The Elements of Nature Book 3 - 气 (Air)

by Superior-Doc-Fossil

Chapter 10, Boxed In

At the infirmary in Canterlot Castle, Applejack, Agua, who's boyfriend, Hielo, is sitting next to, Ar, Blitz, Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow, Terra, and Twilight, who’s parents, brother and sister-in-law are sitting next to her, are asleep in separate beds. Celestia, Luna, Lunar, Zuko, and Golden Rod, the only one who went to the Tengen Gate and didn't came back in a stretcher, are watching. “Boy, they sure look banged up after that run in with Arachnitor, huh.” Golden Rod said.
“Yes.” Lunar said to him. “Now that Sozin’s Comet is approaching, all creatures, changelings especially, are getting stronger.” They then leave for the main hallway.
“It’s imperative that you power the Black Box and find the last two elements before it’s too late.” Celestia said once they arrive.
“Thats golden! Once we rescue Firebrand, he and I will get it going in no time.” Golden Rod said.
“No.” Luna said to him. “You must focused on the job at hand.”
“But my best friend needs me!” Golden Rod argued.
“He would be the first to tell you.” Lunar said. “The Black Box, is the main priority.” As they talk, Twilights family notice that she looks like she's about to wake up.
“Twilight!” Shining called as Twilight slowly wakes up, only to fall back to sleep again.
“I hope she’s having good dreams.” Twilight mother, Twilight Velvet, worriedly said.

Twilight slowly wakes up and sees that she’s in the upper half of an hour glass. “Where an I?” She asked, still confused. She then hears a very familiar laugh. “Discord! Where are you!? Where am I!?”
“In the one place your boyfriend can’t get too.” Discord answered as he appears in front of the hour glass. Discord then shows Twilight a large white maze behind him.
“Whats that?”
“Firebrands test.” Discord answered. “He’s on the other side of the maze, and it will begin soon.” Discord then laughs as he turns the hour glass Twilight is in upside down. “He already entered a few minutes ago, I figured I give him a head start.”
Twilight then gasps as the sand fills her end of the hour glass faster than she thought. “And, what happens if he doesn't make it over here?” She nervously asked.
“Once the sand completely fills the bottom end, your end, he fails, and you will die.” Discord said, causing Twilight to almost cry for him to wait until Firebrand makes it to the middle of the maze. “Of course, there is a catch. The maze is filled with many deadly traps and monsters that will give you nightmare if I told you about them. If he encounters any, he will be delayed at saving you, and I will get to watch as both of you die slowly.” When Discord said that, Twilight nearly fainted as the sand reaches to her knees.

In the Everfree Forest, Deker is still carrying an unconscious Fire’ on his back. “Rescuing you has become a bit of a bad habit.” Deker said. “But it’s one I intend to soon break, permanently!” He then drops Fire’ into the river. Fire’ then gets out, gasping for air as Deker returns to his pony form. “Stay under, the water will help purge the poison in your system.” Fire’ then reluctantly agrees and goes back under.

At the changeling hive, Medizinisch is trying to explain himself to Chrysalis. “It was all a big misunderstanding! Medizinisch said to a clearly unhappy Chrysalis. “I think that you thinking that I was thinking of betraying you! Ooh-ah-ooh, I hate all this thinking!”
“That's enough!” Chrysalis yelled. “You know better to think for yourself! It gives us all a headache! What really bugs me (no pun intended) is that we lost a chance to eliminate the Fire Avatar! Next time you succeed, or my rage will be swift on you!” She then destroys a large bolder with he bare mandibles, without taking any damage. “There's another one we need to rid ourselves of.” She said after she calmed down. “Right, Hexe?” Die then gasps when she realizes who Chrysalis is talking about. “I’m talking about that troublesome Deker of yours. See to it that he is taken care of, permanently!”
“Ooh-ah-ooh! Deker is to tough!” Medizinisch defended. “He’ll mash her into tiny little Hexe-bits!”
“Fine!” Hexe said. “I’ll do it.” She then leaves.
“Ooh-ah-ooh. Your cruelty is boundless.” Medizinisch commented.
“Speaking of cruelty, how about Arachnitor?” Chrysalis asked as they see Arachnitor on the surface, still screaming as green sparks fly off him.
“He’s just about ready to mutate, my Queen.” Medizinisch said.
“Good. He wanted power so badly, now he has so much it will destroy him. Keep an eye on him.” Chrysalis said as she leaves.

