Rainbow dash awoke in a dark concrete room. She tried to get up but she was tied to a cold steel operating table. She turned to her left to see the unconscious form of Twilight. She tried to communicate with her.
“Twilight? Where are we?” she asked fearfully. Twilight stirred slightly and opened her eyes.
“Mmph,” mumbled Twilight, she had a rope tied to her mouth and a magic proof lock on her horn. Beside her was Pinkie pie in the same situation. They both looked utterly defeated. Then a cold chill passed through the room as Rainbow dash heard Mutran approaching. She shivered, the only thing that could to that was Discord. For all she knew, Mutran could be worse. She looked to her right to see the faint shine of some medical equipment and strange metal rods and bolts. She shivered again, what was Mutran going to do with those? She heard a click and three light’s turned on above her, Twilight and Pinkie pie.
“Why, hello test subjects 311,312 and 313. Today, Dr. Mutran is going to perform your operations today,” said Mutran sadistic glee.
“Where are we?” demanded Rainbow dash.
“Mmph!” mumbled Pinkie pie.
“Why, you’re in the Makuta research and operating wing. I hope you had a good rest because well, let’s just say you won’t be sleeping any time soon” Mutran chuckled, a horrible metallic sound, “now, who wants to go first?”
“You’ll never get away with this!” said Rainbow dash defiantly. To her surprise, Mutran smiled at her.
“Oh really, it seems I’m doing fairly well at getting away with it now,” said Mutran. Rainbow dash called out for help. Again, Mutran laughed. “Now Rainbow dash, don’t be so hasty for help. I offer you a choice.”
Rainbow dash blinked in confusion. “A choice?” she asked.
“Yes little flight equine, a choice,” said Mutran, “now, you have to choose one and ONLY one of your friends to be freed and never return a Makuta base, or, you can leave yourself and both of your friends have to partake in the operation. Make your choice.”
Rainbow dash stared at Mutran. Let one friend live and her and the other die? Or let both die and live herself. She started to cry when she made her decision. “I choose… myself.” It was barley whisper but it echoed across the empty operation room. Twilight and Pinkie pie stared at her with shock. Mutran smiled, “a wise decision Rainbow dash. Now, if you hold on a few moments the operations will begin.”
“What?! But you said-“
Mutran cut her off, “I never said I’d specifically be operating on you. In fact, the idea never crossed my mind. I already have a whole pegasi city I can operate on. So Rainbow dash I hope you like the show, I’m sure your friends won’t be.” With that, be picked up the large protosteel scalpel and some of the metal rods and started making slits in Twilight’s and Pinkie pie’s back. Rainbow dash watched in pure horror as her friends had large steel wings grafted onto their spines and a horn to Pinkie pie’s skull. Pinkie pie screamed in pain and a few moments later she fell silent, as cold and dead as the rods forcefully rammed into her skull and back.
“Ah, what a pity, land equines never see these operations through,” said Mutran to Twilight and Rainbow dash as he shoved the body onto the floor. “Now, I hope you can handle this better than your friend.” Twilight did in fact survive the operation only to die moments after its completion from shock and blood loss. Rainbow dash cried at the death of her friends. Mutran lifted her head, “now, I’m a Makuta of my word. So, off you go my little traitor.” suddenly, she found herself on the cloud she was on when she first encountered Mutran. She lay there and cried, and cried, and cried…
Matoro awoke on the cloud with Jaller, Nuparu and Hewkii lying around him. He picked himself off the ‘floor’ of the cloud and cracked his spine. ‘That could have gone better.’ He thought to himself. He turned around to see Rarity, Applejack, Twilight and Pinkie pie unconscious not far away. ‘they seem to be alright.” After waking up the other Toa, Matoro walked over to them to try to get them up as well.
“Come on, get up. You can’t just lie here all day, we have a city to save,” said Matoro as he tried to awaken Pinkie pie, “We also need another Toa.”
After hearing that, Pinkie pie bolted up right and asked, “Well what are we waiting for? We have ponies to save!”
