//------------------------------// // Chapter 04: A Poisonous past // Story: MLP: Venom To All Things // by JusSonic //------------------------------// Chapter 04: A Poisonous past Now we enter a scene where we find a peaceful lake within a certain part of the Everfree Forest, it’s a very calm, very peaceful area. And we find Anakonda sitting on a hill over the lake, looking at it to see her reflection…of what and who she is. She was a bit lost in her own thought before seeing something fly behind her by the lake’s reflection. “Hiisss…” Anakonda hissed with looking ready to attack anything coming at her with a ready poison glowing around her hooves. “Woah-woah, easy there!” Adult Nyx yelped from flying from above gently to the ground. Then with a quick work of her magic, she reverted back to her small filly form. “I come in peace.” Little Nyx stated in not meaning to cause any harm. “Hmmm, you change size to help you fight, bad choice to fight small.” Anakonda spoke in studying how Nyx’s transformation helps her in battle, the one that’s more helpful is the larger form than the small filly form. “I’m not here to fight, I just wanna talk.” Nyx spoke in explaining that she was not here to pick fights, just have a peaceful chat. “Why talk with me little one? Are you not like others, questionable of my actions, my abilities, what I could do if left uncheck?” Anakonda raised an eyebrow to gaze at Nyx, knowing full well of how many see the snake mare and that she is dangerous if alone. “Well cause….I may know how you feel. Being alone, ponies saying you aren’t them and that they see a monster who’s more dangerous to them.” Nyx hesitated a bit before going into some detail about knowing how the mare seems to feel about such reactions other ponies give. “You speak these things as if you know what I feel.” Anakonda spoke a bit lost and confused by how Nyx knew such things. “Tell me, how do you know such feelings?” She asked with being intrigue, pondering how one so young could know such feelings. “Well, it’s because…” Nyx slowly begins to say, taking a big breath before preparing a conversation in…opening up to another that is almost like her in some ways. “I’m a reincarnation of Nightmare Moon. The evil that latch onto Princess Luna who turn her evil and a creation of the Moon Demon Lord, Tso Lan.” She told her whole story of what has happened to her and what she has done thus far from what her past explains. “Nightmare Moon….you say?” Anakonda repeated this off in being fascinated to learn of this bit of info. “Serpent Clan know much about Moon Demon Tso Lan and Nightmare Moon, but to think rumor of her being you is….surprise.” She explained from having the Intel of who Nyx is from the past to meeting her now. “Wait, you heard about me?” Nyx yelped in surprise to learn about this stuff now. “We snakes share all info with another, we know what is going on from overhearing others.” Anakonda explained how even slithering serpents like snakes can tend to know a few things. “To think you would be that creature many hated, yet I see you are not as bad with this.” She raised an intrigue eyebrow in seeing how well Nyx is taking such matters about how others think of the evil Nightmare Moon that many feel is a curse. “In the past, I might have been controlled by others during my confusion to be who I was supposed to be, but…my mommy helped me find another path to be.” Nyx looked down in recalling her past experiences from what she used to be and how without Twilight Sparkle, she might not be who she is today. “And ever since then, I’ve had wonderful friends and I’ve been really happy to have them all. They help me not become who I was or let evil forces use me.” She smiled in being glad that she has such great friends and family to help her along the way. Anakonda felt silent, the words that Nyx spoke did not sound like lies, but good to honest truth. Not many young ones of Nyx’s age would say they managed to overcome some form of which might be a curse of their existence; how strong she must be. “To think a child as young as you could speak so freely, so wisely, it’s as if we live in different worlds of our shared pain of suffering, you and I.” Anakonda spoke these traits of thought that have boggled her mind from seeing how different she and Nyx are. “Maybe if you tell me about yourself, it could make you feel better.” Nyx suggested this with a little nudge to help this wild mare of serpents open up. The Snake Mare looked to Nyx in almost being surprised, the filly wants to hear the story of what has made Anakonda be what she is today, and why it is she does not trust others other than her serpent brethren. “Haaaah, very well, I shall tell you my tale, something that is very tragic in my life.” Anakonda lets out a heavy sigh in seeing that maybe a tale about herself to one that shares some relationship