> My Little Pony X Bionicle
>  by GundamBrony
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1 (Quest for the Crystal Masks)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prolouge
A long time ago, in the mythical island of Okoto, all things live in harmony. It was a filled with beauty and wondrous landscape. From the island's elemental forces, two brothers, know as the Mask Makers created Mask of Powers. Each brothers have a different masks, Makuta own the Mask of Control and the Ekimu the Mask of Creation. The brothers provided the islanders with many masks, but Ekimu was the most treasured. His brother became envious and forged an evil plan.

It was a sacred law that a mask may not hold the power of more than one elements otherwise it'll become too strong and dangerous. But Makuta broke the sacred law in order to forge the strongest mask of all time, the Mask of Ultimate Power. Once Makuta donned it, it took control of him as the island begin to shattered. Realize what his brother had done, Ekimu knocked the mask from Makuta's face. A shockwave rolled across the island and sent both brothers into an endless sleep and the masks were scattered across the island as the lifeless body of Ekimu whispered to the Protectors who found him, the Prophecy of Heroes and laid him to rest.

As for the island, an evil was rising, searching for the three sacred masks. Desperately, the Protectors gather in the most sacred place, the Temple of Time. Reciting what Ekimu whispered and using the sacred Mask of Time, they sent their prayers into the skies for the only hope of fighting the Skull Spiders.

And they came, six elemental comets crashes into the islands and with it, six beings came to the Protectors, the Toa. Tahu, Master of Fire, Gali, Master of Water, Onua, Master of Earth, Pohatu, Master of Stone, Kopaka, Master of Ice, and Lewa, Master of Jungle. The Protectors told the six figures of their destiny that each of them go on a quest to find their Golden Masks and unlock their true potentials. As they guided them to terrains of Okoto, facing terrible dangers and challenges, they all reach the shrines of their respective Golden Masks. But the Skull Spiders launch their ambush onto the heroes as even the Protectors not stand against the relentless army. However, once the Toa wore their Golden Masks, their true powers awaken as they faced the armies of the Skull Spiders. Suddenly, the spirit of Ekimu told them, via telepathy from their Golden Masks told that now they need to awaken him in his tomb. As the six heroes gather the first time, they faced The Lord of the Skull Spiders as while the monstrous beast overcome their attacks, the Toas unite their attacks and defeat the monster spider. As the Toa, now journey into The Ancient City of the Mask Maker, a new threat was waited for them.

Skull Creatures, animated by dark magic, risen from the ground of Okoto, fight against the Toa from each guarded place of the city they went. Each of them have their Golden Masks stolen by them and the Skull Creatures begin to 'corrupted' them. But the Toa able to regain back their masks and fought the new threat. However, before they can reach their goals, a hidden legend begin to unfold them. One of which the Toa continue to fight the Skull Creatures and discover a hidden powers from another world and bring fourth new allies on their quest.............

Rain poured down the heavens of Okoto as lighting flash around as the drops landed on the The Ancient City as deep underground into the underworld, the sound of what to appear to be a screech can be heard as unknown creatures came together to what appear to be a rocky throne room, each wear what to be a skull masks, another a spider like skull mask , and so fourth but one thing for certain, these creatures revealed from their shadows as each of them have bones to each sides with a chest that have a bone chest plate and each have a glow of their spines from light blue, light green, purple, and dark green . Then as if they bow to a ruler, a larger figure step out of the shadows, revealing a larger skeletal creature with horns on the skull, two gunmetal circular shaped armored on the shoulder and legs and a larger bone arms wielding two weapons, a staff with three prong blades and a rust yet sharp sword, and finally, a orange spines, hands and armor glow with darkness around it.

The creature roared as each of the others got back up as the larger skeletal figure sat on the throne, it point its staff to the dark green skeleton creature with four arms as it walk to it, the orange skeletal figure start speaking in grunted and foreign languages.

'I have chosen you, Slicer. For you to use what our 'guard' had failed to defeat.'

Slicer nodded as the orange figure continue to speak. 'The Toa must not awake the Mask Maker. However, despite of us trying to capture their masks, they too proven to be formidable. But yet, we must not failed our master.'


Then the orange figure grabbed something from the side and reveal to be a golden mask version of Slicer's mask. The skeletal dark green figure widened its red eyes in surprise. 'Grinder, is that.....?!'


'Yes, the mask that the Lord of Skull Spiders use to control the Skull Spiders. Since it lost the battle to the wretched Toa, it was too fall into the endless pit. But luckly, I able to found it. And now, it's yours. Use that mask will not only give control to the Skull Spiders, but with that to our advantage, the Toa will fall! I trust you will not failed us. '


Slicer nodded as once it grab the golden mask, he ripped out his old one and threw it away as once attach to the golden mask, the eyes glow as the skull creatures roared at Slicer's new power. Suddenly as if Grinder sense something along with the others, it got back up as joined to its comrades, all of them bow as a darkest mist appear as swirl around, a red demonic eyes was shown.

'My master, what brings you here? We about to recover the Mask of Creation.'

'My fellow, skull creatures. I might had brought news of something else. Before you recover the Mask of Creation, there's something else I want you to bring.'


The Skull Creatures take glance as the King of the Underworld explained to them.





As the Toa, now rested on the shelter founded on the ruins while Tahu able to use his elemental power to make fire from the woods they can salvage, each of them felt tired from the last battle. Just shortly after defeating the Lord of Skull Spider, the Toa now able to enter The Ancient City of the Mask Maker in one goal they share : to awaken the legendary Mask Maker, Ekimu and recover the Mask of Creation before the Skull Creatures does. So far, they haven't done so well, despite that they united to fight the new threat. Each time they fight, the Skull Creatures able to counter their strategies and able to steal half of their Golden Mask, leaving only Tahu and Gail not stolen by them and corrupted their elemental powers from them, but they luckly able to got them before their masks will be completely corrupted of their mystical energies. But they need to rested their masks so their mystical energies able to return to their former glory.

Tahu grunted, letting out a huff "We'll rested for now. But by the rain stops tomorrow, we move on to the Tomb of Ekimu."

"Yeah, but don't forget that half of us aren't that in tip top shape in case if we run into them again, fire spitter." Lewa pointed as Pohatu, on his feet, take off glance of the others while Kopaka rested his head, and Onua mediated as their masks, each of them have translucent part on the top but begin to return to their former golden forms. "Beside, those nasty Skull Creatures are something that we never faced before beside those Skull Spiders we fought at Okoto."

"Right," Gali nodded "Those Skull Creatures aren't the same as the Skull Spiders and their master. Each of them able to corrupted half of our brothers' masks and use them to their advantage and I have a hunch that they'll waited for us at the near tomb, ready to ambush us and take our Golden Masks once more."

Tahu growled a bit, but knowing that their right, even he hated it, he sighed as he set his fire surfboard down on the wall and sat down, "I supposed you two have a point."

"Well, it's a good thing that these Skull Creatures don't like rain, otherwise they'll get washed away." Gali joked as the others take odd looks at her and Lewa just shook his head.

"Uh, sister, let's leave the jokes to the professional, thank you very much." Lewa commented as Gali grumbled, known that she can't get a joke right to her brothers.

As time goes on, Lewa begin to tell jokes which Tahu and Onua laugh at his antics while Gali chuckled a bit while Kopaka and Pohatu just stayed quietly, though they leave a little smile at it. Then as the fire crackled while the moon raised, each of them fell to sleep, getting rest while Kopaka and Pohatu decide to guard just in case of the Skull Creatures ambush them. But with Onua's snoring, the Toa clamp their mask to knock off the noise he's making making it harder for them.

Oh, Ekimu protect us, why he always snoring so much? Tahu grumbled while trying to sleep from that noise until he able to fall asleep. 

As something calling them, a voice was heard from inside of their masks. The voice of Ekimu. 'Fateful heroes, the Skull Creatures are on the run to the sacred temple to steal a mask that I hidden from the face of Okoto. It's powers had the capable of the user(s) to do something that a sacred law should never do to prevent disaster to them : jumping into other worlds.' Various scene of a temple hidden underground as Skull Creatures begin digging up something from it. 'You must hurry to recover it before it's too late! '

All of the sleeping Toa awaken with Kopaka and Pohatu shook their heads at the voice from their golden masks. They all gather around as Lewa asked in confusion "Did we just heard from Ekimu about a ancient mask hidden underground in the ancient city? Hope I not too crazy-wild."

"No, we all heard it, my brothers." Gali respond which Lewa sighed in relief as she continue speaking "But if Ekimu warned of those Skull Creatures trying to find this mask, then it's consider that we need to retrieve it before we can awaken him."

All of the Toa nodded as with Onua's earthquake hammer split the halves into turbo shovelers, they now follow him to the pint point location of the hidden temple to stop the Skull Creatures from retrieving a ancient mask.





A ruined temple was asleep, hidden away from the face of Okoto. The ruined of the temple's architecture was remained with design of only of a newly mask design. It was shaped that of the Protectors but with somewhat inspiration of the Mask of Creation and the Mask of Time. Inside of the temple, the Skull Creatures walked towards a shrine as they witness a mask was laid their like all of the Golden Masks. Skull Basher was about to move forward but Skull Grinder halted it.

"There's some traps here." it said as it picked up a pebble and throw to the ground as in respond, multiple arrows shot everywhere. Basher grunted as Grinder face Slicer as with Slicer nodded, it then use the newly golden mask of skull spiders as a rumble, multiple Skull Spiders begin marching forward to its new master.

"Protect all of us from the traps until we dismantled them." Slicer command them as the skull spider begin march towards the traps, protecting their masters from them as each of them take the hit. Grinder then wave its staff and with that charges at the shrine as two statues open up, revealing more arrows as it fires at them, Grinder twirl its staff blocking them while moving forward then as they reach the shrine, they all destroyed the statues and the components of the traps as arrows begin fall down to the endless pit.

With the traps dismantled, they all glance at the new mask. A golden mask that have two circular eye holes and a mouth on the middle but what's fascinated is that each of the rectangular protrusion were sticking out, giving a slightly resemble of the Mask of Creation but the mouth also have a rectangular ridges that shaped like the Mask of Time and on the top have circular ridges design on them almost like the Protectors' mask.

Just as Grinder about to grab it, a voice stop it "You're not touching that mask, foul creatures!"

They all turned and growled in anger, saw six Toa readied their weapons. Then they too readied their own too as they all charged at each other as each of them clash their weapons. Tahu headstrong slam his sword at Grinder only to be blocked by its staff as twirl around and using its left handed sword tried to slash him but Tahu dodge it then shot out his elemental energy at it only to use its staff and absorb it from the tip then redirect at him which he blocked it but with the force from it, he holding on to it until it stops.

"Rgggh! It's that the best you can do, monster?!" Tahu yelled as he slammed his sword to the ground as lava begin to erupted and heading straight towards Grinder as it dodge at the last minute, then charging at him which Tahu did the same as the blades clash with sparks. 

Meanwhile, Lewa and Gali block of Slicer's four arm swords as they hold on while trying to find a opening to attack but no chance. Lewa use his mask powers as vines begin to rise from the ground and wrapped around it but Slicer slice the vines in half. Then Slicer use the golden skull mask as multiple skull spiders begin rising from the gorge and begin crawling towards them.

"Aw great, now we got to face them again?" Lewa moaned at this as begin slamming his sword and using his mask to conjure a powerful gale as it blew the spiders away. Then as Slicer about to grab his mask using his chain claw, Gali slice it half quickly as Slicer hiss at her.

"Thanks, sister." Lewa said as she nodded as they continue to fight against it. For Kopaka and Pohatu, they kept dodge not only Scorpio's snapping bladed tail and claw, but also from bone shots from Skull Solider's crossbow. Pohatu throw his Stormerang at Solider but it then pull out it's staff and block it away as he got when it coming back. Kopaka shot from the tip of the spear, a icicle at Solider but it use its sword and cleave it in half. 

"I may lost to them once, I won't let that happen again!" Kopaka said as his tip of the spear glowed as he conjure a blizzard force at Solider as the skeletal warrior brace for it as caught in the sheer blizzard, it then charged its crossbow and struggle to lock on since the blizzard causing its eye sight to blur and as a energy shot fired, it was rebounded at a block of ice as it bounce to the owner, hitting on the side of the chest, hissing in pain. Pohatu kept blocking Scorpio's snapping bladed tail using his Stomerangs as he grunted to hold it in place as it about to snap its claws, he stepped onto the mask as Scorpio's screeched in pain as he kicked it sending straight towards Solider as both rolled to the ground almost to the edge of the endless pit but both got up on their feet and into their battle stance.

"You set for another round, brother?" Pohatu quietly asked not taking his eyes off of his opponents, charging at them.

"I still got another juice to keep going." With that, both of them prepared themselves as they clash their weapons.

Meanwhile, Onua grunted on the ground as he widened his eyes and saw Basher diving towards him as he got out of the way as Basher slammed it's axe on the ground the pulled it up. He got up as he prepared his Earthquake Hammer and slammed it to Basher's axe as a shockwave exploded as both got out of the way as their got into their battle stance.

My mask still recharging from being corrupted by Basher.......and now it's using the elemental against me.........Onua thought as Basher begin charging at him. I got to be careful about it.

With that, he split his hammer and turned into his Turbo Shovelers as Basher slammed it's battle axe at him but he grabbed it before impact as both continue to struggle to hold on as with enough strength he pushed the axe on the left side as Basher rolled to the ground as it slammed its axe on the ground stopping it from almost falling to the endless pit. It got up and roared at Onua who glared at it as it begin charging at him with horn facing at him. Onua then grabbed the horns of the skull creature and begin struggling as he struggle to push back as Basher about to use its axes, he kick its chest out before it bash his mask.

As both Grinder and Slicer kept trading back blows at their respective foes, Grinder turned to the four arm skull creature "Slicer!"

As the four arm skeletal creature nodded along with reading thoughts, it use the mask once more as more armies of Skull Spiders rising from the endless pit as the rest of the Skull Creatures take that as a chance and retreated to Grinder. 

"Get back here!!!" Tahu shouted as he about to charge, more of Skull Spiders crawling towards as he use his lava swords to sweep the spiders out of his way but more kept coming as the Toa tried to charge at them but when they touch the ancient mask, the energy waves blew them away including the Skull Spiders as the Toa watches as the mask glows in a rainbow color then a energy beam shot out of the mask and begin open to what to appear to be a portal.

Then they felt a rumble as the Toa and the Skull Creatures realize that the temple is about to collapse. Wasting no time, the Skull Creatures snatch the mask and begin heading towards the portal as each of them jump into it.

"Come back here!" Tahu shouted as he tried to charge to the portal as Grinder jump in last, it closed on it's own as the upper pillars fall down as he jump out of the way and growled in anger.

"C'mon, Tahu! We got to get out of here!" Lewa shouted as the Toa rushed to the bridge quickly before it collapse as they reached the exit as they saw the temple collapse.

"Whew! We made it! But........" he grunted as he tried to get up "I don't like to be near-close nor of being squash-crushed, Onua, get off of me!"

"Sorry....." he got back up as he offer his hand to him as he stand up but wobbled from being crushed by him.

As the Toa got to their feets, they witness that the temple now in ruins. The Skull Creatures got away with the ancient mask and headed to unknown part of Okoto, no, to either worlds they might ended up to.

"We're too late.........." Pohatu mumbled in anger

"So that's means.........we lost..........right?" Lewa asked them but neither of them able to answer "That means...........Okoto is lost.........?"

'No it's not lost yet, fateful heroes..........'

All of the Toa whirred around at the voice as their Golden Mask begin to glow in a blinding light. 'Fateful heroes, there's something you all need to know. Something that even I never to expected.' As the blinding lights died down, it shows the Prophecy of Heroes.........but something different about it. Six figures they already knew as the 'Masters' was on each of the circle with the Mask of Creation but behind them is another set of six figures, each of them colored in lavender, cyan, light yellow, pink, purple, and orange. Each of them wore some kind of unique shape of masks that almost identical to theirs but in crystallized form as each of them have symbols around them. One is a starburst shaped, one a three apples, another three diamonds, a cloud with a thunderbolt colored in rainbow, three balloons, and three butterflies.   'There's another set of heroes much like you, Toa 'Masters', but they had different prophecy and story from another world known as the 'Harmonics'. Each of them carried special element traits that symbolize the harmony of their world, laughter, kindness, honesty, loyalty, generosity, and magic. Before you and the other Toa came to Okoto, me and my brother, Makuta, discovered six crystals came from the heaven by the villagers. We design each of them into six special masks but once I donned on each of them, I not only glimpse of a vision of the Harmonics but it was too powerful for anyone to use them and in the wrong hands, it can cause destruction to Okoto. I tried to reason with my brother, but his jealously had blinded him so I took matters into my own hand and studied them to find their origins. In truth, I discover that the crystals were originated from another world, so I crafted the mask that the Skull Creatures stole , the Mask of Parallel Universe, and use its power to travel to another world and sealed them. Now that the Skull Creatures use its powers to open the gate to another world, you must use your Golden Masks powers to open the portal and find the Harmonics and the Crystal Masks before the darkness spread not only in Okoto but their world too.'


