Dear Princess Twilight
For your information, this is not a report sent early, but rather an important personal letter to you and the ladies of Ponyville.
As you've already heard from the reporter you sent to Springdale regarding the building disappearance, that there was paranormal strings being pulled by it. I'm also afraid to say that this wasn't the first, nor would it be the last incident involving ghosts.
Bit by bit, the situation is becoming clear to me. This simple and mysterious investigation upon the surface, is a dangerous and ominous hazard within. Even more so that I am beginning to lose my sanity and confidence of ever achieveing this mission.
All these ghostly problems were overlooked by the local Guard, myself included. Yet seemed to made clear to young ponies that I'd least expect to encounter. Scootaloo had told me that in this case, as well as one with literally volcanic hot springs, that they saw and experienced a supernatural occurance. I even daresay that the freak snowstorm a week ago was caused by exactly that, and that I believe my siblings had a part in its prevention.
Day by day, I see my siblings having a look of concern upon their faces, and that they are beginning to feel very, very unhappy. I may not have experienced these things with them, but as a soldier, if they have escaped such things, I fear it may haunt them for a long time.
I don't know how this ghostly carnage can continue... I need... We need help. I can feel that there is trouble brewing with the Spirits, and that Scootaloo and First are trotting striaght into it... There's something strange about these spirits from what I've heard from both Scootaloo and First Base: It's that they represent almost anything in the world. Not just the spirit of the deceased or a century-old object, but of any emotion, behaviour, and every environmental aspect. The ground, the weather, and possibly magic itself. If malicious towards Ponies, it could control the threads of every day life and fate, and can pose a great danger to everypony. Perhaps some ghost can possess somepony to become a psycho murder, and can kill me by ramming me with a wagon.
I just want to let you know, as disheartening as it might be. This investigation by far has placed me at my limits, as well as that of my slblings. I hope that you can get this message in time. But despite all these odds, I am determined to finish this investigation, with my life if need be. And I'm sure the siblings will do the same. Without them, I would get nowhere. Remember: This is only between you and the ladies (and Spike), may all of you stay safe.
In most strongest of regards
Flash Sentry
Scootaloo and First woke up as if they felt the train was slowing down.
"Are we there yet?" Scootaloo asked,
"It was a very long trip," Flash answered "but we are here, welcome to Springdale." As the foals looked out of the window, the sight that they took in was beyond compare. Everywhere around them were many high-rise buildings. On the ground, they saw brilliantly paved pavements and roads. Many of the wagons seem to run faster than the ones in Ponyville. Everywhere around them, it was truly a modern and futuristic-like civilisation.
"Wow!" First exclaimed, "I never knew this place was beautiful!"
"Man, I wish everypony back home could see what happened to Springdale. Once a remote place with hardly any housing, now a large town! It feels like we're living in actual Neighpon." Scootaloo added,
"I see you're still homesick" Flash noticed,
"Just worried about our friends."
"Do not fear. As I send reports back to the Princess, you may also send letters back to Miss Belle, Miss Bloom and everypony else. Better yet, you can use the magic they have to do that nowadays."
"Sir" one of the guards approached, "we have now arrived at Springdale Central Station. Good luck on your mission, and may Celestia bless you."
"Thanks soldier" Flash saluted back "come on guys, we're heading to our new home."
"What the..." The siblings stepped out of the Friendship Express and met with a shivering sight. The vibrant colours of the train, the view of the city, the entire atmosphere around them, has turned into a colour of ghostly blue, and was filled with absolute silence. What's even worse, the ponies outside, the Friendship Express, Flash, and even Whisper and Jibanyan, had disappeared from their view. An empty world hangs within the timeless world, with the brother and sister all alone.
"Of course! This is the trial!" First exclaimed, "I thought we just went back through time!"
"Huh... Well, you don't just simply go back in time like that... Unless there's a Yo-Kai involved."
"But... Whisper... And Jibanyan... They're not here..."
"Hmm..." Scootaloo looked around the station platform, the buildings around them, and the dim blue sky above. "Looks like this trial is indeed a reflection like Mirapo said." She stared at her Yo-Kai Watch, "We're still in the now, but we're 'reflecting' on the day that we've entered Springdale for the first time!"
"Hmm... It does feel like it."
"I don't see any life-risking dangers around here though... Seems pretty silent and safe!"
"Well... Maybe that's our greatest enemy. Silence with lack of objectives. If we don't know what we're doing, we may end up starving ourselves!"
"Wow First." Scootaloo sighed, "you always like to start with the bad side of things..."
"Well forgive my negativity, but its not like there's anything that we can follow as a guide--"
"Hey look!" Scootaloo grabbed her brother's head and pointed it towards the view of a blue gas-like orb with swirls floating in the air. "It's a Wisp!"
"A what?"
"A Wisp!" Scootaloo repeated, "I've heard in stories that if you follow it, it can lead you to your destiny!"
"Well..." First stared at the wisp, "there's no trail, but it flies on it's own."
"The thing looks like it's within reach..." Scootaloo noted as she reached out,
"No wait!" First yelled to cease her actions. But by the time that the young filly harmlessly laid a hoof upon the wisp, the small spherical spirit exploded with a loud burst, unleashing forth a bright light that engulfed all.
"Ahh!" The siblings covered their eyes in pain.
"Huh?" Scootaloo opened her eyes once again. Around them was a bedroom with two separate single beds, two different work benches, and a door right in front of them.
"This is our room!" First spoke,
"But... It looks mint and untouched for a while now... And aside from the beds and desks, our stuff's nowhere to be seen!"
"This must be the time where we realised we're sharing the same room." First spoke,
"And speaking of which, I still have a problem with that even today!" Scootaloo pointed,
"You have a problem? YOU have a problem?" First laughed, "Very funny, I should be the one saying that! Miss Snorealot!"
"Why you!" Scootaloo tackled First as the siblings began fighting once more, "take that back!"
*Ding Dong* The sound of a doorbell echoed across the hallways and rooms, catching the attention of the siblings.
"Hey... If this is supposed to be a silent world..." Scootaloo asked, "what's with the doorbell?"
"Only one way to find out!" First asked, pushing his sister off from him. "After all, I'm not going to fight with you all day."
"You started it." Scootaloo sneered as they trotted down the stairs to the never-ending ringing of the doorbell.
