The Legend of Scarlet Nightmare
At the same time, outside of the borders leading to Zephyr Heights, Hitch had just managed to climb the steep cliffs on the mountains but he was exhausted from his long journey as he had to catch his breath, making not stopped since leaving Maretime Bay to get Sunny. His lackluster arrival startled and caught the attention of the mountain bunnies living in the area and they already took a liking to him as they cuddled him. Even if he's a hardened sheriff despite his own xenophobia towards Unicorns and Pegasi as well as dragons and Pokemon besides Earth Ponies, Hitch Trailblazer did have a caring side to him when Maretime Bay's citizens respect him for his hard work and being a beacon of light for them in safeguarding their home which also garnered him attention from the local critters there.
But, despite their comfort, he remembered his mission involving Sunny and her betrayal so he had to continue before he ended up finding a familiar sticker of some sort on the ground as he picked it up.
"Litter-or, a clue......." he mused as he proceeded to investigate, finding one of Izzy's mane hairs hanging on a branch and a nearby feather, tasting it as his eyes narrowed, all while his bunny fan club grew and followed him. "Hmm, Unicorn hair. Pegasi...."
He then proceeded to move on, placing his ears on the ground to listen for anything, only to confirm, "Track's gone cold....."
Nevertheless, Hitch Trailblazer continued to move on, his optimism undeterred as he shook his head. Admittingly, even though he made his vow the previous night clear, he still didn't want to hurt or punish Sunny given that they're childhood friends and that she was only doing what she feels is right after meeting Izzy, Sarah, and her family. But, Hitch also knew that Sunny had crossed a line with him just as he did with her and for them, there is no turning back. He couldn't let whatever personal feelings get to him since he had a mission to do; Sunny betrayed him and her own people/ponies and now, she's going to pay.
"Sunny, Sunny, Sunny, Sunny....... Did you really think you've escaped from me, even after everything we've been through? I thought, like Sprout, you, of all ponies, would understand my feelings and why I had to do what I did! Do what was right for all of us back at Maretime Bay! Well, think again. I will not eat, I will not sleep... Well, maybe a quick nap and snack if I can't find you in the next few hours. But, after that, nothing will stop me!"
He was soon interrupted by a round of high-pitched chirping that sounded like cheers and applause, making him look down as he saw a whole herd of bunnies, clapping admiration of his vow.
"Oh, thank you! No, no, no, you're too kind!" he chuckled to them modestly before he continued and one of the bunnies urged its companions to quiet down and listen as he said, "I'll follow you wherever you go. Whether harshest deserts, the coldest tundras, no trail too dangerous, no clue too small. The past matters not! It's justice......."
But, he was soon cut off when the bunnies, sounding very surprised, interrupted him and pointed him to Pipp's earlier livestream, showcasing cameos from Sunny, Izzy, Sarah, and her family.
".....Gotcha....!" Hitch sneered, motivated to finish his mission.
Back inside the castle, Zipp continued to lead her new friends to her intended destination, sliding a grated platform they came across which revealed a lift beneath them. Spreading her wings, Zipp glided down gently before she landed on the lift and turned to the group above her.
"Watch your step!" she warned, as everyone else hopped into the lift save for Sarah's dragons and her flying types as they flew down and Cresselia, Danny, and Danielle carried everyone else that the lift couldn't fit with Psychic.
Admittingly, Zipp was glad that her home was big enough to include Eternatus as well given his giant size and if it didn't, she knew it would've been a real headache trying to get him to basically squeeze inside. She then pushed a lever to activate the lift and it took herself and her friends to the floor of a giant room which is revealed to be an ancient ruin of sorts.
"What..... What is this place?" Keldeo gasped in awe as they were led inside from the lift by Zipp.
"Where are we?" asked an awestruck Sunny.
"Pretty, NYA!"
"We had no idea this even existed besides you, Zipp," admitted Mulan, surprised as she and Absol looked the ruins all over.
"Looks like we're in some kind of ruins of an old building from an age long past, so to speak," replied Totem Luxray, amazed by what he and his, Kion, and Kiara's pride are seeing.
"This is ancient history before us that most ponies today won't know about, darlings! Beautiful!" gushed Espeon before she brushed against an old poster advertising Bridlewood and sneezed from the dust. "ACHOO! Though, it could use some dusting.....”
