After Lance offered his services to them, The heroes continued their journey. Rarity was complaining about hurting her feet so she insisted Love Shine would carry her, much to the annoyance of Rainbow Dash. Soon, the heroes came to a dried up river.
"So you three are from Equestria too?" Lance asked Sunset, Starlight, and Chet.
"Yeah. I left because I wanted power until I was shown the errors of my ways" Sunset sighed.
"While Chet and I were visiting." Starlight added.
"What is Equestria like these days?"
"While there are those who still do harm, Twilight has been helping unite other creatures by making a school of friendship." Chet explained
"It..... must be nice to have friends." Lance muttered.
Shine Boy noticed the depressed look on the boy's face. "Not many friends, huh?"
"I've around my aunt and Uncle my whole life. And my aunt says friends will betray you." Lance sighed.
"That's not true!" Twilight denied. "True friends will never betray you!"
"You know we can be your friends for helping us." Sunset offered.
"I..... don't know" Lance sighed.
Gamer smiled. "At least think about it."
"Um.... Look what I found." Fluttershy said.
Everyone looked to see her holding what appeared to be a scepter with a blue orb on it.
"Whoa!" Rainbow awed.
"What is that thing?" Applejack asked.
"Duh! It's a scepter!" Pinkie grinned.
"It's beautiful!" Rarity admired.
Gamer used his goggles to analyze it. "It seems harmless enough."
"You feel any different?" Shine Girl asked.
"Oh no. In fact, I kinda feel more happy with it." Fluttershy said.
"You think it belongs to the guardian?" Sunset thought out loud.
"If not, we could give it to him as an offering to get you home." Lance suggested.
"That's a good idea" Chet complemented.
"I like the way you think, Lance." Shine Boy agreed. Lance smiled a little at the compliment.
-----------
Back at the Rubble base, Mortar was trying to get his crystal to work.
"C,mon! Don't fail me now!" he growled.
Suddenly, his crystal flickered, showing the heroes looking at the scepter.
"Well, what do we have here?" He wondered.
Reva frowned. "It those meddlesome brats with that stupid gecko!"
"I wonder what they're up to" Mortar pondered when he noticed another face. "Looks like they added a new face to their party."
Reva looked then gasped. "I don't believe it! It's our nephew Lance! They must've taken him prisoner! We have to save him!"
Mortar glared. "They will pay for whatever torture they put him through!"
-----------
Back at the heroes, Pinkie was entertaining everyone by singing 'If you're happy and you know it' as they progressed on. Lance was happy, never having so much fun in his life. This hasn't gone unnoticed by Shine Boy.
Chet called from up ahead. "All clear up ahead!"
"Yep! Sun's shining and no sign of danger!" Gamer quoted.
Spike then stopped and sniffed around. Then everyone heard a rumbling sound.
Twilight noticed her dog sniffing. "What's up, Spike?"
"I smell water." the dog declared.
"What's that sound?" Love Shine noticed.
"Maybe a storm is coming." feared Fluttershy.
Chet calmed her down. "It's okay, Fluttershy. There's a waterfall ahead."
And sure enough, he was right. the group came to a giant waterfall. Gamer checked the map for directions.
"Where to, Gamer?" Starlight asked.
"We go up the waterfall." Gamer answered.
"We hafta climb up the waterfall?" Applejack asked.
"But we don't have climbing equipment!" Rarity feared.
"No problem. We'll throw our lines and climb them. And if anyone falls, Twilight can use her magic to catch them."
"I'm ready." Twilight saluted.
"Wait." Lance spoke up. "I got an idea."
Shortly after, Lance made a yellow substance with Sunset helping.
"Magic potion 902. Yellow goo!"
"So this stuff works?" Shine Boy asked as he dipped his grappling hook in the goo.
"A little something my uncle taught me. This stuff is stickier than marshmallow cream."
"That's pretty sticky!" Pinkie agreed.
"Here goes!" Shine Boy twirled the hook before throwing it on the ledge and the goo made it able to stick. "Okay. Going up?"
"I'll go first!" Chet volunteered.
Chet made up the ledge easily. Then Applejack climbed up next, followed by Starlight, Twilight who carried Spike, then Gamer, Shine Girl helping Fluttershy, Rainbow who tried to climb fast to impress Love Shine, who wasn't paying attention due to having Rarity on his back, then Pinkie.
As Sunset was next to climb up, All that were left were Shine Boy and Lance. Chet was making sure Sunset was coming up safely when he noticed something behind Shine Boy appearing.
"Shine Boy! Behind you! Look out!"
Shine Boy turned to Reva and Mortar appeared behind him. Reva saw Lance and smile.
"Lance dear! We've come to rescue you!" she gleefully cried.
"But I don't wanna be rescued!" Lance cried.
"Sure you do!"
Shine Boy stood with his staff in hand. "Get going, Lance! I'll hold them off!"
"But-"
"Go!" Seeing that Shine Boy was buying him time, Lance started to climb up while Shine Boy fought his aunt and uncle. He was skilled, but Reva and Mortar overpowered him. The others could watch in horror as Shine Boy was being doubleteamed.
"You'll pay for taking my nephew from me!" Reva cried. But before she and Mortar could finish Shine Boy.
"SHINE POWER!"
A beam of light shot from Shine Boy's insignia, able to repel Reva and Mortar long enough for him to climb up. After Shine Boy's blast wore off, Reva and Mortar could only watch as Shine Boy with Lance climb up the rope.
"Lance! I need you!" Reva shouted before breaking down in tears. This caught Both Shine Boy and Lance's attention.
"She's crying..... for me." Lance whispered.
Shine Boy caught up with Lance on the rope and noticed him hesitating. "If you wish to go back to her, I understand."
Chet and Sunset both noticed Shine Boy's nobility.
"I know I promised, but They are all I have." Lance said, shedding tears.
"Go ahead. I won't stop you. Even if means we'll be enemies again." Shine Boy confirmed.
Lance understood and slid under Shine Boy and drew his sword and cut the rope causing him to fall as he whispered to Shine Boy.
"Thank you."
Shine Boy pretended to reach for Lance as he watched him fall.
Reva noticed and raised her arms to catch him along with Mortar. "We got you, honey! We- We got you! Oh! Lance! My dear nephew!"
"Aunt Reva." Lance whispered.
Shine Boy smiled while he climbed the rest of the way up. Mortar watched him climb up.
"C'mon, Mortar. Let's go." Reva called.
Mortar nodded and followed. Shine Boy climbed up to the top where the others greeted him.
"What happened to Lance?" Applejack asked.
Shine Boy sighed. "He went back to his aunt and uncle."
Everyone either saddened or frowned as they continued their journey. Soon, Shine Boy was left with Sunset and Chet as Sunset walked up to the superhero and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Don't think that didn't go unnoticed" she whispered.
Shine Boy then embraced her crying softly while Chet patted his shoulder.
"You did good, my friend. You did good."
After a bit before breaking, the three hurried to catch up to the others, continuing their journey.
To Be Continued