As Twilight tries to keep her head above the sand, she sees that Fire’ has made it to the end of the maze, shocking Discord. “What! How did you make it throw?”
“I just followed your stench, Discord!” Fire’ said as he charges up a spell. He fires it, and Discord disappears in an instant. He then runs for the hour glass as Twilight slowly slips into the sand. Just at the last moment, Fire’ takes out his sword and breaks the glass, saving Twilight. “You okay?” Fire’ asked as he holds Twilight in his front legs.
“I’m fine now.” Twilight said. “What happened to Discord?”
“I banished him to the stars. He won’t be bothering anypony ever again.” Fire’ said.
“A bit overkill, don’t you think?”
“Maybe. But I did it because he threaten the mare I love.” Fire’ said as the two loss each other in their eyes. The two then lean into each other and share a very deep and romantic kiss that fells like hours to Twilight as she is finally with the colt of her dreams...

Twilight then slowly wakes up and sees she’s in the infirmary. She then feels a very big hug as Shining Armor hugs his little sister along with Candace. “Can you to let go. I can’t breath.” Twilight said, causing the three to laugh. Twilight then looks around and sees that her parents, all her friends, and the Avatars are also in the room ... except one. “Wheres Fire’?” She nervously asked.
“He got taken by that blasted Deker, sugarcube.” Applejack said from across the room.
“Wh ... what!?” Twilight said, trying her best to stay calm.
“Golden Rod said that after he fought a small changeling that poisoned Fire,’ Deker showed up and took him away.” Rainbow said from a bed across from Twilight’s.
“I need to have a word with him!”
“Not at the moment.” Celestia said as she enters the room, startling Twilight. “He’s busy programing the Black Box.”
In the main throne room, Golden Rod is using a spell to try to understand the Black Box, with Luna, Lunar and Bastion Yorsets watching, just in case he needs some help. Golden Rod than stops. “Okay, I have an understanding of it now. Now, all I need to do is format it to use the power from the Elements.” He then nearly collapses to the ground.
“Golden Rod!” The to Alicorns and said as Golden Rod gets back up again.
“Using magic like this is incredibly draining. Don’t over do it.” Bastion said to the gold Unicorn.
“Who told me the world is at stake here?” Golden Rod joked as he gets back up and does another spell on the Black Box and begins to format it.

At a cave in the Everfree Forest, Deker and Firebrand are siting in front of a fire. Fire’ then tries to get up, but groans in pain. “The purity of the water has healed you. But your still be week, for a while.” Deker said.
“Why are you doing all of this?” Fire’ asked.
“I’m searching for the ultimate duel.” Deker answered. “The duel you and I will have.”
Hexe is watching the conversation from behind a cave wall. “I don’t fight just to fight. I fight to protect the innocent.”
“We’ll see.” Deker said. “Were patient, my sword Uramasa and I. But eventual, we will battle. I have quiet the incessant to convince you. After all, I was once fully pony.” Deker said as he remembers when he first turned into a changeling. “All I know now is ... a constant craving for battle, unlike other changelings, who have a constant crave to feed off of love. The changeling in me gives me no choice about it.”
“You always have a choice. You don’t have to give in to the changelings cravings.” Fire’ said.
“Hmm. It’s easy for you to say.” Deker replied.
“Doing the right thing is always worth the effort, no matter how hard it is. That's why I won’t fight just to fight.”
“You will give me the ultimate battle, whether you like it or not!” Deker firmly said. “It’s the only way I’ll be free from this terrible curse!”
“Oh, Deker. If you only knew the truth.” Hexe quietly said.