"It's amazing, right? I'm pretty sure it's some sort of station for when Earth Ponies, Unicorns, Pokemon, and dragons used to visit Zephyr Heights," the rebellious princess answered with Sunny looking at a poster advertising a visit to her home with Izzy following her and the others close behind. "It's like everypony just....forgot."
"Nice digs," quipped Eternatus.
"And, after some time when the magic was gone, this was abandoned until you found it recently?" Sarah gasped, stunned as she and everyone else saw proof of what Equestria in this new age used to be like before the three pony tribes separated.
Sunny could hardly believe her eyes as she returned to the Maretime Bay poster and wiped the dust off of a stick-like thing painted on it, revealing what looked to be her lighthouse. In addition, when she looked up, her heart fluttered with happiness and pride to see a large worn-out and shredded billboard above the group and the poster saying, "Visit Bridlewood." But, what further elevated her hopes for Equestria's real future was that it featured a Unicorn, a Pegasus, and an Earth Pony exploring Izzy's woodland home together. If she needed any proof that the ponies deserve to be together and that they can still bring back the Pokemon and dragons somehow, this was that proof she was looking for.
"This is proof, guys! We did it, this is what we're looking for! Our common hope for all of Equestria!" Sunny cheered excitedly, walking up to Zipp's side as everyone looked at a poster depicting Pegasus flying while also advertising Zephyr Heights. "My dad was right, all of Ponykind did use to be friends and live under the same sky at some point in time, TOGETHER!"
"Must be really weird being the only Pegasi that can fly," she then quipped to Zipp, who looked extremely conflicted before sighing regretfully.
With that, she decided to speak with them about something she decided to tell them, sighing with remorse. "Everyone, I have something to say. I want to explain something that you ought to know, especially since Nikki and Sarah are the only ones among us that can really fly," she told them, making them look at her in surprise.
"What's the dealio, Zipp?"
"What's eating you?" Spectrier and Glastrier asked in confusion.
"Zipp, is there something you know that you're not telling us?" Kaji asked her gently but firmly.
Zipp sighed remorsefully again and nodded, knowing that Kaji was right about what he said as she confessed, "You see, the truth is......... We can't fly, either, we've been really faking it."
Everyone gasped in surprise and shock while some of the others expressed angered realizations as Zipp confessed to what is essentially the Pegasi's Big Lie. Unlike Sarah and Nikki when they experimented with their Equestrian Magic, Zipp and her fellow Pegasi couldn't find it in themselves to fly since they don't have any magic as well.
"I knew your kind was up to something about that!" gawked Talonflame in angered shock.
"Say, what?!"
"So, that's it!"
"How could your kind-?!"
"Fake flying?! Can you really do that?"
"Of all the-!" spluttered Star, Azelf, Hashimoto, Cufant, and Wyveon.
"Faking it?!" gasped Sunny, shocked by the truth as Izzy, Sarah, Nikki, James, and Tsukumaro were also aghast. "B-But-but, how?!"
"You'd be surprised what some wires and good lighting from the right spots would do," Zipp answered, sulking as she came across a blackboard that had mathematical equations and a diagram of a Pegasus' wing that she did herself which could be her research on a Pegasus' magical flight. "But, honestly, I'm just so sick and tired of living that ridiculous lie, what good did come out of it in the end?"
Sarah and the Swords of Justice frowned sympathetically, seeing how miserable Zipp was feeling by being forced to live in a fantasy and feeling that it's not meant for you if it's really not what one hopes for. For her, it didn't help either that the Pegasi Big Lie was fed into her family's own subjects and she could tell for much of her life growing up that her mother and Pipp have deluded themselves into believing it.
"I can tell; most royals are often like that but even if it's for the greater good or a noble cause, there's no point in lying to everybody about it."
"She's right, the truth is always easier to accept than a well-meant lie."
"Can't say I blame them when it comes to that but they should've known better than to believe that bottom-dwelling trash talk."
"And, you're afraid that if your subjects find out about that horrible lie, they'll turn against you because you've given them a sense of false hope for what they desired most in their lives.”
"Which would mean it'll be the end of you and your family once everybody finally knows somehow," they deduced sympathetically to Zipp, who just nodded in confirmation and gratitude to their comfort.
"But, why, Ms. Zipp?" asked Mai worriedly. "Why go through the act with your sister and mother, anyway?"