After that, the Toa return to the ruins of the temple as all of the Toa were surprised at the visions that Ekimu showed. Lewa broke the silence "Okay, did Ekimu said that there's another set of six heroes from another world?"

"Yes, as well as their own special six elements." Kopaka commented

"But I don't understand, I thought that only the Golden Masks are the only thing that can awaken Ekimu and find the Mask of Creation, so why we need to find them and the Crystal Masks?" Pohatu wondered

"Because Ekimu believe that those Crystal Masks were too powerful to be used so he might think that the Harmonics might the key of control them. And the Skull Creatures that jump into the portal might do the same as our encounter in the Ancient City. If those Crystal Masks were fully corrupted, then it would endanger their homeworld." Gali replied.

"But can't these 'Harmonics' handle their own battle? Something tells me that we shouldn't meddle in their own world." Tahu asked.

"I don't think that the 'Harmonics' would able to handle those creatures. Maybe that they fought their own battles from their own world as the Skull Creatures might be too much for them." Onua said as the others nodded.

"One thing, how we supposed to find the Harmonics?" Gali asked

"My best guess is that those symbols are represent the Harmonics." Onua guessed.

"But even if we find the Harmonics, how we supposed to find the Crystal Masks that Ekimu spoke of?" Pohatu asked

"The same way that we use to find Ekimu's tomb." Kopaka replied.

"Then it's settled, we go to that world and find the Harmonics and the Crystal Masks before the forces of evil." Tahu said as all of the Toa gather into a circle as their Golden Masks glows brightly as each of the elements begin shot from the ruin pillars as it begin to open up a portal. With no hesitation, all of them rushed to the portal and jump into it with Kopaka jump in last as the portal closed. Now the mission to find the Harmonics and the Crystal Masks have begun.  

   
 



> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equestria, 2 weeks after the Battle of the Bands [Equestria Girls : Rainbow Rocks]

At the nighttime of Ponyville and Canterlot, all of the ponies were asleep save for a midnight alicorn with her starlike mane flows in the eternal winds, watches with another alicorn with white coat and mane colored in light pink, light blue, purple, and light green that flows in the eternal winds at the night skies covered in stars in the adjacent tower.

"Something wrong, sister?" Princess Celestia asked her.

"No, sister. Nothing's wrong. I got lots of things in my mind that I wonder." Princess Luna replied.

"About what?" 

Princess Luna closed her eyes then glance at her sister "Do you remember when we sealed Lord Tierk after Scorpan warned us?"

"Yes, I can never forget about that." She replied as she closed her eyes as memories of meeting a demon like creature called Scorpan who was friend with one of her dear mentor and best friend, Star-Swirl the Bearded, warned of his brother, Lord Tierk, planned to drained of all of Equestria magic. Then she open her eyes and glance at her "Why?"

"Well, in our battle against him, before he sealed away, there was another figure assisting us in shadows. As we about to prepare to sealed him, that figure use six crystal masks to weakened him for us to give us a chance to sealed him in Tartarus." Princess Luna said

"Now that you mention it, I remember that before that happen, King Buillion and Princess Platinum befriended a 'mask maker' during their visit to our castle. I do believe that figure could be the mask maker. What was that mask maker's name, again? E.......ki...........Ekimu? Yes, Ekimu, that's right." Princess Celestia said as various memories of King Buillion and Princess Platinum was with another figure who's the same size as other ponies. To them, the 'figure' is like a 'biomechanical' like being with golden armors and trans blue around him and had a mask that almost look like a crown but covered in symbols or language that nopony ever seen. 

"I felt something happen to him.............but I can't figure out what." Luna placed her right hoof onto her chest then Celestia placed hers on her left shoulder.

"You're not the only one, dear sister. I also felt it too, but it's blurry to figure out what. But we can't worried too much about it. Come, let's grab some tea and cake." She teased as she headed out of the door which Luna rolled her eyes of her sister's craving for sweets.

"You better save me some them!" She playfully teased as she followed her out of the door. 





In the Everfree Forest, everything was peaceful around in the unnatural forest until a gale of wind blew wildly as a bright light shines on the middle and open a portal. Then comes out, the Skull Villains landed on their skeletal feet as the portal close on them, they glance around the new area. 

'Take caution. We must find the Crystal Masks.' Grinder grunted as all of them walking slowly while keep eyes out for any sign of life, so far nothing. Just quiet around the forest.

'So how we supposed to find the Crystal Masks the master wants us to find?' Scorpio asked as Grinder showed them the ancient mask that they stole.

'The same way that Ekimu crafted this mask. This mask can also be used to guide those to the Crystal Masks.' Grinder replied as it shown the example by holding the mask as it shone softly on the right but when it turn to the left it shone brightly. 

Just as they about to head in that direction, a rustle caught their attention as they prepared their weapons as a greenish fog haze around the Skull Creatures. Then a low growl as the Skull Creatures spot a pair of green eyes then another and another as they stepped out of the shadow and revealed a pack of wolves that made of woods. Then each of them begin to pounce as they prepared their battle stance against them.





Meanwhile at the southeast of the Everfree Forest, another portal opened as the Toa landed on their feet as the portal closed, they took around at the jungle like area.

"So is this the other world that Ekimu spoke of?" Lewa look around the area.

"Looks like it, the nature of the jungle is different from the Region of Jungle in Okoto." Gali presumed

"Enough, sight-seeings. We need to keep moving. We need to find the Crystal Masks and the Harmonics before the forces of evil." Tahu said as the others nodded.

"We also need to keep our eyes on the forest for either any creatures that might lurks around the forest." Kopaka added as they now headed to north of the forest using their Golden Masks.





At the Northwest of the Everfree Forest, the Skull Villains smugly at the defeated Timberwolves pack now been chopped and slice into woods as a green aura on the defeated packs begin to reassemble itself but Basher 'bash' its axe at the mountain as pillars rumble at the force of it as the boulders fall down onto the reassemble timberwolves and crushes to pieces along with the others too. With that, they continue heading towards their goal. However not noticing, a zebra witness the entire event as she stayed in the shadows and fled.

At the Tree of Harmony, the crystalized tree begin to glow softly then brightly as if it sense a evil presence coming, it begin to shone brightly to call forth the Element's wielders. 





Meanwhile at the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom, Twilight and Spike were sleeping peacefully on their rooms. Time have gone fast since she set her hoof onto Ponyville, first she became a alicorn and crowned princess, enter another dimension to retrieve her crown back, return the Elements of Harmony back to the mystical Tree of Harmony, found all six keys, defeated Lord Tierk, and gained a new castle and a tittle 'Princess of Friendship' , and finally return the Human Dimension to help her human friends stop three beautiful but evil sirens from taking over the world. So many great trials that tested their bonds, they manage to face through and won all odds. And now she and her friends can rested well to do their daily life by tomorrow.

Knock!Knock!Knock!

A large knock from the castle's door woke Spike as he got up, groggily as he headed to the door "Ugh...........wonder who could that be............? It's 3 in the morning.........."

As he open the door, he eyes widened surprise as he saw a familiar zebra friend "Zecora, what are you doing here? It's 3 in the morning........."

"Forgive me for disturb your slumber, but I need to speak to Twilight, for this is a immediate emergency!" She cut him off as he immediately run towards the room and nudge her which she open her eyes groan with bags in her eyes.

"Spike, what's wrong..........."

"Zecora is here, Twilight." Spike replied as she shot head up confuse, she got off of her bed and follow him to where she was waiting int the throne room.

"Zecora, what's wrong?" She asked 

"You and your friends need to come to the Everfree Forest, for there is been a disturbance!" she replied as Twilight going to ask her, her castle begin to shone brightly along with her cutie mark.

"Huh?! Twilight, what's going on?!" Spike asked

"I don't know" she replied, confused at this event as each of the throne begin to glow brightly with each of their respective cutie marks then shot up in the skies of Equestria.

At Cloudsdale, Rainbow was sleeping peacefully at her bed until she begin to woke up from a bright light and saw her self outline in her cyan colors "What the-?!"

But before she can ask, she immediately disappeared from her bedroom then reappeared in her respective throne which surprise her as she whipped her head around.

"Huh?! Wha-" Then she glance at her friend "Twilight, what's going on?!"

"I, for once, don't know........" she said as she too was pulled in some type of magnetic force into her seat. Then one by one, her friends appeared in their thrones, taking the same expression. Suddenly all of their eyes begin to glow white as various scenes shown from the Everfree Forest, to the Tree of Harmony but then five skeletal figures were shown taking the Elements of Harmony as six figures fighting against them. After that, the pillars of lights died down as shook their heads, snapping out of their visions.

"Twilight, are you and the others all right?" Spike came to her with concerned looks.

"Yeah, we be all right, but something is happening to the Tree of Harmony." Twilight said as all of their friends came to her, each asking different questions about this event.

"Twilight, what the hay did we just see?" Applejack asked

"Yes, darling, what were those hideous things are?" Rarity added

"Not to mention those other six." Fluttershy said

"Zombies are real?!" Pinkie freaked out as the others take odd glance at her

"I don't know, but my guess is that those skeletal figures are after the Elements of Harmony." Twilight deduced as the others widened in surprised. What were those skeletal figures? What do they want with the Elements of Harmony? And those six figures, why are they fighting against them? "We need to get to the Everfree Forest fast before those skeletal figures get there. Spike, I need you to write to the Princesses about the Tree of Harmony being in great danger." With a saluted, Spike headed quickly to fetch the quills and ink and begin writing a emergency letter.

As the others nodded (even Fluttershy who even know that she's afraid to go there, she knew that her friends need her) prepared to leave, Zecora stopped them "Be on my guard, my friends, for those five skeletal warriors that you about to faced, I sense a evil dark magic course through them not from this world. If the Tree of Harmony made contact with them, it could spell utter disaster upon Equestria."

With a nod, they stormed out of the castle and headed straight to the Everfree Forest. 





While the Toa continue their trek, their Golden Masks glow softly on the left then to the right, shines brightly as they headed to that direction. So far, they haven't seen any danger around the part of the forest. To Okoto's Region of Jungle, it's all filled with a air of danger around the corner but in this world's forest, it's natural and yet no sense of danger. 

"You know, this place is kinda of relaxing by just one glance. Maybe too relaxing for my taste." Lewa commented

"And what make you said that?" Kopaka asked coldly

"I don't know, just got a feeling it." Lewa replied which Kopaka rolled his eyes, knowing the Master of the Jungle always make things humors at the time like this, even on a dire situation. 

Then Pohatu stopped as the others look at him confused. Gali was the first to speak up "Pohatu, what's-?"

"Quiet, we got company." As the other turned to his right direction on the undergrowth, they saw six shadows advancing as Tahu signal his hand to them as they crouch down.

"Skull creatures?" Lewa whispered

"I don't think so, their shadows have different builds." Gali replied

Time ticked as the shadows grew larger until, they saw something move faster. To their surprise, six creatures not of biomechanical but more sleek and organic, each with distinguish colors and sub-difference such as horns on their heads, wings on their sides, or both, was rushing in the forest. 

"What in Okoto are these things?" Tahu stare in wonder 

"I don't know. But I had to guess is that they might be the inhabited of this world." Onua said

"But why they're running?" Gali asked

"I think I might had to guess. The same place we need to be there." Kopaka replied. 

"Do you think the Skull Creatures might already gotten the Crystal Masks?" Tahu asked

"I don't know, but until then, we need to follow them." Kopaka said as the coast is clear, the other slowly get to their feet, and silently following them.





As the Skull Villains continue their search, they come across a ruin of a castle. Grinder hold the mask as it move around his bony arm as the mask shone on the ravine. As they jump down into it, the mask continue to shone brightly as a sinister grin, all of them headed to the cave.



 

"Hurry, we need to reach the Tree of Harmony!" Twilight shouted as the others continue galloping to the Castle of the Royal Sisters, then as they gallop to the stairways, and headed to the cave where the tree reside, their vision came true : five bipedal skeletal creatures begin taking the Elements from the branches. 

"Hold it right there!" Rainbow shouted, gaining their attention as they hissed at them.

"We don't who the hay are you five, but you better stepped away from the Elements!" Applejack threatened them as she got her rope as the others got into their battle stance.

The larger one, being the leader by their guess, screech in a foreign language at them as the scorpio like creature and the four arm creature begin charging at them as Rainbow charges at them as the four arm tried to slam its sword but knock out quickly as she slammed it on the caverns as the arms broke down.

"Take this, you bony freak!"

But to the ponies surprise, a jet black magic begin reconnect them back as it screech as it use its claw on the left arm as Rainbow dodge away but a bone shot hit her flank as the claw grasp her and begin squeezing the life out of her.

"Arrrggghhhhhhhh!" Rainbow screamed as she tried to break free but to no avail as the four arm whip the claw and slammed her on the ground like a mace.

"Rainbow!" Fluttershy shouted as Twilight use her magic as she tried to blast Slicer, but to her surprise, her magic just only stunned upon contact.

"My magic just only stunned it!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Then let me try this!" Applejack said as she charges Slicer, dodging the swords, and use hind legs and buck it on the ribcage which release Rainbow from its clutches.

"Thanks, AJ" Rainbow said as she nodded at her as got into their stance when Slicer begin charging at them. Meanwhile, Pinkie and Rarity face the scorpio creature as it thrust its stinger tail at the ground which they dodge it quickly.

"Have some of this! My super duper yummy birthday bubble gum ice cream cake!" Pinkie loaded her party cannon and fire a large batter as upon contact, Scorpio begin struggle against the stickiness of the batter "Booyah!"

But as Rarity prepares her horn, Basher charges at her which knocks to the floor and turned to Scorpio, he slash the batter away which the skeletal scorpio creature glared at Pinkie.

"Uh-oh........" Pinkie's eyes widened like a dinner plate as the scorpio lunged at her which she dodged away as she tried to fire more batter at it but only for its quick movement to dodge it as lunge its tail and snap the party cannon in half, as for Rarity she got up to her hooves and gritted her teeth at the skeletal bull creature. If there's one thing that thing did, it's ruining a lady's beautiful coat with dirt and scratches. 

"Why you brutes!" she growled as she lunges stones at it only for it to charge with its horn facing towards her as she jump out of the way as to her horror, Basher begin to swing both arms and bash together as a supersonic wave hit her to the wall. 

As for Fluttershy and Twilight, she conjured her shield as Skull Warrior fire its bone shots at them only for it to rebound as Grinder prepare to take the Elements. After all of the shots were fired, Twilight lower her shield as she fire her magic at Skull Warrior only for it to dodge it. But instead, it stunned Grinder's left skeletal arm from touching it. It then hisses at Twilight as it begin charging her as she conjured her shield once more but when Grinder swing its staff, the impact causes Twilight to screamed in pain as the result the shield break into pieces. 

"Twilight!" Fluttershy got her in her hooves as she saw her, grunted in pain as her brain just felt a nail pounding onto it as she saw Grinder prepare to deliver the final blow, she glares at it "How dare you-!"

She got into its skeletal face, halting its attack as Twilight saw her doing her famous trademark, The Stare. Fluttershy begins to angrily shouted at Grinder "Listen here, mister! Just because you and your buddies are big and strong, doesn't mean you can just steal something that doesn't belongs to you and hurt my friends! You and your friends maybe scary and all, but that is no excuse! - I repeat- NO EXCUSE! TO HURT! MY FRIENDS! GOT THAT?!"

Grinder then grunted as it tried to fight against The Stare, until it roared at her and swat her away from its face 'SHUT YOUR MOUTH, YOU WRETCHED THING!' 

"Fluttershy!" Rainbow shouted as Slicer grasp her on the claw once more and use her as a mace and whack Applejack to the ground. Then to Scorpio, she finally grasp Pinkie in its stinger tail (after Pinkie's bouncing around it, irritated it) and throw her to the ground. For Rarity, her mane was caught by Basher as it whiplash around and threw her to the others are. For the Mane 6, they're covered in bruises and scratches from their bodies to their hooves as they saw them corner them as just as they about to prepare the final blow to them, a torrent of flames burst through the ground between them as all of them take glance at the source as the Skull Villains readied their weapons as the Mane 6 gasped at this : a bipedal creature, clad in bright red and gold armor, wearing a golden mask and holds two big swords with two golden swords sticking out as the red warrior got into a battle stance. Then one by one, five more bipedal creatures came to its side : one had a white and gold armor with shoulder armor wielding a spear and a massive shield, a light green and a orange yellow with silver armor on the legs and the shoulder holding two axes , the black and purple armor creature being the largest of the group holds a giant hammer, the brown one, being the shortest, have a asymmetrical design armor with the right being armored and have spikes on them, holding two boomerangs, and the light blue or azure being, had a feminine design by their guess, holding a giant trident like weapon. Each of them wore golden masks, with different designs as they glare at the Skull Creatures.

"You leave them alone, monsters!" Tahu shouted "We won't let you take one touch on the Crystal Masks!"

"The Crystal Masks?" Twilight said. Those six beings from the vision in the castle, who are they? And what they want with the Elements of Harmony? Why did they call them The Crystal Masks?

