//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Arctic Antics/Everfree Exhaustion // Story: Toby Mason and the Bandicoot // by The Mysterious Lombax //------------------------------// The first group arrived to Arctic Antics in a flash. "Boy," Toby said, shivering. "I-it's su-u-ure col-ld in this place he-ere." "I agree," Joshua complied, shaking. "Sa-ay, how com-me Cra-a-ash is not shi-ivering?" "He has a body made a fur," Heaven explained. "So let's get those crystals and gems!" We all saw crates up ahead. This caused me to spin in them. Then the gang saw some seals nearby. Toby wanted to pet them, but a voice shouted. "Stop!" Joshua called. "But why won't you let me pet them?" Toby asked. "They are bad seals, Toby. If you touch them, then you might die." Heaven explained. After that was taken care of, I spun them and more crates. Also he jumped on them. Finally, he spun an Aku Aku crate which caused the mask to float out of it. "Aku Aku?" Joshua asked. "What are you doing here?" "Like I said, it's my duty to protect you all." The mask answered. Since they freed our friend, the group had protection from almost anything that might harm us. We jumped through gaps, walked through bridges, broke more crates, and damaged the penguins. What we spun that was the most common crate was the checkpoint crate. If we died, then we'll be sent back there to the last checkpoint we were on. Wumpa fruits were collected by us also. When we collected 100 of them, we get an extra life. Speaking of life, we avoided the nitro crates. We will have to deal with them later. We managed to skate on thick ice. By seeing Outline boxes, we spun Switch crates to activate them. Spinning into a Crash and gang crate will also give us an extra life. For me, I bounced on the bouncy crates that give me Wumpa fruits every time I stomp on them. I also broke the locked crates that require me to body slam into them. There was a surprise that there was another Aku Aku crate in front of us. "Haven't we already broke your crate already?" asked Toby. "Yes. But there are more crates of mine that need to be broken." the mask replied. "Also, if you call me a third time, then I will give invincibility for 10 seconds. You can break anything and not get harmed. There is one now!" I spun the crate and Aku Aku faces got on the group. We went fast as we could to break all the crates that stood between us and the enemies. They saw two platforms up ahead. One for the bonus round and the other for the death route. "You kids take the bonus round while me and Crash take the death route!" Aku Aku announced. As the children went to the bonus round, they managed to break some crates, gained extra lives, jumped and avoided the TNT crates that stood between them. Meanwhile me and Aku Aku avoided the many hazards that threatened to exterminate them. I got the blue gem and warped back to the children. "Got the crystal?" Aku Aku asked. "You betcha!" Joshua replied happily, holding the crystal. "Say, what does that do?" Toby said as he touched the Nitro Switch crate. Suddenly, all nitro crates exploded, leaving a clear gem. The young child gathered the gem. "Yes!" Heaven cheered. "Our first crystal and two gems!" "Look! A target!" Joshua said, pointing to a target containing random prizes. "Let's get on." Heaven said, as they carried The first group headed to the elevator that warped them back to Coco's VR Hub system. While no one was looking, Joshua pulled out some sunglasses and put them on. He also held a boombox as the music played and he hooted in celebration. As the music ended, Joshua went back to the gang. Now let's get focused on the western gang. "Ma'h brain has never been that dizza'h since my sister was born!" Nathan complied as they arrived to Everfree Exhaustion. "Come on, guys," called Mike. "Let's find that crystal and gems before those bad guys get them!" The western gang saw a hill up ahead. They went to climb it for minutes. But on the middle of the hill, they felt an earthquake beneath their bodies. Suddenly, one opened below Apple Bloom. She began to fall. "AAAHH!" she screamed. In the nick of time, Nathan managed to fly fast and save his filly friend from falling to her death. "You saved me, Nathan!" Apple Bloom cried as she hugged Nathan. "What do you mean? You never leave a friend behind." he replied. Everyone blushed happily after not only the save the bat-boy made, but the saying that is heartwarming. "Alright, fellows," Applejack interrupted. "Let's get those varmints into-- what in tarnation?!?" Platforms appeared in from of them along with crates to break and avoid. "Alright, peoples and ponies," Mike said. "Let's get smashing and crashing!" The second group jumped above the platforms as they avoided the nitro crates and broke the regular crates. What was surprising to them was that there was an Aku Aku crate. They suddenly broke the crate and out came the flying mask. "Say, weren't you back at the warp room?" Apple Bloom asked Aku Aku. "Yes, but my sole purpose is to protect you all," the mask answered. "Good," Applejack answered. "Now let's get those crystals and gems!" As our heroes ventured further, they saw a Timberwolf and two Diamond Dogs in front of them. They dodged their enemies quickly but then saw TNT crates behind them. The mares distracted the enemies by pushing them closer to the other way while the humans jumped on the TNT crates and ran off together. This caused not only the enemies to be defeated, but it gave them an extra amount of 3 lives. Once that was settled, there was another two platforms. One for the bonus round and the other for a death route. "You two take that bonus round platform while me and Applejack go to the death route!" Mike called out. For the bonus round, it seemed a lot like the one in Arctic Antics but more larger and had more grass. In the death route, there were nitro crates, more Timberwolves, and sliding Diamond Dogs. To add the danger of that, deep chasms were included. As Apple Bloom destroyed the nearby crates, Nathan flew her over the nitro crates for safety. After that was succeeded, things were going antsy for Applejack and Mike. The human child had to ride his mother's back as the country mare jumped over great distances. While jumping, she broke many crates up ahead that are mid-air. She and the kid got the blue gem afterwards. As for the other two, Nathan broke the last two original crates while Apple Bloom kicked the Nitro Switch Crate that exploded the nitro crates that are left. They came upon on top of the hill as Applejack and Nathan got there. "We got the crystal and gem!" the filly and child exclaimed as they shown their proof. "And we got the blue gem!" the mare and other kid replied as they presented the blue gem. After that was taken care of, they all went to the elevator. They came back to the warp room. "So, how did it go?" Twilight asked the two groups. "Oh, it was always the same," Aku Aku responded. "This time they not only helped us, but we assisted them as well" Everyone cheered at that answer. "Oh my Celestia!" Rarity cried. "It's past night time! Time to put you children into bed." "Okay, Mommy." Conner said. "You too, kids." the rest of the Mane 6 and human adults announced. Every child went to their beds as their parents tucked them in their beds. They went to theirs as well. As for me, Coco, and Aku Aku, I went to sleep in the floor like always. Coco went to her room and slept on her bed. Aku Aku went to a secret room and laid asleep as well. It was a long day ahead for them.