"It's kinda personal but...... Mom usually told us that it's to make our subjects feel safe which she thinks is important since I'm the heir to her throne, being her oldest child and Pipp will be mine years later. But, the thing is, I hate that........ I don't want to be queen; all those speeches, that event planning, the royal gatherings, it's...... Well, it's just not my dig, it was meant to be hers! I didn't ask to become queen, never have, never will! Pipp has her performance career and her fans but me - I don't really have anything. I'm nothing but one of the royal daughters to everyone, I'm still searching for what'll make me somepony, somepony special for reasons other.....For other than the crown."
"You mean, you're searching for something that'll let everybody know the real you and not your royal status?" Camo blinked in surprise.
"So, that's why you were a little rusty with your sister when she lied to us as she did!" Twilight said.
"And, why she flew in those videos of herself," added Nova thoughtfully.
"I get it, you feel like you're not ready or you don't want to take your mother's place and be queen someday," frowned Sarah sadly, feeling sorry for Zipp in her current predicament. "That's a given since you being distant from your family showed that you're no longer willing to go along with the Big Lie, right?"
Zipp just nodded. “Exactly, that's why I come down here – to get away from all of that, and...well, to do this."
To show what she meant to everybody, with a canter and a leap, Zipp did some parkour as she landed on a lever, activating whatever machinery is in the room, turning on a giant fan she found long before meeting the gang to spring to life, blowing a gust of air to carry her up high as she spread her wings. Zipp laughed happily as she did some flips and a few loops as she made use of the current blowing at her; as everyone saw, she felt happier and free from her stringent of a royal lifestyle and living the Big Lie 24/7.
"Wow!"
"Awesome!"
"Phenomenal!"
"Amazing!"
"Impressive!"
"Whoa, her sparkle is so bright now!" Sunny, Sarah, Tsukumaro, Nikki, James, and Izzy cried and squealed in delight as Zipp glided back down to them and out of the fan's air current.
"But, that's not why I brought you all here. This is what I wanted to show you," she explained, turning everyone's attention to what was left of a large stained glass window on the wall that she pointed, showing a familiar pink star on the top.
"Oh, my stars.......!" gasped Sunny, looking down on the star on her journal's cover and seeing the stars on it and the window match.
"This was made a long, long time ago. When we still had magic and we all lived happily together along with the Pokemon and dragons of this world........"
"It's beautiful!" Izzy commented ecstatically.
Everyone looked at the other stained glass windows that had been scattered and uncovered by Zipp when she first discovered the area and were in awe of what was depicted in some legends pertaining to them to Ponykind before they were lost. But, one picture on the window caused Sarah to gasp in shock for on the window, there was a picture of two Alicorns (male and female) holding her family's Sun Sword and Moon Shield together in the air.
"Mom, Dad! Tsukumaro, guys, come over here!" she shouted. "Are those Alicorns really-?!"
"What is it, honey?" asked Nikki as she, James, Tsukumaro, Sunny, Zipp, and Izzy joined her.
"Sarah, are you okay?" quizzed Sunny, concerned as Sarah trembled.
"NO! I-It can't be, it's them! It really is!" gasped Tsukumaro as he saw the window picture of King Doug and Queen Delilah as Alicorns and with their heirlooms and also began to tremble. "My Lord and Lady, they're both depicted on that window!"
"No way!" gasped Izzy.
"Boy, there's something that's a sign to their having been here before!" added James, gawking in shock.
"Guys, are you seeing King Doug and Queen Delilah on that picture over there?" replied Zipp as she came alongside and smiled sadly at the two Alicorns depicted on the window. "Legend has it that they were the greatest Allies Equestria had ever known back then, spreading love and friendship all over the land during their time when...... They suddenly vanished, without warning."
"Oh yeah, I know that......." replied Sarah, her sorrow taking over as she remembered what happened to her real parents.
Sunny then looked towards a picture of a Pegasus pony with some sort of wing-like crystal to help spread light, love, friendship, and cheer to Equestria alongside Doug and Delilah, the crystal getting her attention. Turning away from the window, however, Sarah decided to look amongst the stained glass pictures that had been scattered around the area for any more hidden leads on her parents.
"What's that?" she questioned.
"That's the Pegasus Crystal known as the Wings of Loyalty," Zipp replied knowingly. "It's part of my mom's crown."
"Hmm, where's the Unicorn Crystal?" Sunny quizzed herself, seeing that the picture of a Unicorn helping to bring peace to the world was missing something, like another crystal to go along with the Wings of Loyalty.
But, just as she found the crystal in the form of a diamond, and showed her new friends how it fits with the Wings while coming up with a plan to bring back magic to Equestria.......
