//------------------------------// // Wrong Sacrifice // Story: The Prince Returns // by Shadowslash101 //------------------------------// Chapter 12 Wrong Sacrifice The throne of Canterlot Castle was filled with many a stallion from Ponyville to Cloudsdale. Celestia sent out a decree for every stallion from Ponyville and Cloudsdale to come to Canterlot Castle. The room was filled with many a conversation concerning about the problem around the land. Many ponies have been disappearing everywhere. It has become quite worrisome and most of them did not want to show up, but since it was from the princess, they had to come. A stallion named Fancypants heard about the gathering, and he tried to get any other stallions left in Canterlot, but he only persuaded a few simple folk to follow him: one Pegasus, an Earth Pony, and another Unicorn. The Pegasus was named Flight Lock, the Earth Pony was named A.C. Turnip Top, and the other Unicorn was named Jacko Lantern. Flight Lock was just as tall as Fancypants. His coat was dark blue, and his spiked mane was blond. His Cutie Mark was a star with a wing on it. Jacko Lantern was shorter than the rest of the Canterlot Stallions. His coat was a dull orange, and his curly mane was a light ginger. His Cutie Mark was pumpkin with a knife stabbed into it. A.C. Turnip Top was taller than Jacko, but shorter than Flight Lock. His coat was a light brown, and his brown mane was covered by his work hat. Fancypants scans around the large group of gathered stallions from Ponyville. “I say, Flight Lock, there’s quite a many stallions here from out of town.” Fancypants remarked astonished by the large number. “I wonder what the Princess wants them all for.” “Uh, I don’t know, Fancypants.” The Dark Blue Pegasus replied. “It seems that we’re all here for something very important.” Fancypants thought aloud, but then he noticed Turnip Top missing from the rest of them. “I say, where is our friend, Turnip Top, anyway?” “Over there.” Jacko Lantern pointed out. Fancypants and Flight Lock spots Turnip talking to Big Macintosh in the crowd. “He’s talkin’ to somepony.” “Well then, let’s go meet his friend, shall we?” The rich stallion leads the others to Turnip and Big Mac. The buck toothed colt and red stallion notice their approach. “Hey, Fancypants, Flight Lock, and Jacko!” Turnip waved at them. “Hello, Turnip.” Fancypants greeted back. “We couldn’t help, but notice, who is your friend?” “He’s Big Macintosh!” The Bucktoothed Colt explained gladly. “He’s from Sweet Apple Acres in Ponyville!” “Eeyep.” Big Macintosh agreed with him. “Interesting.” Fancypants smiled. “Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Fancypants. I’m one of the richest ponies here in Canterlot.” The Rich Stallion points to Flight Lock and Jacko Lantern. “These two are Jacko Lantern and Flight Lock.” “Nice to meet you, Big Mac.” Flight Lock greeted. “Hello.” Jacko Lantern also greeted kindly. The Red Stallion nods to them both; making Fancypants curious. “I say, he doesn’t talk much, does he?” Fancy asked Turnip. “He’s more of the strong, silent guy.” Turnip replied with a broad smile. “But he can be a real good friend!” Just then, Celestia enters into the throne room as a servant tried to blow the trumpet to sound her arrival, but comes off a little off key. As the Princess walks down the pathway cleared for her, all the stallions bowed to her. Celestia finally stood at her throne; where she faced the stallions; that all then stood up straight. “Greetings, my loyal subjects.” Celestia welcomed warmly. “I ordered you all here for something very important.” She then turned to a crystal ball beside her, and then used her magic to somehow activate it. “You can out now, Gemini.” “Gemini?” Fancypants repeated curious down in the crowd. “Uh, what’s that?” Turnip Top asked just as curious as Fancy. Then the entire room fills with a harsh wind, and then the glass orb sparked up lightning. A blast of light that shot from the orb toward the ceiling illuminated the room; blinding everypony, but then when the light ceased, Gemini bowed before the Princess. “Princess Celestia.” Gemini greeted respectfully. “I believe you want me to show you how your heroes are faring?” “In another time, Gemini.” Celestia replied. “I need you to show these stallions the problem at hoof.” Gemini turns around the meet eye to eye with each stallion in the room. “As you wish, Princess.” Gemini agreed with the royal.  “Helpful?” Spike’s voice came into hearing. “Helpful, are you okay?” Helpful felt something push him; awakening him. Helpful sat up and scanned the area they were in. He found them in a dark cave, and the only light they had was coming from above them. The ceiling was covered by vines and roots. “How’d your beauty sleep go?” Sunny teased Helpful playfully. “Did you dream about Fluttershy?” Helpful laughs at Sunny; who was beside him and Spike. “Not this time Sunny.” Helpful replied giggling. “Well, we’re trapped like rats right now.” Sunny explained as she looked around, but then they heard Dash groaning behind them. “Rainbow Dash?” Helpful quickly turned around and found Rainbow standing herself up. Helpful quickly dashed over to help his friend. “Thanks, Helpful.” Rainbow thanked Helpful. “No problem.” “Where are we?” Dashie asked curious as she gawked around the cave, and then she began walking around. Spike, Sunny, and Helpful exchange looks of confusion. “C’mon, guys. There’s gotta be a way to get out of here.” Helpful and Spike scan around the dim lighted cavern, the Tan Stallion could not see a way out anywhere, but Spike notices some bones on the ground around him. “H-hey, Helpful.” Spike grabbed Helpful’s attention. “Yeah, Spike?” Helpful turned to Spike curious. “Look down.” Spike pointed down to the bones on the floor. Helpful looks down to the white broken bones and ribcages on the floor around them, and then drops his jaw shocked. Sunny walks over to him curious. “What are you two…?” Her voice trailed off as she noticed all the bones on the floor. Dash then trots over to them. “Hey. Where’s the o-.” Dash’s mouth was covered by Sunny’s hand; who shushed her. The Sassy Dragon points down to the bones under them. Dashie notices all of them, and then grows curious. “What’s with all the bones?” Rainbow asked; making Helpful, Spike, and Sunny shush her again. “And why are we whispering?” Dash whispered curious and confused. “We think there may be something else in here.” Spike answered quietly. “These bones don’t just fall into a pit by themselves.” “But what’s in here?” Dashie tried to clarify. “Helpful, you think you could turn on your wings for a sec?” Sunny rubbed her eyes. “It’s hard to see without some decent light.” “Sure thing, Sunny.” Helpful replied. He then tries to focus everything hard, but after sometime, Helpful farts on Spike; who faints on his back from the bad smell. Dash and Sunny cover their noses and fan the smell away. Helpful smiles embarrassed. “Heh, sorry, guys.” Helpful excused himself. “What do you say, Helpful?” Sunny replied with a serious expression. “Uh, excuse me.” “Ugh!” Rainbow exclaimed in disgust. “What did you eat, Helpful?” “I do not know.” Helpful covered his nose from the hideous smell. “But whatever it was, it was bad.” “Guess I have to do everything, huh?” Sunny sighs as she picked up a stick and blew fire on it. It caught fire and illuminated the cavern around them, but what they saw was shocking. A humungous lion-like creature stood up above them. It was a translucent red filled with stars up to its mane. A seven pointed star was set on its forehead, like the Ursa Major’s. Sunny only heard rumors about this incredible entity. “T-that’s a L-L-Leo Major!” Sunny exclaimed in fear. The huge lion-like creature roared at an incredible volume of sound; making Helpful’s and Rainbow’s hair stick out the back of their heads. It growls deeply and menacingly toward them. Dash has never seen such a dangerous creature before. It was far worse than the Ursa Major for sure. Before the mare knew it, her entire life began flashing before her eyes. It was all mostly a colorful blur though. Helpful notices Rainbow’s trance of fear. “Dash?” Helpful tried to grab her attention, but she didn’t respond as usual. “Oh-no.” He turns back to the Leo Major and stands in