The wails of the two alarms woke the entire kingdom of Applewood, from the most humble pony to the wealthy regent himself. The Canterlot family and guests spilled out of their rooms and congregated in the throne room.
Discord yawned, “Can someone please tell me what all the ruckus is?”
Pinkie nodded, “Yeah. Did someone forget to press the snooze button on a giant alarm clock?”
Canter Zoom clarified, “It’s not an alarm clock, Pinkie. It’s the alarm system.”
Twilight’s eyes widened, “That means a city’s in trouble!”
“Two, from what I hear.”
Timber commented, “Whoa, that is bad! I wonder which two they are.”
“We’ll find out when the sentry arrives with the report.”
Just as soon as the regent uttered those words, the guard arrived in the throne room.
He panted as he bowed, “Your Highnesses…I’m afraid it’s Canterlot and Marendelle that are under threat.”
The royals gasped at the revelation and the sisters began to fret about their family members.
Twilight ordered, “Discord, contact everyone in Canterlot, Marendelle, the Crystal Empire, the Everfree Kingdom, Maretonia, and Ponyville!”
Discord pouted, “My, aren’t we the bossy one tonight?”
Fluttershy then pleaded with puppy-dog eyes, “Please?”
He blushed, “Well, when you put it that way…” When everyone else glared at him, he defended, “What? My sleep got cut short.”
He snapped his fingers and conjured up a floating wall mirror that had a phone icon and the word “Calling…” in six different sections. Within a minute, almost everyone they were trying to contact answered. Everyone, except Luna and Celestia. Two guards had answered the call in their stead.
Mischief – who was accompanied by Flurry, Blaze, and Nova in the Castle of Friendship – asked, “So I assume this is a conference call?”
Skyla nodded, “Yeah, pretty much.”
Twilight asked the guards in a firm voice that also carried traces of dread, “Glimmering Shield, Golden Flight, where are Celestia and Luna?”
Glimmering Shield answered, “They’ve been captured, Your Grace.”
The royals gasped once more, this time with more horror in their eyes.
Golden Flight explained, “It was the Pony of Shadows. He and his minions had them bound in black goo. We tried to rescue them, but he overwhelmed us. We are truly sorry, Your Highnesses.”
Screwball spoke up on the Marendelle line, “The same thing happened to us! Pirates attacked us and kidnapped the kids and Zealot!”
Scootaloo said, “Poor Snow Pea is so worried sick, the entire island is being blanketed in snow.”
Apple Jewel fretted on the Everfree line, “What are we going to do?”
Just then, something glowed behind the four Guardians on their line. The other five images shrunk while the one from the Castle of Friendship enlarged to widen the scope of view. The table the Guardians were now facing was glowing intensely with many floating images.
Shining Armor asked on the Crystal Empire line, “Well, what do you see?”
Blaze turned his head towards the mirror and apologized, “Oh, sorry.”
He used his magic to position the mirror just above the wide holographic map. There was one group of images hovering over the Everfree Forest and another floating just over…
Twilight breathed, “The Gates of Tartarus.”
Nova’s voice spoke from offscreen, “That’s right. Luna once told us about how Star Swirl had banished the Pony of Shadows to Tartarus with the Elements of Harmony before they broke.”
Cannon Fire asked on the Maretonia line, “But how did he escape, then?”
Glimmering Shield added, “Oh, right. We forgot to mention one important detail: he was only an image when we saw him.”
Everyone nodded and said, “Ah.”
Sunset surmised, “So he must still be in Tartarus with Mom and Aunt Luna. The question is, why?”
Flash Sentry suggested, “Maybe he wants to exchange them for his freedom.”
Twilight said, “Well, whatever his plan is, we should always be on our guard. He’s very cunning and he’ll pull the rug from under our hooves as soon as he gets the chance.”
When Juniper noticed her cutie mark floating with Skyla’s cutie mark and Blackthorn’s image over the Everfree Forest, she cried, “Look! That’s my cutie mark!”
Canter Zoom adjusted his glasses to get a better look. His eyes then widened as he exclaimed, “My gosh, that is!”
Skyla asked, “So that means she’s coming with us to free Thicket?”
Blackthorn began to protest calmly, “With all due respect, princess, when we made our plans, we did not expect you to join us. Nor is it a good idea.”
“Blackthorn, the Cutie Map doesn’t lie.”
