> Equestria and the Mysterious Stones > by LunicStream1105 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Prologue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prologue: Ending Adventure, Average Day The adventure was great, meeting your younger, or older, self is something to take sight of, for some people. Anyway, or either way, Sonic was ready to get back home, to Mobius by plane, or a moderate jog if you intended to, the memories flowed in, everything they have kept since them since their first encounter, Rings, those little adorable Chao, and others. Everything gets to there usual scene, Amy hot on Sonic's tail, it's mostly hard to keep track of things, if you wanted to. Except for Amy's blathering, it was quite. Cream was taking care Cheese, and Chocola Chao, Knuckles and Rouge fighting it off for, their, jewels... still. Team Chaotix couldn't be spotted after the party. And Shadow? That was a complete mystery, but it seemed like that was normal as well. This time, Sonic was feeling nostalgic, he decided to wear that turquoise an old friend gave him, he keeps his promises, but apart of all the ruckus, drifting into sleep was the only and abnormal thing Sonic could do right now. A shady tree would help him at this moment, usually his best friends around this kind of time too. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1: The spark of new adventures! Dream after dream shot back and forth, but one of them seemed to linger, as it was of some importance was to be recognized with, "You're missing one..." like it echoed and hissed ever so faintly, what Sonic could see was a view like a plane flying over the green lands, until it stopped and showed what it could've been talking about, it had showed a portal, just like they dealt with before. The next thing he knew was the mention of his name, the image of the portal as Sonic realized his position was starting to fade, but just before it does. The image showed the sun and moon circling around the planet really fast, until it showed the sunrise of the third day, where the portal seemed to be no more, it was gone. Sonic's eyes opened, he sat up and took in his surroundings, "I napped longer than I would've." he smiled at himself, and stood up from where he once lied, he went to Tails's for his awareness of this dream he had, "... And I guess that's about it." he scratched the inside of his right ear as Tails shrugged. "Hmm, that is some interesting dream, but that last part... You said the day went really fast, like some sort of time-lapse?" Sonic nodded. "Yep, that's basically what that was, as soon as the sun rose for the third time, the portal vanished." Tails's eyes widened in realization. "That's it!" Sonic shrugged, "The third sunrise, is the third day... But the question is, do you, or, anybody else would want to go?" Sonic posed. "Of course, I can't miss this." Tails sighed smiling. "Yeah, I knew you couldn't let this pass..." Tails put down the wrench on a lower platform, "So what do you say of me going with you?" "Of course, since when have you not?" Tails lowered his head smiling. "Thanks, I'll get the Tornado-1 ready as fast as possible." Sonic gave his thumb up, and ran outside. Soon after a century, Tails appeared riding his plane and stopped it next to Sonic so he could hop out, Sonic held his hands high, "We're not going to just disappear with out a trace." he turned to look Sonic in the eye, "Right?" Sonic gave a weak laugh. "Of co- why would I not." Soon after they said their good-byes, and went off for this portal, out of all of them, Cream's was the hardest of them all, that king, shy, and light-hearted rabbit would've sobbed, but she seemed to have the will, but on the other hand, Amy was balling, either it was her undying love for her self-proclaimed "boyfriend", or she just wasn't as mature. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meanwhile, back at Eggman's main quarters. Time was running short and Eggman was finding himself rushing back and forth, he too had somehow been told about this strange portal in some way, but the information that he has that they don't, that there's power equal to the Chaos Emeralds in that portal. Although it felt like he was forgetting something, he knew it would be no matter, he's got an I.Q. of 300 after all, he was ready, and so was the Time Eater. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 2: Things of a"maze"ing proportions! The fields were never ending, shining it's green stained red due to the evening sun as Sonic ran with Tails flying his Tornado-1 beside him, this is what Sonic loved about Mobius, its endless landscapes, his rubber having a continuous beat to the ground, and Tails having the cyan Chaos Emerald to power his plane. The sky was filled with blue, until something appeared on the horizon, "Hey, Tails, what do you think that could be?" he squinted. "Well, it sums up to be a certain arrangement of hedges..." Sonic sighed. "So it's a maze then." Tails nodded, giving him a false smile. They decided to approach this obstacle, and stopped at the entrance. Sonic scratched his head. "This thing seems to go forever..." Sonic dashed to the left, parallel to the maze and was gone in an instant, then turned back and stopped before Tails, "Yeah, like I said." Sonic shrugged. Tails shrugged in response. "Oh well, I guess we're going to have to go through this." Sonic bent down in annoyance. "Are you sure? Couldn't you jus-" Tails waved his index finger. "Now, now. That could ruin it." you could tell by the look on Tails's face that he knew he was getting the better of him, Sonic sighed roughly and mentally agreed. In front of them were two buttons, it was already assumed that one opens the start, and the other could be anything but the right button. "So, Tails, which one should we choose?" Tails gave it a good minute, Sonic was already getting impatient. "I'm thinking we should go for the right." Sonic walked to the right button, and pushed it in. The next thing happening was the door to the start opened, they gave each other a high-five. "Nice going, Tails." they both entered the maze, Tails left the Tornado at the start, assuming it wouldn't go anywhere. This maze wasn't something you would usually see, it had some huge cube room in the middle. "Sonic." he turned to Tails, and he pointed to the middle at a green mass covering the usual blue, "Isn't that just a little suspicious to you, it sure is for me..." Sonic shrugged. "If it is, then we better be careful, now Tails, you got any tips on how to get to there faster?" Tails extended his right arm to the right side of the hedges. "We could do this, this always works." Sonic sighed. "But with a bit more, pace." Tails sighed, this was going to be a while. "Alright! Finally, let's go." Sonic and Tails had reached the center, it was dark, and had dry-air. They soon heard a voice not to soon after, the ground of dirt was replaced with a metallic circular logo and the ceiling opened up and revealed Eggman with the Time Eater. Everything started too suddenly as Eggman fired the first wave of missiles directed toward Tails, which he was able to fly out at a good rate, giving a good attack, Sonic rushed for the beast he once already destroyed. With each hit Sonic made, a bolt flew loose. Eggman suddenly realized what he had forgotten. "Time Eater, get back!" the monster halted and hovered toward Eggman, black smoke started emitting from the Time Eater, and just as it cleared, they both vanished. Sonic hit his fists together. "That Eggman, he got away again." Tails was just relieved that they're gone, but then it hit him. "Why did Eggman just leave like that?" Sonic gave a smug grin. "He's too much of a wimp to face us all the way through..." Shortly after, the maze started to fall, all its hedges were shriveling into the ground. Which soon made it clear for them to get back to the Tornado, Sonic waited for him to get ready, "We need to get going." That just put more stress for Tails. "Oh Sonic, don't rush me." Sonic looked at him with his eyes barely open. "You know you need to." Tails sighed, and finally got in his seat, buckled up. "Alright! ... Ready!" Sonic stopped before he even started. "To where exactly?" Tails pointed to a faint object, "There, the signals coming from there." "In a mountain?" Tails shrugged. "I guess so." the plane started and increased in acceleration, Sonic followed after him. As soon as they reached it, Tails had to inform Sonic that it had to be a vertical climb, "This portal's ways up here." "No kidding, we're miles above the ground right now." Tails saw the scanner collect more information. "Sonic, stop. It's right here." there was a little tunnel carved into the mountain, Tails flew in as Sonic followed afterward, and inside it was carved out. The very middle was the portal. Tails landed his plane near it, and Sonic tried to get as close as possible. "What kind of portal is this anyway?" Tails looked at him confused. "What kind?" Sonic shrugged, "Well, it may either lead to another part of this world" Sonic nodded his head in understandment, "or it could take us to another universe." Sonic jumped at the news he received. "Well that escalated quickly... Could it be more or less cool than Time Travel?" Tails hummed his thoughts. "More mind you." Tails looked down at his plane, and saw Sonic dash toward the portal, "Sonic!" "Sonic! Hedgehog!" he jumped right through. Tails quickly got the Tornado-1 ready, he might as well take it with him. "Dang it, Sonic!" ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3: First Encounter There was a flash of white, and a portal opened up in a wide, shadowed alleyway. Seconds after, Sonic appeared and landed on the cobblestone below, he stood up examining his surroundings, "This is incredible, it feels like I'm back in Apotos..." he stopped for a second, "Then did we even go into another universe?" the portal sparked, an ominous noise could be heard as well, Sonic realized and looked to the portal slowly, "Tails?" the portal shot the Tornado-1 at an alarming speed. It hit the ground braking to a complete stop, Sonic moved in time, but was still shaken, "It's not your best landing, Tails..." the fox seemed a little dizzy. "It was a doozy..." he shook his head, wearing it off, "So, where could we possibly be?" The clouds were the whitest white, it was high noon with the bluest skies. And to top it off, the warm spring winds were just lazily blowing by, "The weather is perfect... Literally perfect." Sonic was a little confused. "And what do you mean by, perfect?" he scratched his right ear. "We never had weather like this." Sonic soaked it in, and after awhile he nodded. "Guess so." Sonic walked to the edge of the ally, and peeked over a building, "... No wonder this towns so quite, I don't see any other living thing..." Tails was still thinking about the question of rather they are in the same or different universe, "Well, the architecture looks the same... But something seems, off... Ever so slightly." Sonic went behind the building and walked toward Tails. "You got any plans on how to know where the Chaos Emeralds were teleported?" Tails sighed. "And without freaking anybody out? I don't know..." Sonic looked back for the second. "Well, we could just take certain paths, and try to find whatever you device picks up." Tails grabbed his PDA from the Tornado, Sonic just stood there blankly, "What are you going to do with the Tornado?" "I'll just leave it here, and come back to it when we need to." Sonic gave a thumbs up. "Perfect." "Why don't we get a better view first?" Sonic nodded. "Great idea." he jumped on to the building next to them. "Wait, Sonic not now..." Tails sighed, "I hate it when he doesn't listen..." he moaned as he started flowing his tails until they sped fast enough, and followed Sonic afterward. The most highest point of town seems to be the back of it as well, there's also some train station in front of the bridge that connected the island that the city habited on, "This town large for being on an island..." they were both standing on a building farthest away from the bridge. "See anything interesting, Tails?" he held his hand above his eyes, suddenly an immense glow blinded him. "Ah, what is that?" the glare was coming from a glass circle from the front of the town, "There's a glare coming from over there, it seems to be entirely glass." "Alright, lets go." they made fists and bumped them together. They both jumped to the stone paths below, and started running through the town, "Ah! This feels great, the nostalgia!" the sound of the wind being stopped by close buildings, the narrow paths, it was all flowing back. He was so lost in all of this, a figure appeared from around the corner they're approaching. "S-Sonic! Look out!" the figure seemed to look straight at them and realize what was going on, but before either it or Sonic could react, they ran into each other. Sonic was sent flying a good distance, as so was the figure. Sonic and Tails looked to what Sonic ran into, they saw a quadruped getting his ground back, and picked up the ring Sonic was wearing. As soon as they were closer, they looked at one another. "Sorry..." they said in unison. Tails was surprised to believe what he saw. "A talking pony? You have a lot more colors than normal ones..." this pony was blue-cyan furred, and he seemed shy. "We all do..." Tails shrugged, as he heard this pony's sudden problems. "Well it's obvious we've been sent to another universe." the pony mentally sighed. 'Okay, so I can safely assume that they're, in fact, from a different universe of some kind...' Tails took a step forward, the pony watched every step closely. "Do you mind telling us where we are?" the pony nodded, he seemed happy to oblige. "Sure, this town is called Altamare... What's your name?" Tails was surprised, no matter how many times he could've been asked. "My name's, Miles Prower, but my friends call me, Tails." he pointed over to Sonic as he struck a pose, "And this is my friend, Sonic." "Sonic the Hedgehog." he smiled, Tails sighed. 'Way to make a first impression...' Suddenly the pony looked urgently worried. "Oh no! I need to continue, I'm getting held back..." he tossed Sonic's ring as he galloped past them, "I'll see you two later!" "Now let's go find those Chaos Emeralds!" Tails shouted, suddenly the pony froze and turned as Tails and Sonic did, which he turned back and started galloping around a corner. Sonic shrugged and they both continued their search, 'I'm really surprised that he didn't call for help... And how he gave Sonic's ring like he knew him for 23 years...' Tails knew they only met one, but something was unique about him. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 4: The thief Meanwhile across the city's lower counterpart, a creature taking on a red fur color was stirring the peace in the city, he was aggressive due to others not co-operating. He too, was looking for these "Chaos Emeralds" but wasn't getting far answer wise. A group of ponies formed behind this drastic event, all of them chattering with the most popular rumor that this creature's never been seen before, "This town is pretty big, but you have to have at least ONE!" the store owner recoiled. "I'm deeply sorry sir, but I don't have any "Chaos Emeralds" not even in my entire life as a store clerk." he looked at him more closely. "I can sense these things ya know... And I can feel its power calling to me..." the pony shrugged roughly. 'Calling...' the pony turned, 'I should probably leave...' the creature felt the presence, he turned around. "Show yourself!" it only made the fear escalate for the pony, but as he separated him from the crowd, the sense became obvious, and reacting, the creature somehow took flight, and decided it was a chase, he saw a pony flee. That's the one he needed to go after, so he flew after him. The pony started galloping between as many buildings as he could, "Come out you coward!" for a short glimpse, he could see the pony galloping in nearly the same direction, and dove toward him, "Now I got ya!" the pony expected anything, and what he got was getting tackled. "Get off!" the pony yelled as he struggled to get loose. "Never! Give me the Chaos Emerald!" the pony went for the right moment, and bucked him off. The pony was going for it again, but he caught him in time. The pony's kicking didn't do a thing, no matter how hard he tried. The pony stopped suddenly and the creature backed up, "You can't do anything, give me the Emerald." the pony grit his teeth. 'So close...' the pony stood up and dusted himself off, tossing the Emerald. The creature didn't expect it, so he stumbled to catch it in his gloves, the pony snickered. "What are you doing with this?" the creature pointed right at the colts muzzle. "After a light surge just today in the mourning, there was a light that engulfed the city in less than a second, I decided to see what happened." the creature bared a resemblance that the pony couldn't ignore, "... Are you friends with this, Sonic character?" he brushed it off, "I'm not surprised they're here..." 'Guess that's a yes...' "So, what's your name?" he stared at him for a second. "The name's, Knuckles... And how do you know, Sonic's here?" the pony leaped up. "I ran into them, literally, not too long ago. They said how they're also looking for those." he replied pointing his hoof at the gem, "But how could I not guess you're with them? I mean first you can assume you and them come from the same portal, and secondly, Sonic. Tails, and you are primary colors." Knuckles decided to ignore the last one, and after some time of standing, Knuckles got around to asking. "So what's your name?" "My name's, JetStream." he replied happily. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 5 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 5: Brand new beginnings and trust(s) Soon after the Knuckles left, and JetStream knew it was clear, he turned the other way, sort of laughing at himself, "Funny... I got one that looks just like it..." but the then wondered to himself, he stopped to lean against the closest building he could find, "But I should find it weird myself that living things like those are, lurking around here... But oh well!... I need to get an understanding of all this, so I just need to find Sonic and Tails..." JetStream quickly looked around with the slight fear of Sonic and Tails might have already left, "... I hope they're still in the city..." he started walking up on a path going up-hill, there were tunnels of wooden beams everywhere around the city that were covered in vines and leaves, the more they were covered by them, the more cool they looked to him. JetStream knew what he was going to be doing to find them, he's been practicing his ways with Aura as he made a promise to Celestia herself, one thing was kept in mind though, telepathy, but about now it isn't all that useful. But it bugging him did usually give him urges to practice it as well, just so it stays in shape. It's the Spring of 2007, and JetStream's six years old. The time was currently 1:51pm, time somehow fascinated him, how the thought alone of how much time there is between each second just thrilled him, but not all that expressively. JetStream started galloping as he knew his sense of speed has increased too, "I need the Chaos Emerald, back at my house." like those two had said before, they are looking for the Emeralds, 'It's actually fortunate for those two to give trust in me... Especially for something that's really important to them. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be doing this.' but as his thoughts unraveled, one dark and unanswered questioned, remained for his future. Are they doing it for good? ... Or are they not what they seem? But JetStream, either way, didn't want their hands on it till he got a good answer, that is if they'll give one. As he finally got high enough, the path ahead was completely straight with a staircase going downward below. JetStream pushed himself faster for the jump ahead of him, and pushed with all he had, "Oh that wind feels great!" he ended up jumping the whole staircase, and a couple ponies, and continued to his house. Just as Altamare seems to be, bright, colorful, and lively. Although scattered clouds were rolling in, it created cool wind below, 'The temperature is just right!' it was what he preferred, the mid 60's. But the matter of fact was, it's usually around the 70's, but most ponies were in their homes, the other half, and JetStream, was aimlessly roaming the cobble paths. It's a quiet town for sure, just the birds chirping and the waves crashing against the island below, and it could be enjoyed by anypony, "Mom, Dad, I'm back!" as he walked in, closing the door behind him. Myriad put the paper he was holding in front of him down on the table. "You back already?" JetStream nodded. "Yeah, apparently there's something we've never seen before is here as well." Corolla poked her neck from the corner of the hallway. "Never seen? Really? You haven't heard?" JetStream nodded, but stopped, he was confused on how to answer this. "Yes I have, I actually ran into them..." JetStream scratched his neck, "Really, I did." Myriad and Corolla got a face of worry and humor. "Really now...?" JetStream nodded again. "Like I said... Wait, it's like you've heard of them, have you?" Myriad stood up. "Going for coffee." Corolla scoffed. "Really? At a time like this?" Myriad gave a blank stare. "I'm ageing too dear." he smiled as he continued, "Well, JetStream, I have, there... sort of... in the paper take a look." Myriad was right, it describes about a bright flash of light, just like JetStream saw over the tops of buildings, JetStream pointed to an image in the paper. "I saw that, I guess I was closer than I thought. Oh! Actually I got to grab something and go." his parents stared questionably as he galloped to his room. "Grab what?" Corolla asked. "The stone under my bed." he answered as he slowly reached for it, Corolla nodded once again, Myriad shrugged. "Alright then." they said in unison, "I'm putting trust in them and you that nothing bad happens." JetStream walked toward the front door to open it. "Yeah, I'll see you." Corolla motioned a kiss to JetStream. "I love you." JetStream laughed, blushing. "Love you too." as he closed the door, losing his blush. "I'm going to need all the trust I can get with this..." he said, staring this stone he had in his hoof down. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 6 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 6: The new Generation JetStream continued on the path he was walking, letting his mission settle before him. As he reached nearer to the city, he suddenly stopped himself, he sighed, "This is something I'm getting myself into..." he stood straight again, smiling, "And I'm okay with it." he nodded, and looked toward Altamare, he sighed once again, "... But the question is, where do I look for them?" then after some silent thinking, he got a rough idea, "I guess I could do that, but... There's no telling how it would work. I really only heard of this term... Well, no, actually I read something of it a couple months ago but..." JetStream gave a frustrated burst, "Lets just do it anyway!" he smiled, laughing at himself, and started galloping to the highest point of the city, and headed inward, his destination was the Bell Tower. But the only thought was that ponies with certain business are allowed up there. The second, was how suspicious JetStream thought of was had an awkward feeling of trying to get in and possibly failing. But soon enough, JetStream was near its entrance, he was the pony in front of it as usual. He decided to stay out of sight for the time being, "It's to be a good reason... Yeah, that'll work." he smiled, but it soon faltered. He looked around, like always there are ponies roaming the narrow paths along Altamare, and JetStream was near the middle of the city as well. After some thinking, he took a deep breath, he needed to act his best. He turned the corner and slowly walked up to the pony upfront, he tried to put on his best worried expression. After getting close enough, the pony noticed him, and upon instinct, he asked right away. "Hello, might I ask why you're here?" he asked in a innocent tone. JetStream swallowed hard. "I can't find my home, a-and I would like to look up in the tower to find it..." he took a shocked expression, JetStream needed to be just right, just to make sure nothing goes over. "I'm sorry about that..." he opened the gate, "Go right ahead." JetStream smiled greatly. "Thank you, mister." JetStream nodded and started at a decent pace up the towers steps. The pony on the other hand decided not to follow, as he thought he would need to build his confidence himself, he would need it later. And still if this pony asked more, he knew he'd be more than happy to help. Soon after, JetStream reached it high enough to where he was out of sight, there were stone walls on each side, and wooden stairs in the middle. JetStream seemed to like the scene, wondering what the view would be as soon as he got there, hearing the wooden thumps and creaks as he climbed up with each hoof. Finally JetStream reached the end, it was a circular staircase so it opened up as he reached the top floor, or the only floor, and on top was circle like top with a big golden bell ion the middle with weird marking-like designs, 'This was probably from it being used a lot...' JetStream thought, he took a good look at it. And from what JetStream had found, there were about 16 deferent line markings along the bell rim on the bottom of the bell, "I wonder why I haven't heard this bell chime yet..." he asked himself again. But anyway, he needed to focus on what he wanted, to practice this new-found ability, Aura Sensory. Where if one pony has got close, both distance and in kinship, will be able to read emotions like a book, and he still is working with an add-on to it, something that may come in handy if he ever decides to stay in Ponyville when it comes to mind. JetStream went quiet, and focused, thinking about what Tails and Sonic were emitting from there Aura. They were both frightened on the run-in, so JetStream knew it was a difficult one to come up with. So he continued, he remembered their reactions on seeing them, after being newly transported to this universe. Tails's behavior seemed to bold from Sonic's. His was a mix of him knowing what was going on and superiority. Now if JetStream can only think on the same feelings, he could think of possibly doing it. He decided to spread his hoofs out in each direction, looking like a wider defense stance. He could feel a line of warmth going up through his body every second, suddenly it felt like he dug himself out of a hole, JetStream saw everything in front of him, the only catch was, that everything seemed to be outlined in blue, and he could see some more blues, reds, oranges, and a lot more colors. JetStream's heart started racing, it was like being stuck floating in some dimension unheard of, but then again, JetStream assumed the best, "... This is Aura..." he could see all of this, and his eye lids were closed, so hoping it wouldn't do anything, he opened them. Luckily things didn't change. But the only thing was his eyes, they gave themselves a new appearance, still with his eyes the same blue since, but the overall look of it. The bottom was fine, but the middle to the top was burning like a fire, although it wasn't hot nor physical, it only existed on the eye like a texture, ""Let's ju- wait... I can't move?" JetStream tried to move, but it was like all your nerves were cut short to the brain. It was official to JetStream that doing this wouldn't allow him to move, but maybe with some practice it's possible. The same word came to mind when he saw everything with the Aura Sensory, it was visible, but it wasn't vivid. After some thought he looked around, "..." he continued to concentrate, "...!" he felt it, he saw something near the edge of the town, he knew it was Tails, "Alright, I found you, now how do I get back to my normal vision?" he could move his eyes at least, "What if I just let go of everything I gained in this..." it was thought, so he tried. One thing crossed his mind, he needed to clear his mind, 'This Aura is full of itself, I mean to get this far, and then one has to meditate to travel back.' JetStream mentally shook his head, clear, clear, clear. It started to echo after minutes. Suddenly that warm line vanished, he couldn't feel it anymore, JetStream seemed to physically sink from such concentration. And there was a sudden brightness behind his eye lids, so he opened them, and everything was back to how it looked, "Wow. That was amazing..." he turned to where he felt the warm sensation, JetStream gasped, "Really!?" he turned himself to the Glassed Hill, "How did they end up there?" suddenly the pony from the gate showed up from below the floor on the stairs. "Hello, again, did you find your home?" JetStream galloped over to him, ha made himself happy suddenly. "Yeah, I did." he galloped down the steps, "Thanks again, mister!" "You're welcome!" he replied. Now JetStream needed to head toward the Glassed Hill, hopefully they wont go anywhere. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 7 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 7: Second Encounters Even after some more galloping back to his home, he went behind his house to the backyard, "Alright, let's do this once more!" he then galloped, ready for the invisible door ahead of him to open, and as soon as he reached the back of his home, it opened, with JetStream falling through instantly afterward. The closer he got, the more he got nervous, the tunnel on the other hoof, seemed to stick out. There were brick walls everywhere, but they looked like gold, 'Now only if they are still there...' he thought. "Wow, Sonic... Have you ever seen a place like this?" he raised his arms, sort of praising its appearance, he looked at Sonic as he snickered. "... Yeah, tons of times, why? Does something point out?" Tails sighed. "I was only trying to add to the mysterious factor." he said wiggling his fingers, Sonic laughed. "And I was only trying to be honest." Tails scratched the back of his head once more, only to sigh. Suddenly some distant thumps could be heard, and it was very ominous, Tails looked around only reacting, Sonic looked around, his hands at his waists, "Now what could that possibly be?" Tails shook his head. "I don't know what it coul- be..." he noticed his PDA was getting a signal, "Sonic look at this, it's tracking something." Sonic made a fist. "And that something is approaching. Alright, it's about time they come to us." Tails wasn't all that happy. "I don't think that's it..." the door suddenly opened with JetStream jumping out, landing in a slide. Sonic and Tails recoiled. "What are you guys doing here?" Tails looked to his PDA. "It was a place of interest, of the whole town of course." Tails then realized something, "Oh, JetStream." he looked over to him. "Yeah?" "Have you came across, or even have one Chaos Emerald?" JetStream was unsure on how to answer. "Well, what do they look like?" Sonic and Tails looked at one another, Tails turned back. "... Like an Emerald." JetStream shook his head. "I really haven't seen one before." he lied. Tails went to his PDA, he pulled a good picture of said Emerald, and showed it to Jetstream as he walked closer, "Okay then. Well, I did have two." "What?" Tails was astonished, Sonic only looked at him, and walked up to JetStream. "Do you mind telling us where there are?" JetStream smiled and nodded. "The first his back at my home." Sonic jumped up to the big circular window. "Alright, then let's go get it!" he pointed toward Altamare, Tails scratched his head. Tails scratched his head. "How do we get out anyway?" Sonic just shrugged, Tails turned to JetStream, "Do you know how, JetStream?" he nodded, as he went under the staircase. "Yeah, follow me." Tails was looking, at first unsure, but then it went to amazement, the door opened leading to a tunnel. "Amazing, JetStream. How are you able to do that?" JetStream shrugged. "I don't know, I just do it." Sonic gave a thumbs up. "That's been my story for a long time." JetStream started trotting. "The exit's down here." they all soon went walking, and like JetStream experienced, everything goes white, appearing in the backyard, Sonic looked around. "What? Where are we now?" "In my backyard." he stated as he started toward the front door. Sonic and Tails shrugged and soon followed. JetStream opened the front door, seeing Myriad sitting at the table as usual. "Hey there buddy." "Hi Dad." JetStream smiled. Sonic peered from the corner, making Myriad jump. "Who's that!?" Corolla walked in a fast pace. "Oh my, JetStream you got some followers..." JetStream sighed. "I know I do, the things I told you about earlier, before I left. I was talking about them." he pointed a hoof at the door, Tails was visible as well, he waved. "Hello, can we come in?" JetStream turned to his mother. She was unsure, but she let it pass. "Alright, you can come in." "Thank you." Sonic replied. "Alright, I want an answer-" JetStream opened his mouth, but closed it after she motioned to, "not from you JetStream, from them, as to why you both are here." Tails decided to go first. "Well, you see, we're from another universe, to collect seven stones called Chaos Emeralds that ended up here, and possibly stop something from hurting your world..." 'That escalated quickly...' JetStream thought. Sonic continued. "And JetStream here said he's seen two of them." "Well, apart from the whole world in danger part, JetStream, is what they're saying true?" JetStream looked back up, from twiddling his hoofs. "Some of it's new to me still, but yeah, in full." Tails and Sonic smiled, JetStream went to get this Chaos Emerald, '... You mean, that the stone under my bed, over five years it's been with me, and this is what it was for?' the thought was overwhelming, he went into his room, and grabbed it at the same time it started to glow. Usually he'd have to focus with it to make it glow like it is, but now he's only touching it. He walked back in the room and put it on the table, "Is this what you two mean?" All four of them were surprised, Sonic looked at JetStream. "Yeah, that is, where did you find it?" JetStream was just about to explain, but was cut-off. "The PDA is going crazy. The Emerald seems to be overpowered, what did you do to it?" JetStream was thinking too much of the same and different, there were many questions to ask. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 8 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 8: Your greatest history lesson Tails suddenly stood up, "JetStream, I just want to inform you that what you have isn't just an inanimate object." Sonic nodded. "Yeah, it's something much greater. Not that we intend to put it in a bad way." Tails nodded toward him. "Oh defiantly not, it's not bad at all. Me, on the other hand, I'm actually impressed." Myriad just gave a stare, his mouth curved. "Mmmhmm, so this stone-" Sonic raised his hand. "Excuse me, but we'd like to call them Emeralds." Myriad cleared his throat. "This, Emerald, is something, extraordinary?" "Indeed." Tails nodded, "But the power on this one is higher than the others." Tails turned to JetStream, "So we'd both like to know what you did." he smiled. JetStream stood back, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I powered this up?" he looked at the Emerald in his possession. "Yes, you did, and we'd like to know, or mostly me, on how you did." Tails could've been on the edge of his seat. "Where did these, Emeralds come from in the first place, JetStream?" Corolla finally asked. JetStream's eyes widened, holding his front hoof in his way, "How would I know? I didn't even know their names until now." Sonic rose back up again. "Then I guess we can answer that." he smiled. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The Chaos Emeralds, they are the seven ancient relics, with having mystical properties and abilities, these Emeralds hold great power." JetStream raised a hoof in question. "What kind of things could, people and ponies, possibly do with this great power?" Tails nudged Sonic, he nodded as Tails decided to continue. "Well, there are tons of different things. They can power machines, I used them for that same purpose, they can activate some sort of super transformation." Myriad shrugged. "A super transformation?" "It's a moment comparable to meeting your full potential." "Alright then." JetStream was interested into that. "A transformation..." he said quietly to himself. "They can even warp time and space as well..." the family looked at the one Emerald in front of them, Tails scratched his head, "Well, of course you just can't do it with one, it would be too difficult, but a couple more could pull it off, anyway-" JetStream rose his hoof for the second time, his head hanging low because of stopping him so quickly. "What is it, JetStream?" "Is there any... body or pony who are the main holders of these Chaos Emeralds?" Tails scratched his chin, looking at Sonic, who just shrugged. "Well, there's nobody that we know, but if I can remember something from our adventures, I remember Tikal saying something like... The servers are the seven Chaos. Chaos is power, enriched by the heart. The controller exists to unify the Chaos." Sonic's eyes went wide open, he tapped Tails's shoulder. "Tails, what you said JetStream has done with this Emerald. Repeat that." He remembered that JetStream somehow raised its power, but didn't have a clue to where Sonic was going with this, "The servers are the seven Chaos, Chaos is power... enriched by the heart..." JetStream picked the Emerald up. "The controller, exists, to unify the Chaos." after seconds of thought, JetStream could feel everything just explode. "JetStream, please, finally tell us what you've been doing." he was quiet hesitant pulling his answer. "I would grab it from under my bed, flip it upside-down on the flat side and focus in some sort of way that it started glowing." Tails pointed toward Sonic, he rose an eyebrow. "He was bonding!" JetStream lifted the object higher. "Bonding? With this?" he looked toward Tails, which he nodded. "Yeah, you focuses with the Chaos Emerald's power in mind, and in turn it made itself stronger. But anyway, you might want to keep a close eye on it." JetStream nodded with a firm smile as Corolla sat up. "Alright, but what is the purpose of these, rather than looking like charms?" Tails turned to her. "It's the main reason, as of now, is that it can empower beings." JetStream sat up higher. "Empower?" Tails nodded. "Make some living creature stronger, artificially." JetStream nodded again. "Okay." Tails continued. "... But if the user of these Chaos Emeralds, some how, wanted too much of what they could possibly handle..." JetStream, Myriad, and Corolla all shared stares, "It could drive them into insanity." the memory of crazy flowed by JetStream's mind, they all gasped except JetStream. "Wow..." was all JetStream could get out. "Yeah." "Do these Emeralds go back further than today?" Myriad asked. Sonic nodded. "Yeah, back ten thousands of years. Maybe even more..." Corolla was shocked. "That's something far more older than Celestia and the Elements. Although, those two go back for some time, it isn't much in front of those Emeralds." Tails put some coincidence in the air. "Maybe they both have been around here the same amount of time?" JetStream scratched his chin. "Interesting..." then he realized what she said, "Wait, what? What are the Elements, Mom?" she turned to him. "It's something I discovered in the library in Canterlot. Apparently, they're are six of them, but one is unknown." JetStream rose an eyebrow. "Then what are the known five?" Corolla tried to recall. "Well, lets see, Loyalty, Laughter, Honesty, Kindness, and Generosity. I've also read that Celestia has used all six of them before, but I'm still unsure." JetStream nodded. "Thanks Mom, I'll remember that for later." Corolla laughed. "Hopefully better than I did." "How did you two show up here in the first place?" Myriad asked. "We were trying to get to a portal that showed up, it was different than others..." he held out his PDA, "And this told me that exact thing." Myriad nodded as Tails continued. "But by the time we entered, the PDA realized that all of the Chaos Emeralds were in this land..." "Equestria." Corolla answered. "Equestria? Hmm." "Something wrong?" Tails shook his head. "No, it's just that Equestria might of came from the word, Equestrian..." JetStream shrugged. "Alright, maybe I can actually be interested to learn stuff I'm not actually interested into in the first place..." Myriad continued. "Anyway, why are you here then?" Sonic stood up. "We are both going to look for the Emeralds that have spread around Equestria." both parent's eyes widened. "All over, Equestria?" Tails nodded. "Yeah, pretty much." Sonic looked over to the parents. "... But there's one more possible thing before we could go." they both got a questionable look, Tails continued. "We would like to take JetStream with us." JetStream was shocked, looking at Tails. "Me!?" There was a silence, and nothing shortly after. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 9 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 9: Little Beginnings Myriad seemed to jolt, he rose with both hoofs on the table, "Why do you two need, JetStream when you got that device in your... possession." "Well, if JetStream has somehow got a Chaos Emerald already, and maybe on accident, anyway, JetStream has some sort of auric bond to this Emerald, he could too with the others as well." JetStream liked what Tails's just said, he stood up getting everybody's attention. "I actually wouldn't mind going, especially if it was to save something..." the parent's eyes opened wide once again. "Well, what if he did... The good side of it all." Sonic started thinking. "Well... he Tails, and I could learn about Equestria, all of us will be discovering new places." Tails joined in. "Basically we'll all learn about each other's universe." "How many do you need to finish, again?" Corolla asked. "Seven." Tails answered, "Minus one right here and the one in my plane." "... Minus three actually..." JetStream pointed out, he ended up getting stares. "You know where the third one is?" Sonic asked. JetStream nodded. "Yeah, some guy named, Knuckles, he said he knew you both." Sonic and Tails both shared the same motion. "Of course!" "But how come Knuckles is in this too? Did he somehow get to it before us?" "I met him after I met you two, he was making havoc downtown..." Sonic and Tails shrugged at each other. "Well, that's Knuckles alright." That surprised JetStream. "... That's how he normally acts?" Sonic turned to him. "Yep." Sonic answered, "Well, anyway. The faster we collect these Emeralds, the faster we can get this done, it's pretty much what we are here for now." Corolla and Myriad pleaded, turning to him. "JetStream, are you positive about going? This may take longer than you think..." JetStream thought his best to produce a sentence. "Well, remember how I said that I'd like to see the world one day, then again I know this isn't the safest way of doing it, but still." They both nodded, accepting his choice. "... Go ahead and walk outside JetStream." "Okay..." there was a tad bit of curiosity. As soon as he went outside, they started another conversation. "Can you please sum this up in a good manor." Myriad asked. "We'll be scavenger hunting for stones all around Equestria." Sonic stated. "Wow... that actually doesn't sound too bad." Sonic shrugged, Myriad looked at both of them in the eye, "We are putting all of our trust to you two, okay?" Sonic made a fist and held it to his chest. "Yes, you can, and JetStream can try to do the same for us." Tails laughed. "And besides, he's probably on a lower level than us anyways." Sonic gave Tails a concerning look, he just shrugged. "Alright if you say so." "We promise." Tails assured. "You two go ahead and walk outside, bring JetStream in..." they both walked to the front door, opening it, exit Sonic and Tails, closing it, enter JetStream. "JetStream, we'd like to say goodbye's for now." JetStream backed up in shock. "Y-you're letting me go with them?" Myriad and Corolla nodded, "Thank you..." they all preceded to hug. "Bye, for now, JetStream." Corolla said as she released the hug. "Goodbye to you both." JetStream smiled, and second after another, JetStream reached the door, he looked back and waved, they waved back. And after that, JetStream walked out the door, starting his adventure. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 10 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 10: Altamare search, Finding Knuckles! JetStream walked out the front door, his head was hanging low, but oddly enough, he was smiling. Tails and Sonic saw and turned to him. "So, what did your parents say?" Tails asked, JetStream raised his neck, and smiled greater. "They said they'll let me go with you." Sonic gave a good laugh. "I really gotta thank them." Tails nodded. "Yeah, with you at our side, it will be a great help." JetStream nodded, and looked back at his home, smiling faintly. "So..." he turned back, "Where do we start?" Tails shrugged. "Didn't you say Knuckles had one?" Sonic asked, JetStream jumped. "Yeah, I did." "That's where we start." JetStream started down the stone road. "Now we just have to find him." Sonic and Tails followed after, they walked in a horizontal line, perpendicular to the path. "So, JetStream. Could I ask you about Altamare?" JetStream nodded, taking note of the minor things as he did, like him talking to these un-seen beings before, and the looks that at which he shouldn't looked there in the first place. He was hitting the ground four times a second, and they were hitting it at two a second and the thoughts continued. "Sure." Tails pointed to the left, and leaned toward JetStream like he would've whispered. "That tower, have you been there before?" "Yeah, I have." he nodded. Sonic was just walking, hearing his shoes hit the ground was the greatest sound of all sounds, he listened and looked occasionally at their conversation without a single word. 'Tails sure has changed... To only think how shy he was when he and I first met...' Sonic snickered, Tails and JetStream looked at him. "Something wrong?" JetStream asked. Sonic brushed his left arm against his spikes. "Not at all, actually." JetStream thought process went to one thing at that instant. '... Actually...?' "Well, okay then." JetStream replied with a smile. "You think you could take us there? We might be able to get a good look around." JetStream nodded, but suddenly looked a bit worried. "Okay, but the thing is-" Sonic wagged his index finger. "There's no need to show us the way, I can find it myself." Sonic suddenly accelerated toward the tower. "Wait! Sonic!" JetStream was in awe. "... Whoa..." "Sorry about that, JetStream. He tends to go without thinking often." Tails noticed JetStream's expression. "I'm assuming you haven't seen his speed before?" he shook his head. "No I haven't..." Tails shrugged. "Well, that's what he's known for." JetStream nodded in agreement. "Come on, Tails, I guess we'll have to catch up..." Tails sped up, so did JetStream, "... Well, how fast can you go?" Tails looked toward the ground, getting average looks by passing-by ponies. "Well, obviously not as fast as Sonic, but... exceptional?" JetStream smiled at the ground, then looked at Tails again. "Can you show me your fastest?" Tails stumbled a little, and tried as hard as he could, he was a great distance apart from JetStream at this point, "That's pretty fast. Now let me show you what I have in store." JetStream greatly increased his speed, Tails slew himself down, though it felt like he was speeding himself up as well, but it was only the wind. Soon after Tails had to look around himself, he found the Bell Tower. JetStream was at the entrance. He looked back towards Tails, "Tails! Up here." Tails nodded as he approached. "Coming." he slowed down and got back on his feet from his whirring tails, they stopped spinning and idled behind him. "You know, I never really noticed you had two tails..." he nodded. "It's something iconic alright, that's how they know me." he pointed his thumb at himself, JetStream saw that too. 'That pony from before isn't here...' they both decided to head up the stairs, when they both reached the top, Sonic was standing looking around, he turned noticing something from the corner of his eye. "You two are too slow, I've been here for at least a minute now." JetStream was nerved by that remark. 'I'm fast too...' "Did you find him yet though?" Tails asked, Sonic sighed. "No..." JetStream and Tails fell and got back up. "That's what I thought..." Sonic motioned both of them to walk up. "Com' on, get a look. Tails, remember how Apotos looked?" Tails nodded. "Yeah, nostalgia kicks in." JetStream turned to them, raising an eyebrow. "Apotos?" Tails nodded. "Yeah, it's a town back in our universe, that town looks like this city." Sonic looked at JetStream. "JetStream, I want you to take a look, try and find him." "Okay." JetStream stood in the center of the Bell Tower, focused, closed his eyes and put his right hoof over his chest. 'Judging by their descriptions, Knuckles is very aggressive... I should know that as well... So I should be looking for a red color, maybe a dark red...' a chill went through JetStream's body, the pitch black he once saw was replaced once again with the same blue that surrounded and outlined everything JetStream could see from his perspective. Soon he saw many different colors, around Altamare, the same from the last time, but one thing JetStream noticed, that the colors around from all living things were brighter and more vivid. The word 'practice' came to mind. Sonic soon realized he was practically standing there, motionless. "Uh, JetStream? We're supposed to be looking around, not agreeing to help us." Tails turned around to see what the matter was. JetStream didn't want to answer, as doing so would've messed the flow, and he would almost literally, be blown from his Auric sight. Sonic walked toward JetStream with a worried expression, "JetStream, com' on." Sonic tilted his head, and scratched his ear. Soon, JetStream reached his max, faster than before, and opened his eyes revealing his fire like eyes once again. Sonic jumped back in shock, "JetStream are you okay?" he mentally sighed. 'I can't even communicate.' Tails felt something vibrate, he grabbed his PDA, it was small, but he pressed a certain button that made it expand, and after some examining, he got Sonic's attention. "Hey, Sonic look at this." he sighed at a failed attempt to kick JetStream back to reality. "What is it, Tails?" he showed the screen to Sonic. "The Emeralds are acting up again..." Tails thought carefully, "Whatever JetStream did to make the Emeralds power more than what it was, is happening right now." they both looked at JetStream, "If he could get out from wherever he is..." ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 11 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 11: An innovation confrontation! JetStream's view was panoramic, his Auric sight let him see all 360 degrees. With the invisible wave searching for him, JetStream felt something warm, '... That's him...' JetStream closed his eyes, let everything go, and opened them again, his eyes appeared normal as he did, Sonic knew it was bleak to ask, but he was only thinking it. "Did you somehow find him?" JetStream nodded, and turned right. "Altamare's entrance..." he walked to the edge of the tower, where the stone rose a couple feet from the ground, "That way." he pointed. Tails started toward the stairs. "Well, if you say so." he turned to Sonic, "Sonic?" he shrugged. "I guess, come on, JetStream." he nodded. "Right behind you." they all headed down the stairs and exited the tower and preceded to head toward the city's entrance. Looking at the scenery pushed JetStream to ask what was on his mind, "... Knuckles said he could feel the Chaos Emeralds... Is that true?" he asked as he looked up. "Well, he's from an ancient race of echidnas who were sworn to protect the Emeralds. He protects a floating island back in our universe." JetStream's mouth was slightly open. "Wow, how much is that for him?" "He's been doing it for a long time, I can't even recall..." "Hmmm..." JetStream felt a cold chill, "Uh, we should hurry." "Right." they both replied in unison, and they sped up, hoping to meet Knuckles ahead. As soon as they got out of the building cluster, they saw the bridge ahead, Knuckles was walking at the very end, away from the city. "Does he really think he can walk all of Equestria...?" Sonic shrugged. "He tends to follow his goals..." he sighed. JetStream galloped at an incredible pace, it caught Sonic's attention, his hoofsteps not making much sound, they were almost inaudible, he wanted to get close enough to talk to him again, and as soon as he did. Knuckles heard a slight difference in his hearing, he turned around, and reacting to it, JetStream ended up skidding a long distance, stopping right in front of Knuckles, where he stood taller, he didn't look amused either. "Why are you following me?" JetStream gave a weak laughing smile. "We..." Knuckles tilted his head, looking behind JetStream, his eyes widened and pushed JetStream to the side. "Why are you two here?" JetStream nervously walked backward, looking behind him for good measure. "We're looking for the Chaos Emeralds." Tails answered. "Why am I not surprised?" "It is what it is, Knuckles." something was in the air, and it seemed like Knuckles could've been sniffing it out. "You have a Chaos Emerald with you, don't you? Hand them to me." "Actually..." Sonic pointed to the to the other side of the bridge at JetStream, scratching his ear. Knuckles turned to him. JetStream felt uneasy. 'Oh no... What do I do?' "Sonic!" Tails had his arms open, "Why put it on JetStream?" Sonic just stood there, then shrugged. "He does have an Emerald." Tails sighed. Knuckles got ever so close. "Give it to me." 'Suck it up.' "... Why don't we just, collect them... together?" Knuckles laughed instantly. "I don't think that'll happen, now give it to me." he held out his glove. "Knuckles, wait!" Tails exclaimed, Sonic was curious as to what Tails would say, "What JetStream said could be taken in consideration!" Knuckles turned back to the duo, JetStream sighed of relief. "Sorry, but I work alone." "... Why don't we work together? We have the same goals after all." All three looked toward the pony. "JetStream..." he could tell Knuckles didn't like it at all. "... Alright, fine." Knuckles walked toward JetStream, "But as long as, I, will only hold on to the Emeralds, let me see the one you have. Now." JetStream stumbled to pull it out, Knuckles swiped it from his hoofs, "The radiance..." he held the Emerald to JetStream's muzzle, "What did you do to it?" "W-w-well I-I-" "I can answer that, Knuckles." Tails called, Knuckles smiled. "Really?" he asked doubtfully. All JetStream could do was look at the blue and white cobblestone below him. "Basically, he powered them, beyond what it was originally at." "Impossible... Let me see that..." he grabbed the PDA from Tails and looked at the screen carefully, he sighed, "Alright, so you did." he tossed it back, Tails caught it nearly fell, he again walked to JetStream and pointed right between his big eyes. "You better consider yourself lucky I actually have a reason for you guys to go along with me..." Sonic sighed, shaking his head. "That's the Knuckles I know." JetStream backed away from Knuckles's glove. "So I know we're supposed to travel around Equestria, but how exactly?" "We can fly in the plane..." Tails turned to Sonic, "We, created..." Sonic smiled. "That's a good idea buddy, but it has only a one seat." "Exactly, I'm going to need to customize it." JetStream looked around. "Well, how?" Knuckles nudged JetStream. "You don't really question how Tails does it, he just can." Tails looked at JetStream and shrugged. "Okay then, where is this, plane, of yours?" Tails laughed to himself. "It's back in town." "... Where?" Tails sighed. "... Somewhere... we can find it." Sonic raised his arms. "You mean you forgot where you landed!?" Tails scratched his head. "Well ,yes and nom we'll just have to look for it, and all I know is that it's in an alleyway..." Knuckles and JetStream shrugged. "Then we'll start looking for it then..." one after another they started toward Altamare, to search for the plane. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 12 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 12: Biplane Rescue Tails looked continuously, Knuckles and Sonic acted like it was no problem, "Although it is only a plane, lets just hope nopony finds it, that's my only worry." JetStream was happy about his word choice, "Right, we'll find it... and... Tails?" Tails looked at JetStream. "What is it?" "Is working on things like that what you usually do? Like a habit?" Tails nodded. "Of course, ever since I saw Sonic's plane, I worked and helped him with it." Tails turned to Sonic, "But I still wonder why you made a plane even when you capable of running the speed of sound..." he scratched his head, Sonic shrugged. JetStream's eyes widened, instantly turning to Sonic. "You can do a Sonic Rainboom?" he looked rather uneasy. "Sonic, Rainboom...?" Tails lifted his index finger. "I think, JetStream means Sonic Boom." JetStream tilted his head. "What's that?" Knuckles made fists. "Can we please stop with the useless questions and get looking?!" JetStream sighed his shock away. "So you call it a, Sonic Boom?" "Yep. But anyway we need to find it." Sonic got right to the point. "Right." Tails and JetStream agreed in unison, Knuckles just followed. After some minutes of searching, they stopped on a four-way. "Oh, I thought we would've found it by now..." Tails grabbed his PDA as JetStream aimlessly walked around the cross-paths. "Well, Tails, this town is bigger than you think..." Tails groaned irritated. "I got that." JetStream gave a worried look, only to continue searching. 'Hmmm...' he endlessly wondered to himself. Until one of his senses, smell specifically, caught something off, 'Agh, that smell...'There was an alleyway ahead of him, JetStream rose an eyebrow. Knuckles looked to the sky. "We're not going to make any progress today, look." he pointed, the sun wasn't able to be seen from the overlapping buildings. JetStream turned the alleyway corner. 