The Elements of Nature Book 3 - 气 (Air)

by Superior-Doc-Fossil

Chapter 9, The Tengen Gate

“So, when did you first meet Golden Rod, Fire’?” Twilight asked while the group wait for Golden Rod, who's two minutes late.
“When I was just 6 years old.” Fire’ answered. “We meet at a fish market, a couple of years before I ran away. I remember it like it was yesterday.” Fire’ then remembers the first time he meet Golden Rod.

Fire’ and his father are at the local fish market, just strolling around. They stop at a new stand to see what kind of fish they have. Fire’ then sees a colt with a gold coat and a black mane in a blue jacket levitates some fish onto the stand. “You must be new to Bellwood.” Fire’ said to the colt.
“Yeah. Me and my dad had to leave our old home, and all my old friends.” The colt sadly said.
“I don’t have any friends either.” A young Fire’ said. He then gets an idea. “You wanna be friends?”
“Heck yeah!” The gold colt excitedly said. “My names Golden Rod by the way. Whats yours?” Golden Rod asked as he offers his hoof out for a hoof shake.
“Firebrand, but you can just call me Fire.’” Fire’ said as the two friends shake hoofs.

“So that's how you two-first meet.” Twilight said.
“Yeah. Golden Rod was actually the first pony I considered a friend.” Fire’ said to the group. “He was even the first pony I told about my secret to, at least back then. I even showed him some of my proto-firebending. I remember that we got in a lot of trouble.”

At the market, Golden Rod is busy looking at himself in a mirror, grooming his sleek mane, even if it’s unnecessary. He is also wearing a black and gold tuxedo that's like Fancy Pants. He then notices his pet gold phoenix is looking at him. “Hey buddy. How do I look?” He asked. He then puts the mini mirror up. “It’s time for me to go to the tower and join Team Avatar.” He said as they leave.

“What did you two do together anyway?” Applejack asked.
“Well, we just play when he could come to the forged.” Fire’ answered. “The times when we played, I actually felt like a normal colt, despite that he knew about my firebending.”
“He sound like a good friend.” Rarity said.
“He is. He pretty much hasn't change a bit since the last time I saw him.” Fire’ said.
“When was that?” Lunar asked.
“You see, his dad got a job in the capital of Abysus, but that meant Golden Rod had to leave also.” Fire’ said. “I gave him a gold phoenix egg as a going away present.”
“What is a gold phoenix?” Spike asked as he gives Peewee some food.
“Its a subspecies, only found in Abysus.” Fire’ said. “At least they used to be. After Abysus was destroyed, the gold phoenix population disappeared also.”
"Earlier, you said the you and Golden Rod got in all kinds of trouble. What did you mean?" Luna asked.
"Well, we usually ended up destroying a building since we were both looking for out special talents at the time." Fire' answered.
"Guess history repeated itself." Rainbow chuckled about how Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle were three years ago.
"Anyway, I remember one time we got captured by some pirates." Fire' said.

At the base of the mountain that Canterlot is on, Deker is walking when he sees glowing red lines in the rock, a clear sing of Sozin’s Comets return. “Queen Chrysalis must be still absorbing this new surge of power from the approaching comet.” Deker said to nopony in particular. “Without her, the changelings are leaderless for the moment. It’s the perfect time to duel the Fire Avatar without distraction.” He said as he looks at his Uramasa. He then walks away as some golems emerge from the mountain side, not having been disturbed until the power surge from Sozin’s Comet awaken them.