"Uh, guys.......?" Sarah spoke up, getting everyone's attention as they turned to Sarah as she found a stained glass window that depicted Pokemon and dragons fighting together against a menacing Alicorn mare. "I think you might want to take a look.......
Everyone came over and looked at the picture she found, most of them gasping in stunned horror and shock as they saw what she saw.
"No way, those are Pokemon!" gasped Sugarcake, seeing the pokemon on the picture along with the dragons. "And, dragons, too!"
"Is that an Alicorn?" gawked Sugarcoat, seeing the Alicorn mare and what a monster she is. "She sorta looks like you in a way, Sarah."
"But, it's definitely not friendly and I don't think Sarah had anything to do with this," replied Siren as he observed the mare as well. "It looked like that mare was out for something but not just blood."
"Zipp, what is this? What did this window tell you when you found it?" Sarah asked the rebellious princess.
"Oh, that....... That window is actually the Legend of Scarlet Nightmare," Zipp replied, looking grim.
"The Legend of Scarlet Nightmare?" echoed Sunny in surprise and confusion. "I've never heard that before."
"It's a legend that Equestria would never forget; it was the catalyst that started the decline of magic until our world is what you see now," Zipp lectured, still looking grim but with a twinge of sorrow as she looked out to the horizon on the open part of the window from before.
"Many moons ago in our world, Pokemon and dragons had once lived together in harmony with us ponies when we were still all united. The dragons were our greatest companions as they brought us rain and peace along with our Pokemon partners, families, friends. It was paradise as they were the protectors of Ponykind. But, everything changed with the appearance of Scarlet Nightmare, an Alicorn of terrifying power most know as the 'Ancient Evil' who's dark magic allowed her to create Shadow Pokemon and Shadow Dragons, creatures of darkness that fed on the fear, hatred, anger, mistrust, xenophobia of everyone around them, multiplying as they turned anything and anypony into stone. The Pokemon and Dragons all came together and fought the best that they could for us but it wasn't enough and we nearly lost all of them to her dark magic........”
Zipp looked down with a heavy sigh as she continued, "That's, believe it or not, when King Doug and Queen Delilah managed to banish her and her creations after a long-fought battle, restoring everypony and all of the dragons and Pokemon to life. But, that peace wasn't to last; after she was defeated, Ponykind feared both dragons and Pokemon and the danger they would pose despite the fact that they've been our loyal friends, family, and so much more...... And, as you know, the rest is history."
"So, after they were banished, the magic started to disappear from our world," Sunny realized before she slowly turned to Sarah, her adopted parents, and Tsukumaro in utter surprise. "Their being banished must've tied into the loss of Equestrian Magic with us and since you guys came here together, you've had your own Equestrian magic all along! This, th-this is incredible!"
"Yeah, and what's even crazier, those dragons here in the legend are nothing like the dragons of Berk!" stated Star in shock as she looked at the dragons in the picture. "They looked like those dragons from that Disney movie, Raya and the Last Dragon, that we once saw!”
"And, even those Shadow Pokemon and Dragons sound like the Drunn from that movie!" Skylar added, startled from what she heard.
"Do you know what happened to them after they were kicked out, Ms. Zipp?" Tsukumaro pondered.
"All I know is that they now live in a place called the PokeDragon Isles, just north of Bridlewood," Zipp answered before she solemnly went to a second tapestry on the room's right side and pulled it back. "But, not all of them made it to the Isles....."
Sans Zipp (solemnly smiling at the statues), everyone was left in awe and bewilderment from what they saw behind the tapestry she pulled back; behind it there stood eight stone statues (four Pokemon and four dragons together). With the dragons, they all resembled the dragons from Raya and the Last Dragon in terms of their appearance, all of them having long, spindly bodies along with hair serving as their manes and one or two horns on their heads but shaped differently to differentiate them.
As for the Pokemon statues alongside them, they had some faded color on them in contrast to their grey bodies and they all looked different with their appearances as well. But, their stonified forms made it hard to see the details on their bodies, and the only thing they can point out was that they're all the same size as Umbreon's daughters.
"Everyone, I want you to meet my family's Pokemon and dragon friends. The Pokemon here are as follows - Helioseon: the Solar Eclipse Pokemon; Thundereon: the Thundering Pokemon; Freezeon: the Brain Freeze Pokemon and Seleneon: the Lunar Eclipse Pokemon, Helioseon's sister."
But, the sad frown on Zipp's face prior returned as she looked from the Pokemon statues to the dragon statues as she introduced them, "And, my dragon friends, Tamu, Sefu, Drake......"
