A day has passed since rescuing Trixie, and much work has been done. Of course, there was still the issue of Snips and Snails being mutated, but their parents have been told. Unlike the Maximals, their DNA hasn’t been contaminated, but for the moment, they could be of use. With Sadira translating the original Arabic language of the scrolls, Trixie wrote three of the scrolls in the English language.
“Trixie better get the honor roll for this.” Said the Magician as she continued to write the translation.
Back at the portal, Sunset, Applejack, and Twilight were making adjustments to the Ground Bridge. Two of the translated scrolls called out for locations farther away than they would usually bridge.
Twilight placed a few newer dashboards, “These should help expand the range of the bridge, as well as generate portals faster.”
Sunset modified and added several lines of code, turning some lines from red to blue, “Code has been stabilized.” - Sunset turned to the others - “Though we cannot precisely warp us to the exact location, we will get you as close as possible. We will have to divide into teams."
Sunset turned to Pinkie Pie. “Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Chelsey, and Diver, you will be going to Crystal City.”
“Crystal City?!” Rarity exclaims “The most glorious city this side of the river?!”
Rarity squealed a little as her eyes rolled back, being caught by Chelsey as she collapsed.
Cosgrove had his arms crossed, gaining Diver’s attention. “What’s up, Cosgrove?” She asked.
“It’s just that, we could have accomplished more if we hadn’t been so harsh on Cogsworth.” Cosgrove watched as everyone took a look at him, including the formerly unconscious Rarity. After all, the Crusaders were the ones that caused the problem, the Rainbooms abandoned Twilight, and it the Maximals that finished the ordeal on a sour note.
“Tell you what,” - Applejack placed her hand on his shoulder - “when this whole treasure huntin’ is done, we’ll apologize, the whole lot of us.”
“Here, here.” Agreed Rarity as the others agreed as well.
“But in the meantime, Cosgrove.” - Sunset took out the second scroll - “You, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Zipper, and Scootaloo are going to Ashley Valley.”
“Whoa, isn’t that the place you were…?” Scootaloo’s answer was met with Cosgrove nodding.
“Tex, you, Sweetie Belle, Dapplewood, Snips, and Snails stay with Twilight.”
“Aw, come on!” - Sweetie Belle complained - “Why do I have to stay here while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo go out?”
“Because Sweetie, darling.” - Rarity lowered herself to her sister’s size - “You’re the only one left who can cast magic.”
“What about Sunset?” Sweetie Belle asked again.
“From what I heard, Rainbow Dash and I will be-.” Sunset was interrupted when a white piece of paper was shoved against her cheek.
“And Trixie!” - Exclaimed the magician as she waved the paper - “You owe her this much!”
“Really?” - Rainbow Dash placed a finger on her cheek - “After we saved you from Roma Candle,”
“Trixie paid that at the Fall Formal!” The magician lashes out.
Pinkie Pie jumped on top of Rainbow Dash, much to the athlete’s discomfort, “Cosgrove stitching up your leg.”
“She gave you the location of those beasts’ lair!” Trixie pushed Pinkie on the head, tipping her and Rainbow Dash on the floor.
“And us saving your keister from those witches.” Added Applejack.
With a smug look, Trixie grabbed the other two translated papers, wiggling them at the farmer’s face.
In defeat, Sunset snorted, “Fine, just don’t be in the way.”
“I better be prepared.” Whispered Fluttershy as she checked her backpack.
“Fluttershy’s right.” Added Chelsey.
A distance away, the Changeling spying on them transferred the conversation over to Chrysalis, gaining the attention of Sombra and the Predacons.
“The group being split into three?” - Sombra whispered, sending chills up Squirk’s body - “I’ll take care of the ones going to Crystal City.”
Chrysalis raised an eyebrow before looking at Skystalker and Blackarachnia, “Then I’ll take care of the ones going to Ashley Valley.”
“No!” - Chrysalis turned to find Galgameth before her - “I’ll take care of the ones going to Ashley Valley.”
Sombra shot a glare at the cyborg before walking up to him, “If I recall, you couldn’t handle the ones named Sunset and Cosgrove at the same time.” - The mineral infused human pointed at him - “What makes you think you can do better the next time?”
