Out in the desert past the Badlands, the heroes were trekking through the endless sandy grounds hoping to find the Queen of the Hippos. As they walked through the sand, Mikey spoke up, "Guys, just think of it as a very long day on a really big beach in a very dry year."
"Oh, that's comforting." Raph said sarcastically.
"It's like this desert is endless." April panted.
"I never want to go through anything like this ever again as long as I live." Donnie said, as he used his bo-staff as a walking stick.
"You and me both." Raph agreed.
"Come on team, remember what we're doing this for." Leo reminded everyone.
"Leo's right. This is for Equestria." Twilight added.
"Yes, for Equestria!" Pinkie cheered tiredly.
Casey walked along side A.J and Shini, before looking to the side and saw a huge body of water, "Wait a minute. Guys, look it's the ocean." he pointed out into the distance.
The group looked, as Applejack spoke, "I don't see nothing."
"What're you blind?" Casey asked in disbelief, "The waves! It's the ocean!"
"It's a mirage, Casey." Fluttershy said.
"It is a mirage!" Mikey gasped, "And there's Antonio's, and right across the street is the Sizzler where you can get a 3.99 buffet." the others rolled their eyes at Mikey's joke.
"It's the ocean!" Casey shouted, as he galloped off, "Come on!" he began removing his gear, "Come on! First one in!"
"I do believe the heat has finally gotten to Casey." Fugitoid said.
"Obviously." Blade agreed.
They watched Casey splash around in the sand before lying face down in it, "Somebody better go get him." Rarity suggested.
"I'll go," Raph volunteered, as he walked down the hill and collected Casey's gear He made it to Casey who was still breathing. Raph got down to him with a canteen, "Casey, here take a sip," he poured some water into his mouth, "Casey, you got to get it together. We got two choices here. One, we could put your gear back on, we get ourselves out of this mess, go back to Equestria to save it and become heroes once again! Or two, you can lie here wearing nothing and crust away leaving your skull that's going to be found by some traveling vendor who's gonna sell it for bits. And you don't want that, do you? Make the call, come on." he helped Casey up.
"Seemed so real, dude." Casey said, as he put his jacket and gear back on.
"That's a mirage for you." Raph reminded him, as they went back up the hill to join the others.
"Everything ok?" Sunset asked hopefully.
"Everything's fine now." Raph assured.
"Good because we gotta keep going." Twilight said, as they pressed on.
Unfortunately Pinkie Pie started losing it from the heat, "There's sand in my... everything... Heh... Saving... Equestria..." she laughed dementedly, before going over to a skull lying in the sand, "Oh! Look! Maybe this guy knows which way to go! What's that, friend? We're lost?" she laughed dementedly again followed by a cough and just fainted.
Everyone sighed, as they kept on going. Fugitoid spoke, "All this sand is certainly not doing well for my parts."
"Or my hair." Rarity added.
Spike panted, while crawling, "We could be going in... circles! Endless... sand..." he took a breath, "Nothin' for miles... but sand... and this rock..." he picked up a rock and coughed, "And this cactus..." he motioned to his behind to reveal a cactus stuck to his butt, before motioning to a cobblestone road, "And this roooooooooaaaaaad...this rooooooad..." he wheezed.
"A road?" Twilight, Leo, and Karai asked, before noticing the cobblestone road leading through the desert, "Where there's a road, there's..." Twilight began as they saw a town up ahead.
"Civilization!" Donnie cheered.
"Finally." Shini sighed in relief.
"Oh, yeah!" Rainbow cheered.
Rarity perked up, "You know what they say: where there's a city, there's a spa!"
"Whoa says that?" Rainbow asked.
"Nobody, of course." Karai replied.
"'Case you forgot, we're on a mission to save Equestria." Applejack reminded the fashionable unicorn.
"I can multitask."
"Any idea what it is?" April wondered.
Blade spoke, "I've been here before. It's called Klugetown, run by shady vendors and such always looking to make easy money."
"Well, come on, let's go!" Mikey cheered, as they went down the road.
