//------------------------------// // Chapter 18: City Maze solving // Story: MLP: Nights Journey Of Dreams // by JusSonic //------------------------------// Chapter 18: City Maze solving The scene shows Twilight, Applejack, & Pinkie Pie gently falling across the starry night sky. In only a few short moments, they soon encounter the pavement that was Dream Gate & ahead was the fountain in the middle of the area. The gang had pretty much experienced a bit from having travel from one place to the next, etc. But while looking around, it would appear they are the only ones here and no one is around to greet them. “Looks like it’s an empty house.” Applejack pointed off in saying in what it looks like is happening here. “Funny, I thought this was a fountain.” Pinkie Pie spoke off in stating what she was thinking right now. “She means there’s no one but us here, Pinkie Pie.” Twilight rolled her eyes to explain to her goofy friend about their location and who’s not around by the different pronouns. “Oh right! I got it now.” Pinkie Pie slowly perk up to smile & nod here. “So are we gonna go back ta Delight City?” Applejack asked off if they are going back to that dream world place. “Well we need to complete any task to help clear out the Nightmarens & find the Ideya.” Twilight explained that they need to go back to help complete their objective, etc. “Too true. But why isn’t Owl here? He usually would be here at times to tell us things.” Pinkie Pie spoke off in trying to ponder such things of where their friends are that usual greet them. “Then again, most of de things he says makes about as much sense as wha Twilight tells us.” Applejack shrug off to say this about who makes sense in different locations. “If he was here, what would he say? And to tell us about trusting NiGHTS?” Twilight pondered to think a bit deeply on the subject itself. “Oh, a pretend game, I’m good at this. Um, maybe something like…this.” Pinkie Pie begins to prepare herself in about to do a performance act. “Visitors, I must say, I’m very pleased with how well you & NiGHTS work together. But I sense you worry about something as well. Given time, I am certain the answers shall guide you down the right path.” She was really getting it all down in how Owl would speak & talk all down to the right atmosphere presence. “So, how I do?” She smiled off to say this in acting as herself while her friends were…speech-struck speechless. “Um….well I gotta say, ye nailed it good.” Applejack slowly recovered to simply say this much on what her friend was capable of doing. “Pinkie Pie, sometimes, you being random can really help us be a little more cheerful.” Twilight smiled off to say this in feeling her friend really help them get to be more positive here. “Thanks, so shall we find out what to be seen just beyond this Door?” Pinkie Pie smiled off to simply say this while thinking it’s time they get going. “Yes, let’s do so!” Twilight nods her head in determination, it’s time they stop stalling and just go off now. Soon the ponies make their way to the Door that would lead them back towards Delight City. From opening the doors, a bright white light soon enveloped everyone while the ponies were slowly making their way through. Soon the doors began to close just after those that had entered through were gone….heading back to the Dream World Twilight created as everything goes dark at this time with anything about to happen next here. ---------------------------------- The scene begins to open up with Twilight, Applejack & Pinkie Pie having walked around Delight City. They have traveled far in browsing to explore, & see the wonders of the city, and without running into any problems. Right now, they were just walking around some neon light structure place that seem like a tunnel for folks to walk in a station, or something related to trains or monorails. For now, the ponies seem to be doing a great job on their own so far… “Wow; that was pretty much a nice skip and a hop around town!” Pinkie Pie smiled off in making an interesting comment here. “Amazing’. Not one enemy bothered us, coincident.” Applejack stated in finding what they went through some kinda lucky break…or is it? “It’s strange, but maybe it shows how much we settle the problem.” Twilight stated to say this in what she had on her own mind. “Hey, what’s that?” Pinkie Pie interrupts her group in spotting something ahead. Suddenly, as Twilight’s Team was searching around the area, they thought enemies would come out, but….there was something more. For ahead of them, just on the small step rails to a little neon light object, three pony bodies were seen unconscious at this time. But they were not just any pony bodies, they were in truth: Rainbow Dash, Rarity & Fluttershy. Twilight, Applejack & Pinkie Pie were stump surprise to see their friends from Equestria here and approached them. “Rarity?!” Twilight responded off in shock to see was seen. “Rainbow Dash?!” Applejack yelped off in noticing who was here too. “Fluttershy?!” Pinkie Pie gasped in seeing that another one of their friends is here. There was darkness from someplace as if there were drifting souls that were lying asleep in a peaceful state. But soon the darkness began to vanish when a light came into view, and that light reveal itself to be Twilight, Applejack & Pinkie Pie, getting closer to Rainbow Dash, Rarity & Fluttershy’s bodies. “Rainbow! Rarity! Fluttershy!” Twilight was trying call out to her sleeping friends’ names to respond to her voice. Then at that moment, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, & Fluttershy, were showing signs of waking up. Having heard their names called out by those they know, the unconscious ponies began to open up their eyes. Rainbow’s Team were slowly pushing themselves to be in a sit up position in seeing who was before them. “You….you’re Twilight…AJ…Pinkie Pie.” Rainbow Dash asked off in recalling their friends here. “Oh no! They have amnesia!” Pinkie Pie gasped to yell in thinking their pals have forgotten them. “No…we don’t.” Rarity groans to say in having heard Pinkie Pie yell in their faces. “It’s good ta see ye again, ye all!” Applejack smiled off to say this with a big smile in them seeing their three other friends now. “So what happened to you all? Are you all right?” Twilight was asking some concerning questions in seeing Rainbow, Rarity & Fluttershy look like something happened to them all of a sudden. “Oh, um….yes…we’re fine. Um, if Rainbow & Rarity agree.” Fluttershy meekly spoke in responding to the question concerning their party. “Um, so…Where are we?” Fluttershy asked off in not knowing where it was that they have landed in now, they look around, but it’s all knew to them. And new it was, for Rainbow’s Team are seeing they are not within Memory Forest, this place was a city with neon lights flashing all around. “This is my dream world. Delight City.” Twilight expressed to announce that where their other friends were in, is a world of her own dream. “Wait, this place is YOUR dream, Twilight?” Rainbow Dash stop to ask this out in shock in having heard this right. “I know, right? We all thought