“Because I made a few modifications to the armor since then.” He said, opening a small slot on his abdomen to show a reflective diamond.
A few hours later, another ground bridge was open, sending in Applejack, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Cosgrove, and Zipper.
“Be on your guard...” Sunset asked of them as they entered their destination.
“You still sure that we’d want to bring Trixie along?” Rainbow Dash asked again as she put on a motocross helmet.
“As long as she stays out of the way” - Sunset put on a helmet as well - “we’ll do just fine.” - Mounting her motorcycle, now fitted with a sidecar, she turned around - “You ready, Trixie?”
Sunset and Rainbow Dash’ eyes widened at the sight of Trixie. Rather than fit her in the sidecar, Trixie instead sat on an orange moped, fashioned with several steering wheel decals, striped seating, and a license plate with GAP labeled on it.
“Trixie has a sense of style.” She chuckled, not much to their amusement as they entered the portal.
While not much colder than the Centennial State, The Treasure State is still cold for a Spring Day. Trixie was not as fortunate as to bring heavier clothing aside from her sweater.
“Wanna turn back now, Trix?” Said Rainbow Dash as she looked at the magician.
“Trixie despises this climate.” - She answered with a shiver - “Had the man that sired her taken her to stay in the fancy little home in Hawaii, she wouldn’t be in this mess with you.”
Hearing the word “sired” in the context Trixie spoke of sent shivers up Sunset’s spine as they continued their drive towards their destination, Helena City. In today’s day and age, PalmPilots are not unique, but they still hold a purpose. Rainbow Dash held one in her hand as she read the digital scanning of the translated scroll.
“This piece of paper said that the glove is displayed in a museum somewhere. Problem is,” - Rainbow’s arms became limp as she looked at the surrounding area - “we have no idea what museum!”
“Oh, the museum?” - Said one of the passing citizens as she pointed over to a square building - “It’s over there.”
The three out of towners turned to the museum, walking through the galleries ranging from Jack Horner’s Wankel Rex (a name that Rainbow chuckled) to a small Easter Island head displayed in a glass case. Trixie then found a brown glove with Islamic writing on the trim.
“Trixie has found the jackpot.” She whispered, drawing a large grin as she supported herself on the glass.
“Ma'am, please don’t touch the glass.” Warned a security guard, putting the magician on edge.
While in the loudest area of the museum, Sunset took out her phone, disguising the fact that she was using the comlink on her other ear. “Twilight, I need read out of the security systems.” - The only thing she could hear is static, so he tapped again - “Twilight?”
In the security hall, the manager found that the cameras were buzzing out as well. He takes out his walkie-talkie, “Attention all security, we need to escort the guests.”
“Attention, everyone.” - Shouted one of the security guards on duty, bringing the guests to attention when black smoke began to seep into the hall. The guests looked astonished at this weird phenomenon… Until a Changeling plucked a security guard into the smoke.
“Go, go! Get out of here!” Shouted Rainbow Dash, getting everyone to flee out of the museum doors as fast as they can with each guard being plucked one by one by the Changelings. Rising out of the smoke as well were Skystalker, Blackarachnia, and Chrysalis.
“How did they know we were here?!” Exclaimed Sunset.
“Your question is logical.” explained the logical dragon as he aimed a freeze canon in the floor tiles in front of them, shattering the floor with a stomp of his legs. Unfortunately, that doesn’t account for Rainbow Dash hovering in the air, holding Sunset and Trixie with both arms.
“Your action wasn’t.” Grunted Rainbow Dash as she flung the two onto the floor.
Calling her magic once more, Sunset fires at Skystalker. Though not as tough as his partner, Darksteel, the cybernetic dragon easily predicted each attack, coming closer and closer to her before clutching her by the throat. With only a few seconds before expiring, Sunset charged as much magic as she could, sending Skystalker and a few Changelings flying with a massive pulse that shattered many of the display cases. The gauntlet was just nine feet away from Trixie. Amidst the chaos of Changelings fighting a couple of magic empowered teenagers, the magician shuffled her way to the glove, reaching out as a dark, chitinous foot pinned her blue hand.