They arrived in town which looked like a old dusty place with make shift vendors and shops set up. The residents of the town looked like anthropomorphic animals of all kinds from fish, mammals, reptiles, and birds. Everyone stayed close while trying to keep casual. When they walked by a vendor who had multiple horns on display, he noticed Twilight, April, Shini, and Rarity, "Ooh! Hey, you with the horns. You selling?" he asked mischievously. The group ignored him and continued on.
"This place scares me." Mikey whimpered.
"If we were still in New York this would be a Mutant Palooza." Donnie said.
"Stay together," Leo ordered, "The last time we went someplace like this, we ticked off a lot of people." the ninjas nodded recalling their first day in space.
"You've been in a place like this before?" Shini wondered.
"Yeah on our first day in space," Donnie explained, "We went to a planet loaded with rogues, thieves, and smugglers. And we kinda got off on the wrong foot with a lot of them."
Mikey spoke, "Hey, that food there was trying to eat me first!" they shushed him.
"Keep your voice down. We don't want any unwanted attention." Blade warned him.
"That planet we were on was where we first met, Dregg." April added.
"Yeah, and the last thing we need is to make another enemy like him in a place like this." Leo finished.
Twilight deciding to play it cool spoke to an anthro-tortoise, "Excuse me, sir," she began before noticing the barrels he was loading into a cart fell over, "Oh, let me get that." she used her magic to reload the cart, until the creature spoke up grouchy.
"Hey! No magic around my merchandise!" he looked ready to fight, until Karai drew her sword and aimed it at him.
"Back off!" she warned him, and he did so out of fear of the weapon.
They continued on, while unaware they were being watched. And the one watching them was an anthropomorphic cat with a coat colored moderate gamboge with lighter and darker touches. On his head was a bit of hair colored dark grayish indigo, and his eyes were light malachite green. His choice in attire was a red coat. He watched them with a smile, "Hmmm... Very interesting..."
The heroes continued to make their way through the town, as Twilight whispered to them, "Okay. We just gotta stick together. Be careful who you talk to. And try to blend in."
"No problem." April assured, until Pinkie shouted out.
"Can I have your attention please?!"
Twilight groaned, as Raph spoke in disbelief, "Are you kidding me?!"
"Can anypony take us to the Queen of the Hippos?!" she asked one of the residents.
"You want something? You gotta give something!" the resident answered, while holding out a hand.
Pinkie jumped into his arms, "Well, how about a big warm hug from a grateful pony friend?" she started going around asking more residents, while offering them stuff, "How about this comb that I've never used? A picture of my sister Maud? This breath mint? Seriously, buddy. Help me help you." he belched his disgusting breath in her face.
"I got a slice of jalapeno, marshmallow pizza." Mikey offered to the residents.
"Mikey!" the ninjas scolded him.
"Just trying to help."
Twilight and the others went to Pinkie, as then Princess spoke, "Pinkie, you can't just take off!" she spoke through her clenched teeth, "And you don't need to announce to every..."
"Relax, Twilight! I totally got this!" she assured her.
Suddenly many residents were surrounding them, as one motioned to Spike, "How much for the giant gecko?!"
Spike frowned, "Who're you calling a gecko?!"
Twilight shielded him, "Uh, Spike isn't for sale."
"What about that metal pony?" another asked while motioning to Fugitoid.
"Oh, dear. Help me!" Fugitoid backed up, until Sunset spoke up.
"Neither is he!" she smiled at him who felt calmer.
"I want that fancy purple hair!" One motioned to Rarity, "I'll give ya two storm bucks for it!"
"Two storm bucks?!" Rarity asked feeling insulted, "It's worth more than that!"
The creatures started turning into a mob demanding them, "Gimme that pink one! I'll take the blue one! No! I want the blue one! I need that lizard! I'll take that picture of your sister! I want that slice! I want all seven for my collection!"
The ninjas had enough of this and drew their weapons before shielding their friends, "Back off!" Raph shouted.
"You want our friends, you'll have to go through us to do it." Leo warned them.