front of Dashie. “Come on!” Helpful taunted toward the humungous entity; who growls at him. “You don’t look so tough! Why don’t you pick on somepony your own size?” Before Sunny could protest, she notices a young white dragon peeking behind what seems to be an exit. He waves at her and then motions for her to follow. Sunny then taps Helpful’s shoulder; grabbing his attention. “What is it?” Helpful replied. Sunny points at the white dragon beckoning for them to follow, but before he could comprehend this, the Leo Major raised his claw and batted Rainbow Dash into a wall. “Dash!” Helpful and Sunny exclaimed in shock. Rainbow fell onto the floor out cold. Helpful and Sunny dashed over to her. The Tan Pegasus scooped up Dashie and Spike, and dashed toward the cavern the white dragon motioned for them to follow. “Let’s get out of here!” The white dragon leads ahead of them. The Leo Major tried to grab them inside the cavern, but they went in too deep for it to capture its lunch. So it roared in fury. After some time, the white dragon leads the four out of the cavern into the dense jungles of the island. Helpful and Sunny stop to catch their breath, and lay Spike and Dash on a large tree root. “We’re okay.” Helpful remarked gladly. “Thanks to you, um… What’s your name?” “My name’s Snowy.” The white dragon answered a little nervous. “Y…you don’t eat meat…do you?” “What?” Sunny exclaimed a little surprised. “Of coarse ponies don’t eat meat. What do you mean by that?” “Well, there’s a tribe cannibalistic ponies on the island.” Snowy explained shyly. “The very same that took your friends.” “Wait. You mean a tribe of cannibals took Fluttershy??” Helpful gasped shocked, and then he turned to Sunny wildly. “We gotta save her!” “You mean ‘them.’” Sunny corrected with an impish smile. “Uh, yeah.” Helpful raised an eyebrow. Spike finally woke up from his slumber and looked around confused. “Where are we?” Spike asked them. “You’re back out in the dense jungles from the dreaded Leo Major.” Snowy explained. “Okay, and who are you?” “We don’t have time for that.” Helpful protested while he walked into the jungle. “We have to get to the others before they become cannibal stew.” “Wait a sec. Cannibals!?” Spike exclaimed in shock. “Yes, Spike.” Helpful answered with a serious look. “We have to find them now.” “But what about Rainbow Dash?” Sunny asked concerned. Snowy examined Dash’s wings. Dashie winced in pain as he finished. “She’s fine.” Snowy explained. “But her right wing is broken. It’ll take some time to heal.” “This isn’t good.” Sunny thought out loud. “I’ll watch over her as you three help the others.” “Gotcha.” Helpful replied. “Alright then.” Spike agreed. “I can lead you to the tribe, but you need to do as I say.” The White Scaled Dragon ordered. Helpful and Spike exchange looks of uneasiness, but then they turn back to Snowy. “We can do that.” Helpful assured. “Good. The path is dangerous. Anything could happen.” “Like Helpful said.” Spike replied with smirk. “We can do it.” “Alright. Let’s go!” Snowy ran ahead of Helpful and Spike; who soon follow deeper into the jungle. Meanwhile at the other side of the island, Twilight wakes up and finds herself in a cage made of native bamboo sticks. Around her was what a large tribe of native ponies seemed to her. All of them wore a primitive face and body paint. Some danced around a big wood-fire in a circle. Others stood around and made very awkward music with their crudely shaped instruments. There were also many dome-shaped huts around them made out of dead leaves and possibly with warped lumber to make the interior. She looked around her cage and found the rest of her friends still sleep. She went to Applejack and shook her gently. “Applejack.” Twilight whispered softly. “Applejack, wake up.” “Wha’? Huh?” Applejack mumbled half awake. “What’s goin’ on?” “Shh.” Twilight shushed her friend so they wouldn’t grab any attention from the natives. Applejack stood up and looked around confused. “Where are we?” She whispered to her friend. “I don’t know, but I think we’re in some tribe.” Twilight answered thoughtfully. Just then a native foal ran into the tribal