'I've never smelled something like this before...!' "I think I found it..." "Really? ... Where?" even thought his voice was audible, he wasn't visible. He poked one of his hoofs out. "Over here." All three of them preceded toward the corner, and upon reveal once turned was a red and orange-like biplane, Tails nodded. "Thanks, JetStream, that's it." Tails walked over, looking at almost all of its parts. "It doesn't seem to be touched at all... How'd you find it anyway?" JetStream didn't want to brag. "The metal it has... I've never really smelled metal before..." JetStream shrugged, Knuckles crossed his arms. "I could've done that too." JetStream was looking at the shiny luster it had, looking ta the rear, he noticed some text, printed onto the plane. "Hey, Tails, is the planes name, Tornado 03?" Tails shook his head. "No, its name is, Tornado-1. What you see there is how many Tornados I have created so far." JetStream nodded, he couldn't get his eyes off that shine. "So, you're going to customize it? So it's going to hold all of us?" Sonic shook his head. "No, only you three." JetStream was shocked to hear. "Why? Aren't you going along with us?" Tails laughed weakly. "Well, you see, Sonic doesn't... sit, he stands in the front, of the whole plane." JetStream looked to Sonic. "On the wings?" Tails nodded. "Yeah..." Tails put his hand near JetStream's left ear, as it twitched a little, "But I still can't figure out why he just doesn't slip off." JetStream giggled a little, Sonic stood ta an angle, looking down at them. "What is it?" they both made a break and JetStream gave a worryful expression. "N-nothing... So how and where are you going to fix this?" JetStream looked to the sky, "As it seems we don't have much time for today..." Tails's index finger scratched his muzzle. "That's a good question... Why don't we stay at your house?" JetStream gave a bad posture. "M-my home?" Sonic nodded. "I gotta agree, with all that area in the backyard. I'm sure Tails will have more than enough room. And besides, we have to stay somewhere, right?" he asked with one eye open. JetStream nodded. "Yeah, I guess..." so Tails took the Tornado-1 and flew it above the others so he could make it to the backyard. And as he expected, JetStream saw Myriad and Corolla again, plus a new visitor, followed by more explanations. And finally soon after, JetStream asked if they could stay here for a while. They agreed and all rested for the next mourning. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 13 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 13: Unknown enemies with strange debuts JetStream has been getting more reoccurring dreams as he slept, every time he went to pass the time, or when it was actually vital. And sometimes it resulted in deja vu. But out of all the dreams, there was one he couldn't figure out, tossing back and fourth as if it was an see-saw, 'What if, they have some limit, and they can't go back to their own unless we get the Chaos Emeralds...' JetStream physically shifted, 'Well, that's what it is... but...' it went utterly quite afterward. Meanwhile, Tails was in the backyard with his Tornado-1, reconfigured greatly. It had exactly three seats, like they had wanted it to be. His whole focus was on this hunk of metal in front that somehow possessed the ability to fly in mid-air, but suddenly, something sparked in the distance. Tails stood up and looked around, taking his goggles off. "What was that?" it sparked and appeared frequently, "What is it doing here?" and for the third time it sparked, a circular vortex opened, staying in that exact position. Just to be sure, Tails pulled his PDA from the front of the plane to let it examine the vortex, "... That portal has some power..." Tails looked back at the object in mid-air, "I wonder where it's coming from..." the back door opened and closed with Sonic walking up to Tails. "Hey buddy, just wanted to see your, progress...?" he caught what Tails was staring at, "Uh, Tails? You mind telling me what that is, and what it's doing here specifically?" Tails shrugged. "I wish I knew... " it then suddenly turned dark, and some black cloud started oozing from it, falling onto the green grass afterward, which didn't look so green suddenly. Tails and Sonic shared the same shocked expressions. "W-what is that!?" back in the house, JetStream's sleeping hub world cracked, he ended up moaning, turning to his other side as he did. Sonic and Tails both ran up to this mysterious liquid. Sonic put his index finger in it, and brang it back up, Tails backed up before this sudden action. "Sonic! What are you doing?!" "I think we've ran into this before..." Sonic preceded to sniff it. Tails looked like he was going to gag. "Y-you got to be kidding m- did you just do that!?" Sonic reacted horribly as he did. "Yeah, this is definitely something we have known before." he confirmed as he flicked it off, it dissolved once it hit the ground. Tails saw it as it did. Once it hit the ground, the saturation of the grass was suddenly gone with it. "Ah!" he pointed directly at the spot, as he looked at Sonic, "Did you see that?" Sonic decided to get a closer look. "Oh yeah, the grass lost its color." Tails held his pointer finger out. "That's just like the Time Eater, you know how the world ended up entirely white because of it..." Tails stopped in distress of the sudden worries on their shoulders. Sonic looked back up to the portal, and noticed something else is appearing. "Now what's that?" a metal dome was appearing from it as well, "Aw! Not now." Sonic leaned forward, preparing for a jump. Tails grabbed his arm before he could. "Don't do it, Sonic..." "Why not?" he motioned like it was obvious. "Because it would cause a lot of trouble for, JetStream. Especially the whole town." Sonic backed down. "Alright, and what you say is what you mean, lets hide, for now." Tails nodded. "Alright." they both ran toward the house. Tails went inside while Sonic put a cover over the whole plane. Tails went to JetStream's room, standing there, figuring out how to wake him up as easy as possible, "... JetStream... wake up..." he shuffled a little bit, then his sleeping hub shattered and rose instantly. "Wah...? Tails? ... What is it?" "I just need you awake, just in case." Tails finished the sentence looking out the doorway. JetStream got out from his bed and stretched, yawning at the moment as well. He shook his head and looked firmly at Tails. "Alright, I'm ready whenever." after a minute passed, Corolla showed up at the doorway. "Do you see what's going on out there?" Tails nodded, looking not too happy. "Yeah, I woke JetStream up, uh, just in case of something, awful..." "Awful!?" JetStream and Corolla half-shouted in unison. Sonic entered not too quickly afterward. "Once we know he's gone. We're good." "Who?" Corolla and JetStream asked. "We can answer that later." Tails replied. JetStream went out side his room to walk around the house, while everyone else was just now dispersing from the room. "Where's, Knuckles?" JetStream asked. Sonic and Tails looked at each other dramatically. "Oh no..." ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 14 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 14: Encounters that should go Uncounted! Knuckles was strolling like he usually does everyday. Exact it used to be his universe to travel. And a bunch of ponies weren't staring at him either but that's beside the point. What Knuckles had in mind of this walk was to calm the nerves you could say, it wasn't exactly his words of course, but you could get the idea. He was near the top of the town when he noticed some weird skid marks on the grass going down the hill beyond the rail, "What could've created that?" he looked back ahead, walking aimlessly. When he looked back over the town, the tower is what he ended up looking at. He saw something hovering around it, and it was companied with something else, "Now what is that?" he decided not to hesitate, he jumped over the rail and slid down the hill, after another half minute to get back down, he ran toward the tower, as he didn't want to be seen by whatever it could possibly be. He found a path that ended up toward the tower, and hoped to figure what was going on, as soon as he got there, Knuckles didn't want to believe what he saw, you could even see him cringe for the moment. The black oozed from the vortex wrapped the tower, looking like veins that had some black steam coming off of it. And every now and then it would pulse a violet color, "What the heck is that?" he walked up to the tower and dug his claws into this mysterious substance. The hit recoiled and Knuckles backed off, only to realize it burnt his glove, steam was even emitting from it. Sonic and Tails obviously had no decision but to find Knuckles as fast as they could, and this is where their search led them. "Knuckles!" they shouted in unison. Knuckles turned around, looking shocked and annoyed. "You two... What are you doing here?" "We're trying to stop this town from getting hurt..." Knuckles snickered in a brat-ish way. "Yeah, ya see this?" Tails stepped forward, holding his arm out in front. "What is this?" Knuckles eyes widened in sudden realization, he grabbed Tails's arm. "Don't touch it!" he let go as quickly as he grabbed it, "It'll burn you if you're not careful. Anyway, what did you mean? This town is in danger?" he lifted his arm to the surging black veins of the tower, "Despite that..." "Eggman has made it here." Knuckles tightened his fists, remembering those visions vividly. "Then that's what I saw before." Sonic shrugged. "Then where is he?" Knuckles shrugged as he pointed toward the top of the tower. "Probably at the top of this tower..." Sonic sighed as he knew Knuckles's sarcasm. Some distance back, a group of ponies were walking an alleyway, once they walked out to the main path, they saw this scene before them. And as every single one would try to act, they galloped up to the scene. Ponies where in fear, there are creatures not seen before and the tower was entwined with some black vine like substance. "What the..." One realized. One nudged another. "Who are those things?" "And what happened to the Bell Tower?" this sight devastated them. "I don't know, Twister... But I bet those, things, over there are behind it." he frowned. Twister walked in front of them. "Alright, we'll show them not to mess with Altamare." "Yeah." the other two agreed. They galloped next to each other to form an arrow. "Hey! You three!" Sonic and Tails turned around. "Who are you three?" "That isn't important!" Twister snapped. "Why are you all doing such horrible things?" Colas asked softly, she seemed shy as always, even for toward the face of danger. Tails held his hand up in worry. "We didn't do this!" he looked toward Sonic like he would need help. "My friend is right, this is a misunderstanding." Sonic stated firmly. "Friend is about right..." Knuckles's annoyance grew by the second, his fist tightened. "We're being honest, somebody else is responsible for this, and we know who." "Then who?" they asked. Sonic and Tails looked at each other. "Dr. Robotnik." "Oh really?" Colos said sarcastically. "Out of all the arrogant." Knuckles turned around and pushed Sonic and Tails out of the way. "Knuckles, don't do that!" he walked quite bulk, you could practically feel the anger. Colas and Colos stepped in front of Twister. "Don't you dare hurt our friend!" that only boiled it more, he was just about to swing at them, when a voice cracked from the horizon. "Sonic! Tails!" Knuckles stopped instantly, making Colas and her brother flinch. "JetStream! You're here." he galloped, stopping to a halt. "Twister, Colos, and Colas. You're here too?" they were relieved to see a familiar face. "JetStream, we're glad you're here!" they pleaded. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Bell Tower, "The PIM detecting something extraordinary..." he wondered scratching his chin, "But what?" he looked to the town's stone ground through his blue tinted glasses. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "JetStream, help us fend these guys off." JetStream was hearing what he didn't want to hear. "JetStream, tell them we're doing for what's right!" they all took a step back. "JetStream, you're..." "They aren't the bad guys." they all gasped. "Ah! They brain-washed him!" JetStream sighed. "No, they did not. They're speaking the truth." JetStream looked to his left, "What is that?" Knuckles turned away from the group of ponies. "Don't touch it." Twister sighed. "Oh, so you don't know what that stuff is either?" he asked. Tails shrugged. "That is what we're trying to figure." suddenly an object lowered from the top of the tower. "Sonic, look above you!" he looked up. "Oh no. Everybody, move." all the ponies obviously didn't know him, but they all did think they knew in what he was doing, all of them of course, except JetStream and his friends, who decided to stay close. "Why are you four still doing here, go!" Knuckles ordered. "But, we want to he-." JetStream was cut off by a voice of laughter coming from the object that hovered a couple feet from the ground. "Eggman!" "What!?" the man leaned over his Eggmobile and looked down, "Eh, Sonic how'd you get here so quickly?" Sonic snickered. "I'm surprised you're surprised." "Silence..." he looked out through the ponies before him, out of the four, he pointed at one, "You!" JetStream stepped back. "Me!?" "Yes, you have an incredible power difference from the rest of the residence in this future-rubble of a town." JetStream grit his teeth. "You take that back!" "No, I wont. I'm practically giving it to you, you all..." he pointed toward his friends, "And the whole town will fall because of your puny innocence!" Tails was standing there, almost completely still. "Is it possible? He knows? Sonic..." "What is it?" Tails looked at him with a terribly worried expression. "Sonic he knows..." Sonic grit his teeth and tightened his fists. ~?~Chapter End~?~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 15 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 15: The Bell Tower Struggle! 'He must be the person they're talking about...' JetStream could feel something trembling, '...But I didn't sense it...' he stood there, his pupils small and trembling. "I must guess your reasoning for being here is to gather the Chaos Emeralds, before me?" he acted like he was about to laugh. Tails took a step forward. "It's the same as ever stubborn!" he shouted, Eggman lifted his hands toward himself. "Well pardon me..." he teased, "Now give me the Chaos Emeralds, or this, town will pay." he grinned madly as he played with his mustache. JetStream felt horrible just standing there, he knew he had to do something. "Talk about heavy desperation..." Twister said lightly. Suddenly, JetStream galloped to the Bell Tower. "JetStream!" Tails was worried of what he might do. JetStream was heading toward the top of the tower , hoping to find whatever he could to help. Eggman pointed towards Sonic. "Your distractions are useless." he stood on his eggmobile smiling. 'I don't know what he's doing, but it's definitely not a distraction...' Sonic thought, hoping JetStream didn't just go insane. As soon as JetStream reached the top, he saw it, the veins from the side of the tower were up here, wrapping around the bell, the big, golden, shiny bell. But something was different, the rings on the ground showed, even when it was covered with black ooze, but more ended up on the outer rings. Twenty-six symbols showed on the bell as well. "Could this be an alphabet?" JetStream thought it could be a long-shot, "And if it is... which one starts it?" he looked at every one awkwardly and frantically, but maybe he's got to think this through, soon the setting sun's light interrupted his thinking process. The orange glow slowly going up his body, "Of course, Celestial bodies..." he didn't want to be reminded on how he ended up thinking that, "The Sun is setting, maybe they went by Celestia... I bet there's a big chance they did. If the Sun sets in the west, the sun rises in the east... rises in the east..." JetStream carefully walked around the black and purple vines and positioned himself away from the east horizon and looked down at the alphabet below and grinned, "This must be how..." he looked at the bell and noticed the same was on the bottom facing outwards of the bell, "What if I, hit the bell in these places...? I can spell a word from here, that's probably how they'd send messages back and forth too..." JetStream always wondered what the bell was for, now he got some information he waited for. Even though it seemed relevant, he didn't think it was going to work, "But it's worth giving a shot..." he looked back down, he needed to hurry before the black covered the symbols, "Uh, lets try... Danger? ... 4, 1, 19, 7, 5, 18..." JetStream knew he had to try it, "Alright then lets do it." he started walking around the bell, and avoiding the ooze when necessary. He hit the bell when he passed the symbol he needed, "4... 1... 19... 7... 5... 18..." each hit delivered a different note, and as soon as JetStream finished, it continued without any force. JetStream was amazed by this, "Wow... It's an actual song..." JetStream looked down, the rings were brightly shining a cyan color, and on second glance, the black vines was fizzling away. JetStream was just staring it down, trying to believe what he is hearing and seeing, but the vines just keep burning away. Tails pointed right behind Sonic. "S-Sonic look, the vines they're..." Sonic looked behind him. "Huh? Whoa, what's going on? JetStream are you still up there?" Sonic shouted to the top. "Yeah, I am..." JetStream replied, Eggman suddenly realized his flaw in this. "Oh, I knew this was a setup! I knew it!" Eggman soon flew it back up to the top floor. "Oh no you don't!" Knuckles jumped and smashed the two spikes in his machine. "Oh, not you!" Eggman exclaimed. "Yes me!" Knuckles responded, the mobile started to short circuit. "Oh great... get off!" Knuckles was tossed, but he caught his footing. Sonic gave a thumbs up. "Nice, Knuckles." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meanwhile, at Canterlot. The song could be heard very lightly, Celestia jumped when she heard it, but then her eyes started to relax, she smiled too. "... Prosefhi..." she said without any context. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 16 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 16: Eggman shows his stuff The song from the bells continued to play. JetStream took a couple steps backward, "How long will this play?" Eggman was watching the fizzling of his plan, burning before his old-eyes. "No! This shouldn't happen! ... That retched pheasant..." Sonic laughed. "No dirty talk now, you should remember how innocent you said they were." Tails and JetStream sighed, 'You really didn't have to do that, Sonic...' JetStream thought it was a little much. "Oh, silence you!" Eggman suddenly out of his anger smiled and floated with his mobile back to the top of the Bell Tower. "Don't you dare, Eggman!" Sonic jumped, only to be stopped by some of the black that hasn't dissolved yet. JetStream looked over the edge. "Sonic!" Eggman's mobile hovered over the edge and toward the bell. And out of sudden realization, JetStream knew he might have to get hesitant, "What are you doing!?" Eggman laughed. "Although it may look like you're pushing your way through this... You may be the protector of this pathetic landmark..." 'Protector...?' "... But..." Eggman pulled a thick rectangular metal with an antenna on the front, and the typical red button on the front. If it was with Eggman, it was obviously not to work with him and the others. "Oh no..." it was like the whole city was out of the picture, it was just the tower alone, Eggman and JetStream, eye to eye. Sonic struggled to get free. "Get off!" Sonic looked up toward JetStream being cornered, he suddenly was broke free, "Oh, thanks, Knuckles." he tilted his head. "Now go!" "Right." he went to the top of fast as he could, but small spaces usually slow everything down, that especially meant here as well. "Agh!" Knuckles noticed some of the black fell of the tower and was plummeting straight toward them. "I got it." he jumped and punched it out of the way, landing holding his glove, the sizzling was audible. "Thanks, Knuckles..." he nodded, they both looked up, "Let's hope, Sonic knows what he's doing." Twister, Colos, and Colas walked up behind them, staring. Sonic landed on the top floor, he stood back up and pointed at Eggman. "Stop this now!" the cold feeling JetStream got was how he mentally felt, it must've been nervousness. But why was it lingering? "JetStream, are you okay?" he nodded, "Alright." he smiled, but it faded as he turned and Eggman suddenly pushed the button. It ended up sending a red beam out of the antenna. Sonic almost slipped trying to dodge. JetStream got an advantage of being further away, he swiftly dashed to the right, but missed it by an inch. JetStream knew that the beam felt horribly warm. The beam hit the wall behind him, resulting in an explosion, a chunk of the wall was gone. JetStream looked back, utterly terrified and shocked. "Oh my..." Sonic looked back. "JetStream! Head down the stairs I'll take care of him." JetStream nodded a worried expression, he headed toward and then down the stairs, not looking back whatsoever. 'That was close, what was that thing anyway?' only one of many thoughts JetStream focused on, 'How can we get rid of this guy?' Eggman furiously hit his mobile. "Curses, Sonic! Stop getting in my way!" Sonic stared directly at Eggman. "No..." he said flatly, no tone whatsoever. Eggman shrugged. "Alright..." he pointed the antenna directly at him, "... But I warned you..." and fired. And at that exact moment, Sonic disappeared, "What!?" Eggman frantically looked around. JetStream's Aura suddenly flared, he stopped climbing the stairs and looked around. "How did he do that?" JetStream shook his head and continued down the steps. Sonic reappeared on Eggman's mobile. Eggman looking around, felt the shift in gravity, he turned and was ready to fire when ready, but Sonic had already kicked it out of his hands. Sonic landed in front of him, waving his index finger. "Of course, your speed..." "Never underestimate me, doc..." he grinned. The device he kicked flew over the edge, he realized he sent JetStream back down, he ran to the edge, "Everyone! Stay clear of th-" by the time, it hit the ground. And unfortunately hit the button as well as it broke all at once. The beam ended up shooting toward JetStream as he just exited the tower, "JetStream look out!" he frantically looked, he saw and tried to dodge, but it was no use, as the beam ended up striking him. "Yes! A good successful hit!" Eggman exclaimed, striking different poses. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The warmth is what JetStream felt returned, there was too much to take in, and he could feel him losing himself, "JetStream!" his three friends yelled. Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles looked back. "Oh no..." while everyone was too shocked to move, Eggman started busting his machine's work before them. "Allow me to introduce you to my latest invention..." "What the heck is this thing doing!?" Twister shouted. Eggman laughed. "Well, all I can basically say is that he'll now listen to whatever I command!" he started to boast as everypony shared their thoughts expressively. JetStream's whole eyes started glowing red, "Ah, and it's complete..." This will be another battle of willpower. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 17 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 17: The fight for oneself Twister went ahead of the group, "JetStream, what did that thing do to you!?" JetStream paused. "I don't know! But I nee-" Twister's eyes widened. "JetStream, you..." he felt like he was struggling, he had control, but something was along side with him, overpowering him. Colos looked over to Twister. "Twister, what is it?" Twister sank to the ground. "We lost him..." he replied. Colos looked at Colas dearly. Soon he looked back at Twister. "What do you mean by that?" Innocent bystanders were terrified at what this machine was capable of. After no response, JetStream turned to Eggman. He walked to where he was at Eggman's side. Twister couldn't understand. 'Did he actually change!?' Eggman put his too hands together. "Alright, I'm glad you finally had a change of heart..." he pointed toward Twister and his friends, "Now attack them!" JetStream stood there. He suddenly showed pain as if it came from nowhere, just before his expression went aggressive. "No..." Twister backed down while he could, as JetStream had began to show his blistering speeds. As soon as he got close enough, he jumped to tackle them down. Eggman gave a wicked laugh. "This is incredible!" "No..." Sonic clinched his fist, he didn't want to hurt his own friends, especially since he assumed their his first. He decided to go out of his way to help, in some way. Suddenly Sonic showed up in time. "This is Equestria!" he violently pushed JetStream out of the way as hard as he could. Twister opened his eyes again. "Huh?" he went flying at an angle backwards. He landed sliding on his hoofs, as he stopped the dirt was flung straight at him. Knuckles noticed JetStream flinched as he saw the dirt fly. "Sonic, something is in his eye! We got this!" JetStream kept digging at his eyelids, he shook his head and gave a blank expression. His eyes were closed, but the glowing red was getting through the tight spaces. 'Alright, now's my chance to turn this around...' JetStream tried to pull the machines grip off. Psychologically, JetStream wasn't really angry, it was only the devices doing. But judging by what everypony has seen, it obviously makes a pony go mad, letting him or her fall under whoever's control. The only pony he should be mad at is himself. JetStream knew he was calming, pushing him to his Auric self. If the machine was going to get him angry, then he'll get angry too. While JetStream was standing there, a glow appeared like the Aurora around him, it was a dark red, 'Alright, now let's do it!' If JetStream knew he could smile, he'd want to. Eggman thrust his arm toward Sonic. "Get rid of them!" JetStream stood on his two hind legs before he started galloping at Sonic. "Oh no... JetStream!" Eggman watched closely as his enemy was going to get pumbled by his own ally. But just before he rammed, he turned roughly toward Eggman. "What!?" Sonic was standing there in a bit of surprise. "...?" 'Come on Eggman! Show me your best!' JetStream felt like he could've been screaming, what he needed was there. He jumped and put all his power into one single buck. The metal smashed inside and almost imploded, at the same time JetStream fell back to the ground on his side sliding back, in front of Tails. Tails instantly walked back, just in case if something happened. JetStream seemed like he looked down, Tails looked over, "JetStream...?" it was a little quiet, before he finally uttered the words. "Tails..." as his eyes turned to normal. He was breathing heavily. Tails instantly went up to him. "JetStream!" he ran up, and bent down, "Are you okay?" although he asked, he was happy to see his expression. Slow and weakly, he raised his head, smiling faintly looking at Tails. He could take that as a "yes" anyway. He smiled in return. JetStream stood up as his smile disappeared. Eggman's mobile was starting to emit smoke. "How did he manage to escape that!? It was escape-proof!" Sonic chuckled. "Obviously not my friend..." Eggman growled. "Silence!" Knuckles saw the black on the move once again. "Sonic look, over there!" "Hmm?" the black started floating near Eggman's mobile. It covered the dent JetStream made. "You will regret this!" he held his fist in the air and started floating away. You could easily spot him by the huge smoke developing from the malfunctioning parts. Knuckles jumped in the air. "Knuckles don't!" he stopped and looked at him. "What! He's completely vulnerable!" Sonic shrugged. "I don't care, we have to collect the Chaos Emeralds. Don't chase after him." Soon after he was out of sight, all the ponies started cheering and praising them for their rescue. Sonic looked at the whole city before him, "... But first let's get JetStream out of this crowd..." after a lot of thanks, they made it where it was quiet. To the top of the Bell Tower. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 18 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 18: Melancholy Gladden Sonic helped JetStream up the steps by holding him over himself, as soon as he reached the top he set JetStream to the side where he could sit on the floor, "... Thanks, Sonic..." he smiled back at him. "No problem." as he lifted JetStream's forehoofs over his head, Knuckles showed up afterward, appearing over the edge and landed as soon as he would. "Well..." he looked back to the crowd of ponies dispersing, "That was mildly annoying..." Tails appeared from the staircase. "Knuckles, they're only giving their thanks for driving him out... Besides..." Tails looked at JetStream, "This world is innocent." JetStream shrugged. "On a first impression sure, but..." JetStream wanted to continue, but seeing Tails shrug back made him cut it short. "Anyway, JetStream, how'd you figure that the bell would ward them off?" JetStream looked up, rather confused. "Wha-? The bell? Oh, I didn't know about it..." Tails scratched his head. "What!?" Knuckles exclaimed, "You know what could've happened if you didn't save us like that?" JetStream nodded, and utterly depressed about the awful imagination somepony could have. "Anyway..." JetStream slowly stood up, "What's up with this, Eggman character?" Sonic crossed his arms. "That egg-head? We've been enemies since we first met." Sonic stared into space remembering every encounter. "Is that why he knows about the Chaos Emeralds too?" "Yes, he uses them for his own machines, it's kinda like the way I use them... Except for a better purpose..." JetStream nodded. "Yeah..." Tails looked closely. "JetStream... is there something you're maybe, thinking about? Something on you're mind?" JetStream inhaled, and exhaled. "...Eggman said that I was, the protector of Altamare..." Knuckles shrugged. "That was him talking his usual non-sense." JetStream looked over to Knuckles. "No, I actually think he might've been right about something like it... but I can't put a hoof on it..." Sonic shrugged, looking at the others. "Maybe he just got the impression you were...?" JetStream shook his head and looked up. "There's something about this bell that I don't know, and ever since I've moved here it's always interested me..." JetStream sighed, "... Then again, maybe I'm just thinking too much about it." Tails smiled. "Yeah, that's probably all it is." "Who knows, we might just find out why later..." Knuckles stated semi-sarcastically. JetStream tried to stand, he fell backward from the energy output from the buck earlier, but went to stand up once again. "Are we able to go back?" JetStream looked back at them, everyone shrugged. "Guess so." 'But not, too innocent...' Tails thought, gaining a smile. They soon made their way back to JetStream's home in order to take their first flight ion the Tornado-1. JetStream decided to wait for them in his bedroom. He wanted to remember this for as long as he could. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meanwhile in the backyard. "Are you sure you're all ready?" Corolla asked. "Well, I could say we are, I checked the plane several times. I'm sure I can handle it." Corolla nodded. "Alright, you are the mechanic." Tails smiled as he held the wrench over his shoulder, moving his index finger across his nose. Sonic sighed. "Alright, Tails." Corolla laughed and walked back into the house. She walked into JetStream's room, she was standing next to his bed. "Well, it seems they're ready." JetStream nodded. "Alright then..." they both hugged in silence. "I'm going to miss you through this whole thing." her voice started to shake over JetStream shoulder, which really surprised him. "Yeah, me too Mom..." they broke it up, and JetStream continued to turn the corner, and to the back door. Corolla was just behind JetStream just as he opened the door, he turned to her with relaxed eyes and a confident smile, "We'll be back before you know it." Corolla almost teared up. "And I'll be here waiting..." the last thing she saw her colt walking out the door, and nothing after the door closed. She walked to the living room and let her tears finally drop, streaming from her left eye first. JetStream walked toward the Tornado-1 head down. "Alright, JetS-... are you okay?" Tails was hoping to know, JetStream nodded and raised his head. "Yeah... I am." Tails was a little speechless at what he saw. "JetStream, you're..." he shook it off while JetStream wiped the tears off the top of his muzzle. "It's alright, everything's fine." he stood firm, smiling as always. Tails gave a friendly laugh for good measure. "Alright then, let's go." JetStream hopped up. "Is there a certain seat I should take?" Tails shook his head, raising his arms at the seats. "Nope, take anyone you want." 'Alright...' JetStream took the one on the right, Knuckles who was standing next to the plane took left. Sonic jumped on the wings. "I'm still ever surprised I'm able to see." Tails muttered, he looked back toward JetStream, "Getting comfortable?" JetStream nodded. "Yup." he found the seat belt and clicked it, Knuckles watched closely, imagining what it would be like to go with only hoofs. "Alright, were should we go to look for Emeralds?" JetStream thought to himself, then seemed to catch one. "Well, there's this town called, Ponyville... We could check there. It's about... that way from here." JetStream pointed a little bit north of east. Tails nodded. "Alright! Are we ready?" "Yep." Sonic and Knuckles answered. Tails turned the plane and used the backyard as a run-way. Soon before the plane was off in the air in no-time. 'So this is what it's sort-of like for a Pegasus...' Altamare was shining even brighter then before. But JetStream couldn't dodge the fact that the whole world was turning colorless, but it was also weird how they seemed like they were ignoring it. "Next stop... Ponyville!" Tails shouted. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 19 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 19: Ponyville Thrill! There are a half-mile above the ground, where the plane flew. JetStream saw some figures on the paths of Altamare, he squinted his eyes, "No way... is that..." he stared for a bit longer, while his guess was right, his friends were waving him good-bye. Over excited, JetStream jumped up, only to be tugged back down from his seat-belt, he just decided to wave back and hope they saw it, Knuckles smirked and decided he didn't see that. "Hey JetStream, let me know when you see it." Tails asked. "Yeah, I will." JetStream responded. He smiled right after, it was a great feeling to feel like you're flying, and he thought that everypony at some point felt that way. As they kept flying, JetStream looked back and saw Altamare merging with the horizon, 'I'll be back.' he thought in confidence. The next thing he took notice was the clouds, you could almost touch them, and sometimes, Tails would fly right through them. Sonic shrugged. "I guess it's his first time flying." he talked only toward Tails. "Well, actually..." JetStream spoke up anyway, "If we had machines like these, it would be a first for every non-Pegasi. So that includes me." Sonic had his arms behind his head as JetStream spoke, but Sonic's arms fell once he finished. "What?" You mean you don't make these here?" Sonic tapped his foot on the wings, "These things are so simple." Tails waved his index finger. "I don't think they're as simple as you think, Sonic." he sighed. "Right..." JetStream suddenly jumped a little. "Tails! Right... there, with the river." "Alright." Tails responded. He slowed the plane down and started turning it toward the city, 'Gonna need an open area...' Tails thought like a pilot should, he found a big open field outside of Ponyville. And as they were landing, JetStream flinched, 'My ears...' he thought of this sudden pain, he held his hoofs over his ears. "Oh, don't worry about that, it's normal." Knuckles assured, JetStream nodded, but he waited to uncover his ears until they have landed. The plane landed with a sudden bump, and stopped within a good amount of time. Tails jumped off onto the dirt and grass and as he walked to the front, he slid his hands on the shimmering metal. "Alright, another successful flight, it's working great." Tails smiled, Sonic shook his head at the admiring as Tails grabbed his PDA from the front and expanded it, "Alright, where is the Emerald?" the PDA started scanning as JetStream looked over Tails's shoulder as he looked at him. "So that thing can detect Emeralds?" Tails gave a good laugh. "Yep, it's only a matter of time until... Oh no." Tails was shocked to see it pick nothing up, "Error 343..." he muttered to himself. Knuckles shrugged. "So I guess we're finding this thing ourselves?" JetStream stood up and looked toward Ponyville. "Wait... what did Twister say about?" JetStream suddenly realized, 'He said something about hyperactivity...' he seemed to look closer at Ponyville, and focus, 'Oh, wow...' there was a spirit, that was burning with a pink aroma, 'That's amazing, but why should I avoid it?' JetStream couldn't answer it, but decided to hide his Aura, maybe there is something special with this pony as well. "You okay, JetStream? You look like you're spacing out..." JetStream shook his head to reality. "No, I'm good, just some thoughts." Tails nodded. "Now lets go." "Alright!" Sonic dashed straight for Ponyville. "Sonic waitwedon'twanttocatchmuchattenti- of forget it..." JetStream gave a worried expression and shrugged. "Well, at least he's enjoying himself." JetStream assured. Tails sighed. "Alright, now let's go." JetStream nodded. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 20 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 20: Search for the fourth Emerald Part 1 "Alright, so where should we look first?" Tails looked at JetStream who stopped not to far ahead of him, Tails looked left to what seemed to be a barn in a field, "Well, how about we go check that barn before we go in-town?" Tails nodded. "Yeah." they both walked up to the front gate, where they walked in looking around a little suspiciously, one pony, looking down at them through the window decided to go down there instead of calling them from the window. JetStream knocked on the barn doors. "Hello...? Is anypony here?" soon after, hoofsteps could be heard against the aged wood, JetStream decided to stand back. "Who's knockin'?" JetStream stood higher. "Uh, me..." he smiled sheepishly, the filly looked right. "Oh my, I've never seen somethin' like you." Tails laughed lightly. "No, you haven't." there was a pause, this filly looked a little older than JetStream. Every cubic inch defined "southern". "So, is there a reason you two are here?" JetStream nodded. "I was hoping to ask you a question." the filly smiled. "Ask away." JetStream and Tails looked at each other. "Have you seen anything of a stone, perhaps, a shiny one?" the filly shook her head. "Well, no. No Ah haven't." JetStream looked toward the ground. "That's too bad." at one moment, a young red stallion appeared from the right side, it caught the filly's attention. "Hey, Mac...!" the red pony lifted his neck. "Hmm?" "Have you seen any, shiny stones lying around somewhere?" "Eenope..." the filly turned back to the group as the other grabbed a hay bale and walked back. "Sorry, you two, I could ask my Ma... But she's asleep and doesn't want to be awoken." JetStream nodded. "But thanks for the help." he smiled. "Oh, yer welcome." JetStream and Tails then turned around toward the entrance as Tails sighed. "Oh well, now where?" he looked around carefully. JetStream looked at Tails curiously. "Hey, Tails..." he looked at JetStream. "Yeah?" "So that machine of yours can detect Emeralds?" Tails nodded. "Yes, it can. But something is jamming it." he sighed and his head fell as he finished the sentence. JetStream suddenly stopped. "... Whoa..." Tails looked back to JetStream. "What is it?" JetStream pointed to the green leaves looming over nearer buildings. "Right, there... is that a giant tree?" JetStream wondered. Tails looked at JetStream as he started to jog. "Then lets go." JetStream slipped as he started to go into a trot. "Wait... up..." they soon passed the buildings and where on the inside of Ponyville, a lot more ponies were visible, "This town is more busy then anypony could expect..." "JetStream, the tree's over here." Tails headed toward what seemed like a big tree planted next to the dirt paths, "... Amazing..." he felt the sides, "It's so smooth..." he knocked on the tree a couple of times, "And really thick too." Tails looked at the rings the tree produced, 'This tree must be more then a thousand years old.' JetStream walked up beside Tails. "What are you doing?" Tails jumped. "Uh, n-nothing... let's go inside." Tails entered first, and JetStream followed after and he was amazed at what he saw. "All I see are a bunch of books..." Tails was astonished. "This must be a library, carved into a tree..." Tails decided to take a look around, "... How to cook. How Equestria was formed. History of Equestria... Now there's something I could read..." JetStream searched around as well. "Ah-ha! Sonic Rainboom..." "Ahem..." Tails and JetStream looked toward the entrance, there Sonic was standing, "Gentlemen..." "Hey, Sonic." Tails responded. "What are you two doing?" Sonic asked as they walked to the door and past him. He started tapping his foot once JetStream walked back in, "Come on, JetStream." he pulled a book from the shelf, "I'm coming, hang on." Sonic looked at JetStream as he passed, and suddenly stopped. Sonic rolled his eyes and walked in the library, and walked out just as JetStream turned. Sonic held a tough, plain brown, leather saddle-bag by his hand, "Gonna need this?" JetStream nodded. "Yeah." Sonic tossed it and the saddle-bag landed perfectly on his back. He then put the book in the left bag. They all soon continued their search for the Emerald. Sonic caught up to JetStream. "What did you get the book for? "No immediate reason..." JetStream smiled, he thought the idea of wearing a saddle-bag would be cool to wear anyway. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 21 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 21: Search for the fourth Emerald Part 2 JetStream, Sonic, and Tails continued to walk near the center of the town, "Where do you think Knuckles could've gone?" Tails shrugged. "I don't know, but he gave the Chaos Emeralds to me before he went... You know what? That makes me more curious..." Tails wondered as he tapped his chin. JetStream smiled. "Do you mind putting them in here?" JetStream shuffled his right saddle-bag. "Alright..." he opened the flap and put the two Emeralds in, "But you should know Knuckles would probably want them back." JetStream looked at Tails as he was closing the flap. "Probably..." JetStream shrugged. And as he did, a mare was walking right by them, she personally wanted a closer look. JetStream noticed her and decided to ask her same question, "... Uh, excuse me... ma'am... We were hoping that you've seen a shiny Emerald..." JetStream pushed himself to pull one out, he grabbed the white Emerald, "Like this..." she sighed. "Well, yes, I have..." she reached for the bag she wore around her neck and brought it out of hiding. Tails pointed at it. "Yeah, that's a Chaos Emerald." "A, what?" JetStream politely coughed. "Well, what he means is, yeah, that is what we're looking for." she pulled it back. "And what is your purpose for this, Chaos Emerald?" JetStream stepped aside. "These friends of mine are not from this universe." she gave an unconvincing glare. "I see that..." JetStream looked back at the two, then back toward the mare. "They need those before they can go back to their universe... These objects are not supposed to be left here, they're not normal..." she gave a bigger sigh. "Alright, here." she said rather quickly as she tossed it. JetStream barely dropped it. 'It was defiantly a good idea to get a saddle-bag.' In JetStream's hoof was the purple Emerald. "Sweet, we got another." Tails stated as JetStream put the Emerald in the right saddle-bag, JetStream held a confident smile. "That makes four. I guess we should head back to your plane, Tails. We got what we wanted... or needed." Sonic sighed smiling. "We need to find Knuckles first..." "Doesn't matter..." said a voice in the distance. Everyone turned around, Knuckles as walking toward them, "Sorry, I didn't find any..." JetStream took a step forward as Knuckles approached. "But we did, it's in here. You want them back?" Knuckles swung his hand at him. "No, it's your fault for joining us, so you carry them." Sonic looked at Knuckles a little disappointed. "Knuckles..." he raised his arms. "What? I'm just playing..." Knuckles nudged JetStream, "... Right?" JetStream sighed. "Yeah, sure." they all started heading to the outskirts of Ponyville, where they saw the plane exactly where it was. Knuckles put his arms behind his head. "So where did you find the Emerald?" "A mare gave it to us." JetStream happily replied. Knuckles held a fist. "I knew something was wrong with that one..." JetStream's head tilted. "... What do you mean?" Sonic held his hand next to Tails's left ear and whispered. "I bet I know a scene, especially with Knux." Tails giggled. "Yeah." he said quietly. AS soon as they got to the plane, everyone got settled. JetStream jumped into his seat and set his saddle-bag next to him. Tails got into his seat as did Sonic and Knuckles. "Alright, JetStream you got any more places you know?" JetStream looked around, already strapped in his seat. "Hmm..." he suddenly realized, 'Oh, yeah...' "Up there." he pointed toward a mountain just north-east, "It's name is Canterlot, we could check up there as well." he said as a memory started a playback. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Say goodbye to Canterlot, JetStream. Because soon we'll be back in Altamare." Myriad stated. JetStream shook his head. "No... I'll be here again..." he smiled. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Wow, all the way up there, huh? This should be interesting. Next stop is Canterlot!" Tails turned the key of some sort, and it started the engine. Soon the plane started to move. 'Wait, I should warn them, just in case...' the plane started to lift from the ground, "Tails, I kind of want to warn you about Canterlot." Tails rose an eyebrow as Sonic looked back, "What? Why?" "Canterlot's a royal city. So we should be careful on what we do..." Sonic nodded and looked forward as Tails smiled. "Gotchya." 'I'm glad you able yourself to listen...' JetStream smiled back as he had a good idea of what a friend is supposed to be, a good listener. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 22 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 22: Bad Canterlot impressions It was a good distance flight before anyone spoke up, "Well, JetStream apparently you know Canterlot. Do you suggest where we land?" JetStream shrugged. "Not a clue..." Tails groaned. "Well..." "Sorry." JetStream apologized, utterly awkward about it. "Oh, don't worry, it's no big deal." "But this is Canterlot we're talking about..." JetStream forewarned. "It's alright, JetStream. We'll just find an open area." Tails reassured. Sonic was quiet, looking into space, or whatever is up there. Knuckles was sound asleep. Tails looked sharp and something caught his eye, "Ah, there we go. Found a spot." Sonic's eyes jumped from the sky to Tails. "Alright, nice eyes." Tails smiled. "... Where exactly?" JetStream didn't mean to start the sentence like that. "Behind that... What is that? A castle?" Tails's head turned to JetStream, keeping his eyes ahead of the plane as well. 'Oh no...' JetStream decided to laugh his distress away, "Yeah, that's a castle." he stated matter-of-factly. "Alright, I hope they don't mind us landing here." "Me too." JetStream muttered and he tapped his forehoofs together as they flew in close, they reached a certain distance before the castle. Something gave JetStream a chill, 'No...' as soon as they landed, JetStream hopped out with his saddle-bag. "JetStream!" Sonic and Tails turned as soon as the plane stopped they jumped out too. Knuckles snorted himself awake. "Wha-?" Sonic back. "Com' on, Knuckles." "Oh, right." he vaulted over his seat, Tails saw that JetStream was galloping toward the gates of the castle. "What's got into him!?" 'Something's definitely wrong...' in the sky above, clouds started to form, JetStream sighed but continued. "Com' on you two, we gotta catch up to, JetStream." Tails and Knuckles were stumbling, it was a good 45 minute flight. They all reached the entrance, there seemed to be tons amounts of metal covering the marble floor. JetStream was shocked beyond belief. "JetStream, what's... Oh my... S-Sonic..." Tails motioned Sonic to get to them. "What is it, Tails?" he pointed inside without saying a word. "... Eggman!" JetStream's expression broke and looked at Sonic. "Let's go quickly." they rushed inside, when they entered, a loud beep was audible. Making Sonic and JetStream stop. JetStream fell over, but pushed himself back up. "Don't move, JetStream..." he didn't say anything, he just agreed. "Hey, why are you two just standing there?" Sonic wasn't even able to turn, Tails peeked through the crack of the door hinges, "Oh, it's Eggman's robots." Knuckles looked at Tails questionably. He nodded as Knuckles started beating his fists together, he jumped to the top of the huge door and went over it. Landing directly on the robot targeting Sonic, the loud crash got Eggman's attention, as he walked through the doorway in front of him. JetStream gasped. "What did you do to, Celestia!?" he had an outburst. "Her...? We, were, wrapped up in a conversation, until you pesky rodents decided to crash it..." JetStream was seemingly to boil, but the robot targeting him told him otherwise. Eggman let off a laugh, "My, aren't we in a tight spot..." Eggman turned waving his hand in the air like it was limbless, "Attack when ready..." JetStream got another cold chill, he closed his eyes and waited for anything to come. "..." his eyes opened and his neck went back up when he heard another crash, the robot fell as Sonic stood behind it. JetStream looked over to him, his eyes widened, and then he sighed, "T-thanks, Sonic." he gave a thumbs up. "No need, now go who you're after." he was about to move, but he didn't expect Sonic to word it the way he expected. "What?" "Go!" Sonic said the shortest sentence as JetStream jolted toward the door, and past Eggman. "... Excellent..." he quietly told himself victory as he gained the slightest grin. "Celestia! Celes-...!" the door shut behind hi, JetStream turned to the door just as Eggman closed it. He then had some sort of lock after it closed, "Hey!" JetStream galloped back to the door and tried to buck it open, "... No use..." something shifted in JetStream's Aura as he looked at the door. Something suddenly appeared in the room he was currently in, and without turning around spoke out, "H-hello?" somepony was there but she, or he, was extremely quiet. Looking down, JetStream slowly turned behind him, what he saw he couldn't believe, it wasn't Celestia. But a young mare had taken her place. She had the same glowing red eyes, her fur was a soft violet, with a navy blue, violet and pink colored mane and tail. Celestia obviously wasn't standing, she was on her side next to the throne. JetStream knew where this will be going, and he obviously doesn't like it. "I hope you like another dose of the 'ippos-manipulation!" Eggman exclaimed. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 23 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 23: An 'ippos-manipulation Stabilization! Ignoring Eggman's ominous insult, JetStream focused on the figure in front of him, 'I need to be careful, this is not her doing... not a bit of it...' JetStream knew he had to fend this young mare off, but without hurting her would be something to process, JetStream just stood there, gritting his teeth as she could charge at any moment. When all of a sudden the mare started galloping violently toward him. JetStream shook his head and started galloping too, but just as they would impact, he dashed to the side, feeling the wind rush past him, "... But how..." he continued as he tried to progress in the thought of getting her out. He turned around back at her, this mare's breathing was already audible, "Not much of a runner are you." he said matter-of-factly, and in no way did he mean to tease. The pony started at him again, "Oh boy..." JetStream mimicked her movement, just as they were about to clash, JetStream was ready to dodge once again. And just before he could move a muscle to do so. The mare did it herself. JetStream stopped instantly, and turned around as soon as the mare did, "She's still there..." they stared eyes to eyes. Not knowing this mare could get the message, he went and nodded to this mare with an angry, but knowing, expression. And for the mare's perspective, it gave her a spark of hope, "And I'll help..." JetStream remembered how he fought against it using his own anger to over come it. But how in the world will he bring it out in another pony? JetStream raised his right forehoof, and opened his mouth to say something, but the mare charged at him again. JetStream recoiled, he went ahead and took a defensive stance instead of charging. He was prepared to get hit, until they both bonked each other on the heads. JetStream was surprisingly pushed back, but he still held his ground. There were staring eye to eye, and even though it was a little nerving to see those red, glowing eyes. He had to keep standing. He inhaled and exhaled, "Alright... lets see if we can communicate..." since the mare was idle, JetStream thought that she could be fighting it. He went for his telepathy, but it was difficult with the sudden head-ache he earned. JetStream was standing in the same black nothingness as before, "... H-hello?" JetStream called out, but nothing seemed to show itself. Until he heard a sound in the distance. JetStream galloped to where he heard the sound, he saw something that started to glow a red color. He stopped in his tracks to get a better look, the same red eyes opened, and they got closer, "... Oh..." his ears went down as he realizes what's happening, he couldn't even see the pony, it was just the red eyes. They stopped right in front of him, "Wha...? Why are they up there?" the eyes leaned in, revealing the same pony bigger than a normal pony could ever be, "What's that?" JetStream started taking steps backwards, he was extremely dreading this situation, "... How is that possible? ... The... anger?" JetStream stopped himself, he started calming, even though his sub-conscious wasn't. The pony towering before him raised her left hoof, although that struck more fear, he suddenly outburst in hesitation, "This, isn't real! Anger is mental... Emotional, not physical..." a color started forming on the left side of where JetStream was standing, it was a red-orange mix, and it seemed to cover more and more above them two. The next thing was the sky started going from pitch black to a dark blue, JetStream's ears popped back up, "... A sunrise?" he looked at it questionably. Soon after he heard a screech, and it was impossible to ignore, and on impulse covered his ears, "Where is that... coming from...!?" the light shone, showing the whole figure of the pony before him. And the pony didn't seem to like it at all, even to the point of fear. JetStream smiled, he knew it was his chance. The sound wore off as he thought on one thing, but it wasn't necessarily clear. Soon enough the sun was clearly above the horizon, and the figure started to evaporate. Once it was done and gone, the same pony was back to her normal size, but lying on her side. JetStream's eyes widened in panic and he galloped to the mare. He circled to where she could see him, "... Hey... can you wake up?" JetStream gently nudged her, and her eyes suddenly opened surprising JetStream. But once she looked at him, the red glow vanished, and everything just disappeared. The next thing JetStream could see was that he was back in the same scene. But something else changed, her eyes were her natural violet, JetStream smiled, "We, did it..." she smiled just before she collapsed on the floor. And from using so much energy from the telepathy, he stumbled losing his balance, "A-are you okay?" JetStream leaned in, but fell back as the head-ache kicked back in, and he started to stumble, "This must be the withdrawal of... the..." he fell to the floor next to her, and his vision blacked out. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 24 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 24: Settling unsettling things As soon as JetStream blacked out, all you could hear outside of the door was a thump and nothing afterward. Eggman pulled away from the door, "I assume they have settled things." "What happened to, JetStream!?" Tails exclaimed. Eggman pointed his thumb toward the direction of the door. "Him? He basically got, caught up, in the heat of the fight." Knuckles took a step forward. "Fight?" "Yes, as you all deliberately destroyed the last one, I built another, simple as that." He preceded to pull it out, "I call it, the 'ippos-manipulator." "We don't care about that! Open the door!" Sonic ordered. Eggman smiled as he turned. "So be it..." he undid the lock and the doors swung open, what Eggman assumed to happen caught him by surprise, "What?!" he stared at the scene in awe, "This wasn't supposed to happen..." he said quietly. Eggman just stood there while they all ran past him to get to their aid. One of the robots from behind the front doors were starting to short circuit. Eggman needed to get out of here, he had places to go. But before he could make it out, one of the robots exploded, sending Eggman back a good distance. As it happened, an object flew out from the blast as well, and landed directly on Knuckles's head, making him fall to the floor. Tails and Sonic looked at him for the second. "You okay, Knux?" Sonic asked, partially smiling. Tails was snickering until he realized what he saw in Knuckles's hand from the floor breaking its fall. "Sonic, it's another Chaos Emerald." Tails pointed at the shiny yellow object, Knuckles eyes opened. "What, was that?" Sonic took the Chaos Emerald from his hand. "A Chaos Emerald, good job, Knuckles." Sonic patted him on the head. Knuckles grit his teeth in annoyance. "Alright, alright." Tails went back to JetStream, and kneeled down so he could pat him on the side of his stomach. "JetStream, can you hear me? JetStream..." Sonic looked throughout the entire room. "They're all really knocked out..." the violet mare shifted, and Tails noticed instantly. Tails looked at JetStream with a frown before he looked over to the mare. "Hey..." He walked over to her, "Are you awake? At least conscious... Can you hear me?" Knuckles looked back, there was no sign of Eggman anywhere, he just rolled his eyes and looked back toward the room. Then out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a white mass start to shift as well. "Guys, she's moving too." Sonic and Tails looked at each other, more worried than relieved. Tails looked back at the mare before her. Her eyes were opening so Tails decided to stand back. It took a while for her to recollect what she had lost, but once she did, she jolted up and backed away from Tails. "Ah! ... Who are you? What are you?" her concerns of safety rose as the presence of these not-before-seen animals were revealed. "Don't worry, I'm not here to hurt you. I came to see if you're okay." she didn't know whether to believe him or not, "My name is, Tails." he smiled, the mare was still quite shaken, she used all the courage she had. "Oh, well then hi, Tails." that's when she suddenly noticed the pony lying next to her, "Oh, no." she looked at Sonic, "Is he going to be okay?" "Yeah." Sonic assured, "He's only tired..." Sonic got the info from how his chest was at least moving. But when she took a closer look, she suddenly got this feeling of recognition. "Wait, this pony saved me from the thing's mechanism..." "What? Saved you?" "You guys..." Knuckles continued. "From the influence of that machine gave me, that this one thing had." Sonic snapped his fingers. "I bet that's the 'ippos-manipulator Eggman was showing us." Sonic shrugged at Tails. "The 'ippos-manipulator?" Tails nodded. "Yeah, he uses because he made it for one purpose of controlling ponies of this universe." she lifted one of her hoofs from the ground. "No wonder you three don't look familiar." "Ahem!" Knuckles finally got their attention, the mare jumped in shock as she turned. "Princess Celestia!" she galloped to her, revealing that everything is fine, "... Are you okay? Princess Celestia?" she tried to get Celestia off her side. "Princess?" Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles echoed as they're shocked to hear it. They gave each other looks as Celestia finally started to rise. "Oh my... What happened?" she held her hoof to her aching head. "Princess, it's over. And the thing that caused this is gone too." Celestia shook her head. "That is not good for the well-being of the future..." looking around her own throne room, and in the process, three figures stopped her train of thought, she walked a bit closer, "... And who are you three?" Tails got nervous quickly, Sonic and Knuckles were still questioning each other. "Uh, my name is, Tails. These are my friends, Sonic and Knuckles." "Mmmhmm..." she continued to look around, when she noticed a colt lying on the floor, "Oh my!" she exclaimed softly, "Is he alright?" As she continued to look, it suddenly hit her. The same mane and tail, it had to be him, especially with that Aura, "This pony is, JetStream. Why is he here?" "He's with us." Sonic answered as he held his thumb against his chest. Soon afterward, JetStream started to shift, Tails went to him again. "JetStream, get up." his eyes opened slowly. "T-Tails...?" he smiled. "You're alright." he assured himself. Celestia was surprised with what she was seeing, in which she smiled. "It seems you have already befriended him as well." the mare standing next Celestia was surprised to see the mercy of these two characters. "They were telling the truth, it's got to be, wait..." the mare turned to Celestia, "You know him, Princess?" "Of course I do, Twilight. I know his father and mother if I may add." "Sort of like you know mine?" Celestia nodded, and at the same time JetStream was able to stand, and smiled. "Thanks, Tails." he nodded. JetStream looked to his right, "Celestia! You're okay!" JetStream looked at the pony next to her, "I'm glad you're alright too." "Thanks for getting me out of that." she smiled, as did JetStream. "You're welcome." Celestia shifted. "Excuse me but, did I miss something?" Twilight turned to Celestia. "Yes, I guess you did, Princess. You see, JetStream, here got me out of the craze of that machine." Celestia as she heard the story. "That's what I would expect for a pony with an outgoing Aura like his..." Celestia turned to JetStream, "And I must sincerely thank you for saving my student, JetStream." he blushed. "Thanks, Celestia." she whole heartedly giggled. "So I assume we have all of this figured?" everybody nodded, "Alright, I'm glad we've gotten things under our control." JetStream took a step forward, losing his blush. "I gotta ask you Celestia, but where is the Royal Guard?" Twilight was shocked to hear that. 'He knows about the guard too? Maybe he has been here longer than I thought...' Celestia's eyes widened in remembrance. "That reminds my troubling thoughts, we better go get the guards out of the dungeons." Celestia offered JetStream and the others to follow, which they did. "... Dungeons?" JetStream asked. "Why yes, JetStream, this castle has had them for centuries." the path led them to go deep under the castle, where the walls were cobblestone, there were torches, but that weren't lit, with some struggling, JetStream could see fine, but Celestia insisted on lighting it for them. "Sure." they all responded in unison. Soon after the area started to glow, and Celestia's horn glowed a sun-like gold, Tails was astonished. "Amazing to see actual magic work." the mare went to focus also, soon enough, a purple-pink glow gathered around the mare's horn. JetStream saw that as the entire dungeon was completely lit. 'The magic is strong with this one...' they reached the cells and went to unlock all the locks done, the mare undid the next one, and JetStream undid the last, and as soon as it was he undone it, he opened the gate and let all the guards out by standing aside, "How did this happen anyway?" "Well, it was something awful, it was some black substance, or something like it." JetStream remembered and realized what she was talking about, "It overpowered us, and got all the guards in the cells after it was ordered by its creator, or whoever it was, so they couldn't help." JetStream leaned back. "Wait, overpower? The last time, or the first time we battled against it we were the ones to get the best of it." they both grew worried. "Could it be growing stronger?" JetStream nodded when he didn't want to. "There's a probability." Celestia spoke out. "Princess Celestia." they said in unison, "But for one thing, JetStream..." he turned to her, "You activated a certain pattern on the bell, correct? Back in your hometown." JetStream's eyes widened. "How do you know that?" Celestia looked up. "The first time I have heard that song, I was really young. Actually around your age." JetStream took a step forward. "Really? How come you know it?" she suddenly paused as she looked back down, opening her eyes. "... Sadly, that's beyond my ability to answer..." JetStream sank as Sonic waved his arms from the front door. "Celestia! All the guards are out." she turned to him. "Thank you, thank you all." they soon all headed out to get back to Tails's plane, where Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles were already outside. JetStream walked through to outside, but stopped and turned. "Excuse me, but I never got to ask you your name." he asked the mare, Celestia got her attention. "What is it, Princess?" she motioned her to look, "Oh... My name is Twilight Sparkle, JetStream." "It's nice to meet you, Twilight, and I got to get going." JetStream smiled, as did Twilight as she started waving goodbye, JetStream mimicked her as they continued to their next destination. Celestia smiled. "Be safe you four." Twilight looked up to Celestia. "Celestia..." she looked down to her, "I was wondering what were in those saddlebags of his..." "Who knows, he could be holding something for somepony, or be keeping something dear to himself. Lets go ahead and get back inside." as they did, the guards closed the door, saluting their Princess. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 25 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 25: A flight mentation "Hey, Tails, why don't you use your thing? The only places I know are Here, Altamare, and Ponyville." Tails pulled his PDA out. "This? It's Miles Electric. But yeah, I guess I could. I haven't used it since... well since before were ever ended up here." they all got in their seats, JetStream sat in last, and put his saddle-bag near him. "JetStream, here..." JetStream toward Knuckles only to realize he tossed the Emerald, luckily he caught it. "What!?" JetStream exclaimed as he held the object with his hoofs, he looked in the right saddlebag and opened it, "Where did we find it?" Sonic laughed. "We actually have no clue." JetStream's eyes widened. "What!?" he laughed nervously, "You got to be kidding..." he opened the flap to the right bag and put the fifth Chaos Emerald in it, JetStream noticed that the saddlebag's weight was almost balanced, and yet he sighed knowing it would be more weight to carry, "Thanks, Knuckles." he gave him a slight nod. "Everyone, it's packing up a signal." JetStream expression rapidly changed. "Really? Awesome." Tails suddenly went very silent. "... It's the ones we already have..." Tails stated discouraged. Everyone slumped down and Sonic fell as Tails scratched his head, "Hang on, let me adjust it to greater distances... Ah-ha! We got it." Tails pointed north, "They seem to be from the north. And it's quite the distance away." Tails hopped in his seat, "Alright then, lets get going." the plane's front propellers started to turn and accelerate for their second flight. JetStream felt like he'd never get used to the take off, although it was worth the view afterward, the plane was already high in the sky near the castle heading north. Soon after, cloud passing another cloud, things start to get quiet. It's just the wind and the ambience of the plane for now. JetStream consciously thought to himself and knew he wouldn't be doing much talking. Knuckles would just drift off into sleep. But Tails and Sonic on the other hand, they'd go on like they had an adventure, which JetStream thought that it may be usual for them anyway. 'Just how long have they known each other?' JetStream stared off into the blue sky, 'And that ring Sonic has, what is it?' he remembered the turquoise ring Sonic wore on his glove, and that's exactly where he looked, 'Then where is it now? It it's not on his glove...?' JetStream looked at his saddlebag, and opened the left flap. The book was still there, JetStream's eyes widened. The ring was under the book he got from the library tree, 'He must've put that ring in here when he grabbed a saddlebag for me...' he went ahead and grabbed the ring, making sure the book wasn't visible, 'I wonder if it fits me too.' JetStream's childish curiosity kicked in as he decided to put the ring on and wear it, '... It's a little tight...' he decided to take it off and put it back on top of the book and closed the flap again, 'I wonder where he got it from...' JetStream dragged his mind away from one thing to another, 'That Eggman character obviously poses great danger. But can I trust all of them? Of course, that's pretty obvious as well... I'd just ask them... Would they answer, teamwork... or co-operation? But what if those two are the same? Then how will they answer that...? They're not bad characters... it's just... well...' JetStream looked over toward Knuckles, 'Being aggressive is one thing... And evil is nothing nopony should deal with, but even if they do, it's just got to be for peace in the near future...' JetStream smiled, he was finally able to relax, but his smile faltered, 'But what is the evil...?' his thoughts took him back to Altamare, at the Bell Tower specifically, and what Twilight said before, 'Is it really getting stronger? I'm sure I have no idea, but we're going to need to keep an eye on it... If we can.' "JetStream, we're half way there." JetStream snapped to reality. "Oh, okay." Sonic ended up staring at him. "You seem off, JetStream..." JetStream looked at the ground miles below him. "Hmm, yeah..." Sonic smiled. "Burn off all of your excitement, JetStream?" as soon as JetStream was starting to crack a smile, he turned his head, when he suddenly felt stiff, as in a full body cast. Tails looked around. "Uh, did it just get colder?" Sonic stood still. "Yeah, I guess you're right..." JetStream felt heavy for a moment, his breathing was heavier, "Well, it does say that temperatures do get colder up here, being north and all." JetStream tried to nod as he was gaining his strength back. JetStream decided not to think of anything to pass the time, because it was too difficult to pull off. Soon enough Tails announced what JetStream wanted to hear. "Alright, we have arrived." Knuckles snorted and slowly woke himself up. "The-there already?" 'It was a 45 minute flight... sleep works in mysterious ways...' JetStream thought. He looked at the place they'd be landing in, it automatically surprised them all. "No wonder it picked up the Emerald here, everything shines!" JetStream pointed north-east their direction. "Hey... Look over there!" JetStream pointed toward a tall crystal in the middle of the city. "That crystal's colossal." Sonic got Tails's attention. "How about we land there, Tails." "Alright." they landed on the inside of this city near the edge. Knuckles was the first to jump out and Tails was the last as they all looked at the lustrous landmark before them, "Well, are we ready to go?" Sonic pointed his thumb toward JetStream, who was still trying to grab his saddlebag. "He's not." JetStream grabbed it, but once he pulled , he fell off the plane and onto the ground where his saddlebag plopped next to him. "R-ready..." JetStream frailly responded. Tails and Sonic gave a good sigh. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 26 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 26: Strange new place(s) They all walked to what seemed the entrance, it had two dark red sharp and gleaming crystals on each side, "Is it possible that all of this is crystal?" JetStream scratched his chin as he paused and eyed the crystals for the moment. "... I don't know..." JetStream went to get a closer look at the crystal, and knocked on it with the top of his hoof, "But it seems to be." He suddenly felt something warm around his hoof as he placed it on the crystal, "... Whoa... hey, do you guys feel that too?" he showed his hoof on the crystal, Sonic tried to do the same. "Well, I feel the crystal, is that what you mean?" JetStream shook his head. "No, not that..." "Feel what?" Tails asked. "It just, feels, warm... hmm, I guess it's just me then..." he forced himself to realize it may have been just his fur, and how he knows that everybody gives off heat, he looked at the same hoof as he took it off the crystal, and sighed just before he continued walking, "I guess we'll just continue." "... You know, it's obvious we've been here a good couple od minutes, but this place has already caught my curiosity..." everyone looked at Knuckles, and Sonic laughed. "Despite all the crystals, then what is it?" Knuckles looked toward the sky. "Guess it's just the atmosphere alone..." as they came closer, something caught Tails's eye. "Hey! There are more crystals up there too! Maybe that's where the citizens reside." "Well, depending on what we saw during the flight, that large crystals in the middle of it." Sonic looked directly at the large crystal in front of him. While JetStream suddenly galloped toward the inside of the town. "JetStream! Wait up!" he looked back and smiled. Upon examining the environment, JetStream noticed that the ground had changed dramatically, he was standing on the crystal paths with green grass that companied with the crystal houses, and the green grass almost looked just as green as Altamare's grass, while on the outside, it was just dirt. And at the deepest parts of his emotion, as if he could've seen a flashback. "What happened here?" he quietly asked himself. Soon afterward, Tails, Sonic, and Knuckles passed him. "Com' on JetStream, we need to pace ourselves." Tails rose his hand to wave at JetStream. JetStream proceeded to take his first step inside, it felt welcoming, JetStream even started to smile. When they finally reached the circle-shaped city, they were able to take their first glimpse. "Wow, this place looks tons like Canterlot." it seemed to resemble, but it wasn't cluttered, and most of the buildings were different colors also. "So, I guess we start looking around?" Knuckles shrugged. "Same as ever." there were about eight houses that were nearest to the largest crystal, JetStream sighed. "Alright then, I guess we'll just have to ask if they've seen it... if it's been here." "Then go ahead." "We got, other plans." Tails smiled sheepishly as he started to push Sonic one direction. "Hey! Wait... Tails... what plans?" "Just go with it..." he instantly muttered and went back to his smile. Knuckles removed his right hand from his forehead and looked at JetStream. "Alright, I guess it's just you and me." Knuckles stated, JetStream turned instantly. "Yep, I'm definitely going to ask random strangers." JetStream mentally face-hoofed at his "Oh well" tone, '... With the courage please?' Knuckles passed him. "Well, let's get a move on." JetStream jolted and paced him back to Knuckles. "Right." but he said it in a way as if he was curious, JetStream rolled his eyes to the ground. "So, how are you going to ask them?" "What?" JetStream smiled. "Just asking..." Knuckles laughed. "I ain't, you are." "Of course." Knuckles closed his eyes in a happy way. "I'm glad you agree with me." "What!?" JetStream jumped, "I never even said that!" Knuckles scoffed. "It seems like ya did to me." JetStream smiled. 'This may be how Sonic feels... I wonder what they're even doing right now...' JetStream kept his thoughts busy as they approached the first house, and knocked the door. Afterward the door opened, leaving an audible creak as it did. "Who's there?" JetStream was a bit surprised. 'This isn't really the best state I've ever seen a pony in...' "Just... us, sir... we were hoping to ask a question for... you..." the pony had an odd transparency with its fur, "How come you look like that? ... if I'm able to ask, of course..." he sighed. "It's not likely for you foreigners to know us..." JetStream and Knuckles looked at each other. "Us...?" the pony annoyingly sighed. "They call us, Crystal Ponies..." he raised his hoof toward the crystal behind them, "And that there is the Crystal Empire..." JetStream's eyes sparkled. "Wow, that's incredible!" the pony seemed to flinch. "Now alright you asked your question, now ge-..." he was interrupted by JetStream. "Sorry, about that... but that wasn't what I was going to ask you..." 'Something doesn't feel right...' Knuckles thought. "Then what were you going to ask me?" JetStream jumped for no reason. "We'd hope to ask you if you have seen a shiny object..." the pony yawned as he checked the sky, waiting for JetStream to this shiny object out from his saddlebag, "Kind of like this..." he shuffled, and that's when JetStream noticed their houses weren't too lit. 'Something is wrong with this picture...' Knuckles continued to think as the pony shook his head. "No I have not." he backed up and swung the door close, but just before he saw the door close on his muzzle, the pony wasn't transparent like he was just moments ago. The pony's emotions spinning, although the appearance of Knuckles didn't urge him, the pony he engaged conversation with wrapped a memory in his mind, and upon remembering such a terrible past gave him a head-ache, as something was trying to erase deliberately, "After four centuries, another is upon us..." he said desperately worried. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 27 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 27: Sixth Emerald search, Crystal Empire! JetStream still had his hoof raised even after the door shut, "Uh, Knuckles... I think there's something wrong with the, Crystal Ponies here..." Knuckles crossed his arms. "I thought they were weird in some way, and here they go slamming some door in the newcomer's muzzle, oh well JetStream, let's go check somewhere else..." as Knuckles turned around, he grabbed JetStream's tail. "Hey!" JetStream looked around, "Don't do that!" Knuckles looked back smiling, but it dropped as he looked back. He noticed JetStream was blushing. "Alrighty then, but I'm choosing where next..." Knuckles stated looking at JetStream walking past him. "Fine..." he loosed his blush instantly. After a short pause he turned around, "You know Knuckles, he seemed very... depressed, given their image. If I looked like that, I would be as happy as I could be... but it isn't how he felt, obviously..." they started walking to the next door, hopefully they'll get answers as they reached for. As soon as they reached the door, they knocked. The door slowly opened, but yet nopony appeared behind it, "What...?" Knuckles shrugged. "Walk in there." JetStream's eyes widened. "Wha-!? I wouldn't do that! That's too... creepy... if that's the word..." Knuckles pushed JetStream to the side. "Alright, it's obvious I'll have to let myself in." and JetStream watched as he peered through the door, "Hello?" as he started to walk in. JetStream just decided to stand and keep watch, he didn't want to be seen doing something like this. "Uh, Knuckles... Why don't we check the Crystal Empire?" he suggested looking at this colossal structure. "'Cause that's the first place they'll expect us to look." JetStream sighed. "Well, this is the second..." he muttered and turned to the house, "And don't you think it would go faster as well?" "Could be possible." he answered still looking around. And JetStream just watched him further. "How come this doesn't bother you?" "Because I've practically done this tons of times." he said flatly. JetStream's mouth went wide open as he saw Tails, and Sonic heading toward the Crystal Empire. "Even Tails, and Sonic are going over there Knuckles! We have to!" Knuckles sighed as he walked out. "Go ahead then, I'll search alone..." JetStream jumped in the air. "Haha! Thanks Knuckles!" he started to gallop at where he saw the two. "So, what do you think this could be?" Sonic asked, Tails only shrugged right after. "Don't know, but it's supposedly in the middle o-" "Hey!" Sonic and Tails looked around toward the sound. "JetStream!" he stopped right before them, "So how's your search so far?" he asked looking between Sonic and Tails. But only for them to shake their heads. "Nothing so far..." JetStream's attitude shifted just as much as theirs. "We haven't found much either." "Why are you here, and not with Knuckles?" JetStream immediately smiled again. "He let me go to the Crystal Empire to search for it, and that's when I saw you two." "The what?" JetStream pointed toward the huge and obvious crystal behind them. "... Oh..." Sonic broke the silence and started walking toward and inside, "So this is a Crystal Empire? I wonder how it was used considering it has Empire in its name..." "Actually it's the Crystal Empire." JetStream corrected. "Ah, so there's only one." Tails reassured himself. "Yeah." JetStream responded and started to walk inside as well, Tails followed behind him. Inside was a flat, feature-less room. Sonic pointed to the left of them, behind the chair, "There are stairs over there." JetStream continued. "Alright then, lets go." Tails rose a finger at him. "That's my line." JetStream let a friendly laugh as he looked back to the staircase, it reminded him back at Canterlot about climbing the stairs to get to the very top. "The top..." JetStream suddenly had a brainstorm, "Sonic... Tails, what if the Chaos Emerald was at the top of this Crystal?" Tails scratched his left ear. "Could be ..." Sonic grabbed Tails's arm. "Com' on let's go." they both passed, JetStream looked around before he headed up, getting a shiver before starting up the steps, "Whoa, JetStream, check this out." Sonic looked down from the open space as JetStream neared the floor. He poked his head from the floor and looked around. What he saw amazed him too. It was a throne that had a red carpet on it, and continued to the edge of the room. But behind it there were tons of crystals that all shone around the color purple, the biggest one, or the one near the top was a shade darker than the rest. "Wow, just thinking about this room makes me feel like I'm supposed to see a Princess..." "Why a Princess?" JetStream looked around. "All the crystals..." Tails gave a weak laugh. "Yeah, of course." JetStream continued walking to the throne, he liked the sound that it made when his hoofs hit the crystal, it was a unique sound, he reached the middle of the room when he suddenly jerked himself. "Ah!" Sonic snickered. "You okay?" JetStream was suddenly shivering. "Yeah, but I... I felt like I was falling..." looking at the ground, he continued to walk on it, "I have this weird feeling..." he hit the ground, "Wait, the ground here is... hallow?" he walked around to compare, "Yeah, it definitely sounds different then anywhere else." "So, what are you concluding?" JetStream looked at Tails. "... I think there might be something down here..." ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 28 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 28:Mysterious Reoccurrences! JetStream jumped on the seat of the throne, Sonic looked at JetStream, "You got something in mind?" JetStream looked back at Sonic. "Huh? Oh, yeah, it's got something to do with this crystal..." he leaped for the top of the throne where the largest crystal was resting. Tails jumped of how big the drop was. "Be careful, JetStream." JetStream ended up sticking his tongue out in concentration, when he suddenly looked back down. "How come thrones are always so big?" Tails and Sonic shrugged after a second passed, JetStream seemed unsure of himself, "... Oh well..." he balanced the top, and reached for the crystal, where Sonic was astonished. "That's a great balance you got..." "..." JetStream was too focus on not losing his balance at the moment, where this crystal object was still his focus, as soon as he got close enough, it felt like everything went silent. He touched the crystal, and suddenly stumbled, "Ah... this head-ache, is..." he slipped off the throne. "JetStream!" they ran up to him, but he landed on his left side, and slowly got back up. Sonic and Tails caught up, "Are you alright?" Tails asked. "I'm fine... just probably bruised..." Sonic nodded. "Good... but what happened up there? You had the balance to keep yourself from falling..." JetStream winced again as his vision blacked out, and the head-ache returned. There were sudden noises as like a train would've passed you at the station. Something shot through his mind, and he saw something. It looked like two ponies who were here in the same exact room. One pony was standing next to the throne was a unicorn while the other was sitting in it, he had a horn and wings, and his appearance overall to be black having some sort of red cape, and his own horn was glowing red, but he wasn't using magic, that's when the vision suddenly vanished. JetStream lied there with a slight transformation, his eyeballs were green, while his pupil and iris were red. But as soon as he gained his own vision back, the sudden colors vanished back to normal. Everything JetStream right now was a bit blurry. "JetStream, what happened?" he held his head as he sat up. "What did I just see...?" Sonic looked away from the crystal behind the throne. "You saw something?" JetStream tried to stand, he could walk, but looked rather stiff. "Well, yeah. It was like a flashback... I saw two ponies in this room..." Tails looked down for the moment. "So it could've been from another time!" "Really?" JetStream and Sonic asked. Tails nodded. "Yeah, it's a possibility." JetStream looked at his right hoof. "But, the feeling I had when I touched it, the crystal." they all looked toward the top most crystal, the largest one, "Was it the crystal itself? Or was it just me...?" JetStream thought harder on what he saw before, 'Or, both...?' he stopped and started walking toward the crystal slowly, as if he was zombified. "JetStream? What are you doing?" JetStream knew he needed to focus, it somehow couldn't have been a flashback, but it was a memory, he stopped right before the crystal, and pushed his right hoof against the crystal. He suddenly felt weak all over again. "I'm feeling... it's... happening again..." Sonic looked sort of expressionless, either he knew what JetStream was doing, or he was worried about the crystal's actions, while Tails was worried overall. But instead they just stood there waiting for the next one to occur. Something shot through his mind, bringing another head-ache, and his eyes and pupil with his iris turned green and red, except this time it was faded, and it didn't seem to be as strong as the last. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The caped pony mentioned the smaller one to get over to his position, "I'm afraid, you, are the one that needs to get out of here, I don't want another hurt on my part..." the pony before him was at a loss of words, the small pony stood up taller. "But, what about you? What will they-?" he hammered his armored hoof against the ground, resulting in a loud clang, the pony jumped in response. "No more!..." the caped pony responded, "You must go." his angry expression didn't change as he faced the throne, and he seemed to focus as his horn started glowing white. ('What...!?' JetStream thought, 'I've never seen a white horn Aura before...') But then it quickly turned black and started to form purple and green particles, his eyes had a glowing purple flag-like shape on the edges of his eyes. ('What is that?') JetStream's expression matched the small pony's perfectly, a sudden bolt of black electricity was shot toward the crystal. ('What is he doing...!?') The small pony was amazed by the caped one's appearance, he looked at the crystal. The shot of his horn was sucked into the crystal, turning it from purple to pitch black. Both ponies turn to realize they're almost through the door. ('I wonder what he's doing with that...') A thin black blanket was expanding from the crystal, "Stand back..." the caped pony ordered, so the pony did. "Is this what you showed me decades ago? Is this the fear and anger's power shown to me?" ('Decades!? He should be a lot older then what he looks...') The pony looked no more then a young stallion, as soon as it caught his vision, the whole floor was being erased, revealing a staircase below it, which the small pony looked at the caped one nervously. "Don't stand there, they'll break through that door very soon... Go!" out of shock, the pony started down the stairs, as the other sat in his throne, looking ready to take his civilians on. Everything else afterward vanished. And JetStream regained his vision. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sonic and Tails were relieved to see JetStream open his eyes after a long time. He was like that, standing around for five minutes and almost collapse to the floor the second time, "What did you see?" Tails asked. JetStream tried his best to look up. "Something that might help us." he gave a faint smile as Sonic and Tails looked at each other. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 29 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 29: Twisted Vivid vision Sonic and Tails backed up as JetStream was able to stand again and shake it off, "What I saw, was there an actual staircase below this floor?" they looked at each other. "How exactly?" JetStream turned to the crystal. "That crystal, it will help us with that..." JetStream looked back between the two, "...Revealing a staircase..." Sonic took a step forward. "So how do we reveal itself?" JetStream remembered the vision almost vividly, and that's when he stated the words. "Fear and anger..." Tails and Sonic looked at one another. Sonic scratched the back of his head. "Maybe it's not as light as we thought..." JetStream remembered countless events before now. "Not at all... anyway, we, or I have to use it on that crystal..." Tails was still confused. "Well, then how are you going to use it on the crystal?" JetStream sighed. 'I could try to see if I could get the same reaction if I had a horn... but maybe I can try something else...' something about that pony in the vision interested him, "The pony next to the caped one... It felt like I should've known him... do I?" despite his dialogue, he continued toward the crystal. "Careful..." Tails warned. JetStream mouthed the words "I'll try" as he looked up at the crystal, he wasn't going for magic, but for his Aura instead. 'I don't have much experience with my non-existent horn, but my Aura is something I'm really bonded to.' he stood still, and focused as he closed his eyes, 'Here we go...' his tone was a little worried, either that or monotone. JetStream could feel his heart starting to beat harder, 'Fear and anger... can I pull that off?' he tried to recognize past events to help. As he was shot by the 'ippos-manipulator. JetStream's Aura grew visible, and slowly turned red. Sonic and Tails were surprised to see this. "That's amazing!" Tails couldn't bare to look away at least a second. "... ... ..." Sonic just stared, and hoped everything will go as they all panned. As he was still learning his Aura, he was satisfied with his progress, and it was still only the beginning. 'Anger, not power... Anger... n-not power...' his words started to jumble, his Aura went from a red to a brown-red mix, he closed his eyes tighter, grunting, and trying to keep it together, '... Fear.... fear.....' his Aura slowly turned grey, and seconds later became black. "Alright, JetStream! You're, doing... great...?" Tails was unsure if it was time to celebrate, JetStream's quivering stopped, he stood like a statue. At the closest to his body, his Aura started forming purple and green. At the corner of his eyes, a purple smoke started forming, when he opened his eyes, the whole eye was green, and nothing else, 'I... I am....' he was doing it much faster and tons better than he thought he would be. His Aura seemed to start flowing toward and inside the crystal, making it just as black as he saw in the flashback. Sonic and Tails were worried, as a thin blanket was stretching, they were almost thinking if JetStream knew what he was doing... and if they did dare ask... they probably wouldn't like either answer. "Stand back..." he told them for their safety, for the split moment his voice sounded distorted, so they did what he told them to do. The marble ground started fizzling away before their eyes, revealing a staircase before them. Seconds after, JetStream dropped all focus, his Aura vanished, so did the particles around his eyes as his normal look started to come back. He stood still, he didn't even falter, he was just breathing heavily. He slowly turned to Tails and Sonic, their expressions showed that they're completely surprised. "JetStream that was incredible!" Sonic smiled. "Yeah, what a display." JetStream smiled getting the fact they were surprised, but he didn't feel to confident. "I... I didn't...." they both walked over to him. "But first of all is that you're alright, right?" JetStream nodded. "Yes, I'm fine, it's just-" "We got to get down there." "... I didn't do that...." Sonic and Tails were shocked as they finally heard what JetStream had to say. "Do what? It looked like you did the whole thing to me..." "Well, the thing is... I didn't think I would've got nowhere near where I ended up." Sonic smiled. "I guess you got lucky then." "No!" JetStream hit the ground with his forehoofs, his Aura showed red for the moment he hit them on the marble floors, "I didn't even do a quarter of it!" "What!?" JetStream sighed heavily. "Exactly! Something was along side with me..." JetStream calmed as he walked toward the staircase, ".... Something I should probably know....." he looked rather depressed suddenly. "Are... are you okay, JetStream?" he inhaled deeply. "Yeah, it's just... left over from the... whatever you would call it... the anger and fear..." he exhaled. Simultaneously a smile cracked open, "Alright, let's go." JetStream started down the steps, Sonic and Tails continued after. "You know what, Sonic? I actually wouldn't blame JetStream. Fear and anger is a really good twisted-perfect combination." Sonic nodded. "Now let's get that Chaos Emerald." ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 30 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 30: Stairs Galore! Tails sighed, "These stairs will go on forever..." JetStream peered over the edge looking either down. "Forget it, keep going..." Tails continued to walk forward, although something felt different. 'There's something with, JetStream.' JetStream sighed as well. "They'll have to end sometime..." he knew it was going to end anyway, with his Aura seeing the outlines of all the objects JetStream's eyes can catch, therefore it wasn't all that far away. The stairs continued to curl in there DNA-like form, Sonic though was impatient, he looked back between JetStream and the front him. "Alright, I'm just going to jump down." Tails stopped and turned to him. "What!?" JetStream gained a small grin. "Sorry, I can't wait any longer." he proceeded to jump. "Sonic!" he was expecting to fall quite a ways. But to his surprise, he landed on ground in just the first ten seconds. "What?" Sonic looked at the feet, as if he was hallucinating, Tails just sighed in relief. And JetStream's grin broke into laughter. Sonic and Tails stared at him like he was a mad pony. "Sorry, I just... the thing is I already knew where the bottom was, or is..." he responded after his eyes opened again. Tails was only unsure. "Why didn't you tell us?" he asked. JetStream finally hit the bottom ground, he looked back toward Tails. "I wanted to see what would happen." they still didn't give any reaction. JetStream shrugged, "Anyway, it looks like there's a door there..." Sonic walked toward the door. "I guess this is our only way to... continue?" the door suddenly somehow slid to the other side of the room, JetStream and Tails stared at each other. "You got to be kidding." they muttered in unison." Sonic decided to run to wherever the door would end up, but before he got to it, the door moved again. Sonic dashed toward the door as it did, but it still was smart enough to dodge. Sonic huffed. "Well this is getting irritating..." JetStream examined the door, only because it could somehow move on its own, when he suddenly realized something. "Sonic, look... above the door." Sonic did, he saw another small purple crystal placed above the gem-like door, Sonic and Tails looked awfully toned some way. "Are you sure you want to do this?" JetStream inhaled. "If it's to get the Chaos Emerald, then yes." they both decided to stand back. "We're ready, JetStream." Tails stated. He nodded looking at the crystal. 'Same as last time, same as last time...' Once again he focused on what he heard in the flashback, happening a lot faster than what he previously did, JetStream again focused on shooting it at the crystal, his Aura went black, and a tiny purple and green color started showing on the inside of it. JetStream's eyes went green and his iris, and pupils went red, and the purpled entity on the corner of his eyes seemed, stronger, and more vivid then it did before, 'Come on... shoot it!' his Aura shot instantly, while JetStream jerked as it shot, and he slowly started to shiver. His own Aura ended up flowing into the crystal above the door, turning it pitch black. Then it spread to the entire door, opening it. "Wait... It's just.... a..... wall......" JetStream suddenly became very still, although his Aura vanished from its black state, his eyes stayed exactly the same. He got another head-ache right after, "... It's happening again...." his voice was audibly monotone, his vision suddenly went white. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The flashback brought him to the same pony escaping was using the door to get through, "If I remember right... it was..." the pony's horn started to glow, "... Hope and Mercy..." ('What is it this time?') It shot and hit the crystal, JetStream looked rather eager to figure out what might happened. As soon as hit the crystal, it reflects a rainbow of colors, after seconds passed, the pony opened the door, "So it worked! ... oh, great... more stairs..." ('...') The vision faded and JetStream regained his vision. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- His eyes turned back to normal as the door shut itself. Tails rushed over, "You okay, JetStream?" he slowly nodded, "What did you see?" "It, was another flashback, we need to open the door with Hope and Mercy, instead of Fear and Anger." Sonic snickered. "Well, that wont be too hard, huh?" JetStream nodded. "Yeah." he admitted. He started focusing, his Aura began to gain a yellow, and almost a gold color. He shot it instantly the second he started focusing. It hit the crystal and all sorts of colors bounced off. "That's cool." Seconds after, the door opened. "So it works!" JetStream jumped, and started walking through the door, he looked left as Sonic and Tails looked at him curiously, JetStream lowered his head and sighed, "There's more stairs, I forgot about that..." Sonic and Tails walked through. "There's no time!" Tails exclaimed. Sonic and JetStream sighed as they awaited their seemingly endless journey. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 31 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 31: An Aura Explorer! JetStream was right behind Tails, who was behind Sonic, 'Despite it being a pain to even think about stairs right about now, I wonder how long these stairs are anyway...' as JetStream took his next step, a sudden memory of the pony in the flashback occurred, and JetStream shook his head, 'And who is that pony? And how am I able to see these, flashbacks?' JetStream looked at the stairs below him. Tails looking back, noticed and decided to ask. "JetStream..." he looked up, Sonic only listened, he needed to figure out when these stairs ended, "Those ponies you saw in those visions... do you know them?" JetStream shook his head. "Not a bit... they just showed up somehow... like it was some ancient recording... if I could think out loud..." Sonic heard what JetStream had to say, that's when he started to think as well. 'Recordings? Way back then... but he said ancient... but how is that possible still?' "Do you possibly think it all ties to something?" "Yeah, or I like to think it does... I may not know them in their ways... but I could think of it as Aura... I don't really want to assume here..." "Aura?" Tails and Sonic echoed in unison. "That sounds interesting..." Tails continued. "And it really is." JetStream answered looking back up. "Mind telling me about it?" JetStream nodded. "Sure... well, I don't know much about it, I really haven't found it in many books, but from personal experience... Aura, is some sort of faint coloring surrounding everything, living and non-living..." Tails paused at the thought. "Can we see Aura too?" "Anypony and anybody can if they want to." JetStream smiled, "But I still don't get this, anybody, thing..." Tails scratched his head. "I can't really explain that either." "I'd really like to show yours, but I can only show me for now... I wish I could visually show someone else's Aura, it would be like having the final pieces of a puzzle." JetStream started to think of the fast ways of using it, and at one moment he even giggled. "So you said it would finish the puzzle, right?" Tails asked. "Yeah." JetStream responded. "Then can you show us yours?" JetStream smiled. "Of course." JetStream stopped right then and there, and focused. Since he wanted to show his Aura, he left his eyes opened. Soon you could see his pupils begin to flare like a fire, "Let's continue." it was noticeable that JetStream's pace was slowed sharply. His Aura was suddenly visible, and as time passed, it began to go into a blaze, ".... I-I can talk now..." JetStream tried to move his eyes, but they didn't seem to budge, "I can't move my eyes..." JetStream sighed. Tails and Sonic were in awestruck, JetStream was practically a walking fire-ball, "My Aura was never this colour before too." his Aura shined yellow. "Wasn't it actually like that before you opened the door?" "I guess it was, but being natural like I am, it's almost always blue..." Sonic looked up, and was relieved to see what he wanted to see. "Hey, I found the end you two." he turned pointing upward. "Awesome." Tails was satisfied. "I wonder what could be up there." JetStream asked. "The Chaos Emerald." JetStream nodded. "Of course, but what if there was more then that?" "We'll just see." Sonic poked his head out of the top floor, and looked around, "It seems were on top of that, Empire Building..." It was an open ceiling with rails all on the side, of course it was made of hard material, but it was more stone than crystal. "The Crystal Empire? Really?" JetStream asked. "Yeah, I guess so." Sonic responded. Like before there was a red carpet dividing the floor with two stone pillars towering over them. And there in the middle was the sixth, green Chaos Emerald. Sonic jumped and ran up to it, "Sweet!" Tails appeared next. "That makes six!" he exclaimed. JetStream walked onto the next floor as Tails approached the Emerald. "Wait up! I want to see it." JetStream galloped to catch up, when he went passed the right stone pillar, and as he did, something started to glow, and Sonic was the first to notice. "JetStream, look!" he looked at the pillar behind him, and noticed it as well. Within seconds, something expanded covered the whole city, and while reacting to it, all three closed their eyes. JetStream opened his eyes back up. "What was that?" there was a pause. "Uh, you might want to take a look at this..." Sonic motioned them to come toward the edge, Tails and JetStream followed that motion, and it surprised them both. There was a big swarm of ponies back at the ground seemed to charge toward the Crystal Empire. "What's going on!?" ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 32 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 32: Time Flower Power! "The town was completely silent when we went in..." Sonic, Tails, and JetStream stared down in confusion and horror, and out of the corner of JetStream's eyes, he saw something glowing behind the pillar. JetStream turned toward it, wondering curiously. "What is that?" Tails's right ear twitched and he looked right. "JetStream what are you doing?" Tails noticed the glow behind the pillar as well, "Uh, JetStream, you don't know what's there..." JetStream nodded. "You're right, Tails, I don't." he slowly continued to walk toward it, his eyes could've been sparkling. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meanwhile, Knuckles was sitting at the edge of the path curb, when he suddenly noticed all the ponies slowly making their way to the Crystal Empire like it was some anarchy, "What's going on!?" even though the ponies were right in front of him, they seemed like they couldn't see him in the first place, "Hello?" he walked to the outer edge, and stuck his hand into the charge, "Whoa... it's some sorta hologram..." he just watched as the ponies clipped through his glove, "How'd this happen?" something then caught his eye, he ended up looking at the top of the Crystal Empire. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JetStream peeked behind the pillar, and jumped in shock a couple of feet, "Whoa!" the pony he saw in the flashback was laying next to the pillar, Tails ran up in worry. "JetStream, what's... wrong...? Who's he...?" he stared at him blankly. "The pony I saw in those visions... or, at least one of them." "R-really...?" Tails saw the expression on the pony's face, "How come he doesn't see or notice us standing here?" JetStream waved his fore-left hoof. "Hello?" "... Is he blind?" JetStream shrugged. "I've never seen a blind anything before..." Tails scratched his head. "Maybe he's not even here..." JetStream did think that was crazy, but it could have been considered. "Could be..." JetStream slowly leaned in, wondering what would happen if he tried to touch him, just before JetStream could though, the pony shifted, making JetStream jump and sigh. "JetStream..." Tails pointed back to him. 'He's about to talk...' JetStream saw his mouth starting to move, and they both listened carefully. The pony sighed, "I... don't think of this as some, memory to keep for my dignity. Although, we knew we should have listened since day one... it's just like the Oracle said..." he paused and started to tear up as he continued through his grit teeth, rolling over to his left facing Tails and JetStream, almost as if they were there, "... Your Empire speaks true to its strength, but it does not mean it's driven by you and your king alone... with Generosity in heart, makes a pleasant and noble king in mind... with Loyalty in your speech, makes great trustworthiness and godful Honesty... and you, strongest King, may have the strength to keep this from falling... I'm afraid your only worry is the Laughter and Kindness you choose to give your subjects. And the Magic in this deal, is the process of keeping it all together... take action whenever you'd like, now is a better solution than later..." JetStream was amazed, it was like he was watching a movie. "Tails, he said the five elements..." "Loyalty, Laughter, Honesty, Kindness, and Generosity..." they echoed in unison. "... And the only, Magic in this deal..." they way he said magic caught JetStream's attention as he echoed the same words. They looked at each other, only to see what happens next. The pony grabbed something that had a purple and blue hue, "What's that?" he seemed to be holding some sort of plant, he pushed it into the ground. "And this Time Flower will prove to the world of our past sins..." "Time Flower..." JetStream repeated. "Hey, JetStream, the ground he's on isn't crystal..." JetStream looked down. "Oh, you're right." Sonic rushed over to get their attention. "Hey! You two! Look toward the door!" and they did. "What's going o-" the door seemed to get pushed. "It might be those ponies from the ground before..." the pony looked toward the door. "I guess this is where it ends..." he stood up, and walked to the center of the room as his horn started to glow. JetStream decided to get up as well, and galloped next to him. 'I guess this really is the end for him...' JetStream showed depression as time passed. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 33 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 33: Unanswered Questions All four of them watched as the door repeatedly got barged, the pony's horn Aura was starting to get bigger. JetStream stared in awe as the pony kept a confident face, 'He's... what spell is that... is that even a spell?' JetStream slowly lost his calm, his Aura started showing as well. He paused so he could hear the pony speak. "After this is done, it will be no more." Sonic watching from the furthest distance was shocked. "He's pulling his own fate...?" JetStream was confused rather than surprised in a way. "What is the, it?" the door was pushed again, making a couple splints fly off the door, his Aura got brighter and bigger, as did the glow around the pony's horn. He looked down realizing this, "What's happening?" Tails and Sonic looked down at him in worry, he could see Tails shaking his head in the corner of his eye. Something told him that this scene will be stuck in his mind forever, his whole body got a warm sensation, "... Wait.... wait..... this is how I felt when I touched the crystal...... how warm it felt when I touched it......." JetStream's memories were more crisp and clear than before, but were ripped as the ponies smashed the door, tons of small cracks were visible, and only a good amount of new large cracks where you're able to see the ponies inside, 'They're, angry... why?' JetStream questioned himself, he turned toward the pony, "Why are they angry!" "JetStream!" he stared at the pony, only to notice he tilts his head left as the spell he's preparing was strengthening. Moments later, Knuckles landed next to Sonic. "I've seen they already made it up here..." "Knuckles... yeah they have... but why are they doing this?" Knuckles tilted his head. "What's with, JetStream?" Sonic shook his head. "I wish I knew..." he said ghostly. JetStream's sudden rage grew, his Aura turning from his gold to a dark red, and only to Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles's worried, the Chaos Emeralds started to react as well. Knuckles took a step forward. "JetStream, what are you doing!?" he completely ignored him. The only Chaos Emerald was the white one that appeared from beyond the saddle-bag. The Emerald started gaining the same dark red glow around it. And for the last time, the pony's horn grew brighter, as JetStream's rage was could've been at its summit, Knuckles ran for him. "I gotta stop this!" his rescue was interrupted as he ended up being blasted by the Emerald's power, landing on the crystal with an audible grunt. JetStream and the Emerald suddenly start to glow, and Knuckles backed away. "Tails!" Sonic called, "You need to get back!" Tails gave a worried sigh as he backed down, but one thing caught Tails's eyes. He saw JetStream, he could see him before he ever started to glow... It could have been described as fear.... He started to shine like a star, until only seconds later it vanished, and so did the appearance of JetStream, instead there was a darker toned replacement. His mane, tail, and hoofs were the same dark red, his fur was a dark blue mixed with a little green, his iris and his pupils were orange. "You're too late..." Sonic said ghastly. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 34 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 34: Sudden Turns The last noticeable things, was that JetStream was significantly taller, his saddle-bag ended up slipping off his back, and fell to the crystal ground and pushed dust it collected over time. And secondly, his ears were at a slight angle instead of pointing straight out. He turned to his friend as they stared in shock. And he started to laugh, "JetStream!" if they listened carefully, that wasn't JetStream laughing at all, Tails turned towards Knuckles, and Sonic. "We got to get the Chaos Emerald from him..." Sonic and Knuckles nodded simultaneously, Tails topped himself, "Shouldn't I've told them without possibly harming him?" he quietly asked himself, only to rush right after towards JetStream. Which got into a wide defense stance, and was ready to get hit. "Come at me!" his non-existent horn started to glow black as well. Sonic and Knuckles jumped at him, only to stop in mid-air. They were both motionless, as time was stuck itself. "What's going on? We can't move!" Knuckles struggled, when Sonic realized something. "Knuckles!" he exclaimed a black glow started forming around them. "Prepare to be-!" they were suddenly thrown at high speeds, when they luckily caught their footing. "One time was enough, but this is just getting ridiculous..." Sonic stated. He turned towards Knuckles after a short pause, "You ready to be a distraction?" Knuckles nodded. "Yea- wait what?" Sonic dashed forward, and Knuckles groaned and ran afterword. Knuckles once again decided to go for a straight on attack, as soon as he reached him, JetStream caught him once again, only to give Sonic enough time to grab the Emerald. But in all vain, he caught him sneaking up as well. The Emerald's power seemed to give him a heightened sense in Aura ability as well as magic. Holding both of them in his magic grip, he turned toward the door again, letting them watch the story in front of them unfold. While JetStream was continuously talking about the spectacle in front, Tails saw the Emerald, JetStream was possessing, his heart started to race. 'I need to get the Emerald...' in all nervousness, he tip-toed his way to the Emerald, shining his direction. Once he knew he was close enough, with his tails, he jumped up and swiped it. "Fly away, Tails!" "What?" JetStream turned around to see a figure going in the opposite direction, in the hand of this figure, something that he needed dearly, "No! Give that back!" Tails ignored it as best as he could, and tried to fly even faster as he disappeared in the Crystal Empire's buildings that surrounded. Knuckles crossed his arms. "Can't do anything without that, can ya?" JetStream snickered as he turned looking toward the ground. He spoke with his new unforgivable voice. "Yes, that is quite true..." he slowly looked up, his expression was relaxed, "But I couldn't do it alone." Sonic and Knuckles washed over with fear, looked at one another horribly. "What do you mean by that?" Sonic looked at him, angry. Sonic and Knuckles stared into those sun-burnt eyes, they felt a short cold wave floor through them, they were then completely paralyzed. As JetStream set them both back down, they were standing, when their eyes turned green, and their iris and pupils turned red. "Find that friendly fox of yours!" Sonic and Knuckles both ran to the end of the top floor and jumped off. Their destination was the city before them, "... I've regained more power then I thought..." he smiled lovingly towards himself, his horn Aura glowed black as he vanished, only to teleport to the front of the Crystal Empire, "Oh..." he started walking to the city his half self once knew, "This is going to be, a lot, of fun..." he gained a demonic grin. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back at the Crystal Empire, on the top floor. The replay of history was still going strong, but only to the end of it. The pony warding off the others breaking through the door was shooting his massive spell, but just as the door couldn't take it, the ball of magic exploded near the top of this monument of stone and dirt way back then. It just kept expanding until it consumed the entire Crystal Empire. It ended up in a big explosion that went away within minutes, only to show that all the weird looking ponies JetStream and his friends never seen before, were suddenly gone, and so was the pony defending himself. The replay of history was reaching the final seconds before it would cut. The only difference of now and before the explosion.... Was the tower somehow was turned into crystal.... ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 35 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 35: What would a fox do? Tails flew over as many houses he spotted, finally landing before he could be spotted. He ran toward the door, and without warning he opened it and walked in, quickly closing the door behind him. He turned around to see one of the Crystal ponies staring at him, "I'm sorry for barging in like this... I needed a good place to hide..." the crystal pony jumped. "I don't mind, but..." she looked through the blinds, "What are you hiding from?" Tails paused as he slowly caught his stamina. "... JetStream, the pony out there, has... uh, somehow taken control of my friends from our universe, this is why I'm hiding..." the pony nodded and took a good look at JetStream. "Although that may be his appearance, I have a feeling it's not your friend at all..." Tails turned toward her, accidently dropping the Emerald he carried. "What? ... Whoops..." she tilted her head with a raised eyebrow as Tails went to pick it up from the floor. "Uh, what's that?" "This? It's a Chaos Emerald. They're from my universe... this is what, JetStream's after." the fact that his friend wasn't exactly who he seemed to be shook him. The pony stopped for a second and looked past Tails, a cold wave went down Tails's spine. "Who're they?" Tails looked around, as soon as he realized he started backing away from the door, hiding the Chaos Emerald behind his back. The pony's mouth was slightly open during this, looking back and forth between him and the door. "Those are the one I'm hiding from!" "Don't panic..." Tails voice sounded like that didn't help at all. "How!?" she opened her wide window, and pointed her hoof outside. Tails's eyes widened "Really? Alright..." he rushed to get out so Sonic and Knuckles didn't see him. Tails ended up sitting next to the house on the outside, just below the window. A moment passed, the crystal pony jumped down as well, with Tails surprised to see this, he stood back up once he saw her, "What are you doing?" Tails whispered as she finally slipped out of the window and landed next to Tails smiling. "I'm going to help you, if that's what you want." Tails eased up, pulling his index finger close to his muzzle. "Wait, how come you are acting like this?" the pony looked to her right. "Uh, do what?" "Well, every Crystal pony I have ever met so far, was either bummed out, or just too shy to show themselves..." she lightly shook her head. "That's not entirely important now, is it?" Tails raised his index finger in protest, but then decided to put it back down, and she giggled. "You are so cute I must admit, what's your name?" he sighed. "My name's, Tails." he unenthusiastically smiled. "Well hi, Tails. My name is, Bias Faith." Tails nodded, "So, Tails, you plan to do anything about this?" that question only worried Tails further. "I don't know..." he looked toward the top of the Empire, 'What about the other Emeralds...?' he looked at the one he was holding, and then turned sharply toward her, "Actually, Bias, I need to get up there." he pointed toward the top, and she nodded. "Alright, I'll help ya with that." Tails nodded, and started running to the Crystal Tower, Bias Faith followed behind him, "I'm right behind you." Bias watched Tails as they slowed down. She thought of something, and consciously decided to offer it, "Hey, Tails, why don't you hop on? I bet you're tired from that hiding you said you were doing..." Tails was about to collapse, he had to hold himself up with his knees. "You're okay with that?" she motioned him to get on. "Sure." Tails went ahead and leaped onto her back, and she grained a smug grin, "Hold on tight." Tails knew he was doomed. 'To what?' but before it was too late as she started galloping as fast as she could, "Wahh!" she laughed considerably hard. "Told ya didn't I? ... Oh, you might want to keep quiet..." Tails suddenly stopped himself. "Oh, uh, yeah..." they were approaching fast, but when they finally reached it, Sonic and Knuckles were around the Crystal, searching for him, "We got to get up there, and fast..." she nodded. "Right on it." her horn started to glow. 'I didn't realize she had a horn, did she have it covered?' Tails looked curiously, her horn was glowing an iris colour. "Okay, get ready." "Yeah." Tails nodded before the glow formed around them, as they both seeminglessly started rising toward the top of the Crystal Empire. Tails looked a little loose, as if he was going to lose consciousness, "I will never get used to magic for as long as I live..." she snickered. "Don't worry, we're almost there." after what seemed like forever, she got the both of the mover the edge, and onto the roof. Bias Faith landed softly as she could, yet Tails looked a little drowsy as he recovered. "There it is, the saddle-bag." they both started walking toward it, Bias looked at it curiously. "What's in it?" Tails lifted his arm, showing the same Emerald. "Five more of these." "Really? How much is there?" "Seven." she considered the math. "So you only have one to go?" Tails felt confident in that statement, he picked up the saddle-bag as they reached for it. "Yeah, but then we'll have to go back home..." they both gained a somber tone. Bias looked at the Emeralds carefully. "So what are you going to do with them?" "I know what I will do, but I'm not sure if it's going to work... I'm not sure if I can do it correctly..." "Do what?" Bias Faith asked. Tails looked at her. "Perform Chaos Control." she looked very confused. "What's that all about?" "Well, I'm don't know for certain, but it's got to do something with time... I'm want to use Chaos Control so I can hope that what happened to JetStream doesn't..." Tails grabbed all the Emeralds from the bag and placed them around him, with the white one in his hand, he somberly looked down, "If this works, there's a good chance that I won't end up meeting you..." she gave a firm smile. "As long as I helped." Tails nodded. "Yeah, thanks about that." Tails then did what he'd see Sonic or another person would do it, he lifted the Chaos Emerald above his head, "Chaos Control!" and before she could react, Tails vanished, as did everything that went with it. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 36 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 36: With alternate exits "Why are they angry!?" Tails stared in awe. "JetStream!" he suddenly fell forward on his hands and knees, "I did it..." Sonic looked over to Tails. "You okay, Tails?" he quickly nodded. 'I have to get the saddle-bag away...' he looked up to Sonic, "Sonic! Grab the saddlebag from JetStream!" "What?" Sonic was confused, JetStream slightly looked to the left, "Why?" "There's no time!" that sent Sonic dashing toward JetStream, he jumped over him, swiping the bag from his back and ran back around toward Tails. "Why do you need this?" "I don't, JetStream does..." Sonic scratched his head. "Is this more of your, technical talk again?" Sonic sighed, " You know I don't understand that." "No, it's not that, it's just... well. I used Chaos Control to fix something..." Sonic stepped back. "What!? What did you fix?" "I guess JetStream was outraged by something, he transformed, and he even got you and Knuckles to go after and search for me because I left with the Chaos Emerald he needed." "Wow..." Sonic paused, "I know I use Chaos Control a good amount of times, yet I'm never able to make a story like that... fake or not..." he laughed, and stopped, looking like he was starting to think, "... How do you know you've fixed it?" "We'll just see..." they watched as the Time Flower was continuing its rich history, the ponies were currently trying to break the door open, JetStream saw everypony's expression , especially the pony next to him. "Why are they doing this?" the pony sighed. "It's all my fault, I'm sorry my King... I have, failed you..." JetStream turned toward him. "A King? What?" Tails shook his head. "Yeah, things are going differently..." Sonic sighed in relief, "But it's not in the ways I expected..." he stopped himself midway through drying his forehead. "What do you mean by that?" Tails asked. "The pony never said that before last time..." JetStream answered. "Coincidence?" Tails shrugged, partially worried. JetStream was worried for the pony. "Won't he grant you forgiveness?" Knuckles landed near Sonic. "I've see they already made it..." Sonic pointed to the door. "Them? Yeah..." the pony went into a defensive stance. When the pony suddenly spoke. "To whom who activates the Time Flower and sees this, you are seeing what truly happened!" Tails shook his head again. "He didn't say that either...." and his horn started to glow, JetStream's Aura showed visible, it was a soft goldish-yellow. Tails stood higher, 'This did happen before... so is it alright for it to go on like this, did I actually change its course?' the pony's glow grew brighter, as did JetStream's Aura, except it was more vivid and clear. As the pony waited for the right moment, and fired his magic, containing an iris purple colour. JetStream was too unsure of anything by now. "What spell is that... is it even a spell?" Sonic was shocked. "Is he pulling his own fate?" suddenly the ponies all crashed through the door and continued charging toward him, JetStream recoiled. 'What is he going to do?' in all horror, the pony finally shot as it was completely ready. JetStream fell to the ground, as it felt like he was hit with a massive heat wave, "... Ah...! That hurt!" Sonic ran to JetStream. "You okay?" JetStream was tearing up from the pain, he had no idea where it was possibly coming from, or why he was feeling it in the first place, gritting his teeth and breathing intensively. "I don't k-know..." he could hardly make his speech out, and his Aura violently changed red. The pony fired his magic, and JetStream cringed, they all watched as the impending doom could happen before their own eyes. The beam of magic shot the first pony on the head, and instantly exploded right then and there. JetStream felt pain all around his body, to the point of it's full extent, as soon as the pony using the magic was engulfed the explosion as well. He couldn't see anything, as if it was blinding him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- But it was different for, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles... what they saw, was something beyond comprehension, almost something they've never seen before... Seeing those ponies disappear, fizzling into thin air... Dying... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sonic was nearly speechless, "What did he do?" "I don't know." Tails responded. "Something doesn't feel right about it either..." Knuckles responded. They saw JetStream stand up, he was motionless afterward. Tails was relieved about that as he walked up to him. "JetStream, did you gain your strength back?" his Aura went back to gold. Sonic and Knuckles were finally relieved at seeing that. The dust of the explosion settled, as the blind of it disappeared, their surroundings were visible again. Knuckles sighed. "I'm glad it's finally over." Sonic and Knuckles looked at JetStream, only to notice that the top of his Aura where it usually seemed to go invisible, turned black, like a fire with its spark. Sonic tilted his head. "What now?" Knuckles was motionless. "Tails, are you alright?" it looked like he touched something contaminated, knowing his immediate fall was afterward. "I-is that... even you... JetStream?" Sonic walked over looking over the side. "What do you mean?" he looked at JetStream, getting ready to wave his hand in front of his face, "JetS- Whoa!" Sonic looked like he has seen a ghost. JetStream's iris and pupils were white, all you saw was the whites of the eyes. "JetStream?" "..." "JetStream!?" "... ... ..." Tails started to tear up. "No..."Sonic slowly looked at Tails, "No!" Knuckles grimaced, for being one tough son-of-a-gun, he couldn't bare to see this any longer. He'll just wait, for them to continue... when ever they're ready. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 37 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 37: To be foaled again Tails raised his hands, he couldn't hold his tears anymore, nor did he want to, "We can't just leave him here!" Sonic sighed. "Knuckles, even though we do got something to do..." he pointed toward JetStream, "We got to do something..." Tails finally gathered the strength to stand, no longer was he at the hoofs of his friend. Somehow seeing Tails turn at him tearing, shook him. Though somewhere in the bitter quietness, Tails faintly heard something. "Ta-..." he suddenly lift his head, turning around. "JetStream...?" he paused, 'Was that actually him...' he suddenly dropped again, 'Or was that... j-just m-...?' the emotion was too overwhelming for him, he couldn't bare this any longer. But yet something made him stay. Knuckles wouldn't dare to question who or what that was, but out of his partially open eyes, he saw black of JetStream's Aura flowing right into him, he didn't knew either if it was doing anything or not, but he decided to point it out in the first place. He walked up behind Sonic. "Sonic, look there." he grimaced. "What's that?" soon after it stopped, his Aura went gold once again. Tails noticed this, rubbing a couple tears from his muzzle. "Hmm?" although his appearance was the same, he couldn't move, he regained consciousness. 'What! What happened? ... How come I'm practically closed off from myself...?' JetStream paused, and within the pause, it was like a soundless source of information somehow filled his mind, 'My Aura... it's was majorly damaged... that's why... I felt so cold once the sudden heat washed over me... but was it me? Or did it hit everything else? Where did that hurtful heat come from anyway? The pony maybe.... after all this has happened, something acknowledged me... that pony is somepony I should definitely know, but how come I know about this, but not the pony in first place? How was I told to know about this pony so far back in history? Just how far back was that time era?' thought after thought was proof he was worth living for, secrets to be found and discovered for the main purpose to be found at ones own strength, 'Maybe my miserable pile of secrets isn't so miserable after all...' JetStream suddenly felt, and his vision went solid red. Tails was still whimpering with a grasp of hope, maybe it wasn't too late. Tails gasped, and his frown steadily increased into a smile. "... JetStream... you're breathing." his small laughs turned into ecstatic laughs of relief and joy. Sonic and Knuckles both smiled and sighed in relief as well. "I'm glad he's alright." Knuckles said. "All's worse somehow goes well..." Sonic shrugged, partially smiling. 'And I have friends who got this unexpected outcome, I... they're probably, no, they are worried about me in this situation... I bet that pony in the visions had friends, if they were even called that back then, but anyway... I think I can come to trust them, I know some may say that it's awkward to say were friends at this point, or at the beginning when we bumped into each other, it depends. Everypony sees friends in a different view, even if they feel like it's to go big, or just an for a buddy to hang around, that's why everypony acts differently, and why almost nopony never acts the same as I do. But I hope they understand, a place like this, with them coming from a place like that... it is a huge difference...' JetStream paused again, he could hear something in his ears, his vision went to a solid purple, but it was muffled to make out, 'And lastly, my Aura is some of those important things...' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- He remembered how he was losing his sanity as he was realizing his Aura was gone at the top of the castle in Canterlot. 'If it must be true, that I can't keep my cool without it... Aura will and has been playing an important role in my life, I cannot say that for another pony whatsoever... but my lamp is important in any winter storm, it will die down just as quickly as it would come, and I could possibly overpower anything, but not ponies ourselves...' ~~~ He remembered where he was with Celestia going down to the ground floor in her castle, "Why don't you stay at my side until we reach the fist floor." JetStream nodded. 'I'm calming every second... I bet Celestia could sense the way I feel too... Neurelm somehow weakened me and my Aura... I started to go crazy, I couldn't think straight... is it because I need my Aura...?... Celestia's Aura is like a warm lamp in a cold night breeze, golden... mine, must be the same way as well, everypony can raise to greatness. And if it's possible...' ~~~ 'Without mine, I'd be left to delve into paranoia, the insanity... It's something that got me well...' JetStream suddenly warmed up, but it was a different warmth, like a warm lamp he talked about, something you would have desperately needed. JetStream then and there realized it, his vision was going from purple to white, 'It's finally my awakening... it's time to learn from what I may mess up... it's my time, to be...' JetStream's vision went back, he was able to close his eyes. They turned to the same horrid colors from before as they were closed, then went back to blue as he opened them again, he almost fell forward, but Tails caught him luckily, "... Alive." Tails instantly hugged as he couldn't wait no longer. "JetStream you're back!" he was surprised, given his reaction, but all the wise. "Yeah, I am." he started looking toward Knuckles and Sonic, they motioned him a welcome in their own ways, and JetStream smiled, closing his eyes as if he galloped a marathon, "I'm back..." ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 38 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 38: Eggman Again!? Sonic scratched the back of his head, "What happened there?" JetStream turned, his head down at an angle. "I don't really want to answer that..." Knuckles was the farthest from him, he looking down from the Tower. "The sun is setting once again..." It interested Knuckles to find that this sunset was like the one back home, he's seen many of his own, but these will seemingly forever remain foreign. Where it's actually a seemingly immortal body that drives the celestial bodies as they do. That didn't bounce off of him correctly, and it still bugs him. He turned toward, JetStream, something caught his eye. "What's that?" he asked himself, he stood up and walked over, JetStream noticed this and turned to him, "Oh, hey, Knuckles." "I got something to ask you?" "... What is it?" he pointed toward his flank, JetStream realized what he was meaning, there was a small, unsaturated grey circle right where the cutie mark should be. "Oh, it's probably just a bruise..." Knuckles just shrugged. "So, when where we going next?" JetStream nodded. "Yeah, we only need one." Tails smiled. "And it shouldn't be too hard." Sonic held his hand up before everybody started walking. "But we don't know where we're going, and secondly, why don't we just get off the fast way?" he pointed his thumb toward the edge of the Tower, JetStream and Tails smiled innocently. "Right..." they walked to the edge. "But how am I going to get down?" Sonic shrugged. "I guess one of us will?" he answered unsure. "I'll do it, I'm the strongest." Sonic smiled. "Right you are, Knux." Tails went ahead and hovered over the tower, Sonic grabbed Tails's hand and they both started decline to the ground below them. JetStream was standing there. "Uh, how exactly?" he asked, Knuckles gave it a little thought. "Why don't you hang over my shoulders?" As soon as JetStream did it, Knuckles looked back at him, "It's obvious that I'd want you to hold on, alright?" JetStream gave a nervous laugh. "Yeah, of course." Despite all sudden safety, Knuckles jumped off the Tower in one bound, but about half-way through, JetStream was slipping, he slipped until he was completely segregated from Knuckles, "Ah! Knuckles!" JetStream covered his eyes, 'Another five story drop is just what I need!' Tails and Sonic noticed this as they landed. "Look- JetStream!" the cold and quick wind was breezing past him like a meteor going through space, until, he was suddenly slowing. A glow was visible around him as well. Sonic, and Tails looked around, Knuckles did as well once he landed. JetStream felt this sudden change, he held his hoofs away. "What's happening?" Tails looked around. 'That glow, haven't I seen it before?' An anonymous pony walked up, her horn glowing the same color around JetStream, she looked up, obviously worried. "Are you okay?" JetStream looked over to her, a body acts funny under this telepathy thing, like there was no gravity at all. "Yes, I am. Thanks a lot." he gave his thanks to her as he hovered slowly to the ground, she nodded. "You're welcome." during this whole act, Tails was shocked, Sonic was standing there, apparently his ear was itchy. "Bias?" she turned to Tails. "Hmm, oh! Tails, it's been awhile." Sonic almost fell. "Tails? How come she knows you?" Tails that it through, and turned to Bias again. "Yeah actually, How come you do know me, I thought I was in the past..." she shook her head. "Well, whenever you did, I suddenly knew about some character, and that character was you, and I had to see if anything was wrong..." Sonic and Tails stared at one another. "Whoa, I didn't think it worked that way..." Tails thought, "I may be an engineer, but I definitely can't understand Time travel..." Knuckles gave an unamused smile, crossing his arms. They all laughed, celebrating current events. Knuckles suddenly tensed up, he opened his right eye, he opened the other in surprise, he pushed off the wall he was leaning against to. "I'm sensing an Emerald..." he walked to the edge of the end of the Tower's area, his teeth gritted and he pointed upward, "I knew it..." Sonic dashed toward him. "What is it?" seeing this shocked Bias Faith. 'What speed...' Sonic clinched his fist. "What's Eggman showing up in a place like this?" Eggman was flying with his mobile. "Sonic! What's that!" something was flying along with him. Sonic couldn't bare this, why is he coming here? Does Sonic really need the answers? he couldn't wait no longer, he looked down to grab the closest, yet biggest, pebble he could find. He went into a spindash. This surprised everyone, even Tails and Knuckles. "What are you doing?" Knuckles asked, "I rather let him pass." after a couple seconds, Sonic stopped it, only to fling the pebble so fast, it reached Eggman in seconds. And its speed nocked it at a good angle as well, it caught Eggman off guard. "What was- What!? What are they doing here? ... They're here to stop me are they?" he looked over to the Time Eater, who seemed to be in its actual form, only shrunken, "Let's shown them what you're made of shall we?" he put his hands together, ringing them menacingly, after a seconds passing, he lifted his right arm toward them, "Alright Time Eater, Go!" ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 39 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 39: An unlikely figure As arch rivals should be, Eggman launched the attack at Sonic, with JetStream being behind him, "Sonic, Look out!" All of them cleared way of the Time Eater as it plunged toward the Crystal Tower. Bias Faith leaped as fast as she could, as she landed looking at the tower. The tower seemed to turn grey, in the presence of this monster. "What is that thing doing?" JetStream nodded looking at Tails. "Do you know what it's doing?" Tails shook his head. "No, he's still pretty new to us too." JetStream grit his teeth, the grey spot on his flank seemed to cover more area than before. Tails noticed it moving, remembering what happened before he used Chaos Control, he was so unsure he seemed sure. "Eggman, stop this!" Eggman gave a hearty laugh. "Oh, I think you'll need to direct your requests to Time Eater now..." Those words rung through faster than anything else before. Knuckles decided to be quiet, as he saw the last Chaos Emerald in Eggman's possession. Out of all the whole scene, his mind was running. 'We have to stop this, but even Tails and his friends only know so much...' and out of those thoughts, he heard something, something so faint. 'It's, perfect...' JetStream was shot out of his emotional self as he started looking around for the source of this voice. "Who was that?" But before he could get any further, the Time Eater lunged at them again, everybody except JetStream quickly got out of the way. "JetStream's still there!" Sonic instantly looked back to grab and bring him back to the other side, all in a matter of seconds. "JetStream..." he looked around, suddenly. "Wha-?" "Get it together, and pay attention." JetStream nodded. "R-right." From what JetStream has experienced from this monster so far, is everything seems to lose its color, and everything feels a lot heavier. Tails was looking all too worried, he turned to JetStream, only to be shocked by what he saw. "Uh, JetStream..." he turned to him. "What is it!?" "I'm starting to think that it is not a bruise..." he looked at his own hoofs. "Ah! What's going on!" the grey got so far it was already to his forehoofs, he moved them in mid-air to see if he could get it off somehow, it didn't even budge. As he moved it covered his whole body, everything except his eyes were grey, "What's going on?" Time Eater was prepared to lunged for another attack, he heard the same, faint voice. 'Use it like you were meant to, the magic is part of you...' JetStream's was at a lose of words. 'Back in the Tower?' 'Yesssss...' JetStream paused, thought it through. 'Alright then...' he focused, as he wanted to play another part in this dark magic. If it meant saving his friends, then he would do... Anything? Seconds after focusing, the same look got in his eyes, his Aura was black, purple, and green like before. And a shot burst from his rising Aura toward the Time Eater, "What?" Eggman caught a glimpse of hit before it made contact, but the second it did, it exploded, not everywhere. But in the Time Eater itself. From looking at it, you could tell it was weakened, JetStream was actually surprised. 'How did I do that?' as soon as he said "I" his voice distorted saying, "We" or that's what he heard. 'Good work, I always expect high expectations from my apprentices...' 'Apprentices...?' "Good work, JetStream." JetStream nodded slowly with a blank expression. "Thanks..." he said softly. 'I can't wait no longer...' the grey quickly evaporated into JetStream's natural fur color, he was seeing the whole thing as it was happening, it ended up being a black cloud floating right in front of JetStream. Eggman looked over the edge of his mobile. "What. Is. That?" "What is that?" JetStream took his steps back, as he saw something that really horrified him, he saw two green eyes with red pupils staring back at him, he walked up closer, trying to see where they are coming from. But he was only greeted to the eyes suddenly lunging toward him. JetStream could've jumped to the moon and back if he wanted to, and a yelp that would travel miles, he jumped from the sudden fright of it, covering his eyes with his left hoof, shaking, quivering, hoping that the eyes aren't still there. He decided not to even look, and just stay in the position. Bias Faith was looking the entire time, soon after the fright he received, the only thoughts were. 'That's how I remember So- King Sombra controlled us...' her second was, 'He's not even a Crystal Pony...' despite the danger, mystery was in the air as well. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 40 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 40: How to scramble an Eggman 'Just what is that thing planning to do?' Bias Faith thought, as it hanged lazily, but she jumped to her vision, the cloud was inching closer toward the Time Eater, she came to her senses. "Stop that thing!" Sonic agreed right away as he jumped toward it, hoping it would've do something. But instead Sonic flew right through it, luckily he was able to get his ground when he landed, JetStream turned to him. "Did you, honestly think that would work?" Sonic stood back up, looking at the cloud in front of him. "Well, yeah..." Everyone sighed, even Eggman. "Alright, we've been here long enough, it is time to get back to our real target, and not you buffoons! Let's go Time Eater, we have greater matters to attend to." The cloud swept into the Time Eater before anybody could blink, when it did, the Time Eater reacted in a strange way. It held its head like it was having a headache. "What did that do to it?!..." there was a long pause before Eggman continued, "Was this your doing?!" Eggman violently pointed his finger at JetStream, he just shrugged with a sheepish smile. Eggman groaned in rage, but before he continued to his destination, he noticed the Chaos Emerald he was holding, it was gone, "What!? Where did the Emerald go?!" Eggman looked down to see if he possibly dropped it, instead he saw Knuckles straight across from him, "Give that back!" he leaned over his mobile. Sonic looked at Knuckles he put his hands against his muzzle and called out. "Knuckles, do the Chaos Blast!" he nodded and looked at Eggman with that trademark devilish smile of his, he lift the Chaos Emerald as high as he could. "...!" Eggman backed away, as fast as he could, but before he could possibly get out of range, Knuckles already called the shot. "Chaos Blast!" the bright ball of energy surrounding the Chaos Emerald shot out in Eggman's direction, and soon making contact with a wild explosion, sending Eggman flying across the sky. "How many times do I have to fix this thing!" he yelled as his voice got quieter until it was no more. The Time Eater also went rocketing right behind Eggman as well. As soon as they were both gone, it was all in the clear, and most of them gave a sigh of relief. JetStream turned to Knuckles, who was coming in for a soft landing. "That's very powerful." Knuckles nodded in agreement, he tossed it in the air, landing in his palm. "And it's only one." Tails nodded. "The last one." JetStream looked around the Crystal Empire. "Hmm..." Bias Faith walked up to JetStream. "Something wrong...?" JetStream looked up and toward her. "Something bugs me about that move Knuckles used..." JetStream turned around, slightly in a state of panic, "Knuckles, do you know where that sent him flying?" Knuckles laughed remembering hoe he beat them so easily. "Oh, yeah. Probably about that direction, why?" he was pointing toward south-east. JetStream went dead silent. Knuckles still had a giggle fit, "You alright, JetStream?" breathing in the cold air, he spoke. "Altamare's in that direction..." he turned to Tails, "I think we need to go back to Altamare!" Tails gained a firm look. "Why is that?" "That launched send them back! I don't want someone like him hurting those ponies... Or anypony!" Tails nodded. "Right! Sonic!" he turned to him. "What is it?" Sonic responded. "We're heading back to Altamare, I'm afraid that Eggman may get revenge for what he believed JetStream did..." Sonic grit his teeth. "We don't want that to happen do we?" he looked at JetStream, he was shaking his head at the thought of it all, he turned around. "Knuckles! Com' on were going back to Altamare." Knuckles started to jog. "Alright." Bias walked to them. "Where does that leave me?" Tails stopped cold in his steps, and turned around. "I don't know, I guess you'll just have to stay here... Like you have been." her neck lowered. "Alright..." then raised again. "But if you somehow end up here again, we'll catch up?" Tails nodded a firm smile. "A promise." Bias Faith waved as Tails started to catch up with the rest. "You remembered where you left the Tornado?" Tails nodded. "Of course I know." JetStream mentally sighed in relief as they were all heading toward the entrance to the Crystal Empire, they saw the Tornado-1 to the left of the two crystals, and they all got prepared. This flight was urgent, so urgent not even Knuckles was going to nap through this. JetStream sat down and put his saddle-bag next to him, as he turned to Knuckles. "You got the last Emerald?" "Oh, right. Here." he handed it to JetStream, and he put it in the right bag and closed the flap. "Ready?" Tails asked. "Ready." they all answered in unison. "Alright, let's go!" the plane propellers started to spin as the plane picked up speed, soon enough it was off the ground and flying in the air once again. It was when something felt different, JetStream looked through the Chaos Emeralds, and then opened the left bag, the book was still there. He smiled at its appearance, then he decided to look through the Chaos Emeralds, he thought he something looked different, and something did. He pulled the same Emerald out, it was a normal color. It was black, it still had its luster in shine, but it had no color. "Hey, Sonic. Look at this..." he held the Emerald up, Sonic looked back, and after a seconds pause, he suddenly realized. "The Emerald is drained of its power..." "What!?" ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 41 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 41: Ominous threat against Altamare JetStream looked at the Emerald more closely, "What do you mean, drained?" Sonic looked back in front of the plane. "'Cause it looks like that when we were putting our own planet back together..." "What!?" Tails nodded, keeping an eye in front of him. "It's true, the planet was split into seven pieces, on each of those pieces was a temple where Sonic would restore its power to the Emerald, and afterward the piece of that specific part would come back to its original position." "The whole Planet? That's amazing..." Sonic nodded, putting his left arm behind his head. "Although it was our greatest to date, it wasn't really the best. But we did pull through." he swung his arm, JetStream thought long and hard. "Well, then how are we going to regenerate its strength? Now that it's in our world?" "As you would expect, we haven't got a clue..." JetStream sighed. "Guess so..." he let go of his saddle-bag, and held the Emerald with both hoofs. And like all the other times he has done, he focused hard, and thought about what he did when he empowered the White Emerald. Soon enough, JetStream's Aura was visible once again, glowing blue and clear as the noon sky, he closed his eyes and let everything flow. Knuckles was lazily looking into the sky, even at this height, he looked back noticing JetStream may be up to something, so he decided to sit and watch, and watch his plan unravel. All while he was losing his patience just staring at this, the Emerald glowed its respective color, JetStream didn't have to open his eyes, he could feel its warmth, 'Feels just like those crystals, this feeling is a comfortable feeling, while it did feel the same back there... It felt very unfamiliar back then...' his concentration was shattered as the plane suddenly losses its balance, "Ah! What's going on?" "We're losing turbulence, just hang on to something while I balance it back again..." JetStream lowered grabbing his own seat, Knuckles looked like he didn't do anything, but the arch near the feet of the seat, Knuckles held himself there. Sonic went to a crouching position with his arms spread apart. And Tails was grabbing the wheel either way, after two ghastly minutes the shaking, it stopped, and everybody loosened up. "What caused that?" Sonic looked toward Tails. "Hey, Tails, why don't you go below the clouds?" Tails nodded as he prepared to decline. "Yeah, good idea." and as he did, the plane went down. 'Tails would make an excellent plane-flyer...' JetStream thought. But as the plane went down, everything felt weird, as JetStream would describe it. As they finally fell before the clouds, Tails adjusted the bi-plane to maintain altitude. "Look there, it's Altamare." "Really?" JetStream looked down, only to stare in terror, 'The world's colour is missing...' the world was nearly in black and white, while mobile living things stayed the norm. "He's already done something!" the town was swarmed in a grey circle area, where the very middle was the Bell Tower. "What is that?" 'It was the same thing that was on my flank, but why is it here...?' "Let's catch up to Eggman!" "Right!" they shouted in unison. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 42 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 42: Eggman and the grey spheres! JetStream looked ahead of Altamare, "Tails, bring us to the back of Altamare, I want to get back home... I want to make sure they're okay... I want them to know I'm not hurt..." Tails nodded at the grueling thought, as he remembered, he shook his head. "No shame in it..." JetStream smiled. Tails started to fly all the way around Altamare. As soon as they reached the back, Tails dropped the plane so JetStream could get off, he unbuckled and grabbed his saddle-bag. He landed on the ground, dust being swepped up as usual, he saluted them as Tails did back. "So it seems where leaving JetStream to his own business... Why?" Knuckles asked. "While he goes to check on his family, We'll catch up to Eggman." Sonic made a fist looking back at Tails. "Right." As soon as the plane went off into the air, JetStream galloped to his home, making only a couple turns as he did. "Where is everypony?" he looked left and right, the ground suddenly started to shake, JetStream stopped instantly, almost falling over, "What's going on?" despite the off-setting pattern of this earthquake, JetStream continued to his home, he ended up at another four way. He looked right and saw his house, and continued in that direction. He galloped a little further ending up at his front door, he quickly opened it, "Mom!" he paused, "Dad!" yet another pause, "No..." 'Could I have been too late?' he thought, it was the only question that seemed valid, until he realized, "The Bell Tower!" he shot up at his realization, he went through the back door, jumping on the concrete fence next to him and continued to do so until he reached the roof, the building wasn't a two-story, but it was quite a jump. From there he tried to catch his best view. Something about that grey around the Bell Tower felt familiar, but what could have been it? Then it hit him, "What if they're gathered around the bell tower?" JetStream didn't think twice and decided to jump off the roof onto the path below it. Only to head towards the Bell Tower, Altamare is huge, even at his full speed he'll still take at least a couple of minutes to get there, but once he did, all he saw was the whole town was gathered around the Bell Tower. It was the only thing roaring gossip, but out of the whole crowd, he tried to find his parents. He saw them on the opposite side of his position, JetStream impatiently sighed as he decided to push through the crowd, "Excuse me... coming through!" Corolla saw JetStream quite a distance apart, she waved to him as soon as possible. "JetStream over here!" JetStream sighed a good sigh, and was calmed that they're okay, as soon as JetStream reached him, Corolla instantly went into a hug, "I'm so glad you're okay." Corolla started to sniffle. "Me too..." as soon as Corolla broke it, JetStream looked around. "Where's Dad?" "He's up there, he's very conscious about the Tower you know." she pointed up ahead. "Really, no actually I didn't... Since when?" "No, not like that? He thinks there's something wrong with it." JetStream looked at her, rubbing the back of his head. "Its because there is..." "I know..." Corolla looked around like she was supposed to see something. "Where are your friends?" JetStream looked to the sky. "Them? I don't know, they dropped me off of their plane to find you two." "That's very kind of them." JetStream nodded, smiling, he jumped to Corolla looking through his saddle-bag, "Oh, what do you have in here?" she was looking through the right bag, she pulled out a book, "What's this?" she looked at its title, "Since when were you into this?" "It's not for me..." Corolla raised an eyebrow, "It's for one of my friends..." she looked at the book carefully, "Or will be for my friends..." "Well, that's very nice of you darling." JetStream gave a weak laugh, looking away, "Maybe I could help with that." she put the book back in its proper place, closing the flap, "What's in the other side?" "All the Chaos Emeralds." "Why are you holding them!?" "B-because I asked to... And they let me..." JetStream gave a worried smile as Myriad walked up to Corolla. "I'd still like to know what that is..." JetStream turned. "Hi, Dad!" "Hey! JetStream, glad you're finally back from your 'Adventure'." he tussled JetStream's mane, which he fixed afterward. "Yeah... Do you know what that grey stuff is?" "No..." he looked around the whole town square, "None of us do either..." JetStream grit his teeth. 'Why does it feel like I know it alone?' "Even worse for us yet, It never covered that much area before either, just an hour ago it only covered the whole Tower..." 'It's expanding as well?' "Do you know anything else Dad?" as soon as Myriad shook his head, JetStream felt a slight shift in the surrounding environment. As he did, ponies gasped as a figure showed its presence. "Of course you are all clueless, clueless of what the Time Eater can truly do!" "Time Eater!?" dozens of ponies echoed. 'Oh no... Not him again...' "Yes... Hmm?" he saw one familiar face in the crowd as he looked at his smudgeless glasses, "Ah-ha! It seems we have a familiar face." Eggman declined to hover right in front of JetStream's family, JetStream was ready for anything he would do, but he forgot his parents were with him. Myriad walked right in front of JetStream. "Don't you dare hurt him!" Eggman recoiled at the sudden yell. "Well, hurt him? You must be mistaken, I am not doing any hurting..." It didn't matter, Myriad will stand his ground as the other ponies stared in awe and horror. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 43 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 43: Time Eater's return Corolla walked next to her husband, "And what could you be possibly hiding?" Eggman snickered. "That I'm not doing, any of it." he held his arms up. And at the same time, a figure from inside the grey was moving, black and purple. All the ponies gasped, JetStream shriveled. 'It's a lot bigger than when I last saw it... And it was only that much time...' It was rising from the Bell Tower, its arms were fully spread, it seemed to have cogs and gears spinning around it as well. Everything was bad, but JetStream can think it could get worse, of course it can get worse, 'Where are they?' he looked right of him, 'I assumed there'd be after Eggman... Either they haven't found him yet, or... or...' JetStream got the idea, but it wasn't time for it, they wouldn't do that sort of thing, not now, not ever. The Time Eater suddenly shifted, wanting to spread its madness, a ball of bright darkness grew over its head, over half of the ponies started to back down, almost like they'd know what would happen if that hit them. The ball was ready, as the Time Eater swung his arm toward the crowd, the ball of unknown energy was flung at the innocent population. As soon as it happened everything was in a fury of panic, screams started to break, hoofsteps could be heard ears-closed. Just before the sphere hit the ground, Myriad grabbed JetStream and galloped out of the square to hopefully not to be noticed, Corolla followed directly afterward. Myriad headed to the alleyways, where it's thick and hard to tell where you are. Myriad let go knowing JetStream would follow. "Come, this way." Myriad and Corolla vanished behind a building heading to an alleyway, JetStream stopped to see what this monster is just doing, and as he did, the sphere hit the crowd all at once. There was no explosion, no sound to differentiate it at all, it ended up being the blank grey space as it surrounded the Tower. JetStream was shocked, seeing those caught in it, looking like a statue. 'They're turned to Statues?' Myriad noticed JetStream wasn't following them, he turned around quickly. "JetStream! What are you doing, Hurry!" Corolla turned around as Myriad did. JetStream noticed that as he was staring, the Time Eater shot another right at him, JetStream noticed it right away, ducking for the alleyway. "Ah!" thanks to his speed, he quickly turned and dashed for the alleyway, the sphere ended up hitting the end of the thin path, right behind him, JetStream stopped to look at it, "There's no going back..." "JetStream!" He jumped and galloped to his parents. "Don't do that." "Sorry." "... Apologies later, we need a way to hide..." JetStream looked back as Myriad and Corolla started to walk, he looked back and paced himself to catch up again. He now had that horrible image of all those ponies trapped in whatever that was, he closed his eyes and shook his head, Corolla looked back and walked next to him. "You all right?" JetStream looked up, trying to maintain a smile. "Of course, yeah I am. Hey Dad, you think we can somehow try to make it back home?" Myriad softly shook his head. "I don't know..." they all came up to a four way, they crossed it and ending up looking back, seeing more ponies galloping for their lives. It was nothing but horror, seeing them cross like that, with them standing right there, as if they couldn't care in the whole world. Next up was another path crossing, except this one had a normal path on the left, so it was wider. JetStream trotted ahead to see what was that way, he turned the corner, only to jump in scare. "Ah!" luckily his parents could see him stepping backwards from the path. "JetStream? What is it?" "... It's them..." Myriad and Corolla got to the corner and looked, they got shock on their faces. "My friends..." JetStream was not lying, there his friends were, already caught in the same grey sphere, "No..." he walked up to it. "JetStream..." Corolla didn't want him to get any closer. "Be careful..." Myriad warned. Luckily they were on the rim of the Sphere, so close that JetStream could. "Could I pull them out?" "What!?" Myriad and Corolla jumped in shock just before they looked at one another, "Are you crazy?" JetStream lost his courage. "I don't know, I just want to save them..." as he finished, he ever so slowly moved his hoof toward the grey sphere, fearing anything that could possibly come out of it. Out of all intensity, JetStream's hoof touched the sphere, "..." his parents waited cautiously. "... Is it doing anything?" "I don't know, but it's cold, and very hard to push through..." after some more time going through the drain, he ended up touching Knuckles on his glove, "..." JetStream thought it through, he lifted his other hoof and pushed into the sphere, he tried to grab his glove with patience alone, as soon as he was ready, he pulled his glove toward himself. Doing so caused Knuckles to float to the edge a little, JetStream kept going, suddenly he stopped when Knuckles's glove was out of the sphere, "I can't, my strength..." Myriad was surprised to see his thought actually work out in a situation like this. "Don't worry, we'll get your friends out of here." JetStream knew with strength like his Dad, they'd be able to get it done quicker, because they need the time, as they'll probably be no more of it. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 44 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 44: The Time Eater's attack In no time Knuckles was pulled, Myriad stumbled backwards and JetStream fell. Knuckles fell to the ground, he instantly grabbed his head, "Wha-?" he stood up, "Where'd it go!?" JetStream walked up to him. "Knuckles!" he realized them there, so were his parents. "JetStream... How'd you help me form that?" JetStream sort of kicked the cobblestone. "Well, actually my Dad helped me too, all we did was pull you from... that." he pointed toward the grey blob. Knuckles went right for it. "Sonic, Tails!" "Wait, Knuckles!" just before he punched a hole in it, he turned toward him. "Be careful with that, if you're not, then you'll get stuck in whatever that is again..." "Alright..." he bumped his fists together. "What're you doing now?" "You said you and your Dad pulled right?" JetStream nodded and walked to Tails as Knuckles walked to Sonic. "Be careful trying to grab them by the hand, you don't want to slip." "How come? If they're floating like that, what's the worry?" "This isn't the worry about us, it's the worry about your patience." Knuckles rolled his eyes as Corolla leaned toward Myriad. "That's so you." Myriad rolled his eyes in the same direction. "Ready, JetStream?" "Of course!" they went in and tried to grab their hands, Knuckles reached Sonic's first, he soon started tugging. JetStream finally got Tails's hand, and pulled, "Nice and easy..." he hoped that Tails was easier to pull out of this sphere, and it seemed to be true. Although Knuckles got to Sonic first, JetStream ended up pulling Tails out first. He started slipping out, "Tails!" it woke him up. "Wha- How did we get out of that? I remember that being shot at us..." "I pulled you out." JetStream answered. "That-that's all you had to do?" he gaining his breath back as he pulled out his PDA. "What are you going to do with it?" JetStream asked, as Knuckles pulled Sonic out. It wasn't the best landing. "See if I can find out what this material is... And searching..." Sonic got back up and shook his head. "What was the year on that monster..." ignoring the ominous pun. "You alright?" Sonic laughed. "Just fine..." he smile dropped, "What about Tails?" "Over here and just fine." he assured. "What about your plane, Tails?" "Hmm..." he looked at it stuck in mid-air. "I'm afraid it will be staying there." "That's too bad." JetStream looked at it with worry. "Well, it's not too bad of a loss anyways..." "If you say so." Sonic looked around, "So what's the current situation?" "We're getting chased by something called the Time Eater..." All three were shocked to hear, "What?" they all looked up, discovering the sky has changed, "How long were we in there exactly?" "Well, from when you all flew off... About thirteen minutes... Why?" "Why? Because once we got shot, we're all saved by you guys instantly." "Could have it stopped time?" Myriad asked. "It could be possible... Oh dang... It's not picking anything up from these." he put the device away, Corolla walked up to it. "So these grey spheres have no time progression inside?" she asked. "That's what I'm concluding." there was another explosion-like sound somewhere near them, Myriad turned around. "We better get going." "Right." they all went forward in order to hide from the monstrosity, Myriad turned left and the others followed. 'I guess it's time for a game of follow the leader...' JetStream thought as the stress was building as they covered more area of the town, who knows when they could run into the Time Eater. A time explosion erupted to the path across from them, but it was big enough that it crossed into the run they're moving on. "Let's rush this!" Myriad yelled, they all seemed to go faster in an attempt to get passed the expanding sphere, luckily making it all the through. "Where are we going anyway?" Sonic asked. "We're heading back to our home!" Corolla replied. "Why don't we just leave and get help!?" JetStream suggested. "Not now..." Myriad replied. "Until we have no choice but to, then we will." Knuckles shook his head, frowning. Closer and closer they got to their destination, and the closer and closer they felt to being caught. They were now in the open, there only cover were short buildings. Soon enough they reached it, they went through the front door as fast as they could. "Hurry, hurry." Myriad said in a soft tone, motioning them to come in, looking around. After they all entered, Myriad circled around the door to enter, closing it shut hard. The Time Eater looked around, just before Myriad closed he could see him closing it. Myriad looked toward the group. "JetStream." "Yeah?" "I want you and your friends to check outside." "Myriad... Shouldn't you and I do that?" "No, don't worry Mom, we got it! Com' on." JetStream preceded to the back door. "Hurry up you guys." they all exited and started looking around, JetStream closed the door and galloped to them, "You see it yet?" "J-JetStream! Behind you..." Sonic, Knuckles, and JetStream all looked back, they were all shocked to see him there. "Mom! Dad!" as he started to gallop closer, the Time Eater was ahead of him as he already shot the sphere. "No...!" "JetStream!" Sonic called out just before he zipped over to stop JetStream from getting into it. "JetStream stop! It's already been done!" he now knew what having your heart shattered felt like, Sonic ran to the end of the backyard. "JetStream, please get us to the Glassed Hill." despite the sudden loss of his parents, and a couple tears in his eyes, he turned around and prepared to go underground with the Glassed Hill, where there wouldn't be anyway of getting them there. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 45 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter XLV: Slight recovery They rushed down the dirt and stoned tunnel under the city, suddenly the dirt never had looked so different, as JetStream had tears as they progressed. All of them gave one another stares, if JetStream asked of something, they'd better choose their words carefully, 'There's no way that just happened! ... But I saw it before my eyes...!' he closed his eyes hoping the bobbing of their progression would let the tears loose and fall. Soon after they entered the room where the glass circle showed its presence, where it seemed to be dug out after so much time. JetStream quickly took his saddle-bag off and went up to the glass. "Uh, JetStream? Are you sure you should be up there?" JetStream looked back down. "I know we shouldn't be caught but, maybe it isn't what it seems... Maybe they've actually knew what happened and got out of there! We could probably still save them... But, Sonic, instead you decided to save me, and not go after them." Sonic looked up. "Top be honest here, JetStream, I don't think even I would have enough time, and if I did, I'd would've had Knuckles or Tails help me out while I saved your parents..." JetStream gave them a look. "But didn't you? I mean, it's not like you'd purposely leave my Mom and Dad in there would you?" JetStream asked, as Sonic and his friends would think were he is possibly going with this. "Of course not! Like I said, only if I had the tim-" "Just stop it! ... Please!" JetStream lied down in front of the big window, with one hoof over the other, lying his head on one of them. Looking lazily into the sky that has been building clouds over the past 12 hours. "Maybe it wasn't that, maybe it wasn't your fault but... Maybe it wassss... Oh, never mind, you know what?" JetStream stood back up. "I wonder if I can redo this over..." JetStream turned to them down below, he seemed a shade lighter, "Didn't you mention, that the Chaos Emeralds have the ability?" Tails was a little worried, he only used Chaos Control because he panicked. "Yes, but-" Knuckles spoke, yet was cut short. "Then that's it! I can use that!" JetStream cheered up as he jumped down skipping the stair case completely, ignoring the fact that it didn't hurt him to jump down, only to be stopped by Sonic with a completely worried expression, "Wha- Sonic? What're you doing?" "I can't let you do that, JetStream..." JetStream stood back. "Why not?" "Because it, still doesn't even work properly for me to handle, of course we can all use something like that. But you don't know where are how you'll end up." JetStream gave him an unamused frown. "What's your point?" "It might put you in a worse situation." JetStream grit his teeth, as soon as he fell to the ground in depression, they heard another sphere going off outside. "What's the point of doing it then? I mean, we've tried our best, but it didn't seem to do much." he stated circling at the dirt next to him, Sonic scratched his head, he stopped as he saw Tails walk up. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "But not doing much is better than not giving it a try at all." Sonic walked next to Tails. "And giving more than nothing is something anybody... or anypony... can do." Sonic smiled as JetStream sat up, still looking to the ground, and back at them. "That is true." he knew it was true, he said before on the way to Canterlot, that one moment when his, friends, were with him, talking, making jokes, and taking in the scenery from time to time, 'Yeah, those were good times...' JetStream stood up, smiling, as Knuckles walked next to Sonic. "We got this far, JetStream, how about we continue...?" JetStream felt everything dark got light shone its way through, he gained a firm smile. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Y-yeah, right." JetStream went for the saddle-bag, and put it on his back once again, refreshing memories about past events. Tails decided to fly up to the top. "Don't you think we should make sure it's clear for us to go first?" Tails suggested. "Of course." Sonic answered as he and Knuckles jumped up with Tails. JetStream decided to stay down there and find him as well. He focused once again. 'There's no doubt in my mind that I will be able to find it too...' JetStream smiled, he liked getting back in touch like this, yet as soon as he was getting used to, something felt off, but he kept going. JetStream's Aura showed once again, you could hear an ambient humming sound with, Tails looked back, even though this Aura thing to him was still pretty foreign, he felt that it was normal to see something like it, all Tails did was smile when he JetStream like he did. This time, his Aura went from solid blue, to some shining Crystal Blue. Tails could see it, he was in awe, while JetStream could feel it, it was awakening, like a new winter's breeze, where cold actually feels like it would clean anything. Soon enough, JetStream could see the outline of everything once again, soon enough the Aura of everybody else appeared. Suddenly the same green and red eyes appeared like a jump scare, JetStream grunted as his Aura went from Crystal Blue to a clean grey, his eyes opened in scare. After that happened he held his forehead, "My head, it feels like a horrible head-ache..." he shook if off the best he could and looked up, "We better get moving!" "Why?" "I think I just lead them to us..." All three of them looked at one another in confusion. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 46 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 46: Something in the Glassed Hill Tails looked down in shock, "What!?" JetStream soon went to the door to open it back home. "Com' on, Tails." Sonic jumped down as Knuckles followed. Tails flew down behind them afterward as JetStream got the door opened. "Just like before, lets go!" "Right!" Sonic dashed toward the exit, Knuckles followed after, being here for the first time was his uniqueness, so he just decided to follow Sonic. As it seemed he knew what he was doing anyway. "Go, Tails, follow them and get out of here." Tails ran for the exit, only to stop for the moment. "... JetStream it... It seems like your purposely staying here... Is there something you forgot?" JetStream suddenly got a cold flash. "... The only thing they're forgetting is you. Go!" Tails grit his teeth, turned around and ran for it, as JetStream felt was true, but he wasn't ready for it, as he saw Tails run down and disappear after turning the wide corner, he heard another sphere exploding, JetStream backed up to where he could see outside the glass circle, 'They Dare!' he shouted in thought, like he knew this place for decades. As he noticed the circular glass was consumed inside the grey sphere, they found him, "I gotta get out of here..." JetStream turned to the door, only to notice the sphere was expanding, "No, no no!" he looked around, 'Another exit is my only way out...!' the sphere was expanding still, but ever so slowly, "..." he was staggering, looking in places he knew he already did, but then he realized the sun was getting near its sunset. That sunlight was shining on him, the light ended up shining JetStream's fur color throughout the hollowed out hill as well, it didn't matter what it meant, or what it did. JetStream knew that something has to do with this, and the Sun's light. JetStream moved out of the way of the light, he wanted to take a look at it. From the side it looked like tons of rainbows, little rainbows that you could see so vividly thanks to the dirt and dust floating around. Despite the sun being bright, JetStream poked his head in where the light hit, where the light ended up hitting the sphere just stopped instantly, you could even see the light slowly traveling to the time being slowed in those unknown things. He noticed that the light hitting his eyes wasn't orange, but it looked purple. JetStream moved his head ever so slightly and it turned yellow, as you'd see during the sunrise, he moved it again, and he noticed it changed from yellow to a cyan color, only to realize that moving seemed to change its color, "What's creating these rainbows?" he asked himself moving his head through out the sun's light. JetStream looked up, "Could it be the glass? ... What's that noise?" JetStream continuously heard a sizzling noise, he looked around. Out of mortal humor he checked his tail, but that wasn't it, he looked back to the glass, "Is that the sphere doing that?" he wasn't sure, but he decided to check anyway. He went to the stairs and went up completely to the balcony next to the window. He carefully sneaked up, trying to get a closer look, "Hey, is that...? How is that happening!?" the sun light was dissolving the grey sphere just as it hit the circular glass pane, "Wait, is it because.... that's it!" JetStream's mind connected, that rainbow created from the glass somehow is dissolving the grey sphere, "Not only that sphere, but every single one!" he jumped for joy. As soon as he stopped, he was stuck, "Wha- What!? Oh no!" JetStream trapped himself in it, if he didn't get out soon enough, he knew he'd be stuck in it forever, "Just my luck." he muttered, out of full hesitation he pulled out a Chaos Emerald, "Wait, why?...!" he realized how the Emerald looked, "Maybe these can create rainbows too!" JetStream decided to hold the Emerald in the sun's rainbow-hued light, but it didn't do anything, "What!? No, come on!" He shook it just in case it could've worked, but it didn't. Soon enough he realized, "What if it is its power?" he quietly asked looking at the stone before him. He held it out and started to focus despite the cold inside the grey spheres, where there's no sunlight, there's cold. His Aura and a glow around the Emerald he held became visible. Where the sphere had JetStream's grip is where his Aura didn't show visible. JetStream opened his eyes to realize that not only the one he held was glowing, but every single one, even the pitch black one seemed to regain its original power, "What? Those are glowing as well..." the Emeralds continuously shone brighter than a second before, soon enough it was burning the cold, grey sphere and to the point JetStream was able to break free from its grasp, "Ah-ha! I find a way out!