of what it’s like to be cursed upon their birth; it may do her wonders. Soon things begin to blur out as the tale about Anakondo is soon to be told for any around to hear… ------------------------- At this time, the scene opens to what was a dark, stormy and rainy night, as it looked really bad in the forecast. The scene focuses around two ponies under cloak and hoods that were shot by darts and fell off a cliff. But during their fall and their bodies scattered, the mother looked to have protected a basket, which contained…a crying baby Pegasus filly. No one was around to hear her cries as it looks like the parents of the child met with….an unfortunate end. “I was but a simply infant, who had not been older than one…when I lost my parents. They met with an end by greedy hearts of ponies and they left us abandoned to die.” Anakonda’s narrative voice explained her sad tale of what happened to her long ago. “But as luck turn out, I was near within Foal Mountain and met the wild life, where I met…the predator.” On that last note, that's where something arise from the quote itself. The scene changes to where a familiar giant flying serpent is seen as it lands on the ground where the baby Pegasus was. “I did not know it, but I came face to face with the Sky Serpent, Cubellios the queen of the Serpent Clan. She was going to devour me when she found me, but…she did not.” Anakonda’s narrative voice explained what was going to happen to her when the snake reach over to devour her…or would she? A scene shows the giant serpent about to eat the child that was staring at it. But around the giant flying serpent was a collar that was seen from a flash of lightning as it was a strange snake fang,and it glowed emerald green for unknown reasons. Cubellios cease action in noticing what was happening and was curious of it…and the baby. “She became curious about me, when what was around her collar neck glowed when near my infant self.” Anakonda’s voice explained the state of where something was going on between a simple baby pegasus and a giant serpent beast. “Cubellios gave me the fang to touch and that’s when everything changed for me.” As spoken, Cubellios leans down and lets the curious baby crawl to reach up her hoof to touch the glowing fang. The time shows that as the baby touch the fang, it let off an eerie glow that turn to vapor, and floated to cover the child. Once it was over, the baby filly was no longer a mere ordinary Equestrian; she as now a different creature, newly color fur mix with scales and with serpent-like eyes. “Cubellios saw I changed into not just a mere pony, but a half breed serpent and decided to raise me as one of her brethren & children of the Serpent Clan.” As Anakonda explained her story, Cubellios took the child in its care back to Foal Mountain to meet with more snakes. “I learn that I was chosen by the magic fang to be the user to an element neither side could ever gain of good & evil; the Element Of Venom.” As told, the child could create much venom and poison that all the serpents were impressed, she was one of them. Many snakes gathered and the baby was never fearful of them, instead, they rather like her, the child was of their own but more special. Even the queen seem to smile in looking down at the child and spoke something to all snakes. “Cubellios named me in their native snake language, one where I to slowly begin to pick up and my given name to which others address me from think I am like an anaconda snake-type. And I liked it, I was now, Anakonda, the Wild Snake Mare.” Anakonda narrates in explaining how she was able to make a new life by a name she was given by snakes and another name to be address by in the English term. A scene shows the young Anakonda learning the ways of the Serpent Clan, blend in by camouflage, use her poison ability and even perform speaking snake talk. “I was taught within the serpent clan, our language was what some called Parseltongue as it would allow one’s ability to speak and communicate with snakes. I was given lesson about singing a song of one who need their own space when in deep doubt with a chanting calling. Another was making a calling sound in alerting my brethren of danger within the area.” Anakonda narrates to explain the things that was being taught to her, as she was learning fast and becoming more and more understanding of a serpent’s way of life. The scene shows Anakonda as she was now much older as she explored around to see ponies from nearby, only to gasp and snarl at watching hunters take snakes that are dead and rob them of their fangs from the living ones. “As time grew, I began to see those like me, but hated how they treated snakes, especially the cruel and evil ones. So I taught them a lesson.” As Anakonda narrates her words, her past self used her venom power that completely finished off such evil. But