"Argh!" First closed his eyes in pain as he looked through the doorbell. "It's bright!"
"Hang on a second. Wasn't this the time when me first met our neighbours?" Scootaloo remembered,
"Mr and Mrs Adams, and especially Nate."
"But why that particular time of reflection?"
"What I just emphasised. Of all the ponies we know, Nate's the only one that was introduced to Yo-Kai. And recently, he's been more involved with our adventures ever since Massiface."
"Okay, I get it now. By the way, why is it that we decided to involve him with Yo-Kai? Perhaps it's out of pity for being so average?"
"Don't be mean." First replied, "we may have our unique talents and appearances, but we're all average ponies to begin with. And if you think about it, I'm starting to believe that our talents, personalities and appearances may be the work of a Yo-Kai."
"Sorry sorry." Scootaloo chuckled, "but honestly, I wouldn't think much about it. Nate was interested to look into the mystery, and because it was Yo-Kai related, we eventually had to tell him."
"And since then, Nate's been a much stronger friend. And he's one that we can also rely and support." First added,
"Heh," Scootaloo giggled as she opened the front door, "we ought to owe him thanks once we get out of this."
"Argh..." First closed his eyes once more as the stream of light broke through the house, and through the siblings once more.
"Well, isn't this a familiar place?" First asked as the siblings were whisked to a Giant Tree in the middle of a quiet forest clearing.
"The Sacred Tree..." Scootaloo answered, "and at their base... The Crank-a-Kai."
"I think it's obvious what happened here." First replied "except... I don't have my saddlebags with me."
"Uh-oh!" Scootaloo checked herself, "I don't have mine either! I swore I had it with me when we went to meet Mirapo!"
"Do you have anything else?" First asked,
"Wait a minute..." Scootaloo checked another part of her body, and pulled out a small purse. Searching its contents with her hoof, a bit that glowed blue was pulled out.
"Then you know what to do Sis." First gestured to the Crank-a-Kai. Scootaloo inserted the coin, but found some trouble when she turned the crank.
"That's strange..." Scootaloo applied more force, "it's not working. Is this thing jammed?"
"Hmm..." First tried hard to remember, "we need to remember how things went back then... Out of sheer obedience to the singing... Scoots inserted the bit, then... Can I try Scoots?"
"Sure!"
"Thanks." First stepped forward, simply turning the crank with ease until the black and dark white capsule dropped out.
"How did you?... But of course!" Scootaloo gasped in remembrance.
"Then you know what happens next." First replied, holding out the capsule.
"Together." Scootaloo nodded as the siblings each grabbed a side of the capsule, and pulled it hard to hear the satisfying popping sound. Without any fear or flinching, the siblings smiled to see their ghostly white butler, dancing among the seals surrounding him, knowing that they've broken his seal and freed their friend once again.
"Why hello-Scoots! First!" Whisper broke in sudden greeting, "Wh-What happened here! Where am I?"
"Hey Whisper! Remember anything?"
"Well... When we saw that light from Mirapo, I was quite blinded for a moment. As the light died down, I found myself floating around here!"
"You mean, you didn't find yourself sealed away?"
"Whatever in the world do you mean?" Whisper gave a blank expression.
"Look around Whisper. Look at the atmosphere. Look down at what I'm holding" Scootaloo instructed. "Seem familiar?"
"I-Impossible!" Whisper gasped at the opened capsule resting within Scootaloo's hooves. "A-Are you saying I was sealed!? B-But I would feel something like that!"
"Well... It's not rather that you are sealed, but were."
"Can you just get to the point please?"
"We're recap-I mean reflecting our own lives. A trip through memory lane."
"And?"
"First and I went through the time where we moved from Equestria into Springdale..."
"Isn't that--"
"And now this is the period of time where we first met you at this tree! And in turn, this is where we began meeting the Yo-Kai in our later lives!" First added
"And isn't that--"
"But I don't think it was over... We still need to find Jibanyan!" Scootaloo remembered, "the intersection. Now!"
"WILL YOU AT LEAST LET ME SPEAK!?"
"Oh! Sorry Whisper. What was it you want to tell us?" Scootaloo apologised,
"Oh forget it..." Whisper huffed, "let's just get to the intersection."
"In that case, last one to the intersection is a rotten chicken!" Scootaloo laughed,
"That would be..." First stammered, noticing a familiar blue wisp flying above them, ready to burst on it's own. "Neither of us..."
"At least I won't have to be called a rotten chicken!" Whisper wiped his forehead in relief as they stood near the intersection in front of the fish market. A red cat laid bruised and battered in the middle of the roads.
"Oh Celestia... Jibanyan..." Scootaloo covered her mouth in shock,
"I can't believe you let yourself get hit by a truck..." A mare's voice echoed throughout the sky. "You lame cat..."
"Wh-Why???" A soul rose out from the dead cat.
"Ji-Jibanyan?" Scootaloo called out,
"I'm... I'm Lame..." The soul spoke, as it began to take shape into a cat spirit that was familiar to the nearby spectators.
"Jibanyan!" Scootaloo called as she galloped forward.
"S-Scyoots?" Jibanyan turned around, swept away by the filly's grasp and embrace. "Is that you?"
"Jibanyan?" First followed behind, embracing the cat as well.
"First... Scyoots..."
"I don't know the exact details of what happened in your death, but let me remind you that you're not lame. All that you've trained, what you've accomplished when you were bound to this location. It was brave, courageous and it's something that anypony wouldn't dare to do. And now, you've been a great friend through and through, even though you haven't been pulling your weight around lately."
"Oh you two..." Jibanyan wailed as he returned the embrace. "I... All I could remember was how I died and became a Yo-Kai, as well the time I've been staying here and fighting wagons, I even forgot how long I've been doing this. Then I got some new memories, of living the life in your house, eating your Chocobars, and having a wacky time together. It's all thanks to meeting you right here in this very intersection. Just reflecting upon my past, I've never got to thank you properly. So thank you. For welcoming me into your life."
'And from there on out, we've been meeting and befriending a countless number of Yo-Kai till the present day." First nodded
"Sorry to break the moment." Whisper chimed in, "but I believe this journey is yet to be over."
"Huh? Oh..." The siblings found the blue wisp floating above them, casually unleashing a bright light once more.