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meanwhile, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles made there way to the end, and went to hide from Eggman and the Time Eater, Sonic turned to Tails as he was the last out, "Shouldn't JetStream be out by now?" Tails shook his head unsure. "I don't know, he decided to stay in there..." Knuckles and Sonic gave worried expression. 'What was he thinking!?' Sonic was all he could think at the moment. As he had to dodge Eggman's leering eyeballs. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 47 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 47: Another showdown with the doctor, and his assistant By now the grey sphere around JetStream's home has covered almost the whole structure, leaving them with no good place to hide except behind the concrete wall like fences around them, so they decided to take cover there, "Are we going to wait for him?" Knuckles asked. "It's rather rough to stay out here, but I have faith in what he's doing." Sonic stated, Tails smiled at it. "Alright, if ya say so." Knuckles rolled his eyes, looking up for Eggman, he jerked a little and turned to Sonic and Tails. "Get down!" he whispered as Sonic and Tails ducked without hesitating. "What is it?" Sonic asked quietly. "Eggman, he's right above us." Knuckles answered. "You think he could be searching for more, of whatever he's looking for?" Tails wondered, after a pause, Sonic and Knuckles shrugged. Eggman was looking over the horizon, grey spheres covering every block you could see, it was beautiful to his old eyes, he stopped suddenly. He saw something shift below him, he loomed over his mobile to get a better look. "Ah-ha!" he turned to the Time Eater, "Go get 'em!" as the doctor commanded he went after the sitting ducks, Tails looked up again just in case. "Hmm, ah-Ah! We gotta move!" Sonic and Knuckles looked up. "Ah, jeez!" Sonic grabbed Tails's left arm. "Com' on, Tails." Knuckles followed next to him as they bolted out of the way. "Sneak attack, eh?" Knuckles remembered how dirty Eggman was just as the Time Eater pumbled itself into the ground. Just as the Time Eater was rising from where it once hit, they all heard grass being rustled. "I'm not too late!" followed right after, Tails turned around and was glad to see him. "JetStream!" even to the point where Tails hugged him. "Oh, hi, Tails..." Tails let the hug go, only to realize JetStream had some circular glow around him. "What's this?" JetStream looked to Tails. "I've figured it out. How to get rid of those grey spheres." Tails shared the same expression. "That's great, now we can finally help other ponies around here." Eggman good behavior in evil widened. "Not on my watch!" the Time Eater prepared for another sphere, Sonic looked over to them. "Guys, get out of the way!" "No!" JetStream rose his head in confidence, "I'll prove it to him." he smiled. Tails stood next to JetStream, if this didn't figure to work, he wouldn't let JetStream stay alone. Sonic decided to let JetStream go, he seemed to know what he was doing. The Time Eater launched the grey ball, as JetStream saw it he closed his eyes and synced with the Emeralds as they started to glow. Red, yellow, purple, green, cyan, blue. The last one, the white Emerald, didn't glow, as the glow around JetStream was white when the last one finished, and before they knew it, the grey sphere struck Tails and JetStream. For a moment they were still, like how they'd see everypony else. Eggman's smile grew with every passing second, but then it cracked and shattered as he saw that pony shift. With his eyes closed, JetStream shook his head and opened his eyes, what he saw amazed him, "Tails... It worked..." Sonic and Knuckles couldn't hear what there were saying, as the spheres slowed time, sound couldn't reach from the outside. Tails opened his left eye first, he gasped. "JetStream..." he looked over to him, he was smiling. "It worked." JetStream and Tails gave smiled in relief, "Now let's get out of here." Tails made a fist. "Right." JetStream nodded. Sonic and Knuckles were relieved that they were moving, it was a sure sign that they are okay. With the globe of light surrounding JetStream, he started taking steps in front of him, as the globe moved along with him, where they were, wasn't where the grey sphere was anymore. JetStream soon walked all the way out of the sphere, Tails followed behind him. "I'm back." JetStream smiled, he walked to the house, "I'm bringing you back." he told himself, he took a deep breath, only to realize that the Emeralds glow were faintly vanishing, 'No, not now!' the glow was gone just as soon as he reached the sphere surrounding the house, "..." his neck dropped, Eggman laughed at his attempt. "Congratulations! I'm surprised you have even considered to make it thus far, too bad it's as far as you'll come." he smiled as the Time Eater prepared one more before firing. Despite the danger, something caught JetStream's eye, after so long the sun finally popped out of the clouds, he could feel a slight wind. "I guess it's the last I'll feel..." he said turning around to the Time Eater as it launched the final sphere he'll ever see, his friends watched in horror. JetStream stuck his muzzle into the air and closed his eyes as soon as the sphere landed down on him. "No, JetStream!" Tails ran over, and Sonic and Knuckles walked up to Tails as Eggman laughed. "I'll deal with you three later, I still have more ponies to deal with." Eggman flew off with the Time Eater, they'll see him again anyway. Tails fell to his knees, thinking he was going to tear up again. 'JetStream...' Knuckles and Sonic looked at each other in firm sadness. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 48 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 48: To leave one's family Seconds passed as the whole world literally started turning white and black, the world was loosing its color. Sonic couldn't focus on anything else, he's never seen anything like this, "Knuckles, you seeing this too?" upon hearing this, Tails glanced up, noticing the changing world beyond them, he sniffled. Soon after, Tails thought he was hearing things. "... Is he gone?" without hesitation he replied. "Yeah, Eggman's gone." Tails suddenly popped up. "JetStream?" Sonic and Knuckles looked back curousously. "Thank you, I couldn't stand like that forever..." "JetStream?" he turned his head, and faced toward Tails. "That was too close... I'm glad it missed..." JetStream took a deep breath. Tails was stood up confused. "It missed?" "Yeah, that wind was the last thing I thought I'd hear..." JetStream started to walk around it the grey sphere. "So you only stood still like that so Eggman wouldn't get suspicious?" JetStream nodded. "Yeah... I'm sorry for always keeping you guys on edge like that..." Sonic went around to check what he meant by, missed, " But still, if I acted just the tiniest bit later, I guess I wouldn't have been so lucky..." Sonic noticed upon looking that the sphere landed too early, what they saw was only a perspective illusion, "Can the Emeralds react again? I need to save my Mom and Dad." JetStream was fully in wonder. Sonic continued to pull one out. "No, doesn't look like you can..." as all the Emeralds appearances where black like the one before, "Oh, dang..." "Wait..." Sonic pulled the white Emerald out. "How come this one still shows its color?" JetStream thought through past events. "Well, while I was using the Emeralds to figure a way out, every single one except that Emerald glowed... one more thing..." JetStream wondered. "Then what is it?" Sonic asked. "Since how long ago was that happening?" Sonic looked toward the pointed out ground. "I don't know, but we'll obviously have to find a way to stop it..." Tails walked up to Sonic and JetStream. "I bet it's the grey sphere that the Time Eater have been sprouting." Sonic looked at him. "What do you mean by that?" "Well, there's so much sudden change in certain spots, it's probably all going to stop if we don't help it." Knuckles walked up behind Tails. "Then it's pretty obvious by now that we're going to stop it... But, eh... How?" Tails backed down. "Yeah... that's the difficult part..." JetStream jumped up suddenly, surprising everyone. "What if we got help from Celestia?" there was a pause, Tails looked like he'd consider. "That's interesting, a good authority figure as well." "I was in her castle before, there's tons of books." Knuckles put his gloves down to his hips. "So, you're assuming that you'll find an answer in one of those books?" suddenly JetStream's consideration didn't seem to great, but Sonic decided to stand up for it. "Well, it wouldn't hurt to check it out with them... And heck, maybe they do know something." Sonic looked directly at Knuckles. Tails jumped up. "Alright, then it has been decided, we're all going to Canterlot once again!" "Okay." JetStream already sounded pump. "We should all know where the plane is right?" Tails turned to JetStream. "Of course! ..." JetStream tilted his head at the sudden pause, "... Oh right, if we can get it out..." "Yeah." Tails responded. "What if we use the Emeralds, like before?" "You should know you've drained all except one of its energy..." Sonic recalled. "Remember about the one in the Tornado!" Tails stated, Sonic snapped his fingers. "Oh, that's right. You have the cyan one in the tornado, maybe if we can raise its energy as well we could get the Tornado out..." "Right." Tails started running toward the city. "Wai- wait up, Tails." JetStream went his way around the sphere to get on the path, it wouldn't be the same it he galloped his way through the grass. Just before he started making his way, he looked back toward the house. Suddenly thinking of leaving with out some sort of good-bye wouldn't be very good. He started to tear up, his breathing pattern started to crumble. But instead, he stood up straight, grit his teeth and delivered the words he wanted, "... We'll fix this and free all of you as soon as possible..." he closed his eyes and turned to gallop toward the plane, suddenly to where a tear launched toward the sphere. It hit it and stuck and that exact spot, JetStream didn't see it, he was already yards away by the time it hit. He looked left and right, seeing one sphere full of immobile figures, it was awful to look at, "I hope I didn't lose them..." JetStream thought it through, 'It's a big town... What if there was a, quick, way to use my Aura...' he tried to just scratch the surface of his Auric side, and doing so would end up him finding ponies and objects Aura's like before, but in some sort of way to where it'd be useful in dire situations, especially in these. Once he felt the cold wave flow over him like he always ends up with, he quickly opened his eyes instead up keeping it up, he instantly saw a couple outlines in the center, just a little bit to the right. His fur seemed to tingle as well, he suddenly shook it off, "Never felt that before..." he ignored it and continued to where he saw their Auras. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 49 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 49: Catch that plane! "No... no... dang, not that one either." he ended up checking almost all of the allies he could find, until he found another alleyway and his fur felt really fluffy for some reason, as soon as he ended up in front of one of the alleyways. Sonic looked back. "JetStream, there you are. Thought we lost you, mind giving us some help." he shook the feeling off and continued to walk up to them. "Yeah, of course... but, how do you expect us to get it out of there?" Sonic looked too unsure as he scratched his head. "That's the part we're stuck on..." JetStream stood there, thinking then and there what he could do. "Hey, Sonic." he stopped to look at JetStream again. "What is it?" "Are the Chaos Emeralds, bonded? As in power or anything in that way?" "Oh, definitely." Knuckles answered, JetStream was surprised him answering suddenly, Tails got JetStream's attention. "Take it from him, he was basically guarding them." JetStream looked like he considered it, as Knuckles turned and pointed at Tails. "And I still do." Tails nodded. "Of course." he smiled. JetStream pulled the only Chaos Emerald that had its color. "The white Emerald is the only one with color right now. And the other is stuck in time right before our eyes..." he closed his eyes and began to sync with the Emerald, 'Alright, lets see if it has enough power after all this time being with it...' the Emerald started to glow. As the Emerald was shining, the sun seemed to poke out, and at some points hit the Emerald with its light. As the light hit the same white sphere started to form around JetStream, it caught all their attention. "JetStream, what's going on?" Tails asked, he seemed worried than curious. "... It's the same way I got out after the Time Eater had me stuck in there, the Glassed Hill." Sonic jumped. "That's what happened!?" JetStream nodded with a frown. "Yeah, after he shot the sphere, I was stuck in the Glassed Hill. I was either going to find a way out... or get trapped in there..." Sonic walked up to JetStream, this anger was driven by worry. "And why did you decide to stay in there when you knew there was danger?" JetStream took a step back. "I... I get some sort of feeling of... oh what's the word..." Sonic just waited for the word. "... Well, you get an idea, or inspiration...?" he was obviously unsure of his choices. Sonic sighed and looked back toward the plane. JetStream instantly went back to the Emerald, which slightly dimmed after the conversation. After a long pause, it finally came to him. "... I stayed there to find a way to get rid of the spheres... and I ended up finding it saving myself..." the Emerald glowed brightly, as it was ready for use, 'Maybe this, Unlimited Power, was something to be exaggerated...' Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles turned around as they saw the glow. "You ready, JetStream?" Sonic asked. "Yes." he gave him a thumbs up, JetStream nodded back smiling. It was only one Emerald, but after the power surges that JetStream put it through, it seemed to be as powerful as at least four Emeralds than just one. He held it toward the sphere, the sphere around the white Emerald entered the grey sphere, leaving remains of a perfect circular hole in the grey sphere, "It's working..." JetStream assured. "Sweet, great work..." although it looked easy enough, it was more difficult than it looked. JetStream decided to keep pushing the Emerald through until the other reacted, after a couple more seconds, the grey sphere started turning blue. "Hey! I think the Emerald's reacting!" "I think you're right, Tails..." as the grey slowly turned to a more blue tint, the plane seemed to fall toward the ground more and more, soon the plane landed on all three tires. Now what they waited for was soon to come. The outside of the sphere glowed. "... Ah, that's really bright..." they ended up covering their eyes so they wouldn't figuratively go blind. As soon as it ended, they looked up. "Incredible!" Tails ran up to the plane. "... It's free!" JetStream expression showed his hard work, as he soon started walking to the plane as well, "Now all we need is a good place to take off!" Tails stated jumping into the pilot's seat, pressing every button, knowing what it does as he did, making sure it wasn't harmed. Knuckles walked up to JetStream, he put his hand on his mane. "... Huh?" JetStream looked up. "Ya know, for someone that's not to fond of that kind of stuff, you sure know what you'll be doing..." JetStream smiled. "Thanks..." he tilted his head at him. "Now come on, we gotta go." he patted his head before he moved to the plane. JetStream sighed at that playful gesture. As soon as everything was set, Tails drove the plane to a more open space, and prepared for his take off. "Preparing for take-off!" Tails enthustuastically yelled. Sonic and JetStream rolled their eyes, as they couldn't be seen by Tails anyway, "Everyone ready?" "Yes sir!" they responded in unison. Soon the plane started accelerating. "Alright! Next stop, Canterlot!" as Tails stated as soon as they got air borne. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 50 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 50: Cogitate your worries away ... Here it was, another silent and breezy flight. Although it seemed to be the same scene, clouds floating past as you head to your destination, nothing and everything seemed to change during flight, especially in Tails's biplane, if he knew what a biplane meant. The only thing he knew to keep in mind was to know that it's a plane, and it somehow has the ability to fly. Then it hit realization how they'd never expect to run into Pegasi, he rather not, it wouldn't be pretty. All the while, JetStream knew he couldn't relax to the lengths of when he was able to, they were surrounded by clouds much darker, and there wasn't as much clouds as there were in the first place, 'I bet if these two Emeralds had the energy, we could've saved them from it...' he gripped the saddle-bag tighter, then loosened after some thought, 'We can fix it, we all can do something at the most...' suddenly a cloud approached, and Tails didn't have the time to go out of its way. They went right through it, JetStream started coughing, 'What was in that cloud? I thought that clouds were full of water anyway...' JetStream looked through the saddle-bag he opened toward the Chaos Emeralds, 'What if I can raise their power, like I did before this whole thing started...?' he preceded to take one out, gazing at its lost color, and begging for it to return. He made himself comfortable, and to the point to where he felt like the same finding Auras, 'Doing something with my Aura without closing my eyes will be a first... I don't even know why I do that?' little things sub-consciously came up to avoid the dangers of what he could possibly be doing. He shook his head and went back to the Emerald, 'But never mind that...' JetStream looked over to Knuckles and sighed, 'Sleepin' as always...' his attitude broke before he looked to the Emerald, and focused, 'Maybe the Emeralds and my Aura go hoof and hoof... not very likely... but possible? ...' his Aura glowed once again, he smiled always to know how to possibly keep his Aura in balance. As JetStream's Aura surrounded the Emerald, is started to glow like a mirror would reflecting and refracting light. JetStream suddenly breathed in deeply, more than he's ever before, '...Is, is that the... power that they could've been talking about...?' he felt this pleasurable feeling, suddenly it wasn't a moment of helping it. But rather felt like he could take it, '... Use it as my own.....' JetStream quickly shoved the now colorful Emerald back in the bag, the top of his head near his mane was practically sweating, he was visibly shaking as well, 'I never knew a feeling, so good could... be so bad...' he grimaced, '... It's only bad because of the dangers that Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles were trying to avoid...' JetStream wouldn't believe it, this feeling he's experiencing was specifically the thing most living creatures tried to avoid taking to much power. JetStream opened up the bag looking at the Chaos Emeralds it contained, '... But how much of it, is too much...?' you could see the sparking curiosity in his eyes, suddenly shaking his head, 'No, I need to regenerate the Emeralds power, just in case we need some help... just in case if we can't trust anypony or anybody...' he pulled out another Emerald to bring its power back. He focused and let the Emerald soak it all up, 'Then again, the Emeralds are getting their energy... where is it coming from?' although it is a curious thought, he continued to do it. Yet the same bittersweet feeling emerged, 'What's with this!?' he was confused, his specific goal was to bring the Emeralds energy back. JetStream pulled back from doing it any further, 'I'm not making any progress going this sl-!' he noticed he Chaos Emerald was back to its proper color, '... This is the red Emerald...' as JetStream from his small study of Aura, and mostly only some of the colors and what represented, 'Red stands for power, energy, energetic... being some sort of dominant character... being strong basically...' JetStream sighed as he put the Emerald back, noticing he has three back to their proper state, '... But in what...?' he pulled another out and began to focus once more. After some time, he stopped, 'This one's.... back...' he'll never forget the look of these, smiling as he put it back and picked out another one. He closed his eyes, he suddenly dropped the Emerald and laid back on the seat, next thing you knew he was silently resting as they continued. Sonic looked back, as he heard the something. "..." he noticed JetStream lying there silently, "Did he fall asleep too?" Tails looked up to him. "Did he?" Sonic shrugged. "That's what it looks like." he then noticed the Emerald on the floor of the plane, "Are you kidding? He's asleep because he tried to restore the Emeralds power..." Tails didn't look all the good. "Think we should've warned him?" Sonic sighed. "Of course, it's no big deal, but doing it takes a lot of energy... no matter how quickly you somebody pulls the revival." Tails nodded in agreement. "I'll take it from you." 'Might as well gain it back, JetStream while we make further progress... you need the strength after how long this will go on...' he had quite a slant expression. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 51 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 51: Shattered Memories It was quite, strangely loud but quite, maybe not all at once for sure. It was smooth, and as time past it became more and more sharp, more rippled, 'Wha- How'd I...? ...' JetStream was like every other pony when they wake up, practically clueless, but he knew there was something wrong, 'Am I awake? Did I fall asleep somehow...? ... Oh no...' he didn't rather think of it as possible, but could they have already landed, possibly Eggman has them with him being left behind, where Sonic and his friends couldn't have the amount of time they possibly desired, 'But if I'm aware of being unconscious, where in the world am I...?' JetStream suddenly saw a glow that looked like an end to a tunnel, he trotted towards it, maybe it was his way out somehow. But as he got closer, he noticed the glow never got any bigger, it was the same size as when he saw it before, 'You got to be kidding? ... Is this some sort of illusion?' he tilted his head. Out of sudden curiosity, he looked left and right to be re-acknowledged about being alone, he decided to put his hoof through it, only to retract, 'Ah, that's cold!' he held his hoof to warm it up again. He decided to look straight into it afterward, 'Oh, I actually see, something in there...' he still wasn't quite sure if he was, it was too subtle and faint. Staring at it for a minute or so would make some sort of shape, he shook his head, 'I can't waste my time in here, what if they're in danger?' JetStream's vision suddenly blurred, and his legs started to give out, 'What? No, I'm not... tired?' he stood back up, almost falling over. It kept getting heavier and heavier. Suddenly JetStream just let his limbs support him, 'This, is bad... I never...' he gasped for air. Just as a bright light loomed over him, 'Agh...' next thing he knew was that he could hear something, he couldn't smell anything, but it was only the scene, "What? Where am I now?" his vision finally opened up. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The next thing he knew he was tumbling off the biplane since it was crashed at an angle, he tumbled to the floor and afterward picked himself back up, "My strength..." he looked around, "What happened?" he was surrounded by a grey sphere, "Oh no...!" he turned around, "Sonic! Tails!" to notice none of them are there, "... Knuckles ..." he looked around the plane, "Where'd they go?" he heard something buzzing, it was a soft and warm buzz, as if you would actually have to listen to hear it, he went back to see what it was, "Oh!" he saw the saddle-bag lying on the ground where he hit the concrete, "The Emeralds... the power of the four Emeralds I revived, helped me..." he picked up the saddle-bag and hoped it would dissolve the grey spheres like it did back at the Glassed Hill, "I don't know if you can understand me, but I thank you..." he did know he was talking to objects who couldn't respond, but realizing what was going on outside would make things desperate, "It seems that we arrived in Canterlot..." he looked up to the sky, and although it was tinted grey, the moon with the same silhouette was visible, "And it's already night time..." it was quite, he saw something out of the corner of his eye, he turned to see, "What!?" he hid behind the plane for cover, "What was that thing?" he saw it, it was some metal thing that stood on two just like Sonic and his friends, but it didn't look like them at all. It seemed to have some sort of semi-circle on the top, he went to the edge where he was able to get another look, "..." he could've been sweating at this point with distress, he poked his head out of the corner, only to go right behind it again, as the thing was facing toward him, delivering a shock of fear. He went out of the blocked view, "They don't notice me..." JetStream thought it could've been a flaw during them being made, "Actually, they look a lot like Tails's plane, all shiny and very hard..." he thought aloud looking at the plane. From what JetStream saw, there were no ponies roaming, only these robots a little smaller than Tails's plane, "Could those things put them all there? How long would that even take..." he took at the buildings surrounding him, "Hmm, it seems they got caught up in the plaza..." he looked closer at the buildings, "Could they forced all the ponies in the buildings?" he wondered, looking in the windows, he saw something move, "Yeah, so those robots are actually the enemy..." it was a little confusing, the only machines he knows was Tails's plane and Eggman's mobile. Seeing these things out of nowhere was sudden, "Yeah, I'm sure. There's no way these were made by Tails." he grimaced, staring oddly at the slow-paced machined he saw moving before his eyes. JetStream sighed, "Not if there was a was out of here..." he noticed a couple more ended up walking the same concrete path, "Or when I'll be able to get out..." he knew he'd have to time it right. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 52 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 52: Not so sneaky sneaking JetStream sighed, 'I'll wait until there's no things in sight if I have to...' JetStream decided to look for the nearest building, there was one straight across from them, a couple lights were turned on inside so he might as well start there, 'Right, now all I have to do is wait, for the right moment...' as the night time shone true, the light posts were glowing there damp orange to yellow color, and JetStream didn't know whether to decide that if it was good or bad, his train of thought was ruined as he saw the vision before him, for a good five seconds there were no things roaming around, JetStream collected the breath he needed and headed for the doors of the target building. The sphere around him thanks to the Emeralds allowed him to escape and head quickly to the double doors, "Oh! No no no no no no nono..." he quietly screamed to himself as him trying to avoid looking at other robots getting to the doors. As soon as he reached them, he slam them opened and rushed through, he turned around and closed them, he was breathing heavily by the time he finished, "... Yes..." he managed to celebrate. He turned around to look behind him, he suddenly caught his breath, as he saw tons of ponies crammed into the bottom room, "Oh, uh... It's a little, uh... bad out there..." almost all the ponies gave him a weird look. "Excuse me, coming through..." the pony looked mighty disheveled, "Where did you just come from?" JetStream's eyes bolted back and forth. "Uhh..." he pointed his hoof toward the door, "... Outside...?" he answered unsure, and as you wouldn't notice, the pony facehoofed. "No no, we all know you would've had to come from some other building before you got here. Which one did you come from?" the ponies seem to desperately await JetStream's answer, he swallowed hard. "Well, I actually I woke up on the street, the transportation I was in to get here was apparently shot down, I ended up waking in a sphere." the pony was shocked entirely, so were a few behind it. "Wait, wait. You woke up, inside those spheres? How in the world did you pull that off?" JetStream knew he'd regret it showing them off to the wrong pony at any given moment, but he pulled the white Chaos Emerald out of the one of the bags. "These... I was surrounded in a sphere just like the grey ones, except this actually helped..." "That gem helped you?" JetStream cringed. "It's not a gem..." he mumbled to himself, he now understands why Knuckles was so intolerant of ponies or whatever saying gems, or basically anything that wasn't Chaos Emerald or Emerald. "... Oh right! I got to find my friends." JetStream made slow progress as he looked around for the way up stairs, as he saw them, "Wait..." he took a moment to figure something, "Deja vu... Oh that's it!" JetStream remembers this place, "This is the hotel we spent our couple of days in Canterlot, I should be able to find the stairs easily." he smiled firmly. He was just about to continue heading up the flight, but a hoof fell upon his shoulder, JetStream looked back, "Wha- What is it?" it was the same pony. "What's your name anyway?" 'Oh, should I? What if I do and they praise me for some sort of rescue, or they end up turning me in... Well, I might end up where Sonic and his friend are...' after a second thought, he answered, "My name's, JetStream." he smiled as he turned back to the stairs, all he heard behind him was gasps, as the whole place could've been littered with ghosts. Hearing this nerved him, made him uneasy about his, capture, if he put it right, 'Is that true?' he asked heading up the stairs, 'Could I possibly be up for capture?' he felt his breath freeze using that word, something about it made him shiver. Although it would end up to be just unfair bounty, he would know the reasons behind it, 'Gonna go to my floor, and did exactly what I did before to get onto the roof.' He stopped climbing on his floor and went to the same room, what surprised JetStream was that there was six ponies up in there, "Excuse me I'm going to the balcony." Somepony stopped JetStream, and he looked up to this adult mare. "Wait, don't go out there, you remember what they told you, stay in, or else." JetStream yanked himself free anyway. "Just tell them I didn't get the memo." he smiled. He shut the door behind him as he looked toward the castle, same balcony, same view, 'By the time something gets done, that may not be a castle.' he looked directly on, his ear twitched, there was a robot examining the alleyway, its spotlight went upward toward the balcony, 'Eek!' JetStream ducked below the rail guarding. As soon as it was gone, JetStream continued to hop onto the rail, he grabbed the pipe, which was a lot louder than you remember, 'Ah!' "Hurry hurry!" he rushed himself. He ended up making it to the roof faster than he expected, "Ha! Just like last time, alright..." he assured himself, he then sighed of the masses of roofs he sees before him, "I'm starting to think that the streets would've make it faster than the rooftops..." he shook his head, "Oh well, I might as well..." he looked over to the castle, "But where do I go now?" ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 53 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 53: Back in the sewers JetStream walked to the edge of the building, "I've done this before, don't worry..." JetStream continued to look down, he was watching the robots pass one another like they weren't even there. He heard a distant beeping sound, he saw on robot look toward him, but luckily he saw it target him, he took a couple steps back from, "I don't think I can get anywhere with them, just now I didn't make a single jump..." JetStream suddenly realized, "But I have more than one in total, yes! I bet that group in the sewers is still there..." he remembered how the ponies ended up, "Or if they're still there..." JetStream looked to his right, "All I got to do is follow these rooftops, oh..." JetStream sighed, "I forgot about the splash below... no I'm going to, if they are still there, they probably blocked the normal way out... somehow..." JetStream wanted to be extremely careful to being caught or not, that noise they make when they found him was scary, "Alright." JetStream prepared for the first jump on the way to the group's hideout, he went to the edge, but not to far of course. He galloped for the roof in front of him, and jumped for the pipe, JetStream's sigh was weak. He was a good distance from the ground, he's technically got robots after him, "Just stop thinking for the moment and climb." he reminded, he remembered climbing this same pipe with the group waiting for him to pull him up. He remembered exactly how that scene played out as soon as he pulled himself up, trying to get a good look of where everything is, "As cool as this place is looking, well despite the grey spheres every where. Well, better get going." he headed toward the same sewer hole, "It... actually feels great... doing this again." he smiled. The incoming edge of a roof was earlier than expected, JetStream stopped his galloping spree here, "Isn't this where...?" he looked down to noticed the uncovered entrance to the sewers, "Yes." he was about to jump for it, when suddenly he remembered he had the saddle-bag on, "Oh, jeez... I need to get down there, but... I don't want this getting soaked... Especially the book..." after too long of a wait, JetStream went ahead and dived for it, he grabbed the saddle-bag and lifted it above him just in case. Just as he fell through the cover, he closed his eyes and held his breathe. He heard the swift wind moving faster has he approached the water, but the split second he splashed, he heard a unicorn's horn started to glow. But right after that it all went quiet, and then the splash went off, what JetStream could tell is that the water was a bit cleaner. He struggled greatly trying to get to the surface, but instead he got to the side with the concrete walk-way and helped himself up that way. Finally he reached the surface. Dripping wet and tinted as usual, he got to the side of the wall and rested, 'I think I'm building a fear of water...' the thought of loosing his life, just because of the failure to swim was horrible. He was breathing heavily, he popped up and started looking around in the water, "Oh, where did the saddle-bag go?" "In what context did you mean by that?" JetStream turned to his left, was a mare, she held the saddle-bag in her telekinesis, "Did you, steal this?" JetStream shook his head which sent drips everywhere. "No no, that is mine. Thanks for saving it..." "You're welcome." she gave it to him, and JetStream settled it next to him, "Besides, I wasn't going to just leave this out there, where it could possibly be, uh... handed to the enemy..." JetStream questioned his own word choice. "Handed?" the pony questioned. "Just don't, I don't think I can answer that." JetStream sighed. "Alright, and it's pretty obvious you're hiding as well?" "Yeah, just like the other ponies up there." "Just that they aren't hiding, there being held there." "Well, considering it's night time then it's really easy." "Very likely..." she held out a hoof, "My name's, Exteeled. Nice to meet ya, what's yours?" they shook on it. "My name's, JetStream." she suddenly looked shocked. "No way, you're the pony they were talking about around the castle. How come they want a young colt like you?" "How come everypony seems to know that except me?" she sighed, motioned JetStream to follow her, and they started walking. "I'm not too sure about that, but I know a place where you can hide with a couple others." 'I bet I know who they are.' JetStream smiled, then it faded as he thought of something, "I know this place is underground, but it doesn't look like you have much defense against those things..." she nodded. "Yeah, it may look that way, and they're called robots." she looked down at JetStream. "Where did you hear that?" "The rumors spreading about the castle take-over." "Castle take-over!?" Exteeled snickered. "You mean you didn't know?" "No, it's just, my goal was to get to the castle." "By yourself? Are you kidding?" they were near the door, when one pony popped from around that corner. "Exteeled what's going on..." JetStream noticed the pony. "Is that you?" he luckily knew what he was talking about, "I told you I'd be back." he added for extra measure. "What!?" Exteeled exclaimed in misunderstanding. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 54 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 54: Meeting new faces The pony galloped up to him, "I'm happy to see you again, but we didn't really catch your name back when..." he scratched the back of his head. "It's fine, I was in a rush. My name's JetStream." Exteeled was expecting the same reaction. "So you're the pony those things were talking about." JetStream sighed. "I'm surprised I'm not used to hearing that." "I expected that..." Exteeled stated. Suddenly the ground was rumbling, "What's go-!" JetStream's panic was cut off as Exteeled covered his muzzle. "Be quiet!" she whispered. All he did was look around nervously. As soon as it stopped, she uncovered it. "What was that for?" "I did that so they wouldn't spot us." "Understandable, and I guess I rather not find out what happened if you didn't, so I'll let that go." "Good." she responded blankly. 'Sheesh...' "Com' on, lets go inside." she suddenly broke into her energetic self again. "Alright." they all turned the corner. All the ponies looked at the ones entering. "Wow..." JetStream was in awe. He couldn't even begin to check the differences, "You guys really have changed the place..." the other ponies thought it was a "wise-pony" leader directed his attention toward Exteeled. "Who is this?" "This is JetStream, and apparently he said he has been here before." "I know I have." JetStream backed up on it looking at Exteeled with a furrowed expression. The pony to the left of them stepped forward. "It's true, leader. This was the same pony we saw at the hotel." the leader thought that couldn't be, but after a quick look, he seemed to fully believe it. "How is this possible? I'm glad you're back." "It's, JetStream." "JetStream, yes. I actually have a question for you." he walked back to his what-it-seemed-to-be throne. He paused before he went to ask, "... What could you have possibly done to earn all this bounty?" JetStream leaned back. "... What bounty?" he paused under the pressure. The pony's expression changed. "I'm surprised? You managed to get here, but you yet to know a single bit about your doing?" "Well, what did I do?" Exteeled sighed. "Jeez you're so lost. How did you get here without knowing you were being searched for?" "That's what those robots were for!?" JetStream looked over to Exteeled. "Duh! But not just for you, for everypony else, they're probably doing this because of you in the first place!" JetStream flinched. "Silence, Exteeled..." the leader calmed everypony. "Strange, I only got the everypony part down." JetStream stated. "That's because you're slow." JetStream sighed. "I get that." "Well, JetStream? How'd you manage to get here without being caught?" JetStream sat straight down on the concrete covered with carpets. "Well, I woke up inside those grey spheres. I found out that my friends were gone but I was spared for some reason..." "That, person, as they said. He's vicious, how did he even leave you there?" JetStream shrugged. "Maybe something went wrong?" he sounded unsure. "Either that or pure luck." "But hold on..." JetStream stood back up and walked to the throne, he stopped right under the grate were the moon was shining on him, "If he was looking for me, then why would he not come for me? In fact, how fast would have to build an army like he has so fast in the first place?" Across the open area on the other side, orange eyes were shining, JetStream saw it in the corner of his eyes making his spine feel cold suddenly. "It happened so suddenly. As soon as he came, they all showed up." the voice was something he heard like no other, it was smooth yet strong enough to give a yelling command, "Who's he?" she nodded toward JetStream looking at the leader. "Somepony I haven't seen for a while." The leader looked at JetStream, he felt nervous, he was confused on whether it was a pony or not. "W-who are you?" he asked curiously, but still not able to get past the chills, she smiled relax-fully. "Hope you're not afraid of the dark. Name's, Midnight Blossom." she walked up as she greeted herself. She held a hoof out as she closed her wings, JetStream wouldn't move, he was too focused on the wings. "N-not be, mean or anything... But I haven't seen wings like those before." She laughed seductively. "I'm not the average Pegasi. Only with some of the other non-pegasi with wings, flying the night without a problem." she went up to JetStream's right ear and whispered, "We're batponies..." JetStream gasped. "Wow..." he was shocked, JetStream looked back as she circled around, "Then, how come I've never heard of them before?" "It's because I flew here, to Equestria." JetStream felt everything freeze, almost to the point it shattered. 'Equestria isn't the only body of land!?' ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 55 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 55: From the lowest to the highest Part 1 "So I've heard you're the one causing so much havoc around here lately." JetStream felt another cool chill down his spine, it was really cool outside as well, especially for a spring night. "Well, I wouldn't say I was the one, causing it..." "Oh really?" she looked full of doubt at JetStream. "Y-yeah, I'd say I'm more in it, than behind it..." she looked directly into JetStream golden eyes. "Well, so is-every-pony-else." JetStream looked like he felt guilty on that one. She was very good at persuading. 'Well, they are batponies...' JetStream mentally sighed, 'Alright, it's about time I should get going...' "Excuse me, eh, leader?" "Yeah?" he directed his attention to JetStream. "Although I have been here for hiding, I think I should finally get out and search for my friends." Midnight Blossom snickered. "They're located in buildings, why take it so seriously?" JetStream sighed. "Well, no, not these friends, they aren't." the pony behind Exteeled stood up. "Then where are they?" "Canterlot Castle..." they all gasped. "Why are they there?" Exteeled asked. "Because they were taken when I was somehow left alone, after I realized it, I went to hide." Exteeled paused. "... But what made you assume?" "Where else would Eggman go? Of course he would go to the highest authority." a pony left of the leader stood up. "Then why don't we help you?" "Wha-?" the pony on the right stood up as well. "I agree, I rather do something than wait this out... If it ends..." JetStream nodded. "Don't worry, it should. If we all put the trust and honesty to one another..." he turned to Midnight Blossom. "We can all change this..." she nodded as well. "I like it... But where are we going to start?" JetStream shrugged. "Well, how about we check to see how those robots are going? With my keen eyesight for the night, I know I'll be able to spot them easily, com' on let's go." JetStream followed her as he looked back. "Alright." after they both exited, four more ponies followed. "You four be cautious out there." "Right." they responded in unison. Midnight Blossom and JetStream were walking, when suddenly she stopped JetStream. "What, what is it?" far behind them the other four ponies turned the same corner as Midnight Blossom signaled to tell them to hurry up, and they waited. As soon as they caught up, Midnight Blossom pointed up the sewers. "The exit is right there, now be careful." all the ponies nodded, JetStream ended up behind all of them. He knows he's hiding from something that he has never done like before, "You especially, JetStream." JetStream sighed nervously. 'Great, they're worrying about me... But don't worry, with the ability I got with my Aura thus far will prove if I can pull this off.' he smiled to himself, she motioned them all to gallop outside the sewers. 'Here we go...' Part 2 JetStream's thoughts were slow, as he looked up to figure they have already started trotting to another place of cover, "... Ah! Wait up!" JetStream paced himself as he nervously looked around, accidently bumping into the pony if front of him. "Watch it." "Sorry." they whispered, Midnight Blossom looked back at the pack. "Be quiet, we don't want them to wonder..." JetStream silently sighed as they continued to the other side of the alleyway, Midnight Blossom stopped them in their tracks, "I'm going to peek the corner, stay here." "Right." they nodded. "..." JetStream felt something cold, and in sudden realization, he looked to the corner, "Midnight don't look around the corner!" he whispered loudly. She turned so quickly the end of her ears could've created a Sonic Rainboom. "Why? What is it?" JetStream was hesitant, he panicked as he hasn't heard anything behind the corner, he didn't expect to put up an explanation. "Becau-... uh..." he bit his lip, until he saw a shadow appear on the right side of the alley. The only thing the others saw was JetStream looking up without a clue in the world, he held his hoof up, "That..." he said quietly. The robot was passing to the left side as the other ponies turned around. "They were made so quiet..." the pony stated. "Why wouldn't they? They were meant to find ponies..." Exteeled responded. "It's something we don't needed to be reminded of." "Yeah..." "Hey JetStream, how'd ya know?" Midnight Blossom looked back at him. "How'd I know? It's called Aura, I work and practice with it. What you saw was some of its effects." JetStream scratched the back of his head with a worried expression as if he didn't want to brag. Midnight Blossom looked like she was in a lot of thought. "Aura... Aura, where have I heard that before?" JetStream jumped up. "You've heard of it before?" "Obviously..." she looked outside of the alley. "But we need to get going to the castle." JetStream nodded. "Yeah." 'Well, she apparently comes from a land off of Equestria, maybe there was a chance for her to hear about it...' As soon as Midnight Blossom checked around the alley, there were no robots around, she signaled them it was fine, so they all walked out afterward. They all stood in the middle of one. "Where's the castle from here anyway?" "Left. Over there." she pointed. They started walking on the same road to get to the castle, either it wasn't far away, or it was bigger then it seemed. JetStream turned to Midnight Blossom. "Is Canterlot the first place you visited?" she sighed with a smile. "Yes, I did. And when I did, I caught attention I couldn't control... that's when I ended up in Canterlot Castle, talking with Celestia herself." JetStream jumped in surprise. "Wow, you talked to her too? You were really lucky." JetStream smiled. "You ended up talking to Celestia as well?" JetStream shrugged. "Yeah, but not exactly in that way. It was back at least two years ago. Some event was being held from Altamare to Canterlot. And I wanted to go because of what I could see as I went." Midnight Blossom looked at JetStream in an annoyed way, he sighed, "Long or short." "Short." "... I walked on clouds." "What!?" all three of them yelled in unison. Part 3 "Are you pulling lies?" Midnight Blossom gave JetStream a serious stare, he held his hoofs up. "No, no way. I got to thank my Mom's magic for pulling it off." he scratched the back of his head. "So she's a Unicorn?" JetStream nodded, "Of course. She used this spell that abled me and my Mom to walk on clouds when we went to watch my Dad." she gave him a look. "So your Dad's, a Pegasus?" JetStream nodded. "Mmmhmm." she looked back at the ground like she saw something, "You look a little thought-heavy..." JetStream noticed, Midnight Blossom looked back to see their reactions, they were quite surprised as well. JetStream sighed. "Why is everypony so quiet all of a sudden?" she looked at JetStream. "Well, if this is true..." she got to JetStream ear, "You know about, mating, right?" JetStream blushed. "Maybe a little...?" he was unsure, and worried about saying yes and no, she smiled. "Don't worry about where we're going with this, it's just..." she pulled away, "That more than likely, there are chances if a Unicorn and a Pegasus meet, you'll have a tiny-bit-larger-than-slim chance of being an Alicorn." JetStream jumped up. "Really? That's interesting." she bounced her head back and forth knowing the facts. "Yeah, it is. But usually it ends up only being a Unicorn or Pegasus. But I guess you could say it is quite rare for an Earth pony to be out of that as well." it suddenly looked like she got caught up in something. "How do you know all this? Being a, batpony and all..." she looked at JetStream as his blush went away. "Have I told you how long I've been here?" "No..." "Good, now let's keep moving..." they were coming up on a alleyway to their right, as they passed it JetStream decided to look across it. "Ah!" all the ponies jumped and looked around. "What is it?" JetStream took a deep breath. "... Across the alleyway..." Midnight Blossom went up to JetStream. "Then calm down and be quiet, they can't walk through those. And you better count ourselves lucky we're not even caught yet." they all continued walking the path, JetStream sighed. "Don't say that, we might actually..." there was a sound behind JetStream, "... Be caught..." he saw one robot on his tail. "Go, go, go!" Midnight Blossom demanded, "Com' on JetStream!" he turned quickly and followed them, just as soon as the robot shot some sort of arm that held some crane like object, JetStream jumped at the sound of it, and even almost fell trying to balance himself. Exteeled turned to Midnight Blossom. "Where are we going to?" "Like I said before, we'll hide in the alleyways. They can't reach us there." they turned the nearest corner into an alley, where it gets all dark and shaded over, especially at night. But the moon was at its highest peak, therefore it shimmered the Sun's shining light. "You know what?" JetStream wondered as he looked directly toward the silhouette covered moon, "If it was said that Celestia took control of the Sun and Moon, how come she's still able to do it even though she's practically in danger?" Midnight Blossom sighed. "As small as the question is, that actually worries me..." JetStream thought the same. "We better hurry." Part 4 JetStream looked left and right, "Do you see that castle?" she grabbed a quick breathe. "It looks like it's just up there, we'll be there soon. But we should know we're going in quiet." "We are?" Exteeled wondered. "Of course, it's not like were going in their obvious." Midnight Blossom answered. JetStream looked up, as he saw a good half of the castle already. 'We're getting their faster than I thought.' after they passed a few more allies, Midnight Blossom turned into an alleyway. "This way, we're cutting paths." JetStream was still looking at the castle, he looked down to notice he saw a pony going right. 'Whew, almost lost them...' he turned right once he reached it. "Hurry up, JetStream. You're falling behind." JetStream grit his teeth. "I know, I know." he went ahead and pushed himself faster, 'I didn't want to go that fast... I wanted to have the stamina.' "I might be using it anyway..." they reached the end of the alleyway and were galloping to the next. "After this one, we're turning left." "Got it." they responded. The moon's shimmering light disappeared as they entered the next alley. All they heard were the clip-clop of their hoofs hitting the smooth stones of the alleyways for a fine ten seconds, but then it all came back as they were told to turn left to get to the castle. Up ahead they saw two robots that both went left and right. "I guess the robot security is going to get thicker, be careful." 'If running to this thicker security is your way of figuring a way to hide...' he comforted himself with humor, '... Alright, then...' as they passed that same road, they all looked left and right. But it seemed they already turned another direction, they were no where to be seen. "Take a right, here." she turned sharply into the alleyway, and the rest followed. JetStream could briefly see the castle from the alley. "Yes, we're almost there." "Left." as they did follow Midnight Blossom, a beep was heard behind them, "Whoops! Hurry, it found us!" he light in the front clicked on and focused on them as they galloped away at a more speedy pace, it didn't look likely for the robot to catch them. Although what they didn't notice was the crashed Tornado was on that same road, and since JetStream heard it suddenly, he went from looking at the castle to a full gallop. The biplane with its colors, blended into Canterlot as well. JetStream ended up tripping over one of the plane's wheels at his upmost speed. He ended up tumbling, and as soon as he stopped he was able to get a good look at the robot behind him, JetStream's fur was covered in dirt. He stood back up coughing, turned around and attempted to gallop away even though he knew it would leave him astray to the others, all he wanted to do was avoid this thing. As soon as he did, the robot started talking. "That thing can talk!?" "... Target... Spotted... Initiating Capture..." "Aw, heck..." JetStream cursed. He tried to speed up, only to realize the castle was just to his right, so he tried to make it before it- The robot shot the same crane out of its arm. Just before JetStream could ever make it passed the building due to how tired he was galloping, the crane struck and gripped on the bottom of his right back leg. A sharp yelp followed him hitting the stone paths, 'I need, to buck this thing... off!' as he tried harder, it only made him more tired. The suspense of seeing that monster as it slowly approached the corner was something JetStream didn't want to happen. Although it's only one limb, it's still connected to the robot, which means he knew when wasn't going anywhere far." then in all of the intense terror, JetStream just suddenly stopped, followed by the longest pause, "... Just one more..." he didn't have the time, and he hoped he could gather the strength as well, as he could see the robot at any time now. Part 5 "Oh, Celestia give me the strength..." JetStream bucked at the crane for the last time, if it didn't work he would have no where to go. It didn't budge, but JetStream did notice a crack, "That's good." he tried hitting it against the stone, hoping it would damage it further. After a couple of hits, the crack spread. A cold wave went through JetStream's spine as he heard the robot once more, "Come on... Come on!" he yelled through grit teeth, his voice was starting to crack as well. On the fifth hit, JetStream saw the crane break before his eyes, "Yes!" but just as the robot was visible, "No!" JetStream quickly got up as fast as he could. Although the crane was broken, it was still hanging on, JetStream noticed as he galloped away, "Come on! Let go!" the robot pulled his arm back in, "Oh no!" JetStream could hear that horrible whirring sound coming from the robots arm. Soon enough the steel rope was full stretched. The crane instantly yanked off of JetStream, although free now, the yank from the crane lost his balance, "Please, just before it fires another." he pleaded and picked up speed. JetStream looked around Canterlot, "Where did they go!?" as he looked in certain spots, he suddenly remembered that they couldn't reach them in alleyways, "Alright, lets go for it." he turned to his right and aimed for the alley, the robot behind him didn't ever get another chance to fire. As he galloped for the alley he noticed there was another robot to his right, roaming the path, "Oh great..." despite what JetStream had, he decided to race for it. Keeping his eyes on the robot and the alleyway, as soon as he got close he knew he was home free. But it was suddenly lost when the robot fired his crane arm, as it was shot some inches above the ground, JetStream instantly went down to the ground to slide into the alley and ended up rubbing against the boiling on the right. As soon as he stopped, he looked back behind him. The robot went back to doing what it regularly did, and didn't even act like it saw him, "Weird..." he looked at his right side to make sure it was okay, he sighed in relief, "... How did I make that?" he asked himself in victory. He took a moment to catch his breathe. Out in the distance he heard. "JetStream!" he stood up and looked around. "Hello? Is that you, Exteeled?" "We're right behind you." JetStream looked around, and was never happier. "Thank, Celestia you're alright." Midnight Blossom pleaded. She noticed him covered with scars and dirt, "I told you to be careful." both ponies gave her an angry look. As Exteeled looked at JetStream, she noticed there was a big impression on his right back leg. "What happened there?" "I got those cranes off of me... And apparently I'm some sort of target too." Midnight Blossom looked at JetStream in a way. "What do you mean by that?" "They didn't want me in a building for holding, they wanted to capture me." "Well, duh." the pony behind Exteeled spoke, "Why didn't you think everypony got mysterious at the mention of your name?" JetStream sighed. "Right." Midnight Blossom walked to the end of the alley. "... How far is... the castle?" JetStream asked, "We're in luck, as it's right up there." JetStream sighed in relief. "... Maybe we'll make it in time..." ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 56 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 56: Into the Castle! 'Alright, this is it.' "You all ready?" they could feel everypony's hearts starting to race if they wanted to. "Yes." they answered in unison. They all could see it now, Canterlot Castle was right around the corner. JetStream felt lucky to already have an impression of Celestia. He wasn't too sure about the others, especially Midnight Blossom. Although she did hint at it, he didn't really want to assume it true. They approached an alleyway. "Right, here." they all followed after one-another. They galloped to the right side of the entrance to the castle, it wasn't like they would barge in. 'Judging on what she said, we're sneaking in...' JetStream remembered the moment he snuck up on one of the "to-be" guards of the castle, 'That shouldn't be too bad...' JetStream looked around at the scene. With all the robots roaming around, the next thing they expected to see was spotlights roaming around, 'Sheesh...' he said at the thought. "We'll stop here, near these bushes." JetStream looked back toward the group. "Alright, so what's next?" JetStream looked at Midnight Blossom. "I'll try to get a look through that window." "Okay." the two ponies, except JetStream, responded. JetStream was okay with that, but something poked out, he decided to call it out anyway. "Wait, Midnight..." she about took off, but she turned irritated. "What is it now?" "..." 'Com' on!' "What if they will hear your wings?" she looked at her webbed wings and ruffled them. "I guess so, you could have a point. They make a ton off the ground, but that doesn't make it equivalent for its sound." she turned to JetStream with her eyes half-open. "So then, do you got an idea?" JetStream thought for the moment, then turned to Exteeled. "... Do you know telepathy?" her horn made a small spurt of energy. "Of course." "Do you think you can lift me up there?" she suddenly stepped back. "What? Why? I never thought of carrying a pony before." JetStream sighed. "Then can you think of it now?" "I don't know... I don't want to try it, then accidentally drop you or..." JetStream smiled. "Don't worry about that, just assume you can, bring me up there." Exteeled sighed as her horn lit up. "I guess I could at least try." Midnight Blossom still looked quite curious as this played through. JetStream waited for that, zero-gravity sensation to kick in. As JetStream looked at Exteeled, he recalled a moment back before, where Corolla and him were right in the same situation, resulting in a flashback. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Corolla was ready to get JetStream up on the platform, it was also JetStream's first time being held in his Mom's spell, "So I will actually be able to float like a cloud, Mom?" "Yes, as free as spell will take you." "... Yay!" JetStream waited for the glow around him to be visible, and as he saw it, JetStream started jumping around, "Ya, yay! I'm going to be a cloud!" Corolla sighed in humor. "Oh, JetStream, you're so silly." JetStream knew what she was talking about again. "... And being silly makes character." he smiled. "... And character is the upmost importance." they said in unison, as JetStream was being lifted before his own eyes. "Cool!" he starting kicking as if he was still on ground. "JetStream, I want you to be calm." although she meant it for her own sake, she decided to go with this as an excuse. "Why?" "Don't you want to be a cloud, like you said before?" "Oh, yeah. I forgot... how to be a cloud..." he asked himself rubbing his forehead, he opened his eyes and frowned, "... I forgot how to be a cloud, Mom..." Corolla giggled. "Just stay quiet, and think of the soft breeze you hear on windy days." JetStream closed his eyes as Corolla started to whistle. "Hey, Mom... I think I can hear the wind..." she giggled to herself. "That's great, JetStream. We'll get there in no time now..." and before his eyes the whole flashback dissolved. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It all went back to JetStream looking at Exteeled, "Hey, Exteeled... Why don't you calm down..." she looked up and opened her eyes. "Why?" JetStream smiled. "I'm calm, why not you?" JetStream saw a short smile as it disappeared when she rolled her eyes. "Yeah... Alright..." the glow of her telekinesis came quicker. "I'm ready, Exteeled. Are you, ready?" Midnight Blossom was amazed at the display before her. "Yeah, I guess I am..." she stated as she started to lift JetStream toward the balcony of the window. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 57 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 57: Into the Castle Before JetStream walked up to the window in the first place, he gathered his Aura so he could dim it. As he practiced before, he know it doesn't make him practically invisible. And every is sensing Aura believe it or not, JetStream likes to think it's that little sound difference when somepony steps behind you, or how you have the creepy feeling something's behind you. But all that goes away, as JetStream dims his Aura to were it will be nothing. All in all, JetStream thinks it's perfect for hide-and-seek. JetStream looked down toward the other ponies. Midnight Blossom, nodded her head toward the direction of the window. He looked back up and toward the window, as he snuck up, the others hid so they wouldn't be caught. JetStream slowly walked up to the window, and tried to peak in. "Whoa..." he saw huge, shiny metal capsules right in the middle of the room, they also seemed to have a window in the front of them too, "What are those things?" JetStream tried to get a peak inside, but the glass was near the bottom. Although, he did see something that looked like a red object in one of them, and in the other there were something white and purple. JetStream gasped as it was obvious enough, "How did he manage to get them in there?" he whispered to himself. Something caught his eye, as he saw something from the capsule. Twilight noticed JetStream through that window, her eyes widened as she seemed to notice. But out of reflex, JetStream dashed out of sight from the window, "She saw me, I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing..." he stated as he looked back down towards the others. "Is everything all right?" Midnight Blossom whispered, her forelegs were still planted on the concrete of the castle. "Yeah." JetStream whispered back. While in the capsule. "Celestia, I saw JetStream out there." she smiled. "Good for him. Pulling this through will show such bravery for our rescue." "After waiting two hours, it should be worth it." Twilight Sparkle stated. JetStream went to inch closer to the window once again. He looked around to see if any of the robots were around. JetStream smiled, he jumped through the window without hesitation. He quickly looked around, he saw Eggman usually where Celestia sits, but before that, he decided to hid behind one of the walls that turn toward the throne. JetStream looked back toward the throne, only to realize that Eggman fell asleep on the job. He shook his head and went back to the window. "Wait. Where's JetStream going?" Twilight suddenly seemed worried. Celestia couldn't get a look because of her height, but she was just as confused. JetStream hopped out the window and motioned for them to come up. Midnight Blossom started upward first. And Exteeled carried herself and the pony up with her telekinesis, "It looks like JetStream is calling something up..." Twilight saw Midnight Blossom, "Who's she?" Celestia wondered for the moment. 'Although I'm not surprised he had help along the way.' Celestia did know the danger at hoof, it was a risk to pull off in the first place. "Who is this pony you're seeing, Twilight?" "I don't know, but she has wings I've never seen before..." Celestia suddenly look like she got taken by surprise. Twilight looked up, "... I something wrong, Princess?" "No. Not at all." she responded in her normal soft tone. "Midnight, I want you to rescue them in those two capsules." she looked around. "Er, how exactly?" JetStream laughed at himself. "I don't know, find a way I guess." she rolled her eyes smiling as she went toward the capsules. As she approached the first one, she saw something in the glass at the bottom, and decided to look down. When a pony appeared in front of her, she jumped. "Scared me..." Twilight pointed to the top of the capsule as Midnight Blossom tilted her head. Twilight sighed, she pointed to the top and then tapped on herself to convey a message. She thought it through and then went for it. She jumped onto the metal, and then walked on the yellow button on top of it. The whole capsule popped open, she reacted suddenly and jumped into the air and hovered. There was a tiny cloud after it popped, and as it went away, she couldn't believe her eyes. JetStream saw what she did and tried to do the same for the other, but wasn't able to get to the top. Exteeled and the pony landed safely, only for Exteeled to notice what JetStream's up to. "I got ya." JetStream started hovering toward the top. Exteeled placed JetStream on the same button and it popped. JetStream somehow flew in the air, where his vision was focused on the only other pony in mid-air. "Midnight!" she quickly looked over to JetStream and flew over as fast as she could. Once she caught JetStream by the hoof, they both looked over to Eggman, "He's such a heavy sleeper..." they told each other in relief. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 58 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 58: In the Castle??? "... We're free..." Tails happily stated, he looked around to get the scene. JetStream and somepony were flying, two other ponies were now just walking in, and two other were appearing from the capsule. He looked up. "I'm glad to see you again, JetStream." "Me too." JetStream responded as Midnight Blossom set JetStream back on the ground, landing next to him. JetStream looked over to her as she landed next to him, "Thanks." she looked at him. "You're welcome." she smiled back, but it soon dropped afterward. Midnight Blossom looked over to Celestia, "Celestia." she turned around. "Oh my, it's been a long time, Midnight Blossom." Twilight was confused for the moment. "You know her, Celestia?" she smiled. "Of course, her name is, Midnight Blossom. She is also the first batpony I've come across doing my own duties as well." Twilight looked at her as she embraced a pose. "Batpony?" she nodded. "Yep..." JetStream walked up to Tails. "... I don't get it though, Tails? How did everyone end up here?" Tails looked at JetStream as his expression became more worried. He sighed. "Yeah, we were just as confused to find ourselves being dragged to the castle without any explanation." JetStream gasped. "That's horrible." Tails scratched the back of his head. "It hurt too. What about you? How'd you escape?" JetStream looked down at the shiny, yet smudged floors. "Well... I woke up inside a grey sphere with the Tornado..." Tails shared the same expression. "Really? How'd you get out of it?" JetStream looked back at the saddle-bag he was carrying. "The Chaos Emeralds of course." he smiled. "Oh, I see, as it helped us before." JetStream nodded. Sonic and Knuckles looked toward were Eggman was sleeping. "I don't get it. There's no way he's still able to sleep..." Knuckles laughed sarcastically. "Why don't we go check?" he looked back at him. "Are you crazy? He'll probably pull up on us." Knuckles started walking to the throne. "We can't be too sure." he shrugged. "This wont turn out well..." Sonic followed after Knuckles anyway, shaking his head. Knuckles walked up to the throne, step after step. The window behind him revealed the moon and its white glow, Knuckles went up close. JetStream felt something, it was cold. Acting upon it, JetStream looked up toward the throne, "Kn-Knuckles! Stay away from there!" Knuckles noticed Eggman's head was shining, but was it supposed to that much? Everyone looked at JetStream, then toward the throne. Celestia fixed her glare at the throne, looking around closely. She felt her heart skip a beat. "Knuckles..." she got his attention in her firm voice. "Please do what, JetStream asks, I suggest the same." JetStream didn't expect Celestia to say something like that. Knuckles suddenly stopped and walked away. "Why? I don't see anything different..." Suddenly everything sounded like nothing, as there was no ambience whatsoever coming from outside. Then there was a near voice that spoke. "... But is it different you wonder?" Celestia rose up as everyone except JetStream looked at her. 'Are we even in Canterlot any more?' JetStream asked. It shocked him on what he saw outside. The top and bottom was red while a purple stripe went through the middle, you could also see little yellow lines moving behind them on the side. "Who speaks these words?" Celestia ordered an answer. It replied with nothing in return. JetStream turned around. "It's obviously different now." Everyone except Celestia looked at JetStream, "Take a look outside." What followed was a ton of gasps. "What's going on?" Twilight wondered. JetStream looked around, soon after he went up to the throne, it shocked him to find out that Eggman was no longer there. "Where'd he go?" he silently asked himself. JetStream looked up toward the window to noticed something was shining behind the wall. He moved to were he could see it, "How come we can still see the moon though?" JetStream looked at it closely, he looked at it with squinted eyes. But as seconds passed, the blank his stare got, his eyes ended up only have open at the bottom, and his mouth was neither a smile or frown. His whole eye changed to a dull gradient from gold to a dull yellow, and his head ended up in a slight tilt to the left. He was completely motionless. Celestia looked around, she stomped her hoof at the ground, "Release us at once!" yet there was no answer. Twilight was worried that Celestia is getting impatient. She doesn't really like her at this, although Twilight knows, they both know it's all for the sake of progress. JetStream, ever motionless staring at the moon, suddenly shifted, he slowly turned toward Celestia. His eyes turned normal, and his pace started to rise. He walked up near to Celestia and the others, only to suddenly shake his head, "Huh, wha?" he looked up, "Oh, Celestia!" she turned around, and so did Twilight. "Hello, JetStream." she answered back, JetStream gave a sheepish smile, fallowed by nervous laughter. "I hope we get out of here soon." JetStream suddenly uttered. Celestia smiled a worried expression. "I hope the same. If only I could retrieve some answers." she looked out the window. JetStream laughed lightly. "Eh, yeah..." ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 59 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 59: Time Eater Tricks As time passed, nothing seemed to be done. Two ponies were asleep as they tried and wait. Tails is sitting on the steps. Sonic and Knuckles are walking back and forth right above Tails, "What time is it?" Midnight Blossom asked. JetStream wasn't sure, they couldn't see the Sun, but the moon was visible, but it hasn't moved since they ended up in this nothingness of space. Celestia seemed to sink as time passed. "Something is not right, it isn't possible for me to lose strength being stationary as we all are." JetStream looked back at Celestia over his shoulders with a blank stare. Twilight looked up to her mentor. "Then why don't you lie down?" she looked at Twilight. "Although nothing has changed for however long it has been, matters are too ominous to take a rest..." Twilight nodded. "I see." JetStream smiled. "That's how I know, Celestia." suddenly something was shot through one of the window near JetStream, the window burst open and showered on him, "Agh!" he covered himself so he wouldn't get cut. "JetStream, behind you!" Midnight Blossom shouted, he turned around to notice the same black was jumping onto him. "What?" he felt it stick to him, sending a shiver up his spine, "Get! off!" he kicked it off as soon as he could so he could get away from it. Tails stood up and looked at it himself. "Isn't this the same thing from before?" Celestia looked over to Tails. "What do you imply?" he scratched his head. "Well, before we ever got to Canterlot, that over there was with Eggman. So that must mean that the Time Eater is near here." JetStream looked out the windows. Getting the rest off of his left ear. "And I bet that's why we ended up here." "Because of this, Time Eater?" Twilight asked, JetStream turned and nodded. "Yeah." "I agree, the same effect that took earlier is taking place now." JetStream still shivered from see it. "Then where did that come from?" Another spot of the black goo burst through another window, shattering the glass and landing next to Sonic as another went through the window aimed at JetStream. "Ah!" it landed directly on his head, he couldn't communicate as all everyone heard was distorted speech, Tails jumped up. "JetStream!" he ran to him to pry it off, but it didn't seem to budge. JetStream suddenly felt light-headed, he fell to the floor on his own limbs. Then shortly after, he couldn't bare it any more, he gave up as it was to much to handle, it got the advantage of being sudden and without warning. Everything he heard from there on out was muffled and couldn't be deciphered. Until something was heard very clearly... "JetStream..." there was a pause, "... JetStream." there was another, "... JetStream!" everything suddenly felt like he just rose to the surface of water, he flung up and landed on all fours as Knuckles jumped from not expecting his reaction, JetStream looked back at Knuckles, "Are you okay?" he asked, JetStream looked at himself, then back to Knuckles. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure." he gave a sheepish smile as Knuckles sighed. "Although that maybe true, your saddle-bag is missing." JetStream looked at his back. "It is?!" he frantically looked around, "Where'd it go?" he looked at Knuckles. He pointed outside of the cell. "Outside those bars." JetStream nodded and turned around. "Thanks, Knuckles." he sighed again. "Don't mention it." JetStream approached the bars, and without noticing, walked right into the bars, leaving a bruise on the top of his head, "... You ever notice that were held here?" JetStream looked back at him after examining the bars. "But just seconds ago, we were... in the main room of the castle..." Knuckles rolled his eyes. "Eggman used the Time Eater to put us here, without even knowing it." JetStream sighed. "... So it was a dream?" he shrugged. "If you call it those..." JetStream rubbed his head and tried to look out the bars. "Where are the others?" "In the other cells along the same hallway." JetStream tried to look down the hallway. "Really?" he saw a couple figures down in the cells. "Knuckles you're right!" Knuckles shushed JetStream as he coiled. "Be quiet! the guards will here you." JetStream looked left of the hallway. "Who are these, guards?" "Robots, what else?" JetStream shook his head as he agreed he wasn't surprised to know. There was a long pause afterward. "... Hey Knuckles, how do you expect us to communicate with them then?" he shrugged again. "Do you have an idea?" he insisted. "Yeah, but I'll need all the time I can have." Knuckles laughed at that remark. "Go right ahead, nothing, is stopping you." he replied as he lied back on the wall, 'This is a great opportunity for my telepathy!' he thought excitedly, 'I'll finally be able to use it.' he focused on Knuckles. "What are you doing?" he opened one of his eyes, JetStream smiled. "I'm making sure this will help." Knuckles raised an eyebrow, "Now tell me if it works..." ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 60 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 60: Understand your surroundings Knuckles lazily waited for the message to reveal. Suddenly JetStream felt something shock through him, and moments later Knuckles popped up, "It worked..." he shook his head. "How did you do that?" JetStream looked at Knuckles. "It's called telepathy, it lets somepony communicate through their own minds." "It's honestly amazing." JetStream nodded as he turned to the bars. "I know, and since I know it works, I'll try and get somebody else's attention too." he saw Twilight in her own cell, although JetStream thought she would've ended up in one with Celestia, it didn't matter. He prepared to use his telepathy once more. At first he sees everything with his Auric sight, and then he's able to get a better view of everything, and after that he tried to use it again, but it took a while. "... Twilight..." she poked her head from where she crossed her hoofs. "JetStream?" she wondered looking around the cell. "... No I'm over here." JetStream waved to signal his position. "Wait, your mouth isn't moving, is it-?" "... Yes, I guess, it's telepathy, just keep your voice down too alright, I can understand you perfectly anyway..." "Alright, but I'm more interested on how you learned telepathy." JetStream shrugged. "... Experience? ..." "You know I'm being serious right?" "... Well I can tell now- ..." JetStream sunk to the floor, Knuckles saw this and walked up. "You alright?" "Yeah, this telepathy is very tiring..." JetStream stood back up and looked at Twilight. "... Can you teleport me into your cell, I can't do this forever..." Twilight jumped. "What? Aiming through these tiny holes?" JetStream looked at Knuckles, who shrugged. "... Can you at least try? ..." Twilight rolled her eyes. "Well, of course." JetStream smiled. "... That's what I like to hear..." Twilight got into a defensive stance and pointed her horn through the bars and directly at JetStream, he nodded his head as he implied he was ready. Twilight shot her magical spurt and it went straight through the bars and directly to JetStream. He disappeared out of Knuckles's cell and appeared in the back of Twilight's cell. Twilight turned around as she heard it. "Yes! It worked." she ecstatically stated. JetStream looked around. "That's amazing... How much magic do you study? By the way..." Twilight held a hoof up to JetStream's mouth. "Nuh-uh, not yet, we got to fix this first." JetStream lowered her hoof. "Alright, that's a promise." Twilight nodded. "Sure." JetStream walked up to the bars to tell Knuckles where he was, he then turned to Twilight. "Now where are we?" "I assumed we ended up in the castle's dungeon." "Dungeon, you say?" "Yes. I read it in one of the books in the library. One of the examples was even before of Celestia's rule." JetStream gasped. "That's millennia ago." "Yeah, that's what made it so interesting. The dungeon was made for ponies with a certain amount of bounty, as they called it." JetStream thought on the topic. "Then what about ponies with more than that certain bounty?" Twilight sighed. "Let's not go there." "And just far down are we?" JetStream looked right. "Quite a lot." "Oh..." JetStream looked left afterward, "Where's, Celestia anyway?" "Up there with Eggman..." one voice responded in a farther cell. JetStream jumped toward the bars. "What!?" Twilight shushed him. "Be quiet..." "Sorry..." he turned toward. "What do you mean, Celestia's up there?" the voice was Midnight Blossom's. "They said something about a, roboticizing..." Knuckles grabbed the bars tightly. "What!? He's up to that trick again..." JetStream was worried, apparently it was something they have already dealt with. "Do you know how we could get out of here?" JetStream asked Twilight. "I don't know, but we need to get Celestia outta there." Knuckles responded instead. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 61 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 61: Finding Celestia JetStream thought long and hard after the silence struck, "Twilight, why don't you teleport us both outside?" she faced hoofed. "Of course, we could've thought of the earlier." JetStream was scratching the back of his head, laughing nervously. Twilight's horn glowed as she went for the same teleport spell. "Get closer to me, are else you wont teleport." JetStream strafed toward Twilight. "Have you ever heard a compliment on your magic use?" she rolled her eyes. They both disappeared and reappeared in the hallway. "Of course..." JetStream posed confidently. "Good... because you should." "Alright, it's time to let the others out." she walked to Knuckles's cell. "I'm going to get you out of here." her blast went straight for the opening, but then it suddenly fizzled when it hit something glowing blue, nothing happened afterward. "What happened to the magic?" JetStream wondered as it disappeared before their eyes. "I don't know, it must be some sort of barrier." JetStream stepped back shocked. "It blocked your magic? Then how are we going to get the rest out?" Twilight sighed under pressure. "I guess we'll have to leave them for now." "But... all those robots out there..." Twilight turned to JetStream. "Celestia is out there as well, although we may not have them along, we might have Celestia on our side, and after that she help us rescue them. And besides..." Twilight turned to the exit, "They're all safe here until they decide to do something..." JetStream sighed. "Right, that makes a good point..." Twilight nodded at the statement and looked down the hallway. "Shouldn't we start?" JetStream nodded. "Of course, let me." JetStream headed for the door at the end of the hallway, he grabbed it with one hoof and slowly opened it up to where he was able to get a peek. After a quick pause, JetStream opened the door completely, "It's just stairs ahead." JetStream continued going up the stairs as Twilight followed after. The very top of the stairs was another door, he opened it slowly as well. "What do you see?" Twilight asked as she tried to get a view herself. "A long hallway with robots guarding it." Twilight looked like she was rubbing her hoofs together. "Alright, we'll be in a horrible condition to be stopped now." JetStream looked back to Twilight. "So what are we going to do then, slide past them or walk in broken parts?" "As much as I am peaceful at nature, I rather have them not trail us." JetStream popped up smiling. "Alright then, so what will we do?" JetStream asked. "Hang on... Hold the door slightly open..." "Alright..." JetStream pushed the door just a little bit further. Her magic suddenly shot through the door, she shot at an angle so it would hit the floor, and when it did a purple or pink field suddenly expanded in the hallway only, JetStream flinched as it passed right through him. "You don't have to worry..." JetStream opened one of his eyes. "What did you do?" "It's a sound barrier spell. Anypony outside of the barrier can't hear anything." 'Clever mare...' JetStream thought, "That's amazing, so you used it so we wouldn't get caught by other robots, huh?" JetStream wondered as Twilight smiled. "Yes... You ready for the robots?" "Are you ready?" JetStream countered. "Yes, I am." JetStream burst the doors open and galloped head on toward the robots, Twilight jumped as she saw JetStream head toward danger. "JetStream! I didn't expect you to do this!" she galloped right after JetStream. The robots started whirring as they heard clip-clops of the hoofs galloping behind them, they turned around. And thanks to JetStream's speed, just as they turned he slid under one of them to get behind it. After he slid a good distance he jumped back up and galloped at the robot once again, as he did this Twilight blocked one of the robots attacks with her magical barrier, emitting purple particles as it hit the shield. As soon as JetStream felt close enough, he jumped and hoped to kick one of the robots down. As soon as he made contact, he went backwards in his tracks while the robot fell down, and it seemed it couldn't get back up. JetStream stopped sliding and suddenly noticed the other robot was launching an attack on him, JetStream suddenly reacted and tried to gallop to dodge, but the crane arm clasped onto JetStream's left leg, making him trip and fall. He started sliding backwards as the robot was going to throw him back to the cells. "No, nono!" in a matter of moments JetStream was thrown into the air, which he soon passed Twilight, she could feel the air rushing as well, and hit the ground as he slid and hit the door behind them, she looked back. "JetStream!" Twilight's horn started glowing as she faced the robot, suddenly flat two-dimensional purple stars that looked like her cutie mark was shot directly at the robot, as they hit it the stars disappeared, ending the robot by an explosion, which sent Twilight sliding back a dozen of feet. The explosion of that robot finished the other as it exploded after it. She turned around instantly to check on him, "... JetStream!" ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 62 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 62: The beast revealed She galloped up to him, "Are you okay?" despite that his other leg was strangled and he was thrown once again by those monsters, he tried to stand up. "Yeah, don't..." he fell as he tried, "Worry..." he sighed, "Just keep going..." JetStream stated as he laid against the wall, it almost looked like her jaw dropped. "What!?" it was a good thing she had the sound barrier. "I'll stay here until I know I can move again." JetStream looked away from the floor and toward her. "Are you kidding? That was only two, you and I both know there's more out there." JetStream nodded. "Yeah, but you have magic, and it seems we can't get close to them at all... just go on ahead, I'll try to catch up when I can." she sighed and turned around. She walked to the door that opened to the main room. 'This is it...' she thought, but before she entered, she gave her last look toward JetStream. He noticed her looking and just looked at the ground instead of her. She breathed in deeply, and then exhaled as she opened the door. Knowing what dangers lie beyond that door, JetStream's heart started to beat harder, he let his head hit the wall. "Why did I say that? I don't know when I'll be fine..." he looked at his left leg and gave an unknowing attempt to heal himself, he moved his hoofs over his leg. After 30 seconds he stopped and sighed, "What am I doing?" after some thought, it actually struck his attention, "I wonder what happened before I ever woke up... Did we ever even free Celestia from those things?" JetStream stopped to stand up, he was finally able to stand. He kicked his left leg out to see what would happen, it would hurt him to fully extend it, 'Now what if I gallop?' he started to trot back and forth in the hall alone. The trot went into a fast gallop, and about seven seconds into doing so, JetStream felt his leg reacting, to the point where he stopped, 'I guess I do need to stretch... I'm coming soon, Twilight...' he smiled. The pain from his leg was obvious, but it wasn't enough to fully trip or completely stop his progress, the worst it would do was slow him down, he turned around and trotted toward the door, "I know I'm ready now..." he slowly opened the door and peeked out, "... Shoot." he cursed as he wasn't able to see much, he opened the door just enough to where he can slip through, he quickly turned around so he could shut it slowly and quietly, "It's actually kind of quiet in here..." he walked across the room until he reached a point where the wall stopped covering for him, he went to that corner and looked when he thought was possible, he looked around the corner to notice Twilight has put up the same sound barrier spell. It was good thinking considering that robots were probably in the hallway across from JetStream on the other side of the throne room. Although it looked like Twilight was confronting Eggman about something, "Dang, I want to know what they're saying, but I don't want to get involved just yet..." he looked to the other hallway, only to notice there are unnatural lights in the other hallway, "What's going on in there?" he decided to head that way, but he needed to be clear from Eggman before he did. JetStream tried to dim his Aura, "Now all I need is for Eggman to..." Eggman turned around to grab something, "Now..." JetStream went into a full sprint so he could pass unnoticed. Twilight could hear steps behind herself, she turned just in case if it was an ambush, but nothing was revealed, she quickly turned back so she wouldn't look anxious. JetStream made it to the other wall, the lights he saw were now clear and obvious as he knew something was going on in there. He had to decline more stairs, and he took each step cautiously. The stairs took a 90 degree turn before he entered a room. There right in the middle was the machine, "Oh... This must be the roboticizer they talked about..." the machine was a huge black colored container. "Initiating Test..." one of the robots spoke suddenly. "Forgot those things could speak..." as he hid behind the wall, he was nervous to make a move, but before he did, "... What test?" JetStream was patient, but he didn't want to possibly see what the machine would reveal, but by then it was too late. At first there was a grey, shining horn, "Oh no..." almost half of the mane was metallic. The whole left side was turned into metal as well, there were lines and ridges along the body horizontally, there were even screws or bolts right above those horizontal lines, it shined it's usual very bleak grey and whites. Her left leg and right arm is turned to metal. All the curvature of the pony stayed the same, but the pony practically looked like she and/or he was coated in metal armor. By now it's pretty obvious who it was to him, "... What did they do, Celestia?" her closed eyes finally opened, her right eyes was fine, but her left was turned into what looked like a camera lens, the pupil was all the way in the back of the eye, the color of the iris is now just a purple-pink mix of tiny plates put together in a circle. And the last couple of things was that her crown was gone and the metal over her cutie mark bearing the phrase "Subject #4-0001", "..." he wanted to get Twilight's attention but she was with enough of her own. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 63 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 63: Little Giants "Subject, number four dash zero-zero-zero-one's roboticization, is complete..." the robots stated in their monotone voice. JetStream took a step back. "That's what Knuckles described...!" he looked toward the throne room as he had an urgency to tell Twilight, but that would give him away obviously. JetStream looked back to notice the robots are coming his way, he covered behind the wall again as he frantically looked left and right, "Oh no." he was able to recall the scene where he dimmed his Aura so he wouldn't be caught out of the hotel in Canterlot by his parents, "I have no choice..." he waited as his Aura dimmed. His inhales were smooth and silent, but his exhales were rippled and audible, it's the fear that was driving him into doing this, the fear of being caught right now would be bad, or anytime would be at this very moment. His thinking went completely silent as the robots turned the corner, hearing and seeing each step made JetStream wish they'd walk a little faster. But luckily they did catch him. And as soon as they turned the other corner, JetStream went around as fast as he could, he tried to get as much distance as he could from the corner. After a good distance he ended up running into the machine's controls, as soon as he hit the controls, the machine sent a shock through JetStream as it wasn't meant to be shook. JetStream opened and closed his mouth because it suddenly felt numb, a little later he started rubbing his hoofs on his cheeks, "Ow..." it wasn't much of a shock, but it did something. It took him a little bit to realize, but he sat next to Celestia, who of course is roboticized, seeing her like that gave JetStream a shiver down his spine, he stopped moving his hoofs and stood back up. He looked up, Celestia was seen whiteish-pink yet covered with a silver shine. As time passed, he got more courage to finally say anything, as if he was meeting her for the first time all over again, "C-C-Celestia...?" Celestia didn't move an inch, she just stood their, ominously, as if frozen because of the oxygen. JetStream sighed before he looked over to the controls once again, "Hmm..." he pondered curiously. JetStream walked near Celestia so he could get around her, but as soon as he passed directly in front of her, her robotic right arm shot up so quickly, it knocked the wind out of JetStream, making him bounce back onto the floor. After a second passed so he would get the air a normal pony body desired, he got back up and walked the other way around, "I guess I'll go this way then..." he has never felt like that, choking on something you can't see with almost nothing to counteract it. As soon as he was able to see the big arrangement of the button before him, he quickly looked over to the entrance from the throne room, "..." he went over the platform to stand with it, he looked over the whole thing. He couldn't understand much of what he saw, it was either shortened words or acronyms of words that would take almost a millennium to guess, he brang his left hoof up to his chin and sighed, "They talk our language and yet read completely different..." he suddenly heard the stomping sound of the robots on the rise, "Oh, shoot... uh..." without hesitation, a soft laser was shot from the eye and hit the wall with an audible zap. The robots unfortunately heard it as well. "... Unauthorized fire... Proceed with caution..." as soon as the robots entered the room, JetStream quickly ducked behind the panel. 'Please don't find me please don't find me!' he could start trembling at any moment. "Unknown Movement detected... Search the area..." JetStream sighed. "Oh great-" he held his own mouth shut. He listened carefully as the Doppler effect took its work into effect, 'I'll jump over this thing when they get onto this side of the room...' he felt like he couldn't wait any longer, 'Nonono, don't hesitate, just wait...' like he thought before maybe it'd be better if they had a higher walk speed. At this point was the most intense, the robots finally passed the control panel horizontally, 'Just a tiny bit more...' his escape was just a jiffy away. JetStream got a cold wave go down his spine again, 'Go!' he grit his teeth and jumped over the panel, as he used the platform to leap off, the robots noticed and turned. But by the time JetStream had already galloped to the exit of the room and turned the corner. He stopped as he was finally able to get a breather. But it was only time as he decided to check on Twilight, but as soon as he looked around the corner, "Oh no..." ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 64 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 64: Shocking news JetStream looked back hoping he wouldn't see the robot they made out of Celestia, "I gotta warn her..." JetStream turned the corner, he galloped to where he was right behind the sound barrier, "Twilight!" although he was yelling, they didn't seem to hear him, as they didn't budge at all, 'But can't they see me?' he paused and thought that he had no other choice than to barge right through it, 'Here I go...' he started to gallop, buy he slew down as thoughts stopped him, 'I'm on a direct collision with pure magic, but yet I decide to do this?' JetStream waited, as soon as he touched it, he flew backwards and slid a distance. At the same time Twilight turned around and without hesitation shot magic directly at JetStream. As he stopped sliding, even without noticing the force of suddenly stopping made him bend forward, causing him to dodge that unknowing attack, as soon as it hit the wall, JetStream instantly turned around while Twilight opened her eyes, hoping that she destroyed the robot, in sudden realization and JetStream expression she gasped, covering her muzzle with her hoofs. "I'm. so. sorry..." she whispered too herself. 'This robot stuff is getting to her head, she wouldn't last long at all... neither would I or anypony too.' he stood up and shook my head quickly, as he was shaking it off. But it did get his heart racing. Eggman laughed under his breathe. "Aren't we a little, on edge." Twilight turned her neck and grit her teeth. JetStream was surprised to see Twilight like this, her angered expression before his eyes. Only seeing Twilight as some assistant, or student in a way. Remembering how collected she was around Celestia. 'Is she the same way? ... Well, of course. Everypony has an Aura...' JetStream looked up, 'If only Twilight would let me in, she created this barrier.' JetStream stopped his stance and just stood normally, despite the very scene he is in, he gradually walked up toward the barrier. And ever so gently, knocked on it. Twilight turned once again, looking at him questionably. After a short pause, JetStream lightly tapped it again, signaling that he'd like to get in. And so Twilight did, a hole opened up just enough for JetStream to get through, he smiled toward Twilight. "Thank you." all she did was nod as JetStream looked toward Eggman, his smile disappeared. "Ah..." Eggman took notice, "It seems we have another, roaming cluelessly..." JetStream looked back toward Twilight. "Sorry I took so long..." he slowly looked at Eggman, "Speaking of looking around without a clue, I saw what you did to Celestia back there... and it's horrible!" he ended with grit teeth, she looked at JetStream. "What'd they do?" "The roboticizer..." Eggman and JetStream said in unison, which gave each other a dirty glare right after. "Yeah, I heard about that... what is it doing to her?" "... What it did to her you ask?" Twilight looked to JetStream, who looked like he sunk. "It's already done!?" JetStream nodded slowly. "Yeah..." after a pause, Eggman continued. "So, you have asked what this, marvelous contraption is doing to your ruler, correct?" JetStream saw a firm frown on Twilight as what he'd see on a princess. "Yes." she answered, Eggman cleared his throat. "Well, the roboticizer makes any organic life transform into a robotic being, with the help of the Bem species I never really would've done it. As the argument of which flesh or metal skin was better, obviously metal is better." "Then how come you haven't yourself?" "Are you kidding? Just because they're strong doesn't mean they're perfect, don't get ahead of yourself dear pony." Eggman responded. 'He's having too much fun with this...' as if JetStream wanted to say it aloud. "And after waiting all this time, I'll bet you'd like to see the result." Twilight's mouth opened in shock. "You're kidding!" "Oh! I'm so glad you're excited to see this..." Eggman swung his hand physically telling Twilight to cut-off the spell. She rolled her eyes and the barrier disappeared. AS soon as it was gone, they all started hearing clucking, growing louder and louder as their hearts were beating faster and faster. Eggman was rubbing his hands as he waited for his crafty-handiwork was revealed. The two robots showed up, and directly after that, Twilight could almost have fainted. She instantly looked at the ground, as she was almost about to sob. Eggman waved a finger, "Now, now. Don't get too excited! ..." as the robot-half-pony appeared, Eggman was ever so ready to give the final words of what desecration he beheld, "Equestrians, meet a Roquestrian!" ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 65 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 65: [Very well] Thought out plan of action As soon as the robot turned the corner, it's lifeless gaze hooked upon JetStream. He backed up, as if it was going to do something, "Ah, I think it may have recognized you." Eggman said toward JetStream. 'She better...' JetStream turned to Eggman, "I know Celestia's somewhere in that, thing you call a robot." Eggman waved his finger again. "Well keep thinking that I suppose..." he glared toward JetStream with his smudge-less glasses, "Because nothing will happen." JetStream closed his eyes looking at the ground at an angle as if he shrugged the statement off. But before all this, JetStream remembered the Chaos Emeralds were gone when he woke up in the cell, he opened his eyes and looked at Eggman again. "Where'd you hide the Emeralds?" "I don't think, hiding is the word here, JetStream..." he shocked to actually use his name, but what he said was true. JetStream didn't have to say hide as he held the saddle-bag with all the Chaos Emeralds still in them. "He-!" JetStream about galloped for it, but he stopped to balance himself as he heard four consecutive beeps from behind him. "Uh, uh, uh. I wouldn't come any closer if I were you." JetStream almost looked pale, he turned slowly to notice the robot had a laser pointed at the top of his mane. He suddenly breathed out deeply and turned around. JetStream was almost starting to shiver, as if he was cold. 'That would've been severe... But what if he pulls it on us? Doesn't matter if it's true or not, it will be severe...' JetStream exhaled once again. He looked at Twilight through the corner of her his eye, and through telepathy, "... What are we going to do? ..." but it looked like Twilight was motionless as well. JetStream got a worry feeling, but it was what Eggman was seeing, what JetStream actually felt was curiosity. As JetStream was standing to her right, 'My left side doesn't feel so warm suddenly...' Eggman put his hands together after a pause. "I recommend we don't stay like this long... So would you two please go into your cells, where you'll willingly let yourselves toward the roboticizer afterward, so I can conquer my own home universe..." he suggested. 'So that's what he's planning to do...' Eggman looked over to the robots behind the robotic Celestia. "You two, take them away..." "Yes, master..." the responded. They both headed to grab them both, they went for under the stomach, but before their cold robot hands touched JetStream, he jumped forward and turned around. "Hey!" he turned toward her as they were about to grab her as well, "Twilight!" but as soon as they didn't expect, the robots hands went right through Twilight. "What?" JetStream and Eggman realized in unison. From his last visit to the castle, JetStream remembered the stairs are right behind him, he tilt himself backwards as he prepared to gallop for them. 'Now's my chance!' he quickly turned and went for the stairs, "Now!" Eggman jumped at his rebellious action. "Ah! You!" he pointed directly at the newest robot he had made, "I want you to go after him, bring him back, and it doesn't matter how." the robot stood there for exactly ten seconds and finally received the order it heard, as it walked at a faster pace than the robots, "You two, find the other!" it looked like they both went into the cells for the start. JetStream was already on the second floor, or about to reach it. "How am I going to get those Chaos Emeralds back? It's not like he..." he pause as he was getting air after he swallowed, and reached the next floor, "He'll move any where else..." he slew down, "Unless maybe he absolutely has to..." he stopped to think, but to only remember he was being chased, as Celestia was finally making her way up the stairs. JetStream turned to make his way toward the stairs, as he climbed them toward the third floor, just as a nautical twilight was rising, 'How am I going to avoid her at the very top?' he worried. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 66 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 66: Free the critters! "Alright, for some one of his character he is really good at what he does..." Twilight assured herself as she studied the buttons before her. She looked over to the entrance just incase those robots showed up, but apparently they're still searching other places than here. She sighed in relief as she thought she had heard a noise just a moment ago. But she stopped for a moment, "I think, Tails could help me... I don't know where JetStream is, but that distraction was for him, I hope he's okay... Obviously if I had the key I'll be able to let them go..." she gasped in how obvious it was, "Why didn't we go for the key?" she hopped off the platform and went toward the exit. To her left there was a wall extending just a bit further, that's where she took cover and gave her a chance to look around. She quickly looked around the corner, "You got to be kidding..." she whispered as she realized Eggman was once again asleep, "What a fatigue he has..." she shook her head, and begun to sneak up, hoping to see a key anywhere near. She walked up quietly to the left of the throne, "..." she frowned as she wasn't seeing any key, so she decided to walk around to the other side. Once she did, see saw the key hanging in part of the throne with a spike that pointed upward, Eggman put the key there so it just wouldn't fall to the floor. Twilight thought it through for the time being, so she decided to get it with her telekinesis instead. A glow was visible around the key, but as it came off from where it was and there was nothing solid below it, Eggman jumped from his position and tried to grab the keys from her. "Ah-ha!" but Twilight quickly pushed one hoof a certain way making her move quicker in a short moment, she was free for the cells, as long as those robots don't stop her. Eggman finally stood up in so long, "Get back here!" but it was obviously not persuasive, as Twilight turned the corner to go down in the cells. She hit the first double doors open by ramming them, which ended with the robots falling behind them, and producing electricity out of their mechanical bodies. It looked like they couldn't do much, but at the same it looked like they're trying. All at the same time Twilight burst through the final double doors to get to the cells. All of them came walking toward their cells. "What is it now?" the pony next Exteeled asked out of annoyance. "I'm back, and I got the key." Midnight Blossom shot up. "Well, hurry. You know what to do..." she started levitating the keys towards Knuckles's cell first. It went through as it turned left and clicked. As soon as they both heard it, Twilight opened up his cell. She went to the left to the next with Sonic and Tails, they were both smiling as she unlocked it. "Thanks, Twilight." they said in unison. "You're welcome." she obviously sounded in a rush. Tails looked at her as she passed to the next. "Where's JetStream." she slowed down her process. "I actually don't know..." Tails looked toward the doors that aided their escape. "Well it wouldn't hurt to look." Twilight looked to Tails after she opened Midnight Blossom's cell, "Don't go out there, Eggman's coming in anytime soon." Sonic looked at Twilight as well. "You gotta be kidding?!" Twilight shook her head as she unlocked the last. "I'm not, be prepared..." "Knuckles, you heard her." he walked out of his cell and looked toward the door. "Right." he put his gloves together. "I didn't see Celestia out there either... I'm afraid while I set that distraction, Eggman could've sent her after him." Tails gasped in shock. "Sent Celestia after JetStream!" Twilight nodded worriedly. "That isn't good, we all know what that roboticizer can do..." Knuckles nodded with his normal frown. "Obviously not on JetStream..." The door was pushed open as Eggman entered. He pointed an ominous finger at Twilight. "You!" she turned to him with a worried and angry expression, "I've seen what you did back there, and I obviously don't like it!" Tails quickly turned to Twilight. "Could you take a guess where he is?" Twilight had to think quickly, but it wasn't helping. "Well, I was in there he wasn't..." she looked back to Tails, "He went either out the main doors, or upstairs... I hope it wasn't upstairs..." Tails felt a chill down his spine. "Why's that?" "It leads to a wide open view with no more walls if you climb to most top floor..." "Celestia could hit him up there, but if that wasn't true... then he could possibly fall!" Twilight looked at the ground frowning. "That's what I wanted to avoid thinking..." Tails jumped in a sudden adrenaline rush. "Then we got to get him. What can go wrong possibly will go wrong!" he ran toward the door, hopefully Eggman wont stop him. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 67 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 67: In need of rescue Tails was running with tails spinning behind him, keeping himself balanced as it also sped himself up, as he approached Eggman to pass him, he hoped he wasn't going to do anything to get in his way. While Sonic and Knuckles just watched just in case. Eggman kept a close eye, and then as soon as he was near, he grabbed Tails's right tail, "Gotchya!" "Hey!" Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles exclaimed. JetStream was surprised at their coordination. Knuckles ran up, he was planning to do anything to him to let Tails go. "Let go of him!" he shouted as he accelerated as fast as he could, as he ran he held one of his fists looking directly at Eggman. As soon as he was able to hit his arm, Eggman yanked on Tails's tail, sending him straight in front of Eggman. With both of them having amazing reflexes, Knuckles had to use his headdrocks to fly himself out of the way, he ended up skidding out the door. Eggman shut the door as he cleared, he extended his right arm to where Tails was dangling from Eggman's hand. Sonic clinched his fist. "How come he's like this..?" he spoke to himself. "It could be possible that the new possibilities this world gives could be the cause of his excitement?" Midnight Blossom responded. "Yes, I thank you for seeing it that way. And I must assure you..." he looked directly at Sonic, "The possibilities are absolutely endless!" he exclaimed. "Let Tails go now, Eggman!" Sonic ordered. That's when Knuckles opened the door, he jumped up to his hand and swiped the fox from his hands. "Don't swipe, Eggman, it's not nice." he seemed to wave a finger as he smiled. But just before he could get him back, Knuckles took off for the stairs, Eggman hit his hand against the wall as they were no more in sight. "Drat!" as he looked up he saw tons of little ponies mad at him, he took a step back, but they all only took a step forward, "... No, no..." he raised one hand and moved it back and forth as he told to stay away. But before he knew he was tackled by those ponies, and it seemed they gave no mercy whatsoever. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- While Knuckles was making to the staircase, he spun Tails around until he was on his feet, "Where are we going, Knuckles?" "Remember what you said about JetStream?" Tails gasped as it all came back. "Yeah! We better hurry!" Tails sped up. "Agree with you there." they could both fly, so they would make a huge leap from it whenever they reached the stairs. They made it to the third floor, but it seemed like there were at least two or three more, "Thanks for saving me back there, Knuckles." he shook his head. "No need, we need to save, JetStream too." "I hope you realize that Celestia is that robot right?" he paused as they progressed. "Yes, I kept that in mind..." Tails nodded. "Good..." as they passed the third staircase and onto the fourth floor, Tails passed a glass part of the tower that showed the bridge above, he stopped to look closer, he exhaled to send a message, "Knuckles, I see JetStream. It seems they have already made it to the bridge!" he yelled as Knuckles made his way to the next floor. "Gotchya, com' on Tails!" he jumped so he could catch air. "Right." and flew just right to where he followed Knuckles up the staircase. After another floor was achieved and they were coming up to the next, Tails was flying while Knuckles was jogging his way up the stairs. As they both appeared from the bottom of the floor, they noticed the roboticized Celestia was right in front of them, Knuckles suddenly ducked as she was so close. "Oh, jeez..." Tails quickly told Knuckles to be quiet as he held his index finger over his mouth. Though right after he tapped his mouth, "I got to be honest here, Eggman never ceases to amaze me..." Tails shrugged as Knuckles glared at him. "We get that, Tails. How are we going to stop her from crumbling the bridge with all the metal coating her?" Tails looked at Knuckles for five seconds, but after the first three, his eyes started to quiver. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Alright, Princess... Please, you got to stop now!" JetStream looked down, feeling another chill down his spine, "Or we both fall..." his voice started to ripple as his eye opened up in realization. But nothing, nothing that would comfort, she just kept walking with the after effect of concrete beginning to crack under the weight. JetStream feared of using his Aura because of it not working, if the metal is like this, it'll be protecting both ways. JetStream kept it up at stepping backwards, but on this one step he almost slipped off, hearing that dust was the second thing falling, what could be next? He wouldn't move, even though she was the closed she could be, even though the bridge began to form bigger cracks, he didn't move. Soon before he knew it, the clanging of the metal hooves stopped as Celestia was a step away from him. Struggling for a breathe to catch, JetStream looked up slowly. The robot's neck moved down as it wanted to focus on JetStream, its eyes looked like they squinted. JetStream's mouth opened as it happened, 'Does a robot do that...!?' but before he could come back to reality from the question, the robot's metallic hoof rose up to JetStream's chest, which contained a heart pumping so fast. And it simply, forced its hoof forward... ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 68 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 68: What about the Princess!? He slipped off the edge of the bridge where he flipped backwards, the next thing he saw was the sun striking his eyes. He thought to himself as his mouth was slightly open, the sun seems more yellow than I have ever seen it before. Knuckles and Tails gasped, Knuckles rushed forward, "It doesn't matter now!" he grabbed Tails's arm as he ran toward the bridge, hoping Celestia wouldn't even look at them. As soon as they reached outside Knuckles jumped over the barrier, they fell faster and faster as time passed, he looked at Tails, "You ready?" he nodded his head. "Yes." Knuckles grabbed Tails's hand tighter, pulled back and threw him straight down. JetStream's mane, tail and fur were going crazy in the winds as he accelerated toward the ground below. At first it was uneasy breathing, then it got worse as he was blacking out. It all then stopped the panic as he stopped breathing and shut his eyes as he was unconscious. After just a few seconds Tails started to doubt himself, 'I'm not going to make it! I don't have enough speed...' despite the thoughts he decided to go further anyway. He gave the fatal decision to change his pose which made him fall faster. Right after JetStream passed out, he started having visions that seemed all too familiar to him... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Is that, me..?' a vision disappeared to another, 'Hey... that's the first time I ever took a step... what's going on?' that one passed quicker than the last as another appeared, '... That, was my first walk around Altamare...' the scenes made him hit sudden realization, 'This is past events of my life... how am I able to see these so clearly, than ever before?' then came one scene where he was walking along a path near the top of a hill, 'Hey, that's when I fell down the hill. Now that was some time before I ended up in Canterlot...' to him it was now obvious as to what he was seeing, but after that one passed the others suddenly went by much quicker than before, JetStream couldn't even talk as how fast they were moving, when suddenly it brought JetStream to just moments ago, on the bridge, 'What? But this just happened...' the vision looked down at the ground and went black again, JetStream mentally sighed, but before he knew it, another vision, the vision looked right where Tails suddenly showed up, 'What!?' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Tails!?" JetStream jerked as Tails grabbed him from falling. Tails had a hold of him by his stomach, soon after, JetStream looked at him, "Tails... I'm not..." his eyes stayed wide open for a while. Even though, it looked like Tails was struggling, "You can bring me down if you need." he gave a sigh of relief. "Thanks." "Thank you, Tails. And don't say anything more about it." although Tails knew JetStream's weight would make it difficult, it wasn't much, but a couple muscles would've been pulled if he went for any longer. After a pause, JetStream tried to look back up, "Wait, what about, Celestia?" Tails suddenly realized as well. "You're right." he replied just as he landed softly on the ground, Tails removed from where his hands were and looked up, "And I don't see, Knuckles anywhere..." "Do you think he could possibly hold Celestia from falling even as fast as I did? Or at the least... from hitting the ground really, really hard..." "I don't know, but I got a feeling that Knuckles could do it, he has been the powerhouse of us three..." JetStream shrugged and nodded all at once. "That is true... but Celestia is half metal right now, there's no saying how heavy she could be..." Tails nodded, knowing it was no time to be modest. "And I do say that's true..." JetStream's expression grew worried over time. "But you know, we will have to do something..." JetStream's suggested, even though he knew he can't fly. As JetStream looked toward the ground, the loudest crack, was heard from the bridge, louder than what JetStream heard, and he wasn't on it at the time. "JetStream, look!" he pointed toward the top. He quickly looked up. "Hey, there's Knuckles!" Tails sighed in relief. "Alright, it looked like he knew it was bound to happen..." Tails stated as Knuckles was on the bottom, trying to fly up to slow down Celestia's fall. JetStream stared in wonder, when all of a sudden his Aura shifted once more. He turned to Tails. "Tails, I think Knuckles needs your help." "It wouldn't hurt to." he agreed and jumped to the air as his tails began to twirl. JetStream grit his teeth in worry, but was soon derailed of his train of thought when he remembered the vision of Tails appearing to his rescue. 'Was that my actual eyesight? ... Or was that a look into the future...?' what made it disputable was that it had to be a vision, it was the moment his life "flashed before his eyes" and that is what he saw, a moment of his life that flashed before his two eyes, that didn't even happen until he gained his consciousness back. But after that, he continued to look up, give hope, luck, and wait... ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterios Stones-Chapter 69 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 69: Getting a Princess to her senses And that wait didn't last too long, as they all neared the ground JetStream backed up, no matter how far apart they were. And without another thought to pass, they all plunged into the ground, where it actually left a big indent into the soil. JetStream out of hesitation galloped closer and leaned over the hole, "Are any of you okay?" he hoped to hear an answer as his ears swung backward. There was a pause before someone spoke up, "Just swell..." Knuckles replied as he poked out behind Celestia, Tails rose his arm just below JetStream's head. "Oh..." he noticed and grabbed, pulling Tails up afterward, "Come, on..." there was a bit of a struggle before he finally was freed. He flew over JetStream's head, but luckily landed on his feet. He turned around and started dusting himself off. "Thanks, JetStream." he nodded with a frown. Knuckles climbed up from the opposite side and dusted himself off as well. "Well, we obviously didn't stop it completely. But it was for sure a slower fall..." "Yeah..." JetStream ghostly replied, he leaned in to look at Celestia, "Celestia? Can you get up...?" JetStream's ill expression sickened as seconds passed, but suddenly, dirt flew in every direction as JetStream covered his eyes. As soon as it all fell, he uncovered looking at what unveiled itself, "Celestia..." he walked closer and held his hoof out for her to grab, "Grab a hold." JetStream put his hoof on the other side of hers so he could get her out, and pulled towards himself. With a good amount of force JetStream never even realized he had, she started to budge, but it cost as JetStream slid closer toward the hole. Soon enough Celestia rose from the dirt pit, this was a bad scene. Covered in metal and dirt, she was forced a couple steps forward, JetStream had to give her room so he stepped back. And even though they're back on green grass, or would it would possibly be green, somehow the colour was being sucked from their world, they were still holding their hoofs as if she was still stuck. JetStream needed to get Celestia back from this individual imprisonment. He decided to look right into her eyes, "... Celestia... are you still there...?" there was a pause. Tails and Knuckles looked at each other, curious whether they should do anything or not, they both ended up shrugging, and just let whatever happen, happen, "If you are, then could you possibly remember me..." he looked at Tails and Knuckles, "... Or any of us?" Celestia's both eyes blinked, the robotic one had the tiny purple plates spinning until they met at the center, then spin the opposite direction when they went back out, '... She will, I know... I know...' his mind went blank, he looked at the ground as he felt the guilt of not remembering something important. But then Celestia's hoof that held each other with JetStream's shifted, he looked up, and as soon as he did, 'I know, I'll remember what I said about the, lamp...' JetStream gasped, and quickly looked up, "Celestia..." after a second she blinked again, when that robotic eye blinked you couldn't miss it, "Do you, remember, about the lamp, in the cold night breeze...?" there was another pause, "Well, if you can't talk... then how will you tell me?" he sighed. Celestia pushed on JetStream's hoof, he looked at it, "Wha-...?" her hoof had a golden Aura around it, "Of course..." JetStream realized. It suddenly felt warm around his right hoof, until he realized it was Celestia's Aura, "That's your... lamp... your Aura." JetStream focused as well, his started emitting a blue color, as the scene was very quiet and peaceful. JetStream knew he wasn't very good with Aura just yet, it's like he has heard all the terms of certain words, but doesn't know their definitions or their ways in a sentence. He opened his eyes to look at his Aura, he saw it blue, but it didn't last long, 'It's like I have to keep my eyes shut when I focus, or else I lose its concentration...' JetStream looked at Celestia's right arm, "All that is stopping her from communicating, Auric and oral..." JetStream looked at Celestia's eyes, "... How can I surely know this, is you Celestia? And not the robot? ..." he spoke without moving his mouth. There was another pause, then Celestia's right, metallic hoof reached for JetStream's left. He gasped, 'Don't panic, if this is Celestia for her sake let her do it...!' she grabbed it, 'Her grip is soft, yet my hoof isn't slipping...' JetStream still wasn't sure, but a for sure moment of proof was that she responded to his telepathy. Celestia's grip on JetStream's tightened just enough to where she was holding JetStream's other hoof. JetStream struggled to get on his hind legs, 'Where is she going with this?' and as he thought Celestia brought hers and his hoof together, all of them. And since JetStream was on his hind legs, he was about standing to her height. His heart was beating rapidly, 'Don't do anything different on me... I know this is you...' and right after that, JetStream knew she couldn't make it any clearer as she rubbed the top of her head to JetStream's like a comforting mother, "... There's no mistaking, Celestia." he started to smile, and looking at Celestia, JetStream was surprised to see a half-smile. It was definitely her in there. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 70 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 70: Checking back on the others Tails and Knuckles were amazed and shocked all at once, "It's truly amazing how they can all communicate..." Tails stated. JetStream turned to Tails smiling. "There's no doubting it, Tails. Once we get all this metal off she'll be just fine... And thank you two for saving her from the fall." Tails and Knuckles nodded. "I think we should go back into the castle. We might need to check up on everyone." he considered as he pointed toward the castle entrance. "Oh, you're right." Tails remembered. JetStream looked at Celestia. She looked at him as she started to walk passed, JetStream followed after her. Tails and Knuckles hurried while JetStream was in no rush. "... You know what, I'll go ahead. I'll see you up there, princess." JetStream smiled back at her, and hoped to catch up to Tails and Knuckles quickly. He entered through the doors and turned right toward the cells. He rammed the first, went down the stairs and then rammed the second. He galloped the long corridor and rammed the final double-door, as soon as he entered he ended up falling back on his plot, "Ouch..." "Wha-?" Tails turned around, "Oh, JetStream..." he held his hand out and JetStream grabbed it so Tails helped him up. "Sorry about that..." JetStream apologized. "Don't worry..." he pointed ahead. JetStream looked at Knuckles. "Well, that's a sight..." he started walking forward. JetStream looked ahead of Tails, "What is it?" all the ponies, with Sonic to the side of them, where right outside a cell, "What are they looking at?" JetStream wondered. Sonic's right ear twitched and he looked right as a reaction. "Tails, Knuckles, JetStream! You're all back!" "Yep." JetStream responded, "Tails saved me from the fall off the bridge." when Sonic exclaimed their names, everypony looked in the same direction. When Midnight Blossom and Twilight gasped at what JetStream said. "You fell from the bridge!" Twilight echoed, being in the castle she knows exactly what JetStream's talking about. "How'd you end up there?" Midnight Blossom asked. "Well, since Eggman roboticized Celestia, she was under his control. And when I went to escape because of Twilight's distraction, I decided to go for the stairs." they all looked at each other. "Then where's Celestia now?" Exteeled asked. There was a pause, JetStream didn't say anything, and it made everypony worried. But that wasn't the case. As JetStream's Aura told him otherwise. The door slowly opened and everybody turned toward the door. Celestia appeared taking her first right step in. JetStream looked back toward the ponies seeing that they could start cowering. "Don't worry, everypony. Celestia and I both had that fall... And when Knuckles and Tails saved her, I thought it was the chance to get Celestia out of her, brainwash." JetStream reassured as Celestia approached from behind. Although that got them from taking a step back, most of them were shaking still. Maybe it was just cold here. "What!?" a voice boomed from the cell everybody was looking through. "What the..." JetStream looked over to the cell as well. "Why you! How did you ever get her out of that!?" JetStream walked to the cell calmly, and looked into it. Eggman was the reason everyone was gathered around the cell. "You know, for some one as smart as you, you ask a lot of questions..." he ominously insulted, he walked up to the bars. Making JetStream jump. "Why you little..." he countered gripping the bars tightly. "Little indeed..." JetStream muttered to himself as he smirked. Celestia showed up, with more than twice the height of JetStream, in view of the cell made Eggman take a step back. "Great, so what do you want?" she looked at JetStream as everything went quiet. Soon JetStream looked at Eggman. "She wants to know how to take all of the metal off." he rolled his eyes. "Of course. But what can I do? I have got nowhere to go..." although he did have nothing to do on the spot, he sounded rather sarcastic about it. It seems that Eggman was lousily accepting defeat, "Alright, alright. I may be ruthless, but it's hard to understand my honesty.... There's a button, one of the buttons where it disconnects all the metal I put together. I made that function only to be error free whenever I would have made better or stronger utilities that goes with it." Sonic took a step forward. "So you were deciding to make some massive army?" Eggman sighed. "Correct, and I probably would have gotten away with it if I had starting securing and making more in the first place." "Then how come you had all that time when I was out on the streets, and yet only have Celestia?" JetStream asked. "Because of the amount and precision was needed to put it all together, now just go undo it all." "Which button?" "Huh?" "Which button do we press for getting the metal armor off?" JetStream repeated. Eggman laughed, and pointed toward JetStream. "That's the point! How can I be evil without telling you which button it is!" he finished off his laughter as all the others sighed. And JetStream was one of them. "Don't worry, I'm sure we'll find it, it's only a button." Tails reassured. Exteeled stayed near the cell. "I'll stay here and keep an eye on him." "Me too." the pony with Exteeled agreed to doing such job. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 71 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 71: The time's now Tails followed after JetStream went through the first door, "I know it's only buttons, JetStream. But as small as this threat is, what if it ends in a tragedy...?" JetStream nodded, they were making their way down the hallway to the next two doors before they could reach the next room, JetStream sighed. "I guess we'll just have to figure it out... or take the right the guess..." Tails was surprised to hear that from him. "Really?" "Well, we can't really understand it though..." "It doesn't mean we can't try blindly." JetStream's eyes widened suddenly. "Uh... shoot... I'm terribly sorry, Tails..." Tails looked worried, but with a smile. "Don't worry, I pretty much pressured myself I admit." JetStream inhaled slowly as they went through the last two doors before they entered the others. "Right, thanks for that." "No pro-..." Tails was interrupted before he could finish. "Are you two sure you need any help?" JetStream had to think hard about this. 'Keep everypony watching Eggman, or get more help with our chances...?' It was a hard decision, but he had all the time he could think of, but what would he choose? JetStream and Tails looked at one another. And after some silence, they ended up nodding, as if they're communicating in the first place, "Yeah, I think we'll need some help." Tails responded. But as soon as he finished, all the ponies starting looking around, murmuring "Who's going to go?" "Was he talking to you?". After all the confusion, Celestia seemed to shift, as she was signaling that she would go. And it seemed true, Celestia started walking forward, "Celestia, you'll help us?" Tails asked, she nodded with her speech taken away from her. "This is perfect, Tails! If we find the right one, Celestia will be right next to us..." JetStream turned to Celestia, "And we'll finally be able to get that metal off, looking like your self once again." he smiled. "Hmmm, yeah, I see. Sure, I see your point, JetStream." it started quiet at first, then it developed louder as he continued. Tails turned to Celestia. "You ready, Princess?" she nodded in a stiff fashion. Tails turned around and started walking toward the door. Celestia started walking right after. "We'll see you later." JetStream called out just as Celestia was out of reach, she extended her left hind leg, catching JetStream's left hind leg as well, "Ugh, uh? Oh, right behind you." he turned around to pace up to their position. As soon as they entered the door, Tails headed for the Button Panel. "Alright, it's probably got to be around here somewhere..." JetStream walked up to the platform afterward, and Celestia just stood in front of it of the panel, her height proved otherwise. As soon as Tails found one, he saw another that sparked his interest, "Alright, I guess it gets scary from here on out..." JetStream peered next to him. "What do you mean, scary?" Tails tapped his muzzle. "I can't seem to choose..." "..." Tails spread his hands wide, motionless on the table, "I can't seem to think through..." JetStream and Celestia looked worried, "Sorry, it's probably only pressure, I'm sure..." JetStream rolled his eyes in a friendly way. "Don't worry, Tails... You are a mechanic, and even more we have the pony who was turned because of this horrible thing..." JetStream just realized what he said after some thought, "Hey, Celestia." she looked at him. JetStream walked up to the panel and put his forehoofs on the panel, "Since we know Eggman transformed you... Could you have seen what he did as he was doing it?" Tails raised his head to look away from the buttons toward JetStream. "That's actually not a bad question." Tails stated looking toward Celestia. She closed both her eyes and tried to remember like normal eyesight was nothing at all to her, and then she opened them again. "So which one do you think it is, Princess?" JetStream wondered. She was motionless and silent. "Eh, Princess?" Tails didn't quite understand what was happening. Seconds later JetStream didn't seem to sure. Until JetStream suddenly heard something. After the message went through, JetStream shook his head. "She said... this one..." JetStream had a slow thought process, the toll of telepathy taking its chance. JetStream pointed towards the red button nearest to Tails, "This one is the one she guessed..." Tails looked at JetStream in awe. "How do you know? You just said that without warning..." JetStream looked at Tails motionless, then he suddenly remembered from before. "It's telepathy, Tails. Don't you remember?" Tails's head went up and down as he realized. "Oh, that. I guess I did..." JetStream looked back at the button. "Are you sure, Princess?" she nodded as her eyes were closed. JetStream and Tails both shrugged as Tails went to push it. But just before he actually could. Celestia put her hoof under Tails's hand. "Uh?" he looked back up, "What is it?" she rose her hoof so Tails wouldn't touch it yet. And she walked into the roboticizer. Apparently that machine was precise, Celestia had to shift for almost a minute before she knew she was ready. As she looked back toward Tails and JetStream, he hit sudden realization. "... Uh... Oh! Tails, she's ready. Apparently you have to be in the thing while it does this." Tails shrugged to himself and went to press the button. As the walls closed all around her, the phrase "Don't move a muscle" comes to the ultimate test, she looked like a painted statue. Tails and JetStream were nervous, as steam started to emit from the steel wall, "I hope the machine knows what's doing too." JetStream stated, Tails nodded in reply. As soon as the walls started to rise, they both got near as they could. At first they saw that all her four slender legs were not coated by metal, which of course was a great sign for them. And as it raised the less metal they'd see, JetStream quickly turned to Tails, "It worked, Tails! All the metal is gone!" "Yes!" they both did a form of high-five before the walls finally reached their highest point and stopped. The final thing was the eye piece was gone as well. JetStream and Tails both smiled at each other. JetStream looked toward Celestia. "Thanks for the help, Princess Celestia." her eyes opened from the steam being depleted. She looked at him and smiled. "There's no need, JetStream. I rather give my thanks then to be thanked. And thank you as well, Tails." Tails smiled with furrowed eyebrows. "You're welcome, Princess." "Now we got that settled, I think we should all head to the cells, we have something of somebody's we don't want nor need." she started walking toward the doors. "Right behind you." they both replied. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 72 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 72: Heavy Wagers Celestia was walking in front of them. Tails was walking next to her and JetStream seemed a little too curious about the machine, as he just looking back at it, 'What are we going to do with that?' he wondered as he thought of this all ending. JetStream looked back, and they were just going though the doors to the main room, only to go back across. Tails looked back. "Pace yourself, JetStream. Get up here." JetStream moved in a way that shook his walking, and eventually started to keep up, "Don't worry." he responded. Celestia kept walking, although she was relieved to be free, she did have some very threatening business, even if it was asleep. She and all the other ponies had this whole land mass to save, assuming he wouldn't get that far. It seemed she'll no longer be seen with a smile. As Tails was on Celestia's left, JetStream went to the right. "Princess Celestia? What are we going to do with Eggman?" "I hope to bring him back to where he was." Tails nodded. "Right." but at the same he thought, 'Sadly it'll be the same for us...' "Of course." JetStream responded to Celestia. But his smile dropped when he looked toward Tails, he looked depressed for some reason, 'Hmmm...' they all went through the two doors and were walking down the hallway. And while they did, JetStream's heart began to beat faster, as if something was about to happen. Celestia opened the final door, and appeared before everybody. JetStream and Tails followed after. "You got it off!" Exteeled exclaimed, Midnight Blossom just stood there. "What a team..." she thought to herself. "Way to go, Tails!" Sonic exclaimed. Tails rose his left hand. "Celestia's the one who showed me." Sonic shrugged and gave him a thumbs up, Tails just snickered and looked to the corner of his eyes as Celestia began to make her way to the cell, where Eggman was now just standing in there. "It's a pleasure seeing you once again, Princess. What are your commands as of now?" his sarcasm was up to date. "For what you've done, this obviously deserves a punishment to be in order." Eggman put his hands together. "Ah, I see. And what is this, punishment?" you couldn't tell if he wanted to hear or not. Celestia looked Eggman right in the eye. "For you to head back to the previous universe, and never come back..." 'Talk about straight to the point...' Midnight Blossom thought. "My, my. This is a well deserved punishment, your highness." her head went slightly up, as she could look down at Eggman. "That's is true, I am not finished just yet. You're going back to universe with nothing you used on ours." Eggman actually didn't like the sound of that. "What!? There's actually some good information in there!" it almost seemed like he was pleading, even so, Celestia didn't look amused. "Maybe so, but as for as I can tell, your information hasn't done much good for us..." her statement was very blank, Eggman stood back away from the bars, his expression changed entirely. 'Did Celestia just see past Eggman's physical expressions?' JetStream thought. It seemed JetStream was easily impressed when it came to Celestia and what her ability had to offer, 'I wonder how she became princess anyway...' he felt like he'd need the sooner the better. "And lastly..." Celestia suddenly continued. "I need everypony free being your hostage." Eggman sank, and sighed. "Oh well, I did what I could..." he said to himself. "And you're going to be doing so much more..." Celestia replied to his statement. "Alright, so you want me to free your ponies?" Celestia nodded. "As it's the most importance, I pity you for thinking in such a way." just as Celestia finished, Eggman walked up to the cell bars and head out the same controller with the big red button in the middle. Celestia looked at Eggman in a way and continued to levitate in her magic as a gold glow appeared around the device, and the button went into the device. 'I think I'm sick of buttons for today...' JetStream and Tails thought as JetStream walked toward the door. "Where you going, JetStream?" he didn't answer as he walked out the door. After about a minute, JetStream trotted back in. "Those robots stopped moving." Tails nodded after hearing so. Sonic walked up to the cell as well. "Hey Eggman, whatever happened to the Time Eater?" he sighed. "After using too much of its power for the roboticizer, it vanished. I haven't seen it since and probably never will." Sonic raised his hands in the air. "Great!" he shouted in anger. Knuckles turned around from the talk he was having. "What is it, Sonic?" "Even though it was Eggman's instrument for destruction, The thing that created the portal here is gone... How are we all supposed to get back?" Twilight looked to Sonic. "We could try creating our own." Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Eggman jumped. "What!?" ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 73 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 73: Preparing the portal Tails looked at the ground to buy himself some time, and then looked up, "What do you mean, create our own, Twilight?" Twilight looked back between all of them in her excitement. "We could use the Chaos Emeralds, they should have the power to make one." Tails looked at Sonic. "You know what Sonic, I think she's got a point. You, Knuckles, and I all know about Chaos Control." Sonic leaped forward in getting all of this together. "Oh, saying that we can make a portal with Chaos Control, it's not bad. But here's the problem, buddy. How're we going to get it pin-pointed on to our world?" Tails just sank whenever he heard it. "That's what I thought, so we need to figure that out." he stated as he held his index finger outward. "I could help you three on getting back to your home world." everyone turned around to see it was Celestia. "What? What do you mean by that, Celestia?" Twilight asked her mentor. She giggled, "I do have the magic you know, and I would really like to help on your journey back." she ended with a warming smile. "Really? That means a lot, Princess." Tails thanked. Knuckles shifted. "Alright then, I'm ready to get this thing open." Celestia nodded. "Alright, but as much as I know you three want this portal opened, I would rather not succeed inside the castle walls." Tails snapped his fingers. "... Oh! I see what you mean... Come on, we'll go outside first." Exteeled and the pony next to her started walking for the door. "Hey..." Eggman noticed he was still in the cell, "Oooo! What about me!? I'm still in here!" Exteeled turned around and winked at Eggman. "Don't worry now, we'll get you out when they're ready..." Tails and his friends started moving with JetStream, and Twilight and Celestia were walking side by side to the right of them. JetStream looked at the pony next to Exteeled. "You know, I never caught your name..." the pony snickered. "I guess you haven't. My name is, Compass Dialect." JetStream closed his eyes in a happy way. "Well, then it's nice to meet you, Compass Dialect." he laughed. "Call me, Compass if you want to." JetStream nodded. "Yeah, I'll see if I'll let myself up to it." JetStream smiled at Compass before he moved back to Tails and his friends. "So where are we stopping?" Tails asked. "Right up here, Tails." it surprised him to hear his name from her, like always. "Okay then." he responded. As soon as they reached a top of a hill, not to far away from castle. Where they prepared to get ready. Sonic was moving his arms around like he was stretching. "Are we ready to get it started..." Tails looked around as he face-palmed. "We're going to need the Chaos Emeralds first..." "They're back at the castle, I'll get 'em." JetStream responded rather quickly. And took off at the fastest speed he could. Even Celestia had to look herself. "I wonder how he's able to gallop at such speeds..." she thought to herself aloud. Sonic pointed a thumb at himself. "He learned from the best." Tails shrugged, shaking his head. "It's always never different with you is it, Sonic?" Sonic nodded. "I would rather not confuse myself than confuse the enemy." Knuckles gave a hardy laugh. "Now that is the Sonic I came to know." Sonic looked at Knuckles and winked, just before JetStream showed up with the Chaos Emeralds, Sonic looked toward him as well. "You know, JetStream, where were the Chaos Emeralds anyway?" "They were behind the throne..." he responded settling the saddlebag on the ground, "But for some reason he never took them out from here..." he stared at it for while, then finally looked back up, "I guess we're ready then?" JetStream asked, as he started searching through the right bag, he settled the Chaos Emeralds out of the bag like a foal with their toys. "What makes this achievable, is that Shadow and I can make Chaos Control with two, but now we have all seven. There's a definite answer to all of this." while Celestia was looking through the skies, she realized something. "I obviously thank you for all the help, can I suggest we open this portal elsewhere?" JetStream stopped in the process of taking the Emeralds out. "Like where?" Tails asked. "Why don't you three do it where you all started, I'm sure it will bring great feelings along with you." she stated as her way of persuasion, Tails turned to Celestia. "You know what, I think it is sort of nostalgic to do it back in your hometown, JetStream." he stood back up from the saddlebag. "Really?" he asked. "Yeah." Tails nodded. Celestia smiled, but as her way of things unfolded, her smile disappeared once again, and suddenly and without anyone realizing, her horn started glowing, and the glow covered everyone except herself. 'I'm sorry for this...' she thought as she could prevented this after all, or just have not done it at all, 'None of you will remember this, when the time is right...' she looked upon the crowd with her eyes half open. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 74 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 74: The cleanup JetStream sighed as he sat their and then begun to put the Emeralds back in, and just as he sighed, he felt a chill go down his back. He quickly looked up and right toward Celestia, "..." he didn't say anything it's just that he had this feeling arise once again, only to look at Celestia, who hid her current gesture, as she was aware JetStream could figure, she just assumed to herself that she had gotten lucky. Just as JetStream got all the Emeralds in, Twilight walked up to JetStream. JetStream even jumped as he saw her standing there. "Hi, JetStream." he stood up to meet to her near level, as JetStream's eyes reached just to Twilight's muzzle. "Oh, hi, Twilight. Something you want... or need, at least?" he asked. Twilight was really silent, as if she was still deciding on whether to do this or not, but she was smiling. Tails walked up to Celestia. "So, Princess. How are we going to get Eggman to Altamare as well, and probably without everypony there freaking out." Celestia smiled. "When you get there, I will teleport him to you, they'll be no need for transport worries." Tails scratched his head and laughed softly. "I guess it does naw a couple minutes off our time..." Knuckles was farther apart from everybody else. "Hey, come on! I'm ready to get home!" Celestia gave a happy expression as Tails sighed. "He's certainly ready..." Celestia stated as Tails turned around to catch up with Sonic, but then she suddenly remembered. "Oh. Sonic, Tails! Please come back! I forgot to do something!" they both looked at each other and started walking back. "What is it, Princess?" Sonic asked. Celestia didn't say anything in response, but she did have her horn start to glow. Which Sonic and Tails were confused at what was going on, but they decided to go along with it anyway. Two beams were shot directly at Tails and Sonic's chests, where they both looked up, "What was that, Celestia?" she smiled as she started to explain. "That was a spell, as to where you think of a place, the spell will shoot out faster than you'll be able to open your eyes. It will help you pin-point your location once you have that Chaos Control of yours going." Tails jumped. "Wow! Thank you, Princess!" Tails exclaimed. "You're, indeed, welcome." she smiled. Tails started to catch up with Sonic as they headed behind the castle. "Wait up, Sonic!" Twilight walked up to Celestia. "Since when did you have a spell like that, Princess?" she giggled. "Well, with the renown my title holds, using the spell, certainly keeps my sanity in check." Twilight could since Celestia was letting her whole "princess-royal-attitude" go, Twilight sighed. "Alright." Once Celestia opened her eyes, she noticed JetStream was still standing around. "Excuse me, JetStream." he shook his head, looking around. "H-huh? What is it, C-Celestia?" he was acting very on edge suddenly, he definitely wasn't his laid back self anymore. "Your friends are probably already at the castle, I think you should go join them." JetStream jumped. "Oh, r-right!" as soon as JetStream started galloping, Twilight cleared her throat to catch his attention. His left ear twitched and he turned around, "Hmm?" Twilight started to hover his saddlebag towards him. Once JetStream was close enough, he stood still as Twilight lowered it onto his back, "Thanks, T-Twilight." he gestured a salute before heading off, Twilight snickered, which went into a giggle. 'He's surprisingly dull-witted...' Celestia started walking toward the castle as well. "Follow, Twilight. We need to get ready for whenever they're ready." Twilight nodded and paced herself, "Right, Princess Celestia." Meanwhile, at the Tornado-01 "Hurry up, JetStream!" Sonic stated. "I'm co-coming!" he responded. "You know, only before, Celestia suggested that we should go to Altamare... I don't know the specific reason why... But when I think about it, I think it's a better idea by second." after JetStream hopped into the plane, they started for their flight back home, or for what JetStream seemed as home. And about through the whole flight, he had one thing on his mind. 'How did Twilight learn to use her Aura like that..!?' he thought through feelings he really hasn't felt before. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 75 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 75: Cleaning Altamare Knuckles shook his head, "Wait, wait... What are we doing with Eggman?" Sonic shrugged. "Apparently Celestia will teleport him when we're ready... the question is-" "How?" Sonic and Knuckles said in unison. There was a pause afterward. "Exactly." Tails responded to break the awkwardness, JetStream snickered. "Yeah, that's going to be difficult to figure it out." he smiled. The plane continued to fly straight through a cloud. "I got to be honest about these clouds, but they don't cause any disturbances whatsoever." JetStream looked up to Tails. "That's good to hear... is it the same for your world?" Tails shook his head. "No, not exactly. There's minor disturbance there, and absolutely little to none here." 'I guess it only makes it all that more interesting then...' JetStream thought as he exhaled looking around at the clouds surrounding the plane. JetStream looked down once again, 'All the reflections that the sun makes still reaches this far up into my eyes, the sun is something really powerful.' he saw a tiny river below them, and just as they pass it, the suns reflection of the water struck JetStream right in the eyes. He looked away and rubbed his eyes to get the things he saw out of his vision, 'It can blind a pony if they stared long enough...' suddenly Tails squinted his eyes after seeing something below them, his guess was correct. "There's Altamare, on the horizon." everybody tried to get a look, but Knuckles and JetStream had some trouble seeing over the sides of the plane. When suddenly JetStream remembered what recently happened here. 'What about the grey spheres?' he desperately needed a look now, 'Dang, still can't get the look I need... I guess I 'll just wait then...' JetStream sighed nervously. After a couple more minutes, you could tell Tails was flying much lower than what he originally was at. "I'm preparing for a landing, so be ready." JetStream nodded, as did Knuckles. Sonic held a fist next to his muzzle for what he saw down there, was still not gone. "Tails, be careful where you land, the grey spheres are still there." Sonic warned. Tails nodded. "Gotchya." he went for the backyard of JetStream's home once again. After landing with a couple bumps, Tails finally stopped the plane. They all jumped out and began to look around. "Oh... It's so depressing to see this scene once again..." JetStream nodded as he pulled his saddlebag. "I couldn't agree more..." JetStream responded, "But we'll fix this, for sure. Remember how I used the Chaos Emeralds before?" Tails jumped up. "Oh! That's right, maybe we can fix this." JetStream swung the saddlebag to his back and begun to walk toward the grey sphere. "I want to get rid of this one first." Tails looked toward his home. "Of course." he said knowingly as he nodded. JetStream pulled the white Chaos Emerald out of the right bag and started to focus with it still in its right hoof. He pushed the flat side of the Emerald against his chest, which was followed by a bright yellow sphere that dimmed shortly afterward it shone. "I'm going in." he stated before walking in and finding his parents to clear his house of the grey sphere that has consumed it almost entirely. He walked in from the back door and into the living room, where the yellow sphere went it completely erased the grey sphere, leaving the normal space behind it. "...?" he turned one direction near the front door, "...!" he found them, and galloped directly toward them, as soon as the sphere touched them, they were back to normal. "JetStream, G-!" Myriad stopped suddenly and looked around, and noticed his little colt staring right back at him. "JetStream..." Corolla was right behind him. They all ended up hugging, which for the first time felt like it wasn't a big time waster. "I'm so glad you're alright..." both parents said in unison. "Me too..." JetStream responded. Once they wiped the tears off their muzzles, JetStream started to talk about everything until now, it was a well four minute talk, but it paid off for their burning desire to figure everything, "... And Sonic and his friends are waiting outside for us..." Myriad started to walk toward the back door. "What are you doing, honey?" Corolla wondered as she started to walk their herself. JetStream noticed something shifted from himself to his parents. 'There's the same feeling... when I looked at Celestia... right there was the same feeling I got before...' JetStream couldn't continue the thought as Corolla grabbed JetStream by the hoof, "Oh, what's going on?" he asked. "We're going to free Altamare of these dreaded spheres." JetStream nodded, it was the least they could all do. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 76 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 76: First the house, then the town "Okay, we are going to split up, we'll cover more ground doing it." Myriad stated, Corolla nodded. "That's logical. JetStream..." he turned to his mother. "Yeah?" "Do you mind us taking an Emerald for use of clearing these things?" JetStream was silent for the second, but he then nodded and hoofed one Emerald to each of them. "I'm sure Sonic won't mind using them to help the town." Myriad looked at the object in his right hoof carefully, as if he was seeing them for the first time. "Alright then, JetStream how do we get these things glowing like you just had?" he knew he had to think it through, when it comes to feelings, you obviously have to be specific. "... It's-it's a feeling of bravery and freedom... as if it was just starting to break out..." Myriad and Corolla nodded. "Me and your Mom will go more in town..." Myriad started to rustle JetStream's mane, and JetStream's surprised it isn't numb. "Can you go ahead and clear the rest of the house, be careful and make your way in town as you're done." JetStream looked up and nodded as soon as Myriad stopped it. "Alright, JetStream! I glad we got everything settled, let's go." JetStream went early, his Emerald was already glowing. He walked to the door to open it and walk outside, making it less of the sphere they have to worry about. "Thank you, JetStream." Corolla thanked as she walked outside, JetStream cleared the way to the door. Myriad walked out after Corolla and looked toward town. Corolla gave JetStream a hug at his chest, "Alright then, once we're done, I want you to head toward the Bell Tower. Do you know what it is?" she asked, JetStream nodded. "Yeah, I know what it is." Corolla smiled and let go of her hug. "I'm so glad you're getting to know this town." Corolla, and Myriad waved him off as they disappeared behind buildings. "Right... the house." JetStream looked toward the top of his home, most of the sphere was at the top of that roof. JetStream nodded to himself and trotted through the house and out the back door, "I'm back, and I got my Mom and Dad free." Sonic nodded. "Alright, but wasn't that them, the ones going in to the center of town?" JetStream nodded. "Yeah, while they go in town to clear more, they left me with the house first." JetStream responded looking back at the house. "Can we help?" Tails asked. JetStream looked back. "Of course you all can help." JetStream stood to where they can grab an Emerald. But Tails accidently reached into the left one, where JetStream quickly looked at him. "Not in there, Tails! The other one..." he shriveled up from yelling suddenly, "They're in the other one, sorry..." Tails looked at JetStream before reaching across to grab one inside. "It's alright... I didn't think for the moment." JetStream blinked with one eye. "Don't worry, now let's get rid of these spheres..." JetStream responded, "I'm going on the roof, there's more up there." Tails nodded, looking at Sonic and Knuckles. "Then I'll go too." he looked at his two tails, "Let's go!" Tails exclaimed as he quickly looked up and flew. "Wait for me, Tails!" JetStream hopped onto the fence of his backyard and gave his best jump to the roof, where he grabbed it from the edge, Tails showed up and offered for him to grab his hand, which JetStream did. He put his hoof in Tails's hand, and lifted upward. Soon JetStream was also on the roof, "Thanks, Tails." he nodded and turned around to the grey sphere. "Let's get this out of here." Tails stated. "Right." JetStream responded. They both started to give the same feeling JetStream described. "Com' on, Knuckles. They're already at it, lets head inside and clean it from there." Knuckles nodded as they went inside. Before they knew it, there Emeralds are already glowing. They started moving around, clearing wherever they walked. Parts of the sphere that went well above and over the roof was a perfect spot for Tails. Once Tails's flying cleared the roof a good half amount, he let JetStream take the rest, where he'd finish up in no-time. Tails landed on the roof next to each other. "The roof is clear." JetStream stated looking around. As he stopped he noticed Tails was holding his hand up, JetStream instantly knew what he was implying, "Ready?" he asked Tails. "Yeah, JetStream." they both nodded in unison, they lowered onto the roof, only to spring into the air toward each other, they smacked hoof and hand. "Friendship Clap!" JetStream exclaimed. As they landed they looked back at each other to notice that both their arms were practically stinging, they both gave each other a sheepish smile, and laughed nervously. "Let's go catch up with Knuckles and Sonic." JetStream suggested. "Alright." Tails responded smiling. They hoped down, turning toward the door and opening to get inside. Just as they got inside, Knuckles finished the very last spot. "Looks like we're done, what about you two?" Sonic wondered. "We're finished as well." JetStream responded. "Then lets head in town!" Sonic exclaimed going for the front door. Knuckles, Tails, and JetStream followed after. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 77 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 77: Into Town Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, JetStream started their way toward Altamare, where they would clear up more spheres than just at JetStream's house as they hoped, "You know what I don't get?" Knuckles's attitude kicked back in. "...?" Sonic and Tails looked at each other in a way. "Why aren't we running up there? ..." JetStream looked up to Knuckles, but didn't say a word, "... I mean, come on the town's right in front of us." Sonic shrugged while he looked at Tails. "Eh, I guess there's nothing to worry about." Tails nodded. "Exactly, there's no immediate danger, so what's the rush?" JetStream hesitated to take a step ahead of them. "Because probably my Mom and Dad are waiting for me near the Bell Tower." Tails noticed he trotted past him, he was about to grab his tail on impulse, but spoke instead. "Wait, JetStream..." he stopped and looked at Tails, as did Knuckles. He sighed. "Why don't you two go ahead then..." Sonic shrugged along with Tails. Knuckles nodded. "Great..." Knuckles started to jog ahead. "When you said we're clearing these, I thought you meant it." JetStream heard footsteps, and looked up. "... Oh! Wait up Knuckles!" he gained a smile on his face. As Knuckles finally entered a major part of the city, he turned around. But JetStream went the other direction instead. "Where are you going?" Knuckles asked, JetStream stopped instantly. "We're splitting up." JetStream turned back around instantly. "Gotchya." he gave a thumbs up in his way. Near the center of Altamare, the city looks like a crop circle with its tiny alleyways. JetStream started to turn left and Knuckles went right. JetStream rose his neck as high as he could. "Now if only I could see the tallest buildings..." he even jumped to get a better advantage point, "Could they already brang out a well amount of grey spheres already?" JetStream slowed down as he thought of this, only until he realized there was one just down the path he was on, it was wedged between the building and the road, as if ponies were trying to escape, but failed. "Alright, here I go." JetStream paced himself toward this building. As he did he started to glow. He passed alleyways as he went, but as soon as he was approaching a certain one, JetStream's Aura shifted, making him go off balance from feeling it suddenly. Unfortunately he was going a little too fast, and that shift he felt was somewhere in the alley, he tried to stop himself but he wouldn't slow down to his liking, he heard the voice of a pony down there, and it was coming closer. "There. You. Are!" on the last word he was able to take JetStream down, his voice sounded desperate and sudden. Making them both slide away from the alley with an audible grunt. Twister without warning sent his hoofs straight up, he was ready to hit whatever this could've been. JetStream lying right below Twister, quickly opened his eyes, but it was hard to keep them open with the sun gleaming on him, but they suddenly opened up all the way in realization. "Twister?" he asked looking directly up at Twister, his forelegs still in a "U" shape. Twister opened his eyes. "JetStream...?" he looked around, JetStream breathed out of his nose because of Twister's ignorance. "Down here..." JetStream's expression was at a smile, "... Why did you tackle me?" he was making sure no dust got in his mouth. His eyes opened in realization. "Oh! Sorry..." Twister backed up so JetStream could stand back up. And dusted himself off, "Well, after the Time Eater left, one of its shots missed me..." he sighed and looked up toward the sky, holding a hoof over his eyes, "I went through the entire city, hoping to find anypony else who has somehow escaped those things..." he looked back at JetStream, "And especially for you, JetStream. But by the time I did search the city, you were nowhere to be found." he started to slump, JetStream reacted in a way he would usually, he stepped next to Twister, and wrapped his foresight hoof around Twister. "Don't worry... I'm obviously here now. And getting rid of those..." JetStream pointed to the left of them, Twister looked left as well, "The grey spheres, is our priority." Twister's neck went back up from its slump and looked at the ground. "Wait, ours?" he said the final word looking at JetStream let go of his hoof around his neck, "Yeah, my parents, and from before, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are here as well." Twister still looked confused at those names, "The ones at which you thought were brain-washing me..." Twister tapped his chin as it came back. "Oh, right." JetStream sighed a smile. "Lets go, there are ponies that might be trapped in there." JetStream went for the building. "Right..." Twister sounded lost, but he continued right after JetStream, but not necessarily at the same pace. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 78 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 78: Showing potential JetStream focused with the Emerald he held, and a sphere started to glow around JetStream, "Whoa... since when did you learn something like this?" Twister asked, JetStream looked at him rather blank. "It was a while ago, that's for sure." he looked back at the building. "Actually, where did you run to when the Time Eater's attack ended?" JetStream looked down remembering how he felt being alone. "I was headed to Canterlot." Twister raised an eyebrow. "Why were you going there?" "We were looking for Celestia for help." Twister looked at the ground as JetStream started to burn the grey sphere away. "You make a point." "Thanks." JetStream responded with a worried smile. "... But, we?" Twister continued, he followed behind JetStream. "Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles were along with me." Twister nodded in understandment. JetStream had to walk through a couple floors to clear the sphere from the inside of the building, as soon as the ponies inside noticed it was back to normal, and they were able to move, they thanked both of them for coming to their rescue. As soon as JetStream was done on the inside, and you're able to walk around in the entire building, JetStream started on the outside, where less then half was visible, he finished it quicker than on the inside. Since JetStream completed the building, a lot more ponies were finally walking on the paths once again. "Alright, I guess we'll move on to the next one..." JetStream stated looking around. "Actually, JetStream, it looks like they're all cleared." JetStream thought that Twister is right, he doesn't see any near. "Okay, let's head toward the Bell Tower, we're all waiting there." JetStream started walking toward the center of the circle. They both looked for grey spheres, just in case they all missed any. "Uh, JetStream..." Twister sounded hollow, even though they were both looking at it. "Yeah, I see it." he responded. What they saw was the biggest of all the other spheres they've seen. Looking back toward the horizon, JetStream noticed the others were here, "Alright, they're here. Lets go, Twister!" JetStream went into a light gallop, Twister joined behind him. Myriad, Corolla, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles were all standing on one side of the sphere. "How come nothing has worked so far?" Myriad asked Sonic, he shrugged. "Don't know, but there's an obvious difference in power..." Tails had decided to get his PDA after a few tries himself. "I agree. This one, at of all of them, has the greatest disturbance..." then they all heard hoofsteps coming up behind them, and turned around. "JetStream, you're back." Sonic greeted. "Did you get rid of any spheres?" Tails asked. "Only one..." JetStream looked at the sphere in front of him, "... So far..." Tails nodded. "Exactly, we're still trying to figure this one out..." that's when JetStream felt like a brave stallion, thinking he's the only one with an idea, that may or may not work. He pulled the last and seventh Chaos Emerald from the saddlebag, Knuckles looked him on, noticing what he was doing. "Are you planning something?" JetStream noticed it was Knuckles, and looked in his direction, and nodded. His eyes went for the sphere. "Yeah, what if we use all the Chaos Emeralds?" Tails head instantly shot up. "... That's so simple..." Tails slumped, but his expression stayed the same, "... With a mind as intellectual as mine, how could I oversee such a thing?" JetStream shrugged. Sonic gave Tails a pat on the back. "We all have our moments, right?" "Right." Tails rolled his eyes and turned toward JetStream, "Yeah, let's give that a shot." Myriad and Corolla nodded as well. They all got in a circle and all started to focus. As they all started to glow, Twister decided to stand back, as multiple colors went to take the sky. The Emeralds glowed their respective colors, whoever had an Emerald color, their Aura would glow the same color as well. And because of this, JetStream's Aura was achieving two colors instead of one, and he could feel different than how he did with only one. It felt like a surge of power. It felt very small at first, but when all the Chaos Emeralds released their spheres, all this energy caved in. "JetStream... what's...?" Twister didn't think he'd see anything like it. JetStream started to glow a shade-less white, as if his fur was glowing. JetStream feeling this energy was like a gate, his body was letting this energy be absorbed, he couldn't control it either, and didn't know why. All the colored spheres of the Chaos Emeralds pushed itself into the grey sphere, where shortly after, the grey sphere started to dissolve. They all started to open their eyes after it was gone. "Yes! That did the trick!" Sonic and Tails high-fived, while Myriad and Corolla noticed what was suddenly wrong with JetStream. "Are you alright, JetStream?" Myriad asked rather quickly. The white figure nodded and Myriad stood back, "Then what's going on?" he knew by the way JetStream nodded, he was perfectly fine. "I don't know." JetStream responded. You couldn't hear it if you didn't try. About four seconds later, the glow started to fade away. Once it was gone to a certain point, almost everybody gasped. "JetStream... you don't look like yourself." Tails stated. "Wha-?" JetStream stumbled from the sudden change occurred, he looked at one oh his forelegs, "Oh! You're right, Tails..." JetStream's fur wasn't a cyan anymore. His fur was a light soft blue, the iris and pupil of his eyes are a clear emerald green. The strong blue of his mane and tail are now a bright yellow, while the purple is now a darker shade of yellow, 'Did the energy I felt do this?' JetStream couldn't believe this is happening, but that's not probably what Myriad and Corolla are exactly thinking. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 79 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 79: The portal JetStream started to breath heavily, but that's as far as it would go, 'If this ever happens again, I'm going to need to get used to this...' after a couple seconds, his breathing was inaudible again. He finally stood straight up, you couldn't even tell if it was somepony else. All the ponies from inside the sphere started to emerge, and Twister looked around just at the same time. Until he looked around the right, a smile grew as he galloped to his Mom and Dad. "I'm back!" his expression surprised JetStream. They rejoiced their reunion in a hug, it didn't matter how long other ponies stared, or if they stared at all, they're just happy to be back together. "How did we get out of such trouble in the first place?" Twister's father put a scratch on his chin. "It was them." Twister pointed toward JetStream, "They all helped us." he started waving, so Twister thought he would as well. There were a far distance apart, and they saw no need to walk over and walk back just to get to their home. Everyone around JetStream waved back. "I think we got everything under control." JetStream stated. "JetStream." he turned around to notice Tails wants his attention. "We got to make the portal, remember?" JetStream nodded. "Of course." "Let's go back to our house." Corolla stated. "I agree with your Mom, JetStream. Lets open it there than anywhere else." "Okay." they all started to make their way toward his house. Since things are going the way they are, the world seems brighter then before all of this happened, '... Before all of it happened...' there was a flashback to where he first met Sonic and Tails, it obviously wasn't the best way to meet a new figure like those two, but if they were off by the slightest, this might've gone differently, and it changes every millimeter of actions on a mile of adventure, as he thought. "Alright, let's get that portal ready." 