it be about books & stuff.” Pinkie Pie nods off to simply say in what they thought Twilight’s place be like. “In any case, it looks like ye’ve wandered into Twilight’s world this time.” Applejack stated off in getting to the point of what was going on here of those that have come here. “Ah. That burst of light we all experienced…it must have sent us here.” Fluttershy gasped off in recalling something, of how she, Rarity & Rainbow Dash must have seen a little light & suddenly found themselves here. “Ow.” Then as Fluttershy tried to get up, her back right hoof cringed as if feeling pain. “Ow-ow!” Rainbow Dash cringed from when she tried to move both her wings, but yelp from the feeling. “Oh, dearest me…” Rarity yelped from feeling a slight ache in her front hoof. “Oh my gosh! Are you all hurt? Can you stand up?” Pinkie Pie yelps to come down to check her friends that are seemingly hurting. “Quick! Somebody call a doctor!” She was panicking in thinking they need to get their friends check-up here. “An’ just where can we find a doctor around here?” Applejack rolled her eyes to remind the pink pony, there ain’t many doctors in this world. “So….in this world, even if we are Dream Spirits, we still feel pain. This much proves a theory. Can you girls get up alright?” Twilight spoke in thinking what they know, & ask if they need help for now believing in the Night Dimension, even Dream Spirits can feel pain. “No, I…I’m all right, really.” Rainbow Dash spoke off to say she’s good, but Twilight’s Team was helping up the others that are down. “Oh darling, lets fuss up. I think we must have twisted something on us, that’s all we know.” Rarity issued off to simply state of what was currently wrong with them. “Oh yes, we’re sorry about the unsettlement.” Fluttershy spoke in feeling bad about the whole thing. “Well, take it east, then, okay now?” Pinkie Pie asked off in wanting their pals to not go overboard in their recovery. “I have an idea. Let’s head for the Door.” Twilight stated off in offering something to help everyone out here; if Rainbow’s Team got here, then going through their Door can get them out. “It’s time for us to repay the favor by getting you three back, now.” Twilight turnabout in declaring that since Rainbow’s Team help them out before in Crystal Castle, this is the least they can do. “Oh thank you, Twilight.” Rarity nods her head in feeling grateful that their friends are gonna help them out. “Well then, if ye can walk, then come with us ta de Door!” Applejack declared forth in wanting to help boost morale for those here in need. Soon Twilight’s Team move down the small steps & awaited Rainbow’s Team to come down. Rainbow, Rarity & Fluttershy were slow from their slight injuries, but as they reach the bottom of the steps, they look to their pals to nod that they are okay now. Soon the Mane Six began to move forth in walking through the area they are in to prepare to help get their friends out. At this very moment, the background was starting to play ‘Electrical Entertainment: Broadway Guide’ all of a sudden to fit the theme of what’s going to be happening next here. “Okay, so we gotta lead Rainbow, Rarity & Fluttershy through Twilight’s dream & escape the Broadway Maze!” Pinkie Pie issued forth in having explained what it is that she, Applejack & Twilight gotta do to help their pals here get out. “Um, why is it called Broadway Maze?” Fluttershy shyly asked in wondering why her friend calls this place as such. “Cause it’s got a Broadway musical theme to it.” Pinkie Pie perk up to simply give this off as an answer without concern. “Pinkie, you are so random, you know that?” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes to say this in how Pinkie Pie was being her usual random self. Not wasting anymore time, the Mane Six had to quickly get moving. Twilight’s Team leads Rainbow’s Team over a bridge that was left unfinished. So the question was in how to get across it, until Pinkie Pie found a switch on the ground, & touch it to lit up, which made of glimmering light with neon decoration for one to cross it. “Wow! I can ride along the neon when it’s lit up!” Pinkie Pie cheered forth in what just happened that was exciting. “And those balls seem to act like switches…” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow in not have seen something so…weird. “Yep, dat’s how one can travel.” Applejack nods off to say this in how they learn from NiGHTS about this thing. After crossing that bridge, the gang quickly collects Blue Chips while entering into a part of the city to walk through a bushy field setup. It’s like they were going through a garden that the city put in for folks to get a little feeling of nature to be around. Soon the ponies came near something off their path, & got to a red pad floor, & when they were all on it together…it started to move on its own in a direction. “That’s strange…this floor started moving when we all stepped onto it.” Fluttershy pondered off to say in having noticed this function action. “It must be motion sensor’d.” Twilight stated in what the device here was capable of doing. “Well, hopefully, it gets us across safely.” Rarity stated in what she hopes for. Once they made it to the other side, they quickly got off of it to get everyone to go up the flank of stairs. After going across them steps slowly with Rainbow’s Team picking up the rear, they reach another side. But this was a bridge that was incomplete & the switch was on the far side of the building wall while no one can reach. “So how do we get that switch up there? We can’t fly?” Rainbow Dash asked off in seeing they have to find a way to reach that switch if they can’t reach it & if it’s way too far. “Oh! Maybe throwing Blue Chips at that switch will have some affect. What do you think?” Pinkie Pie perks up to suddenly give off a good idea that can help them out. “Leave this ta me, partners!” Applejack declared in preparing to take the shot here to help out. Soon AJ took a moment to aim her shot right, & thrown a Blue Chip that nail on the switch & lit up the bridge. Once they cross over it, they found a treasure chest to open it up, & get a Time Stopper item. Afterwards, they went up another flank of steps, seeing more city lights, & such. Just before coming to a red bridge area, but it was incomplete, & as the gang stopped, they saw the edge of the walk path. Twilight, Applejack & Pinkie Pie jump down to the bottom, but… “I’m sorry everyone. With my hoof like this, I don’t think I can keep going.” Rarity sadly spoke in seeing that from such a distance, her injury seems to stop her from following. “Oh yes, we should be trending carefully in what to do, or risk hurting ourselves more.” Fluttershy spoke in caution in also agreeing about not pushing themselves too hard. “Hugh, while I feel like going on, guess it can’t be helped. We’ll wait here for you, okay?” Rainbow Dash sighed in defeat while saying they’ll wait for their pals to come back for them. “Don’t worry, we’ll find something ta make yer walk easier!” Applejack shouted back in telling their pals this little matter. “We need to find the switch, it’s the