Matoro smiled, it was unusual to see someone so enthusiastic to go on such a dangerous rescue mission. After some short moments, the group of eight started to head into the heart of Cloudsdale. They stared at the ruins of the famous rainbow factory. With a heavy sigh, Matoro continued walking wondering where Hahli, Fluttershy and Rainbow dash were, they were supposed to meet up here…
Hahli jumped awake, she dragged herself upright as she looked for the thing that attacked her. After giving up searching for it, she went to look for Rainbow dash and Fluttershy. After a short walk, she found Fluttershy slowly awakening from her encounter with Antroz.
“Hey Fluttershy, wake up,” said Hahli.
“No, go away!” mumbled Fluttershy.
“Why?” asked Hahli.
“You’re a big scary monster that’s going to eat me that’s why!”
Hahli chuckled softly, “Fluttershy, whatever that… thing was its gone now.”
Fluttershy looked up, “really?”
Hahli smiled, “yes Fluttershy, it’s gone.”
Fluttershy looked around to see if Antroz was still hiding somewhere. Satisfied that he was gone, she picked herself up and stared at Hahli, “did the monster attack you too?” she asked.
“Yes, a blue one attacked me,” said Hahli.
“I think a red one attacked me,” said Fluttershy.
The two were silent for a while until they found Twilight, Matoro and the others.
“There you are! Where were you?” asked Matoro.
“I was attacked by a large blue bat,” said Hahli.
“I was attacked by a red one,” mumbled Fluttershy.
“Where’s Rainbow dash?” asked Twilight.
“Isn’t she with you?” asked Hahli.
“No…”
The group fell silent. Only very faintly could Pinkie pie hear the faintest sounds of crying echo throughout the city.
“Hey, I hear something!” said Pinkie pie.
“What is it dear?” asked Rarity.
“Ah hear it too, it sounds like… crying?” said Applejack, “It’s coming from that way!”
The group of Toa and ponies rushed to the source of the crying. It was Rainbow dash, looking like she just lost at another of Discord’s mind games. She was a dull grey colour with dark stains around her eyes from her crying. She looked up at them sadly and resumed crying. They could all tell that something bad had happened. This wasn’t just fear, no; it was the after effects of torture. Bu none of them could see any physical harm on her.
“Rainbow dash? Y’all alright?” asked Applejack.
“No,” said Rainbow dash, still crying.
“Well why not?” asked Applejack softly, she could tell that whatever had happened, it had shaken Rainbow dash to her very core.
“Their dead,” she whispered, “they’re both dead because of me.”
“Who’s dead?” asked Applejack.
Rainbow dash just continued to cry, after some time, she said, “I let Twilight and Pinkie pie die.”
“Uh…”
“IT WAS MY FAULT! I COULD HAVE SAVED ONE OF THEM! HE EVEN SAID THAT HE WOULDEN’T HAVE OPPERATED ON ME IF I DIDN’T SAVE MY SELF!” she screamed.
“Who’s ‘he’?” asked Matoro.
She sniffed, “Makuta Mutran.”
The five toa fell silent. “Makuta? As it Makuta, Makuta?” asked Nuparu.
Rainbow dash nodded.
“Then the bats we saw…” said Hahli
“They were most likely Makuta too,” said Jaller.
“It doesn’t matter. Twilight and Pinkie pie are dead;” said Rainbow dash quietly, “I saw what happened after Mutran operated on them.”
“Um, what did happen exactly?” asked Rarity.
“He cut their backs open and put big metal rods into the slits,” whispered Rainbow dash, “he also grafted another rod on Pinkie pies head just before she died. Twilight survived the operation but died just after.”
Twilight and Pinkie pie were dead silent through this. They both could almost feel the rods being jammed into their backs.
“Don’t you worry, their ok,” said Applejack.
“No their not,” cried Rainbow dash, “they died because of ME.”
“We’re not dead Rainbow dash,” said Twilight.
Rainbow dash stared at Twilight and Pinkie pie. She screamed, “NOO! I’M SORRY DON’T HAUNT ME!”