camp and started shouting their native language; making them all stop whatever they were performing. Applejack couldn’t even understand them and neither could Twilight. “What’s he sayin’?” Applejack wondered, but then a plump stallion walked out in front of their huge fire and shouted the language some more. The other cannibals began concurrent conversations that they couldn’t make out. “What’s goin’ on?” Applejack asked again. “I don’t know, but it seems that the fat one must be the chief.” Twilight explained thoughtfully, but before she could continue two native stallions used bamboo sticks and lifted the cage off the ground with ease; making Applejack and Twilight become uneasy and almost fall off balance. They were leaving the tribe camp to...somewhere. The purple unicorn began to panic as the rest of the tribe followed them into the forest. She dashed over the wall of the bamboo cage. “Where are you taking us?” Twilight panicked as she grabbed the chief’s attention, but the only answer she received was silence and a cold stare. Twilight turned back to Applejack; who too looked nervous. “Did he even say anything?” Applejack asked her, but her friend shook her head sadly. Meanwhile as Sunny collected water from a river beside her Dashie, Rainbow Dash woke up and sat up slowly, but her wing ached as she did this; making her lay back onto the root she laid on. “What?” Rainbow asked semi-consciously as she scanned around her surrondings. “Where am I?” “You’re outside, Dash.” Sunny replied calmly. “Helpful, Spike, and another dragon has gone ahead to save the others from being served on a platter.” “Oh, right.” Dashie stood up slowly. Sunny quickly ran over to help her friend balance. “Thanks, Sunny. We need to help them.” “You can’t. Your wing’s a mess, if you haven’t noticed,” Sunny protested with a strong look. “And they might already be there by now.” Looking around, Dash quickly remembered about the Leo Major and what Fluttershy said about grouchy animals. “’If you want to tame a mean animal, you need to find what its problem is.’” Rainbow repeated confidently running ahead of Sunny; who looks at her confused. “Say, what?” Sunny quickly chased after Dash. Meanwhile, Helpful, Snowy, and Spike find the tribal camp abandoned. “Wait a sec.” Spike wondered out loud. “If our friends were captured by cannibals, how come nopony’s here?” “I don’t know, Spike.” Helpful replied just as confused as he is. Snowy looked into the chieftain hut for any clues and came back with nothing. “Well, your friends aren’t eaten, that’s for sure!” Snowy told them with an uncomfortable smile. Helpful then notices the hoof prints all on the ground around them. Snowy also noticed them too. “Where do these lead?” Helpful asked the white dragon; who walks around them following the many trails left by ponies. Snowy kept walking around them into huts and other small buildings; making Helpful and Spike exchange looks of confusion. Meanwhile, the other friends have awakened and are still being moved somewhere. Fluttershy has been hiding herself from the cannibals; while Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Twilight try to figure out where they are. “You think we’re being taken to somewhere dangerous?” Applejack assumed thoughtfully. “That’s nonsense, Applejack.” Rarity scoffed. “I’m sure we’re just being relocated, that’s all.” “Some relocation.” Pinkie remarked looking around. “How do even know we’re being relocated? I mean, they could be doing something else for all we know.” Applejack protested. “Well, we’ll just have to find out, now won’t we?” Rarity walked over the wall of the cage and turned her gaze to a nice looking stallion beside them. “Excuse me!” Rarity began with a lively voice. “But could you tell us where you fine folk are taking us, hm?” The stallion continued his walk ahead not even thinking about glancing at Rarity or the others; surprising Rarity. “Well, I never…!” “Relocated, my dirty hooves.” Applejack stated crossly; surprising her friends. “Applejack!” Twilight exclaimed in shock. “Well, what else can I say?” Applejack reasoned. “Well, certainly not that.” Rarity replied. “Well, we