In the hive, Medizinisch sees something interesting happening to Arachnitor. “It’s happening!” He said as Arachnitor gets up and turns green as his front claws grow, along with his fangs. He’s abdomen also grows also and forms a pony skull shape on it. His eyes also begin to bulge as more appear on his legs. “Arachnitor is finally mutating into a super powerful changeling!” Medizinisch said as Arachnitor’s wings become larger and more bat like. “Time to destroy the Avatars and the Elements of Harmony once and for all!”

At Canterlot castle, Golden Rod nearly falls to the floor unconscious after he finishes the formatting. “There. The formatting is done.” He said as he begins to get back up.
“Now comes the really dangerous part.” Bastion Yorsets said. “Infusing the Black Box with some of the power from the Elements.”
“Thats where we come in, mate.” Blitz said as the group enter the room.
“You shouldn't be out of bed!” Lunar said.
“Golden Rod can’t take this all on himself.” Twilight said to Lunar as Celestia enters the room too. “We need to help each other, especially since Firebrand’s gone.” Twilight said the last part with a great amount of sadness in her voice.
Just then, a Pegasus guard flies in and says, “Your Highness, a group of changelings have found a way through the shield and are now causing havoc.”
“So what do we do now?” Golden Rod asked, now fully recovered.
“Well, I know what Fire’ would say.” Agua said.
“At all cost, protect the innocent.” Twilight finished.
“Thats golden! You guys go take care of the changeling, and I’ll go find Firebrand!” Golden Rod said as he leaves, only to be stopped by Lunar Eclipse.
“No.” Lunar said. “You must first finished the Black Box first.”
“I can’t.” Golden Rod said to the Prince of Death. “I need the Elements, and there taking them into battle.”
Terra then gives Golden Rod the Element of Earth. “Here. It’s yours.” The others soon do the same, with some reluctance from Rainbow at first.
“Are you guys series?” Golden Rod asked as he places the Elements of Harmony and Nature on a small table for the time being. “How can you and your friends defeat the changeling without these, Twilight?”
“We’ll make do.” Twilight said.
“Whats do? Is it like chocolate covered in fudge? Or ... was that the other way around?” Pinkie asked, causing Twilight to sigh.
“And besides, Fire’ would say that you need to finish the Black Box fist.” Shining said.
“Okay.” Golden Rod said, defeated. “I wish you guys weren't right, but you are. This has to come first. Well, go on! Get out of here! I have work to do!” Golden Rod said when the group don’t leave right away, but they soon do.
“Were on it!” Rainbow arrogantly said.
“And be careful!” GR said as they leave.
“Don’t worry about us, sugarcube!” Applejack said as they leave. Zuko and Lunar Eclipse soon join them.

At the center of Canterlot, Arachnitor and a lot of drones are attacking anything that moves. Arachnitor even fires some lasers at some building, completely destroying them, just completely at random, while grunting like a mindless beast. “Fighting building.” Rainbow said as the group arrive. “Wow, your tough.”
“Stay on your hoofs, guys.” Shining said. Just then, Arachnitor fires a blast, sending the group flying a little.
“So much for stayin’ on our hoofs.” Applejack said as she and the others get up.
“Wait!” Agua said. “Does this creep look familiar?”
“Hey, your right!” Rainbow said when she recognizes the bug. “It’s Arachnitor, but he looks mutated.”
Arachnitor then grunts to attack, which the drones seem to understand. “Lets get them!” Terra said as she, Agua, Blitz and Ar take on their elemental forms and do battle.