“When is he gonna get here anyway?” Blitz asked, clearly annoyed.
Just then, Golden Rod slides down the floor and stops midway, with a fishing rod in he hoof. He then does some slashes with it like it’s a sword. He then turns to the group. “Mares and gentlecolts.” Golden Rod said. “I would like to introduce you to the sixth Avatar. The Gold Fire Avatar. Me. Golden Rod.”
“And you thought I was cocky.” Rainbow quietly said to Rarity, who nods in agreement.
The fishing hook on Golden Rod’s fishing rod then catches his tuxedo, and he accidentally rips it. “Oh, this is not good.” He said as he ruins the tuxedo he bought for 50 bits. The group then laugh at Golden Rods misfortune. “Haha. It’s no big deal, really. It’s happened before. Not a lot anymore.” He then tries to use his magic to remove the hook, only for it to get worse.
“Can ... you guys ... help him.” Fire’ said in between laughs. After they help Golden Rod, Celestia takes a look at his ‘Avatar Morpher,’ as he calls it.
“You were able to make this from what Firebrand taught you?” Celestia asked after the group sat down.
“It really wasn't that hard.” Golden Rod answered.
“So what are you?” Rainbow asked. “Some kind of techie?”
“Awww ... I don’t know.” Golden Rod nervously said. “I’ve always been good with gadgets.” He then accidentally knocks down a bowl with peanuts, but Ar catches it with his airbending and places it back on the table. “Nice save. Oh, well ... anyway, I’ve always just wanted to do something more, besides being a fisher-pony.” Golden Rod said as he flashes back to two years ago.

Golden Rod is practicing under a large swamp tree. “I know I wasn't born into it like you guys, but I just kept practicing what Fire’ had taught me. I was trying to take things to a higher level.” Golden Rod then slashes at a pole with his proto-Barracuda Blade and jumps over a 4 foot high wood wall. He then notices something. “But I was really stuck. When I hear that the Avatars can completely turn into their respective elements, I knew I needed to do the same, because one of the Avatars sounded familiar when I heard about it. I knew it was Firebrand who was the Avatar of Fire”
“I stumbled upon a group of ponies called the Sun Warriors, and they presented me to Ran and Shawn. They deemed me worthy and passed the secret of firebending to me also. I was able to produce a special type of fire that was gold, that the Sun Warriors said was extremely rare.” Golden Rod then picks up an old trashed cellphone. “I found a trashed cellphone and fixed it, and used some fire rubies to power it. After I fist tested it, everything fell into place.”

“And now I’m finally ready to join you.” Golden Rod finished.
“Fire,’ you're the leader of the team, what do you think?” Celestia asked.
There is a short paused before Fire’ gives GR (Golden Rod’s nickname) his Avatar Morpher. “We need all the help we can get.” Fire’ said as GR takes his morpher back. “Welcome to the team.”
“I promised, I won’t let you down!” Golden Rod excitedly said.
Just then, a guard walks in, bleeding. “Whats wrong?” Celestia asked.
“Golems ... attacking the city.” He said, barely conscious. “Broke through the barrier Captain Amor set up like it was paper.”
“Say what?” Shining said, unable to believe something broke through his barrier without him noticing.
“Lets go!” Fire’ said as he leaves, followed by Golden Rod, Blitz, Terra, Ar and Agua. Everyone else sone follows also.