She then turned to the final dragon as she tried to keep her emotions in check. "And, Ryu, he's my big brother and the one who understood me the most. I miss them........" she finished, wiping away a tear.
"Incredible! So, besides us with Sarah, Tsukumaro, Nikki, and James, these four dragons and four Pokemon with you in this room are the last ones to ever stand on this land even when in stone," Kurma observed in awe.
"I never knew there were still dragons and Pokemon living in Equestria in some form," breathed Blossom, stunned as she looked at the stonified Seleneon.
"We all didn't, honestly," Sokka admitted, also amazed while he, Persian, and Kurma checked out the statue of Tamu as Zipp smiled softly in response.
"Yeah. See that girl along with Thundereon - that's Tamu, she has the power of Invisibility, my Mom's closest friend, her sister under the skin and feathers. Sefu, she's best at Illumination, always was a great night light for Pipp and I when we were fillies and on dark nights. Drake - a shapeshifter, always had a knack for putting on a show as someone else whenever he can. And, Ryu - he brings the rain."
"And, these guys became statues to save everybody back then?" Izzy quizzed, thunderstruck at the sight of the dragon and Pokemon statues.
"Were they really that special to you, being part of your family?” asked Shadow with a gentle and sympathetic frown.
Zipp nodded again. "I was devastated along with Pipp when we heard the news that Ryu and the others gave themselves up to save everyone with Doug and Delilah's help, even more so when I found them like this when I discovered these ruins. When Scarlet attacked and Tamu was turned to stone, helping to save all of us, Mom lost it. She felt like she lost a part of herself that day, Tamu was everything to her just as we and our subjects were."
Curious as to know what exactly transpired during the last battle between Equestria's final defenders and Scarlet, Zorua and Mischief went over to Ryu's statue form, carefully climbed up his body, and then, gently touched his chest as they tapped into their illusion flashbacks and showed everyone what had happened in the chaotic struggle that ensued.
(Flashback)
It was the tail end of the Legend of Scarlet Nightmare and everywhere in Equestria, her forces of Shadow Dragons and Shadow Pokemon spawned throughout the world and laid waste to everything that crossed her path, turning every last pony of all species including the dragons and Pokemon that swore to defend and protect their friends and families was turned to stone and destroying many buildings in cities and towns and other landmarks until nothing was left.
All except for one tiny spot, a moderate amount of land including a battered castle at the top of a mountain that would eventually form the basis of Zephyr Heights, a storm raging in the background as a group of ten were fighting against Scarlet herself along with whatever of her forces joined her. She looked to be a tall, red Alicorn mare standing at 8'00" with black armor, a flowing red mane coated in a black transparent layer along with bat-like wings and a horn while cackling at the defenders as they were thrown together and surrounded.
The heroes being rag-dolled in the fight were shown as Helioseon, Thundereon, Freezeon, Selenon, Tamu, Sefu, Drake, and Ryu, who were the last dragons and Pokemon still standing. With them are King Doug and Queen Delilah (both of them as alicorns), also being thrown to them after their own scuffle with some of Scarlet's minions.
"Come on, Ryu, you and your friends have lost! Face the truth, I'm the only one in this world who will lead this world to eternal glory," sneered Scarlet, taking delight into the heroes' predicament as they tried to figure out what to do. "Why fight and delay the inevitable, those 'princesses' and their friends foolishly thought they can take on me since they believed that 'friendship is magic' and it can solve all problems, HA! How pathetic......!"
Everyone gathered on the heroes' side looked around as they saw the situation looking more and more hopeless and Delilah and Doug looking hopelessly at their dragon and Pokemon friends.
By the sound of Scarlet's gloating, it seemed as though the original defenders of Equestria were killed by Scarlet and were no match for her evil might which left them and their eight friends as the only ones surviving to end the war against the monstrous Alicorn.
But, rather than accept defeat, Helioseon and Ryu (the latter remembering Zipp and wanting his little sister safe from harm) decided to take the first step in the heroes' last stand against their common enemy. They weren't going to let everyone they know and love die by her mad hooves and since she even hinted that she'll do the same to Zipp and the rest of their family, now it's personal.
"Not in a million years," retorted Ryu quietly.
As he said this and shared a knowing nod with the Solar Eclipse Pokemon, he cupped a nearby puddle of water in a small crater on the floor, clasped them together with Helioseon transferring his power to whatever he's creating, and together, they made three crystals: the Wings of Loyalty, the Unicorn Crystal being the Unicorn's Eye, and the Earth Pony Crystal called the Earth Pony Hope.