A familiar counter, fridge of bottled milk, a TV, some Tatami mats, and two doors that leads to a humid area. This was the destination of the bright light, where the siblings with their bag of supplies, and their few Yo-Kai companions popped out.
"The Hot Springs." First spoke, Scootaloo emitted a frightful gulp.
"Oh that's right..." First remembered, "that's your main fear. On the bright side, We've got all our bags and supplies back."
"Didn't the mirror say that we may lose our lives here?" Jibanyan reminded,
"So that means it's going to be a rematch with Sproink. But if we slip up and get severely wounded, we're not going to return."
"Oh no..." Scootaloo shook uncontrollably.
"Sister, I know how you feel. But when we first faced that pig, what was going on in your mind?"
"It was... It was the determination to go back home, to Ponyville. It's what kept me going."
"So... Why do you have fears of them now?"
"I... I don't know..."
"Hmm... If there was something along the way that changed our demeanour like this. There must have been something that changed within us."
"What do you mean?"
"I do not mean this in any offence, but I believe... I believe... Our determination is dwindling."
"Wait... What?"
"Scoots. After what we've been through, our friends, the Yo-Kai, and the war to come. Are we doing all this just to go back to Ponyville?"
"..." Scootaloo opened her jaw into the biggest realisation and challenge within her mind.
"Do you... Do you want to stay here?"
"I... I..." Scootaloo stuttered, until a wave echoed within her mind. "N... No way!"
"A-Are you sure about that?"
"No Way!"
"Hang on..." First's eyes narrowed in suspicion, "Noway? Are you around here?"
"No Way!" A wall hopped out from a hiding place,
"Noway!" Whisper jumped in shock, "wh-what are you doing here?"
"He doesn't know." Another voice echoed across the room. "Same reason for us too." One by one, different Yo-Kai hopped out of their hiding spots to greet the siblings.
"You guys..." First gasped.
"Gooooood to see you again!" Droplette waved, "And I see you've also met my close friend too!"
"Helloooooo!" Slush waved too,
"Seriously? Me? Can't you find somepony else?" Cutta-Nah moaned,
"Duhhuhuhuh!" Dummkap laughed, "what am I doing here?"
"We should be asking you that!" First interrupted, "by the Noway, please inspirit Scoots for me will you?"
"No way." Noway refused, releasing his possession over Scootaloo.
"Thank you."
"Of course." Scootaloo remembered as she checked her Watch. "Mirapo said our Watch wouldn't work here because of the rules. I guess we've got the six of you to team up together with."
"Not familiar with the place. Please explain?" Droplette asked,
"Oh yeah, this was the time where a request was given to the Yo-Kai to deal with the pig in the Hot Springs, heating up all that water." Cutta-Nah remembered, "and I believe it was you two that stopped it. Right?"
"Oh, yeah..." Scootaloo nodded, "but we also had Yo-Kai to thank too!"
"Hey Scoots, I can see you've got the Heebie-jeebies." Whisper spoke, "but do remember one thing. This won't go like before, at least. Try not to make it go like before. We have different friends to help us, and to make this battle easy."
"E-Easy?"
"After all, this trial is a one way trip. We either get through to the end, or die trying."
"Hmm..."
"Do you at least want to go in? To see what you're facing?"
"Alright... I'm okay... Let's do this..." Scootaloo took a deep breath as the group walked in to the boys baths.
"Gaw haw haw!!!" Sproink skated around the floor with a bar of soap, doing silly twists and turns before landing embarrassingly on his bum.
"Now that's new." First announced.
"Grr!!!" Spoink hopped back up to his feet, and in a very bad-tempered mood to boot. A purple shroud obscured the door behind the group.
"Not much with talking huh?" First pounded his hooves together, "no matter. It's time to fight! Everypony ready?"
"No Way!" Noway held out his heads in a denying gesture.
"Not really..." Cutta-Nah moaned,
"That wasn't the response I hoped to get..."
"To fill you guys on the subject..." Droplette raised a comment, "It's mostly because of our situation here."
"What about it?"
"You said that we may lose our lives here, did you not?" Slush explained, "and as much as we'd like to get this over and done with, we're also afraid of dying."
"Death isn't fun at all..." Dummkap sobbed, "I don't want to die, you don't want to die, nopony wants to die. It's not funny either!"
"If I really want to go and work my flank off." Cutta-Nah spoke, "I'd like a surefire plan that we'll get through this without anypony dying. Me especially."
"So yeah." Droplette replied, "just for once, we're open to your plans since you're the master strategists. Do you have anything to share? We've got all the time."
SMASH! The dreadful sound of destruction spurred the group by surprise as the splintered remnants of a wash bucket lay by their feet.
"While Hiding!" Droplette yelled as the group ran for cover. Noway on the other hand, slowly made his way to the nearby rocks. The violently tossed buckets crumbled upon his concrete wall body, inflicting no sense of pain.
"No way..." Noway sighed with disappointment.
"Scoots?" Cutta-Nah spoke, "we could use some help right now!"
"..." Scootaloo huddled behind a rock, head tucked in, and sweating in panic.
"Pull yourself together Scoots!" First pleaded, shaking his sister.
"I-I can't think..." Scootaloo meekly cried, "I... I don't how to do this anymore... The heat... The pain... The fear... It's getting to me... "
"Don't give up!" Jibanyan encouraged, "why don't we just toss buckets like before?"
"Can't. We don't have any on our side... I can't think of anything else to harm and distract him... And I don't want to harm you guys."
"Grr..." Sproink clapped two wash buckets together. With every clap, the water's temperature rose drastically.
"Oh no..." Scootaloo lowered her head even further. "It's coming... The Heat..."
"N-Not if I can help it!" Droplette intervened, conjuring a personal shower above the frightened filly. "You've got to stay cool!"
"Th-Thanks Droplette, for the cool water..." Scootaloo lifted her head with a smile, "but... I really don't know what to do."
"Woooo!" Slush emitted an icy breath, easing the thermoreceptors of the filly.
"Thanks to you too Slush..."
"Sis..." First gasped, sweat beginning to ooze from all around his body, the bath's waters beginning to change liquid "It's getting too hot in here. You need to do something about this. Quick!"
"Please!" Dummkap yelled, "it's no fun if you die! It's not even fun if you're giving in!"