At the center of Canterlot, the golems are on a rampage. The group then arrive. “Whoa!” Golden Rod said when he sees how many golems there are. “I see 4! No, 6! And that one is huge!”
“We need to find their power gems!” Twilight said. “Without them, there just worthless rock!”
“Alright!” Fire’ said. “Agua, Terra, I want you two to distract the golems as long as you can.”
“Right.”
“No way I’m gonna let some earth creatures beat me, the Earth Avatar!”
“Blitz, I want you, Lunar, Rainbow, and Applejack to destroy the power gems when you get the chance. The rest of us will make sure all civilians are taken to safety.” Fire' finished.
“Let’s do IT!” Rainbow said as each group went off as they were told.
As Terra distracts the largest golem (at least 2 stories tall) by throwing large boulders in her elemental form, Agua goes after the smaller ones in hers. “Keep that thing still, Terra!” Blitz yelled as he tries to find the power gem. He then sees a slight red glow coming from the behind of the golem’s right leg.
Blitz then fires some lightning at the small glowing stone. When it hit, the golem let out a rumbling noise. But instead of the low ones it had made before, it was making a deep -- but louder -- noise, over an even longer time than it had before, this sounded as if it was in pain. When Blitz turned around to prepare himself for whatever reaction the golem would have, he could see for a moment how the stone surface around the place he had stuck had cracked, with pieces of the rock falling apart. Right before the golem turned around to face Blitz, he could see something moving inside of it, something pulsating. It was a heart.
The golem was turning its massive body to keep its newly found weak spot protected. It looked down to Terra as it swung one of its arms to send her flying, but she was able to dodge the clumsy attack with relative ease by jumping backwards thanks to the adrenaline pumping through her veins and her seismic sense.
“It’s now or never...” Blitz whispered to himself as he flew in between the legs of the golem. He quickly toke out his nun-chucks. With the weapon in his hoof, he got behind it to prepare for his attack. It tried to move its leg away from him, to no avail. It was too clumsy and slow to effectively escape him. It let out another rumble like the earlier one when it first got hit on the leg, except that this time it was an entirely different tone, one that could be compared to screaming. It was afraid.
Blitz had finally gotten to a position where he could clearly see the open ‘wound’; inside of it was a red heart, which looked organic to him, unlike the rest of the body. It was pulsating fast, each thump spreading some of the red glow that lingered for a few seconds before it just vanished, only to be replaced with more of the red light. Blitz then fired another lightning bolt at the ‘heart.’
The golem finally let out a rumbling sound unlike any of the others. This time, it started as if it was screaming, but the tone became lower and lower until it finally stopped. Blitz had struck the heart, which was now a piece of crumbling stone that was falling apart. Along with this, the golem was losing its balance and eventually fell over. The red light from both the heart and the eyes had faded completely. It was dead.
With their leader gone, the other golems soon followed in similar patterns, some of their ‘hearts’ were in their chest, while others were in their arms. Agua had been able to lead one golem to the river where it drowned due to being made of heavy stones. “That ... was though.” Agua said after Team Avatar had regrouped.
“At least no one got hurt.” Applejack said.
“Except us.” Rainbow said.
“Hey, GR. How about you get us some dinner for tonight?” Fire’ said to his old friend.
“Sure thing.” Golden Rod said as he makes his way to the edge of Canterlot while the rest go to the tower.

At Twilights former place of stay, the group are tending to any wounded guards from the fight with the golems. Agua is using her healing technique to heal a fractured wing on a guard. “That should do for now.” She said to the guard.
“What are we gonna do?” Luna asked. “The golems were awakened by the approaching comet. If the comet made simple rocks come to life before it arrive, how are we supposed to defeat the Fire Nation when it does come.”
“Simple, Lulu.” Celestia said to he younger sister. “Find the remaining Elements of Nature.”
“But how are we gonna do that?” Rainbow asked.
“I think I have an idea where they might be.” Bastion Yorsets said when he walks in, startling everypony. “I fond this in the archives.” He said as he shows then a scroll. “It says that the last Avatar, Roku, build the Tengen Gate with Star Swirl the Bearded long ago to celebrate the defeat of the changeling King, Mantises, and to honor the history of the Elements of Harmony and Nature, and their wielders.” He said.
“The bugs had a king?” Rainbow said.
“Apparently. Anyway, there might be a clue to the location of the last two elements there.” Bastion said.
“Okay, me, Twilight, Agua, Applejack, Terra, Rainbow, Blitz, Rarity, Ar, Pinkie and Fluttershy will go to the Tengen Gat to find a clue to the elements.” Fire’ said.
“I hate history.” Rainbow bitterly said.

