As Applejack and Twilight walked towards Fluttershy’s cottage the thought of what might come through the portal next was at the front of their minds. It was then that a horrible thought entered Twilight’s mind, what if the portal opened up somewhere where there wasn’t an obvious line of defence. Places like Appleloosa, Manehatten and other areas didn’t have any forms of defence. It was at that moment the truth was made all the more clear, they’d have to tell Celestia and sooner rather than later.
As if the thought had struck Applejack, she asked “Shouldn’t we tell the princesses about these portals?” she looked towards Canterlot as she spoke with a sad shake of her head “If ya don’t tell them, they’ll find out, I mean that massive rock snake it isn’t easy to ignore and I suspect they’ll be mighty bit ticked if you don’t”
Twilight knew despite her reservations that Applejack was right “After we tell Fluttershy, I'll send Celestia a letter and inform her” she said very much concerned about Celestia’s reaction but for the moment it was more important to inform the rest of the main six about the oncoming threat “So what do you think will come through the portal next?”
Applejack gave Twilight a look that said, really, it was clear her ideas of all potential beings that could come through the portal was a bit limited but Twilight had to admit her ideas didn’t amount to much “Let’s just hope no matter what appears that we can repel it” Applejack said as she knocked on Fluttershy’s cottage door.
When the door opened both Applejack and Twilight were left with their mouths wide open. There stood on his hide legs a tall rabbit, in a red waist coat and brown gloves. It was then that the rabbit spoke “Greetings, pleasure ta make your acquaintance” he said in a thick accent that neither pony could place and giving a little bow “Basil Stag Hare at your service, expert scout, hide leg fighter, wilderness guide and camouflage expert!” he seemed very eager to get all of his introduction out in short order but this left both Twilight and Applejack stunned “Uh might I enquire your names?”
It was then Fluttershy appeared at the door with a big smile on her face and said “Oh Twilight, Applejack I was just about to come and introduce you to my new friend Basil” she looked at Basil with a smile and leaned closer, both ponies expecting her to be scared but “Isn’t he wonderful?”
Twilight could only guess “Did you go through some sort of weird portal?” she asked as Basil stood smiling “It’s very nice to make your acquaintance by the way, Mr Stag Hare”
Basil nodded “I most certainly did. It was very bally rude” he said still smiling “I was walking along when a bally hole appeared under me! It was quite a shock when I awoke next to this lovely cottage. I have to say you ponies are much smaller than normal ponies I'm use to”
Applejack looked at Basil before giggling “So uh how much bigger should we be?” she asked as she resisted the urge to roll on the floor with laughter “I mean we seem about the size that ponies should be”
Basil sniffed, frowning at Applejack before smiling “Well you ponies should be at least that tall!” he pointed to a tree by the bridge that led to Fluttershy’s cottage “I mean really? I shouldn’t be taller than any of you”
Twilight couldn’t help but wish she had something to note down what Basil was stating about the world he was from “So uh where do you live Mr Stag Hare?” she asked wanting to find out about his world “Do you have magic?”
Basil shrugged “I’m not too sure, mam. Magic always seems to be in old stories of Martin” he said as he rubbed his chin “I mean old Cluny the lunny used to believe that the tapestry of Martin was magic but he was a lunny” he paused before smiling with what Applejack, Fluttershy and Twilight could not mistake for, pride “However as to where, I live at the abbey of Redwall within Mossflower wood”
“Redwall?” Fluttershy asked before she smiled “Why is the abbey called Redwall?”
Basil paused before saying “I always assumed because it’s built of red sandstone”
All of the ponies rolled their eyes before Twilight said “Well that would make sense” before they all giggled. It was then they heard a sound that all within Ponyville dreaded the sound of a creature as large as a dragon and with more heads, a hydra. As Twilight and Applejack turned they saw the Hydra heading for Ponyville “Oh no! If that thing gets to the centre of Ponyville it’ll eat every pony in sight!”
Before any pony could react Basil stag Hare leapt over Applejack and Twilight screaming “Give 'em blood and vinegar!” he jumped high again delivering a vicious kick to the head on the Hydra’s tail “Come on you oversized serpent!”
It was then Basil received some unexpected help when a rock flew through the air and struck the Hydra in the stomach “Geroar!” the massive rock snake was charging with its head lowered and tackled the Hydra.
Iroh suddenly ran up launching a vicious fire attack at the Hydra “Please forgive our late arrival” Iroh said to Twilight as he landed next to her “A blue pony told us you might need some help”
“Rainbow?” Fluttershy asked uncertain of the strange being before her, it was then a rainbow streak struck the Hyda and all were surprised to see a second attack hit the Hydra, the attack was bright blue in colour, the attack was so fearsome it knocked the Hydra into a group of trees and as they all turned they could see a massive blue and white wolf like creature “Wh…what is that thing?!” Fluttershy stuttered a little surprised.