any surviving members of those that were with evil hunters, ran to warn a village, warn them about an evil serpent mare that could use deadly poison. “But that provoke in fear and I had to hied, they thought my power was a curse that could kill them all.” Anakonda explains her narration as her past self hided from an angry mob. “They were right so far, but many were misled by power hungry fiends that wanted my power, my poisonous venom, to help kill enemies.” As the scene played out, hidden evil forces smirk at the idea and wanted to hunt the wild mare that had such power. Now Anakonda is seen living within Foal Mountain, where she is comforted by her true friends and family, the Serpent Clan. “So I remain as defender of my serpent brethren, and to our queen, the one who I think of…as a mother.” Anakonda narrates in what she has decided for herself, to help be protective of her family of all ponies that see them as dangerous creatures. Now we focus on Anakonda as she is seen blending around her surroundings, practicing her slingshot techniques and practicing on using more deadlier techniques of her element. “It not matter if I had snakes as only comfort, they aren’t bad; they live as nature gave them. And I…I live by my own nature to be strong, and not weak.” Anakonda explained how she knows a truth of what others lack to see, and remains strong…strong to protect snakes and eliminate all that want harm or wish her harm in any way. Everything goes dark here, as the story slowly comes to an end…. ------------------------- Now we return to the present of which Anakonda and Nyx were near after the story of the past has ended. Nyx was really surprised to hear such a tale be told, so in a way, it kinda explains much about Anakonda and what her life was like. “Now you see where I come to be, little one?” Anakonda spoke gently to Nyx in stating her own thoughts of seemingly not have come over terms of her life. “What made me who I am, what made me special, can also be a curse of being targeted by those who hate and fear the deadly venom I can make.” She has seen the ugly side of those that fight to kill what they do not understand by fear, by greed, by the dark bearings of their hearts. “Gosh, I’m sorry to hear all that.” Nyx spoke in feeling like that is such a hard life, she feels sorry for Anakonda to have lived like that. “Hear this song of mine, child of the night, this helps me heal over the pain I feel everyday.” Anakonda spoke gently in wishing to show Nyx something, a song to help heal one’s pain of their loneliness. Soon Anakonda moves up near the hill over the lake, looks up to the night sky of the full moon. She moves in accordance to a tribe’s men in preparing a song chant. Anakonda: Hiiiyaaaah…..Hiiiiyaaaahh….yooooo Sebna-oh-may-yaaaaahhhh Nyx watched as Anakonda performed this interesting tribal chanting song, it sounded so pretty, like it was meant to help heal the soul. Senderhaaaaaaeeee…. Dieheadyooooo…. From above the night skies, there was an echo on that last part heard that seem to resonate with the night. Min-yaaa-hooooo….. And hidden from nearby, was the Mane Six & Goldie’s group along with Zecora as they watched this action in progress. “Oh my, it sounds so pretty.” Fluttershy gasped in a surprise way of being amazed. “And this is a song that snakes have made, who knew?” Rarity responded in never guessing a beautiful song sung, could come from serpents. Hiiiyaaaah…..Hiiiiyaaaahh….yooooo Sebna-oh-may-yaaaaahhhh “It is custom to sing chant, for it help make the bad go away, no?” Zecora explained what was going on here, Anakonda was wanting to help make the pain ease away. “Guess if we had hard times, we like something ta do dat too.” Appeljack shrug off to say in feeling like they can follow along. Senderhaaaaaaeeee…. Dieheadyooooo…. “Gotta admit, it’s a catchy beat.” Pinkie Pie smiled off in liking the tune of that song. “Yeee…ah, you think that way Pinkie.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes in hearing that statement. Min-yaaa-hooooo….. The gang watch as Anakonda continues to sing her song while so in focus, not letting anything distract her. Hiiiyaaaah…..Hiiiiyaaaahh….yooooo Sebna-oh-may-yaaaaahhhh “Well Twilight, what do you think?” Goldie looked to Twilight in asking her the question. “Yeah, you aren’t seriously thinking of being afraid of snakes that can make a nice chant like that.” Pinkamena asked off that if snakes had such a nice chanting song, would they all be so evil? Senderhaaaaaaeeee…. Dieheadyooooo…. “Well I…its very beautiful…” Twilight slowly responded in feeling like maybe…her little fear of being around snakes, is wavering a bit thinly. “I have to admit, it is nice and pleasant to listen to.” Ben smiled to nod in liking what they are hearing. Min-yaaa-hooooo….. The chanting song was coming to a close on that final note as Anakonda soon