//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Journey to the Elements // Story: Pony Rangers // by Heroic412227 //------------------------------// The rangers and their counterparts trudged through the Everfree Forest in search of the elements. It was getting a little foggy and wet as they grew closer. "Um… Is this really what your dimension's Never-Free Forest looks like?" Red Ranger asked with a bit of concern. "N-never-Free?" Fluttershy stuttered. "Yeah. It's a lot like this, except darker and more foreboding." "Okay. It's actually called 'Everfree' instead of 'Never'," Rainbow lectured.  Twilight sighed. "Guys. We need to focus on the task at hoof." "There!" Applejack interjected, pointing at the huge cliff, which was a short mile away. "We're almost to the tree." "Alright! Let's do this!" Rainbow Dash cheered, zooming off the tree while the others followed suit. The group strode carefully down the steps, only for Pinkie to trip a weak step and tumble down. Fortunately, she converted her tail into a spring and bounced over the rest of the steps before she could hit the others like a tumbleweed. She then used her mane as a helicopter to safely land on the ground. Now back to her usual frolicking towards the cave where the elements were. “How did she do that?” The Red Ranger questioned. “Uh… She’s Pinkie,” Rainbow replied. They were able to find the Elements Of Harmony and they used their combined magic and power to open up a portal to the Pony Rangers universe and out came their Zords but those were not only the ones that came out. “Ugh my head, where are we?” said Sunset Shimmer. “I have no idea my dear daughter”. Said Princess Celestia. “Tis thou shall not explain how we got here?” said Princess Luna. “Um guys I think we are in a different universe because there are dopplegangers of the girls and the only difference is that the other Twilight is an alicorn”. said Spike “Okay that worked”. Said Twilight Sparkle FIM. “But it seems like others followed, the counterparts the Pony Rangers told us about and followed them here too!” “Fair point,” Spike nodded. “I will make sure to put the Zords somewhere safe so you rangers will be able to call upon them while we are stuck here”. Said Sunset Shimmer.  “Great idea,” Green Ranger said. “So Sunset, can you tell us your backstory?” said Twilight Sparkle FIM. “Okay I will start”. Said Sunset Shimmer. “It was a long time ago and I was living on my own in the streets and was an orphan because my parents had died when I was three years old and then one day Princess Celestia found me and decided to adopt me and then I also became her personal student too and then one day we found a baby dragon abandoned and then mom decided she wanted to take care of him so she adopted him too and decided to call him Spike and he is my little brother.” “I also help out the Pony Rangers with everything else. I infused their Zords with my own magic and I helped create their weapons and I also help out in fights whenever they need my help and I am a trusted ally of them”. Said Sunset Shimmer. “Wow… That is both awesome and heartbreaking at the same time," Rainbow Dash FIM said with widened eyes. "Wait, you called him Spike before I got Spike as a filly?!" Twilight questioned. Though, she saw the dragon tearing up a bit as his existential crisis started building up again. "Sorry," She wiped his tears and hugged him close, putting a still teary-eyed smile on his face. The flame pony rubbed the back of her head in guilt and embarrassment. "Yeah, sorry about that. Anyway, we came here to get the Rangers back home." "What about that portal that you guys used just now? Can't that help us?" Rainbow Dash suggested. "Uh… Well, unless you have the spell used from the book itself, we can't go back again. The spell won't allow it," Sunset explained, blushing. Twilight FIM sighed. “Do you guys know where that book is and what it looks like?” She asked, turning to the Rangers themselves. “Well… we did find it at our dimension’s Golden Oak Library, but…” The Yellow Ranger hesitated when she saw both Spike and Twilight frowning. “Is something wrong?” Spike sighed, “About that.” He looked up at Twilight, who took a deep breath to reduce the hidden tears. “Okay, okay… We know this is a lot to take in, but truth be told… The library… got destroyed.” Both Green Ranger and Ranger Spike gasped in horror. “Y-you’re joking, right?” But she shook her head. “A large centaur named Tirek blasted it to bits before he was defeated.” “We did get a new castle from the Tree of Harmony, though,” Spike added. Both rangers froze in their spots as the news about their home being destroyed in another dimension sank in. At the same time, they balled up their hoof and claw at the perpetrator. “That monster!” “Don’t worry. He’s already been taken care of,” Rainbow FIM assured. Pinkie popped out of nowhere. “Yeah! He’s been locked back up in Tartarus along with the other creatures and heavily guarded by Cerberus, this time. No balls needed!” She said, taking a toy ball out of her mane to show the others. “Okay then—" "Alright, y'all. Let's focus on the task at hoof, okay?" Applejack FIM chimed. "You're right, Applejack. So, which way should we go to get that book?" Twilight asked, finally out of hers and Spike's turmoil. "Maybe we could try the Crystal Empire. They have plenty of books there," Red Ranger suggested. "Yeah! That's a good idea. Anyone else agree?" Green Ranger asked. Everyone else nodded. "Then let’s go!" Twilight FIM dashed off from the Tree of Harmony. Everyone else followed. End of Chapter 2