only way.” Twilight stated in thought that for Rainbow’s Team to continue following them out, they need to get that bridge they saw above activated. “Maybe there’s a way if we walk through this path.” Pinkie Pie pointed in seeing the place they entered, might lead them to the answer. Now Team Twilight was moving down the path while collecting Blue Chips, they needed too possibly find a switch & active it to get the bridge up & running for their friends staying put. As Twilight’s Team runs along, they jump from a hole on the rail bridge, & again near a dead end spot. However, there was what look like a switch on the other side, which Pinkie Pie throws a Blue Chip at it to turn it on. That in turn, activated the Ring elevator that took Twilight’s Team up, felt strange to do that without NiGHTS, but they reach their floor stop. Ahead, they went over to get a treasure chest to get another Time Stopper, but before they could go over the neon bridge….an Eelon Nightmaren was guarding the path by discharging its electricity. “Great, knew this had ta be too darn easy, even fer us without NiGHTS!” Applejack complained to roll her eyes, they been looking around the city for a while, and now they come across Nightmarens. “Remember what Rarity and the others said in how they could deal with Nightmarens on their own?” Twilight spoke up to remind her friends in what they learn that could help them out here. “Oh course, throw some Blue Chips to stun them, I’ll take care of this!” Pinkie Pie smirked off in seeing they have a way to help, so it’s time to fight back. Pinkie Pie threw another Blue Chip that stun the Eelon, that made Twilight’s Team rush pass the Nightmaren. As they reach the other side, they made a turn to the right, found more spots where one has to jump. But there was another Eelon discharging in front of the ponies. But Twilight took a shot to hit it two times, making it completely stun to drop and fall towards. The gang managed to reach the other side, and AJ throws another Blue Star at another switch sphere to light it up along with the pink neon bridge before them. On the other side of that bridge, was Rainbow’s Team that saw Twilight’s Team has help them open up a path for them and managed to meet up with them. “You did it darlings!” Rarity cheered in seeing what little work was done. “Come on, let’s get going.” Twilight issued to say that they need to get going. “Okay…and…Thank you…” Fluttershy replied off to say this to give some praise. “No problem. And did you know that by jumping, you can throw Blue Chips further?” Pinkie Pie spoke off to bring up this sudden conversation out of nowhere. “Ugh, not really.” Rainbow Dash slowly responded in not recalling that much from the Crystal Castle area. “Let’s save de chitchats fer afterwards.” Applejack spoke off that they can chat later, after they get going. With the friendly thank you stuff already pass out, it was time for them to move along, and they went over a second neon bridge path that lit up that save them from jumping off the other path. When they reach the other side, there was a red path square that they all got on which responded to their weight, and hover them off to the other side where another stair path waited for them. As the ponies ran, they yelp in seeing a Mothpil in the air, and unleashed its sonic wave attack. “I got this!” Applejack stated as she runs and jumps and throws a Blue Chip that stuns the Mothpil. “Good work Applejack.” Twilight commented her friend in having taken care of that problem. “Hey, what’s with the egg?” Rainbow Dash asked off in finding some egg as she held it up. “Oh careful, it might…” Fluttershy was about to warn her friend of not being careful with an egg until… Just then, the egg started to crack and out of it came…a Nightopian. The little fella was smiling with joy in waving hello to the ponies. “Oh, it’s a little Nightopian!” Rarity gasped in surprise to see what the egg hatched out. “Funny, I didn’t know Nightopians came from eggs.” Pinkie Pie spoke off puzzled in having just learn this. “Let’s figure that out later, we need to keep going.” Twilight stated to say that they can learn how Nightopians came from eggs, when they are all safely out of the city. After saying farewell to the little Nightopian, the ponies continued to walk down the rail steps. They came all the way down to another red hover pavement to which when the six got on, it was slowly moving them towards the next spot ahead of them. As they walk through to collect Blue Chips, they found a switch up ahead, but something seem different about it. “That switch over there looks different than the ones from before. I wonder why’s that….” Rainbow Dash questioned in seeing what that switch was supposed to do here. “Maybe this will help.” Pinkie Pie stated as she jumps up and hits the switch, which soon lit up not one, but TWO neon bridges. “Um, which one should we take?” Fluttershy asked out in seeing they have two bridges that lit up. “We’ll have ta take de closest one here.” Applejack pointed out in knowing where they best be going with here. “I suppose so, since we can’t get over there without magic or flight.” Rarity nods off in agreement to the subject. “Then we best keep going.” Twilight insisted that they keep going and hurry along. Deciding to take the bridge closest to them, the ponies move across it before reaching a railing path, & got a treasure chest nearby. Then they found another red hover pad that they stood on that started to take them across to the other side. There was another Ring elevator, as soon Twilight’s Team took off in it, but Rainbow’s Team didn’t go along. As the ponies that reach the top, look down to notice their pals aren’t coming. “Wha’s de hold up?” Applejack asked off in seeing the others are straggling. “Sorry Darlings, but….I don’t think we can keep going with this path.” Rarity spoke to say this in being the bearer of bad news. “Why not?” Pinkie Pie asked off before her friends gave skeptical looks as if saying…they’re injured. “Oh, right, they land on their hooves & cause aches.” She slowly responded in having understood the message a bit now. “We’re sorry.” Fluttershy apologized in knowing they are now a burden. “Hate to say it, but we’ll wait here for you to find another path for us!” Rainbow Dash shook off her head to say they’ll wait for their pals to find them another way to move along. “Alright! We will!” Twilight replied back that they shall do what they can to help. Seeing that they need to get busy, Twilight’s Team began to move across another bridge area, but yelp in seeing Beeze & they had to throw plenty of Blue Chips to stun the entire Beeze Pod. Then they managed to find a sphere above that was a switch to turn it on. And then they ran from there to go another path to collect Blue Chips, and then came to edge where they jump off it to land on a lower floor. The Ring elevator was not working, but there was another switch that Twilight threw her Blue Chip at that change it from blue to red, but also to yellow and it lit up a new neon bridge path. And from when Team Twilight turn around to see a neon bridge path