“No silly, were not here to haunt you,” said Pinkie pie.
Rainbow dash sniffed, “you’re not?”
“No, were not dead and don’t plan on being,” said Twilight.
“But Mutran-“
“They were most likely illusions,” said Matoro, “if the Makuta can create illusions, then Mutran probably can too.”
“But they looked so real…”
Matoro smiled, “their illusions can be very convincing at times.”
Rainbow dash sniffed, “but… I still left the thinking they were real.”
“If you hadn’t then you would be dead. Even if you didn’t leave, Mutran probably would have done the same thing,’ said Hahli, putting her hand on Rainbow dash’s back. Suddenly, Hahli saw a light blue Toa with a Kakama while Rainbow dash saw a dark blue unicorn that’s mane looked like a river. Hahli took her hand of Rainbow dash and stepped back.
“What on Mata nui…”
“What was that?” asked Rainbow dash, the gray slightly faded.
“What happened?” asked Hewkii.
“Ooh, did you see a funny looking pony?” asked Pinkie pie.
“Uh… yeah?” said Rainbow dash.
“Yippee, now you’re a Toa too!” exclaimed Pinkie pie.
“Wait what?” asked Hahli in confusion.
“You see, right after Kongu tried to help me open the window, he said he saw a pink Toa when he touched my arm and I saw a green Pegasus with a windy mane. Now, we both think that that was actually us but our roles reversed! So the funny looking pony to you, Rainbow dash was Hahli and the funny looking Toa to Hahli was Rainbow dash!” said Pinkie pie excitedly.
“So what you’re saying is that I’m now a Toa?” asked Rainbow dash.
“Yep.”
“But why do I still have my elemental powers?” asked Hahli, “Kongu lost his when you became a Toa.”
Pinkie pie giggled slightly, “Oh, I was trying to open the window. He thinks I was trying a little too hard and drained his power.”
“So… can everypony become a Toa?” asked Rarity.
Pinkie pie shrugged, “I think it depends on the situation so you’ll have to wait. I don’t really understand it ether, but the princess’s might.”
“The princess’s? Why do you think the princess’s will know?” asked Twilight.
“Well, it’s because it seemed that Celestia and Luna had heard of Toa before,” explained Pinkie pie.
“Huh, maybe that’s why Luna didn’t seem surprised that you had elemental powers…” said Nuparu, “maybe another Toa was here before Matoro.”
The Toa and ponies continued to talk about the possibility of a Toa that was here before Matoro. Jaller sighed, the conversation was going nowhere, “Ok, now that were all together again, why don’t we try to find the missing pegasi. I know I haven’t seen one the entire time we’ve been here.”
“You couldn’t find anypony?” asked Rainbow dash.
“Nope, did you see anyone?” asked Hewkii.
“No, I only saw Mutran,” Rainbow dash said his name bitterly.
“What if the Makuta took them?” said Fluttershy quietly.
Matoro looked at her and shrugged, “maybe, you and Rainbow dash know these people better that we do.”
“Well, they’re not here,” said Rainbow dash. A dark shadow loomed over them with an all too familiar voice, “I do.” That was the last thing any of them heard before they heard a loud high pitch screaming sound that knocked them all unconscious.
Matoro awoke in a darkened chamber. His orange eyes scanned the small room. Fluttershy was sitting upright beside him.
“Hey, you alright?” he asked as he got to his feet.
Fluttershy nodded, “what happened?”
Matoro sighed, “Makuta.”
“What do we do now?” she asked.
Matoro made a weak smile, “we wait for them to get us.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t worry, I have a plan. I’m sure the others are nearby. All we need to do is contact them,” said Matoro, “hey Fluttershy, do you hear that?”
“Hear what?” she asked nervously.
“It sounds like… singing?”
“My little equine, my little equine,” sang Mutran; he heard the tortured screams of the captured pegasi in the other room, “AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!”