The mob was silent, until one spoke up, "How much for the fancy weapons?" The group was confused, as they were suddenly getting mobbed with consumers.
"Anypony got a plan here?" Applejack asked.
Suddenly dropping in was the same cat man who was spying on them, "Back up, everyone! Back it up! Y'all in some serious danger! Now you didn't touch any of them, did you? Just look at all those colors! You think that's natural? Especially that green," he motioned to the brothers who felt a bit insulted, "They're infected with "pastelis coloritis"."
The creatures gasped, until Applejack spoke up, "Now, you listen here, fella, there ain't..."
The cat silenced her and continued, "Don't worry, don't worry, as long as you're not covered in purple splotches, you'll be fine," he sneakily got one of the consumers covered in some purple stuff from a squashed food, "Uh-oh." he gasped.
The consumer began panicking, "What do I do?!"
"Enjoy your last moments and don't touch anyone. Because parts will fall off." He warned him.
"My parts!" he cried as he ran off and everyone panicked and scattered.
"Well, that's one way to clear a mob." Casey said.
"You are awesome!" Rainbow cheered to the cat.
"Nice trick." Mikey agreed.
"You are quite charming." Rarity giggled.
Spike scoffed at this, until Shini whispered to him, "Don't worry, I don't think he's her actual type." Spike felt much better.
"Thanks, Mr..." Leo began.
"Capper's the name. Charming's my game." he answered smoothly.
"But why'd you help us? What's the catch?" Raph asked suspiciously.
"No catches here, handsome," Capper began, "Just looking out for the little people who're not from around here."
"Well, your act of helpfulness is much appreciated." Fugitoid admitted.
"Thank you," Capper continued, "So... to the Hippos, then?" he began leading.
"Yes. Please." Mikey agreed, as he and Pinkie followed.
Leo and Twilight stopped them, "Hold up, you two." Leo began.
Twilight continued, "I'm not so sure we can trust him."
"Hey, he helped us, bro." Mikey reminded him.
"And we could definitely use a friend out here!" Pinkie added.
Caper slid over, "You know what? Little Cotton Candy Hair is right. And, if I do say so myself..." he began singing while leading them through town.
Capper: This town is not a nice place
For little fillies all alone
There are lots of twists and corners
That could lead to the unknown
Let me guide your way
And I'll be sure to help you through
You could really use a friend out here
And luckily for you...
I'm the friend that you need
When you're lost and don't know what to do
I'm your pal, your amigo
Useful and resourceful, too
And my help, you'll concede
Is a plus guaranteed
You can call and I'll come running
Just follow my lead
'Cause I'm the friend you need!
Klugetown Resident 1: He's a friend!
Klugetown Resident 2: Quite a friend!
Both: He's a friend indeed!
The group continued following Capper who was helping them along, with Twilight, Leo, and even Blade suspicious of Capper. The others, however, just followed along. He kept Spike away from a man eating plant to prove his trust.
Capper: You need a bud to spot the danger
A pal to stop the creep
A chum and not a stranger to assist
He got between Casey and Raph trying to be all chummy with them.
Capper: You need a bro who is cunning
That can help you take the leap
A friend who knows what's lying in the mist
He went to Fluttershy and used an umbrella to save her from some bats trying to swarm around her.
Capper: Don't fear these darkened alleys
They're scary, yes, I know
Why, you could use a friend
To protect you wherever you go
Capper danced around, Rarity, April, Karai, and Shini, and flirted with them, much to Spike's, Donnie's, and Mikey's ire.
Capper: And such a dazzling beauty
Covered in dirt and muck
But now your fate is changing
Now you are in luck
He rolled out a red carpet for them, and the ponies started dancing behind Capper who led them on.
Capper: 'Cause I'm the friend that you need
When you're lost and don't know what to do
I'm your pal, your amigo
Lookin' out for friends like you
And my help, you'll concede
Is a plus guaranteed
Just call and I'll come running
We'll say it's agreed...
He led them through a gate, before closing the door and whispered to someone, "Here. Tell Verko, "My place, twenty minutes." I've got something that will "magically" erase all my debt." he rejoined the heroes and continued his song.