behind them that was under the bridge they went over, Rainbow’s Team was seen coming along with them when a new path open up to them. “Hey there, miss me?” Rainbow Dash smiled off to say in being once again in the gang’s company. “Yeah, we miss ye awesomeness.” Applejack rolled her eyes to make a sarcastic response to the question. “Where to next?” Rarity asked in where they go from here. “We have to keep going this way.” Twilight pointed in where they need to be going along now. “Really?” Fluttershy asked in pondering if that was true. “We’re not sure, things got a little mix up after we search around & then found you guys.” Pinkie Pie shrug off to say that when they explore this place, this much craziness never showed up till now. After that matter was settled, the gang quickly were going up another neon bridge to go up a flank of stairs here. They found a treasure chest, open it up to get another Time Stopper & went on a red hover pad together. As they travel, a Mothpil was seen ready to attack, but AJ threw a Blue Star to stun the critter from attacking them. Once they reach the other side while their foe fell down from being so high, the ponies walked off the case floor to go up another flank of stairs. There was another path that the gang had to jump down to a neon bridge, but… “Let us guess, ye can’t come cause of yer injuries?” Applejack cuts off in noticing that Rainbow’s Team ain’t following them. “Don’t worry, we’ll handle this!” Pinkie Pie perk up to say this with a smile. “Just stay put girls, we’ll be back!” Twilight stated off to say about coming back for their friends. As Twilight’s Team moves across the neon bridge, Twilight threw a Blue Chip at a switch that changed to light up a bridge below them while shutting off the one they stood on; which made them yelp a bit. As they ran across to the other side, Pinkie Pie jump up to tap against the switch above them & they drop again to land on another neon bridge below. Twilight’s Team move down and jump onto another neon bridge before coming to a solid bridge to jump onto it. There was another Ring elevator waiting for the gang, as they rode it soaring up, and when they reach their floor, went near a treasure chest, but had to throw Blue Chips at more Beezes to stun them. Once that was over, they ran onto a red neon bridge, drop down to another floor, went through another neon bridge, and went up a flank of stairs to meet up with Rainbow’s Team. “Thanks for the save, you guys.” Rainbow Dash commented in giving thanks to those that help them out. “Oh yes, thanks for coming back for us.” Fluttershy kindly responded in the same thanking response. “Now let us be on our way, shall we?” Rarity spoke off to say this in seeing what they should do next. Soon the Mane Six followed off where the others went to, went across that same red neon bridge before coming to an opening. Then Pinkie Pie saw a faraway switch, threw a Blue Chip that made it respond to them & form a yellow neon bridge. As they were gonna go through, an Eelon was seen, but Twilight threw Blue Chips to stun it and the ponies rush pass the Nightmaren. Course after getting off to run down a solid rail walk, they met another Eelon ahead, but Twilight’s Team throw in the Blue Chips to stun the enemy and ran pass him. And when coming near a red hover pad, Pinkie Pie jump up to throw Blue Chips at a Mothpil that almost got them if she didn’t stun it. Then as they were hovering off, AJ threw another Blue Chip but at a switch to lit up another neon bridge ahead which they got off on. Then the gang had to run down another path to where they saw a switch and on the other side….a path that lead out of the city. Twilight’s Team threw their Blue Chips together at the switch; that made a blocking wall of neon vanish. Then the gang quickly rode on a red pad to hover them down to the path they wanted to take. Once they got off of it, they were soon on the red carpet in seeing just a tunnel path that lead…to freedom. “Look over there!” Rarity pointed out in what they are seeing. “That’s got to be the exit!” Rainbow Dash stated in believing that must be the exit out of this place. “Oh, thank you!” Fluttershy replied off in giving thanks to their friends. “Come on, we’re nearly there!” Applejack issued forth that they can make it now. “Last one there’s a rotten egg!” Pinkie Pie cheered off to say while hopping along. “This isn’t a race, Pinkie Pie!” Twilight yelled out to remind her pink friend about what they are doing is not a race. Finally, the gang were just running along the red carpet to reach the outskirts of the city, even pass by a few Nightopians & even found their eggs to hatch them along the way. Wasn’t long before they reach the outside part where there was more grass greeny there. Once they made it, the background was playing ‘Peaceful Moment’ that the gang have managed to make it through the City Maze to finally be out in the open here. “WE MADE IT!” Rainbow Dash cheered with so much joy, she spread her wings…and they did not yelp in pain. “Oh my, Rainbow…your wings…are they okay?” Rarity spoke in seeing surprise, wasn’t Rainbow’s wings twisted. “Yeah, they feel better now!” Rainbow Dash spoke off with a smile in feeling her wings are A-okay. “It must be that since you let them heal, they recovered quicker for you.” Twilight spoke in thought in seeing that while as Dream Spirits, they can heal over slight injuries with plenty of time. “Come to think of it, I’m not feeling hurt no more.” Fluttershy spoke off to check herself, as did Rarity, their hooves aren’t aching. “Then wha do ye all say we keep on going’ here!” Applejack proudly spoke off in what they can do here. “Yep, from the city to the country side! Or, something like that!” Pinkie Pie smiled off to address this off in her own words of randomness. The scene goes dark at this time just as the ponies began to finally leave the Broadway Maze. They were all heading on off to the grass to help get the Rainbow Team to their Door destination. At that moment when all went dark, the background theme also was starting to cease being heard here. --------------------------------- Soon we find the Mane Six walking out on the open green field after getting from the big city to a familiar spot some know. And just ahead was the same Door that the gang have used to travel from one Dream World to the next. “There it is! That’s the Door.” Rainbow Dash pointed out in stating that there was the Door Twilight’s Team has used to come & go from Delight City. “Oh, we’re finally here!” Rarity cheered in being glad they can get going now. “Oh…Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, thank you so much for helping us.” Fluttershy kindly responded in feeling grateful that they were helped out when they needed it. “Anytime!” Pinkie Pie smiled off to say this to her friend. “Now ye can get back with a pal who be helping ye out.” Applejack stated off to mention this to Rainbow’s Team. “Right, they must be worried about you.” Twilight responded off to say this matter. However, a look of sorrow was seen on Rainbow’s Team, as though they should be happy that they