"Gali and Kopaka, I need you to get those creatures to safety. The rest of us can handle them!" Tahu commanded them which they nodded as they rushed to the ponies as the Skull Creatures about to attack them, all of the Toa charged at them, given cover as they trade blows and clash their weapons against each other.

Gali and Kopaka rushed to them as she knee down to their height as each of them cringed at them as she said in a calming tone "Don't worry, I'm a friend. We're going to get you six to safety."

The ponies at first hesitated but seeing how those six warriors came to their rescue, they nodded as Gali carried both Rarity and Fluttershy while Kopaka got Twilight and Rainbow onto his arms while Pinkie and Applejack got to their hooves, both of them about to headed to the stairways until Skull Warrior spotted them and use its bow as it fire, it knock Kopaka's Golden Mask off as he stumble to the floor.

"Kopaka!" Gali shouted as the girls gasped as Twilight saw Skull Warrior about to snatch it, she use her reserve magic and stunned them, then levitated to him as he put it back on.

"Thank you" Kopaka said as she nodded as her magic's paralyzed onto Skull Warrior wore off, it roared in anger as it begin targeted Twilight and her friends as it fire more shots at them but Kopaka slam his frost shield as a invisible shield rebound the bullets.

"Gail, get the others to safety! I'll hold off here!" Kopaka said as Gali nodded as she turned to the others.

"Don't worry, we got them." Applejack reassured her as all of them reach to the stairs as the gaze downwards as Kopaka readied his ice spear in a defending stance as Skull Warrior grab its staff and begin charging at him.

For Lewa, he and Pohatu faced against both Slicer and Scorpio, as both duos kept blocking their snapping tail to their triple swords as Lewa's masks shone a bright green as vines came out of the ground and wrapped around Scorpio as Slicer about to cut the vines, Pohatu throw his Stomerangs as it rebound them.

"This is not to be easy, brother." Lewa commented as Slicer cut the vines, freeing the Skull Scorpion creature.

"No, it's not." Pohatu replied as both readied their stance.

As for Tahu and Onua, Basher begin charging at Onua with its horn now facing him as he caught it again and begin struggling as like before he kicked it out of the way before it can 'bash' its axe as it got onto its feet, it charges at him once more as Onua prepare his Earthquake Hammer. Tahu swing his dual fire swords as Grinder block it use its staff as it pushed him away, but he got to his feet quickly as it swung its hook sword as he block before it can reach his Golden Mask then kicked it away on the ribcage which Grinder roared in pain as it glares at him as Tahu readied himself as Grinder jump and slammed its staff.

At the Castle of the Royal Sisters, Gali laid them on the entrance as she closed her eyes as she was outline in azure blue as a water begin coming from her chest as she pushed to them as the ponies felt absorbed into the water but still breathing as the water washed out all of the wounds. She smile as she begin to struggle of getting up as she use her trident as support.

"Are you okay?" Twilight asked as she and her friends got to her side.

"Yeah, I'll be all right. Just drained a little partial of my elemental powers" Gali replied. Just then a loud explosion was heard from the caverns as Gail got to her feet "Stay put, me and my brothers will handle them."

As the girls about to speak, she quickly jump into the battlefield as they follow her as they can only do is watch for above, hope for the six warriors to stop the Skull Creatures. 

Kopaka blocked most of Skull Warrior's attack as he kept his feet steady as he thrust his spear at it only to be blocked as he quickly block another attack but it then swung its arm and bash his shield away as he prepared with his spear as Skull Warrior about to charge at him, Gali swung her trident as Skull Warrior was sent flying to the wall.  

"Thought you'll need some help." she said as she picked up the shield for him as he take from her.

"I almost had it." Kopaka commented in a cold tone. Then to their surprise, Skull Warrior got back up as both readied their weapons but to their relief, Skull Warrior begin stumble onto its skeletal feet and knee down. 

They turned their gaze to Pohatu and Lewa, still facing Skull Scoripo and Skull Slicer as they nodded, they rushed to help their brothers. 

Lewa struggle on Grinder as he block both swords but before it can use the third arm, he pushed it out of the way. Then it rushed towards him as he readied himself, a ice sheet spread around him as Slicer begin slipping from its footing and stumble upon its back. He turned to the familiar power as he saw Kopaka slammed his staff onto the ground. 

"Whew, thanks brother." Lewa commented as he flew high to help Pohatu, caught on a vice grip from Skull Scorpio as he struggle to break free. He jump downed as he kicked the mask as it screeched loudly as it lost its grip onto him. Pohatu then kicked the scorpion as it flew to Slicer who having trouble getting back up as both knocked out.

"That's a strike." Pohatu said, as his Stormerangs return to its master as for Lewa, he laughed a bit as Pohatu looked at him curiosity.

"That's a strike? Aw man, when did u learn to tell jokes?" Lewa asked

"I don't know. I'm not a fan of jokes." Was the only thing that he said as he quickly rushed to help the other two Toa along with the others following behind him.

Both Tahu and Onua, weren't doing so well as Onua was at his knee, panting from Basher's onslaught as well as Grinder's too. Tahu tried to get to his feet but feeling his strength begins to diminished.

"How can they be stronger? They haven't touch one of The Crystal Masks!" Tahu growled

"No, but I do believe that The Mask of Parallel Universe is what giving them power! It must be corrupted when they stole it!" Onua guessed.

"Then we need to take it back from their bony hands!" Tahu got to his feet and twirl his twin fire swords as Onua nodded and too got to his feet. 

Then as Tahu rush towards Grinder, both of them slammed their weapons both struggle at their strengths as well as Onua too, gripping the axes using his Turbo Shovelers as the others rushed to help them. Unknown to them, each of their Golden Masks begin to shone softly then along with the Tree of Harmony as Tahu begin to pushed Grinder's strength.

"We will not.............let you.........." Tahu growled as their Golden Masks and the Tree of Harmony continue to shone more as Tahu roared in his battle cry as he finally pushed Grinder out of the way as he about to make the final attack, both of the contact and the Mask of Parallel Universe begin to shone brightly as a force knock them to their feets, a large shockwave rolled across the caverns.

"What the-? Auggggh!" Tahu felt a strong push through the walls as all of the others were also caught in it too. 

At the top, Twilight and her friends saw this as they rushed quickly to the cavern as they saw all of them were knocked out as the Tree of Harmony shot a pillar of light into the night sky.





At Ponyville, a battalion of Royal Guards was rushing towards the Everfree Forest as a white stallion clad in purple armor saw a pillar of light. 

Twiley, hang on! I'm almost there! he thought as they pick up the paced.





"Ugh, that light.........what's happening, Twilight?!" Rarity asked, cover her eyes from the glare of the pillar of light.

"I don't know, but it's looks like there's a magical reaction from both the Elements and the six warriors!" Twilight said as in the middle of the pillar of light, the Elements magically detached from the branches as each of them begin to shone brightly. To their surprise, each of their respective elements begin to change shape as the Elements have transformed into six crystal masks. Twilight's element transformed into a mask that almost look like the white warrior's golden masks but carried the shaped of her starburst cutie mark, Rainbow's element changed that similar to the red warrior but adds of her cutie mark on both sides, Rarity's changed to that of the light blue warrior but transparent and diamond shaped on the sides like her cutie marks, Pinkie's looks more like the green warrior but had a wide grin and her cutie mark was at the middle, Fluttershy's take the form of the black warrior along with her cutie mark on the middle, and Applejack's turned into the brown warrior but with hers on the forehead. 

"What the, the Elements........" Twilight agape at this as all of them begin descending into the pillar then at the last moment, all of them scattered across Equestria as the pillar of light died down. When they open their eyes, they eyes widened at this : the Elements were gone and the Skull Creatures just vanished, leaving only the six warriors unconscious from the shockwave.

"Girls, what happened to the Elements?" Fluttershy asked 

"I don't know, but what I know is that they're scattered across Equestria." Twilight said

"What?! Then how the Tree is going to survive without it?!" Rainbow asked 

"Don't worry, the tree still have enough magic to survive without it. I saw that from one of the vision before." Twilight replied

"But it doesn't make sense why they changed into masks?" Rarity said

"I don't know, but one thing for certain, whatever those six did, might had to do something with it along with those skull creature things." Applejack said 

"You maybe right, but until then, we need to help them." Twilight said as the others nodded as each of them tried to wake them but to no luck. 

"Twiley!" a voice was heard as she turned her head and saw her brother rushing toward her.

"Shining Armor!" she hugged her dearest BBBFF as multiple Royal Guards came quickly as each of them prepare their weapons.

"Twiley, we got reports from Princess Celestia that the Tree is in danger. What happen to it?" Shining asked then saw six unconscious beings "And what the hay are these six?"

"It's a long story" Twilight said "Right now, we need to head back to the castle."

He nodded as he ordered the guards to bring the six warriors into the carriage as in the darkest night, dawn begin arise at this terrible event. 

Opening Theme : 







 











 
> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the sun rise up, the citizens Canterlot begin do their daily rich lifestyle. Shops and events were opened and packed as usual, rich ponies strolling around the town. But as their eyes turned to the group of ponies they knew, each of them move out of the way as Royal Guards on carriages, holding six unidentified figures with chains on their wrists and weapons stored on the side as well as masks removed from their faces. To their eyes, those six are like bio-mechanical beings as one glance as they can see gears on their bodies but also organic into the mix. The Mane 6 told Shining Armor about the arrival of five skeletal beings, possibly reanimated by a foreign dark magic trying to steal the Elements from the Tree and the six figures also trying to stop them, also claiming the Elements as 'The Crystal Masks' as their Golden Masks reacted with the Elements, transforming them into six crystal masks and scattered across Equestria. Even with the remaining magic on the Tree, the girls knew that without the Elements, Equestria will be into chaos.

"So let me get this straight. Five skeletal creatures came out of nowhere trying to steal the Elements and the six warrior beings also came out of nowhere fighting against them and their 'Golden Masks' had some magical reaction with the Elements turning them into six crystal masks and scattered across Equestria?" Shining Armor said, picking up their explanation of the situation as the others nodded.

"Yeah, it's like you seen in those of comics that Spike have." Rainbow said.

"But it doesn't make sense, what happened to the Skeletal Creatures after the Elements were scattered?" Shining asked.

"We don't know but, if had to guess, they retreated after the Elements were scattered across Equestria using the bright light as cover." Twilight deducted. 

"Oh, but Twilight, why do we need to put them in chains?" Fluttershy asked "They did saved us from those awful scary monsters."

"I understand Fluttershy, but we don't know who or what those six beings are nor if they have any connections to the skeletal creatures." Twilight replied.

"Yeah plus, their Golden Masks have scattered the Elements across Equestria!" Rainbow added, giving a small glare at the six Toa.

Twilight nodded "Right and from what I can tell, their Golden Masks is likely to be made of pure gold plus with a powerful magic that nopony ever seen, not even Star-Swirl recorded of this. Until then, we going to need answer from them."

All of them nodded as they almost reached to the gate of Canterlot Castle as the guards saluted them as they enter, hopefully to get the answer from last night.





"Mmmmmmm.........." Tahu groaned as he move his head from side to side, then as his sense begin to come back, he felt some hard on where he was sleeping. Then he heard voices, that of his familiar siblings. 

He groaned in pain as he rub his head "Uggh.......what happen?" He asked, glancing around the room.

"And I thought that Onua mostly deep-sleep a lot, fire spitter." Lewa commented.

"You all right?" Onua asked as he lower his hand to Tahu, who gripped it and got up to his feet.

"Yeah, I'm fine." he answered, then he felt something strange. His elemental powers were gone as when he tried to touch his mask, the only thing he can felt is his face and his weapons were missing.

"What happened to our Golden Masks?! Did we lose it from the Skull Creatures?!" 

"Tahu, calm down," Gali voice soothe him a bit "We didn't lose our Golden Masks and our weapons."

"It would seems that those six beings that we saved from the Skull Creatures are little bit.......wary of us." 

"So to take precaution, as they removed our masks and our weapons." Onua added.

"And locked us in this prison-pit." Lewa moaned as the others look around at their cell cages. Tahu rushed to the cell's bar and tried to use his fire power, and, just as expected, not even a spark appeared.

"Just what are you doing, Tahu?" Kopaka asked annoyed.

"Simple, I'm trying to burn the bars out so we can get out and retrieve our Golden Masks and our weapons and - " Tahu's sentence was interrupted when Kopaka groaned.

"And then cause more panicking around the species and make us the most wanted beings on their homeland? That's some plan you got smelt head." Kopaka commented which Tahu growled at him as both glare daggers at each other as they about to bash their heads out, but Onua picked their heads up.

"C'mon, guys no fighting." he said as once their temper deceased, both were dropped on the floor. 

With that, they heard the wooden door open as multiple guards came to them with spears on their magical holds.

"The Princesses wishes to see you six along with the Princess of Friendship and her friends." one of the guard said as they opened, they immediately cuffed the Toa's wrists much to Tahu's annoyance and they followed them to the throne room. As the guards opened the two massive doors, the Toa widened their eyes at this sight. In Okoto, they only seen temples in ancient writings and old but in this place, the throne room was with majestic and mystical feel on this place. In the throne room, the Toa saw the six ponies from before, two guards, and two larger ones, one who's coat was white with wings and horns and a majestic rainbow like mane consist of light cerulean, light turquoise, and a pale heliotrope. The other one, a being smaller than the white one who was similar only with wings and horns. Her coat was a dark blue, and her mane and tail flowed with colors that reassemble the night skies.

"Thank you, very much. We'll handle the rest here." the regal white pony said as the guards bowed to her and leave the throne room. To the Toa, it appeared that they are the rulers of this place. 

She turned to the Toa as she spoke in a guardian like tone "Greetings, I'm Princess Celestia, the co-ruler of Equestria and this is my sister, Princess Luna. May I ask what are your names?"

The Toa look at each other as with the others nodded, Gali decide to speak to them "I'm Gali, the Master of Water. And these are my brothers, Onua, Master of Earth, Lewa, Master of Jungle, Kopaka, Master of Ice, Pohatu, Master of Stone, and Tahu, Master of Fire."

"Wired names you guys got." Rainbow commented as Applejack gave her a disapproving look, and a swift kick on her left front hoof.

"Rainbow, these fellers saved us from those skeletal varmints! At least show em' some respect." She said, as Rainbow Dash held her front hoof.

Twilight begin to speak "I want to thank you and your brothers for saving us from those skeletal beings. Sadly that the Elements was scattered upon the contact of your Golden Masks."

"Speak of which," Lewa asked "Where are our Golden Masks?"

"Do not fret, the Golden Masks is safe with Twilight. She was curious of the magical powers of the Masks for we haven't encounter anything like that in Equestria." Celestia pointed as she nodded.

The Toa share confusing glance at each other. Equestria? Is this the world that they arrived in? It's something that sounded weird on the tongue.

"Right I forgot the introduction. You already known me as Twilight Sparkle and this is my assistant, Spike," Spike waved his hand at them nervously "and these are my friends, Rainbow Dash,"

"Hey " the cyan pegasus waved.

"Applejack,"

"Howdy y'all." Applejack greeted them.

"Rarity,"

"Pleasure to meet you, darlings." Rarity whipped her mane.

"Fluttershy,"

"Nice to meet you six" she whispered silently, which the Toa can barely hear.

"and - " 

A pink blur dash to them as Pinkie gave them a wildest grin caught the Toa by surprise "Hi there, I'm Pinkie Pie! It's so nice to meet you six! I never seen you and your brothers before with those awesome weapons and shiny golden masks! Also thank you for saving us for those nasty skeletal meanies! So what are you guys are aliens? *gasp* that means that you come here to invade our world?! No you guys saved us so you must be friendly! I can't wait for everypony to meet you six! I can throw 'Welcome to Equestria and Thank you for Saving us from those evil skeletal figures!' Party! "

"And I thought Lewa talks a lot." Tahu whispered to Kopaka.

"You said it." Kopaka agreeing with him which is strange since that this is the first time he's agreeing with him.

"I like that pony." Lewa grinned at her antics which Gali and Pohatu rolled their eyes.

"Sorry about my friend Pinkie. She's very..........energetic." Twilight apologized.

"Similar to Toa Lewa, yeah we get that a lot." Tahu respond.

Then Princess Luna caught their attention "So tell me, where you six came from and why you come to Equestria?"

Onua decide to speak "We, the Toa, come from the island of Okoto, summoned by the Protectors, on a quest to find six golden masks, fight a rising force of darkness and find the legendary mask maker, Ekimu and the Mask of Creation."

"Ekimu?! You know him?" Princess Celestia was surprised at this. These 'Toa' know one of their old friend Ekimu?

"Who's Ekimu, Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked.

"Twilight, remember that me and Luna sealed Tierk before?" she nodded "Well to tell the truth, before that happen, King Bullion and Princess Platinum made a friend by a mask maker, Ekimu. And when Lord Tierk came to Equestria, Ekimu assisted us in the shadow as he use six crystal masks to banish him to Tartarus, along with our alicorn magic."

"WHAT?!" all of the ponies gasped in surprised at this. This Ekimu character came to Equestria and befriended two important ponies from the pre history and assisted Princess Celestia and Princess Luna? Even the Toa were surprised at this information that the ponies explained. How come the Protectors didn't tell this?