Capper: 'Cause I'm the friend you need!
Ponies: He's a friend!
Fugitoid: Quite a friend!
Ponies: He's a friend indeed!
Capper led them all up an old windmill and into a small room loaded with stuff, "Welcome, my little ponies, to my little manor."
"This is a manor?" Raph asked, as he looked around.
"I did say it was little." Capper reminded him.
Rarity inspected it and gave her own thoughts, "Ooh! A sort of a roco-hobo-Bohemian hodgepodge."
"You took the words out of my mouth." Blade replied.
"Apologies for the state of my litter box. I wasn't expecting guests."
"I didn't need to hear that." Karai replied, feeling disturbed.
Pinkie bounced around, while looking at everything, "Ooh! So many fun breakables!"
"Let's try not to break anything." April suggested.
"Indeed, I do not wish to be rude to our host." Fugitoid agreed.
Twilight and Sunset were looking through a bookshelf of books, hoping to find something, as Capper talked to the others, " Y'all sure y'all want the Hippos?"
"That's what we're going for." Leo answered.
"Yessirree! The Queen of the Hippos!" Pinkie beamed.
"Not like the Queen of the Lions, or Tigers, or Bears?" Capper offered.
"Oh, my!" Fluttershy gasped, as the ninjas looked at each other and Donnie spoke.
"We're doing this again?" he recalled their talk of the Hippos before they set out.
Sunset and Twilight pulled out a book that had an older map of the land, which got them curious. As they began checking it, Capper began mingling with the others, "Stop playin' me! A sonic rainboom? That's not a real thing! Is that a real thing?"
"I'll show ya!" Rainbow offered.
"Naw-naw-naw, I don't need you sonic "rainbooming" up in my place, thank you very much," he turned to the heroes from New York, "And what's this about ya'll being ninjas?"
"Exactly what we are, bro." Mikey assured him.
"So those weapons ain't for showin' off?"
"Well, only against the bad guys." Raph admitted.
"Nice," Capper replied, as he saw Rarity sewing up his coat sleeve, "Whoa, hey, hold up now. Whoa."
"Here you go. I do apologize. If we were back home, I could've done something truly fabulous." she said before adding two new buttons to the coat.
Capper was curious, before becoming suspicious, "Okay... What's the catch?"
Rarity answered, "Nothing. After all that you've done for us, consider it a "thank you"."
Capper was taken aback by Rarity's generosity, "Oh. Uh, don't thank me. Really."
"Guys!" Twilight called, as she and Sunset levitated a map onto the table.
"What's up?" April wondered.
"We've been looking for the wrong Queen." Sunset began.
"We have?" Mikey asked.
"So what Queen should we be looking for?" Casey inquired.
"We don't need the Queen of the Hippos! We need the Queen of the Hippogriffs!" Sunset explained.
"The what now?" Mikey asked.
Blade answered, "A Hippogriff is a creature part pony and part eagle."
Capper started putting on a new act, "Oh! Oh, the Hippogriffs! Now, the trouble with that is... no one knows... where they are..."
"Says here they're on the top of Mount Aris!" Twilight said suspiciously.
"You mean the mountain right outside the window?" Pinkie motioned out the window, where they saw the mountain in the distance.
"Objects in windows may be less mountainous than they appear." Capper said nervously.
Twilight packed the map, and spoke, "Come on, let's go."
"Right behind you." Leo answered, as they followed her.
Capper frantically blocked their path to the door, "Wait! You can't—you can't make it by y'allselves. You need an airship! And lucky for you, I can get you a ride." he tempted them.
They brushed him off, as Leo spoke, "We're more than capable of getting there on our own."
They opened the door to come face to face with a naked mole rat person, "Here's Verko!" he laughed.
"AH! Giant naked mole rat!" Mikey panicked.
Verko spoke to Capper, "These ponies better shoot rainbow lasers out their eyes if they're gonna settle your debt! Brought the big cage," he motioned to a cage outside, "Let's load 'em up!"