need to make sure that if Helpful, Dash, Sunny, and Spike are following, they might know where we are now.” Applejack explained as she walked over to the back edge of the cage and threw out her hat; that hit the dirt path. “Hopefully they’ll find that.” “But, Applejack,” Twilight protested even more surprised. “That’s your favorite hat!” “We need something to tell them they’re going the right way.” The others exchange look of uneasiness, but then they agree. “You’re right, Applejack.” Twilight agreed. “What would we do without you?” As they were carried off, Rainbow Dash and Sunny return to the Leo Major’s Lair. Sunny of coarse, thinks Rainbow has either lost it or she’s stupider than she looked, but either way it was a bad idea to return to a Leo Major. They were just at the edge of that hallway they escaped through and they could the Leo groaning in anger as he tried to climb up the walls of the cavern; not having any luck getting out. Getting out? Was the Leo Major only mad because it couldn’t get out and see the world outside? “Hmm…” Rainbow thought for a second. “Rainbow Dash? If it’s all the same for you, I’d like to get out of her before we’re mauled into chew toys.” Sunny tried to persuade her friend to reconsider, but she didn’t listen. “He just wants to get out.” Dash thought out loud; making Sunny uneasy. “’Get out?’” Sunny repeated confused. Just then the Leo stopped his efforts to free himself and lies on the ground with sad-filled eyes. Dashie couldn’t stand this, she trotted out the secret hallway straight toward the Leo Major; making Sunny face palm herself. The Leo notices her approach and growls at her bitterly; making Dash nervous, but she tried to keep calm. “It’s okay li—I mean, big guy.” Rainbow comforted the monster feeling like Fluttershy a bit. “I don’t mean any harm.” The Leo stops growling slowly. “Listen, I’ve noticed that you’ve been trying to get out of this place.” Dashie explained and walked up closer to him; surprising Sunny with her jaw down. “I think I can help you big guy.” She jumped into his huge mane and the creature stood up as Dash popped her head out to see. “We can do this, Leo! We just need to try and keep trying hard!!!” Sunny watched surprised to see Dashie bravely lead a Leo Major to free them out of a crevice. Meanwhile, Helpful and Spike lay around playing dirt Tic Tac Toe as Snowy kept tracking the trail of hoof prints. “Tic Tac Toe! Three in a row!” Helpful announced as he won for the fiftieth time. “What?” Spike exclaimed in surprise. “I thought you never played this game.” “I haven’t.” Helpful answered with an innocent smile. Finally, Snowy found the tracks leaving the area. “Hey! I found where they went guys!” Snowy announced gleefully. Helpful and Spike then stood up and followed Snowy into the deep parts of the jungle. As they tracked, Twilight began pacing back and forth in her cage. They just stopped at the side of the volcano and who knows what the natives are planning next. Applejack felt awkward without her hat as always, Rarity is dumbfounded that none of the other natives will even look at her, not even a glimpse, Pinkie Pie tried to keep Fluttershy calm in this pressing matter while the yellow mare tried to hide herself. Finally, Twilight looked up toward the volcano’s poisonous smoke and gases, and then sighed sadly. “We’re a Sacrifice.” Twilight admitted semi-consciously. “’A Sacrifice?’” Applejack overheard her surprised. “What do you mean ‘Sacrifice?’” “We’re going to be thrown into the volcano in order to stop the coming eruption.” Twilight explained not looking up. “They do it because they believe it will save them.” Rarity and Applejack exchange looks of uneasiness and confusion, but then the crude drums banged harshly; scaring Fluttershy behind Pinkie. “What’s goin’ on?” Applejack looked around confused, and then the cage they are in was lifted againand they started up the steep incline. “It’s starting.” Twilight replied nervously. “W-w-where’s Helpful?” Fluttershy stuttered out of pure fear hugging onto Pinkie Pie. “He’s c-coming…r-right?” Applejack and Twilight exchanged looks of uneasiness again and the Hard