Seeing what Ryu did and knowing what this would mean for the Ponies, Pokemon, and dragons that were to be brought back and/or survive Scarlet and her wrath, they knew they had to make the ultimate sacrifice. United in their cause, Ryu's siblings, Thundereon, Freezeon, and Seleneon all transferred their power to the crystals and when they had finished, they turned to Doug and Delilah, trusting them to finish the job for them.
The two thunderstruck Alicorns didn't know what to think as they were about to have a major responsibility thrusted on their shoulders but Ryu and Helioseon just smiled encouragingly at them as the former handed the two the crystals after he combined them.
The group looked at Doug and Delilah one last time as they all gave trusting smiles to them before a Shadow Pokemon came and turned them to stone but not without Ryu saying one last time, "Take care of them......"
This final sacrifice from them and what they left for the two was enough for Sarah's real parents to take action and thus, end Scarlet's wrath in their honor and memory. They then looked at each other and nodded and, harnessing the power of all three crystals left for them along with the Sun Sword and Moon Shield in their magical grasp, they blasted Scarlet and her forces, banishing them from Equestria.
(Flashback ends)
Sunny, Izzy, and the others (sans a sorrowful Zipp still looking at her dragon brother) were left speechless, all of them in awe by what they had witnessed from Ryu's final memories before he, his siblings, and their Pokemon companions were turned to stone and Scarlet was first defeated.
"Zipp, I'm so sorry," Sunny began after a while, now feeling sorry for Zipp and what she, Pipp, and Queen Haven have lost. "I had no idea how much they meant to you all"
"That's really, very sad......" frowned Izzy sadly.
"So, Mama's parents were able to stop that big Alicorn meanie with their sword and shield before they had to do the same with Lothor, Team Eclipse, and Necrozma," gasped a stunned Nebby.
"And, they had to beat her with those crystals that Ryu, his siblings, and your Pokemon friends made to save you all and Equestria, right, Ms. Zipp?" Nebula added, getting another confirming nod from the distraught Pegasus as she approached Ryu's statue and embraced him, starting to cry again.
"He was everything to me along with Pipp before everything that happened now," she said honestly, nuzzling her lost brother.
"They were all great Pokemon and dragons to us, greater than anypony could possibly imagine. Pipp, Mom, and I thought they were the best in the world after everything they did; those buffoons that put those awesome guys down don't even see what we saw in them....... Mom became a broken pony after we lost them. If I could bring them back, even for just one day, it would change everything for everypony. Then, we may be a family again......."
Sarah walked over to Zipp and placed a reassuring hoof on her shoulder, deciding to do something for her involving her lost extended family. "We'll get them back, Zipp. If Scarlet somehow managed to break free from whatever magic my parents used to seal her away and is responsible for the magic being gone as well, she'll be sorry she ever messed with us, even you."
Zipp looked towards Sarah and seeing her reassuring smile (her drive and flame to help save Equestria reforged and rekindled by what she had shown and explained to them), nodded warmly and happily, knowing that joining forces with her new friends would surely bring Ryu and her family's friends back.
Sunny felt the same way and turning back to the stained glass window Zipp had shown them, she saw the glass representation of the Unicorn's Eye she found and looked to a reflection of the Wings of Loyalty on the floor. Getting an idea as she saw an opening from the Wings, she slid the Eye into place, showing a perfect fit between them.
"Look," she called, getting everyone's attention as they saw what she did.
"They fit?" blinked Izzy.
"Check it out, these two crystals belonged together, united. It's just like what Ryu and your family did when they made them for King Doug and Queen Delilah to use against Scarlet, Zipp!"
"So, what are you saying?" the confused Pegasus asked her.
"Maybe you lost your magic because the crystals were separated," Sunny theorized. "If we can get the Wings of Loyalty and the Unicorn's Eye, we can put them back together and the magic will be back!"
"I don't know, Ms. Sunny. That sounds way too simple to be true and I have a feeling it's more complex than that," warned Tsukumaro, suspicious in that Sunny's theory has a lot of holes in it and it doesn't make much sense.
"Tsukumaro's right, Sunny. What good would that theory do?" Sarah added, concerned that Sunny's jumping the shark. "Magic is usually very complicated and simply sticking them together just doesn't hold water."