"Wait. Settle your debt?" Blade asked Capper with a frown.
"You were... You were going to sell us?" Rarity asked angrily.
"I knew we couldn't trust you!" Raph shouted.
"You can forget about us going anywhere with you rat man." Karai warned Verko.
"We gotta get outta here!" Twilight said, as they were about to leave only to hear a familiar evil laugh.
Walking into the doorway was Tempest, "Silly little ponies." she chuckled.
"Tempest!" Blade gasped.
"Oh, sewer apples!" Raph cursed.
Tempest walked in with Grubber, as the broken horned unicorn spoke, "Trusting strangers? Big mistake. Big..."
"Huge!" Grubber declared.
Suddenly Verko got into Tempest's face and inspected her, "Hoo-hoo! My goodness! Well, look at you! With your scary broken horn and scowly eyes. What tricks do you know, my little pony-wony?" Tempest responded by shocking him, "Not bad!" he groaned before fainting.
Tempest and Grubber saw the heroes were escaping out the window, "Go! Move!" Leo ordered, and they held onto a windmill wing.
"Get her now!" Tempest ordered, as her two guards went after them.
"You gonna be scared now, ponies!" Grubber promised.
As they rode the windmill wing up to the top, one of the guards grabbed a wing closer and held it in place, "Come on!" Casey called, as he, Twilight, and Rainbow tried pushing the wing forward to keep it going. Unfortunately this was causing the gears to break and snap.
The entire windmill broke free and wheeled through town, as the heroes clung to the one wing while wheeling with the windmill, "Oh, I'm gonna hurl!" Raph cried.
"This is not fun!" Sunset cried.
They were flung onto a ledge and began running from the windmill that was wheeling for them, "We got to get to higher ground!" Blade ordered, as they headed up a roof before jumping through a window. They stopped at the end of another and saw an airship parked by the docks.
"Look! It's an airship!" April noted.
"Just what we need." Applejack added.
"To the docks!" Twilight ordered, as they headed for the docks.
When they reached it, they saw it was taking off, "It's leaving!" Fluttershy cried.
Rainbow quickly grabbed the rope connected to it and stretched it out, allowing everyone to use it as a tight rope, "That's it don't look down." Applejack told them, as they made their way across.
Pinkie ended up bouncing onto the rope shaking it up. Rainbow tried to straighten it, but Pinkie started plummeting, "Pinkie!" they cried.
Twilight flew down and snatched her before she could hit the ground. She flew her to the airship where the others were. They landed and panted in relief, "Close one." Fugitoid said.
"Too close." Spike added.
"Best... escape... plan... ever!" Pinkie cheered.
"WHAT?!" Twilight asked in outrage.
Applejack lassoed the two over to her and the others who were hiding among crates, "Quiet." Blade whispered, as two figures were walking close to their spot.
"Did you hear something?" one asked, and received a squawking answer from another, "Eh, probably just the rats. If we find 'em, we'll eat 'em." The heroes cringed in worry.
"Rats?" Rarity asked in fright.
"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea." Mikey suggested.
Back at the docks, the two Storm Guards dropped Capper at Tempest's hooves, "Now... where are they going?" she started charging up her horn."
Capper played it cool, "Okay. No need for violence. Uh, they're headed..." he looked down at the buttons Rarity added to his jacket and the guilt came back to him. He made a big mistake, and wasn't going to make another one, "They headed east! Yeah, to... to Black Skull Island. So, uh, glad I could be of service to His Majesty, the Storm King. I'll just be on my way." the guards blocked his path and he yowled.
"When I get my Princess. Until then, your fate is still... up in the air." Tempest waned him.
Grubber laughed and mocked him, "Oh, you're gonna go in the ship! Which is a boat!Specifically, a air-boat!" he followed Tempest, as the guards escorted Capper on board their ship, "We make a great team. I love it how you said his fate with "up in the air", and then I said, "you're gonna be in the air on an air-boat!" Tempest sighed in irritation.
'At least Blade wasn't annoying.' she thought.