lowered her front hooves down and exhale her breath. But at the same time, she heard the sound of others coming up that was more than Nyx, for it was the rest of the group that hid from sight. “So, you saw?” Anakonda asked forth in looking to those that has decided to come forth. “Wait, you KNEW we were watching?” Phobos yelped off to ask that the snake mare knew they were hiding. “But…how did you, we were quiet as a mouse?” Spike asked off in what gave them away, they were very quiet, so how? “Even a squeaky mouse cannot keep silent.” Anakonda explained the case that even a quiet creature cannot be so easily silent. “And as another precaution, if you did try anything, we would have reacted sooner.” She gave out this other issue of warning if the group were to try any forceful actions against her. “We?” Jack Zen raised an eyebrow in confusion here. “Hisisss….” Then coming out of the darken woods were many snakes and serpents, small ones, big ones, even the flying ones and Snake People types. They were around and cut all exits out for the gang. “It would seem we are surrounded again.” Omega pointed out in seeing what this was developing into; deja vu, like from what happened in Ponyville. “Wait! If you had your snakes watch us, then why didn’t you attack me or my family and friends?” Nyx asked off in wanting to know something that was puzzling her. “I wanted to test them, see if they are not going to betray me when my fellow clan of serpents needs saving.” Anakonda spoke to say this in what she was planning to do, it’s all precautions. “We have heard much of those that talk of friendship, but I’ve felt it was only reserve for those outside snakes.” She stated that every time there is mention about friendship, snakes in the area were never given such a kind thing. “Those that are not evil, but good, startle snakes, their friend in peril, they act to stop snake, show friendship of bravery and stuff, but no feeling for poor snake.” Her words were of sorrow and pain, because while even good folks help another out if a snake was near, do they ever consider if the snake was dangerous to them if they haven’t startle it; no. “Gosh, I feel really bad for the poor snaky.” Pinkamena spoke in feeling kinda down after hearing this bit of info now. “Anakonda…” Twilight spoke in approaching the wild mare in feeling like she has to say this. “I know that we may have hard times seeing eye to eye, but…what I do know is this.” She spoke in preparing to gather the right words in order to use them well. “Whether you are a snake or a pony, we shouldn’t judge your appearance, but by your actions. And while your actions may have caused problems for us…” Twilight was on a good start so far until the subject of what caused a terrible disaster. “Hrrrrgh!” Anakonda growls as do her snakes in feeling this reminder was putting the blame on them until… “But…I can understand you do anything to protect those you feel dear. And that’s something we all have in common. We each want to help stop whatever took your home so you can return and for us to get a cure from your venom element.” Twilight spoke these words in feeling like they all want to protect their homes and those they live together with all their strength. “But if you feel that I can’t be trusted, then…infect me as well, with your poison.” The princess spoke in wanting to earn trust so much, she’ll even be poison to do so. “Hugh!” The others gasped in shock, Twilight was gonna go that far. “Twilight, are-are you sure about that?” Spike asked off if maybe that’s a little hefty there, maybe there’s another trust act to do. “Hisss…” Some snakes hissed in keeping the others quiet as someone who was listening heard this to ponder the thought. Anakonda was slowly moving up near Twilight as if preparing to follow the princess’s term of what she wanted. “Harrrourrrrrrgh….” Anakonda opens her mouth were her sharp snake fangs are seen, the others look fearful in worrying if Twilight will survive such a poison dose. “No….” But then without warning, Anakonda closes her mouth to issue this claim. “Wha?” Twilight replied off in opening her eyes in being shock; was she not going to be poison to show that she won’t be distrustful? “To go so far as to prove you won’t betray me or my clan, you risk the threat of being poisoned yourself. Tis foolish action you try to pull!” Anakonda scolds the mare for such actions, as Twilight was silent in thinking the idea was a bit rash. “And at action like that shows, that even if you fear snakes and go far to help get cure for your own kind, shows you are indeed trustworthy.” The wild mare spoke wisely in stating that for one to go so far to earn trust is no mere act, and without any reaction to go against it, shows how determine Twilight was. The others smiled in hearing this, it sounds like Anakonda will trust them now. “My brethren! We