"If you can let us tell you more about him, then can you do that without any interruptions?" Tahu growled which the others nodded, though Fluttershy hidden behind Rarity. 

"Anyway, Ekimu live in Okoto with his brother, Makuta, who had the Mask of Control as they provided the villagers with each Masks of Powers however, the villagers begin to treasure Ekimu's masks more than Makuta, resulting him in his jealous. As a result, he broke a scarred law of masks powers not have more than one element to forge the Mask of Ultimate Control. Once he donned, it took control over him as it shaken the island and crumble until Ekimu able to remove the mask from his face but as a result, a shockwave flew through the island and send both brothers into a deep sleep and scattered the three ancient masks across the island. Since then we were summoned by the Protectors to go on a quest to find six Golden Masks from each of their respective shrines, fight off evil Skull Spiders, creatures that attacking the villagers and enter the City of the Mask Maker to find the tomb that Ekimu was rested and find the Mask of Creation. So far, we encounter the skeletal creatures that reanimated by Kulta, the Skull Grinder with his dark magic who plans to destroy the Masks of Power as now they apparently bent on a search to find six crystal masks that Ekimu hiding in this world that could be the key of awakening him but also we need to find six Harmonics who represent the crystal masks and find these masks to continue our quest."

The ponies were speechless at this. These six heroes were on a quest to stop a rising evil that threaten their homeland. It's the reason why those visions showed them from last night. It was to tell them that a rising evil is threaten not only Okoto but also Equestria. 

As for the princesses, they never knew that Ekimu and Makuta went to a similar path like Celestia and Luna did a few year ago.

"Golly, I never you six who have this kind of danger in your island." Applejack commented.

"Is that the reason why you came to Equestria?" Fluttershy asked which they nodded.

"If we're done talking, we best be on our way to resume our quest." Tahu said "So if can give us our Golden Masks and our tools, we'll be on our way."

"Don't you know where the Crystal Masks are?" Kopaka narrow his eyes at him as Tahu trying to think, to which he shook his head, as the other Toa gave an exasperated sigh.

"Forgetful as usual, fire spitter." the master of ice commented as Tahu glare at him.

"Says the one who badly poor at directions when we're at the forest, Frosty." Kopka glares at Tahu, which got into his eye level.

"Do. Not. Call. Me. Frosty."

The ponies watches them bicker at each other as Spike whispered to Applejack "Don't you think this Tahu guy remind you of somepony?"

"Oh, we already know." she smirked as they glance at Rainbow, who was confused at their statement.

"Brothers, remember we need to be united." Onua got into front of them. After a while, they calmed down.

"You two are loud enough to make a scene." Pohatu told them, annoyed as both of them begin to glare at him.

Then something that clicked Applejack's mind "Wait, what the hay are the Harmonics?" To the girls, it sounds so familiar to them.

"We don't know, but our vision from Ekimu told us that the Harmonics are like this world's Toa who knows how to use the Crystal Masks." Gail replied "The only clue is that each of them have their markings on them representing them."

"Markings?" Fluttershy asked.

"Well, we can show if you had something to draw with?" Princess Celestia levitate a scroll and a jar of ink with a feather to them as despite of the handcuffs on her, Gali able to draw what they look like. The girls and the princesses were in total shock at what the Harmonics look like......

"That's our cutie marks." Rarity said.

"Cutie marks?" all of the Toa asked in the same response.

"Yes, it represent the essential of the ponies' talents and their skills." Twilight explained as the girls showed their respective cutie marks which the Toa widened their eyes in surprise.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, what?!" Lewa was baffled at this. 

"You girls are the Harmonics that we search-find for our quest?!"

The girls slowly nodded. This is crazy and unreal. The girls faced against magical creatures, end of Equestria, all kinds of stuff. But for them to be the part of the prophecy from another world to save both from a uprising darkness, that's taking too much for the girls to handle.

Just as they going to ask more question, the door burst open as a Royal Guard rushes to the Princess. "Your Majesties!"

"What's going on?" Princess Celestia asked "Why did you disturbed our interrogations?"

"Forgive me, your majesty but we got reports that a massive army is approaching Ponyville, heading straight towards Canterlot Castle!" All of them widened their eyes in shocked. 

"An army? What kind?" Luna asked.

"That's just it. We were invading by spider like creatures! And every time our guards trying to fight them, they pry off their helmets and latched onto their faces, controlling them in the process!"

"Skull Spiders!" Tahu growled as the ponies glance at them.

"You know those pest things?" Applejack asked which they nodded.

"Those things came from Okoto too. They were the enemies that we faced when we summoned by the Protectors and known to be controlled by the Lord of the Skull Spiders that we defeated it when we enter the bridge of the Ancient City of the Mask Makers."

"But how can those thing be here in Equestria if they originated in Okoto?" Twilight asked which the other Toa looked away, unable to find a answer.

"In any case, we need to stop those army before they reached into the castle of Canterlot." Princess Celestia said as Shining Armor salute and he and the Royal Guards headed out of the throne room. 

"Allow us to help you in fighting off the Skull Spiders, Princesses." Onua said as the Toa looked at him incredulous including the ponies.

"Your army might not handle the vast numbers of them, even with the Harmonics' side, but we can united our strengths in defeating them. However, we must regain our Golden Masks back along with our weapons." 

The Toa at first were uncertain of this, consider that their quests is more important however they need the Harmonics and the Crystal Masks to save Okoto and theirs, they must help them consider that they brought their battles into their world. As for the ponies, each of them looked at each other first but Princess Celestia sighed, knowing that the Toa saved the Mane 6, as she unlocked their handcuffs. The Toa stand up and rub their hands. 

"Follow me." Twilight said as the Toa follow her to her temporary home quarter as on the desk, the Golden Masks along with their weapons as the Toa wore their respective masks as the girls were amazed as their respective aura of their elements course through them along with their weapons too.

"We need to hurry. Your Shining Armor and the others can't handle the Skull Spiders much that longer." Pohatu said as the girls nodded as before they headed out, they heard lots of commotions as all of the six heroes glance at the window at this sight : four legged creatures were marching towards anypony as everypony in Canterlot were screaming and running away from them. To their horror sight, some of the Skull Spiders jump behind some of the pony's back and latched on their faces as the ponies tried to remove them until their eyes glow in deep red, assimilated to the army.

"Oh no, they coming in fast!" Pinkie exclaimed as Tahu open the window and climb on the ledge.

"What the hay are you doing?!" Applejack asked as Tahu just jump out of the window as he got his lava board, a torrent of fire appeared as he suffered towards the battlefield.

"He's being reckless as usual." Kopaka groaned "Still the army is coming fast, so we got no choice. You six stay put."

With that, all of the Toa jump out of the window with their respective elements coming into as Onua smashing towards the window and landed on the ground while the Mane 6 looked incredulously.

"Hey, you break it, you buy it!" Pinkie shouted.

As Tahu suffered in the torrent of fire, he pulled his golden swords as the spiders take glance and jump towards him which he swing at them while giving them roundhouse kick as the torrent fire flow high as on air, he jump as he put his swords on the back and split his lava board into Fire Blades and slammed on the ground, knocking the skull spiders and the infected ponies away. Then he got into his battle stance as all of the Skull Spiders leap towards him as he spin around knocking them away as the infected ponies charging at him as Tahu jump away as while he squashed two of them on his foot, his body covered in red aura as he dash towards the infected ponies, knocking the Skull Spiders masks from their faces.

"Uggh, what the hay?" one of the victims shook his head.

" Ohhhhh, my head............" another moaned as Tahu rushed towards them.

"Get to the castle right now!" The ponies widened their eyes at him then the army as each of them rushed out of the battlefield as once they left, he turned back to the army and prepare his sword. Just then a ice shot froze half of them as he glance up in the sky and saw Kopaka made a icicle track as he ski through the loop, his skis turned into shield as he point his staff, freezing the spiders.

He landed behind his brother "You always had to charge through without any plan do you, brother. Always!"

"Hey, it's just me." Tahu smirked as both kept whack and slammed their weapons at the army of Skull Spiders. So far, when 5 more were knock out, 10 more kept coming and so forth. Then a Royal Guard charging through the army as while he swung his sword, more begin dog-pile him as Tahu growled as he rushed towards it and unleash a wave of fire on the Skull Spiders, freeing him. Then Kopaka use his Frost Shield as a bubble shield conjured as he point his staff as ice energies course through it as he swung at the aggressive species. 

"Are you okay?" Tahu knee down to their level, checking on the Royal Guard pony. He was a orange pegasus with a blue mane and a cutie mark of a shield with a lighting bolt on the middle. 

"Yeah, I'm fine." the orange pegasus nodded at this sight as he struggle to get up.

"Can you fly?" Tahu asked as the orange pegasus trying to flap his wing but fall on the ground and grunted in pain.

"My wings.......it hurts......"

"Tahu, my shield won't last long-" At Kopaka's last statement, the bubble shield dissipated as the Skull Spiders leap towards them until a huge tidal wave crash towards them and half of them were absorbed by the tide. Then a boomerang was thrown and hit half of them along with a violent shaking from the ground causing the spiders to fall on the crack gorge and finally a green vine was grown and smack the spiders away. 

The two glance as Gali, Pohatu, Onua, and Lewa came to their side "About time you guys showed up."

"Well, we have a very tight schedule on our hands." Gali joked as the others gave odd glance which she groaned.

Then more Skull Spiders and more infected ponies begin marching towards as each of the Toa prepare their weapons. Tahu then glance at injured Royal Guard as he glance at the squadron of the Royal Guards with Shining Armor leading them as they use their magic, spears, and swords to fend them off but so far they aren't faring well at this. 

"Toa! Clear a path! We must bring that pony to the others!" The Toa nodded as they used their elemental powers to sweep them away as the orange pegasus, now gripping onto his twin golden swords, hang tight as Tahu use his elemental powers as he dash at them while attacking them. For the orange pegasus, when the fire element course through the Master of Fire, he somehow didn't felt a singe upon contact.

Unbelievable..........the orange pegasus thought as he saw Shining Armor struggling towards the massive army now surrounded him and his stallion.

"Oh no, Captain!" he shouted at this sight.

"We'll make it through your friends. Just hang tight!" Tahu reassure him as he nodded, while Pohatu and Gali combine their elemental powers, creating a large tidal wave and Onua split his Earthquake Hammer into Turbo Shovelers and slammed both, doing a Thunder Clap along with Lewa swoop down, knocking them away, the Toa finally made to Shining Armor and his squadron as the orange pegasus let go of him.

"Flash, are you all right?" Shining asked which he nodded as he widened his eyes at the Toa coming to their rescue but holds his suspicious look "Why you six are here?"

"The same reason why the Skull Spiders came to this world." Onua said while smack them away "Princess Celestia allow us to help you and your Royal Guards in fighting off the Skull Spiders."

"We can handle them just fine without you six." Shining Armor knocked another away. Surely that he knows that the Royal Guards can handle a massive army of spiders . 

"Doesn't like your comrades think the same. Let's us help with this." Pohatu throw his Stomerangs while conjured a tornado and blow them away while pointed to the guards being tired as Lewa sprint at them cleave at them. As much as Shining Armor want to argue, he had at least give them a chance consider how they save his little sister and his friends from the Skull Army as he nodded then the Toa and the Royal Guards prepare for another wave of them.





Meanwhile, Twilight and her friends fend off the remain Skull Spiders that manage to get inside the interior as Twilight blast them away with her alicorn magic while Rainbow zip through and smack them from the wall while Pinkie Pie fire her party cannon trapped them in a sticky batter or caught by her cake batter. For Rarity she caught them through her magic and tossed them away while Applejack buck them as for Fluttershy, well, she hidden behind the castle, terrified of them. But when she saw Applejack being dog-pile by them, her shy and meek self turned into anger as she gave them the traditional 'The Stare' which they frozen upon looking at them giving Applejack to counterattack.  

"You know I should brought a big o' bug spray just in case of this!" Applejack said while using her lasso as it caught them, she twirled around and send them to the open window.

"I don't think a regular bug spray would work on them, Applejack!" Twilight shot another bolt of magic at them which more kept coming as she fire a huge magic beam on them.

"Twilight, help!" she whipped her head to see Spike being dog-piled by the Skull Spiders as she blasted them away, freeing him.

"Thanks Twilight." he said as use a broom from the floor and smack them away. 

"You know, those Skull Spiders things are really persistent! And annoying!" he said as he blow his emerald fire on them, scorching them in the process. 

Rainbow zip across the interior and saw more leaping towards her, preparing to control her until she punch and kick them away "For evil spiders that came from another world, those things are too easy to squish them!" She shouted.

"Ugh, spiders! Why does it has to be spiders! I can't stand them!" Rarity said in disgust as she levitated and fling them away in the open window. Then the girls saw 5 citizen ponies under the influence of the Skull Spiders as with their faces glow red, they charging at them only for Twilight to use her spell and freeze them, giving Rainbow and Applejack to buck the skull spiders off of their faces, freeing them from control.

"My head........"

"How did I........."

"Listen everypony, you need to get to the safe room from bellow the castle!" With a nodded from them, they all hurried to the safe room once they got there safely, Twilight and her friends turned to the remaining Skull Spiders which a few are left.

"Anyone of you bugs want some more?" Rainbow smacked her hooves as the Skull Spiders despite being afraid, charging at them, only for them to met the same fate as the rest of the others.

"Should at least running away." Rainbow commented. Then a large 'boom' was heard as the girls hurried to the source and stop at the front and saw the Toa and the Royal Guards surrounded by the massive army of the Skull Spiders despite of their best effort to fight them.

"Oh no, Shining Armor!" the alicorn princess shouted. 

"Even with the Toa's powers........." Fluttershy trembled at this sight.

"What are we waiting for?! We can't sit there and do nothing! C'mon!" Rainbow shouted.

"But Kopaka told us......." Twilight said before Rainbow interrupted her.

"Listen, if we stay put, despite that icy Toa said to us, then we're all going to lose! Beside, they need help!" With that, Rainbow zoom into the battlefield.

"She's right, gals!" Applejack said as she follow her in suite. The girls at first hesitated but knew that they need help, Twilight told Spike to stay with the Princesses as they stormed into the battlefield.





As the Toa and the Royal Guards continue fighting against the massive army, more of the Skull Spiders kept coming with more numbers. Gali twirl around and conjured a massive water tornado, sweep them away while one of the Royal Guard fire his magic at them. Onua swing his massive Earthquake Hammer while Pohatu conjure his sandstorm tornado and threw his Stormerangs while two more Royal Guards thrust their spears at the spiders. Kopaka being a javelin user, thrust his Ice spear at them as when he saw more coming behind them, he slammed his Frost Shield and conjured a a massive icicle sphere. Lewa, on the other hand, soar into the sky and knock them  while conjured another vine and whip them away. As for Tahu, he dash towards every one of the Skull Spiders, hack and slash in the process using his Fire Blades, and unleashing a torrent of fire waves on them while Shining Armor fire a wave magic at them. 

Shining Armor knee down, panting from the exhaustion of using his magic "I-I can't keep this up......."

Even with the Toa kept fighting back, they too begin to feel tired as Kopaka and Pohatu knee down.

"There's too many of them." the Toa of Stone grunted.

"At this rate........" Kopaka glance at the growing army of Skull Spiders coming at them.

"Toa! We can't give up! We had to keep fighting!" Tahu said, despite of him being tired.

"But how, fire-spitter?! We can't keep this up for much longer!" Lewa asked.

Just as the massive spiders lunge at them, a massive magic beam hit them as the Toa and the Royal Guards turned to the source and saw Twilight and her friends coming towards them while Rainbow swoop in and bash the spiders out while Applejack buck them away as they reached to them.

"What are you six doing here? I though I told you-" Kopaka's sentence was interrupted as Rainbow jabbed his chest.

"Uh-uh, no way you and your Toa pals aren't going to handle this even with the Royal Guards help! We're going to help you whenever you or your brothers and sister like or not!"

"Listen, this is too dangerous for you six-" Pohatu's sentence also interrupted when Applejack spoke.

"Hey, we been dealing with a embodiment of darkness, a spirit of chaos, a evil bug queens and her minions, a evil king, and a power mad centaur. So it's clear that you guys you need help!" Applejack using her rope and lassoed some of the spiders.

"She's right brothers!" Gali said as the Toa glance at her sister, smack another one.

"We going need every bit of help if we able to stop the Skull Spiders!"

The Toa at first hesitated but nodded at them as they got back up and prepare another wave of Skull Spiders. As the Skull Spiders charging at them, Twilight fire a wave stream of magic at them while Kopaka unleash a blizzard storm from his spear and freeze them which he knee down, breathing heavily.

"Your going to be okay?" Twilight asked.

"I'll be fine." Kopaka coldly answered while struggle to get up. 

Pohatu swung his Stormerangs at them as he conjured his sandstorm while Applejack bucked them away using her hind legs. Then she saw the tail like spiders lunging at him as she caught them on her ropes, lasso them, and swing them away at the same time bucked the infected ponies off of the mask, freeing them.

"Thanks Applejack." he quietly said without turning to her as she smirked at him.