can now leave Twilight’s Dream World. Yet there must be something else on their minds to show…hesitation. “Hey now, what’s de matter, girls? Is something wrong?” Applejack asked off in noticing a frown look on the others faces, what was this about. “Well…yah see…I…we…don’t know.” Rainbow Dash hesitated a bit in having a hard time finding the right words to start this with. “What do you mean, you don’t know?” Pinkie Pie raised an eyebrow in being confused about the subject. “Um, well…” Fluttershy seem unable to respond to the question fast enough. “Is something wrong?” Twilight asked in sensing some disturbance. “It’s…complicated, darlings.” Rarity spoke off to say this about something they feel unwell to talk about. This puzzlement just made Twilight’s Team feel more concern, something seem to have happened to Rainbow’s Team & that’s why they seem kinda down & sad. At that same time, the background was playing ‘EVENT - Belief’ for this touchy feely moment. “You see, someone who we thought was our friend….well…” Rarity spoke in feeling sad in what happened when they believed someone was their good friend. “Well, I guess we weren’t such good friends after all.” Rainbow Dash cuts in to rub this off in feeling a bit upset over seeing their once friend is not as much as their friend when they thought they were. “Ahh…” Pinkie Pie gasped at hearing this, their pals were friends with someone, & now they aren’t….that’s terrible! “So…so we…” Fluttershy shutter her words, she felt like almost crying because of what happened; one who was a good friend has now become lost to them, how will they live this down. “Girls, listen. You need to believe in your friend.” Twilight spoke up in trying to bring forth words of encouragement. “Huh?” Rainbow, Rarity & Fluttershy responded puzzled, what was Twilight even saying here. “You said you were good friends, right? Then you’ve got to believe in them.” Twilight spoke in wanting those here to not feel discourage over what’s happened, if that one friend was truly good, then this group’s gotta believe. “Twilight’s right. If ye trust in yer friend, then dat trust is sure ta get through.” Applejack spoke off in honestly speaking what she could say about the matter. “Yeah, and who knows? Maybe this is why you & us ran into each other again!” Pinkie Pie smiled forth in thinking this was also a sign of fate that they met up again; to help another out. Rainbow Dash, Rarity & Fluttershy were at a loss for words while absorbing all of this stuff in. “You guys…” Rainbow Dash felt like she wanted to say something, but felt almost a mix of happiness & joy from being told such wise things. “Thank yo darlings, I…we…we will all try to keep that trust.” Rarity responded off in feeling a bit better, shaken still, but better none the less in what help cheer them up. “Me too, because we ARE friends too!” Fluttershy spoke off to say this in knowing that the Mane Six are friends and are there to help another out in tough times. “Yeah!” Pinkie Pie nods off happily in agreeing to that term of reasoning. “Without a doubt!” Applejack nodded off with a proud smile to agree there. “To the end.” Twilight nods with a firm smile agreement on them being friends. Soon Rainbow’s Team began to move a bit away to prepare to use the Door…but stopped suddenly. Twilight’s Team wonder what else was up now, but would soon learn the answer. “Thank you so much, Twilight…Applejack…Pinkie Pie.” Rarity kindly thanked her friends for their words that help them physically and emotionally too. “Um, do you all think, well…we’ll see each other again?” Fluttershy meekly asked in wondering if they’ll see each other again, like before & now. “Well gee, that’s a strange question.” Pinkie Pie spoke off to say in being slightly lot by that question. “I’m sure we will! If ye trust dat we will.” Applejack nods off honestly in thinking they will see one another again, for sure if they have the trust feeling they will. “You’re right AJ. I’m sure we will when this is all over.” Rainbow Dash nods off with a proud smile on her face in agreeing to them terms. “See you girls later.” Twilight held up her right hoof in giving a little farewell to their friends here that have to go now. “Okay darlings, see you soon!” Rarity responded off in also giving this response off next. As both Mane Six teams gave their little waves to the other, Rainbow’s Team soon turns to head off to the Door. Soon the Door opens to bask those in a familiar white light, and Rainbow Dash, Rarity & Fluttershy soon vanish inside to return to Dream Gate. But after that group left, Twilight seem to lower her right hoof down in looking kinda sad. Applejack & Pinkie Pie notice their friend’s cheeriness change so suddenly and were questioning why. “You’ve got to…believe in your friends, huh?” Twilight repeated her words as if knowing that was the wise thing to say; even for a Princess of Friendship. “Yeah right.” She remarked off to address that such things seem foolish. “What’s wrong Twilight?” Pinkie Pie asked in sensing now Twilight was the next to behave strangely. “Girls….I hate to say this, but…I’m still not much in having earn my title as Princess of Friendship.” Twilight spoke to say this in having doubts about herself here. “Why’s dat, sugar-cube?” Applejack raised an eyebrow in figuring something was wrong. “It’s because of so much distrust from those we wish to trust when we’re around them…” Twilight explained that even those they know, ponies back home they trust, some of them…are not always trustworthy. “And we…I doubted NiGHTS…” Twilight stated in feeling awful that she can’t even come to terms to get over & trust NiGHTS again like before. “Some friend I am, huh?” Twilight remorse off in doubting herself in being a good friend. “Come on Twilight, sure ye hit de gutter, but it ain’t nothin’ ta sap over. We all live through it.” Applejack spoke off to pat her friend’s shoulder to buck up, they’ve been through tough times as hard as this one. “Right, I mean, if you can’t trust someone first, how can you be certain they are trustworthy at all?” Pinkie Pie thought out the idea in what to do about first knowing if someone can be trusted; sneaky suspicious characters can’t get trust, but good and honest guys like NiGHTS are different. “Maybe…maybe you’re right girls. Thanks…” Twilight nodded lightly in being cheered up a bit. “Let’s stick around a bit longer to see if the Ideya can be found now or later.” “Right!” Pinkie Pie smiled off to say this in raring to go here. “Can do!” Applejack smiled off to reply off the question as well. And with that, the scene begins to go dark at this time now. And just as the background theme was also coming to a closure at the same moment too. Hopefully while the feeling of doubt may still linger in one’s hearts, if the heart does not trust their friends all the way in seeing the good & not the bad, then what is there to gain? For now, Twilight’s Team shall stick around for a while as they rethink over what they know, & will know for certain…that NiGHTS, is a friend they can trust in. And with that, everything goes blank of what’s happen in Delight City