NO! A Masochist is somepony that gets off of getting hurt, and/or enjoying somepony else's pain! I-”
“Oh? So you enjoy being whipped around?” Rainbow smirked.
“No I-!”
“I bet while you and your ‘mistress’ are all alone, she brings out hot waxed candles and-”
“Don’t you even dare finish that! That is an act even my mistress wouldn’t do!”
Dash chuckled a little bit, “Oh yea? Then what does she do? Put a dog collar on you and walk you around like a dog?”
“You better shut your mouth right now or else!”
“You can’t hurt me. She’s commanded you can’t hurt me… so, I am allowed to say whatever it is I want,” Dash said with a smug smirk on her face, “Oh, and one more thing…”
“What is it?”
“Do you and your ‘mistress’ aim to make more slaves just to get kinky with them, or do something productive?” Dash asked.
Platinum Knight was fully ready to just disregard orders and kill Dash then and there, but he stopped in his tracks as his head began to throb in pain, the pegasus turned bat pony dropping to his knees as his eyes widened in pain, shock, and anger.
“You...you bitch! You tricked me into letting my guard down!”
“Did I?” Dash responded, “Or did you do it on your own?”
“D...damn you…” Platinum Knight growled as a dark aura came off him, “DAMN YOU!!!!!”
“What the…?” Rainbow whispered in confusion before she was nearly blown away by the dark aura as it flared off him.
“Gahh! I’ll be back!!!!” Platinum Knight roared as he slowly changed back into Silver Hawk, becoming a pegasus once more as the dark aura faded.
“Thank Celestia that worked! Hurry up and help me!” Dash shouted.
“My head…” Silver Hawk groaned, holding his currently bleeding head.
“...you alright there?” Dash asked.
“...Rainbow Dash?” he asked as he looked.
“Duh. Now help me!”
“R...right,” Silver nodded slowly as he got up and attempted to rush over, wincing a bit as he held his head, but he ignored the pain for right now as he knelt down and began to untie Rainbow Dash, “How were you kept on this wall anyway?”
“Fluttershy’s a lot better at making strong knots than I thought,” Dash admitted, “Seriously, my wrist were itching like crazy...not to mention they hurt a lot.”
“...so, Flutterbat captured you?” he asked as Dash helped him remove some of the heavy armor.
“Yea. And you know things have kind of escalated… Flutterbat’s got some sort of new power or something, which I’m guessing she unknowingly tapped into when she made you her slave,” Dash stated with a shrug.
“Yeah...I could see that,” Silver stated, rubbing his neck a bit as Rainbow helped him get his chest armor off.
“...Whatever, let’s try and find our way outta here,” Dash suggested.
Silver Hawk nodded as he began to fly a bit, taking a moment to wait for Dash to fly herself as she finished taking off his leg armor.
“Well…?” he asked.
“...no can do. I’m restricted on my flying because… well…”
“You have gotta be kidding me… you and Twilight chose recently of all times to get one of you pregnant?!” Silver Hawk asked in a very annoyed tone, “That...wait. How were you two able to even do...let me guess. Spell?”
“Spell,” Dash nodded.
“...Ugh. Magic is so strange at times,” Silver sighed, “...Come on. Let’s hurry and find the nearest exit before Flutterbat notices.”
“...About that. Remember when I said things have kinda escalated?”
“...Yeah?”
“Well...I’m really not sure how, but she somehow fused herself with Fluttershy and… well… Fluttershy now has Flutterbat’s personality.”
“...”
“Yea… we need to high tail it outta here…” Dash stated.
“Ya think?!” Silver Hawk exclaimed.
---
“...Do you have a plan for when we get these flowers Twilight?” Spike asked.
“I’m working on forming it,” Twilight informed her assistant. the Alicorn writing it down on a small note pad, “Maybe...no no. I count she’ll stay down long enough...maybe...no.”
“...Twilight,” Spike whispered as he walked over and pulled her into a small hug, “It’s not good for you to be this stressed… I’m sure we’ll get Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy back.”
“Spike… I want to apologize,”
“For…?”
“Ignoring you. I’ve been so caught up in other things lately, I’ve been ignoring you and… well, I want to apologize...make it up to you somehow.”
“Twilight…” Spike whispered as he hugged her and began to smile, “Maybe a small snack, but… I just want to help you anyway I can.”
Twilight smiled as she hugged him.
“I love you Spike... you’re so much like a little brother,” Twilight admitted.
“....yeah. And you’re like my big sister,” Spike added as he smiled softly.
---
Dash and Silver Hawk couldn’t find a way out, and ended up back in the room where Dash had been tied up.
“...what are we supposed to do now?” Dash asked, “We’ve gone everywhere, and we end up back here every time!”
“i know! it’s almost as if somepony’s put...a….spell...no no. that can’t be it.”
“...It couldn’t be possible. Unless she’s already got Sunset or something,” Dash stated.
Suddenly, they heard somepony approach, who quickly used something akin to telekinesis to form metal cuffs to hold Dash back onto the wall.
“Aw, come on! Again?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
“You thought you could leave? Oh dear Onee-chan… you can’t. Not until I get who I want,” Fluttershy’s voice informed as she walked in, her hands glowing with a dark blue, almost navy colored, aura.
“What the…?” Rainbow dash gawked in slight shock upon seeing this, “How...how’re you doing this, Fluttershy?! I know for a fact you’re not a Unicorn or an Alicorn!’