For Lewa and Pinkie, the Master of Jungle sweep down at them while the party pony fire her party cannon which fires another sticky batter which the spiders struggle to break free.

"Whoa, where did you get that?" Lewa asked.

"Duh! It's my Super-Duper-Extra-Stick-Bubble Gum - Batter. I always have plenty of them!" Pinkie piped.

"No I mean the cannon thing!" 

"Oh! Well, I always have whenever I need it!" Pinkie said which Lewa flabbergasted at first but groaned and shrugged off, continue fighting the Skull Spiders.

As for Rarity and Gali, the fashionista and the Master of Water use their magic/elements on them as Gali charge her element as she make a quick speed and twirl and swing her Elemental Trident as Rarity caught them on her magic and fling them away.

She then saw a few more coming at her while distracted "Miss Rarity look out!" 

Rarity gasped as Gali charging in front and created a whirlpool as the spiders were caught onto it as she slammed her trident into the whirlpool, to which it exploded, washing the spiders and infected ponies away.

"Oh thank you so much, darling." Rarity said as she nodded as they prepare for another wave.

Onua slammed his Earthquake Hammer as upon impact, a web crack was seen on the ground as the spiders caught as the ground open, most of them fall down. As for Fluttershy, being timid and shy, usually ducked quickly and flew up in the sky as she saw the spiders and infected ponies lunged behind him as he tried to get off as he knee down while covering his mask from being removed. Seeing her friend in danger, her shyness once again turned into anger as she gave them 'The Stare' which once again frozen upon looking at them. Giving him time, he quickly turned his hammer into Tubro Shovelers, scoop them and do a thunder clap on them.

"Are you okay, Mr. Onua?" Fluttershy asked as he nodded.

"Thanks for saving me, Ms. Fluttershy. I really appreciate it." he said as she blushed a bit of his kind words.

For Tahu, Master of Fire, he unleash the torrent of fire waves as he turned his Fire Blades into a Lava Surfboard as he surf across it while slash them using his Golden Swords while ramming them away. For Rainbow Dash, she zip across  while ramming the spiders as she got to Tahu's speed.

"Heh, not bad, you got some skills!" Tahu commented while kicking another one.

"Same goes to you! How you able to surf on lava?" Rainbow asked "Won't you fall and burned if you make one mistake?"

"Hey, if there's one thing you should learn, it's that you should never underestimate, the MASTER OF FIRE!!!!!" At his last comment he jump high as he once again split his Lava Surfboard into his Fire Swords and did a Fire Spin which burned through half of the spiders and knocking the infected ponies away.

"Oh yeah?! If you so 'hot stuff', then watch this!" Rainbow smirked as she taken up into the skies as she zoomed down as with a great speed, a sonic boom  was heard, leaving a rainbow trail and rammed them away.

"Whoa! What in Okoto is that?!" Tahu exclaimed at this sight.

"That my friend is a Sonic Rainboom!" Rainbow said with pride while puffed her chest proud which Tahu smirked at this "Remember that!"

Suddenly, more Skull Spiders and more infected ponies kept coming as all of the Toa and the ponies backed away and being surrounded once again. 

"They just keep coming!" Pinkie said, feeling scared.

"And there's no end to them." Twilight breath heavily while preparing her horn.

"What are we going to do now?" Shining Armor said as Tahu grunted at this. Even with the strength of their elements and the ponies' magic, the Skull Spiders shows no end to them. It seems like this is the end for them.

However, when Tahu glance at his siblings and the pony allies, something spark inside of him. Even he doesn't what it was, he knew that it could be the key of ending the battle once and for all.

"Toa and Ponies! We must combine our elemental powers and magic!" Tahu shouted as everyone widened their eyes while shouting at the same time.

"WHAT?!"

Rainbow came to his face "Are you out of your mind dude?! We can't combine our magic with yours!"

"Rainbow is right!" Twilight agreeing with her "We don't know what would cause if we do that! It could destroyed us all!"

"We have no choice! Trust me on this!" Tahu argued as the Toa and Ponies weren't unsure of this but after a few moments, Kopaka nodded at this.

"All right then."

"Kopaka!" Twilight shouted.

"Listen, unless we go with fire spitter's idea, then we all doom if we don't do this." the Master of Ice explained as he point his Ice Spear and channel his Ice element. Then Tahu channel his Fire elemental as the other Toa, still on the same boat, nodded as they channel their respective elements. Twilight and her friends weren't certain of this but see how the army coming with no end, they have no choice. Charging their respective elements, all of the Toa combine their elemental energies, placing their weapons on top of each other and the ponies channel their harmonic elements by touching their weapons unleash a huge rainbow like elemental blast and blow the Skull Spiders away as all of them were dissipate as the infected ponies woke up with no memories of what happen. After that, the Toa and the ponies saw the remains of the parasites now turned to ashes. They did it. Both the Toa and the ponies save Canterlot Castle.

After a few silence, all of the Toa and the ponies cheered at their victory as they gave each other a hoof/clenched fist bump as all of them take the freed infected ponies to the medical bay. 






  






 


















 





























> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

At the parts of the Everfree Forest, an ancient graveyard was laid at the parts of Equestria, deep at the darkness of caverns. It was a forgotten place that once laid ancient ponies warriors and other mythical creatures to rest after a terrible war before Equestria was formed. It was also a resting place for important ponies that change Equestria in the pre history date. Since that, Star-Swirl the Bearded created this graveyard in hoping to laid the souls of the dead to rest and as that day, nopony ever founded that cave to the ancient graveyard guarded by two demon like beings that prowling at total darkness. Until, somepony or something founded.

A large steps was heard as the demon like beings heard sounds. Sounds of a intruder as they flow to the source as even in total darkness, their poor eyes' vision see a skeletal being holding a large staff. From behind it, two other beings appeared each with skeletal features as the demon like creatures charging at them only for the large skeletal being to swung its massive staff and knock them down. Then a dark magical energy begin coursing through the tip of the staff as the large skeletal being jabbed one of them on the chest and turned them into dust. Then it did the same thing despite it attempts to charge back. 

"So, this is the Ancient Graveyard of Equestria, the place laid the ancient and primitive ponies and mythical creatures......." Kulta looking around the ancient tombstones as Slicer, still wearing the Golden Mask of the Skull Spiders, and Basher look around it too. 

"My liege, this place is so familiar yet different..........." Slicer said.

"This place is a parallel to the Graveyard at the Ancient City of the Mask Maker. This place along with Okoto share many similarities to this world." Kulta said.

"But why are we here, my liege?" Basher asked "Shouldn't we go and find the Crystal Masks before the Toa gets there?"

"Patience, Basher. We can't go charging in with only a few numbers of our army consider that our Skull Warrior and Scorpio were destroyed by the Toa." Kulta said as the Skull Army  found a mausoleum with pictures indicated a pony with a long beard as they open it, a large tombstone is at the middle.

"Now let's get started." Kulta said, having a wicked smile as he twirled the staff, he slammed it on the ground as dark magic poured onto the cracks traveled to the rest of the tombstones. Then all of the tombstones begin to rumble as the dark magic energies begin shine brightly.





At the Canterlot Castle, everypony begin rebuilding the damages from the Skull Spiders army did along with others being infected by them, taken to the castle and being examined. 

The Toa and the ponies along with the Royal Sisters watched as each of them rested on the medical beds. To the ponies, they're worried of the darkness that the Skull Spiders infected might still have a ting of evil within them. As the Toa, they felt guilty of this. All because of their quest to stop Makuta and the darkness that's growing in Okoto but now it spread onto this land too. Hopefully once they awaken Ekimu and find the Mask of Creation, Equestria and Okoto will be saved.

After a few minutes, the door open up as the doctor came to the heroes and the princesses.

"So how are they?" Twilight asked.

"All of them are okay. No sign of any tainted darkness from those spiders you mentioned. All of them woke up with no memories of what happen only that their minds were taken by a skull creature that they seen when infected."

The Toa and the ponies along with the princesses have a worried expression. 

"Can you describe what skull creature they seen?" Pohatu asked.

"Hmmm....." the doctor tapping her hoof onto her muzzle "Well, from what we gather from our patients, they describe the skull creature as a bipedal with four arms with a golden mask that looks like the spiders along with three hook like swords and a whip with a claw at the end."

"Oh no." Lewa groaned as the ponies glance at him "That must be Skull Slicer."

"Skull Slicer? You mean that thing with a maniacal laughter and the one you fought before?" Pinkie asked as he nodded to the pink pony.

"The one and the same."

"When we encounter it, it stole Lewa's Golden Mask and upon wearing it, it greatly drains his energy." Pohatu explained. The Toa and the ponies along with the Princesses listening the Toa's quest on the Ancient City of the Mask Maker.

"So how come you and the villagers need masks? Can't you guys live without one?" Rainbow asked.

"The Protectors explained that without wearing them, each of us would grow weak in the minutes or seconds and very fatal." Pohatu explained "It's the same as your all depend on 'Equestrian Magic'." The ponies were stunned to say the least at his statement. To them, it's like they're seeing parallel versions of ponies with different sacred magic to survive.

"I'm sorry about asking that." the rainbow pegasus apologizing to the Master of Stone.

"It's okay. You just wonder about things." he replied.

"But, one thing that bother us, if our masks were removed before the Skull Spiders army, then how come we're still conscious before recovering it?" Tahu asked as the Toa simply shrugged.

"Perhaps, it possible that some of Equestrian's magic must allow you six to be conscious for the time being when you guys enter here even with your Golden Masks removed from your face." Twilight guessed.  

"That's make sense. This magic of this world carried many secrets similar to Okoto." Gali said. 

"So who're those 'Protectors' fellers you mentioned?" Applejack asked.

"The Protectors were leaders of each of the elemental tribes. " Gail explained "They guided us to the shrines of the Golden Masks when we were summoned along with told us of our destiny."

"What do you mean?" Spike asked 

"When we were summoned by them, we have no memories of our past life and purpose but only that we fell from the stars." Kopaka said.

"Wait? Fell from the stars?" Twilight asked as he nodded. 

"But thanks to the Protectors, they gave us a purpose : to save Okoto from Makuta's darkness." Tahu said. 

The ponies at first felt bad for the Toa to come to Okoto without memories and purpose but at least the Protectors were able to give them a new purpose for them.

"So we been trading our stories, what about yours?" Onua asked.

"Well......." Twilight said as she begin explaining her adventure from the day she moved to Ponyville, met Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy, to facing Luna's dark self, Nightmare Moon, finding the Elements and purified her, to the adventures of learning friendship, facing a spirit of chaos (and reformed him), a power hungry king unicorn, Twilight's accession into a princesses, the mirror world, unlock the mysterious chest and gained new magic to fight a power mad centaur, Twilight's official castle and her tittle, Princess of Friendship, and facing in the mirror world three evil sirens. 

After that, the Toa were amazed by their adventures. 

"That's some adventures that you girls have." Pohatu said.

"I agree, we never knew that friendship is that powerful." Gali agreeing with him.

"It is. It what keeps us connected and bring harmony to Equestria." Twilight said. 

"Come to think of it, why did you allow the darkness to consume you into that Nightmare Moon, Princess Luna?" Kopaka asked.

"It's because of how my sister's morning always worship her light while my nights, they only shunned and slept through." Luna lowered her head in regret. The Toa felt sorry for the  princess of the night. To them, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were much like Ekimu and Makuta, only that the Harmonics able to purified her and return her to her sister to ruled together.

"If only I know it sooner........."

"Luna, what's happened is in the past. Never dwell on it." Celestia trying to console her which she nodded. The Toa begin to think about their quest with a uneasy question. Consider how the Harmonics able to purified Princess Luna from her darkness, would it possible that Makuta can also be purified and returned to Ekimu?

"In any case, Toa, we would like to thank you for saving our guards and also defend our home from the Skull Spiders." Princess Celestia turned to them as all nodded at her.

"It's our duty to help those who can't protect themselves even though it isn't Okoto." Tahu said. Hearing those words from the hot headed Toa, the ponies felt admiration of the six heroes.

"We must be going now, my friends." Luna turned to the hallway leading her to the adjacent tower "My sister and I need to prepare for the night. Princess Twilight, would you lead the Toa to their guest rooms?"

"Of course." With that, the two royal sisters heading to the adjacent tower as the ponies and the Toa continue walking to the hallways. 

"You know, there's one thing that I'm wondering." Twilight said as Kopaka glance at the princess. "How you six got here to Equestria in the first place?"

"When we about to awaken Ekimu, he forewarned us of the Skull Army searching for a mask hidden underground of the Ancient City of the Mask Maker, the Mask of Parallel Universe. We fought against them but even we're united, they still outnumbered us. They manage to escape using the mask's powers and came to this dimension. Our Golden Mask's powers able to use the ruined shrines to open the portal for us to head to your world." Kopaka explained.

"The Mask of Parallel Universe?" Fluttershy asked.

"From what Ekimu said, it was created when he learns the truth of the Crystal Masks. Before The Great Cataclysm, the Mask Makers discovered from the villagers six crystals that came from the heaven. At first, they designed them as one of special masks, but as he wore it, he glimpse of you six and feared that they were deemed too powerful for anyone to use it and in the wrong hands, it can spell destruction upon Okoto. He tried to reason his brother to destroyed them but his jealously blinded his reason so he took it upon his own matter and studied and founded that it came from another world, precisely yours." Gali said.

"Whoa, whoa what?!" Rainbow got in front of them "Are you guys tell us that the Elements of Harmony were created from your world?!"

"No, it originate from your world. The Mask Maker created them into six crystal masks and sealed them here into its original world." Pohatu said as the girls sighed in relief. 

"One thing I don't understand." Applejack asked "If both Ekimu and Makuta are in a deep sleep, then how did all of the Skull Army along with the Skull Spiders varmints came to be."

"To be honest, we don't know. But from the Protectors, they believe that Makuta's spirit survives and his dark powers is growing in Okoto." Onua said. "He controls the Lord of The Skull Spiders and countless monsters in Okoto."

All of the ponies nodded as all of them make to the stop at the hallways as each of them taken their separate rooms on each sides. Each of the room is like the others with a royal decorations on the walls and a curtain on the left/right sides. Their beds is like the others with a hue of dark blue in a wave like design. The drawers on the sides have a curvy like design with a mirror on top as each of the Toa examine their rooms.

"This is where we will be sleeping?" Tahu asked as the girls nodded.

"It may not be like whatever you guys sleep but it'll do well." Twilight said.

The Toa nodded as they set their weapons down on the wall as they examine their beds as they sat down on it, and, with Onua, being the biggest Toa, sat on it as the bed stands broke down as it slammed on the floor creating a crack on the hard floor.

"Oops, my bad." Onua rubbing his head at the shocked ponies.

After a few hours of fixing the bed stands with magic, the Toa gaze at the skies from the windows as it turns night time as all of them laid on it, preparing to sleep soon.

"Well, we better get going now." Twilight said "Thanks again for saving us."

"You're welcome, princess. Hopefully we can find the Crystal Masks quickly before the Skull Army does." Kopaka said as the ponies nodded as each of them close the door. Then they headed to their sleeping quarters as both ponies and Toa fall into a deep sleep.





In The Ancient Graveyard of Equestria, Kulta smirked from his skeletal mask as a rumble was heard as both Basher and Slicer have the same expression as their leader as multiple skeletal hooves and claws thrust out of the tombstones as skeletal ponies comes out. Each of them have almost have a design that of Okoto's Skull Warriors but more of decease Royal Guards armors as well as Skull Armors. The others, rising from the tomb, have skeletal wings on its back as few more have dragons design on them as well as bat wings design. The last one, had a unique design, has a decayed bearded on the muzzle along with a wizard hat and robe but mostly noticeably it has horns similar to Kulta and Skull Armors around the arms and legs. Like the others, it has a newly Skull Mask like the others but some have a different design than the others.  

All of the Skull Creatures turned to Kulta as he raised his staff "Rise, my army! Rise!"

All of them march towards him as they bow to him, awaiting for command as Kulta laughing evilly of his new creations. 





At the cave where the Tree of Harmony reside, the magic that still produce despite of the Elements now turned into Crystal Masks and scattered, sense the dark magic as it begin shone brightly.



 

While the Toa and the ponies are alseep, a old and weary voice was heard.

'Fateful Toa and Harmonics........'

A voice was heard from the Toa's and the ponies' prone as their eyes shot open and glow white. As the light died down, a image of the Crystal Masks was shown inside of shrines. 'The time has come to find the Crystal Masks is at nigh. The Skull Army now prepare to headed to the shrines that holds the Crystal Masks. You must find it quickly. All of them are in specific places that are untouched.'The Crystal Masks then shown in places that hidden before their visions ended.

All of them shot up from their beds as they breath heavily as the visions they saw. 

Then all of them have the same questions in mind. "What was that?"













 

 







 








 
> Chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning came as the sun shine on the Canterlot Castle, still recovering from the Skull Spiders army. Construction ponies woke up from their sleep and getting ready to do their shift on repairing the castle. Most of the ponies resume their daily life but some are spreading gossip of the invasion. Some of the ponies, both citizen and Royal Guard, were excuses from the hospital after freed from the Skull Spider's control. The rest of the Royal Guards resume their shift for any sign of the Skull Spiders or even a Skull Creature but so far none.