At the changeling hive, Medizinisch is walking around in a circle due to Chrysalis and Discord still absorbing the new surge of power from the comet. “Ooh-ah-ooh, this is bad.” He said to himself. “With both Chrysalis and Discord still absorbing this new power, who knows what kind of despicable and conniving changeling will-”
But before he cold finished, a blood-red claw from a changeling around Chrysalis’ height and build, except for having 8 legs like a spiders that have blood-red claws, and having fangs like a spiders, along with 4 red glowing eyes that have serpentine irises like Chrysalis.’ “Despicable and conniving?” He asked.
“Arachnitor!” Medizinisch said out of pure fear. “I meant a changeling way more despicable and conniving then you! What are you doing here? Ugh ... not like it isn't great to see you again.”
“I herd that Chrysalis was tied up.” The changeling known as Arachnitor said. “I see that it’s true.”
“I don’t know what your up to this time, but count me out.” Medizinisch said as he walks away. “And besides, even in the state she’s in now, no one can beat Chrysalis in a fight.”
“Exactly.” Arachnitor said as he places one of his 8 claws next to Medizinisch’s neck. “But she can be sealed away.”

Later at the Tengen Gate, the group arrive, and are amazed at what they see (except Rainbow), a large Japanese garden with a Japanese gate at the entrance. “This is the Tengen Gate?” Rainbow said out of sear boredom. “It’s just a big wood thing.”
“The Tengen Gate is an important part of Equestria’s history, Rainbow.” Twilight said.
They then see an old unicorn stallion with a coat and mane in shades of gray, indicating his age. He is so old that he needs a walking stick so he won’t fall and break a hip. “Welcome.” He said. “I am Daisuke, the elder Guardian of the Tengen Gate.”
“Ugh ... according to this, there were originally twelve wielders of the Elements of Harmony and Nature.” Twilight said.
“Indeed.” Daisuke answered her. “And according to legend, the original wielder of the Element of Loyalty, a Pegasus, was a bit of a slacker.”
“No way!” Rainbow said.
“Apparently, the Pegasus drove the Elements of Honesty and Generosity, an Earth Pony and Unicorn respectfully, crazy. But they were still the best of friends.” Daisuke said as he leads the group inside.
Twilight then notices a picture of two unicorns, one a mare and the other a stallion, with the stallion on the ground. “What is this?”
“Its an old ponies’ tale.” Daisuke said to her. “A young mare made a deal with King Mantises, the last ruler of the changelings, to save the life of her beloved. But the King tricked her, and turn them both into changelings.”
“It sure sounds like something a changeling would do.” Rainbow said.
“The King took away the stallions memory, and cursed him to wonder the earth alone forever.” Daisuke finished.
“It’s strange.” Twilight said. “I feel like I meet this mare before.”

Back at the outskirts of Canterlot, Deker is making his way to the city when Golden Rod jumps in his way, startling him. “So, you’ve come to accept my challenge.” GR said.
Deker then reaches for his Uramasa. “Challenge?”
“You said you would try my secret recipe.” Golden Rod said with a smile on his face as he walks up to Deker. “Baby Barracuda Fish Kabobs.” Golden Rod then places his hoof at his mouth and blows a kiss into the air. “There más fantástico!”
Deker then remembers the last time he meet Golden Rod at Whitetail Woods. “I did say that.”
“Come on! You won’t be sorry.” Golden Rod then pushes Deker into a seat and prepares the meal. Golden Rod firsts sets up the table, then a white and blue umbrella. He puts a grill on the table with some barracuda on it and begins to cook. “Hold on to your taste buds. ‘Cause there about to be rock.” GR said as he pours some spices and herbs onto the cooking fish. He also squeezes a lemon and pours some honey.

At the Tengen Gate, the group are sitting in a room, waiting for some tea. “So, you have no idea where the last elements are at.” Twilight said to Daisuke.
“Unfortunately. But fortunately, we have a talisman, said to tell where one single element is located.” A young Unicorn then walks in, caring a box with his magic. He then places the wooden box on the table. “It is called...” Daisuke said as he opens the box, showing a little black talisman that has two half's, with the upper having a purple rope. “The Black Box.”
“Wow.” Applejack said. “How’s it work?”
“It works by using some of the power from the available elements and uses a map to pinpoint the remaining ones.” Daisuke answered. As they are talking, Medizinisch, disguise as a young guarding, puts some magic dust into the tea the group is about to drink. He then quickly leaves. “I hope one of can use it. With each passing day, Sozin’s Comet makes all creatures stronger, both the good and bad. I’m afraid that soon, even this sacred place will be corrupted by their evil.”