along with the background theme coming to a close… --------- At this moment, the scene returns to Memory Forest at this moment. Here NiGHTS was seen along with Owl, as they were searching for anything out of the ordinary. Right now, this was the only spot in where their friends Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy vanished from when Reala pulled that stunt in misdirecting their belief & faith in NiGHTS after learning the truth about the jester. Right now, after the settlement in helping Twilight, Applejack & Pinkie Pie out was done, NiGHTS wanted to continue the search for the other missing Visitors. “Hoo, I’m sorry to say NiGHTS, but they may not be in this dream world.” Owl sighs to say this in feeling sad to say this, but Rainbow Dash, Rarity & Fluttershy just don’t seem to be found at all. “But Owl, we can’t give up…they must be somewhere.” NiGHTS stated to say this in not giving up yet when their missing Visitors need their help. “I know, somewhere for certain…Rainbow Dash, Rarity & Fluttershy, are within reach, they may have enter one of their own worlds.” Owl nods in accepting NiGHTS concerns, but for all they know, they are nowhere to be found here. “This is the second time I let Visitors get swept away.” NiGHTS look down in feeling like she lost something dear, first Twilight’s Team, now Rainbow’s Team. “Do not worry NiGHTS, if anything…they will surely come back to us.” Owl spoke to speak wise words to help them overcome this dilemma. “Thanks for the self-confidence Owl.” NiGHTS slowly smiles off in feeling a bit better by those words. "My, my, how things seem to pass on by.” A sinister little voice spoke in remorse to tease those here. Soon something was floating behind those that were searching for something and both Owl & NiGHTS turn around quickly to find who the evil voice belong to; Reala. He floated down in showing his same sly & conniving expression, as if having the upper hand on the situation. Even the background started to play ’Reala Returns’ as if signaling what was about to happen in this stage event. “You…” NiGHTS narrow her eyes to sternly stare off against Reala for showing up here all of a sudden. “Heh heh heh….Surprise to see me, up and about, NiGHTS? I’ve recover nicely from our old encounter.” Reala chuckled off evilly to state that he’s back, and nicely healed from when the two had their little match. “And this time…you won’t be receiving any help!” He points to NiGHTS in sternly stating that there will be no aid for the good jester. “Really? If you’re planning to capture me, what makes you think now will be any different?” NiGHTS put her hands to her hips, as if challenging this Nightmaren’s claim. “I already made myself clear to not go back to Wizeman! Or give up on the Visitors!” She stated off to say this in what she will do is of her own business and no one else. “Really…those ponies…heh heh heh….” Reala soon lets off an evil chuckle as if finding this somewhat amusing. “And just what power can they even hope to hold against Master Wizeman, Friendship? If so, then your defiance is only strengthen by delusion, NiGHTS.” Reala was cruel to make such remarks as if the new Visitor ponies had any real strength & only bring about their own friendship as their power, it is too amusing to believe. “Heh-heh-heh-ehah-hah-hah-haaahhh…..” Then suddenly, a new sinister laughter is heard across the Memory Forest as if echoing around. NiGHTS & Owl seem puzzled, where did that voice come from, it doesn’t sound familiar to them. But as NiGHTS look upwards, she saw something heading for them… “Hoo!” Then NiGHTS quickly acted to push Owl & herself out of the way as a dark violet machete was swung down. It miss the target, but soon impales a tree near and it was split in two before it crashed and the weapon vanish by dark flames. “What was that?” NiGHTS asked off puzzled in where that attack came from, that was not Reala, so then who? Then something was seen hovering down to come about to stand near Reala to float steadily off the ground. NiGHTS & a recovered Owl soon spot a new attacker as she was continuing to give off a cruel dark laughter at the show. “Seems your reflexes are as sharp as Reala’s, but you have only yet to see what I can truly do!” The new attacker spoke as the camera was not focusing on her to make her evil arrival more dramatic. NiGHTS & Owl both had their eyes shot wide open in having seen who had attack them…it was an Earth Pony Mare! Little did they know, she was Phantom Pie, and pretty soon, NiGHTS would learn there was something off about this pony. “Who are you?” NiGHTS gave a stern gaze at the new foe here, funny, she looks like she came from the world of Equestria Prime. “My name….is Phantom Psycho Pie….but you may call me Phantom Pie, for short.” Phantom Pie smiled off with a sneaky killer grin in making her terrifying intro. “My word….are you some kind of Nightmaren?” Owl asked off shock, was this creature a Nightmaren under Wizeman’s command. “Maybe, or maybe not. It’s a yes and no answer, being I was revive into one when I was but a fleeting soul.” Phantom Pie shrug off to say this in knowing she was born from something else before being created & revival of her soul as a Nightmaren. "Revived?” NiGHTS questioned to raise her eyebrows, does this mean this Phantom Pie was something different from the rest of the other Nightmarens. "You see NiGHTS, your little Visitors were not the only ones that came into the Night Dimension.” Reala calmly explained the case revealing around Phantom Pie here. “This one here, apparently came from the same world that Master Wizeman wanted to bring and she brought a small gift to the table. And in feeling grateful, Master Wizeman revived her a new body and has made her a First-Level Nightmaren. Like us…” Reala so humbly explain that this new character is like him & NiGHTS, the strongest and most intelligent of the other Nightmarens. NiGHTS gritted her teeth to stare between the two foes, bad enough she had to face off against Reala, but now this new foe. But from her studying of Phantom Pie to her understanding, she can think for herself, yet wants to be evil. There must be more to the story that is just not simply added up here. “What’s wrong, starting to feel afraid?” Phantom Pie asked off in teasing NiGHTS in her expression she’s making. “Oh really, is that what you think I was doing?” NiGHTS remarked off to make a slight joke of this new foe wanting her to be afraid. “What? You’re not scared of me?” Phantom Pie replied off in giving the good jester an odd look. “I’ve seen plenty of Nightmarens to know of what form of Nightmares they are meant to bring about.” NiGHTS explained that for many Nightmaren she’s face, they have themes of where they belong and what their task is to do. “And for some reason, you seem bend on torturing others to even take away life!” She could read much of Phantom Pie’s appearance, she was a nightmare to torture innocent souls. “Yet still, unlike Second-Level Nightmarens, you seem to have more in thought than that…perhaps doubts of who you really are and want.” She stated from seeing the surprise