//------------------------------//
// Gold 
// Story: The Poncho Chronicles IV: Through the Portal 
// by BRyeMC 
//------------------------------//

	Poncho, Apollo, Twilight, and Spike, sat in Twilight’s basement and waited for the new hour to come when Apollo would teleport Wahlburn and the others back. To pass the time, Spike played checkers with Poncho. The game was short lived however, after Spike gave up due to Poncho not making a move after ten minutes. Once Twilight saw Spike walk upstairs in anger, she looked at Poncho.
“Hey Poncho, I heard you asked Pinkie to tell us about some picnic you wanted to have,” said Twilight.
“Well,” began Poncho. He looked looked around and fiddled with his hoodie zipper. “I sort of only wanted Pinkie there...”
“Oh,” said Twilight. “I’m sorry to say she’s pretty oblivious to those things. I guess she took it as a request for all of us.”
“Yeah...” said Poncho sadly. He looked over at Apollo and saw him laughing. “What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing,” said Apollo. “It’s just, how didn’t you see that coming?”
“At least I tried!” yelled Poncho. “You wouldn’t have done anything if it was you in my position.”
Apollo began to walk towards him for a size up, but was stopped by the alarm of the clock beside him. He sighed and walked to the middle of the room.
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” asked Twilight, “I can help you if you want me to.”
“No,” said Apollo who lifted up a hoof. “I got this. All you have to do is focus.” He closed his eyes and began searching his mind for Wahlburn. He honed in all of his thoughts so Wahlburn was the only thing on his mind. He charging his horn and let go of the energy, pointing it at the ground. In a flash of light, Wahlburn sat there on the ground.
“It worked!” yelled Wahlburn. He looked around and then panicked. “Wait, where’s Qarlin at?”
“I’m guessing the teleportation only works if I seen the pony before,” said Apollo. 
Wahlburn sighed. “Well, that’s stupid as fuck. If I had known that, I wouldn’t have bothered with this hitlist thing. Might as well bring Fluffy and Clyde back now. Clyde is probably going to be pissed at me, but whatever.” He looked around and saw someone wasn’t there waiting for the group’s return. “I’m guessing she ended up going with him?”
Twilight nodded. “She ran up and held onto him as I sent him to his location. I knew she wouldn’t give up on joining him so I expected it. Rarity gets everything she wants after all.”
“Well, don’t blame me if anything happens to them,” said Wahlburn. He looked over at Apollo who was trying to focus and return Fluffy. After a few seconds, Fluffy appeared from the flash and gave a big smile to everyone. Unlike Wahlburn who panicked over not having his target beside him, Fluffy seemed to not care.
“So, how did it go?” asked Wahlburn. Fluffy dropped the smile.
“It was aight.”
“Did you find Narlin?” asked Poncho.
Fluffy shook his head. “I didn’t.”
Wahlburn stroked his chin. “Really? I could have sworn he would be there.”
“You lying!” yelled Fluffy. 
“What do you mean brother? I had the list from the clone we interrogated a few days ago.”
“You lying!” says Fluffy.
Wahlburn looked at him in arrogance. “You weren’t even here!”
“You”-Fluffy paused-”oh wait, nevermind. I wasn’t there.”
Wahlburn slapped his hoof to his face as Apollo turned to the others. “It’s not working.”
“What’s not working?” asked Twilight. 
“The spell, I can’t get Clyde to to teleport.” 
“What do you think that means?” asked Poncho. “Is he dead?”
“No, I don’t think so. It’s just, I can’t focus on him at all.” Apollo sighed and closed his eyes again. “Should I try both of them or Rarity now?”
Twilight walked up beside him. “You worry about Clyde, I can try to locate Rarity.” They sat there in the silence filled room. Wahlburn looked over at Poncho who was eating some chips quietly. He shrugged and sat down on the floor. After a few minutes, both of them shook their head. They began trying every combination possible and with still no luck, Apollo and Twilight looked at the ground. “I’m guessing they got captured...”
“Before anyone puts blame on anyone,” began Wahlburn, “I’m not responsible for this at all since I was teleported out of here before he left. The blame should be put on Clyde or Rarity.”
“How can you even say that?” asked Twilight with anger. “Clyde never wanted her to go in the first place. He didn’t even want to go himself! You pressured him into it which also made Rarity want to go too! You’re still responsible for it!”
“Woah!” said Wahlburn with his front hoofs forward to stop her. “You can’t just call me out like that. At least, we should have a poll or something.”
“Fine,” said Twilight. “Who all here thinks Wahlburn is responsible for all of this?” Twilight rose her hoof and watched Poncho, Fluffy, and Apollo raise theirs too.
“What the hell guys!” yelled Wahlburn in shock and disgust. “You’re all going against the leader of Operation Spark?” He looked around and saw all of them nod their heads slowly. “Well fuck all of you then. I’m going to make a new team and show you all up. I’m going to go rescue my brother and his girl.”
“You’re making an extraction group now?” asked Twilight.
“Of course I am. Since you all think I’m some criminal, I have to redeem myself somehow. Wahlburn isn’t a bad dude. He’s actually pretty chill, especially when he’s high.” The others sighed as he gloated. “Who wants to join my team?”
“If I join, can I choose the name this time?” asked Fluffy.
Wahlburn sighed. “I guess...”
“Okay, I’ll join Gold Team.” Fluffy ran beside Wahlburn and gave a salute.
“Gold Team?”
“Yeah, you know Gold Team. I wanted to be nostalgic and return to our South Beach days. Also, Gold Team rules!”
“Fine. Gold Team will return. Anymore of you?”
Apollo shrugged and walked up to them. “I guess I’ll be your teleportation and offensive guy.”
Wahlburn smirked. “Good, except, we’re making a quick stop somewhere else too. We need more help.” 
“Like who?” asked Apollo. Wahlburn leaned closer to his ear and quietly spoke where. “Oh no! We’re not going back there!”
“Stop being so damn butthurt, you bitch!” yelled Wahlburn. “Poncho, get your ass over here. We’re leaving.” Poncho quickly flinched and bolted to the spot beside Wahlburn. Wahlburn looked at the only pony in the basement that stood opposing him. “You’re not coming Twilight?”
Twilight frowned. “No, I’m not. I would just get in the way. I’m not too worried about Rarity as I know she has Clyde beside her. Besides, I really need to get back to all these books I was going to read over the past few days. I was busy with helping you out.”
“Wow Twilight,” said Wahlburn. “I thought friendship was super important to you? Clyde and Rarity could be dead and you don’t even worry or care about it?”
“Of course I care about them. Friendship is very important to me, but it did also teach me to believe and trust my friends. I’ve seen the look in their eyes when they are with each other many times. Nobody is going to separate them from each other. They are very protective of each other. Have more faith in your “brother”.” Twilight gave a wink.
Wahlburn nodded. “Alright, well, it’s been fun and I’m glad you don’t want to kill me anymore, but we have to rescue our pal.”
“I told you! I never wanted to kill you!” she yelled.
Wahlburn smiled at her. “I know.” He looked over at Apollo who was charging his magic. “Jeb! Let’s do this!”
“I told you my name is-” 
The group teleported from the basement as Twilight walked upstairs. She pulled some books from the shelf and sat down in a chair. She gave a long sigh and began thinking of Wahlburn’s mission and hoped nothing but the best.