//------------------------------// // Chapter 19: Back on the Path // Story: Light and Darkness // by FandomPlays1234 //------------------------------// Starlight and her party had climbed halfway down the mountain that lead to the castle. From there, they began taking the path leading onto a large grassy plain. As they continued walking, Mario briefly explained more in detail about spirits to Spike. "So you're saying this Galeem guy turned everything into these spirit things?" asked Spike. "Precisely," said Mario. "Gee it's hard to believe," said Spike rubbing his head. "It's hard to believe but it's the truth," said Mario. "Guys stop," said Starlight. "What is it?" asked Sunset. Starlight pointed one of her hoofs at something in front of her. The group looked in the direction she was pointing and saw four green lizards with big noses and orange shoes standing in front of them. "It's Yoshi," said Mario. "And four of them to be exact," said Lucario. "Let me handle this, I won't be long," said Mario stepping forward. "Hey no fair you get to have all the fun, I'm going too," said Bowser. "I'll help you too Mario," said Peach. "Me too," said Piranha Plant. "Guess the rest of will wait here then," said Starlight plopping down on the grass. The rest of the party followed her example and sat down next to her. They sat and watched as Mario, Peach, Bowser, and Piranha Plant battled the four Yoshi puppets. It wasn't long before all four dropped on the ground as light burst out of their bodies. "Ha too easy!" laughed Bowser. "Easy for you to say," gasped Piranha Plant. "You look like you've seen better days," said Villager. "Ya think?" asked Piranha Plant. "Anyway, here's the spirit," said Mario handing Starlight the spirit. She opened the album as a spirit of a yarn textured Yoshi flew in. "Heehee, that's the most fun I've had in years," giggled Peach. "Well that's that, so how about we move on?" asked Ember. "Good idea, let's go," said Starlight. She got up and began walking as the rest of the party followed her. They weren't very far from the intersection where they were met with another puppet fighter. The fighter wore dark red overalls with a pink shirt and hat with the letter L. The fighter had a round nose and a mustache like Mario but was a bit taller than him. "Luigi," said Mario. "Who?" asked Sunset. "Mario's brother," answered Link. "That's your brother!?" asked Spike. "Not exactly," said Mario. "He wears green, not pink," "So another puppet," said Twilight. "You know, I kinda wanna try battling," said Sunset. "Be my guest," said Mario. "Really!?" Sunset asked excitedly. Everyone nodded their heads. Filled with excitement, Sunset stepped forward to challenge the puppet Luigi. As Luigi ran at her, Sunset quickly sidestepped to avoid his dash attack before knocking him to the ground with a single leg sweep. She then grabbed him by the legs and swung him around before launching him across the field. Luigi got to his feet an crouched down, charging up for another attack. "What's he doing?" asked Ember. "Oh this," snickered Villager. Ember, Spike and the ponies looked at Villager with a confused look. "Just watch," he said. They all turned to the battle just in time to see Luigi launch himself across the field headfirst. Sunset yelped as she formed a magic barrier reflecting Luigi and sending him flying back in the other direction. "Did he just launch himself!?" asked Twilight. "Indeed," answered Eleven. As Luigi landed headfirst into the ground, Sunset noticed that she had an opening and ran in. She plucked him out of the ground and began smacking him before throwing him into the ground causing him to bounce up. She then charged up her magic and thrusted upwards causing a magic explosion that sent him flying upwards. Everyone looked up to see where Sunset had launched him only to see him crashing face first into an invisible wall only to slide off and onto the ground as a pillar of light erupted from his body. "What in Equestria was that?" asked Starlight. "I think that's what you would call a screen KO," said Villager. "A what?" asked Starlight. "Never mind," sighed Villager. Starlight looked at Mario who just looked away and began whistling. "Well that wasn't too bad," said Sunset as she walked over to them with a spirit. The spirit appeared to be a strange creature with a red robe and cape. It had short stubby legs and a red hood that covered most of it's head. "Oh it's Dreambert," said Mario. "Who?" asked Starlight opening the album. "He was a friend of mine," answered Mario. "A friend huh?" asked Starlight. "Well you can thank Sunset for freeing him then," Just as she said that, Sunset fell face first into the ground. "Wha Sunset are you ok!?" gasped Starlight. She didn't respond. Starlight quickly put her hoofs and rolled her over to the side only to find that Sunset had fallen asleep. "Wha?" asked Starlight. "Welp that's just great," said Piranha Plant. "Poyo?" asked Kirby. "Well as long as she's ok," said Starlight. "Anyway let's keep going," "Bowser can you get Sunset?" asked Mario. "Ugh fine," groaned Bowser walking over to the sleeping unicorn.He picked her up and followed after the others. "So which way?" asked Eleven. As Starlight was deciding which path to take, she noticed that one of the paths led to another building. "Is that a shop?" asked Starlight. "Maybe," said Link. "Let's head down there and see if we can find anything," suggested Starlight. She began leading her party down to the building where they eventually came across a bridge. "Alright guys, let's do this in a nice and orderly fashion," said Starlight. "We cross the bridge one at a time so that we don't damage the bridge. Everyone nodded in agreement. But just as she turned around to cross, she found Master Hand blocking the path. "Hello again!" boomed Master Hand. "You again!" hissed Starlight. "Ah so nice of you to remember me," he laughed. "What do you want Master?" growled Link. "Oh nothing much," said Master. "Except this," He raised his palm and slammed it down on the bridge and destroyed the bridge before getting back up. "Later," he said as he teleported away. "Oh my, I swear to god I'm going to beat the crap out of him," said Bowser. "Calm down Bowser," said Lucario. "What do we do now?" asked Peach. "I don't know," said Starlight. "Wait let me handle this," said Villager. "You?" asked Spike. "Yeah I know something that may help us," said Villager. "Knock yourself out buddy," said Ember. Villager walked over to the grass and planted a seed in the ground before watering it. "Are you serious, do you know how long it takes to grow a tree?" asked Ember. But just as she said that, a tree immediately sprouted from the ground. "What?" asked Ember. "I've never seen a tree grow so fast," said Spike. "So fascinating," gasped Twilight. Villager quickly chopped down the tree with his axe and created a bridge using the tree. "Hey Bowser can you give me a hand with this?" asked Villager. Bowser rolled his eyes as he put down Sunset and walked over to Villager. He picked up the bridge and carried it over to the gap and placed it over the broken bridge. To their surprise, the bridge was long enough to reach the other end and big enough to fit at least two or three people. "Alright guys you know the drill," said Starlight. She waited as her party members crossed the bridge before crossing herself. "Starlight I don't think this is a shop," said Twilight. "What?" asked Starlight. She walked over and looked up at the sign. The word Dojo was written in big black letters right above the entrance. "A Dojo eh?" asked Eleven. "But it looks like it's closed," said Ember. That's when a loud cackling echoed throughout the area. "What was that?" asked Peach. "Oh no, I know that laugh," sighed Twilight. Just as she said that something appeared from behind the building. The creature was a pony with a black coat and a dark turquoise colored mane and tail. She had a large horn and transparent wings like an insect. Her wings, tail, horn, and lower half of her hoofs were riddled with holes and her menacing red eyes glared at Starlight and her party. Spike yelped as he hid behind Twilight. "Well, well Starlight, we meet again," it hissed. "Starlight who is this?" asked Lucario. "She's the leader of a group of shape shifting monsters called changelings," growled Starlight. "Indeed," she cackled. "As for my name, I am Queen Chrysalis,"