“I wish I knew. It can only work for five minutes every hour, but I can use a form of magic…” Fluttershy smirked as she walked over to Silver Hawk.
“...how is it Flutterbat is still controlling you, but you’re… you?” Silver asked.
“Oh dear Silver-kun…you’re always so naive...but I can probably fix that.”
“Excuse me?” Silver blinked.
“Hmm...how shall I do it? Should I turn you back into Platinum Knight, or into something else?” Fluttershy pondered for a bit, “...Oh I know. Tell me, Silver-kun...what kind of bird is smaller than a Hawk?”
“Eh?”
“Agian. What kind of bird...is smaller than a hawk?”
“...a robin, I guess?” Silver shrugged a bit
“Good…” Fluttershy giggled a bit before gaining a small grin, “You deserve a reward Silver-kun. Or shall I say….Robin-chan?”
“Huh? What’re you talking about?” Silver blinked in confusion.
“Oh you’re about find out right…” Fluttershy paused as she raised her other hand up to him before it began to glow as well, “Now.”
Silver just blinked in confusion before he was soon covered in the same aura. Soon, something about him began to change, his arms and legs began to become more slim, his face started to become more mare like, and his body started to become slimmer, almost curvy.
“What….the…?” Rainbow whispered in shock at what she just witnessed, “How...what...?”
“Ow...my head…” Silver groaned, rubbing his head before his eyes widened, “...why do I sound like a mare?”
“Uh….Silver?” Rainbow spoke, catching his… er, her’s attention, “Whatever you do, don’t look at anything with a reflection.”
“...why?” Silver responded.
“Oh no reason… Robin-chan,” Fluttershy spoke up with a slight giggle.
“...Why do you keep...calling...me…” Silver began before he...er, she noticed her reflection in one of the discarded armor parts, “....KYA!!!!...wait! Did i just go ‘kya’?! Why am I a mare?! HOW AM I A MARE!?”
Fluttershy began to laugh at this, the pinkette holding her stomach as she began to laugh uncontrollably.
“It’s not funny!”
Dash tried to resist her own urge to laugh, before she was noticed.
“You’re not helping, Dash!” Silver snapped.
“You’re right...sorry…” Rainbow began before snickering a bit, “Grey Robin!”
“Grey Robin… that’s a great name!” Fluttershy smiled.
“Stop talking like this is not a big problem!” Silver...er, Robin shouted as she glared at Fluttershy, “I don’t know how you did it, but change me back!”
“Hmm...I don’t know. You’re much cuter as a mare.”
“...As funny as this is, he’s right. change him back, Fluttershy,” Rainbow spoke up.
“Nope,” Fluttershy informed as she walked over and used the magic again.
“Nope?! Why ‘nope’?!”
Fluttershy was wordless as Grey Robin eventually bowed to Fluttershy, the stallion turned mare’s face widened a bit in shock when she did it.
“Butterfly-chan...this isn't funny. Please ch-” Robin began.
Fluttershy smirked as she knelt down to Robin’s face, softly placing her hand on the mare’s cheek.
“There’s no need to worry...for now...sleep, my love~” the pinkette whispered into the stallion turned mare’s ear.
“Sleep? Wh-” Robin began before Fluttershy placed her hand on her forehead, causing her eyes to widen a bit before they became clouded, “Butterfly-sama…”
‘What the Tartarus is going on here?!’ Rainbow exclaimed mentally as she watched, ‘Did she just brainwash him again?!’
“Hmm...what should I have you do?” Fluttershy pondered for a bit, trying to think of an order to give to Grey Robin, “Hmm...Grey Robin?”
“Hai, Butterfly-sama?”
“Bow down…” the pinkette ordered.
“Hai…” Robin nodded as she did so, “What else, Butterfly-sama?”
“Praise me… praise me like the goddess that I am…” Fluttershy commanded.
“Hai...Butterfly-sama…” Robin nodded as she bowed her head down to Fluttershy, “I will do what you say, for you’re my goddess...and I am a mere mortal that has been blessed by your presence.”
“And?”
“And even as a stallion or mare, my love for you will always burn brightly…”
“Good,” Fluttershy smirked as she charged a little bit of magic into Grey Robin, which caused her to turn into Platinum Knight, “And that’s the last little bit of magic for an hour.”
“Hai, my mistress,” Platinum Knight nodded, “What is your command, megami-hime-sama?”
“So many choices…” Fluttershy begun as she tapped her chin in thought, “So many to choose from...hmm…”
“Hey knight boy,” Dash began, “What’re you planning on doing? Oh I know. Maybe have your mistress take you out for a walk like a dog?”
“...”
Fluttershy blinked for a bit, before she understood what Dash was getting at.
“..she is not to be harmed, but you may go ahead and gag her,” Fluttershy told Platinum Knight.
“Wait what?”
“Hai, megami-hime-sama,” Platinum Knight nodded, a large smirk on his face as he found some cloth and tied it around Dash’s mouth.
“HMPMH!” Rainbow muffled shouted.
“That’ll keep you quiet, tomboy.”
“Come on over here,” Fluttershy smiled, getting a nod in response as Platinum Knight walked back over to her, “Now then…what kind of reward shall I give you?”
The bat-pony knight came up with an idea and whispered it to her…
---
Dash was just left there, suspended by the chains and left to wonder what was going on.
‘Twil… please hurry up. Something really weird is going on with Fluttershy, and I don’t know what to do,’ Rainbow thought, a look of worry on her face.