now have allies to help us reclaim our home and get ride of stinky dark aura creatures from whence they came!” Anakonda turns to face her serpent and snake kind in announcing the time for them to reclaim their home is now. “Hhisisss….” Many of the serpents let off their loudest hisses in cheering for this. Suddenly the ground stomps, making the heroes yelps. There's Dragoking, back on the scene. He growled angrily at Twilight and her friends. What the hay does he want now? Anakonda patted her father's chest gently, saying gently, "It’s okay, papa. It's okay. They won't try to hurt us without the fight..." "Papa?!" Most of the ponies ask in surprise and confusion. Dragoking is Anakond's adopted father? Then again, they did heard it called him “father” earlier…. "And how did that came to be?" Twilight ask Anakonda curiously. "We know who your mommy is...but how did Dragoking became your daddy?" Nyx ask Anakonda, wanting to know too. "My father's name is Dragoking. And he is the last to his kind - Hydragoon. They're the first powerful and intelligent ancestors and kind to all Dragons and Reptilian Creatures." Anakonda explains to the newcomers as to what Dragoking is to not just her, but to every Dragons and Reptilian Creatures. "And above all, he's my papa." "Yeah... That freak is hardly a dad for you. He looks like a monster than a good and gentle daddy." Phobos jokes a bit. Of course, that made Dragoking roared at him for that comment. "Yikes! Is this guy always like to pick a fight?!" "My father is a warrior. He lived to fight and challenge with his enemies, whether they're weak or powerful. He will fight till the end." Ben grumbled a bit, "Well, that freak try to take a bite on me! And I hate him a lot!" Dragoking growled angrily at Ben before spitting greenish slime onto the latter's face. "Ugh! See what I mean! That was on purpose! And I bet he will try to swallow me up again..." Anakonda scoffed at that, "The only reason he did that is because you owe him a meal since the Winter Wrap Up." "That was ab accident! How am I supposed to know that he was setting a trap for his prey to eat? In fact, I repaid him with an Octorok meal!" Anakonda shrugged as she comments slyly, "Or maybe... You're his favorite meal and chew toy." Ben groaned in annoyance while slapping his face, "That makes me feel better..." "About meeting your father?" Twilight ask Anakonda, wanting to know how Dragoking first became her adopted father. "Yes... My father was traveling around the Everfree Forest and Serpentine Land for a rest until he met my mother. They first suspect each other as enemies until they spend a lot of time together and even have fun. They both fell in love." Anakonda explains the story as she sighed happily. "That was romantic." "Well, 'dat's a bit different." Applejack comments in amusement. "Right! When two creatures like them fell in love, always so magical!" Rarity said, sighing happily and feeling great for the two lovers. "I know, right?" Fluttershy ask her friend with a giggle. "If you ask me, that was disturbing for some snakes." Rainbow remarks, rolling her eyes at this. Ben nodded in agreement while adding, "I'm with you, Dash." "If you don't mind, I would like to continue... But their love can't continue because of the duty. My mother wish to continue her rule as Queen of the Serpentine but my father remained loyal to his master. Mother tried to convince him to stay but chose to remain on his master's side." Anakonda said, explaining as to why her parents don't stay together for all time. "Despite that, he would come and visit her." "So about your mother..." Twilight said with a pause then continues asking, "How did Dragoking take it when you first met him? When your mother first brought you home?" "When I joined my family, we both met. My father didn't like a strange pony like me to stay. But after some months and years of staying and looking after me, he grew closer to me because of my skills and snake-personality. He sees me as his daughter as I did see him as my father. So, I called him my father." Most of the group nodded in agreement or amazement. Dragoking must truly care for his adopted kid. They watch as Anakonda and Dragoking beginning for a moment. He growled in anger as he turned and looked away from Ben and his friends. "Father agreed to help us. And in-return-!" Anakonda begins to say the condition for Dragoking's help. "Forget it!" Ben snaps in annoyance. Last thing this pony wants is to end up getting eaten again! Anakonda groaned at the interruption before she continues, "I was gonna say that you will not cut his heads off again. He hated it because each time his heads cut, he struggles in getting them work together as one. And of course, putting his head back together as one wasn't good enough." "You're saying that he has some split personality? That's new..." Spike