"This heat... It's getting to me so bad... Sproink... Lava... Heat... What..." Scootaloo spoke,
Just as before, the pools of water have finally turned into hot pools of lava, sapping everyone present with it's catastrophic temperatures, dehydrating everypony but the pig. Even liquid forms like Droplette and Slush began to dry and dwindle into steam.
"SCOOTS!" Droplette cried, "help us! Give us orders! Tell us what to do!!! I can't maintain my body in this heat!!!"
"Why..." Scoots cried, her falling tears instantly evaporating, replacing a stream of tears into a stream of thin vapour.
"Scoots!" Cutta-Nah complained, "my bendy sword hair is beginning to melt!!! I'm not going to slack off in death! I promise! I don't know what to do though, so tell me something!!!"
"Why am I here?" Scoots asked, her sobbing stopped, her body immobile and damp with sweat,
"Scoots!" Jibanyan replied, "Trust in us! Trust your brother! Your Yo-Kai Friends! Whatever we go through, we're indebted to you, so we'll help you out till the bitter end! For your sanity and that of both your brothers! For your pony and Yo-Kai friends! For Springdale! And especially for you to go back home!"
"Heh... Heh..." Scootaloo giggled,
"Sis?"
"Heh hee hee hee... Ha ha ha ha..." Scootaloo began to laugh, "HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!"
"Oh no..." Whisper gulped, "I think she's lost her mind due to the heat."
"Why did I even accept this trial?" Scootaloo laughed as she grabbed her brother. "Have a guess dear brother?"
"What?"
"WRONG ANSWER!" Scootaloo scolded, slapping her brother's face. "Don't answer a question with another!"
"T-To heal yourself?"
"WRONG!" Scootaloo yelled again, slapping First even harder, "How about you Whisper? Do you know?"
"Uh..."
"And you call yourself my butler!?" Scootaloo mocked as she grabbed Whisper and slammed him onto the rock.
"I-I know!" Jibanyan volunteered, "it's because you want to go back to Ponyville where your true friends are right?"
"Wrong! WRONG! ALL WRONG!!!" Scootaloo hollered and bellowed as she yanked and tweaked the tails of Jibanyan, causing him to yell in pain.
"Hey hey HEY!" Cutta-Nah spurred up, "what's with you all of a sudden!?"
"Wow, you seem concerned today, Cutta-Nah." Scootaloo laughed, "I thought you never cared thanks to your slacking skills."
"Not when a friend is being a psychotic jerk to her other friends!"
"Then if you want me to stop, why don't you give me the correct answer on why I took this stupid trial? It's funny that I have to save Yo-Kai from themselves, and that even their powers can affect one another. Irony is though, I enjoy that a lot, and it sucks if I won't be able to watch for my entertainment purposes! Springdale and his inhabitants would definitely become boring!"
"What are you, a monster!? Did Dummkap inspirit you or something!?"
"I dun nothing!" Dummkap spoke,
"It's a serious matter if you want to protect Springdale!" Cutta-Nah replied,
"Ding ding ding!!! You are absolutely correct!" Scootaloo clapped, "Springdale's such a wacky place filled with wackier spirits. Best thing is, it makes life the wackiest of it all. I'LL MAKE SURE IT STAYS THAT WAY!!!"
"No way!" Noway gasped,
"Hey you!" Scootaloo stood from her hiding spot, "you stupid ugly pig!"
"Grr!?"
"I see you've made the water as hot as lava now." Scootaloo smirked, trotting forward.
"Scoots!" First warned, "get back!"
"Since that day, that has been my worst nightmare: Dying by your temperature raising powers. Guess what? Forget all of that! I want you to strike me with your puny buckets instead."
"GRR!?"
"Growl all you want Sproink, you don't scare me anymore..." Scootaloo growled, "and there's no way I'm going to let you reach boiling point! You hear me? NO. WAY!"
"...!?" Noway gasped,
"Give me your worst Pig." Scootaloo taunted as she trotted closer and closer, "but what ever you do, you won't beat me! Yo-Kai like you are a scary bunch, but I'm 20% Scarier! Now do it! Throw that bucket! Make that water hot! I DARE YOU!"
"GRR!!!" Sproink, lost his temper, leapt into the air, and brought his butt onto the small filly beneath her.
"NO WAY!!!" Noway roared as his defensive powers and body halted the flattening descent,
"Grr!?"
"That's right Sproink." Scootaloo snorted, "and make sure that water stays as lava, okay?"
"Grr?" Sproink eteched an eyebrow, his entire face in a trance, "N... N..." He dropped his wash buckets, "N... No..."
"No way!" Scootaloo and Noway finished in unison. Right before the eyes of the heroes, the volcanic bubbling pools slowly stopped bubbling and became more viscous than before."
"The pools!" First gasped, as the hot red magma began to disappear.
"It's returning to normal!" Whisper finished, "and the temperature! It's going down!"
"Grr!" Sproink gasped to see his undoing of the pools and air around him.
"Ahh yes!!!" Scootaloo laughed, shaking her sweat off "it's great to feel refreshed once again! Now, that I've got my real composure back, me and my friends are going to take you down."
"NO WAY!!!" Sproink retorted,
"WAY!!!" Scootaloo yelled as she galloped forward, picked up a bucket, directly struck his face with it, then leapt forward and delivered a firm hind kick to the sight of injury.
"GRRRR!!!" The pig reeled in pain.
"How's that for a change?" Scootaloo turned to her team and bowed, "thank you! Thank you very much!"
"Wh-What just happened!?" First gasped, "I demand an explanation!"
"Oh dear brother. Have you lost YOUR mind from the heat?" Scootaloo asked teasingly,
"What did you do?"
"Sproink was going to raise the water temperatures and cook us alive, but who says we can't stop it?" Scootaloo explained, "It's what really drove us insane and afraid, and to near death. But I forgot I have one thing that can stop it. Our Spiritual, incorporeal, reality-twisting friends." She turned to Noway, "thanks Noway. Thank you for being my friend. Thanks to you... I'm ready to face my fears."
"Sis..."
"Listen up everypony." Scootaloo called, grabbing another wash bucket filled with cold water from the pools and dumped it all over herself. "We may have stopped his main problem, but that doesn't mean we can't still die!"
"We're all ears!" Droplette replied,
"Last we fought this beast, his belly was the weak point, and he's got those pesky buckets making sure it's covered. Best way is to knock him in the head, and he'll try to hide the face, leaving his belly wide open."