Outside, Arachnitor arrives with some drones with him. “Ah, the Tengen Gate.” He said. “Symbol of changeling defeat. Soon the site of my triumph!” He said as he walks in.

A young guardian then places the tea on the table. “Now, let us drink tea together, in honor of the Elements of Harmony and Nature, and good fortune in battle.”
Fire’ is the first to drink, but he quickly spits it out and falls to the floor and begins to choke. “FIREBRAND!” Twilight yelled as she runs to his side.
“Don’t drink!” Fire’ said as he tries to breathe. “It’s poisoned!”
A young guardian then runs in. “Daisuke! There are changelings in the garden!”
“Changelings! Here?” Rainbow said.
“We need to take care of them!” Blitz said.
“But we can't leave Fire’!” Twilight said, on the verge of tears.
“I’ll be fine, Twiley.” Fire’ said to her. “Just go!” Twilight then nodes in understanding and leaves with the others.

Out in the garden, some of the guardians are running for their lives from the drones and Arachnitor. The group arrive, with Agua, Terra, Ar and Blitz in their elemental forms. “Whoa! That's one big and ugly bug!” Rainbow said when she sees Arachnitor.
“Huh, only 4 of you Avatars.” Arachnitor said when he sees that Fire’ is missing. “My little scheme must have worked.”
“Your gonna pay for that, you ... you, spider-bug-thing!” Twilight said. A fight soon erupts, which is taken to a bamboo frosts.
“This is gettin’ ridicules!” Applejack said when she is nearly killed by a changeling disguise as Rainbow nearly kills her. “I better call Golden Rod.” Applejack then takes out her phone, which is an old model, and calls Golden Rod. “Ugh, Golden Rod. We’ve got trouble here at the Tengen Gate!”

“The Tengen Gate!” Golden Rod said when he finishes the fish. “I’m on my way.” He then hangs up and places the fish on the table. “I’m sorry, but I gotta jam. Please, enjoy your fish.” Golden Rod then runs and heads for the Tengen Gate.
“The Tengen Gate?” Deker said after Golden Rod is out of earshot. “Interesting.” He then gets up and heads for the Tengen Gate.

In the room where Fire’ is at, a young Unicorn guardian arrives with some dried mushrooms and gives them to Daisuke. He then tries to give some of the mushrooms to Fire,’ who is still having a hard time to breath. “What a joke!” Medizinisch said in his normal form, startling the three. “Seriously! Your gonna use dried mushrooms to counteract my black magic!”
The young guardian then runs for the changeling, but Medizinisch uses the same spell that Chrysalis used on Celestia, but instead of knocking him out, he is throw across the wall and dies. “Foolish changeling!” Daisuke said as he gets up and walks to Medizinisch slightly. “Your old forces were defeated here before, and they shall be again!”
“Ooh-ah-ooh. You want a pice of me too?” Medizinisch said to Daisuke.
“Wait!” Fire’ said. “It’s me you want. Let the guardians go!”
“Fine by me.” Medizinisch said. “I just need one thing from you. Your gonna show me the spell that your ancestor, Star Swirl, used to seal away King Mantises.”