In the palace, Golden Rod is using his magic to try to transfer some power from the Element of Water, with Celestia, Luna, and Bastion Yorsets. He already finished with the Elements of Magic, Honesty, Laughter, Kindness, Loyalty, and Generosity. “Thats it.” He said as he gets closer to finishing the Element of Water. “Just a little more.” It then stops, causing Golden Rod to groan. “No!” He then takes a moment to breathe. “You can do this.” He said to himself as he does his spell again. They then see a small amount of energy that looks like it’s made of water exit the Element of Water and goes into the Black Bow. “Yeah!”
“Good.” Bastion Yorsets.
“So far.” Luna said.
“Now, lets keep going with a little lightning.” Golden Rod then does the same spell on the Element of Lightning, but it suddenly stops. “Come on.” Golden Rod said, completely disappointed with himself. He then sits down on the closest sofa. “I just don’t have enough energy to finish it fast enough!” Golden Rod then sighs while calming down. “I’m sorry.” He said as the princesses look at him with pity. “It’s just that the planet is counting on me.” His eyes then widen in realization as he gets up.
“Wait. The whole planet!” Golden Rod said as he gets an idea. “Thats it!” He then takes out his Avatar Morpher and programs it. “I’ll piggyback on the global satellite system and use it to lock on to Firebrands unique biosignature.” After he presses enter, he gets a hit. “Golden! I found him!” He then heads for the door with the Elements in tow. Bur before he leave, he looks at the two Alicorns and the blue Unicorn. “Look, I can’t finish the Black Box now, but I can help Firebrand.”
“Go.” Celestia said. “Me and Luna will help the others.” Golden Rod then leaves for the Everfree Forest while Celestia and Luna go to the battle, leaving a very worried Bastion Yorsets behind.

In the cave Fire’ and Deker are in, Deker gets up. “You should have fully recovered by now.” Fire’ then stares at him and quickly gets up.
“Why do you want to fight me? There are plenty of other warriors out there. Shining Armor for example. Or Lunar Eclipse, and he's a Alicorn.”
“Yes, but like me, you have a secret festering inside you.” Deker said. “Your’s involves that Unicorn mare, Twilight Sparkle.” When Deker said that, Fire’ got really angry to the point that the fire almost exploded. “Were both warped. Twisted. Confused about what our destinies truly are and how to defined them.”
“What do you mean?” Fire’ said as he walks a bit to Deker, only to intimidate him. “Why did I just do that?” Fire’ thought to himself.
“You could've sacrificed everything before giving Medizinisch the sealing spell.” Deker said as he walks past Fire,’ with his Uramasa on his back. “You did it to keep one pony safe. One that understands you, connects to you, and has feelings for you. And ... vise versa.” Fire’ then blushes at the last comment Decker gave. “You inherited the one part of the Avatar Spirit that the other four don’t have. The warrior spirit.” Deker said as he takes his Uramasa’s handle. “And thats why ... you're the perfect opponent.” He then turns into his changeling form and draws out his Uramasa, while Fire’ takes out his sword and gets into a fighting stance, only to protect himself. “Go ahead.” Deker said after a few tense moments. “The first move is yours.”
Just then, Golden Rod appears in his elemental form and gets in between the two. “Hold on! This isn't gonna happen on my watch!” GR said as he get Fire’ out of his stance. “Firebrand, you're in no shape to fight!”
“Out of my way, fisher-colt.” Deker said, still in his fighting stance.
“How can you want to duel him when he’s like this, changeling?” Golden Rod argued. Deker then releases his stance. “Me and my friend are walking out of here. And you're gonna let us. You got it?”
After a moment, Deker choses his answer. “Go. But know this, Fire Avatar. The next time we meet ... we will battle.”
Fire’ then shots daggers at Deker (metaphorically speaking). “Hey, the nice creepy bug is letting us go, Firebrand!” Golden Rod said, getting Fire’s attention. “¡Vamos! See ya!” Golden Rod then bends the fire to make a small smoke screen. When it lifts, Fire’ and GR are gone.
Deker then puts away his Uramasa and turns into his pony form and leaves. As he leaves, he fails to notice Hexe coming out of her hiding place. “Oh, Deker. I’m sorry what I’ve done to you.” She said with great sadness in her voice.