"Then we strike the thing?"
"Yep! But don't strike it too much! Otherwise he's going to blow his top, with flaming nostrils and all."
"So what do we do then?"
"Disregard all of that!" Scootaloo laughed, "same old boss, but different play! This pig spits fire out from his nose, and he likes to turn up the heat. What he enjoys the most as a Yo-Kai, is going to be his downfall!"
"Baths?" Jibanyan asked,
"Better than that! Sproink's going to learn how to conserve water by taking a cold shower!" Scootaloo grinned, "you know what that means you two?"
"Of course!" The water and ice drop replied in unison.
"And you too Noway! Do you NOT know what you're doing?"
"No way!" Noway grunted,
"Then what about me and Dummkap?" Cutta-Nah asked,
"Interested for once Cutta-Nah..." Scootloo rubbed her hooves in glee, "then listen up. You, Dummkap and Jibanyan are going to be setting this up. Do what you do best! I know you guys are smart enough to know!"
"Got it," Cutta-Nah saluted, "and to tell you the truth, you've changed a lot since we first met. I've never seen you like this... A meticulous and cunning mare. That's why I'm so interested."
"To be friends with a Yo-Kai, you got to think like a Yo-Kai!" Scootaloo laughed,
"All right then..." Cutta-Nah growled, "time to put some work in!"
"Charge!" JIbanyan yelled,
"This is going to be a big blast!" Dummkap laughed,
"GRR!!!" The enemy Sproink began throwing and endless amount of buckets and soap,
"Aim properly next time!" Dummkap joked as he sailed and slipped through the bucket field.
"Whoop!" Jibanyan ducked and dodged, picking up Cutta-Nah while on the way. "Looks like you need a lift."
"Thanks! It's tiring just to get up close with all these flying bars of soap and wash buckets!"
"Actually... I may need your assistance." Jibanyan grinned as the front party got closer and closer, "Think you can stomach being shaken around?"
"Huh?"
"Watch this!" Jibanyan yelled, jumping into the air, level with the pigs face, "Halfhearted Chops of Fury!"
"Woah! Woah! Woah!" Cutta-Nah yelped as the Two-Tailed cat grabbed his semi-motivated ally by the handle, or his face rather, and swung him to and fro.
"URGAHH!!!" Sproink growled in pain as the bendy but sharp blade rends through his lips, nose, face, ears, and other facial features, dealing in a hefty amount of pain.
"Let's put a smile on that face!" Dummkap laughed as he chomped upon the Pig's head. Shaking and quivering around in a trance, the Pig was unable to resist the inspiritment, and after a brief catatonic state, he danced wildly and madly, pulling various funny and silly faces.
"Not funny!" First mocked from the side. As Sproink was madly making a fool of himself, little did he notice a stray bar of soap on the ground. In a split second, the soap gave way to the pig's foot and slipped across the ground, taking the big beast along with him.
"GRAGH!" The pig fell in an embarrassing heap once more, his big fat belly exposed for all to see.
"Slush, Droplette, the show is all yours!" Scootaloo commanded,
"Here goes nothing!" Droplette floated over the toppled big and with a deep breath, unleashed a torrent of water drops flying at the speed of a bolt with pure magic.
"Let's goooo!!!" Slush did the same thing. Except he unleashed a torrent of small and sharp icicles that rained down on his opponent.
"YOOOO!!!" Sproink yelled in absolute pain. The Water Drops and Sharp Icicles piercing both his belly and body. Unable to take the pain any longer, the pig twitched only for mere seconds, then ceased completely in movement and noise.
"Bath time is over!" Scootaloo concluded as the defeated pig turned white and disappeared into motes of light.
"Not bad Sis, not bad." First applauded, "and definitely not bad to all of you either!"
"Anything for our friends!" Droplette cheered,
"This was the most fun I've had ever since!" Dummkap replied,
"Sigh..." A new looking Yo-Kai moaned, "that took a lot of energy out of me. This wasn't even worth it at all!"
"And you are?" Scootaloo asked,
"Don't you remember me?" The multiple bendy-bladed sword floated, "It's me! Cutta-Nah! Or rather, Cutta-Nah-Nah now..."
"So you've changed as well huh? You look nice!"
"Thanks I guess..." Cutta-Nah-Nah yawned, "Now that this ordeal is done, can I go back to slacking off now?"
"Sure sure..." First laughed,
"Well done everypony!" Whisper applauded, "how do you feel now Scoots?"
"It's... It's just a distant memory..." Scootaloo replied, "with what we've all been through and the friends we've met, I'm confident that facing a monster like Sproink isn't a problem anymore... It's the little experiences and events in life that makes the most out of big trials and events."
"I was thinking the exact same thing!" First blurted out,
"Well looks like I beat you to the punch." Scootaloo smiled, "which reminds me. What's YOUR determination of fighting alongside me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Surely you have a reason that you wanted to fight as well. Highly likely that it's similar yet different to mine."
"Sis, wherever you go, I'll support you. That's what little siblings do right?"
"Naw, I'm sure you have a personal reason too. It may be similar to mine, but it's yours entirely. What is it? Surely it's not just to go back to Ponyville anymore. Right?"
"Well--" First thought very hard,
"On second thoughts..." Scootaloo interrupted, noticing a blue wisp above them. "You can tell me later..."
The next destination was a frigid mountain, where temples and buildings were trapped with snow, trees and bushes are filled with ice, and a large pond with stream was frozen solid. But as the rules of this reflective world, all the cold and icy winds, the multiple descending snowflakes, all were frozen in time. Behind the gates to the pond's entrance, a white light transported the siblings, Whisper, Jibanyan, and another team of New Yo-Kai to the very location.
"Oh boy..." Scootaloo gulped,
"Oh no..." First gulped, "we... We don't have any protective clothing for this weather!!!"
"Are you seriously concerned about that? You of all ponies should be focusing on something bigger, like your FEAR."
"I just tried to dodge the reality... is all."
"Oh Mah Swirls!!!" A familiar country accent spoke, "what in tarnation happened to the Mountain? It's like that time a week ago!"
"K-Komasan?" Jibanyan turned around to see their new Yo-Kai team mates. Two lion dogs, two butterflies, a sword wielding cicada, and an utterly depressed bird.