Discord agreed, “She’s right, you know. I learned that from being summoned to Las Pegasus to free Capri.” He then continued with his teeth almost gritted in an annoyed expression, “So even though the map is sending me to Tartarus when my grandson is in danger again…” – his voice became a bit calmer – “…it’s where I need to be.”
Canter Zoom contemplated, “You know, if Juniper needs to be in the Everfree Forest, maybe she can learn a thing or two there.” He then spoke to his niece, “Juniper, how about a deal?”
Neighsay groaned, “No, Sire. Not another deal.”
He told his advisor, “It’ll be a good one, I promise.” He turned to Juniper and said, “If you come back to Applewood a responsible mare, you can have that cross-country trip you’ve always wanted to take.”
Her eyes became starry with excitement, “I can?!”
“Uh-huh, but first, you have to prove that you are capable of building an alliance with the deer.”
“But isn’t this mission just about getting them out of the painting?”
Blackthorn said, “There is more to it than that, Your Grace. The deer are very solitary and very protective of their home and heritage. If there is to ever be trust between the deer and ponykind, one must make a good impression and use diplomacy delicately. That means keeping a cool head, choosing the right words, and empathizing with them.”
Neighsay spoke up, “And I shall accompany the princess to teach her such matters.”
Juniper facehoofed and groaned, “Nooo!”
Capri whispered to her in-laws, “Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling about this?”
After much discussion, the Canterlot sisters and their husbands went back to Canterlot to keep the kingdom going. In the meantime, Twilight, Sunset, Discord, Cadance, her daughter Flurry Heart, Mischief, Blaze, and Nova set off on their mission to Tartarus. As for the group on Marendelle, they were going to stay on the island in the hopes of finding Zealot, the children, and maybe those rotten slavers who took them in the first place. The Everfree group – Skyla, Blackthorn, his deer guards, Juniper, Neighsay, and Virtue Mystique – were magically teleported by Capri to the Everfree Castle to meet up with the other cousins.
Inside the castle, Starling whispered, “You’re going to have to be quiet. The kids are napping from the alarm scare last night.”
Skyla nodded, “I think it was a hard night for us all.”
Whirl Wind agreed, “No kidding, what with Grandma and Aunt Luna being taken to Tartarus and Zealot and the kids being kidnapped by pirates.”
Gemstone pointed out, “I know all of Equestria is conducting search parties for them, but if the Pony of Shadows attacks or the pirates decide to invade a town or a kingdom, we’ll need all the help we can get.”
Virtue nodded, “Exactly. That’s why I need to search for clues that will lead me to Mom and Dad’s whereabouts. They have connections that will give us a needed advantage.” She was careful not to mention the Rainbow-Eyes around Neighsay lest he spill those secrets to the rest of the world.
Pen Pusher added, “And freeing the deer will be very helpful.”
Rootstock spoke up, “As well as getting in their good graces. Our kind is very wary towards outsiders. And since it was a pony who had trapped them in the painting, they won’t take kindly to any pony once they’re free.”
Blackthorn said in acknowledgment, “Then that’s a risk we’ll have to take.”
After they sent Virtue, Juniper, and Neighsay to the Castle of Friendship in Ponyville, Blackthorn, his comrades, Skyla, and Capri ventured into the Everfree Forest to find the spot where Thicket had resided before.
Blackthorn ordered, “Here. Stop.”
As expected, new growth had sprouted from the ground and overrun its surrounding environment. It was a giant patch of grass, flowers, and vines where Thicket had once stood.
“You know what to do,” the captain of the guard told his comrades.
All of them nodded and opened the barrels on their collars. They trickled a magic potion over the plants and the wild growth gradually receded back into the ground.
When the patch was restored to the state it had been when Thicket first vanished, Blackthorn said to Skyla, “You’d best stay out of sight until we calm the king’s temper enough for you to introduce yourself.”
His fiancée nodded in understanding and stood behind the other deer guards.
He then turned to Capri and said, “Capri? It’s time.”
“Right.” She was about to snap her fingers when –
“Whoa! Slow!” a voice rang out from behind the trees.
Everyone turned to see a massively sturdy zebra stallion with blood red eyes and stripes colored like fire emerge from the brush. This was certainly new. A zebra that was not black-and-white? Okay, there was white on him, but it looked more tinted towards yellow.
