Upon their arrival at the island, the four ponies discovered that they were very different from before they left. In fact, they were feeling unusually defined. In their world, most of their fellows were pastel coloured and a little... cartoonish, for lack of a better word.
Here, on Kitten Island, they stood out in vibrant detail. Here, Fluttershy's coat was clearly a lemony yellow, while Octavia was now a deeper shade of gray.(1) Aloe and Lotus were a striking watermelon pink and celeste blue.(2) Their colours were so sharp that it almost hurt to look at earh other for a moment.
Maisy too was more vibrant of colour. The cat herself meowed a few times. For the benefit of the three non-animal-empathic types, the speaker dropped down. "Come on! The first trap is nearby!"
Nearby was the first puzzle, which was stacked high with large coins, yellow or blue gems, pieces of wood, and containers of food, all of which were stacked in sqares of energy. Inside the trap was a miserable-looking gray kitten with two purple ribbons on her tail.(3)
Almost instinctively, Fluttershy lit her horn and switched around two of the squares, the contents of which disappeared.
"Those are supplies stolen from our sanctuaries." Maisy Spoke. "When you match three or more of them, the energy field is disrupted and that returns to the nearest sanctuary. The coins and gems can be used to buy more decorations and other fun things for us there."
Briefly, a word appead in the air before it disappeared again: "Convenient!"
The assembled indivduals blinked twice before going back to the puzzle.
At length, the puzzle was solved. Maist's platform put shades over her eyes. "You may want to cover your eyes." she Said.
Following the floating kitten's advice, the four ponies covered their eyes just as the puzzle burst apart with a blast of energy, allowing the gray kitten to be freed.
"Purrrr! Meow meow mew. Meow!" <'Phew! I'm finally free. Thanks!'> the kitten said.
Fluttershy smiled. The other three ponies tilted their heads in confusion.
Maisy rolled her eyes and an arm from her platform tossed a collar with a bell toward the gray kitten, who slipped it on.
"Oh! That's better!" the collar translated, "I'm Samantha. Nice to meet you! Can we go home, now? This is way too much excitement for me."
Maisy's platform opened a portal that led to the nnearest sanctuary.
Octavia raised a hoof. "Two questions."
"Yes?" Maisy Answered.
"Un: how many uses does that thing HAVE?!"
Maisy Spoke, "20, that I know of. Possibly more."
"Deux:" Octavia continued, "Why didn't you just slip one of those translating collars on yourself instead of relying on that speaker??"
Maisy blinked twice, then facepawed. The platform, at her will, slid one on. "It hadn't occurred to me before." Maisy said, her whole coat turning pink with embarassment.
Three more puzzles followed, the ponies matching the blocks in unison. Being able to fly, Fluttershy both used her magic and her hooves to switch the upper ones around, while the three earth ponies jumped and swiped to match the different blocks, freeing one tiger striped kitten with a hat(4), one pure white cat(5) and one lead coloured cat wearing two pink bows on her ears.(6)
After the fourth kitten was released, it was starting to get dark. Maisy suggested, "Perhaps we should just search for more supplies before calling it a day."
The ponies agreed and the five were setting off to a nearby area. There they found ruins from an ancient civilization.
Maisy said, "In ancient times, these lands were ruled by king Tutenkhatten. These must be ruins of that civilization. Though as 'ruins' go, they're in surprisingly good condition."
Lotus approached the not-so-ruined ruins and examined them closely. When Aloe joined her in that task, the bond between them enhanced their efforts(8).
At length, Lotus said, "Eureka!! The runes on zees "ruuins" 'ave a speycial enchantment on 'dem!"
Aloe nodded. "Yaes! Eyv'ry hondred years or zo, they are reshtored! Fashinayteen!"
Supplies were hidden throughout the area, but with the four ponies working together, they soon found all of it and then headed for the Forest Sanctuary.
Upon getting there, they found the freed kittens playing around happily, ecstatic to be free. Going to the dispenser at the back of the sanctuary, the ponies bought a seemingly neverending container of kitty treats and a set of brushes, as well as a set of banners, which automatically set themselves up. But having had to deal with a certain pink mare frequently, they learned that sometimes you just have to overloook these things.
The four sat down with one of the kittens and began tending to them.
Octavia herself chose Lionel and began brushing him. "Roll over please, dear."
Lionel said, "Octavia, was it? I think that this is the start of a beauuuutful relationship...."