"But, think about it, guys! Maybe it's not as complex as you might think," suggested Izzy, nevertheless getting in with Sunny's theory along with Zipp. "If we can get them and put them back together......."
"Then, the magic will return?" finished Zipp.
"And, not only will all three Ponykinds will get along again but the Pokemon and dragons that have been banished will return again if Scarlet rears her ugly head and flank again!" nodded Sunny. "They'll finally know that we still deserve them and each other as friends and family and will have to come back to help us stop her if she shows up again!"
"Alright!"
"WHOO-HOO-HOO!" hollered Izzy and Zipp.
But, Sarah was worried for Sunny and what she had in mind to save Equestria; thinking back to the flashback of Ryu, his family, their Pokemon friends, and her real parents fighting one last time against Scarlet Nightmare and succeeding, she had a funny feeling that Sunny was way in over her head with her current theory. She and Tsukumaro still think that it's never as simple as it sounds and there was something missing in her reasoning besides the crystals themselves.
"I have a bad feeling about this....... Magic has always been complicated and is either not told in great detail or simply unexplainable unless one performs it to get even a basic understanding of it," Sarah thought worriedly as she looked at Sunny.
"Sunny doesn't realize that it's not something like crystals that can make friendships real, it's the people, ponies, Pokemon, dragons, any and all creatures that make them happen when they take the first step. What Sunny's hoping for to happen is nothing but a pipe dream and something out of a literal fairy tale and this problem can't be solved as simply as that. Come on, Sunny, please be realistic. The only way for us to restore your magic and Equestria is to get everyone to trust each other, it's all about trust! You need to understand this if we're going to stop Scarlet and end this madness!"
"But, what about the Unicorn's Eye? How will we know if the Unicorns really have it?" Zipp questioned, wondering how they're going to start.
Izzy smiled to them as she said, "Well, if you're looking for crystals including the Unicorn's Eye, we've got a gazillion of them in Bridlewood. So, even if nopony welcomes you when you get there unless you're a Unicorn, if you want your crystal, you'll get to the right place."
"Then, that's where we're heading next," Sunny declared before she turned to Zipp. "After we find a way to get the Wings of Loyalty from your mom, of course."
"Ugh...... Problamo," Zipp cringed in worry and annoyance. "She's never taken it off and she keeps it on her to remind her of Tamu, it's like she's still with her whenever she has it with her at all times even if she's gone from our lives."
"She never takes it off?"
"Even when she sleeps?!" Nikki and James gasped in bewilderment.
"Never, nor when she goes for a shower or a swim in the pool. Even I don't get why she doesn't take it off if it meant for her to be separated from a potential sliver of Tamu; even if she didn't want to admit it, she honestly wanted her back more than anything which is why she clings onto it as much as she can."
"Well, that is a problem," Winter pondered.
"Yeah, she needn't obsess over it just because she desperately wants her best friend back in private and she wants to keep an aura of superiority on her that's under the guise of an intentional lie for whatever greater good she thinks of," Star grumbled, rolling her eyes.
"I don't even want to think about coming across that insolent hag again after what she did to poor Sarah," Ruby rebuffed, Sapphire nodding in agreement with her head-mate.
"Yeah, she made her blow up last time with her previous insults about dragons and Pokemon," agreed Flora.
"How are we going to get the Wings of Loyalty as long as she keeps her hooves on them all day and all night for as long as she lives?" asked Sunset.
Suddenly, Zipp gasped as she remembered the celebration that Pipp would be throwing for their and Queen Haven's subjects in the coming night. "I got it! Pipp's performing at tonight's royal celebration; all eyes will be on her, especially my mom's. She'll be distracted by then, so we'll just swap the real crown with a fake," she suggested.
"And, how exactly do you plan to get one at this time of day?" Eternatus quipped skeptically. "If anything, she may be a total jack with what she tried to do with us and with how she broke my pipsqueak but she's no fool. She's bound to know something's amiss, eventually."
"I can craft a decoy!" Izzy added as she bounced excitedly. "But, I'll need a box of macaroni, a tube of luge, 14 gooey bunnies, and three jellybeans! Ooh, and glitter, lots of glitter!"
"Are you guys sure your decoy is going to pass off for the crown when we get the Wings of Loyalty?" Dart questioned, unsure of what to make of the decoy plan.
"What if Pipp figures out what you're planning to do and then rats you out?" added Pouncer as Ruffrunner nodded in agreement.