'Wait, what?' JetStream looked without his memories blocking his vision. "We're already here?" "Yep..." Myriad responded. "... Time flies doesn't it?" "Yes it does..." JetStream responded flatly, "... Alright, lets open this portal." Everyone gathered in a circle once again, and grabbed their Chaos Emeralds from before. They focused, and tried to keep quiet, since JetStream has strangely changed, his two Emeralds started to glow first, then everybody else's afterward. Sonic looked at Tails. "You ready, Tails?" Tails looked at Sonic for the moment. "Oh, right! Yes, I am." Sonic nodded in response. They both closed their eyes and thought about their homeland, as soon as all the Chaos Emeralds power was draining into this sphere in the middle of them, Tails and Sonic opened their eyes in unison, sending the magic from their chest to the sphere. "It worked!" Tails exclaimed. Seconds after the magic made contact with the sphere, a vertical-eclipse started to form, "That must be our portal..." Tails stared in awe, but no more then Sonic. Everyone opened there eyes. "Did it work?" JetStream asked as he started to see the environment around him, but then he saw this hole in the middle of nowhere, "Sweet! It worked." JetStream jumped. "Good job, buddy." Myriad and JetStream high-hoofed, Corolla smiled as she watched them. "... Celestia said she'll teleport Eggman here as soon as we got the portal open, when do you think she will know?" there was a pause before a spark sound, the next thing was a bright light, with Eggman suddenly appearing next to Eggman. "How'd she know!?" JetStream wondered. "She's a princess, JetStream, she has the highest of powers." Corolla responded. Knuckles walked over to Eggman. "You should know what we're doing, and what we want you to do." Eggman stood up. "Right, right, don't think you have me thwarted. I'll only come back stronger!" he started walking to the portal. "Right, Eggman. It's never different with you." he patted him on the back, when Eggman turned around, and pointed at JetStream's parents. "I would have gotten away with it, if it weren't for your little pony." JetStream's expression changed upon hearing this, Myriad and Corolla were in front of JetStream when he pointed his finger, "You'll regret ever doing thi-!" Knuckles just pushed Eggman as hard as he could into the portal. "We got it already." Myriad and Corolla cleared the way once he was in the portal and out of their world. "Do you think he can get back out?" Tails shook his head. "My PDA can scan these kind of things, so no there isn't. As soon as you enter, you can't go back." he responded, JetStream sighed in relief, when he felt something shift under his hooves, yet it was only grass. '... The worlds slowly regaining colour...' "It's finally over." Sonic started. "Hey... look around... the worlds got its color back." they all rejoiced to it. Tails about to close his PDA while looking at his information on the portal, when something caught his eye. "No way!" everyone looked toward Tails, "Since when did the portal have this much power?" Sonic looked at it as well. "Oh! You're right, Tails." JetStream looked at Tails. "How much energy does it have?" JetStream asked. "About enough to last almost four days..." Myriad and Corolla looked at each other with sudden disbelief, but they knew it was amazing. JetStream smiled. 'If you did this on purpose, Celestia... I'm thanking you a ton...' ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Chapter 80 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 80: Our last time Part 1 First Day "You know what? I'm actually surprised it will last that long, it just might be a full four days... Either that or my PDA will glitch after carefully examining the portal." Tails stated. They all nodded. "Why don't we all head back inside." they all went for the house, when a few seconds later JetStream turned around toward the backyard. "You know, I rather stay outside for a while longer..." the sun was just past its highest position for spring, it was still early in the day. "Alright, see ya when you get inside." Corolla responded. JetStream nodded. As the time has passed he glowed once again. Once it passed, he looked like his normal self. "Yeah." he said rather quietly, he looked down at himself. Time to think about things is a precious time, it helps everybody as far as when it comes to Tails, Sonic, and Knuckles, or so he thought. JetStream kept examining his surroundings, looking left and right, he noticed the Bell Tower, 'I think I can finally say I know what the tower does...' there was the longest pause, and then JetStream smiled. "I'm so glad I can finally sit down and rest..." Corolla sighed on her way down. Myriad joined Sonic and Tails at the living room, where Knuckles was right with Corolla. "I'm so glad you two were able to make friends with somepony you haven't seen yet. " Tails nodded. "Thank you." Sonic looked around, always trying to remember where the saddle bag is, but they might as well take the out, as they will be leaving in a couple of days. But Sonic decided to do that later, 'And speaking of the saddle-bag...' Sonic looked at Tails. "Where is, JetStream?" "Shouldn't he be outside?" Sonic raised his hand mildly as he walked to the door. "Yeah, guess I'll go check then." he opened the back door, walked out and closed it behind him, only to notice JetStream was gone. "Huh? JetStream?" Sonic stood there, and when he was for the moment, he felt a sudden impulse, followed by an image, "... You're at the Bell Tower?" he turned toward the tower in the middle of Altamare. When all of a sudden, it started playing the same song from all the way in the beginning, "Is JetStream playing that?" Sonic wondered, he knew the last time he was with the bell this also played. 'Wow, although I did something different, it still played the same song...' JetStream thought, he hit 16-5-1-3-5 in that order, 'I guess if you think about it, while I did hit 'danger' in the bell when the city was being disturbed, only did this because I knew how the bell works, and everything is fine...' JetStream went silent and paused to think about what he'd just said, he looked at the bell which was on his right and focused on it, "I know how the Bell Tower works." he realized. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Although it may look like you're pushing your way through this... and you may be the protector of this pathetic landmark..." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Could he have known something all this time?" he paused before he shook his head, "I better head back before they worry." JetStream went down the stairs as fast as he could. He made it back home seven minutes later. Sonic, and Tails were in JetStream's room with him, all they were doing is that they were talking about anything. "What do you think we could all do if we get bored? I do like that we're able to stay for a bit longer, but what if we can't think of anything whatsoever." Tails asked. He was sitting on the bed next to JetStream, as to where Sonic hasn't even sat down yet. "Are you sure you don't want to sit down, Sonic?" he shook his head. "No, I'm fine..." JetStream leaned back after asking. "Alright then..." JetStream was laying like a normal pony would, with his left hoof over his right foreleg with the only difference, Tails was sitting further down the bed when he sighed. "Then I think it's going to be a while before we think of anything..." they all sighed in unison. Part 2 First Day - Night We never really came up with anything till we had to go to bed, which is actually kind of sad. And the weird thing is, my Mom told me she'll see me later, before any of us went to bed, or, well, before I fell asleep? I guess? Well, anyway I'm still lying on my bed, looking out the window that's right next to it, I seem to have something with windows... either that or a strong preference... By the time the moon hit the top of the window from where I was lying down, the door to my room opened, and Corolla appeared behind it, "JetStream..." she whispered, "JetStream, are you awake?" I lift my head from the pillow and look at her. "Yeah." she motioned me to come into the living room, which I did, but rather sloppily, you seem to lose your balance in the dark for some reason. As soon as I was out of the room and in the living room, she shut the door to my room. "What are you doing?" I asked looking around like it wasn't even my home. "I want to talk about..." she pulled an object out. "This..." I gasped in reaction. "The book I got from the library." she nodded. "Yes, I'd like to know why you have it." the thought of bringing myself to do something like this got me really good. "Well, I didn't get it for myself." Corolla tilted her head at me with a raised eyebrow. "Really? So it's a gift then." I paused, only to nod later. That's when she smiled and said. "Then I think I can help you with this, and make it better." I smiled as well and responded with. "Okay." right after that me and her started working on it. It did take almost two hours to do, and I knew it was worth the wait. After it was all finished, she put the book right back in the saddlebag, and I went back to bed, where I went to sleep much faster than I did before. Part 3 Second Day - Early Morning Everything started to ease, JetStream's ears begun to hear more clearly, and there's something bright behind his eyes all of a sudden. He shortly groaned before opening his eyes, 'Hmmm...' he thought, he didn't move just yet. He just lied there with his eyes open, he sat up straight and looked around the room, where there was this bright red shining spot on the wall, "What?" he walked to the spot, and looked at to where it may be coming from. He looked out the window, "Oh... I guess it's pretty early then..." JetStream's mouth involuntarily opened, as he started to yawn. Sonic and them all decided to sleep where ever they could, but that's all JetStream knew, he looked out his door to his room, 'They did something... the door was shut when I went to bed...' JetStream could feel his eyes finally being able to open fully. He poked his head out into the hallway, where he saw most of them asleep. JetStream sighed, "I'm not a big fan of this kind of scene..." he stated with his eyes shut. That's when his Aura shifted, and he felt a cold chill on the top of his back, which he looked up from responding. Something was up there. He looked away from the ceiling and back into the living room, "I guess I'll go check then..." he turned right, then went down the short hallway, and turned right once again to face the back door, which he opened to get through. He closed it once it was clear, the thing on the roof knew, and its right ear twitched. JetStream turned completely around so he could see who or what it was, "Oh, hey Sonic. What are you doing up there?" Sonic realized and looked down. "Well, I woke up not too long ago, just before the sunrise." he pointed toward the rising sun before them. "So you stayed here? To look at it?" Sonic nodded looking back at JetStream. "Yeah. And I can't help to notice that it looks like mine back home." JetStream nodded in agreement as he looked at the sunrise. "Yeah, Celestia's doing an amazing job." "Good at it too... actually..." he looked at JetStream once again. "Do you know how long Celestia's been doing this? Raising the sun and moon?" JetStream's mouth dropped. "Are you joking!? I'd have to be almost three thousand years old to find that out..." Sonic was surprised he'd say such a thing, but the pause was all about one thing, "... So..." JetStream continued, "... Around three thousand years... maybe less...?" Sonic shook his head smiling. "That's pretty incredible... For doing something for so long..." Sonic paused while JetStream wondered why there weren't blind, "... Do you think she does it alone?" Sonic asked. JetStream felt a chill go down his spine. "W-well, she obviously... we saw her alone, remember?" he was suddenly on edge, giving a shrug without any context. "I guess..." he looked down, only to look back up. "Then again, maybe that's why Twilight was there, she was with Celestia. She did have a star-like Cutie Mark if I remember correctly..." "We did see that with our own eyes anyway..." "Right." JetStream nodded. "I have one more thing in mind." Sonic stated, JetStream looked at him. "What's that?" he looked curious. "How does Celestia know you, even though you live in a town all the way from here to Canterlot." JetStream smiled and looked back toward the sunrise. "Well, there was this event called a Fun-Run, where apparently you go from one spot to the other. Like a point to point." "What's the good in those?" Sonic responded shrugging. "I found a lot of good in it, as I bonded further with the friends I made here in Altamare, we were still all knew together. And the scenery..." JetStream paused, "Seeing Canterlot from the angle I've kept my mind on, seeing this huge city on the side of a mountain, it's perfect for a princess. The river that eventually goes off into a steep fall. It's splash back when it hits the ground creates a rainbow as well. And I think it's also the highest view I have ever got, other than Yanhoover... maybe... I don't think I could even remember though..." he paused, "Anyway, why Celestia knew about me, is that event was held by her, herself." Sonic looked down for an question to give. "Then why did Celestia pick here? In Altamare?" JetStream tapped his chin. "... Maybe because Altamare is some of the most western cities in Equestria... then again Yanhoover does seem further west... but the city was more up north. And it was definitely colder up there than down here." "Is that why your parents moved down here?" Sonic asked. "I don't really know that one either, but I like to think it that way..." Sonic nodded. "Alright... oh, look at that JetStream." he looked toward the horizon. "Yeah. The sun's already above the horizon... and, you know Sonic. It actually felt fine talking for once, I usually think I don't have the time for it..." Sonic laughed, and JetStream suddenly looked puzzled. "Don't worry, though. I feel that way all the time." Sonic looked away from the sunrise and at JetStream, "Want to see who's up yet?" JetStream nodded. "Sure." they both jumped down and headed inside. Everything was starting to cool down again. Part 4 Second Day - Afternoon It just hit around afternoon when everyone was finally awake. JetStream waited for his Mom or Dad to wake up first before he said he would go look around the town, but since he woke up so early, he actually had to wait, "I'll see you later." JetStream stated through the closing door. "Alright." Corolla responded a little sluggish. Once she closed the door she sighed. "Ugh... If only I had the energy as I used to have..." she smiled as she walked by Sonic sitting at the table. She stopped, and turned completely around, "Sonic, do you know where Tails even is?" Sonic nudged his head toward the door, while looking at it all the same, "Hmm." she figured as she looked away, "Alright then. That young fox sure as a taste for adventure." Sonic nodded. "He sure does, he was shy when I first met him, out in a forest with nowhere to go, he seemed lost as well, that's when he met me, I was after Eggman's schemes, and that's when Tails joined along. Knuckles was after him." "So you three have been around for some time now, huh?" Sonic nodded, looking out the window. "Yeah." "So, what could we be doing, JetStream?" Tails asked. "This is something I usually do in Altamare. Just taking a basic stroll." he looked away from Tails and toward the buildings surrounding their path, "Sometimes, if I'm lucky, I'll be able to go during the night, the whole town is purple and golden at night, even thought it is blue and white at day." Tails nodded. "Yeah, I'd do the same if I had the time like this." JetStream looked back to Tails. "Are you implying that you don't have enough time?" he nodded. "Yes. Sonic, Knuckles, and I are always so busy, I never really get the chance to look at Mobius long enough..." JetStream tilted his head at this new name. "Mobius? How come I never heard that from you before?" Tails paused looking away, then soon coming back to JetStream. "Yeah, I actually don't know why I haven't said it before, the answer doesn't come to mind, but Mobius is the name of our home land, like yours is Equestria." JetStream smiled. "Alright." they both were closing in on the center of town. It felt great seeing ponies finally able to walk the paths of this town once again, JetStream looked at Tails, 'Just too bad they wont be staying here long...' Tails looked at JetStream. "Something wrong?" JetStream paused. "Yes. But it's nothing urgent." "Are you sure?" "Of course." he smiled. "Okay then." Tails responded as they continued to go in whichever direction they choose. Knuckles was on the roof of Myriad and Corolla's house. When he looked in the direction of Canterlot suddenly and thought, "I wonder what they did with the machines back there..." as you looked just in Altamare, they were starting to make repairs to the city. Part 5 Second Day - Night It was roughly five hours later, and it was getting late. The sun was nearing the horizon, the moons glow was getting more visible at the same time, "After doing all of it, about five hours passed..." Tails snickered. "Yeah, time flies when you're having fun." JetStream nodded, smiling. "There's my home, it's just up ahead." "Good. I can't wait to sit back down..." Tails sighed, JetStream laughed. "Alright." Once they reached their destination, they both turned right into JetStream's home. Where they both sunk to the floor in exhaustion. "Welcome back, Tails, JetStream." "Thanks." they said in unison. Since Altamare was obviously not like Canterlot, there were bright candles placed around the whole house, it would give you that medieval feel for every single house, while even though there are light poles outlining the paths, there are more in the center, and not much of those where they are now. "So, how did you two's little trip go?" "We explored more of the city." JetStream answered, Corolla looked at Tails. "Basically that's all we did." Tails stated. JetStream quickly looked around to see where the saddlebag was, so no one was looking, and then quickly looked back, only to notice Corolla was staring right at him. "Oh, hi Mom." "You seem awfully suspicious... What are you thinking about?" JetStream scratched his head. "Thinking about going to bed, honest." Corolla stood back. "Really? I'm actually surprised you're going to bed so early for your standards, it's only eight o'clock." JetStream continued to his room. "I guess I will see you whenever I'll wake up..." "Alright then." most of them replied. JetStream lied down in his bed, hoping he'd wake up early in the mourning, much more early. Part 6 Third Day - Early Morning JetStream's thoughts were passing around the idea of waking up early for this specific thing he decided to do as soon as he'd wake up, but it would still be a matter of time until he knew he was asleep. But in one moment, his eyes snapped open, accompanying a sudden small gasp, he quickly looked around, "Ugh... I keep waking up like I have nightmares..." he stated to himself. He paused, "Oh! Right." he uncovered himself and walked out of his room and around to the living room, where he went for the saddlebag, and pulled his own, the white Chaos Emerald, and went for the back door and checked the time just before he went out, '1:11am...' he opened the door and walked out, only to close it behind him, "The ground is very lit, so that must mean that the moon, is... out...." JetStream noticed the ground was illuminated, he went to check, only to figure out the moon in the sky wasn't there, "Weird... then where is that light coming from?" he paused like he was awaiting a pony to answer, but he then continued anyway, regardless if a pony would or not, he went all the way back to the backyard, and started galloping forward. As soon as he reached the house at a close enough distance, the door opened below JetStream, he fell and landed straight on his hoofs. He looked back looking outward of the door, which then it closed like always. He turned around, looked at the torches on the walls, "It seems kind of cold for the torches to still be lit..." but despite that, he continued. The walk there took shorter than he thought, as he realized too late he was already at the entrance, "Hmm..." he walked in like he usually does, the opening behind him closes, and then it's up to him to explore. Even though there was no moon, it was casting light, the light shone in from the circle, "Even though I know the moon isn't there, I might as well need a light..." he walked and stopped exactly in the middle of where the moon's light went through. He thought that he would focus with this Emerald once again. As he started to his Aura showed blue, same with the Emerald, 'Wait, shouldn't it be white?' he continued anyway, as it would mess it up. The more the Emerald glowed, the more powerful it became. After a long amount of time and patience, JetStream realized the Emerald started to glow yellow, "Wow, this is new." then it slowly changed colors, and only to pick up more speed until it showed a rainbow instead, "Whoa..." but then the Emeralds rainbow glow started to somehow wrap around JetStream like a double helix, "Ah! What's this...!?" something on the ground moved past JetStream on his left, it made the glow swirl into the air above and disappear. Seeing that shadow move across the floor, JetStream looked behind him, and straight at the wall. There on the wall stood his silhouette, but as soon as he made a move to touch the wall in front of him, the silhouettes eyes glowed a cyan-green color, and the shadow moved right below JetStream to get behind him. That's when the shadow seemed to take the whole circle of light that hit the ground, the shadow went over JetStream as well, "... Wait..." JetStream turned around, and got his final look. The moon was suddenly visible again, and it took the whole circle of the glass pane. And what stood it front of it, was a silhouette of a figure JetStream never thought he'd see again, and the laughter that it had with it was way to recognizable, it was a strong maniacal laughter. Just before JetStream thought it was all over, the figure's head turned directly at JetStream. And within a quick moment, JetStream jumped up, realizing he was sitting in his bed. Part 7 The Longest Nightmare "What is with the nightmares so suddenly...?" he shook his bed-head and looked around to see his setting, he noticed the moon's light was shining through his window, making his blue curtains shine throughout the room, "Aw, I was hoping that it was the next day though... oh well..." he went to the window to check where the moon was, "Who knows, it could have been worse..." he sighed as he looked at the window, "...!" the moon still didn't have the silhouette, "The shape is not there! ... Am I still sleeping?" it's always a weird question to ask yourself, as you'd seem paranoid, "Alright, I am... still not awake... I wonder why..." JetStream stopped. He focused with his Aura, he wanted to calm himself, "Alright..." he looked to his bed, "I guess I will try again..." he lied down and went under the covers, and finally closed his eyes. Another 15 minutes passed, when he finally settled in his bed, and a wave of comfortableness washed over him in time for sleep, an image of two eyes with turquoise irises flashed in front of him, "Agh!" he bolted out of the covers and to the other side of his room, "What is doing that?" he quickly looked left and right, only to notice that the moon's light is gone, "... Wait... It is only been about seventeen minutes... I was able to see the moon with out even trying to look up... well, I guess I am dreaming..." JetStream looked at his closed door, "Should I?" he looked at the door like it was covered in a slime. He looked back out the window and decided to do it anyway. He turned back toward the door and opened, he looked around and walked out of his room. He left it open knowing they would know he left in the first place. When the door was at its max angle, the door sounded like it hit something. JetStream sighed sharply and looked around the door, only to realize it was a flashlight, "What is this doing here?" he bent down to pick it up, and without any thought, turned it on, "Whoa, it is, really bright..." he pointed toward the ground and found the switch for its power, "How did this get here?" he wondered examining the object. Soon after he decided to turn it back on again and the light flashed on the wall, when JetStream looked ahead, he was surprised at what he saw, "What?" there was glowing text the differentiated from the wall, but it only appeared when he lit it up with the flashlight. The text appeared to say, "Head to Ponyville" and at the bottom it had an arrow pointed toward the front door, which was just around the corner, "This has got to be some sort of prank..." JetStream huffed, but he continued in the direction the text wanted him to. Lighting up the room with this bright flashlight he just found, he pointed it around the living room to see if there were any more text that could have been lying around, there were none, up until the point he pointed it at the door, which said "You can't go back once you leave" JetStream took a step back, "Is this some kind of threat?" he was about to ask the living room if anybody was there, but he didn't want to wake anybody up, "... Actually, where are they anyway? Wait... is Sonic up to this...? No, wait, I cannot see Sonic doing this... but what if Knuckles was..." JetStream knew that character of Knuckles, but whatever he could be pulling, he's doing a great job at it. He took a deep breath and walked to the door, the flashlight bobbing as he walked, he took his step out of the door. When all of a sudden, outside didn't seem to nice, it looked nothing like the way he saw in his bedroom. There was a blue coloured fog that was so thick he couldn't see five feet in front of him, "What is this madness? I cannot see a thing!" he moved his flashlight around, noticing the light pierces the fog with much precession it practically makes it visible for miles, "Weird... but this thing is so bright..." what made him wonder was the moon's light was able to travel through this fog. He turned around toward the door, and when the flashlight shined on it, text appeared stating "Good luck" JetStream swallowed hard, the stone below him was almost invisible, it was him and only his flashlight, he turned away from the house, a wide path like line was shown to indicate a path, "Is that a way to Ponyville...?" he looked at the flashlight, "... Then why do I need this?" he looked back ahead of him and swallowed once more, "Okay, lets go..." Part 8 The Longest Nightmare 'Alright, I need to stop asking myself that, I obviously know what the flashlight is for...' JetStream started in the path the dark fog let him see, and that was toward Ponyville. Although he could go stray off the path, JetStream didn't really think anything would happened after that, so he decided to stay safe, 'But why? All the way to Ponyville...' he swung the flashlight left, 'Is there something waiting for me? ...' he swung it right, 'Is it a cry for help? ... or is this myself that's making it all up... that doesn't matter, everypony would know they would want it to turn out right, any way they could...' he swallowed hard, 'Any way...' he felt a shiver go up his spine, and quickly looked behind him, "Whew... a-and now that I think about it... I don't think Knuckles is up to this at all..." he bit his bottom lip, still looking left and right, when suddenly more text appeared on a tree, "Aw... I can't really see it from here..." JetStream turned his head looking left and right, moving his flashlight with him, he took a deep breathe and went for it, and everything went dark instantly, he could barely see his own muzzle in front of him, luckily there was the flashlight with him this whole time. JetStream got just close enough for him to read it, it read "From this point, gets harsher" he swallowed hard, "I wish I knew who was writing that down..." he stated looking left, he quickly rushed back to the path that was given to him. And suddenly it seemed the bridge that connected to the island was in front of him, "Just about made it out of Altamare, I don't think I'll make it..." ignoring himself, he continued to step further, he noticed he passed the tree, its statement was true. As it suddenly got colder, and a breeze could be felt, the fog on each side got thicker and inched closer, 'Oh great, soon I wont be able to see with the flashlight...' when suddenly JetStream started to hear distant gurgling coming from the fog itself, "What is it now?" he asked himself, he tried to point the flashlight toward its source. He noticed it had yellow glowing eyes, in his stopped position, JetStream took a step back, "Who are you!?" he asked this ominous figure, it responded with mumbled non-sense, "Oh great..." JetStream turned around and galloped with the speed he had, as he was making the distance he hoped for, those yellow eyed creatures spawned up ahead. JetStream grit his teeth, as he knew he would have to gallop straight through them, JetStream sped up even further, at this point it felt like his hoofs weren't even touching the ground. As he approached them just to pass by, one of the creatures walked themselves toward the path JetStream was set on, he was ready to duck whenever he could. And within ten feet, he slid right under the unknown creature with hope to avoid it. But instead, as he slid, the creature had the appropriate timing, and clawed him right on his left cheek, and lost all of his momentum, he held his hoofs next to the wound and breathed in with his teeth grit, while at the same dropped the flashlight. When JetStream finally went to a stop on his high-speed slide, those creatures were still around him, "Ow that hurts..." when he opened his eyes, he noticed another was going in for an attack, JetStream gasped and rolled to his right. He got back up, only to notice he was suddenly cringing, and this stuff was coming off on him, "They're ponies?" he could see by their figure. They were walking away from him instead of be ready for an attack, JetStream realized he dropped his flashlight somewhere. And noticed it was behind him, as the figure in front was literally burning off from the light the flashlight gave, "What the..." JetStream turned around hoping no creatures would get to him, he grabbed the flashlight, and pointed it at the creature one more time, and focused the light straight on, and it seemed it burned faster, and till the point the monster was no more, JetStream gasped once more, "The flashlight burns them away..." JetStream grimaced, "I guess I can't just beat away at them..." JetStream looked right, and dashed once again, 'Like I would though...' as wouldn't think of fighting these things, what drove JetStream almost crazy is why this sort of thing would happened to ponies like these, and how they ended up like this. 'Burning away those ponies... am I....' JetStream closed his eyes, scratching that thought out as hard as he could and just continued to gallop. It wouldn't matter what JetStream would gallop into, as long this nightmare of a scene would end. JetStream didn't believe they were ponies, they were covered in this transparent mist and had glowing eyes, they're probably part of the nightmare. It felt like half an hour before he opened them again, and when he did, "Whoa... I'm in, Ponyville..." although his spirits elevated, it obviously wasn't much. He ended up in the center of town, the whole fog was in a larger circle around the town's hall. JetStream was able to look up toward the moon, where he stared at it for almost two minutes when he saw a black blurred figure jolt toward the forest to his right. JetStream looked to his right as well. The path leading him formed a way toward this forest. JetStream sighed, he looked back up and kept a good poker face while he was at it, and he kept his pace, and started toward this forest. Part 9 The Longest Nightmare "I wonder what that thing flying overhead was..." JetStream inhaled, "But for now, lets just go inside the forest..." JetStream slowly made his way into the outskirts of the forest that lied in front of him. He went straight away from the Town Hall. Up ahead was a right turn, where just in case, JetStream turned his flashlight, 'There better be no more monsters up here...' he thought as he was expecting them anyway. He looked left on sudden decision, where he heard a screech, and frantically searched around, until he left it to his Aura, it was behind him. He quickly turned around, only to notice it was attacking. He yelled and quickly went even further along the path, where he looked back and actually lost the creature a lot quicker then he expected, he slowed to a walk and took deep breaths, "I'm going to need to get out of this, somehow... no way am I excepting this as a nightmare... Especially if I've made this far... This really is a long dream though..." he tensed on the last statement. Suddenly he couldn't see no more, as the fog covered his eyes once again, "What happened to the trail?" he looked back to see if he missed it, only to realize it was the mistake he made, he walked back and continued to follow it. When he got back on, the trail made a sharp turn to the left. Where JetStream followed it, as soon as he passed the turn, he looked ahead, "The fog cleared..." only to realize the worst, "This is the forest..." JetStream read the text on the sign next to a decaying tree, "...Don't worry though, you're almost there." JetStream sighed, "I can see that..." he focused the flashlight directly in front of him once more, as the fog cleared up, the atmosphere of the forest took its place, "Alright, I'm in the forest..." he stated to himself. As soon as he finished, he thought he heard thunder, "... Really? Is it already going to storm? The sky was clear just before... or well, I think it was clear... I couldn't really see it..." JetStream continued walking through with his trusty flashlight, the only object that's allowing him to see, through the only way he was meant to travel. JetStream was ready for anything to pop out, but it wasn't like he wanted anything to. He thought he was keeping back with every inch of light that would hit the middle of the trees that would surround the only path he had. The Aura this forest was giving off felt reached, a soft, squishy touch that could burn your skin easily. After some of the longest walks he felt he has ever had, JetStream heard something he's never heard since he heard back Altamare. JetStream gasps we he stumbles upon a river, "That current looks a little strong... I don't think I'll be able to walk that..." JetStream continued to look at the river and silently think, before it was nearly four minutes before he figures out how to pass, and it was the only way he would know how. While on the side of the river where it was flowing harshly, a large creature was waiting for this pony to do what it expects it to do. He backed up before the area opened up for the side of the river, he put the flashlight sideways through his mouth, and he readied to gallop across the river. Thanking himself for his personal build, he's lighter than most ponies his age, but for some reason they sometimes say it's a bad thing, 'Light and quick steps... just like you do before...' he slowly leaned forward, he gained a small grin as well, he slowly moved forward without budging his hoofs. And within the next second, he pulled with all of his force that fall into his hoofs to somehow tread across the river, his acceleration was almost explosive, the trees and leaves shook with their noise of a crowd as soon as he lift off for the river. As soon as he hit the water, he suddenly panicked, he lost most of his speed, and was continuously losing it as he went across, 'The river looked a lot smaller from where I was!...' he was growing tired easily, while almost three-fourths of the way there, he took his next step, only to fall straight into the roaring river. But with the momentum he had, the flashlight whirred right past everything and bounced to a stop on the other side. JetStream was struggling to reach the top again, yet he wasn't going anywhere as the horizontal force was greater. As his last once of energy burned out, he heard a noise he never heard before, just before his vision went out, as he was exhausted from energy, he was expecting to go down the river and land somewhere up shore. Yet, the noise he heard, scary for being in the unknown, maybe it wasn't what it seems. It wouldn't matter, because if it was help, then he needs the help. Part 10 The Longest Nightmare JetStream knew something was out of place, consciously knowing he went underwater, yet he heard the waves as he never even dived under. But as he listened, it started to clear up, and quite literally as this continuous noise was building loudly as he continued to hear the roaring tiny waves that the river produced. As his eyes were able to break open for the first time, it was really bright, like the bright light you would see inside some cave, and how you would ever be so happy to see it shine on you. He was, still unsure, though he heard something else, and it sounds like breathing. JetStream suddenly jolted up, stressed and worried, hacking up the extra water his body didn't need on whatever he was resting. After the internal clear-up, his vision came back to him, "Where am I?" he asked himself, as he didn't expect anypony else to answer, when a voice appeared out of nowhere. "You're in the Everfree forest, little one..." JetStream's neck shot up. "Who said that?!" he looked in the river, and saw the reflection in the river, "Ah!" he looked left and up, at his aloud struggle, he slipped off this creatures body and nearly fell back into the river, '... The river's so cold...' "Oh, sorry if I startled you... I keep trying not to do that the best I can..." he lowered the tip of his tail to JetStream could climb back on. "D-don't worry... I di-didn't know what happened..." The lizard creature that held JetStream by his tail sighed. "Okay, I'm glad that's fine with you. Anyway, I'm lucky I saw you. You would've continued to drift if it weren't for me." JetStream looked up completely soaked with his drooping mane and smiled. "Then I thank you, I really wouldn't expect something like you to save me..." it nodded. "That's partially the reason I never leave here... one wrong step of their hoofs and they end up in the river." JetStream nodded. "And sorry about me practically coughing on your tail..." "That's nothing to dread, it's a sign of consciousness, I would be ecstatic as you to still be alive." JetStream slightly coughed again. "... Thanks again. Do you think you can help me to the other side of this river?" "Of course." "Thanks." JetStream smiled. The lizard-like animal started to swing against the rushing river, 'Wow... talk about strength...' he stopped where JetStream jumped onto the nearest landmass, "Feels nice to touch grass once again..." he stated softly tapping his hoofs. "Goodbye! I hope we meet again!" the creature exclaimed. "Alright! Bye then!" JetStream responded. The thing was, he was still dripping from being soaked. With his conscious decision, he started shaking his entire body as a dog would, and got all the extra water off, "Don't judge a book by its cover, I guess." he concluded this scene with a statement. After he thought he got enough off, he started to look for the flashlight, "Now where's that flashlight... it had to stop here." he grew worried as he wasn't able to find such a thing, "I don't remember turning it off... either..." he looked down, and the flashlight was right at his hoofs, "Huh..." he bent down to grab them back, "The lights not on..." he turned the switch off, and then back on, yet the light didn't go off, "You got to be kidding me..." when he turned it back on, he shook it, hoping it would flicker, which it did, "Yes!" then it started to continue flickering, yet it never stopped, "Some light is better than no light I guess." trying to ignore the flicker, he continued to look forward, and seek out whatever could be awaiting him, unless they saw JetStream first. It was another long and dreadful walk, making sure those creatures that don't like to eat light stay out of his way, it wouldn't turn out the best for both of them. His thoughts left him to a safer place, and his eyes guided him, it suddenly got cloudy, and where both mind and hoofstep started to sync once again, "Aw. It's getting really foggy again..." when he took his next step, he suddenly launched backwards, "There's no ground!?" he pointed his flashlight around, and noticed it was a broken bridge ahead, "Oh shoot..." he bit his bottom lip and looked around, "What now?" as he finished his statement, the flashlight finally went dead, and no longer gave the light JetStream much deserved for treading such a landscape alone, "Alright... I think my speed can clear this..." he headed backward and dropped the flashlight so he could get some acceleration on his part. He stopped when he thought it was far enough, "I have to clear this... for an earth pony who could tread the clouds, I'm confident I can make a simple long jump." he pushed on his left backhoof first and let his speed take over, going at the speed visibly tons faster than a stallion, he jumped with much more force than he gave during the river. The breeze launching back at him was chilling, and unwelcoming. After feeling little effects from weightlessness, he landed, then started to tumble with the sudden effect of gravity. He rolled until he was abruptly stopped by an innocent tree, the slope made him slightly climb into the air, only to fall back straight on his hoofs, and dust flew in every direction. With JetStream agreeably wet and covered in dirt, he sighed and just continued to whatever obstacle the forest would throw at him, "Alright, what's next?" Part 11 The Longest Nightmare JetStream sighed, "I guess there was nothing after that..." he looked ahead, there was a grey mass behind the trees that were planted in the ground in front of JetStream. He approached the trees to walk past them and pushed a couple of leaves to get the view, what he saw was an old aging castle, "Oh... This had to be here a long time if it looks this terrible..." he frowned, "But what lead me here in the first place? That figure that flew over my head from before... the writing along the way, and what created that fog?" JetStream decided to check the castle out, and see what he could find. He walked up to the red door that started the scavenge, and opened it when it was in reach. When the full view of the room next up was visible, JetStream saw something in the middle that you couldn't miss, "Whoa..." he looked back down and walked up to this mysterious object, "What is this..." he looked back up, "Does this have a purpose?" JetStream squinted at the five arms the object contained, each arm held a specific stone, "What are those stones for..." he decided to jump onto the object to get a better and closer look at the stones before him, "Huh... the five arms even form a star shape..." he looked at one to seem to have a lightning bolt imprinted on it, "It's got a lightning bolt on this one... the others are different... it's like a pony's cutie mark, one is never the same..." he looked away from the one he was staring at to one on his left, "That one looks like a diamond... these have to be cutie marks somehow..." when JetStream felt like he was done, there was one more final arm he didn't take notice until the very moment he looked up, "Oh! What about... this one... there's nothing up here..." there was a sixth pointing straight up, but no stone seemed to be present, like the others, until he remembered why there wasn't a sixth. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Well, let's see, Loyalty, Laughter, Honesty, Kindness, and Generosity. I've also heard that Celestia has used all six before, but I'm still unsure." Corolla shrugged on the last bit. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I did remember for later." JetStream recalled. He looked back down to the stone-less arm, "This must be where the six elements reside..." he looked somber when he looked at the sixth arm, "Yet, the sixth isn't here. I guess that's why my Mom didn't know about it. Even so..." he looked around at the others, "I still don't even know which one of the known five are which..." he sighed as he realized this fact and climbed back down, "Oh well..." he got a good distance away before he looked to the next door, his jaw dropped, "You..." he said in a ghostly tone. The pony laughed. "Yes, it's so nice to meet up after such a long time, my friend." JetStream got in a defensive stance. "I wouldn't say friend much..." her laugh still echoed in her mouth. "... There's no need to worry about my doing, as if I wouldn't waste my time." "Then what are you doing here?" she looked at him as if she had one eye only. "... Neurelm?" JetStream responded. She paused, and started walking toward the object in front of them both. 'What is she doing?' "I wanted to catch up, know how you were doing, and how I, was, doing..." JetStream kept his stance, just in case if she was going to pull anything, "You sure walked in here prepared..." Neurelm stated. "You bet I, did!?" a glow formed around JetStream, where he hovered directly in front of Neurelm's vision, 'She's changed once again too...' JetStream noticed she was taller, and her mane looked like transparent goo with tiny stars inside, her mane and tail was literally alive, "Now, you little pony, I want you to listen." "... What is. it?" JetStream shivered as Neurelm's mane flowed around him, having an ice cold chill along with it. "We both know you don't have a good reputation with deals and promises, so I'm deciding to give you one last chance..." "When did I-?" JetStream was cut off as her mane physically shut his mouth. "I need you to listen." JetStream paused, and instead nodded, "Excellent. Now I'll set you free of this nightmare I created, if, and only if, you let me be who I was meant to be.." JetStream paused, and longer then he thought he would, he started shaking his head no. 'No, this will obviously be something bad if I let you... but...' Neurelm started to give a snarling look, just before JetStream spoke, "Yes, I won't bug you with your further plans..." 'That's not what I meant!' "Great, that's a great effort from you, and you should feel rather proud of that." her mane moved along JetStream's chin, moving his head back and forth, "I make my promises, and you should keep them..." whatever she was doing, JetStream wouldn't figure out, as he suddenly got drowsy and fell asleep in Neurelm's magic grip, or so he thought. Part 12 Final Day - Morning JetStream somehow realized he was actually sleeping, and still only took some time till he did. As he knew how the other encounters with Neurelm took off, the farewell on this one felt, rather different. Yet JetStream had the awful suspicion something was bound to happen. His thoughts spewed the same words, yet they instantly scattered when he saw a faint orange glow behind his eyelids. Where he heard muffled sounds of birds chirping and the new leaves rustling in the wind, it was a casual spring day, it's what JetStream liked, but Spring wasn't his best season, his favorite season was one to be unexpected, and he liked it for that reason also. And when all that thought passed, his eyelids, slowly opened to the ceiling below him, "... That was wild..." JetStream sighed to himself and sat up, when something struck his mind, "My awakening... it wasn't rash..." he remembered the little moments where he would be catching himself after those nightmares he would have, they were obviously unpleasant, "... So I'm finally able to awake calmly now, I guess Neurelm was telling what was on her mind..." it wasn't apparent to him, but he might've just forgotten what she told on her mind to him, pony to pony. The sun was shining in his room like always, so he decided to check outside. His mouth opened when he remembered about the portal, "I actually forgot about it..." JetStream continued to look outside as he paused, "Hmm, maybe that's why Tails is out there..." he decided to see what Tails was up to in the first place, he walked out of his room opening the door, and turned left, he then quickly turned around to the back of his door. "Good-morning, sleepy head." Corolla stated. "Oh, morning." JetStream replied. "It's about time he's up, we're about to leave with him asleep." Knuckles was practically relieved, he wouldn't want to go without a good bye. "It should be no worry..." Corolla told Knuckles as she walked to the table with her beverage, "... This is about the time he usually wakes up, I'm surprised with what it is and how busy his days are." Corolla stated. "Yep, sleep's a precious thing, need it every now and then since I guard the source of unlimited power." Corolla laughed knowingly. "I wouldn't be able to do such a thing, even if I tried." Knuckles nodded. "Yes. That's when it comes to will power." "Much of it I might add." Corolla responded. They both continued their talk, while JetStream just went out the back door. "Hey, Tails." "Good-morning, JetStream." they said in unison, he reacted to hearing more voices then intended. "What? Sonic? Since when you were out here?" Sonic gave him a look. "Been out here ever since Tails decided to check the portal." 'I guess he was behind a wall or something.' JetStream thought, "Speaking of the portal..." he continued, "When is it going to die out?" "Well, since most of its power was burned off, my device is able to process much faster due to the short amount, and from what it says thirteen hours." "Thirteen? That's about sundown. Alright, I go inform Knuckles." Tails looked up from his PDA. "He doesn't know?" "Apparently not." JetStream walked back to the door and opened it. Once he was in the house he walked to the living with the news on his mind. "Hey, Knuckles." he turned toward him. "What is it?" "Tails says the portal will now last until sundown today." "Well, alright." JetStream nodded as Knuckles looked back to what he was doing. He walked back into his bedroom and sat on his bed, only to look at the light rays from the sun pouring its water-colour yellow into that was wide as his circular window. "... Only thirteen..." he sighed to himself once more. Part 13 Final Hours - Sunset Since twelve hours ago, JetStream wanted to make it the best a-little-more-then-half-a-day moment. But he knew he wouldn't be able to do it without the help of the friends he made it through in the first place, they're practically the reason why he made up his mind for such a decision. JetStream thought they could all go city exploring with him, but then Tails stood up and had a better idea. He would rather stay here, where all could finally break down and relax, they saved Equestria from Eggman, freed all the ponies from the dreaded grey spheres, and mostly, saved Celestia from that metal imprisonment. JetStream only nodded, stated himself that he understood, he turned around said "I'll be back before you are supposed to leave" as he smiled. He looked rather cheerful actually, he then walked to the front door, and left, without another word. No one knew where he went after that. They all expected him to come back, just like he had said. That is if he could make it. Which he was determined to do. Now to get to present time, it starts with JetStream fast asleep on the Bell Tower. When suddenly, the pony watching the tower finally decides to come up from the stairs. "Oh, he's asleep." he continued to walk over to the colt. He gently nudged JetStream awake, he shifted before he finally answered. "Hmm? Yes? What is it?" he slurred as he looked up, he suddenly jumped at the pony's appearance. "Oh, hello..." "Hello..." he responded. "Sorry to wake you so suddenly, but your friends, as they call you the same, want you to go back down stairs." JetStream's eyes widened. "Oh, yeah!" JetStream saw where the sun was out of the corner of his eye when he went for the climb downstairs. "Thank you!" he shouted back toward the pony. "You're welcome!" he responded. JetStream could feel that his feeling his change suddenly, as it was more of a relieved happy than just a happy, yet it surprised him they came down here. He opened the door to the outside, the orange sun beating down once again. Once the blinding rays subsided, his friends appeared after. "JetStream..." Tails said first. "Where were you?" "Oh, about that... I fell asleep." Tails sighed. "That's not expected of you." JetStream laughed nervously. "Come on you two, lets head back to the house." Sonic said, waving back at them as Knuckles and him started walking back. JetStream suddenly looked somber. "I guess there's not much time left." Tails nudged him in a friendly manor. "To think life lasts a long time, I'd say there's tons of time left to spare." JetStream flashed a smile, which Tails smiled back. He started to jog ahead. "Now let's hurry, I don't want to keep Sonic waiting." Tails said in a way of humor. JetStream snickered. "Then don't slow me down!" he caught right back up. Before they knew it, it was only half an hour they had left before this whole adventure would go out with a spark. The sun was just about to hit the ocean's horizon, meaning it was finally time for Sonic and his friends to kick it back home and relax as they usually do in their mobian home. Luckily Tails got the tornado in time, he thought it would be disastrous of he left it behind. So he aimed it at the portal, and had it when ever they're ready for take off, which was very soon. "It'll be sad to see you three go." Corolla grimaced, Myriad was the same in expression. While JetStream's was worse, he was completely devastated. 'The time has finally come... well you know what...' JetStream's will power pulled through and his expression changed completely for the better, "I'll show it..." JetStream walked up to the plane, where Tails was in the pilot seat, "I guess this is the first time and the last I'll see this fly without me as a passenger." JetStream stated sliding his hoof across the machine. "... Yeah, I guess it is." Tails responded. Everyone looked at the portal when it suddenly sparked, and Tails jumped. "Oh! The portal! We need to go through it now!" Sonic ran to the plane. "It was sure great having you around!" JetStream told Sonic, with a confident smile he replied with. "Goodbye, JetStream..." JetStream's heart skipped a beat when he had to face the facts about never seeing them again. With all of them on board, and the Chaos Emeralds in their possession, they started for the portal. JetStream galloped up to the plane. "Best Wishes!" he exclaimed, holding a smile. All three of them gave a thumbs up. JetStream's smile went confident. The plane started to inch forward, and then at necessary speeds for take off. Then in one final moment. They went through the portal. When they did, the portal started to weaken, and close. He kept his smile, then in sudden realization he turned and galloped straight for the area in front of the back door, "The book!" he grabbed it with his teeth and for the portal as fast as he could, each step got more dramatic. When he was as close as he could get, he threw the book into the portal. It now and then it started to shrivel, with no more communication can happen soon enough. JetStream took a big sigh, "I hope it's worth it for them...." Corolla walked up to JetStream, and put her right forearm around his neck. "Don't worry, I bet it's even beyond that." JetStream looked up to Corolla, tearing up. "Oh, you have quite the passion..." she tussled his mane, "I'm so, so glad you're my little colt." it wasn't what mommy would usually do, but she saw the smile crack on him. JetStream shifted to escape his mother's grip, when something flied out of the portal's area, and hit JetStream square on the head. "... Ow..." he turned around, "What was that?" JetStream looked at the ground. It was a black ring with a gem in the middle, and JetStream gasped, "It looks like Sonic's ring. But why would he give it to me?" although it did look like it, upon further inspection, it was slightly larger, "Hmm..." JetStream grabbed it, and decided to slip it on, "It fits!" that's when JetStream noticed the gem on the ring changed color, "Whoa, it changes color..." he looked toward the portal, "This is perfect!" "Let's go back inside shall we?" Myriad asked. JetStream nodded, as did Corolla. They both headed inside, but just before he went in, he took one last look at where that portal would've still been. "Actually, can I stay out for a little longer?" he smiled. "Make sure to come right in, alright." Myriad stated matter-of-factly. "Of course." JetStream nodded. He turned back toward the backyard. He watched the sunset fall completely below the horizon. And sighed once more. He walked up to the tiny portal, just waiting for it to entirely disappear, when he sighed once again, it blew it all away. He looked toward the sky, then back at the sunset. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meanwhile, at Canterlot Castle. Celestia stared at the same sunset, as she was able to because of the mountains great elevation, 'With a three second sudden silence, comes the effect of the magic I once produced upon all that I know. Nopony shall remember these dreadful events except I.' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JetStream looked at the sunset, and suddenly spoke, "Remember..." all the great times he has ever had with Sonic and his friends, "Remember..." those sudden moments of action that everybody and everypony took care of, "Remember..." the way Sonic and Tails acted when they first met, "Reme-..." JetStream suddenly went silent. . . . The sun's flames died down, as JetStream and his once known friends were well known for the first time, and the last. Every memory forged within this adventure of his, is now seemed to be forgotten forever, as long as time seems to exist. "JetStream what are you doing out there, why don't you come inside, it can get very chilly." Myriad considered. "Oh, right!" he looked away from the suspicious ring around his hoof, which for some reason he suddenly smiled at. He walked back into the house, and closed the door behind him, with that little creek that always fell behind it. ~~~Chapter End~~~ > Equestria and the Mysterious Stones-Epilogue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Epilogue: Let new things come! Sonic and Tails got back to there world in one piece, the thing was, just as they entered through. Celestia's spell finally took its place without any notice. After they settled down to begin their lives back in their own world once again. A whole day passed, when suddenly an object flew from the portal area, and landed right in front of Knuckles, "Hmm?" he opened his eyes, and sat up more straight. Tails decided to look at it. "Let me see, I have the interest for books." Sonic looked around puzzled. "... But, where did that come from?" Everyone shrugged, Sonic sighed, "So much for asking..." and he looked back at the book, "Then what is it?" "History, for a place called Equestria..." Knuckles scoffed. "History? Leave me out of that." "You got some weird interests, Tails." Sonic stated. When Tails opened the cover and a couple pages, something slipped out. "Hmm?" Tails caught it quickly, even before it hit the ground, "What's this? A picture..." Tails paused. "Sonic, Knuckles... look at this..." "What is i-?" they both asked in unison. In this picture, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles were posing with a pony like creature behind a sunset. "Gah!" Amy pushed Tails out of the way, "Who's that?" Sonic paused. "I don't know... yet I feel like I should..." then it suddenly hit him. "Is he a friend of yours?" Amy asked. "... I don't think so... yet..." Amy groaned. "Is there anything you will remember? Can you remember anything from this?" Sonic took his longest look, and suddenly smiled. "... I guess not, it gives me a headache instead..." ~~~The End~~~