“My little equine, you used to not know what torture could be, ‘till you were captured by me! There is no hope! No adventure, I have no heart, what is kindness? It was a simple feat and your screams make it all complete YES! My little equine, you know you’re all going to diiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeee!” sang Mutran cheerfully.
Vamprah stared at Mutran during his mental episode, “what are you doing?” he asked.
Mutran looked up from notes, “trying to calm down the slaves.”
Vamprah appeared to raise an eyebrow but, Makuta don’t have eyebrows. He then took flight to watch over the slaves in the hive. He saw Chirox on the way there.
“Vamprah, report to Antroz that the Toa and ponies have been captured,” said Chirox.
“Get Bitil to do it. That’s all he’s good for,” said Vamprah as he resumed his flight. He smiled slightly to Chirox’s annoyance. When he arrived at the hive he saw countless pegasi slaves. Most of them had been transformed into shadow pegasi, the others well… they were on a trip to ‘Dr. Mutran’s’ office for a checkup. There were three other Makuta at the hive besides himself. They were watching over the enslaved pegasi with disgust. Many millenia ago, Equestria was part of a much larger land mass. But, one hundred thousand years ago it broke off with two other pieces, an ocean and a jungle. Equestria was in the perfect spot when that happened so it got an equal amount of everything so it could sustain life properly. To Vamprah’s knowledge, there were only two ways to get here, using a Kanohi Olmak or the portal in the southern islands. The other Makuta of course, knew about this. They used it until Discord went rouge and the great cataclysm hit. Arriving at his destination, Vamprah went to speak with Krika.
“Krika, the Toa and equines have been captured,” said Vamprah. Krika glanced at him. That was the most he’s said to him this entire mission. He nodded and Vamprah flew off away from the hive. Krika looked over the slaves for the thousandth time that day. He knew something the others didn’t. He knew this was just a large distraction for Teridax and Discord. But Krika knew better than to call them out on it. For now, he will have to wait until the opportune moment…
********************************************
Jaller had finally melted the protosteel bars. It had taken him nearly three hours of non-stop melting. “There, the bars are melted,” he said to Twilight, who was put in the same cell as him.
Twilight nodded and walked cautiously out of the room. She saw Jaller activate his Kanohi Arthron. They had heard singing earlier. Twilight hoped it was just Pinkie pie trying to cheer the others up. Jaller had stumbled across the Toa tools and grabbed them. The two continued to pass a series of empty cells until they found one with disembodied voices coming out of them.
“…so where do you reckon the others are?”
“Knowing Jaller or Matoro, they most likely have already escaped.”
Twilight stopped, “Applejack? Is that you?” she asked the empty cell.
“Twilight? Where are you? Were in this here prison room,” replied Applejack.
This time Jaller spoke, “uh, were right in front of a cell with your voices coming out of it.”
“Oh, hi Jaller,” replied Hewkii, “so, where are you?”
“Right in front of you,” said Jaller.
“But I don’t see you…”
“Twilight, can you dispel illusions?” asked Jaller.
Twilight nodded. The then used her de-illusion spell and Hewkii and Applejack faded into view.
“What in tarnation…”
Hewkii got to his feet, “so… how are we going to get out of here?” he asked.
Jaller smiled, “stand back,” he held out his flame sword, ignited it, and made a series of quick slashing motions and the melted bars of the cell fell to the floor.
“Wow…” said Twilight.
The four then continued to find the others. Finally, they came across Matoro and Fluttershy. Matoro chuckled, “what took you so long? We’ve been waiting here forever.”
“You two alright?” asked Nuparu, handing Matoro his Cordak blaster.
“I am, how about you Fluttershy?” asked Matoro.
“Yes, I’m alright,” said Fluttershy quietly.
Matoro nodded, “ok so… what’s the plan?” he asked.
“First we get out of here. Second we find the missing pegasi,” said Jaller.
“Oh, I’m afraid nobody’s going anywhere,” said a chilling voice. Twilight noticed Rainbow dash start to cry slightly. ‘This must be Mutran,’ she thought.
“Come out Makuta!” said Jaller.