"It'll work, Dart, Pouncer. Trust me, it'll only be for until we get the Unicorn's Eye and see if Sunny's theory works. In the meantime, I'll go and get the supplies," reassured Zipp Storm as she then laid down the groundwork for their decoy ploy. "First, I'll pass them off to Sarah. Tsukumaro, and Sunny. Then, they will get them to you. Once you produce the decoy, get your flanks back to the palace. Everypony who's anypony will be there so security will be tight. I'll distract them so you guys can sneak in."
"Maximum sneaky!" Izzy stated with a grin as Zipp produced a map.
"Right, but you need to be stealthy, be like the ninja. Carefully make your way to the Grand Hall but watch out for the guards when you get there. I'll open the door to the backstage of the throne room. Here's a map of the entire palace so you don't get lost."
"Alright!" Izzy cheered, already liking Zipp's plan.
"And, once Pipp starts singing, my mom will be so caught up with her performance, swapping the crowns will be easy-breezy."
"Easy-breezy, sure," commented Sunny.
"I don't like this, girls. We've got ourselves a few snags right off the bat with this plan even though it's the only one we have right now," replied Sarah, knowing that it had to be done but feeling doubtful at the same time.
"One of them would be involving my family and since your mom and Pipp were already given a start by them along with the guards, Zipp, they won't hesitate to pick us off. I suggest that they hide somewhere in the city or in the palace where nobody can find them and take them from me. I don't want to run into those Zoom and Thunder guys given how clumsy and crazy they were before and if they ever try to take them from me again."
"I definitely don't think we can take another meltdown like that when those guards and that queen made you go wild, Sarah," agreed Raikou.
"So, that's it? We'll be sitting ducks on this one until the crown swap is finished?" groaned Jolteon. "This is lame, I need action! Let us have a go at it, too!"
"If you want to get yourself somehow beaten to a pulp if you attract unwanted attention during the mission, Jolteon, be our guest," Arcanine retorted, calling out her bluff.
"I can give Zippy a hand with distracting them, they won't know what hit 'em! Besides, I need payback for them humiliating us and Sarah when they took us from her and nearly kicked us out! I heard Queenie's stupid rant from my Pokeball!"
"There's no point in dealing with her, Jolteon. We don't want to cause any trouble and we're here to help restore Equestria, remember that," reminded Umbreon to his Electric Type daughter.
"I think we better sit this one out, too. We don't want to go through a repeat of that as well," suggested Siren to Sunny.
"Okay, but stay close to Sarah's family so you don't somehow get separated behind our backs, Si," Sunny relented.
"There's an alleyway that's just big enough for all of them to lay low until we got the Wings of Loyalty and get out of here," Zipp requested. "It's right down from the palace and it should be perfect for them."
"Right," Sarah nodded.
"We'll make sure to look after them until you're done with the plan and you got the Wings, Ponchita," reassured James.
"If there is any sign of trouble when you do get them or you end up close, we'll regroup and come up with a Plan B or otherwise," Nikki agreed.
"I'm worried about what can go wrong at any time should anybody suspect us but it looks like we'll have to risk it no matter what," mused Azul.
"Yes, since Queen Haven forced Sarah to reveal who she really is, no doubt she'll be sending out arrest warrants and have some of the Pegasi keeping their eyes and ears open for us," Entei agreed grimly.
"I think we got our work cut out for us this time with what we're up against," Nico stated.
"Princess, are you sure you want to do this, after everything you've been through earlier today?" warned Calyrex (in Shadow Rider Form). "There could be a chance for those Pegasi to do you and your friends along with Tsukumaro real harm and we don't want anything to happen to you."
"This may be our only chance to take another step in restoring Equestria and I think Sunny needs a nudge in the right direction, I sensed that she's making it sound too simple with her previous theory," Sarah explained to the High King Pokemon.
"Besides, if this is all the work of Scarlet and if she did somehow break from my parents' seal, with the power of the crystals waning over many moons after everything we saw from Ryu's memories, we don't have a choice. I know I was hit hard by Queen Haven's crazy rant but I know now that she's also suffering after she, Pipp, and Zipp lost their extended family. I have to help them in order to bring back Tamu and Ryu along with their siblings and their Pokemon friends, for their sakes, for Zipp's sake."
"........I understand," Calyrex relented.
"We understand as well, Princess. Promise us you'll all be careful," Cobalion replied, giving her a hardened but relenting look of approval.
Sarah nodded, "I will."
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wait so
Rya and the last dragon is canon to MLP here?
wait
THE' Sunset?