Blackthorn lit his antlers and asked in stern caution, “Who are you?”
The stranger replied, “Hold your fire, botanical spell caster. You may not know me, but the family of the Everfree Kingdom knows my master.”
Skyla asked in confusion, “Your master?”
Another voice spoke up, “Indeed, it is me.”
Skyla’s mouth dropped open as she saw an elderly zebra emerge behind the stallion. Even though she had long gray hair and a simple white gown, the princess recognized the zebra anywhere.
She breathed, “Zecora? I-I can’t believe it’s been so long.”
Zecora merely chuckled, “You were busy with your life as I was with mine. Don’t worry about my health. I’m doing quite fine.”
Capri asked, “So who’s the new guy here? Is he with you?”
The stallion answered, “Forgive me if by my appearance you were fazed. I am a pyromancer by the name of Braze.”
Arbutus, one of the deer guards, asked, “A pyromancer? You conjure and control fire?”
He nodded, “Yes, it is my special gift. But a long time ago, I was a misfit. Since I was as hotheaded as my flame, I used my talent recklessly and without shame. When into my life Zecora came, both my abilities and my temper she did tame.”
Zecora smiled, “His vast improvement filled me with much pride and bliss, but when I saw his potential, I decided to make him my apprentice.”
Skyla said, “Oh, that’s wonderful!”
Braze gestured towards the group, “What about you all? Do you have a tale?”
Blackthorn nodded, “Yes, but we’d like to make it quick.”
“Then tell us only the important details.”
After a while, Blackthorn and Skyla finished explaining the story of the portrait.
Braze turned to his teacher and said, “It’s just as I suspected. The painting is enchanted.”
Zecora instructed him, “Get the necessary instruments for freeing the deer of their entrapment.” As soon as Braze left, she explained to the group, “Capri can’t snap her fingers nonchalantly, for the deer must be released delicately. The spell may be over 60 years old, but it must be powerful for it to still hold. It suspends all time and alters physics for the subjects the painting contains. Without a smooth transition, I fear freeing them so quickly will cause untold strain.”
Capri asked, “Such as?”
“There could be irreversible warping of the mind, and perhaps damage to the body will be just as unkind.”
“So it’s basically conjecture.”
“Conjecture, yes, but testing it would be unwise. So, letting my student do this task, I strictly advise.”
Blackthorn turned to Skyla and she nodded. He then said to Zecora, “If my princess trusts you, wise zebra, then so shall we.”
It didn’t take long for Braze to return with a piece of parchment, a wooden easel, and a drum from the Zebra Lands.
He told the group, “These are all the items we need, but please step a few feet away so I can do the deed.”
The others did as he instructed and they stood at the edge of the treeline. Braze then placed the portrait upon the easel and sat down on the ground behind it. He looked at the parchment one more time before picking up his drum. He beat at it with his hoof while chanting a spell in his native tongue. Just after he performed the spell, green and gold sparkles hovered over the portrait. A golden light then began to radiate from the painting, gradually growing until it became blinding.
Everyone covered their eyes for a few seconds until the light started to die down. To their utter astonishment, they saw the beautiful city of Thicket and its released denizens right before their eyes! The deer guards were understandably overcome with emotion and the deer that had been freed were understandably confused. To the citizens, it all seemed to happen within the span of a few seconds, with a blinding light between the separate views. They shot their heads in all directions as if trying to grasp what had just happened.
King Aspen, a tall white deer who was wearing a golden necklace with a heart-shaped ruby, began to ask, “What just –“ His eyes then fell upon Braze, Capri, and the deer guard. He was concerned about the presence of other creatures, but he calmly asked his captain of the guard, “Blackthorn? What has happened here? Who are they?”
Blackthorn asked cautiously, “Do you remember the last thing you saw before the bright light?”
His eyes darted as he tried to remember what happened, “Yes. There was a…stallion. A unicorn stallion. He dared to approach the city gates and paint something on his easel. We grew alarmed and concerned, so I with my son and court ventured outside to see what the trespasser was up to. But then…” He then realized something and looked at the now-empty portrait. He angrily activated his magic and struck the item, tearing it asunder. As he began to calm down, he asked Blackthorn in a voice still traced with anger, “How long were we trapped?”
He answered, “Over 60 years, my king.”
Aspen let out a gritted grunt before he said, “That devil-hearted son of a –“
“Majesty!” Blackthorn scolded him. “Your son is present!”