"Sigh... This frozen weather again?" Buhu moaned, "So we're really coming to the end of the world. No more Ponies, animals, Yo-Kai, trees, it's all gone..."
"W-We're not in the real world Buhu." Scootaloo chuckled, "rather, we're in the past, sort of."
"This is the time where we fought Frostina." Whisper noted, "It doesn't match with the recurrence of events. Aren't we supposed to fight Massiface?"
"Nope." Scootaloo replied, "I think we're going through personal fears first. We just went through mine, now it's your turn First. And I think it's best that you handle this."
"M-M-M-Me..." First gulped, the cold air hitting him head on with realisation "Is she there?"
"As beautiful as she ever is." Jibanyan answered. Just as before, the lone Snow Girl stood in the middle of the frozen Catfish Pond.
"Clear as ice too! Pun both intended and not intended." Whisper added,
"So why does she look like a moving Ice Sculpture?"
"Do remember that it this is a reflection upon your past memories. The Frostina we know now is no longer the murderous and ruthless Snow Woman anymore."
"Zounds!" Cadin jumped, "That enemy sounds tough to beat!"
"You don't even know the half of it..." Scootaloo moaned, "almost lost a brother."
"Please stop reminding me about the near brush with death." First complained, "but I'll explain it on the way. Are you guys ready?"
"To fight?"
"And stay alive. If you fall in this battle, you fall for good, even if you're a Yo-Kai..."
"Enemy!!!" Enefly tooted in horror,
"So yes Buhu, it will be the end of the world, for you and me if we don't get out of here."
"Phooey..."
"So I don't want to sound forceful, but if you want to stay alive, you probably need to follow my commands. The moment we walk through the gates is the moment we start to fight. Are you ready?"
"As always!" The Koma brothers saluted,
"Enemy!!!" Enefly tooted as he and Enerfly flapped around in a frenzy,
"I shall walk with you in battle, even if it may be my last!"
"Sure, why not..." Buhu glumly spoke.
"Stay safe everypony," First lead the charge through the gates, "we're going in."
"..." The Ice silhouette stared silently into the empty blue skies, paying close attention to the motionless winds and snowflakes around her.
"Hey!!!" First called to the Ice form,
"..." The Yo-Kai silently turned her face to the voices. Her entire body of ice matches the shape and textures of her jacket, her cape, her hood, her boots, but her face was devoid of any facial features.
"Frostina?" First asked with concern and fear, "is that you?"
"...!" The small ice woman responded in the most coldest of ways. She whipped up a combination of ice and wind, and flung it upon her foes.
"Blast!" Scootaloo cursed, shielding herself from the skin-numbing hail and winds. "I knew this wasn't going to be an easy situation."
"Oh mah swirls!!!" Komasan hollered as he grabbed on to First's Tail with one hand, and the hand of his younger brother with the other, "Winds were NEVER this strong in Winter! It's as if a buffalo stampede just straight on charged through a mountain!"
"First? I don't mean to discourage you or anything but... Four of us, save for the Komainu brothers, we really can't take the brunt of any cold attack!" Buhu added,
"Is that so? Then... Be on your guard everypony!" First commanded, "I'll handle this myself!"
"F-First!" Jibanyan called out, "are you sure that's a good idea? You don't have anypony to keep you warm!"
"There's got to be a way to reach out to her!" First called back, "alone if need be!"
"!!!" The Ice Frostina pushed another cold storm upon the party, pushing the foal away from her presence.
"First! Get back here!" Scootaloo called, "I'm not going to let you do this alone! You'll freeze to death once again!"
"B-But still..." First persevered, frozen tears coming from his eyes, "Somepony needs to calm her..."
"Forsooth!" Cadin roared, "for it is a fool's honour to march to death alone!"
"Fool???" First stopped, his eyes twitched towards the back,
"Ain't gonna let mah friend get killed!" Komasan replied, "so jus' give us some tactics! Battle plans! Anythin'!"
"Then stay back!" First yelled, "If I've done it before! I can do it again!"
"..." The Ice Frostina watched as her adversaries fought with each other through words. Without any other word, she prepared to concentrate. What mattered to her was nothing. She had no idea what the young foal was planning to do, but she didn't care. There was nothing inside her. No soul, no feelings, she was just a shade of memory, born from the fears of that young foal. Her only aim was to watch things freeze everything till they can no longer survive, and the foal that fears her the most, was her main goal. Conjuring an energetic ball of cold air, she cast out her coldest of skills, eager to see what is left of the foal and his friends.
"Gak!!!" Caught off guard, the party was blown back by the cold sherbet winds ripping through their fur, skin, shell, feathers, and body. With four of the members weak to the tormenting powers of ice, they were wiped out instantly, lifeless and frozen in the snow.
"I'd never have known..." Cadin coughed, "that the day that I must truly depart from this world is today."
"Well that didn't take long..." Buhu cried as something began burning inside her, "I'm actually okay with this. This feels warm..."
"..." The speechless butterflies dropped to the floor, their wings beginning to burn,
"N-No!!!" Scootaloo jumped in horror at the sight of her spiritual friends. "You can't die! I won't let you die! I-Is there anything I can do to stop it!"
"I'm not sure really." Buhu replied, "every time I tried to end my life, I end up being brought back to life. But if you really want to turn somepony back... Do you happen to have some bitter medicine?"
"Oh! You mean... This?" Scootaloo pulled out a few sets of tightly wrapped small pieces of paper. "The local herbalist gave it to me for free for some reason. I tried to refuse it because of how dangerous it is to just accept... Medicine from strangers, but Flash happened to come along and told me that it's actual medicine that can help cure physical or mental wounds according to the way you prepare it. Interesting that the Royal Guard has knowledge about oriental herbs and medicine. Anything to survive I guess..."
"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!?" Enerfly tooted loudly, "HELP US!"
"Holy Hay! You can actually talk!" Scootaloo jumped and quickly unwrapped the papers and rubbed the mysterious brown powder onto each of the four Yo-Kai.
"Ahh..." Cadin gasped for relief as he was able to move his wings and legs once more, "perhaps I am not ready to enter the light."
"Oh come on!" Buhu moaned as the burning within ceased, "I was hoping for a better life!"
"Sorry Buhu, but you, as well as every single one of you, mean a lot to me when you're... Dead, not fully dead mind you."