At Canterlot, Team Avatar, even with Celestia and Luna, are having trouble dealing with Arachnitor. “This isn't good!” Twilight thought to herself after Pinkie used her as a machine gun like at the Royal Wedding. “I hope we can think of something soon!” She said. Despite them having an advantaged due to Shining’s shield canceling their shapeshifting, they are still out numbered, even thou they defeated half of them, there is still at least 50 more left. And if that's not all, they still got a mindless Arachnitor to deal with.
The entire group is also out of breath, completely exhausted. “I ... can’t use ... my firebending ... when I'm ... out of breath like this.” Zuko said in between breaths.
Arachnitor then prepares to attack when ... “Back off, changeling!” Golden Rod said as he throws some knives at the bug, causing Arachnitor to stumble a little.
“Golden Rod! Firebrand!!” Twilight said when GR and Fire’ show up, now with Fire’ in his elemental form.
Golden Rod and Fire’ then sees Arachnitor get up. “What is that thing?” GR said. Arachnitor then just snarls at them when he gets up. “Ha ha. Sorry, I don’t speak ‘Snarl’!” The remaining drones then charge at them. “Allow me to introduce myself.” GR said as he takes out his Barracuda Blade and charges. “I am ... Golden Rod of Abysus!” He said as he slashes at the drones faster than the speed of light. “The Gold Fire Avatar!” He said as the drones explode.
“Nice one, GR!” Rainbow said as she and the others walk up to them.
“Thanks. I wasn't able to finish the Black Box, but I promise o try again. So here, have your elements back.” GR said as he gives the group the Elements of Harmony and Nature back.
“Thanks mate.” Blitz said as he takes the Element of Lightning.
“We should could use them.” Twilight said as she gets he tiara, AKA Element of Magic, back.
Fire’ then jumps on Arachnitor, sword in hoof, and tries to land a blow, but the mutated changeling just blocks them. He then tries to channel more power into the sword and slashes again, but Arachnitor just blocks it. “This is a lot harder than I thought!” Fire’ then regroups with the others. “Twilight! Turn him to stone, now!”
“Right. Girls, let's do this!” Twilight, AJ, Rainbow, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie then uses the powers of the Elements of Harmony and fires a blast like the one used on Nightmare Moon. But, when it hits, it does cause Arachnitor to scream in pain, but it doesn't do anything else.
“WHAT THE! YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!” Rainbow said.
“Lets try it again, only with the Elements of Nature too!” Blitz said. They then do it, but this time with the Elements of Nature (water, earth, lightning and air only right now), but the same thing happens again.
“This is gettin’ really bad!” Applejack said as Arachnitor gets up agin.
“What now?” Rainbow said.
“What if ... me, Shining, Celestia, Luna and Lunar help power the attack this time.” Fire’ said.
“Thats golden!” Golden Rod said. “You guys do that, and I’ll send it on its way!” GR then gets in between Team Avatar and the mutated Arachnitor.
“But ... won’t we ... you know, hit you?” Fluttershy said.
“Oh no you won’t!” GR said as he stops. “I got a golden move that will keep me safe and power up our attack even more!”
“All right.” Fluttershy said.
“I sure hope you know what you're doing.” Fire’ said.
“Go for it!” Golden Rod said as he takes out his Barracuda Blade. The group then do the attack again, with Celestia, Luna, Lunar, Shining and Fire’ powering it up again.
“Here comes the BLAST!!!!” Rainbow yelled as the blast gets a little too close to Golden Rod.
GR then jumps right before the attack hits him and spins in midair. “Now lets put a super spin on that blast!” As he is spinning, the attack is also going around him and condenses into 10 different crescent blades. He then throws them at Arachnitor, each one hitting one by one. When the last one hit, Arachnitor begins to turn to stone, and then goes *BOOM*!
“Nice one!” Applejack said as Fire,’ GR, Blitz, Terra, Ar and Agua turn back to normal.

Later, the entire group is helping to rebuild the devastation due to Arachnitor’s rampaged. “That mutated bug sure did cause a lot of damage.” Rarity said as she levitates some debris and repairs it into the original shape, a candle shop.
“I don’t like the idea of the changelings finding a way to mutate like that.” Twilight said as she throws away some broken tables.
“It probably has something to do with the coming Sozin’s Comet.” Zuko said as he helps an injured Lyra and Bon Bon to a medical truck, both of them having bandages on their heads.
“Which is why, when were done, I’ll get back to programing the Black Box.” Golden Rod said as he lifts a large cinderblock and finds a doll that looks like Smarty Pants, only pink and blue with a wand and a horn.
“Fire’?” Twilight said as Fire’ helps Fancypants get to a medical truck, who has a broken leg. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. I just need some fresh air for now.”