reaction Phantom Pie made, what did NiGHTS mean by that. “Huff….well then, NiGHTS, you’re about to know that anyone who meets Phantom Psycho Pie, The Nightmare Demon Pony, shall be saying goodbye to their lives!” Phantom Pie huffs to say this in annoyance while getting into a stance. Then without, the evil pony charges at high speeds, but NiGHTS's quick reflexes managed to fly up and do a Paraloop. Phantom Pie saw this to stop before getting suck in that portal, but NIGHTS took the moment to grab the evil pony’s tail to surprisingly lift her up with ease to spin & toss her to crash into some rocks. Reala watches to make a small sigh, recalling how NiGHTS’s strength can be underestimated, it even surprise Phantom Pie a bit. Phantom Pie pushes the rocks out of her way to glare at the tough little jester, but before she act, NiGHTS performed a Drill Dash that shoot the mare further across Memory Forest to skid herself on the ground before impacting her back first into a wall. Phantom Pie seem to be slightly more surprised by the quick reflexes this target was giving her, either NiGHTS is tougher than she thought, or most of her old strength is on the frets from being revived. Deciding to change tactics, Phantom Pie opens her mouth & spews out thick red, mist stuff at some stuff from branches to some grass to a rock nearby and anything NiGHTS was near, but dodge in time. “Well now, it would seem your plan to capture NiGHTS isn’t proceeding as you thought.” Reala lightly taunts in seeing that this new ally to Wiseman, isn’t really showing much promise. “Oh, isn’t it?” Phantom Pie raised her eyebrow in sounding like she knew something that no one else does. Suddenly there was sizzling that brought many to pay attention. As the evil pony gave a smirk, things touch by the red mist seem to be sizzling like blobs to eat away the large branches on trees before they started to fall. NiGHTS was within the area & flew off to avoid getting crushed by falling branches. Of course the good guys were shock to have seen that had actually happened. “What sorta ability is that?” Owl asked from watching nearby in shock, that red mist…it seem very unnatural. And from looking nearby to some grass & the rock that were hit before, they seem to have been melted and burn off. “Crimson Mist….is actually acidic mist. It touches you, you’ll be melting from it, inorganic and all.” Phantom Pie explained the case of what her technique was capable of doing. “Impressive….perhaps you may live up to your stature after all.” Reala responded to hold his chin in seeing what Phantom Pie has shown, not bad at all. “Believe me, there’s a lot that I can do that’s more than one skill of many I have.” Phantom Pie issued to say this while she stood up from her crash into a wall. “Oh dear!” Owl gasped in horror, that doesn’t sound too pleasant to hear. NiGHTS keeps her guard up as this nightmare pony slowly begins to walk up before leaping to float in the air. There, Phantom Pie slowly circles around NiGHTS, like a shark stalking it’s pray before it strikes. “Whatever you are, there’s no way I’ll fall from such abilities.” NiGHTS proclaimed forth in not going to just be hit by such an attack. “Oh really? Well, maybe what I want to do instead….is unleash Tartarus on the world!” Phantom Pie issued off to simply say this off as an evil claim. “Is that what Wizeman told you, personally, you won’t be imaging having a better life than this.” NiGHTS remarked off in trying to get under her opponent’s skin, or fur in this case. “Why not see and find out? Psycho Savage!” Phantom Pie smirk deviously in having something to respond to that remark. Soon from the evil pony, her front hooves, which became covered in fire, & she started to swipe at her opponent with a flaming hoof each. NiGHTS was seen dodging the attacks and doing between flying faster to leave Dream Dust in her wake to temporally blind the pony’s aim and spin out of the way to duck down. Phantom Pie just ended up attacking to hit a tree or two as they go ablaze and turns into a cold black tree dead of lifeless. Phantom Pie growls to continue her attack but NiGHTS dodges around while a few other trees suffer, even some broke off branches almost got Owl from where he hid. “Hoo-hoo….oh dear!” Owl yelps in shock, that was almost too close for comfort, yet sweats lightly to be lucky to have avoided that. “Watch what you’re doing, you can almost hurt someone from doing that!” NiGHTS sternly scolds this evil pony in almost harming Owl. “Aww, what’s wrong, I’m only after you…anything else is all but Collateral Damage.” Phantom Pie made a pretend remorse comment in feeling sad for NiGHTS while making a wicked remark about it that was funny to her. “Perhaps once you’re done, destroying this place will be another side in what we Nightmarens are wanting to do. Along with finding and claiming the Ideya.” Reala smirked in being please to see what Phantom Pie is shown capable of doing, destroying this place will be almost a breeze for their hunt for the Ideya. "Hoo, NiGHTS, you must stop her before she destroys Memory Forest!” Owl yelps in not liking the sounds of that, & warns NiGHTS of this threat. NiGHTS quickly got in a fighting stance in the air in seeing Phantom Pie float up in feeling ready as well. The jester somehow feels this foe is pretty much as tough as Reala, but she can’t help but feel there’s something else not being seen. “So are you loyal with Wizeman if he sent two Nightmarens to come get me?” NiGHTS asked off remotely in believing this evil pony was truly under Wizeman’s command. “Well now, he did restore me, made me into a Nightmaren type creature, and such…but the goals we share are different from our perspective view.” Phantom Pie shrug off to lightly state this of what the two basically share if not have their own different ideas. “But, I will serve him as long as I’ll continue to regain my strength & truly feel FREE again to do what I want!” She announced this forth in wanting to slowly regain her old strength before her demise, and once that happens, she’ll do whatever she wants. Having heard that, NiGHTS’s first picture from one view was the pony’s thought to be free to slaughter for pure thrills. However, NiGHTS kept her distance to fly around Phantom Pie to watch her eyes, as if seeing deeper to find something else they wanted to say… “Somehow, you seem to be letting on that you want to destroy, is that all your mind has to think about?” NiGHTS asked off in getting under this foe’s fur again in seeing what will come from it. “Well duh, little jester!” Phantom Pie rolled her eyes in remarking the matter as if it was a dumb question. “I follow my head all the time, I have half of leftover evil that made me, me! And now, you will soon hear the screams of hundreds….and thousands of the unfortunate souls I have taken! Screaming Darkness!” She explained off in what makes her be as she is, the last little evil of the original Psycho Pie that lay dormant in Pinkamena before being rejected & destroyed, & now she’ll let NiGHTS feel a force of many screams of her visits. Then Phantom Pie slowly opens her mouth, raised