Worker sighs. “He’s coming, Fluttershy.” Applejack assured with a comforting smile. “I’m sure of it…” As they were carried away, Rainbow Dash, Sunny, and the Leo Major tried to free themselves out of the pit, but they’re efforts land in futile. As the Leo sorrowfully moaned on the ground, Rainbow jumped down to his face and pushed him further. “C’mon, Leo!” Dash encouraged greatly and angrily. “You aren’t a Quitter! You are a Champ! You can get out of here! Don’t you want to be Free!?” The Leo roared furiously at Rainbow; making her mane stand straight back and it gave her a shocked expression. “O-okay…l-l-let’s go!” Dashie stammered as she climbed back into the mane. The Leo crouched down, ready to pounce, and, using all its strength, he busted through the vine covered ceiling; free to do anything as he climbed out into the light of the outside world. It roared it triumph as it breathed in the air of freedom. Rainbow and Sunny jumped down from its mane on the grounds of the jungle. “Okay, dude!” Rainbow began to explain to the Leo what they needed him for. “I wo—huh!” Dash’s sentence was cut off by the Leo grabbing her playfully and licks her as his way of saying ‘thank you.’ “Heh, heh. You’re Welcome, Big Guy…” Dash tried to speak as she was licked by its big wet tongue. Soon, it let her down and she flew up into his mane with Sunny on her back. “Wait… I can fly now?” Dash asked herself as looked at her wing. It was somehow was fully healed to perfection; in fact it felt better than ever; come to think of it her entire body felt a hundred percent cooler than she’s ever felt. “Whoa! Sunny, my wing! It’s all better!” Dash shouted gleefully to Sunny; who also was surprised. “That’s… That’s amazing, but how did heal so quickly?” Sunny wondered. Dashie looked down from the Leo’s mane to the Leo itself. Somehow she felt like it was him who healed her wing, but how was unexplainable, and there was no time for pondering. They had to quickly help Helpful, Spike, Snowy, and save the rest of her friends from those cannibals. “C’mon, Leo!” Dash gently pulled on the lion’s mane; making it stand up over the trees. “We got friends to save! Hyaah!” She wiped his hair strands like they were reins and the Leo Major roared as it jumped into freedom of its new home. Tracking down a tribe of cannibals was harder and longer than it seemed. Helpful and Spike have been following Snowy’s direction through the jungle for some time now at a rapid pace. Snowy rode on Helpful’s back as he galloped; pointing out where they need to go as Spike sat behind him. “Stop!” Snowy eventually shouted. Helpful hits the brakes and they gradually stopped in front of Applejack’s hat. Helpful picked it up and gives it to Spike. The Purple Dragon takes the head ware and examines it. “It’s Applejack’s Hat, Helpful!” Spike explained. “I know and we must be getting close.” Helpful replied with a cold stare forward. “We don’t have much time. Snowy.” “Yeah?” Snowy answered a little uneasy. “We should be able to get to them by going straight ahead, right?” “Yeah?” “Then let’s go!” Helpful immediately, without warning bolted forward; making Snowy and Spike hold onto him tight as they winds blew past them due to inertia. Meanwhile in Canterlot Castle, Celestia looks down to her newly formed armies of newbie stallions. She had needed an army and this is what she had to counter Envious. Though small, it was enough to protect the innocent from those horrid minions Gemini described. Each stallion was given a rank and they know what is expected of them, but she isn’t certain what they could be able to do it yet. Down below, Fancypants and Flight Lock have been discussing inside a tent for defense posts they would have every stallion stationed at when AC and Big Macintosh entered the tent dirty as ever. “We got those holes you wanted to be dug down, Sir!” Turnip Top reported with a salute. “Yes, quite.” Fancypants replied taking a small step away, but was careful not to be rude to them. “Have you dug them completely as I described?” “Sure did, Boss!” “Splendid. Now get yourselves cleaned and gather the troops together so we can station