Out in the forest, the group continue to fight the changelings. “I sure hope Golden Rod can find us in this bamboo forest.” Rainbow said while she, Twilight, Rarity and Blitz do a back to back, fighting off at least 10 drones.
“Time to even the odds!” Blitz said as he destroys all the drones around him, Twilight, Rarity and Rainbow with his, “Lightning Vortex!”
“Settle.” Rarity said to Blitz.
“But effective.” Blitz replied. In another part of the forest, Terra, Pinkie and Fluttershy are fighting some of the changelings (but, Fluttershy is technically accidentally hitting them, like at the Royal Wedding three years earlier).
“This is taking too long!” Terra said as she does her, “Seismic Swing!” This sends the changelings flying and not coming back anytime soon. Fluttershy then faints out of pure shock.
“I think you might of tinny-tiny-bit of over doing it?” Pinkie said.
“Ya think.” Terra replied.
Meanwhile, The Triple AAA’s (Agua, Ar and Applejack) are busy dealing with some drones also. “Water Splash!” Agua yelled as she freezes some of the drones, followed by Applejack bucking them, breaking the drones ice prisons in the process, along with them.
“Air Wave!” Ar yelled as he sends a slice of air at some more drones, cutting them in half.
“Where did that spider went off to?” Applejack asked when she notices that Arachnitor is gone.
“Right here!” Arachnitor yelled as he knocks out all three of then without taking a sweet. The rest of the group arrives and see how easily Arachnitor took out Agua, Applejack and Ar. Rarity then dramatically faints, like the still unconscious Fluttershy.
“Lets see how you take all of us on!” Twilight said, causing Arachnitor to laugh.
“I can beat you all, with only one claw!” He said.
“Prove it!” Rainbow yelled as the group charge at him, but Arachnitor just simply jumps and spins around, his claws hitting the group, knocking Pinkie Pie out.
Blitz and Rainbow then try to attack again, but Arachnitor fires something like spider silk at them and traps them. “Sticky situation, huh?” Arachnitor mocked.
“Hey, let me GO!” Rainbow yelled as she and Blitz struggle to get free.
“If you insist.” Arachnitor the uses a spell to knock the two out. He then tries to deal with Terra and Twilight when...
“Back off, changeling!” Golden Rod yelled as he throws some fish (improvised shuriken) at him.
“Golden Rod!” Twilight said out of relief.
“Anything or anyone who messes with my friends has to answer to me!” Golden Rod yelled at Arachnitor.
“I don’t know who your are, pony. But you made a big and very grave mistake.” Arachnitor said as he prepares to attack.
“Wait!” Twilight said as she and Terra grab Arachnitor. “Go help Fire’! He’s in big trouble!”
“OK, but I’ll be back!” Golden Rod said as he runs for the Tengen Gate.
“Your friend comes to help you, and you tell him to run away?” Arachnitor said as he throws both Twilight and Terra off of him. Terra then hits a tree, knocking her out.

In the hive, Hexe is looking for Medizinisch. “Medizinisch. Where is that slimy little bug?” Hexe asked. “Medizinisch!” She called out again.
“ Hexe!” Chrysalis and Discord called out at the same time from behind two separate closed chambers.
“Queen Chrysalis! Discord! You both recovered!” Hexe said.
“And just in time to stop that traitor Arachnitor!” Chrysalis yelled.

“You know, I thought destroying the Elements of Harmony and the Avatars, would be much more of a challenge.” Arachnitor mocked as Twilight tries to get up, despite knowing that she’ll die from a changeling's evil. But she wants to do it so that Fire’ can live, that's the only thing that mattered at the moment for her.
“ARACHNITOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” A voice reverberated from behind a green portal. Both Arachnitor and Twilight recognize the voice.
“Queen Chrysalis!” Arachnitor said with a slight amount of fear in his voice.
Just then, a green glowing rope comes out of the portal and wraps around Arachnitor. “ENOUGH OF YOUR TREACHERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Chrysalis yelled as Arachnitor is pulled throw the portal and into the hive. Twilight then falls asleep.