her hooves upon the air and was seen charging a white orb. Then NiGHTS yelps to fly further back and keep what’s coming from hitting Owl or any frighten Nightopians that watch this. Then Phantom Pie fires an extremely high-temperature beam from her mouth, the direction was upwards in seeing NiGHTS there. But NiGHTS managed to perform a Drill Dash & Paraloop maneuver to just dodge in slow motion by the hair of that attack as it destroyed a cliff of a canyon in its wake. Many Nightopians felt like fleeing in terror, Reala watches with interest of how NiGHTS will handle against such odds. “Oh my, that attack looks menacing!” Owl yelps with fear, that attack looks pretty serious. “I’m thinking, to now be prepare for a second dosage! Seeing you make screams will give my heart a real thrill!” Phantom Pie issued while preparing another Screaming Darkness attack to get NiGHTS this time. “Well then, that’s a strange thing for a Nightmaren to say, considering if you had a heart to listen to.” NiGHTS asked off to mention in remarking the fact of what Phantom Pie just said to be pointed out. Suddenly at that moment, Phantom Pie’s ears heard that while her eyes flickered in confusion. Enough for the evil pony to cease her attack and lower her hooves to the ground while the white orb vanished from her mouth. Reala & Owl who watch from separate views share different expressions of confusion and puzzlement while one seem somewhat upset & the other lost in thought. NiGHTS saw what she said seem to hit a mark as Phantom Pie tilted her head in being slightly puzzled by what was just said about her. “Listen to…My…what….” Phantom Pie repeated off in feeling slightly lost by what NiGHTS said, what was she meaning to listen to her heart? NiGHTS floated down to keep a good distance from her opponent while trying to play something out here to confuse Phantom Pie. “You said so yourself, you have what’s half leftover of being evil...” NiGHTS explained to point out that Phantom Pie said so herself, she’s only got like 1/3rd of half of evil inside. “Nightmarens lack heart because of how Wizeman wants them to be.” She explained in how something like a heart was useless for creatures Wizeman creates that don’t have a conscience. “And that says about you how?” Phantom Pie raised an eyebrow in recalling that NiGHTS is also a Nightmaren, so how is it she has a heart? “I don’t know, somehow…I felt different from them.” NiGHTS shook her head off to simply explain this case in point about herself. “All living beings have a heart that can feel and express things. Such as caring and loving others.” She expressed the matter of one to know and feel things one without emotion never felt before. “You’re wasting time! I don’t have a heart! Nor would I want one.” Phantom Pie snapped off to say this in starting to feel annoy about having a heart. “I’m but a husk of what was once a dark killer who loves to torture and eliminate all life.” She explained in being of what she once was when whole wither real self; Psycho Pie. “If that’s true, then how is it that you only feel like your hollow and need something to be filled in?” NiGHTS raised an eyebrow in making a remark that sounded harsh that Phantom Pie is a hollow being that needs filling. Phantom Pie felt like she was in shock to actual be quiet for the first time in what truly came here that she had not truly grasp. While she was only the smallest bit of the original Psycho Pie, she was never truly whole. That’s why she wanted to take over Pinkamena’s body to act out as the original Psycho Pie part that got out after being separated from the original Pinkie Pie from an Alternate World. As the evil pony felt quiet for so long without anything to distract her within this calm forest, she almost gasp in felt like….a pulse beat. That made her gasp, that couldn’t actually be….her heart, could it? While she was nothing by a nightmare phantom, she was now made flesh, and this maybe the first time she feels being somewhat flesh, and it includes…. “Quit messing around, you’re trying to trick me!” Phantom Pie growls in annoyance to grip her blade in ready to kill, standing on her hind legs. At this moment, it was a stare down between the two serious opponents; NiGHTS & Phantom Pie. Both were about ready to attack the other when….suddenly without warning, a NiGHTS Cage was heard rattling and soon closed in having caught NiGHTS inside. “Wah-Waaahh?” Suddenly, NiGHTS yelps as she noticed that from out of nowhere, she was captured when she wasn’t expecting it. “HEY! I wasn’t done with her yet!” Phantom Pie snapped off to turn to see who was floating towards them…Reala; being the one to have pulled the cage act. “The plan was for you to distract and weaken NiGHTS’s guard down, long enough for me to spring this little trap.” Reala remotely spoke in a dry tone to remind this new Nightmaren of the task they were to perform. “Though it seem you fell for NiGHTS’s part in trying to educate you, in going against our Master.” He remotely spoke with a harsh tone in seeing that for someone who is an evil being from dreams fell for something NiGHTS was pulling on her. “Nonsense! I have nothing like a heart!” Phantom Pie snapped back to say this in her own protest of the matter. “Good, then we best get going & let the rest of the 3rd Level Nightmarens search this place for the hidden Ideya. Or would you want to destroy this place along with it, only to suffer Master Wizeman’s fury?” Reala commented off in reminding the pony that they want to destroy this part of Nightopia and obtain a Visitors Ideya, if it’s gone, then Wizeman will be most disappointed, and they know what happens if he’s disappointed in anything that fails him. “Tch, fine…let’s go.” Phantom Pie huffs off in annoyance in getting the idea as they prepare to leave. “But the next shot I get, I’ll make anyone suffer for crossing my path!” She snapped off in making it clear of what she’ll do the next time she gets her shot to prove herself. “Then let us be off, Queen Bella will be in charge of this area now.” Reala issued finally for the matter of who will be in charge of this Nightopia created, to find the next Ideya & destroy Memory Forest afterwards. With that, Reala & Phantom Pie soon floated away from the caged NiGHTS, as she was trying to break out with no luck. And soon Key Keepers appeared to watch over her while NiGHTS groans in annoyance that this had to happen to her. But watching from nearby, Owl had managed to see what occurred, and knew what needs to be done. "Hoo, oh my….I need to return to Dream Gate, I need to find help for NiGHTS!” Owl spoke off to say before flapping his wings to get him air board. With that, Owl takes off before he slowly vanishes from sight to get to Dream Gate, the only way to free NiGHTS now would be from the aid of Visitors to Dualize with her. For now, he needs to find any of the ponies that can help, if he’s lucky, maybe the missing ponies from Team Rainbow will appear; one can only hope. At which, the background music begins to fade out as well. And with that, everything begins to go dark at this time to have a change of scenery….