said, amazed and amused upon hearing that information about Dragoking. "Usually Hydras don't mind it." Phobos comments with a light chuckle on that. "That's because some are mindless and wild serpents. And for others, they're struggled to work together as one." Anakonda told Phobos about how different Hydras are from Hydragoons. "Agreed." Twilight said with a nod, that's true when one thinks about it. "But in-return, stop eating me. I'm not his chew toy or meal." Ben said sternly to both Dragoking and Anakonda. If the stallion must allow Dragoking to help, at least enough already! "Father can live with that. He can hold his stomach for an hour before eating you up." Anakonda remarks, giving a cute giggle much to Ben's chagrin. "And why does that makes me feel better?" “Just one question, who are these dark aura beings we keep hearing?” Phobos raised his claw to ask the question here. “In ancient times, certain tribe folk have address such things. Creatures who produce light & dark, their auras are quite far beyond our mortal understandings. Mystics & Dark Mystics, we simply call them as such.” Zecora explained with her rhymes of stating what term use one calls the ‘dark’ or ‘light’ aura creatures to today’s knowledge. “Then the dark aura beings must be the Dark Mystics!” Ben responded off in now seeing the truth; the Dark Mystics are to blame. “So them varmints are de lowdown snake in de grass.” Applejack sternly stated in guessing the true snakes they gotta contend to. “Right! Hurting innocent snakes who aren’t bothering no pony, and after we just learn not all snakes are bad!” Pinkie Pie spoke off in feeling upset over the whole thing to. “So how’s about we go over there and kick their flanks!” Rainbow Dash pointed out in a daring feat in what they outta do here. “Now you know they aren’t exactly easy foes, right?” Rarity raised an eyebrow in bringing up a good point; their foes are an organization that’s a part of the Three Lords. “But Rarity, they are hurting those Anakonda loves, we can’t let them do that.” Fluttershy spoke in feeling they can’t just sit and do nothing when someone needs help that others are being hurt. “Fluttershy is correct. To ignore the request is illogical.” Omega responded to say here while getting ready. “I shall prepare in eliminating threat.” He was seen bringing out his Gatling blasters, preparing for a heavy fire-fight here. “That’s the spirit Omega! We’ll all go and help out!” Pinkamena nods in agreement, they’ll all help. “Right, if we work together, we can do this.” Jack Zen nods in preparing his sword in what battles await them. “But we’ll need to catch them by surprise. Anakonda, how many ways can we sneak into Foal Mountain?” Goldie spoke in thought of what be the best way to perform such actions, maybe how many ways to get into the mountain. “There are many tunnels large snakes use, however….” Anakonda spoke in stating that there are many tunnels that they can choose to take, but enemies may wait there, but… “There is secret entrance which I know of. We can use that, and once inside, I can call in other serpents outside to begin attack.” She explained the plan, they sneak in through a secret entrance and then launch surprise attack that the enemy won’t see coming. “Sounds like a plan to us.” Spike replied off to say in hearing this now. “Right, we’ll catch them guys with their pants down!” Phobos nods off to say in a cocky manner. “You see Anakonda, we’ll all be okay if we work together, that’s what friends are there for.” Nyx smiled forth towards the snake mare in seeing how all of them are gonna help another out. “Friends….as in….pony friends?” Anakonda slowly spoke in having heard this as she’s never had…any friends that were ponies that didn’t wanna be with a snaky pony like her. “And Dragons!” Spike & Phobos pointed out that they are to be included to. “Hmmm, I think if this goes well, I might like that.” Anakonda slowly spoke to almost show an honest to true smile in what she’ll decide after everything is settled. “Before you go, I must ask a payment for the aid. We need a cure for your venom today.” Zecora spoke forth in stating time was still ticking, if they don’t give the antidote to the poisoned victims back home, it’ll be too late. “Of course, now that I can trust much of you, I shall give to help.” Anakonda nods slowly to Zecora as she will give an early payment after seeing those that can truly be trusted. Soon Anakonda was standing near Zecora who held out a jar for the snake mare. And soon something glowed with a bright crimson red glow around the fangs as it took the form of liquid while it drips. In mere moments, the jar was mostly full, Zecora sealed it up as they have now collected a sample of Anakonda’s venom to be used to help figure out how to cure their sick friends. “While I return to prepare this medicine, you all must