Mutran laughed, “foolish Toa, do you really think I’d just let you leave? Oh no, I have lots of tests to do. Especially on test subject 313.”
Rainbow dash by this point had curled up into a ball and started to quietly mutter “I left them. I left them. I left them.”
Hahli put her hand on her back to try to calm her down. It sort of worked, she stopped muttering.
“What did you do with the pegasi?!” demanded Twilight.
Mutran laughed his cold metallic laugh, “why Twilight my dear, there at the hive.”
“The hive?” asked Rarity.
“Oh yes, the shadow leach hive. All your little pegasi friends are now mere shadows of their former selves. Even your precious celebrity’s ‘The Wonderbolts’,” said Mutran.
Rainbow dash had started shivering. Mutran took a mental note of that, for later torture.
“Mutran, you are outnumbered eleven to one. Stand down,” said Matoro.
Mutran gave Matoro an intrigued look, “oh really? Well, first, Rainbow dash is useless; second, the pink equine has no training in being a Toa and finally, its four to eleven.” Just as he finished that sentence, Vamprah, Chirox and Antroz entered the room.
“If five of you couldn’t defeat Chirox all at once, what chance do you have against all four of us?” asked Mutran. As if on cue, the ceiling exploded in a large ball of flame and cloud bits. Everyone looked to see a near powerless Toa Kongu strapped to three thousand pink balloons firing Cordak rockets at the Makuta. One of them hit Mutran dead on as he screamed in agony. The Toa and ponies, taking advantage of the situation, ran for the exit not far away. Hahli noticed Rainbow dash hadn’t moved and scooped the traumatized Pegasus and followed the others.
“go after them!” shouted Antroz as he started to fire chain lightning at Kongu, who fired a rocket at Antroz’s feet, destroying the cloud and messing up his aim. Chirox instead blasted Kongu with shadow bolts and popping the balloons.
“Aaaaaaaahhhhh!” he yelled plummeting to the ground far below. The Makuta went to pursue the other Toa. They flew through the corridors and found Vamprah with the metal from his wing-knives melted onto his fingers.
“They went that way,” he muttered. But it was too late, the Toa were out of sight. Antroz swore bitterly, he failed Teridax. He then felt another presence.
“Well done Antroz, mission accomplished,” said the booming voice of Teridax.
The Toa and Ponies didn’t stop running until they reached Twilights balloon. She quickly untied the ropes and the balloon made its decent down. They all let out a loud sigh. They wouldn’t have made it if not for Kongu timing. But, they had heard his scream. It could only mean one thing: the balloons popped and he fell to his death. They had a moment of silence for the presumed dead Toa. When they finally made it to the ground they met Celestia and Luna anxiously waiting.
“What happened? We saw explosions and tried to help but were blocked off by an invisible barrier,” said Celestia.
The group was silent. Then Pinkie pie spoke, “we were captured by Makuta Mutran. Three others came and we were trapped in their cloudy fortress. Then along came Kongu on a bazillion balloons and started to attack the fortress. One of the Makuta popped the balloons and he fell. We barely escaped in time.”
The Princess’s looked at the group; they looked like they had been through a war. Luna then spoke, “so the Toa of air is dead?” she asked. Pinkie pie nodded sadly, “well, we heard him scream. He might have survived but… that’s a long way down.”
“Who might have lived-survived?” asked a voice.
“Kongu?” asked Nuparu astonished.
“Who else?” he responded.
“But, you fell from hundreds of feet in the air!” said Twilight.
Kong smiled, “hard-fell on a few trees. Honestly, you need to get a quick-faster balloon.”
Many hours later at Sugarcube corner, the group had come to an eventual conclusion: find this ‘shadow leach hive’. Unfortunately, they had no idea where it was or what it looked like and Rainbow dash was in no condition to face Mutran again. She was currently in the hospital being treated for mass shock and therapy. They decided to start to look for it in the morning.
‘The morning,’ thought Matoro, ‘what new horrors will the morning have? We only have four days before Brutaka creates another portal to home… what are we going to do?’