"If you really put it that way... Life wouldn't suck as much with you around." Buhu replied, a faint smile upon her bird face,
"Yer a sweetheart Scoots." Komasan blushed,
"That's very kind of you Komasan." Scootaloo replied, "even more so when you sound like Applebloom."
"First?" Whisper asked, "why don't you say something? They're willing to go through tooth and nail for you!"
"..." First silently stared at his silent enemy, staring back at him.
"First?" Scootaloo turned around, a voice of concern for her brother. Her eyes widened in horror once again to see the front and back hooves of her brother completely frozen.
"T-This feeling... It's gone..." First shivered,
"Wh-What do you mean? Don't tell me you're going to freeze!!!"
"You're making the syame mystake Fyirst!" Jibanyan warned, "we also need to help you!"
"Help me?" First replied without turning his head, "Yeah, that sounds really nice. I would appreciate it lots, especially against her."
"Well then?" Cadin got up, "what is thy command?"
"She's untouchable thanks to her ranged ice controlling powers." First replied, "So we've got to fight back using the direct tactics or a distraction. I think fire should do the trick."
"H-Hold on a minute!" Whisper interrupted, "did I hear you saying 'fight' and 'fire'? You're not planning on attacking, are you?"
"That's exactly what I'm doing!" First replied, "I felt nothing but cold-blood vengeance from her! This... This isn't Frostina anymore... This is... A ghost, that fits the description of the Snow Woman mentioned in the legends!"
"A fake Frostina." Scootaloo replied, "you know, since she looks like Frostina, but has a body of ice instead, why don't we just call her the ice woman?"
"...!" The Frostina now dubbed 'Ice Woman' instantly fired a powerful bolt of ice against the party, but First painfully stepped towards it's direction, and used his frozen hooves to take the brunt of the hit. With the hit, the frozen areas stretched across halfway through his front legs, First grimaced in pain, but determinedly stood firm.
"First! Stop it!" Scootaloo commanded, "your entire arm is going to freeze!!!"
"This... Wasn't the first time I was frozen." First growled, "and I'm sure this won't be the last. But it doesn't matter anymore. I'll jump into icy waters if I have to! For the sake of everypony!"
"First!" Whisper called, "don't tell me you've..."
"Saving Frostina was a different story. Now, this isn't Frostina anymore, and this 'thing' is beyond negotiation. Her body reflects her nature after all..."
"!!!" The Ice Woman continued focusing her attacks upon First, directing and twisting the cold winds upon his body, First began to freeze once more, the frozen ice covering his front arms, back arms, straight up his body, and turning his mane and tail into sharp icicles."
"First!!!" Scootaloo cried,
"And she fell right into my trap!" First yelled in victory as a blade swung upon the Snow Woman's neck.
The blade sliced neatly through the ice, causing the Ice Woman to feel an excruciating shock around her neck, knocking her off balance and concentration and dispersing the dangerous and cold winds around her enemies.
"I have done it!" Cadin raised his blade,
"Now be careful!" First replied, all but his head turned to ice, "a Samurai must be wary of his enemy. She may not feel anything due being ice, but use your skills to at least disarm her or something!"
"Oh! I know! Have at thee!" Cadin growled as he ducked under the Ice Woman and used his brute body to trip her over.
"Not bad Cadin!" First commended, "have you got anything more?"
"Indeed I do!" Cadin laughed as he zipped around using his fast wings. "But the enemy is verily distracted. I too, could use some assistance!"
"Enemy!!!" Enefly quickly fluttered over with his might and channelled an ominous power within his wings. Aiming himself at the toppled Ice Woman, he began draining countless particles of purple energy into his nectar beak, sapping the Ice Woman of energy, to which the enemy tightened her pressure on the frozen surface.
"Right... If a physical move doesn't work, then a spiritual move would!" First observed,
"Impressive! Even when First's in danger, he's still determined to lead the way!"
"I'm sure the realisation that this isn't Ms Frost anymore is probably what pushed him to the limit." Scootaloo answered,
"Then why don't we support him?" Jibanyan asked,
"Sure. Hey Buhu! Koma brothers! Why don't we all give First and the others a hand?"
"Well, my wind techniques would be absorbed up by the cold wind, but I could cause some bad luck and depression with her!" Buhu replied, "that is, if I can feel any better regarding our situation."
"*Burp*... Enemy!" Enefly burped as he finished his meal, "Enemy! Enerfly?"
"Toot?" Enerfly turned around,
"To beat our enemy!" Enefly replied, releasing the absorbed energy from his wings and connecting it towards Enerfly's wings.
"What the!?" First and the rest gasped in awe as the purple energy turned into a bright yellow colour, then back to purple, and then to yellow. On one side of the wings, the flowing energy connecting Enerfly to Enefly permanently stayed yellow, while the Purple energy on the other side of the wing changed direction instead, where Enerfly was giving energy to Enefly. Both energies glowed brighter and brighter, and as it gained power, it began drawing the butterflies closer and closer towards each other. As the two collided, an green alluring vortex engulfed them, ripping the two butterflies in to pieces and segments of their body, and sucked them into it's source. Like the death of a star, the vortex then crushed itself into a small but intense sphere, and exploded. The sound of shattering glass and the brightness equivalent to the sun filled the skies, blinding everypony, including the Ice Woman, below. A big and extravagant butterfly of purple and yellow elegantly emerged from the fading light, flying proud over the battle.
"Wow..." Scootaloo gasped in awe. "You're... Beautiful... Fluttershy might like you a lot!"
"So elegant... So spectacular..." Whisper praised,
"Enerfly... Enefly... Fused into one..." First continued, "what is your name now, o elegant being?"
"Betterfly!!!" Betterfly squawked, breaking the awestruck atmosphere into an awkward situation.
"Alright, I'll take back the part where I said you were elegant." First cringed,
"Betterfly? So if enerfly causes energy, and enefly causes enemies..." Scootaloo theorised, putting two and two together, "does that mean Betterfly makes others feel better?"
"Then let me show you my bestacular powers!" Betterfly laughed, flapping his wings and scattering yellow glistening powder from his wings.
"!!!" The Ice Woman saw what happened and urgently sent a frigid wind to blow them away, but alas the scaly powder continued descending to the ground without any resistance.
"No way!" Jibanyan gasped, "even the cold winds can't blow his scales away!"