Inside of the castle, each of the Toa were asleep in their respective guest rooms. Each of them sleep peacefully as their respective elemental energies recharging back yesterday from the invasion. But last night, each of them and the Harmonics having a vision from Ekimu who told them that the Skull Armies are now on the march to find the shrines of the Crystal Masks as the only clue that they Ekimu told them is each places that are 'untouched'. As the sun shines on the window, the reflect light hit their eyes as they stirred before waking up. Once all of them stretch their bodies and legs, they grab their weapons as they open their respective doors and meet up at the hallways.

"Wow, I never felt this good...." Onua yawned which sounded almost like a cave and scratching his head.

"You said it, brother." Lewa stretching his arms "We never felt good since we quick-traveled to Equestria."

The other nodded as the Master of Jungle continued "But did we saw another vision last night with Ekimu shows locations of untouched lands of Equestria?"

"Yes, we did, but I don't think we're not the only six that saw it." Kopaka said as hoof steps was heard as the Toa turned and saw the Mane 6/Harmonics walking towards them.

"Oh good morning, Toa Masters." Twilight said "I trusted that you slept well?"

"Well consider that we usually sleep on ground, tree, rocks, hard tiles, and ruin temples where we came from, yes." Lewa said.

"I can imagine of that if I had to live in Okoto." Twilight giggled while her friends nodded. 

"So Twilight, did you and your friends have the same visions like we did?" Kopaka asked as they nodded too.

"But we'll talk more about this when we get to the dinner hall for breakfast. Can't do anything without an empty stomach." Applejack said as the Toa Masters nodded and follow them to the dinner hall.

As the Toa Masters and the Harmonics sat down on their chair, the Royal Sisters came along with Shining Armor and another alicorn with a pink coat and a mane with streaks of yellow, hot pink, and light purple.

"Twilight!" Princess Cadance said.

"Princess Cadance!" Both gave each other a hug as they begin chanting along with a little dance.

"Sunshine, Sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!"

The Toa looked confused at the dancing they did as they turned to each other and shrugged.

"Okay, that's very weird-strange......" Lewa muttered as Princess Cadance turned and saw the Toa Masters.

"Oh! I almost forgot! Cadance, these six are the Toa Masters, the ones who save Canterlot Castle. Toa Masters, this is my sister in law, Princess Cadance!"

Cadance walking towards them "So you must the Toa Masters that Shining Armor and Twilight talking about. I'm very grateful for you six for saving them. They're much like my family along with my aunties."

Onua nodded "It's a honor, Princess Cadance."

The princess nodded as they got into their seats as their breakfast is served.





After a few minute of breakfast, the Toa Masters and the ponies walk to the royal chamber, discussing of the vision that they saw, raising questions to the ponies than answers.

"And that's what we know...." Kopaka muttered.

"What I don't get is how can be shrines hidden in Equestria?" Twilight asked. "There aren't any kinds in any record scrolls."

"By our guess, Ekimu must want to prevent evil beings from discovering them when he came to your world." Gali guessed. "He must foreseen what would happen in the future so he must have help from your kind." 

The ponies looked at each other then to the Masters in silence. Fluttershy asked "But if the Crystal Elements are in the shrines, how we supposed to find them?"

"The only answers is that Ekimu told us of the shrines hidden in Equestria is the place that are untouched." Onua answered.

Rainbow raise her eyebrows in confusion while crossing her hoof "'Untouched land?' What the hay that means?!"

"For all we know, part of Equestria is touched!" 

All of them thinking of the same question as Twilight realized of this "I recognize those part of the lands from those visions."

"You do?" all of the ponies and Masters asked as the Princess of Friendship nodded.

"Lucky I'm very good at geography when it comes to landscape." she levitate a scroll of a map and set it down on the table.

"From what the visions told us, the untouched place is located somewhere.......here......" she marked each of the locations ".....and here........and here........"

After that, the others see the picture reveal as each place that she marked is located within the famous places : San Palomino Desert, Hayseed Swamps, Crystal Mountains, Neighagra Falls, South Luna Ocean, and Foal Mountains.

"Those are the famous place and landscape in Equestria." Applejack commented.

"But darling, what does it has to do with the vision we saw last night?" Rarity asked.

Kopaka knee down and studied the map, using his telescopic lens  "For our guess, the untouched land Ekimu meant is hidden somewhere in those places."

"If that the case, then we need to get there before the Skull Army will." Tahu said.

"Tahu, we need to think of a plan. Don't rush without thinking." Gail said as Tahu groaned.

Applejack and Spike whispered while snickering at Tahu's hotheaded attitude.

"Eeyup, he definitely remind of somepony we know......." Applejack said as Rainbow heard them.

"What do you mean?" she asked raising her eyebrow only for them to snicker more.

"Nothing...." both of them said earning a confusing look at the rainbow-mane pegasus.

Cadance decide to speak after studied the map "If one of those shrines is hidden near to the Crystal Empire, then I'll alert the Royal Guards to watch out for the Skull Army."

The Toa nodded as Lewa asked "So now we know where they are, what's the plan, fire spitter?"

Tahu crossed his arms and thinking about it. Then he open his blue eyes and replied "We have to split up."

All of the ponies and the Toa shouted at the same time "WHAT?!"

"It would be better if we split up to each locations. It would be faster to reach the shrines before the Skull Army get there." Tahu explained.

"Tahu, don't you remember? Only......."

"Unity, Duty, and Destiny will able to overcome the forces of evil, I know, but even if we go together, the Skull Army probably sent their minions to reach the temple."

The others glance at each other, uncertain of his plan until the Master of Ice spoke "Tahu is right. The better that we split up, the faster we can reach to the shrines before the Skull Army gets there."

The Toa nodded at this plan as Twilight asked "One question, how you guys going to find the Crystal Masks? The location is too big for you guys to find them alone."

Onua thought of it and spoke "For our guess, our Golden Masks will guide us to them."

The ponies glance at each other then nodded as Pinkie spoke "Wait! What about us since we're the all important 'Harmonics' that your Prophecy of Heroes foretold of?"

"That's when you and your friends decide to come with us." Pohatu replied.

"Huh?" the ponies asked.

"Each of us will bring one of you Harmonics to the shrines for you six to receive your Crystal Masks before the Skull Army gets there." Tahu explained.

The ponies were stunned to say the least and after a few silence, they nodded.

"But how we know which of us will find the correct corresponded Elements from the shrines?" Spike asked.

The Toa Masters were pounding of that question but Gali replied "Each of us seen one of the Harmonics' markings so it's our duty to guide them to their shrines." 

"I'd seen Rarity's cutie mark and from it, it's my duty to guide you to your Crystal Mask." Gali glance at the fashionista pony which surprise her.

"The same for Applejack, since I was chosen too." Pohatu said to the farm pony, earning the same expression.

"As for me, I'll lead you, Ms. Fluttershy to your shrine." Onua said to the shy pegasus.

"Well, it looks like you're with me, Pinkie Pie." Lewa scratching his head, earning a wide grin from the party pony.

"Guess you and I are in this one, Rainbow Dash." Tahu smile at Rainbow which whispered 'Awesome!'

"And that leaves me to you, princess." Kopaka bowed to her which she giggled.

With all of the Toa chosen their Harmonic partners, the Mane 6 nodded as Princess Celestia said "Then it's settle then. Twilight Sparkle, you and your friends must go with your chosen respective Toa Masters so they can guide you to the shrines to retrieve the Elements before the Skull Army does."

"As for the Toa Masters," the Sun Princess glance at the six warriors "please, protect my precious little ponies. They're a family to me and my sister."

The Toa Masters nodded as Kopaka said "We will watch over them with our life. It's our duty to protect them."

With a nodded from the princesses, the Toa Masters and the Harmonics are preparing for their biggest quest. 










 










> Chapter 6
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack packing her rations of food she made from her home along with some blanket, tent, water, and fire. Once she finished packing, she checked on the mirror as she fixing up her mane. Her mind recalled to the events that she and her friends are now involved in : helping their new friends, the Toa Masters, in finding the Crystal Masks to fulfill their quest, separated in various place of Equestria. After learning that she and her friends are the ancient 'Harmonic' from the Prophecy of Heroes, they all agree in going with their respective Toa Master to the Shrine of the Crystal Mask. So far, one of the Toa, Pohatu, is chosen to go with her to Ghost Valley in San Palomino Desert which the Shrine to the Crystal Mask of Honesty is located except that she learned that Ghost Valley is once an property townplace called Chrono Valley many years ago which many pony settlers mine for gold and build a town upon discovering an rich material called Chronomine. However, due to the fact an sandstorm trapped the town, covering in dunes as the ponies decide to abandoned Chrono Valley and head to a new place to live thus the town become a ghost town. 

Shaken those thoughts, she grabbed her saddle bags and headed downstairs when she saw her family waiting at the door. 

"Well, I better get to the train station to meet up with all the others." 

The family only nodded silently as Applejack sighed, knew something that bothering them.

"Look, I know you all worried about me, but me and the girls need to do this." 

"Applejack, I know that it's surprising that you and your friends are these ancient prophecy heroes that these 'Toa Masters' described back when you came back home, but why can't we come with you?" Applebloom asked.

"Because this quest is too dangerous for y'all to get into. Remember what happened to Canterlot?" Applejack asked.

"You said that it was invaded by an army of spiders?" Big Mac replied.

"Yes, but those things came from where the Toa Masters lived in and from what they described in their quest, those things are a threat to Okoto. Unless we need to get to those shrines and get our Elements back before the Skull Army does, then both Equestria and Okoto is doomed." Applejack said.

The Apple family sighed, knowing that Applejack can be stubborn. But given the fact that she faced many danger before in her life, they have to trust her.

"All right, but be careful, Applejack." Granny Smith hugged her which she hugged back.

"Don't worry, I will. And Pohatu will look after me." With that, she exit out and headed to the train station.





At Ponyville, the Harmonics and the Toa Masters waited for Rarity and Applejack to come. Pohatu leaned on the wall, crossing his arms, while Onua sat down and meditated. Tahu checking his Lava board while Kopaka view the town using his telescope lens on his mask as Lewa decide to look around a bit and leap into the air before landing back on the ground as Gali stand there patiently with the Harmonics.

"Uggh, where's Rarity and Applejack?!" Tahu asked impatiently.

"Trust me, Tahu, Applejack will come fast as she can. As for Rarity..........let's just say that she's taking her time to get herself ready." Rainbow said which the Master of Fire groaned.

"We don't have time for whatever she's doing. Both worlds is at stake!"

"Trust me, I know how you're feeling." Rainbow said trying to calm him down which he taken deep breath.

Then they heard galloping as Applejack running towards them then panting. "Sorry, just need to say goodbye to ma'h family, girls and Masters."

Pohatu nodded "Now we just need to wait for Rarity."

"Does she always taking her time on her 'appearance'?" Kopaka asked Twilight which the Princess of Friendship sighed.

"In most case, yes."

"But why would she always care about her own appearance?" Gali asked.

"Well, let's just say that it's her trademark." Applejack replied.

"Ta-da!" a voice was heard as the others turned and saw her with one of her dresses.

"Told you." Applejack deadpanned.

"Rarity, you're going on a quest! Why you taking so long to get ready?!" Rainbow asked.

Rarity scoffed "I just can't go without any type of clothes that I need in case if we're going somewhere."

"Uh no offensive, Rarity, but we don't normally wear clothes." Applejack said which the fashionista groaned.

"Some of us DO have standards." 

The Toa Masters glanced at each other confused until a cough was heard as they turned to Twilight as the ponies gather around with the Toa.

"Okay, from the vision we gotten before, I able to create maps for each of us in each town yesterday." she levitated scrolls of map and handed to the ponies "I able to pinpoint where each of the location of the shrines is might located with a help from Kopaka."

"For Applejack and Pohatu, the Shrine of the Crystal Mask of Honesty is somewhere in Ghost Town in San Palamino Desert." 

Applejack and Pohatu nodded.

"Rarity, you and Gali will have to go to South Luna Ocean. From our guess, the Shrine of the Crystal Mask of Generosity is underwater."

The two glanced at each other.

"Tahu and Rainbow will be heading to Foal Mountains since the Shrine of the Crystal Mask of Loyalty is located."

"Right!" both of them said.

"Lewa and Pinkie will need to search the Shrine of the Crystal Mask of Laughter in Hayseed Swamp."

Pinkie glanced at Lewa, giving a wide grin which he smirked.

"Fluttershy and Onua will need to check at Neighagra Falls consider that the Shrine of the Crystal Mask of Kindness is located underground."

"Okay....." Fluttershy said as Onua nodded.

"As for me and Kopaka, we'll be heading to the Crystal Mountains to search for the Shrine of the Crystal Mask of Magic. We'll meet back at the train stop in Ponyville once we got the Elements back."

All of the Toa and Harmonics nodded.

"Let's go then! No stopping us now!" Tahu said as all of the others got into the train as it begin moving towards the part of Equestria.





As the train stop at San Palamino Desert at the train stop, Applejack and Pohatu walked out to the train stop as the train moving away.

"So this is San Palamino Desert." Pohatu looked around at the desert area.

"Yeah, to be honest, this is my first time coming here but I did heard that the weather of it is always hot and -" Applejack's sentence interrupted  as she took step forward, sandstorm gust around the area. Applejack holding her stenson hat while closing her eyes as Pohatu placing his hand on his mask.

"- have lots of sandstorm."

"We should be careful then." Pohatu said as Applejack pulled her map and the two walking towards the sandstorm area.

While traveling through the raging sandstorm for hours, Applejack struggle to beat the storm while holding her stenson hat and the map. Pohatu continue walking, braving through it glancing around the sandstorm.

"According to the map, we should be getting closer to the Ghost Valley!" Applejack yelled.

"I see it!" Pohatu pointed as from the gust of sandstorm, an abandoned town was seen as both rushed towards but as Pohatu getting closer, he glanced carefully as he place his hand onto the cowgirl's chest.

"Hold up!" 

"What?" Applejack asked.

"Look carefully!" he pointed to the an abandoned town as it disappeared.

"A mirage?" Applejack asked as the Master of Stone nodded.

"The sandstorm must conjuring an illusion to keep invaders away from the Ghost Valley." Pohatu said. 

"Then how we going to figure out which is the real one?" Applejack closing her eyes trying to not get sand in her eyes.

Without any discussion, he scoop out Applejack as his sand shoes turned into Jetarang and begin absorbing the sandstorm and blew it away, leaving only the real ghost town farther.

"You mind next time you're going to do that?" Applejack asked as Pohatu landed on the ground putting her down.

"Let's go." 

But before they can go forward, a large earthquake rumble across the desert dunes.

"Whoa! What's that?!" Applejack losing her balance as from the ground, a large pincer shot up as a large Scorpion came out of the ground.

"What in tarnation is that?!" Applejack shocked at the sight of large Scorpion. 

"Scorpion." Pohatu muttered as he drew his Jetarangs from his feet becoming Stormerangs. "I. Hate. Scorpion."

 





 




> Chapter 7
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The large Guardian Scorpion hissed at the intruders as Applejack and Pohatu prepared themselves as they quickly dodge the quick snap of the Scorpion's tail.

"And I thought that some of my family having scorpion trouble back at Appleloosa!" Applejack said dodging another blow from it.

Pohatu threw his Stormerangs at the creature but it swat away using its pincers then proceed to snapped at him only for him to dodged it quickly. The Stormerangs return to him as Pohatu jump out of the way from the thrust of the stinging tail.

Applejack dodge the pincers as she slid down quickly and with right timing, she buck her hind hooves at the creatures' eyes. The Guardian Scorpion hissed loudly as it prepared its tail only for another Stormerang smack at the eyes again, giving the cowgirl pony a chance to get out of the way.

"Thanks, partner." Applejack said as the Guardian Scorpion hissed angrily and charging at them.

"Oh boy! I think we made it mad!" Applejack exclaimed.

Pohatu then glanced at mountain pillar as an idea came up to him, he scooped up the cowgirl pony on his arm.

"Hey, Pohatu! What are you-?!"

"I got an idea, Applejack." Pohatu interrupted as he threw his weapon, changing into Jetarangs and conjure a sandstorm and headed to the mountain pillar while the Guardian Scorpion chasing them. Dodging the pincers and the snapping tail, both almost reaching halfway to the mountain pillar.

"Now when I said three, you kick the rumbles!"

"Say what now?!" Applejack glanced at the Master of Stone.

"One.....two........" 

The Guardian Scorpion thrust its pincers at them.

"THREE!!!" Pohatu jump and flung Applejack high into the mountains as he drew his Stormerangs and hit it causing the pillars to break down into pieces.

"WHOOOAAAAA!" Applejack starting to fall down.

"Applejack, kick it!" Pohatu shouted.

Wasting no time, she got to her hind legs and buck them it towards the large Scorpion as a large piece slammed to the stinging tail, immobilizing it. Then Pohatu conjuring another sandstorm as he caught all of them including Applejack floating towards him and threw to the massive Guardian, trapping it.