At the Tengen Gate, Fire’ is trying his best to get away from Medizinisch. “It’s a simple question, Fire Avatar.” Medizinisch said, unaware the Deker in his pony form is watching from behind a statue. “Just show me the sealing spell, I’ll give you the antidote, and it will save us both a lot of grief.”
“Never!” Fire’ said as loud as he could, still having trouble breathing.
“Thats how you wanna play it?” Medizinisch said, thinking of ideas on how to make Firebrand talk, like snapping off Twilights horn.
Just then, Golden Rod runs into the scene. “THE STALLION SAID NO!” He yelled, getting both Medizinisch and Deker to see who interrupted. GR then takes out his Avatar Morpher. “Gold Power!” He then turns into his elemental form and pulls out his Barracuda Blade, but Medizinisch blocks it with his staff.
“Who invited you?” Medizinisch asked. “This is a privet conversation!” He then sends Golden Rod back a few feet.
“Golden Rod?” Fire’ said before he losses consciousness.
“Watch where you point that thing!” Golden Rod said as he and Medizinisch do battle, with Deker watching.
“Whats this?” Deker asked. “The fisher-colt is the Gold Fire Avatar?”
Medizinisch then takes out some small bombs. “Batter up!” He joked as he throws them at GR, but he just simply burns them before there in range to hurt him with his golden fire. Medizinisch then sends the tentacles he calla a beard at Golden Rod and picks him up.
“Eew, slimy!” Golden Rod responded.
“OK, fish-colt, lets dance!” Medizinisch said as he slams Golden Rod into the ground a few times.
“I think its time to cut bait!” GR said as he cuts off the tentacles that have him.
“Ow! Those take forever to grow!” Medizinisch said as he and Golden Rod push both of their weapons at each other, forcing to go into a stand-off, when...
“Hey, fisher-colt!” Deker yelled as he stands beside an unconscious Firebrand.
“Huh? Hey, what are you doing here?” Golden Rod asked Deker.
“Relax.” Deker said as he takes on his changeling form. “I’ll take care of the Fire Avatar from here.”
“What?” Golden Rod said in both confusion that the pony he served fish to is a changeling and fear at what Deker had in mind. “Wait no!” Golden Rod said as Deker picks up Firebrand and flies off into the distance. “NO! Come back here with my friend!” Golden Rod said as he abandons the fight and goes after Deker.
“Deker spoils everything.” Medizinisch said. “I’m out of here.”
Golden Rod finally stops when he realizes that he can’t catch up to Deker, even with his speed. “NO! Fire,’ I’ve failed you!” He then remembers something. “Wait! What about the others!” He then runs to where the rest of the group is at and finds them all unconscious. “Pinks! Blitz! Twilight! Guys, wake up!” Golden Rod then returns to normal as his head sinks to the ground. “What am I supposed to do now, huh?”

At the changeling hive, Arachnitor is tied up on the ground as Chrysalis walks around him. “Arachnitor, what am I’m gonna do with you?!” Chrysalis said out of complete annoyance. “I torture you! I banish you! And yet you still plot against ME!”
“Wow! And I thought I was cruel.” Discord said, impressed by Chrysalis’ cruelty.
“I think Medizinisch is helping him.” Hexe said. “The slimy little weasel.”
“Nonsense!” Chrysalis yelled. “Medizinisch would never betray me. He was just trying to poison the Fire Avatar. Now that's initiative.”
“Initiative?” Arachnitor said as he manages to get up. “Big deal! I defeated 4 Avatars and all the Elements of Harmony! And besides, it was my plan!” Chrysalis then punches him against the wall.
“YOUR PLAN!” She yelled as she casts a spell on the ropes tying Arachnitor. “YOUR PLAN WAS TO STEAL MY THRONE!” She then sends Arachnitor to the surface, without the ropes, because now he’s screaming in agonizing pain as green sparks fly off him. “THIS IS HOW I DEAL WITH TRAITORS LIKE YOU!”
Medizinisch then arrives and sees whats going on. “Ooh-ah-ooh. Something big is happening.” He said as the sky begins to darken.

At a river in the Everfree Forest, Deker is walking through with an unconscious Firebrand on his back. “Finally, I shall soon seize my divine moment, and duel the Fire Avatar!” Deker said as he takes Fire’ someplace where they can duel in peace.