them.” “Yes, Sir!” AC saluted almost knocking himself off balance and dashed out the tent with Big Mac, not too much in a hurry, to Jacko Lantern and Soarin’; who were both watching the soldiers practice battle techniques. Turnip crashed into Soarin’; who hit the ground, but AC didn’t notice. “Hey, Jacko Lantern!” Turnip Top shouted at his friend; who already was looking at him. “Yeah, Turnip?” Jacko replied rubbing his sore ear. “Not so loud next time, please.” “Fancypants said to get all the troops together so they can be stationed!” Soarin’ gets up irritated at AC, but decided to put the thought aside. “We’ll get them ready, Turnip.” Soarin’ explained assuring AC. “You go get yourself cleaned up before the princess sees you.” “Yes, Sir, Soarin’ Sir!” Turnip dashed off out of sight with Big Macintosh following slowly. Jacko sighed; thinking about his wife and foals at home. Soarin’ notices this and grows curious. “What’s eatin’ ya?” Soarin’ asked the stallion; bringing him out of his thoughts. “Huh? Oh, uh…” Jacko thought for a second. “I’m just thinking about home. My wife and foals are all worried about the events from this ‘Envious’, and since I’m going to battle, I don’t want them worried about me.” “I see.” Soarin’ understood and thought about the last time he spent time with his marefriend: Fleet Foot. They haven’t been going out as much now that this is going on. He’ll have to make this work out somehow. “They’ll be fine, I’m sure.” “I sure hope so.” Jacko pushed thought aside and focused back on his task as Drill Sargent. “Troops: Formation!” The stallions in armor all cease their practice and form a shoulder to shoulder line in front of them. Soarin’ and Jacko Lantern are both Drill Sergeants for Celestia’s Army, as Flight Lock is the commander, and Fancypants is the General; unfortunately for AC he’s the Private. Fancypants and Flight Lock soon exit out of the tent and walk toward the troops. “Troops: Attention!” Jacko ordered; making all the stallions stand directly straight and proper. The Proper Unicorn and the Dark Blue Pegasus stopped beside the Dull Orange Unicorn and took a good look on each stallion, and then they soon began assigning stations. Meanwhile, Helpful finds himself at the bottom of the Volcano’s climb, and he immediately jumps up to the rocks and climbs in order to save his beloved. Spike and Snowy have been gripping Helpful the entire roller coaster ride. “Helpful!” Spike tried to grab his attention almost vomiting. “You think you could slow down a bit?” “No time, Spike!” Helpful replied jumping over boulder and almost knocking off Snowy. “We need to save them now, if we’re not too late!” As they continue climbing up the volcano, the Leo Major jumps past the tribal camp; demolishing a few huts, and continues toward the volcano; where they can plainly see Helpful, Spike, and Snowy climbing it. “There they are!” Dash remarked excited. “Now we catch up!” She wiped on the Leo’s mane and the Starred Lion made a glorious jump into the air and landed on the base of the volcano with a large thud; almost knocking off Helpful. He looks down to see the Leo, but not Rainbow Dash and Sunny. “Ack! We need to climb up faster!” Spike exclaimed in fear. Helpful couldn’t argue with that as he flew up toward the top of the volcano. At the top, Fluttershy was the first to be let out from the cage, but she was blindfolded and pushed toward…something. The natives kept pressing her forward with the back ends of their spears. She became very scared and unsure of what was going on she was so confused and lost, until she could feel the very edge of the ground she was walking on, and then she could feel a wave of intense heat pass her face; like she walking near a fire. It was then she realized that she was at the edge of a cliff above the lava of the volcano. Scared out of her wits the shy Pegasus dropped to the ground and covered her head with her hooves and she screamed: “Helpful!” over and over again, and she cried her tears through the blindfold. The natives only laughed as they pushed her closer to the edge, but then they were surprised to hear a shout from behind. “Let her go!”