Rainbow Dash landed next to Applejack sporting a cocky grin “Hey, check out my new mate, he is so awesome!” she said pointing the blue and white wolf “His name’s Gabumon!”
It was at that moment a boy with spikey blonde hair in a school uniform walked up and smiled “Actually Rainbow in that form he’s known as Garurumon!” he said with a nod as the large wolf growled at the hydra “By the way, can I just ask? Why was there a large rabbit, a giant rock snake and an old guy attacking that thing?”
Before any could answer the Hydra roared in anger, as it rose from the trees it struck out with two of its necks at the giant rock snake but the snake wasn’t quick enough to dodge the attack. As the snake flew backwards Basil and Garurumon launched their attacks but the Hydra knocked them both to the ground.
Basil stood looking very angry “You bally serpent!” he declared angrily as he jumped up “Come on old chap” he referred to Garurumon who got up growling “Are you alright?”
Garurumon nodded before saying “He’s not playing nice, raaaa!” he then opened his mouth wide before yelling “Howling Blaster!” the blue flames launched at a fearsome speed.
The Hydra was struck with all the energy that Garurumon had just fired out and as the attack ended Twilight appeared above the Hydra but before the Hydra could react, she launched a magical attack against the Hydra’s closest head and the Hydra fell knocked out.
Twilight landed next to Basil and smiled “Thank you”
“Absolute pleasure to help” Basil said as he turned to Garurumon who looked at Basil with curiosity “Although we couldn’t have done it without your good self, sir”
It was at that moment Garurumon was surrounded by a bright light and when the light cleared there stood a smaller creature who smiled “It was my pleasure” it said with a look at the Hydra “That guy was tough”
After a few minutes of cleaning the area of rumble, broken trees and other damaged items, the new friends gathered round the Hydra, one question was troubling them and Twilight asked “Why would the Hydra attack now?” all around her shrugged or looked at her with a curious expressions “I mean the Hydra has only ever been a threat when we were in froggy bottom bog?”
Fluttershy suddenly said “Has the Hydra always had a massive silver Z on its foreheads?” she pointed to the heads, on all the heads was a Z that flashed in a silver colour “I think it’s some kind of magic?”
Iroh nodded “Very observant but how do we know who put it there?” he asked looking at Twilight “It might be the larger threat you were talking about with me?”
Before Twilight could say a word, Rainbow cut in “Woah, woah hold up so where did all you weirdos come from anyway?” she asked completely tactlessly looking at the tall rabbit, the old man, the boy, the strange wolf creature and the giant rock snake “I mean this seems like…Twilight were you messing with some strange magic again?”
Applejack however answered “Well, as I understand it, Discord messed with the portal to Canterlot high and that’s how this lot got here” she explained as she sat down “I mean it's all very strange”
Fluttershy nodded “So Twilight did you give Discord permission to fiddle with the portal?” she asked kindly.
Twilight nodded “I was curious about the portal but when Discord did it Iroh came through and then Discord said the frame of the portal was cracked!” she said very quickly “As such portals will now open to different worlds!”
Basil scoffed “Well that sounds a tad bad” he said as he turned to the remains of the battle “I reckon, it’d be a top notch idea to go find whoever did this to the hydra”
“That sounds like a good idea but Gabumon and I better join you” the boy said as he stood up.
Twilight looked at the three with great concern “That sounds like a really bad idea” she said but looking at the three’s determined expressions “Maybe we should get you a guide?”
It was then that Fluttershy murmured “I’ll go with them” she looked at Basil with a kind look “I want to learn more about this Redwall place”
Applejack then tapped Twilight on the side "I better get these two back to Sweet Apple Acre" she said pointing to Iroh and the giant rock snake "That snake thing saved us and it looks hurt. I mean it was scary but we do owe it"
"Boomy, here likes to eat rocks" Iroh said with a kind look to the snake "I hope it is okay but I named it after a friend of mine. He just reminds me of my friend Boomy" all present had a small giggle and Iroh then added "I could also do with a cup of sweet tea"
After that Iroh, Applejack and the giant rock snake headed back to Sweet Apple acres saying they were going to clean up the mess. After teleporting the hydra far away, Twilight and Rainbow both nodded.
“So I guess we should head to Sugar cube corner?” Rainbow suggested as they flew up and headed for the shop.
Deep in the Everfree forest the villain who had send the Hydra was celebrating a different kind of victory “Well Zebra, you’re going to tell me all I want to know” it said
Zecora who was tied to a tree looked at the one who had captured her before saying “If answers you want from me, then find another zebra, for I will tell you no answers of any kind and I will tell you nothing but lies”
The villain growled with anger “Talk or else!”
So as Twilight and Rainbow raced to Pinkie Pie, the threat to Equestria was only growing larger than before. If this villain succeeds in getting the knowledge he seeks what will become of Zecora? Who else will show themselves and are all friendly?