“And where do you think you are going, child?” Chrysalis hissed as she leaned down, baring her teeth as they ooze green saliva.
Without warning, Trixie threw a few smoke bombs at the Changeling Queen’s eyes. Reeling in pain, opportunity knocked once more as Trixie grabbed the gauntlet and ran towards the door. Rubbing the mixture of chemicals off her eyes, Chrysalis found the magician rushing out of the museum and towards her moped.
“Get them!” She shouted, bringing her experiments to attention as they flew out of the building.
Foot on the gas pedal, Trixie sped as fast as she could out of the city. But alas a moped is not as fast as a motocross cycle and the swarm of Changelings soon caught up to her. Clasping their wings against their bodies, the darkened beasts quickly descended to the asphalt floor, creating two-meter wide pot holes upon landing.
“Faster, you pathetic excuse for transportation!!” She berated to her lifeless moped as Trixie swerved around every crater. One Changeling made its luck as it fell right in front of the speeding vehicle, sending Trixie flying forward, scratching her face upon landing.
Now she was surrounded by the bugs, Trixie watches as one of them got close enough to grab her, ready to sink its teeth into her blue throat. Her hand touching the relic, the magician put on the glove, aimed it at the Changeling, and fired a black magic that sent the beast flying. The other Changelings were dumbfounded at this development, for every other instance, magic bearers either developed Equine or Saurian features.
The Magician drew a toothy grin before aiming the gauntlet at them, “Now behold, the Great and Powerful Trixie!”
Without a third ally, Sunset defended herself against Chrysalis and Blackarachnia. One moment she was making lashes against the Changeling Queen before being snatched a good distance away from her by Blackarachnia. Rainbow Dash would then grab the mutated human, flinging her to the T. rex skeletal mount and shattering it into pieces. Chrysalis aimed a green blast at the mage when her ears picked up the sound of emergency vehicles, as well as both Blackarachnia and Skystalker.
“This isn’t over…” She hissed before ascending into the air with two of her cronies. Sunset and Rainbow quickly did the same, speeding a good distance out of the city when the police arrived.
“Okay, now how are we going to find Trixie?” Asked Rainbow Dash when a blackened explosion is seen in the distance.
“That answer your question?” Sunset asked back before ducking her head as a Changeling flew over her. They then stopped their motorcycles when another of the brutes fell in front of them, ignoring the two as it scurried in fear. The two riders looked forward, finding Trixie placing her boot on an unconscious Changeling, looking at the relic accessory.
“Trixie is the highest level human!” She boasted, curling her fist before laughing a somewhat masculine laugh, in which she pursed her lips and took off the glove.
Their part of the mission accomplished, Sunset tapped into her com again. “Twilight, Twilight? Are you back online?” Hearing static once again, Sunset tried the others “Rarity? Cosgrove?”
“Sunset, I read you loud and clear…” Said Cosgrove.
“Oh, good. What’s your status?”
“The enemy has taken the relic. And, Galgameth….”
Sunset furrowed a brow, “What about him?”
...
Ashley Valley, Utah. A few hours earlier
Compared to their mountain town, Ashley Valley was more sparse. Only at the city and waterways was there any vegetation.
“So this is it, my old home….” - Cosgrove’s voice narrated as they traversed the city - “I’ve never thought it to be this hot, and empty.”
“Not to mention it’s one of the possible locations of the Great Valley!”
Hearing the voice of an absent Pinkie Pie so crisp stopped Applejack, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Cosgrove in their tracks, looking around as to where the sound came from.
“Pinkie,” - Scootaloo buzzed in a comlink - “did you just talk to us just now?”
“Nope!” Pinkie chimed in the complete opposite of the answer the retrieval unit.
They continued their journey to retrieve the relic. According to the digitized version of the scroll, it was a large jewel. According to legend, the jewel was the fossilized eyeball of the desert demon Fashoom, who would terrorize the Seven Deserts and amass a treasure from a thousand caravans. Since then, the gem has been a traveling exhibit. And now, the museum in question now removed the museum.
Applejack tapped into her comlink, buzzing the girls and boys back home, “Bad news, the jewel has been moved to another location.”