be careful on your journey.” Zecora spoke off towards the gang in what she’ll be busy doing while the others have their own task to do. “We will Zecora, and please, take care of our sick subjects.” Twilight nods with a firm expression to be determine that they will win this while the zebra saves their citizens and buffalo guest. Ben sighed as he stopped for the moment. Dragoking smirked as he slowly swung his tail at Ben's legs hard in making the latter fell down, much to the Hydragoon's amusement! Now was the moment that both separate parties were gonna go their own ways. Zecora would return to Ponyville with the collected samples of the Element of Venom’s antidote while the Mane Six’s party, Goldie’s group and lastly, Anakonda’s Serpent buddies would work together to free Foal Mountain under dictator control. This will be a pretty close calling, especially against such strong foes, but with the heroes work, they may just pull out an impossible act, how….we’ll have to be seen. As everything goes dark here, as the mystery of what’s to come….lies in wait… Ben sighed as he stopped for a moment. Dragoking smirked as he slowly swung his tail at Ben's legs hard, making the latter fell down. "Hey! You did that on purpose!" Ben protest angrily as he got back up to his hooves. Dragoking chuckled in amusement. "Think that's funny. Try this!" Ben kicked the sands onto Dragoking's eyes. Dragoking roared in anger as he shouted straight at Ben's face. They both decided to ignore it for now. But of course, things get a bit more funny... The gang begins crossing a river. Dragoking make himself a bridge for the ponies to cross. When Ben wanted to get up onto the tail however, Dragoking let the tail up and Ben fell into the river. Another time, Ben accidentally cut Dragoking's tail when cutting some bushes down. At another time, Dragoking sneezed but accidentally launch his Mystic Dragon Flame on Ben's tail, causing the pony to yell around like mad as he tries his best to put the fire out. Draoking just snickered in amusement while the others just shake their head at this. In a fourth time, Ben climbed up a tree to find their enemies but a branch broken, causing both to fell onto Dragoking head. Needless to say, the Hydragoon roars in annoyance and pain, having being tempted to just eat him again. The fifth time during the trek, Ben throw a mud ball at Dragoking at one time and whistled innocently while walking away. He got himself slammed by Hydragoon's tail as a response. "Oh for the love of..." Ben groans angrily. Before he could finish, Dragoking ate him up again when due to the Hydragoon being angry again. This cause Ben to cut the head off from within once more. Needless to say, both fight at each other like Hercules Hydra Battle. Dragoking and Ben were about to fight some more until her friends interrupted them. "Guys, come on! We're on a mission!" Twilight scolds the two for their pointless mission when the gang are on a mission here. "Honestly? Can you two just get along for Anakonda's case?" Rarity remarks in agreement with the two. "Fine." Ben groans then glared at Dragoking. "I'm watching you, snake-face!" The Hydragoon stuck his tongue at the Friend of Friendship before spitting some slime onto his face. Ben groaned in annoyance, "I can see why Twilight hates snake especially that jerky Hydragoon. Really hate that thing..." Anakonda overheard Ben’s comment. She narrows her eyes while turning to Twilight, saying, “Perhaps I was wrong. You're not the problem to serpents. It's your friend. Your boyfriend hates my father a lot. Why?” Twilight Sparkle giggled uneasily, “Let's say he had bad experiences with it. He got eaten thrice - Winter Wrap Up, the Bugbear Attack at Ponyville and of course, moments ago. “It's him. I don't like someone called him 'it'.” “Sorry.” “Why do you fear him?” Anakonda ask Twilight, wondering why the Alicorn would fear her adopted father. “It's like I said before. I will do what I can to help you and your family. And besides, I'm surprised that he didn't eat me. So, I'm not afraid of him.” Twilight explains that unlike other snakes that she feared, the princess wasn’t eaten by Dragoking thus far. “Actually. Shadow Dragon (PM) trained her PM counterpart not to be scared of snakes. In fact, Dragoking is the first snake she trust and respect with. Therefore, they're BFFs.” Pinkie explains happily and randomly as she bounce along. “Maybe, this could do the same thing.” “Interesting...” Anakonda said amazed yet puzzled by what Pinkie just said. Twilight roll her eyes as she comments, “Don't believe of what she had said. Although I'm actually trying to learn about this PM Universe of me... I could get some tips from her how to be not scared of snakes.” “Got you cover when this is over.” Rainbow said, making a point to ask PM Shadow Dragon for that when this mission is over.