When he turned his gaze towards his son, the king’s face softened. “Forgive me for my crude language, my son. To learn that we have been gone for so many years…” He lowered his head in revulsion, “It infuriates and sickens me.” He lifted his head again and asked the group in front of him, “Who was it that freed us?”
Braze stepped forward and put his hoof on his chest, “’Twas I, Your Grace, who returned you all to your rightful place.”
Aspen nodded, “We thank you, noble zebra.” He then turned his head to see Capri. Though his nose slightly turned up in disgust, he asked as impassively as he could manage, “And who might you be?”
Capri bowed as she answered, “Capri, Your Highness. From the Ancient Lands.”
Aspen had a distrustful look in his eyes. “Ah, yes. A draconequus. We know of your kind from the stories creatures tell about them. Tricksters, deceivers. Willing to play some kind of game on an innocent bystander.”
Though she was offended, Capri tried to assure him with a fake smile, “Your Majesty, you need not worry. I am only here to help.”
“Oh, really?” the king replied in a doubtful tone. “Then tell me there are no tricks up your sleeve.”
Suddenly, they all heard a high-pitched sneeze. To avoid raising Aspen’s suspicion, one of the deer guards gave a fake sneeze and said, “Oh, excuse me! It must be the light in my eyes. That sometimes happens.”
When the mysterious sneeze happened again, Aspen narrowed his eyes and ordered the guards in a low tone, “Part.”
With nervous expressions on their faces, the guards parted and revealed Skyla, who was just as anxious as they were.
Aspen exclaimed in a soft but sharp voice, “A pony!”
Blackthorn tried to reason with the king, “Your Highness, she is with us. She helped us find the portrait the city was trapped in. She comes in peace.”
Aspen gave a dubious glare towards her and remained silent for a few moments. Everyone was tense, worrying that his reaction might not turn out so well. The king then responded, “Very well. What is your name?”
Skyla bowed and answered, “I am Princess Skyla of the Crystal Empire. We gave the guard a home in the years Thicket was…absent from the Everfree Forest. We only wish to be in your good graces, my king.”
“And that means forging an alliance with Thicket?”
“Well…yes. There may be a threat rising in Equestria and we’re going to need all the help we can get.”
Aspen stated, “The deer do not get involved in the affairs of others. We are perfectly capable of protecting our home.”
Capri scoffed, “Ha! Says the deer who was stuck in a painting for over 60 years.”
He snapped at her in a stern voice, “I’ll hear no more snide remarks from you, draconequus!” He then sighed and continued, “But…it is true. If we got captured and held prisoner for almost a century, then perhaps an alliance with the Crystal Empire would be wise. Very well. We shall host you during your visit here, Princess Skyla.”
Skyla smiled and thanked the king, “I graciously accept your invitation, Sire. Thank you.”
“And what of you, zebras? Would you like to accompany us?”
Zecora answered, “Thank you for the offer, my king, but no. Back to our abode we must now go.”
He nodded, “I understand.” He then turned to Capri with a disapproving glare on his face. “As for you, however…Your comments have not found favor with me. Henceforth, you will be banished from the Everfree Forest unless it is decided that the ban shall be lifted.”
Capri said in an annoyed tone, “Well, you could’ve just said ‘You’re not welcome here’. Fine. I know when I’m not wanted.” With that, she snapped her lizard claw and disappeared in a flash.
I’m here again. I can’t believe I’m here again. I thought I was free, safe from them.
Zealot just sat in his cell as a number of emotions brewed inside his head and heart. Among those emotions were disbelief, astonishment, anger, fear, and sorrow. The Young Six were also stunned by their capture. They were actually free for a day or two until their perfect paradise was abruptly taken away. At this point, they didn’t know whether to continue fighting or just give up entirely.
The royal children, quivering in their cell, were understandably frightened about their situation. What was going to happen to them? What if their mommies and daddies don’t come and save them? Will they ever be free again? Unfortunately for Thunderclap, Snowflake, and Oddball, they couldn’t break free of their chains. As with Smolder, Yona, and Ocellus, their chains easily constrained any unique abilities they had such as super strength. Despite having each other as company, the royal children felt completely helpless and utterly alone.
Just then, the door above the stairs opened and the wicked face of a scurrilous pirate smiled in sadism. He singsonged, “We’re here.”