“Don’t fret just yet, Applejack.” - Twilight answered - “Moving exhibits are stored in a facility near the museum itself. There should be one just on the outskirts of the city.”
“Much appreciated. AJ out.” Applejack took her finger off her ear when she heard Cosgrove sneeze again.
“Geeze, Cosgrove,” - Said Zipper - “thisisthefifteenthtimeyousneezed!”
The watery-eyed Maximal rubbed his nose, “Sorry…” - he sniffled - “must be this desert air.”
From a great distance of the city, Galgameth, with Darksteel and Caterina beside him, monitored the voice frequencies. Hearing the mentioning of Cosgrove sneezing, Galgameth looks around the desolate landscape.
“For the most part, the air.” - His optics changed from yellow to violet, finding several hundred thousand pathogens that he promptly contained in a small jar - “but it’s what in the air that ails you.”
They waited until later in the evening before continuing their excursion. Hoping to avoid the security cameras at the edges of the storage facility, they tried one of their more unorthodox schemes. In the middle of the facility, the gravel was disturbed, erupting into a large molehill before a yellow snout jutted up, snorting out the sediment as he pulled his repto-mammalian body to the surface, leaving a massive hole as Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo pulled themselves up from underground.
“And I couldn’t be with Zipper why?” Asked Scootaloo
Cosgrove sneezed again, shaking the dust off his massive body before reverting to his normal state, joining with Applejack one way around the establishment, her sister and Scootaloo the other way. The Apple and the Thunderfoot looked at each containment unit, eventually finding a container with the label, “To be moved to the Natural History Museum, New York.”
“How nice, you’ve let the cat not do the dirty work this time.” - The two turned to the source of the purring voice. Caterina walked out of the shadows, stretching her claws as she licked her chops. Her two enemies assumed a battle stance when the feline’s partner jumped on the container, drawing a shadow on them as the Ursagryph lit up his mouth.
With just a bit of her hair singed from the blast, Applejack took out her lasso and threw it at the feline. Caterina tried to remove the rope with her claws, but the fact that this is an enchanted rope, courtesy of the Equestrian Applejack, made this all but impossible. But the agile feline opted for her feet instead, leaving bad slash marks on AJ’s denim clothing.
Cosgrove once again had to fight Darksteel, and this time, he was playing it smart. The Ursagryph would charge at the Maximal, who would then dodge, making the Predacon slam into a container. One time, one of the containers above the one would fall on top of Darksteel.
“Twilight! We got the relic! Send for a-!” Before he could finish, Cosgrove is immediately smacked aside by a cybernetic bear paw.
A further distance away, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo heard the conflict and began their run to aid. Turning a corner they came across the third assailant as he aimed a couple plasma cannons straight at them.
“And where do you think you’re going,” - the plasma cannons glowed violet - “Anon-a-miss?”
Apple Bloom’s eyes widened when their eyes in the sky swooped down and grabbed the cyborg, dragging him far enough away from the two Crusaders before Galgameth pulled him down. The sophomore farmer watched the winged Maximal claw his way off the robot and quickly ascending into the air.
“C’mon, Apple Bloom!” Shouted Scootaloo, taking Apple Bloom by the hand as they rushed to Applejack and Cosgrove’s aid.
Dodging the blasts of the plasma cannon, Zipper dove at Galgameth, clasping the guns against the cyborg’s body with one pair of wings and keeping the boll weevil snout away with another, lighting parts of the warehouse on fire. The hybrid raised his head, making several aimless jabs at the head, poking out one of the optics in a lucky shot. Galgameth opened up his chest cavity, gathering as much energy as he could before firing a spiral of light. Zipper was sent flying back, slamming hard against the container behind him. With the remaining optic flickering back on, the cyborg stepped forward, looking down as the pterosaur coughed up blood while steam rose from his burnt chest.
Caterina managed to rush around Applejack so fast that the lasso wrapped around her body. With no way to move her arms, Applejack only watched as the mutated feline opened her mouth, ready to sink her teeth into her throat.
“Get yer paws off my sister!!” Apple Bloom called out before rushing forward and giving Caterina a hard flying kick, spinning Applejack free (though it made her dizzy). The younger of the two then grabbed the rest of the rope and hogtied Caterina, inching her hands up and down to avoid the snapping teeth. “You're much worse than Opalescence.”