"Ahh..." First closed his eyes in comfort as the powder rained down upon him. A source of calm, relief, and joy spread through his nerves, mind and heart.
"Hmm..." Scootaloo smiled as her brain and muscles relax in the dazzling light, "this feeling... It transcends joy..."
"Hmm... This... Really isn't bad at all!" Buhu exclaimed with a smile,
"Oh... Mah... Swirls..." The brothers repeated, "feels just like bein' welcomed home to some fresh apple pie on a bright clear day."
"This feeling... My broken English is not enough to describe how beautifully and amorous this feeling is..." Cadin sang, "If there was just one simple adjective to describe it, it would be a--"
"BEST FEELING!!!" First screamed at the top of his lungs, his body broken out of the icy prison, "I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER!!!"
"!?!?!?" The Ice Woman was dumbstruck by the foal's freedom of her powers. Nopony had ever done it before! Infuriated, she launched countless Ice bolts at the annoying foal.
"Nice try!" First taunted as he effortlessly ducked, dodged, and dived through the attempted attacks, "but you're not going to stop this feeling!"
'Impossible!!!' The Ice Woman thought to herself, nopony could ever dodge her cold powers and come out unscathed!
"Wow! If you can do all those tricks, I'd love to have a feeling like this everyday!" Scootaloo laughed, "then again... I think I'm already inspirited!"
"You got that right!" Jibanyan stood proud, "It feels like I've just eaten a bunch of Chocobars, which I haven't in the slightest!"
"Oh Buhu?" First called as he nimbly jumped back to the group, "did you say that your inspiritment will work better when you're feeling better?"
"Why of course!" Buhu laughed as her chest face gazed eerily at the Ice Woman, filling her will all sorts of dread, sadness, and depression.
'What is this feeling?' The Ice Woman thought to herself. She was just a shade, a figment from memory, and yet she was privy to these mental feelings. Cowering on the ground once more, she cried and cried and cried to no avail. After all, she was just a figment from memory, a figure without a face, and she was only there just to freeze and kill. Now, her fate was sealed, she will be killed herself.
"She's wide open!" First cheered, "Komasan! Komajiro! Cadin! I'll need your strongest moves!"
"Alrighty then!" Komasan jumped, "ah'm ready to dance! You too little bro?"
"Of course!" Komajiro laughed, "let's do this!"
Clapping their hands in unison, they slowly but rhythmically moved and twirled their bodies around in unison. Spinning in and out, moving their hands around. With a final set of slight prayer, they rapidly shook their bodies as they ritually danced for the skies. From up above, spiritual snakes of fire as well as the wild bolts of lightning rained down upon the Snow Woman, entrancing her in unbearable burns and lightning. The Snow Woman flailed around madly as her solid cold body began to melt from the heat's intensity, fuelled by the energy of the lightning."
"Okay Cadin!" First replied, "I know that you always like to go fast! So why don't we strike together?"
"Pardon?" Cadin asked,
"Cadin, I think you're the best at being an inspirational bard instead of a fierce warrior."
"Oh... Really?"
"What made you take up the sword anyway?"
"Now that you've asked me... I dunno. When I was reborn into a Yo-Kai, I found this sword with me. So I guess I might as well fight with it!"
"I see... Do you still remember the tune of a cicada?"
"Pardon?"
"A samurai inspires courage within others with their strength. That's why so many ponies look up to them, even today." First smiled, "at least, that's what the history books said..."
"I don't understand on what you are getting to..."
"Be the best Cicada Samurai!" First supported, "your fighting style and your song! Combine into one!"
"I... I see now!" Cadin nodded, "thank you for your enlightenment! But... Should we strike fast now? The Ice Woman can recover any second!"
"Not when she's melting!" First laughed as he pointed to the semi-Ice Woman, melting as it flailed and shook around in desperation.
"Oh, twas a shame for her..."
"Komasan!" First called, "I need your fiery powers!"
"Ah'm tuckered out First!" Komasan moaned, "Ah can't fight any longer!"
"Alright then... Set me and Cadin on fire!"
"You kiddin me?"
"Charge!" First yelled as he and Cadin charged towards the melting Ice Woman,
"Oh all right!" Komasan moaned as he tossed a blazing fireball to engulf the two galloping figures whole.
"RRRRAAAAH!!!!" First yelled as the combination of Betterfly's inspiritment as well as Komasan's fire turned him into a raging fireball,
"MING MING!!!" Cadin chirped as he too, became a raging fireball.
Cadin leapt forward and delivered a striking elemental slash through the middle. A stream of water gushed out from the slice. The Ice Woman remained motionless as her entire body began to crumble through the heat, until the foal charged through the remains of her body, shattering her entirely into shards of ice and puddles of water.
"Well," First sighed as he quickly brushed off the heat and surveyed the motionless puddles. "I don't think the cold will bother me anymore. What a good warm-up!"
"Indeed!" A bigger Cadin with a different colour scheme, as well as some new armour raised a larger katana in victory, "twas an excellent time to sing for our heroics!"
"Yes, it's an excellent time to also sing for your awakening Cadin." First congratulated, "new armour, I think your role as a Yo-Kai is made clear to you."
"And from this day on!" The new Cadin announced, "I will be known as Cadable!"
"Congratulations First." Scootaloo trotted over and patted her brother on the shoulder, "you've done great!"
"Yeah," First replied, "speaking about your question: Yes. I also want to protect Springdale, more so for the Yo-Kai. With tormenting and nightmarish origins, or the curse of having to live a longer life as a spirit, they deserve to live a happy life. If communicating with currently live ponies will help them, I'd take that mantle!"
"That's my little brother!"
"But I've also learned that there are things that you can't do alone. That's what friends really are for I guess. We go in together and fight til the bitter end."
"Exactly right!"
"Now... Where's that wisp?"
"I believe it's over there..." Whisper pointed towards a blue wisp travelling to their direction.
"I think the next one's the last." Scootaloo smiled, "and it's going to be a doozy!"
"Just wondering..." First replied, "if we've both conquered our fears now, what's the trial for the third task?"
"Perhaps it's--"
*BOOM!!!* The wisp exploded, consuming the ponies and Yo-Kai before them, leaving nothing behind once the light died down. The final chasm of the trial is approaching. And it's there where they discover what it truly means to protect something precious to them...
*TO BE CONTINUED... AGAIN*