The Master of Stone sighed as he felt a hard force, even from his armor as he glanced at the scowled cowgirl mare.

"Can at least warn me next time you're going to do something that reckless?!"

Pohatu sighed as they headed back to the Ghost Valley. Unknown to them, from the mountain up top, a skeletal dragon being glanced menacing at them.





As Pohatu and Applejack continue their trek back, they made to the Ghost Valley. Once they enter, each of them glancing at the ruin western town that was once filled with life now been an abandon place.

"This is the place, all right." Applejack said then shivers a bit.

"It's even spooky than the Castle of Two Sisters at Everfree Forest."

"We better get going to the shrine." Pohatu walk forward as Applejack follow him in similar pace.

"So any idea where's the shrine is?" Applejack asked.

Pohatu glancing around the town as his Golden Mask continue to shone around until a brighter one points at the right as they followed that direction leading to an underground mine closed in woods.

"The Ghost Valley Underground Mine? But why here? This place is shut down upon miners ran out of gold and silver to dig into." Applejack wondered.

Pohatu glanced around as he carried a rusty mine cart. Applejack glanced at him as she widened her eyes at the plan that he's about to do.

"What the hay are you doing?!" Applejack asked. "You can't just break pony historical artifacts!"

"Unless we need to get this barricade out of the way, we got to get to the shrine. It's inside the Underground Mine."

"Just listen to me Pohatu! Even if you threw that cart in, you'll break that entrance in!" Applejack said as from the farm mare pony's reasoning, he set it down.

"We need to find another way in without destroying the mine." Applejack said. 

Both of them glance around the mine for another way in until Pohatu point upwards "There!"

Applejack glanced at the direction as there was a cave in there. They climb to the mountains as after a few minute, they reached to the top. They glance at the cave as Applejack saw Pohatu cringed a bit as she grab a flashlight and turn it on.

"What's wrong, sugarcube? Scare of the dark?" 

"What, who, me? No, no, I'm not afraid of the dark." Pohatu said.

"Don't lie to me, I see that face and you're just lying to yourself." Applejack said with a sly smile.

"I'm not, okay! Let's just get going." Pohatu argued as they proceed into the caves.





At the Crystal Empire, Kopaka and Twilight exit the train station as they proceed to the Crystal Empire where Shining Armor is waiting at the castle.

"So this is the Crystal Empire you mention before in your adventures?" Kopaka gaze around as Crystal Ponies stared at the Princess and a huge bipedal being clad in gold and white armor.

"Yeah, it was used to be ruled by King Sombra, the dark unicorn king that I mentioned before, but thanks to me and my friends along with Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, we able to free this place after returning the Crystal Heart."

"Right, if I remember correctly from what you describe, this place was cursed by him causing it to disappeared from the face of Equestria." Kopaka said as Twilight nodded.

They stopped as they reached to the castle with Shining Armor waiting for them with Flash Sentry talking to him. Once Flash bowed to him and headed inside, Shining Armor walking towards them.

"Glad to see you guys here." 

Both of them nodded as Kopaka asked "You said that you want us to meet here right?"

"Yes you two come with me" he said as they follow him inside of the castle "From what the Royal Guards gather, we suspect that the Shrine is somewhere at the Mt. Snowblind of the Crystal Mountain near to the Yaks' Village. Problem is that whenever our men tried to get in, there was a huge blizzard storm covering the area making it hard to find it." 

He open the door as Twilight widened her eyes : each of the Royal Guards were resting with warm towels, hot bath, and starting sniffing while covering themselves as many nurse and Princess Cadance helping the sick guards.

"As a result, most of the guards that exit out, caught the cold."

"Can't they use magic to shield themselves from the blizzard?" Kopaka asked as Shining Armor shook his head.

"Unforntately that's another problem we're dealing with. Somehow, Mt. Snowblind have some kind of anti-magic pulse around the area when they enter it, their magic shut down." 

Twilight and Kopaka look worried as they glanced at each other before returning their attention to him.

"So how we going to get through, Shining Armor?" Twilight asked.

"Princess Cadance suggest of using an anti-spell protection spell so we can enter it without any problems and also some an heating spell to keep us warm." 

"Are those spells are hard to conjure?" Twilight asked "Those are the advanced spells that unicorns rarely used only in traveling in the snow."

"I know, but that's why I trained enough to use those." Shining Armor said.

"Wait, what do you mean 'we'? You're coming with us too?" Kopaka asked as he nodded.

"Beside, it's been a while to have an adventure with my sister so this is a perfect chance to do that. She saved my flank a numerous time, now I'm doing the same for her." 

Kopaka thinking before let a sighed "Well all right, but I'll lead, okay?"

Shining nodded as they exit out of the nurse and into the halls of the castle. 





At the darkest prisons of an ancient evil prison, Tartarus, an three headed dog stood guarded against the front. From the stairways lead to a prison, a frail and weakened creature with bottom of a horse and a top of a bipedal being, grasp the bar of the prison. 

From the memories of that evil being, escaping the prison, stealing the magic of all ponies, gaining strength and power, and being defeated by six mares unlocking a new power that imprison him here.

With the thoughts clouded, he screamed in rage as he slammed his fist into the bar.

"Princess Twilight and her friends ruined everything.............my desire to rule Equestria.........." he growled "I'll make them pay for what they done to me..........."

However, from the noise of a bow fire, he glance and saw the three headed dog frozen in ice, then a noise was heard of bones creeping as he glanced at the front of the prison and widened his eyes at the sight : skeletal bipedal creatures coming towards him with each distinct armors, builds, and faces as the larger one, clad in gunmetal armor and orange energy pouring with darkness walking towards him.

And then it spoke in a dark and evil tone, similar to him "So you're the one that my master wants."

"Who are you?!" he demanded.

"They call me Kulta, the Skull Grinder. My master wishes to speak with you." 

Kulta then twirled his staff and slammed to the ground as a black and dark redshot out from the cracks and formed two evil eyes.

"So you must be the one they called 'Tierk'........." the misty aura said.

"It's 'Lord Tierk. And what are you?!"

The dark aura chuckled evily "My apologies, I forgot to introduce to myself, I am Makuta."

Tierk glared at the being as he spoke "So what do you want to talk about?"

"An alliance."

"What?"

"You see, I have studied the history of this place and notice that you once were driven a desire to rule this world."

"Yes, that's what I want. But now Princess Twilight and her friends ruin everything."

"What if I can grant you the power of the darkness for you to take revenge on them?" That word hit him as raise his eyebrow.

"How?"

"Simple, all you had to do is serve me to find the Crystal Masks hidden in the world and bring it to me in my own world." Makuta said.

"The Crystal Mask? And what do you mean 'your own world'?" Tierk demanded.

"Very well, I'll tell you what I know." Makuta said as he explained everything about Okoto, three ancient Mask of Powers, and the Toa joining force with Princess Twilight and her friend.

After that, Tierk tried to process what he heard "So you want me to collect these 'Crystal Mask' and bring them to the Ancient City of The Mask Maker to find the Mask of Creation and destroy them to prevent your brother from awakening?"

"Yes, without those precious masks to interfere with my plan to cover Okoto in darkness, Equestria would defenseless without it. And you will have revenge on them without any interference."

Tierk still having an suspicious look. 

"Of course, there's another thing a memory should ring a bell deep within you." Tirek shot his head as Makuta explained "The Crystal Mask were once used by my brother, hidden from the shadow, to sealed you into this prison along with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna long ago."

The weakened centaur widened his eyes as his memories flash to that point when he fought the Princesses. As they use their magic to seal him, he shield himself but as he glance from the far left, a being clad in gold and blue armor use six masks and weakened him, giving the chance for the princess to sealed him in Tartarus.

"Ekimu.......is the one who sealed me here in the first place! Why did I see that from before?! I don't have the princesses and the Elements but him too!"

"We all have in common : the Princesses, Elements and the Toa sought to prevent our desire to rule both worlds! Given in to the darkness, Tierk....."

"Yes...." Tierk said as an dark tendrils coursing towards him.

"Accept the ultimate power that I present you............"

"Yes!" Tierk body begin to glow in the same aura.

"And together, we will rule both worlds!!!!!!!!"

"YES!!!!!!!" Tierk's eyes begin to glow in blood red as the surge of the darkness erupt the prison, breaking into pieces. The Skull Army shield their eyes as Kulta glanced at Lord Tierk now becoming muscular, tall, now his eyes covered in menacing red. 

"We will rule all worlds and destroy all in stand on our way!!!!!!!!!!" 

Lord Tierk shouted in the dark sky as clouds begin to cover into eternal darkness.

 









> Chapter 8
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"We're getting closer to the shrine, Rainbow!" Tahu shouted, swing his swords at four Lava Serpent which they about to pounce at the lava lake.

"That's good, cause I can't stand seeing more of those Lava Serpent jumping out of the lava by surprise!" Rainbow slash though using one of Tahu's Golden Sword that he lend to her consider that those armored beings are made of lava.

"We better stay close for now." Tahu said as both walking/hovering towards the lava mountain of Foal Mountain. 

"I thought those Lava Serpents were supposed to be extinct consider that they live for a thousands of years." Rainbow wondered.

"Probably that some do survived. And now guarding the Shrine of the Crystal Mask." Tahu guessed.

"If Twilight was here, she'll flipped out of seeing those ancient creatures." Rainbow joked as both laugh a bit.

"Yeah I can imagine what the Princess' expression will be."

"Speaking of which, Tahu, what happen once you and your siblings complete your destiny and defeat Makuta?" Rainbow asked.

Tahu was silence at first but he spoke "I never thought of it. And neither do them but with me as their leader, then we'll know what to do."

"Why do you want to lead them?" Rainbow asked. "From what the other Toa said, you like to think yourself being more heroic than the others."

"Are you saying that I don't have what it takes to be a leader?" Tahu glared at her.

"No no, that's not what I meant." Rainbow said "Listen, from what I seen, you're remind bit of me."

"What do you mean?" Tahu asked as Rainbow begin explaining of how she used to think herself.

After a few minute, Tahu was surprised at her.

"Wow, I didn't know you get in this trouble than me."

"Trust me, after what happened, my friends taught me how to be graceful and humility, not to be a bragger and arrogance after the Mare do Well incident." Rainbow said.

"Listen from what I know from Twilight, being a leader means not to lead under a command but by inspiring others to stand with her and following others."

Tahu was stunned at first but he lower his head down, thinking of those words that Rainbow said.





"I don't know if I can do this, Mr Onua." Fluttershy said as she and the Master of Earth walking around the underground of Neighagra Falls. 

"Seeing all the monsters that live in here, I don't know if I can continue going."

"I know that you're afraid, Ms. Fluttershy, but it's okay. I'm here for you." Onua reassure her.

As they continue walking, each of them glance around the area as they reached a intersection. 

"Um, which way we should go?" Fluttershy asked, looking around the intersection.

"My mask points to this direction." Onua pointed to the right section "But just in case, we should at least leave a trail so we can at least get back."

Fluttershy nodded as she got some rocks and made a line as they proceed to that direction.

Onua notice Fluttershy's downed expression as he asked her.

"Something in your mind?"

"Oh, um, nothing." Fluttershy muttered.

"You sure?" he asked as Fluttershy sighed.

"Well, it's my friends. I'm always been scared at everything that at some point of the adventures, I let my fear get in their way. Even with things are normal, I felt that if another adventure comes, then my friends would see me as a interference."

She closed her eyes as memories from previous adventures with her friends starting to linger, tears starting to dripped to her face as a soft touch wipe her tears as she look at Onua, knee down to her size.

"Don't think like that, Fluttershy. From what your friends told me, you're the bravest pony that anyone knows. I know what's like to afraid of things, but so long as those I care helped me get through the toughest time, then I won't stop trying." From his crude voice, Fluttershy's eyes widened at his words as she hugged him which the Master of Earth rubbed her mane before they separate.

"Better?" Onua asked as she nodded.

"Okay, we better continue foward." With that, they continue trek to the underground.





"Yahoo!" Pinkie squealed while holding Lewa from the back as he leap to one trees to another at the Hayseed Swamp. Since there's lots of swamp water, Lewa suggest having 'fun' while finding the Shrine to the Crystal Mask of Laughter.

Lewa using his Golden Mask, summon a vine from the swamp water as he skate across to a ground as Pinkie got out of his back.

"That. Was. AWESOME!!!!!" the party pony cheered "We should do this again more often, Lewa!"

"Heh, yeah, as long as we get a break from saving the world, then I'm all fun-game!" Lewa grinned as the two walk forward in the swamp. Unnoticed, from the dark trees, a sinister red eyes glance at the heroes.

After trek farther into the swamp, Lewa glanced around the area as he turned to the right, with the party pony following him. 

Taking a few step, Pinkie glance around the surrounding until her tail begin to twitch and her body shudder.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Lewa asked.

"Oh my gosh! My Pinkie Sense telling me that something is going to pounce behind us!" 

Confused at first, Lewa turned back as two skeletal like flyers pounce at them only for Lewa to grab Pinkie and jump out of the way. 

"You okay?" Lewa asked as the party pony nodded then glanced back at the two assailant. Each of them resemble that of a griffon, but with familiar skull armors and new skull mask that only covered the face with the skeletal beak shown as dark magic was surrounding them with their skeletal talons.

"That can't be good." the Master of Jungle drew his katanas and got into his battle stance along with Pinkie pulled her party cannon.

"Here they come!" Pinkie shouted as the Skull Flyers pounce at them only for them to dodge. Lewa using his mask, summoned a vine from the ground and tried to wrapped them only for one of them using their skeletal talons to slice it away. Pinkie fire her party cannon, filled with cakes and sticky batter at them only for them to fly out of the way. Another one charged at Lewa which he jump out of the way but another swoop at him, knocking him to the tree.

"Oof!" Lewa grunted as he tried to get up, another Skull Flyer rammed it's head at him, knocking back as it about to take his mask, Pinkie fire her sticky batter , knocking out of him as Pinkie helped the Master of Jungle up.

"Thanks for the save." Lewa said as another Skull Flyer free its comrade from the sticky batter and continue to fly higher. Then they soared towards them as Lewa leap out of the way along with Pinkie jump out of the way too as they crashed into the ground. When the smoke clears, the Skull Flyers got up glaring at the heroes.

"Um, any ideas, Lewa?" Pinkie asked as Lewa glance at the Skull creatures then to the surroundings of the swamp, then got an idea.

"Yeah, but I'm going to need you to get your cannon ready with those 'sticky batter'." Lewa said as Pinkie nodded then loaded very quickly to her party cannon.

"Okay, now what?" 

"Now when I give the signal, fire like you mean it!" Lewa said as Pinkie widened her eyes along with saying 'ooohhh' then nodded. 

"Okay on the count of three, one....." the Skull Flyers take flight and dive towards them.

"two....." both of them readied themselves as the Skull Flyers getting closer.

"THREE!" Lewa jump as Pinkie fired her party cannon, caught them as the Skull Flyers rolled down to the swamp as the skeletal beings tried to break apart but the swamp begin to dragging them down as Lewa pulled his Battle Axes and slice a large tree, sending it towards them and slam hard.

As the Master of Jungle land on the ground, Pinkie came towards him and cheered.

"That was a close one!" Pinkie said. "Glad that was over."

"Still we need to be careful." Lewa glance at the direction towards the Shrine. "The Skull Army is getting closer towards the Shrine. And it looks like Kulta is making more of his army here."

"You mean more like zombie ponies and griffons?!" Pinkie screeched as Lewa nodded.

"Don't worry though, I'm not going to let those clowns scare you, Pinkie." he placed his hand on her shoulder "I promise, we'll get your Crystal Mask and save both Equestria and Okoto!"

Pinkie glanced at him then nodded with a smile as they continue their trek.

"And after that, we can throw a 'Welcome to Equestria and Thank You for saving Equestria and Okoto' party! I'll make the best delicious mouthwatering cake that you and your Toa buddies can enjoy!" Pinkie hopped as Lewa chuckled.

"Sounds great, I love a great party, when the fate of the worlds isn't in stake!"











 

> Chapter 9
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The harsh blizzard winds howled as the heavy snow storm blowing faster that only a heavy coated animal would dare venture through the terrian. For the frozen tundra of the Crystal Empire, it was once a lost civilization of ancient buffalo who once waged war with the ponies for the control of an ancient relic that said to control the power of ice, bring chaos and suffer until their actions caused the Wendigos to be free from their prison and plunge all of them into a frozen prison until both tribes united to seal them back in. Now the remaining ponies made truce with the buffalo and left the frozen graveyard in hope to never waged war with each other again.

From the snow bind, Kopaka walking slowly with Twilight, wearing her winter attire along with Shining Armor with his scarf. Both of them continue trek through the snow bind as his mask continue to glow softly. 

"Any sign of the temple?" Shining Armor grunted.

"No but we're getting close." Kopaka said "Just further ahead." He point his staff at the direction.

As they continue walking on the snow tundra, they stopped at the ledge of the mountains. 

"Uh, Kopaka, this is the wrong way." Shining Armor deadpanned with furrowed eyebrows.

Kopaka scratched his head "Okay, maybe not that way......." he looked back as his mask glows softly on the right. "There."