The more heavily built Darksteel had Cosgrove pinned down, ready to finish a fight that was interrupted a month ago by the entirety of the Rainbooms, Crusaders, and Maximals. Buzzing her wings, Scootaloo parkoured off a container and drop kicked the Ursagryph on the back. Cosgrove used the momentum to lift Darksteel by his hind legs, rolling and pinning him on his back.
“Lights out!” He said before pounding the Ursagryph in the face, knocking him out.
The four protagonists huffed and puffed before Applejack answered her comlink, “Twilight, send us a darn portal already.” - All she could hear is static - “Twi? Any of y’all answering this?”
“Your friends aren’t coming.” - The entire gang turned around, finding Galgameth dragging the unconscious Zipper by the head, pointing a plasma cannon at Cosgrove in particular - “Hand me the rock,or your friend gets it…”
Cosgrove looked at the Eye of Fashoom, then to his mortally wounded friend, furrowing his brow at the cyborg.
“Who are you?” He asks, curling his lips back.
“She knows.” - Galgameth answered, motioning the gun at Apple Bloom. When he found her ears drooping, Galgameth pointed the gun at Zipper’s head - “SAY IT!!”
Apple Bloom’s lip began to quiver, muttering, “C- Cogs-worth.”
Dropping the unconscious Maximal, Galgameth pressed a button on the helmet. The boll weevil snout retracted, dividing the helmet in half and exposing the red flesh and green hair that is Cogsworth.
“No.” - Cosgrove muttered in disbelief; Cogsworth, here? And walking on his own legs no less.
“Lost for words?” - Cogsworth began circling around the Maximal, aiming a plasma cannon at him - “ I thought the sight of me walking would impress you. I’m disappointed.”
“What happened,” - Cosgrove pointed to the mechanic’s legs - “how…?”
“I've never told you, Chrysalis has made quite a few achievements in my time at Crystal Prep.” - Cogsworth patted his legs like they were a pair of jeans - “Glad to see you're back on your own legs after that February dance.”
Applejack’s eyes widened before tensing her face and stepping forward.
“You! You sicked Darksteel and Skystalker on them!” She exclaimed before being stopped by a blast at the ground in front of her.
“And you’re one to keep your siblings in check...” Cogsworth added, adding more to the irritated Applejack.
“We’ve done you a great wrong.” - Cosgrove stretched out his hand - “But we can help you.”
Cogsworth looked at the three-fingered hand, stretching his hand, about to touch the yellow skin, before sharply drawing it back with a glare. Apple Bloom noticed a strange glow coming from an amulet around his neck when she noticed the Predacon pointing at her.
“You forgive her a long time after not giving a second thought for me.” - Cogsworth grabbed the Eye of Fashoom before walking away to his compatriots - “The next we meet, we won’t rest until one of us loses their heads.”
The feline and the Ursagryph looked at their enemies before walking into the shadows.
“Cogsworth-” Scootaloo stepped forward before feeling Applejack’s hand on her shoulder, shaking her head as she looked down at the Crusader.
Now a distance away from the city, the retrieval team sat on a group of rocks. Zipper weakly breathed the desert air, Scootaloo applying pressure to his wounded chest. Applejack looked up to find Cosgrove perched on the largest rock, looking at the city he was born. He hoped to return someday; today wasn’t that day. He looked up at the setting sun, taking a few sniffles as he did.
“Rarity? Cosgrove?”
His moment interrupted by the buzzing, Cosgrove pressed on the comlink. “Sunset, I read you loud and clear…”
“Oh, good.” - Sunset said in relief from the other side of the line - “What’s your status?”
Cosgrove looked down at the desert landscape, “The enemy has taken the relic. And, Galgameth….”
“What about him?”
“Galgameth is Cogsworth.”
“Whoa, whoa!” - Rainbow Dash buzzed in as well - “Your close friend is a Predacon?!”
“Rainbow!”
Cosgrove signed off on the communication, curling his fists before roaring in anguish. Back down at the temporary camp, Apple Bloom turned to the echoing roar, feeling much more guilty about what she had done the previous December. “I’m so sorry…”