The siblings glance at each other and shrugged as they continue following him. 

After a few minute, Kopaka used his built in telescope as he zoomed in to the part of the mountain. 

"We should watch our step. There's a lot of a crevices in this part of the mountain." Shining Armor said as the other nodded until Kopaka stepped and fall into one.

"I think I found one." the Master of Ice muttered as Twilight giggled and Shining Armor rolled his eyes then use their magic to pull him up.

"Thanks." Kopaka dusting off the snow in his armor.

"How about you let me lead the way?" Shining Armor said. "I do know part of the mountain since I used to train there before my promotion to captain."

"No, I got this." Kopaka dismissed "Beside, I'll be careful not to-"

'PLOW!'

Kopaka's hand was seen upon falling onto another crevice. "-slipped."

Twilight sighed and pulled him out again. 

"Shiny is right, Kopaka. At least let him lead out of the crevices." 

Kopaka glanced at her then sighed "Fine."

As they following Shining throughout the crevices until they reach towards the next part of the mountain, the Princess of Friendship glanced at Kopaka who having a annoyed tone. Piece some thoughts or possibility, she spoke to him.

"Something in your mind?"

The Master of Ice glance at her "No, I'm fine. Nothing's wrong with me."

"Doesn't seem like it." Twilight said. "Even though I'm not the Element of Honesty which is Applejack's trait, I know that something is bothering you."

"Twilight, really, I'm fine-"

"Please, I just worried about you." Twilight said as Kopaka glance at her eyes. Seeing those puppy eyes, in which he sighed in defeat.

"But this keep between you and me."

Twilight nodded as she perform the Pinkie Promise which Kopaka looked at her weirdly.

"That's the Pinkie Promise. Trust me, when you made a Pinkie Promise, you better keep that otherwise........."

"Otherwise?"

Twilight cringed at one particular memory "You don't want to know. Even at faraway place."

Kopaka nodded and begin to speak "I have this moral code that I always need to things the right way. I don't why but I guess I was born with it when I came down to Okoto."

"You mean you're a perfectionist?" Twilight guessed as he nodded.

"I felt that I was the only one who knows at stake despite my brothers and sister knows, yet they kept getting on my nerves (mostly Tahu)."

"How they keep getting on your nerves?" 

"Lewa's always been a rebellion guy, Pohatu have a stubborn attitude, Onua.....well a heavy sleeper, Gali never got the joke right, and Tahu.......well you get the idea."

Twilight thought then gave a small grin as Kopaka glanced at her.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing, but what I heard from you, I guess you and I are alike." Twilight said.

Kopaka titled his head in confusion "What do you mean?"

"Each of us have different yet similar personalities, Kopaka. For me, Lewa's much like Pinkie, Pohatu and Applejack are both the stubborn type, Onua, despite being a heavy sleeper, got along with Fluttershy, Gali and Rarity are much friendly terms, and Tahu and Rainbow always the hotheaded."

"I know what's like to get annoyed with those, but those difference are just normal. From what they told me, they seeing you as the cold type yet from I what I seen, you have a poor sense of directions."

"No, I don't!" the Master of Ice protested.

"You do, Kopaka" Shining spoke "Beside, you got us the wrong way and fall to the crevices, twice."

Kopaka grunted as he tried to find words but nothing came up as he slump his body down.

"Fine, I do have poor sense of directions, happy?"

"Well that means that you're accepting your weakness." Twilight said "And that's a good thing."

"What do you mean?" Kopaka asked "I'm a Toa, a warrior, a hero, I shouldn't have a -"

"Everyone have a weakness, Kopaka, and there's no shame into accepting what you're bad at. For me, my weakness is that I tend to worried over small little things."

"Like when you go crazy rushing things on re shelving and reorganized your bookcase?" Shining joked as Twilight gave a pout.

"Hey, I like when I trying to re shelf things!" Kopaka chuckled at this scene as Twilight turned back to him "The thing is that when we accept our weakness and learn from it so we can grow. There's no such thing as a perfectionist. And I'm certain that your brothers understand this and willing to help you if you give them a chance."

Kopaka widened his eyes as he look down, thinking of Twilight's words.

"Okay, we made out of the crevices." Shining called  "Kopaka?"

The Master of Ice nodded as his mask glows as they continue following him. Unknown to them, shadow like beings are watching them.





At the bottom of the ocean of South Luna Ocean, Gali was swimming while looking around the area of the coral sea while Rarity, in her swimsuit and breathing mask, followed her.

"Darling, you sure the Temple is close by?" she asked.

"I'm certain, Miss Rarity." her mask point to the bottom of the abyss "I think that where we need to go."

Both swim towards it as they look down and only seeing darkness in the abyss. Rarity scan the area as she point at that direction.

"Look, there's a cave here."

Just as they about to swim towards it, a loud growl was heard as Gali pulled her trident while Rarity hiding behind her.

"Looks like a Guardian is close by."

Then, from the abyss, a red tentacle shot out as both dodge out of the way. Gali and Rarity turned and coming out of the darkest abyss, a large squid like creature rose up and roared at them.

"Okay I'd seen creatures that big, but that big squid really take the cake!" Rarity said.

"And it probably eats too!" Gali commented.

The squid whip it's tentacle at them as both dodge out of the way. Gali swung her trident and cut it in half only for the tentacle to regrow back. Rarity swam fast as she can, dodging the tentacles until one got into suction grip.

"Gyahhhh! Let go of me, you ugly creep!" the fashionista tried to pulled out but no avail as Gali swim faster and slice the tentacle, freeing her.

"Oh thank you, darling." 

Gali nodded as the giant squid roared then it squirt black ink which both covered their eyes.

"Ahhhh, my eyes!" Gali rubbed her eyes from the ink as the guardian squid slammed her to the wall.

"Gali!" Rarity screamed as another tentacles wrapped around her again.

"Not again!" Rarity struggled as the squid bring her close to it's eyes which Rarity glared at it "Now look here, mister, I don't what's your big idea trying to whack us like that but that's no excuse to that to us ladies!"

The squid growled as she continue bickering "You will let us pass through the Temple right now or -"

A loud roar caused her to stop her rambling and gave a messy mane.

"How rude......"

"Miss Rarity!" Gali called as she thrust her spear at it, freeing her as she grabbed her and swam faster as the guardian squid as they reached towards the cave, the squid collide with it, causing a collapse ceiling on the entrance.

Both of them made to the ground as they sat down, with Gali sighed. Rarity use a seaweed and wiped the black ink on her mask.

"You all right, darling?" Gali nodded.

"I will be fine, Miss Rarity. I'm tougher than you look."

Once all the black ink is removed, both of them got up and glanced around the cavern. Upon examine, her golden mask glowing on the right direction.

"We should be close by."

Rarity nodded as they walking towards the direction. After a few minute of silence, Rarity decide to speak.

"Gali, thank you for saving me from that squid."

"It's no problem. I'm just doing what I need to do."

"Yeah, even though I tried to help you, I wasn't able to." Rarity looked down as Gali noticed it.

"You did everything you can do, you can't expect to do it perfectly. Beside, that was Kopaka's thing."

"It's more than that." the fashionista sighed and glanced at her gentle green eyes "While I was glad that you help me so much from those nasty Skull Creatures and the Guardian Squid, I felt that I was........"

"You felt that you were taking advantage of me?" Gali said as she nodded. "But what make you feel that way?"

"Because of my dear Spikey Wikey. I knew him that he had a crush on me, and while it was cute, I began taking advantage of him getting the right jewels for me for my dresses even the feelings he showed me."

"And do you return those feelings towards him?" Gali asked as she shook her head. "But why?"

"One, it would affect my social standards towards the Canterlot ponies of seeing me and Spike being a couple. Two, he's very younger than me even though he's a baby dragon yet acting more mature. And three, it would make our friendship seem awkward."

Rarity began to show tears "Oh how I wished I never taken advantage of his feelings towards me. If I was honest towards my feelings to him, maybe he wouldn't do so much. He done so much that I couldn't even thank him for being part of my life."

While Rarity began to cry a bit, Gali knee down and wipe the tears of her. 

"Look, I don't know much of romance but what I can tell, you really care about him so much. Even love him too. If you truly honest of your feelings towards him, then don't be afraid of telling him that. What matters is that you understanding your feelings towards him so try to tell him that."

Rarity nodded then gave the Master of Water a hug.

"Thank you, Gali." After a few minute, both release their hugs.

"Okay, we better get moving." With that, the two continue on their trek but two shadows following them silently.





"Ya could at least stop being jumpy all the time?!" Applejack scolded "It's just scorpions fer crying out loud!"

"Fine, fine" Pohatu grumbled as they continue on the trek on The Ghost Valley Underground Mine. While Applejack looking around the empty caverns, he glanced at the jumpy Master of Stone holding his Stomerangs tightly while looking around frantically. 

"Look you don't need to hid your feelings. Just say that you're afraid of the dark and scorpions."

"I-I'm not!" Pohatu argued.

"Sugarcube I know you're lying by the face it's giving away."

"I said I'm not! Beside, we need to get to the Temple and-"

Applejack got in his way with a hard glare that even match his.

"Okay, you're supposed to be a 'Toa' yet your acting like a stubborn foal!" 

"Look Applejack we have no time for this-"

"Whenever it's a perfect time or not, you need to stop acting like a stubborn foal! How you can help your brothers and sister if you keep being stubborn all the time even when both worlds are at stake?"

Pohatu was about to countered but thought about it he sighed.

"Fine, I am afraid of the dark and hate scorpions. Happy?"

She sighed and nodded and both continue on the trek. After a few hours, she looked at him.

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad nor forcing you, I'm just trying to help you."

"But why?" Pohatu asked "I don't need any help."

"Still you can't expect to handle everything alone nor hiding your feelings. There was a time that we need to accept help from others and also show feelings for one or another."

Pohatu listened, his eyes soften a bit.

"I learned that the hard way when I was doing an Applebuck season."

"Applebuck season?"

"It's a tradition that m'ah families and I do. Mostly it's when the apples must be harvested. Anyway, at some point before Twilight's accession into an alicorn, I was the only one doing the season since most of m'ah family are too busy with their crops. At first, because of my stubbornness, I refuses any help from Twilight. As a result, things that m'ah friends want me to do gone in a completed mess."

"What kind of mess?" Pohatu asked.

"I accidentally launched Rainbow into the sky while she's unprepared, made 'baked bads' from the Sugarcube Corner in result poison other ponies trying it including Pinkie Pie, and caused a rabbit stampede into Ponyville."

"Yowch!" Pohatu winced.

"Eeyup, as I thought I finished all the harvested apples, Big Mac point that I did half of it which I faint, so I gave in and ask my friends for some help."

She turned to him "For what I've seen, you're much similar in a way stubborn and all, yet there's a time when we need to put our stubborn pride aside."

Pohatu looked down and thought about it, but his mask glows brightly at the direction.

"We're almost there!" Pohatu said as the two rushed towards the direction of the temple.





At Ponyville, the CMC were discussing things happened while the girls are on the mission with the Toa Masters. 

"Guess that storywriting isn't our type." Scootaloo sighed.

"But at least GundamBrony allow us to keep our stories right?" Sweetie Belle said as the girls nodded.

"Yeah but we did messed up on one of his stories." Apple Bloom pointed out. "As a result, we had to help him rewrite the chapter he's doing."

The three girls nodded as they reached to the clubhouse, Apple Bloom opened it as three Skull Spiders lunged at them, before their screams was heard.

At the orchards, Big Mac was busy bucking some apples when he heard the girls screamed as he rushed towards the clubhouse only to find in horror that Skull Creatures appeared and the CMC's face are now adored in Skull Spiders Masks.

As Big Mac about to rushed out, multiple possessed ponies grasp him to the ground. Big Mac recognized them as Maud Pie, Spike, and Discord.

As Big Mac continue to struggle, a large foot step was heard as Big Mac widened his eyes in fear of one creature that he never thought to see it again.

"Well, well, well, looks like I got myself some food to eat. Better have a quick lunch of it." Tierk grinned as he drained his Earth Pony magic leaving him a lack of cutie mark and lost his color on his eyes. Then he snapped his finger as a Skull Spider latch onto his face, possessing him.

"Now we got more for our armies, let's be on our way to the Ancient City of the Mask Maker, Tierk." Kulta said as Tierk nodded then use the power of the Mask of Parallel Universe and open the portal rift to the city.

"And what about the Crystal Masks?" Tierk asked. "Makuta ordered to captured it before the Toa and the Harmonics get it."

"Our new minions is already on their way, Tierk. Now we must move on to the next plan." With that all of them jump to the portal of the city as the portal closed. 













> Chapter 10
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Flashback

At the Castle of Friendship, Spike was doing some cleaning around the halls as he finished the last one on the rug.

"There, that should be done." he pulled up a list check on it "Got the floors done, check! Now the next one is more quills, ink, and parchment. And I better do it before dinner."

As Spike exit out the castle and head into Ponyville, he notices some noise as he turned around and saw nothing and shrugged. But the noise continues to get louder as he begins to turn and angrily shouted.

"Okay, Discord if is this some sick horror prank that you saw in movies then stop! I got no time for your games!" 

Nothing as he slowly backing away as he turned back, he rushed fast as he can. If there's something that stalking him, then he needs to find somepony to help him. As he kept running, the noise is getting louder and louder as he turned, he saw Ponyville as he rushed his body fast as he can, but not when a large scorpion landed on his back, trapping him.

"Uggh, what's going on....?!" Spike struggled as a skeletal hand picked up as he glances, his eyes widened in horror of the sight of a skeletal being, glowing with pure dark energy.

'Ah so you must the dragon that belong to one of the 'Harmonics'.' Skull Grinder grinned evilly. 'How nice to find something that can be useful....' 

"Uhhh......." Spike frighted by it but trying to put a brave face upon realizing something. That is one of the Skull Army creatures that the Toa mention. Kulta the Skull Grinder that's its name. "Let me go, you bony freaks or you'll be sorry!"

Kulta laughed that shiver anyone down the spine  'Such pitiful creature thinks that can scare me? I think not.' 


He then bends down and picked up a Skull Spider 'I'll be happy to have one of the Harmonics face someone dear to you.....'


Spike widened his eyes in fear "No, please, don't......no.....no......"

Inch by inch, Kulta moved the Skull Spider to Spike's face, making him squirm in fear. 

"NOOOOOOO-!!!!!!!!!"

At the 'Chaos Dimension', Discord's spine shivers down as he glances around in his house.

"That's weird. My chaos sense telling me something evil is about to happen in both worlds. Or someone is hanging out with Fluttershy....."

Decide to check, he snaps his claw as he appeared in Fluttershy's cottage.

"Fluttershy, it's you know who, Discord!" he said with some fireworks in the background as a few silence, he knock again only for the door to open, but instead of Fluttershy, it was Angel.

"Oh, it's you, have you seen Fluttershy? I just have a tingling in my bones and I want to see her for a bit."

Angel shook his head and pulled a letter to him which he grabs it and snaps a glass to read it. Upon reading it, his eyes bulging upon this.

"I knew there's something happening that give me the willies! And it takes about 3 days to get rid of it!" Discord sighed as unknown to him, several Skull Spiders glanced down at him and prepare to pounce until......

"If you thinking of controlling me that's a mistake you should not do." Discord's face appeared in the trees, causing two Skull Spiders to screeched in frighted and fell down on the ground.

"Yeesh, I should have to know that this day has come. If those things are here, that means that this prophecy is already starting. I better go find Fluttershy!"

As he snaps his finger, he was riding on a pig with wings and a knight armors with a sword and shield.

"March forward, my steed!" he points his sword as he flew to the skies of Equestria, then multiple arrows were shooting at him as Discord glanced down and saw multiple Skull Warriors. 

"Out of my way, bone-heads!" he snaps his finger as he got a strange launcher filled with 4 glowing blue spheres with an extended on top as he fires on them, reducing them to dust. 

"I got no time to waste with these guys, I better hurry and-" At the last sentence, a magic beam hit him on the chest, as he screamed in pain as he fell down from his flying pig and crashed down on the ground.

"Uggh, my head..." he got up as he turned his eyes widened at the sight of a familiar face.

"Well, well, well, we meet again, Discord." Lord Tierk smirked.

"That can't be, how can you......" 

"Let's just say " he grabbed his neck "I made a deal with a devil."

Before Discord can snap his finger to escape, Tierk opens his mouth as Discord's chaos energy begin to sucked out of him.

"Don't even think of escaping from me. Besides, " he snapped his finger as a Skull Spider appeared "my master want you to help him defeat the Toa and the Harmonics."

Discord grunted "If you're going to persuade me into joining you to endanger both worlds than no thanks. I fall for that once, and I'll never do that again!!!" 

Tierk laughed "So naive, but if you won't join, then maybe this will."

At the last words, the Skull Spider lunged at Discord with the Spirit of Chaos screaming.

At the rock farm, Maud Pie was finished with her chores.

"Okay, my chores are done" she turned to the house "better go make dinner for everypony."

As she walked towards the farm, she opens the door and before she can react, a skeletal hand grasp her vision.





At the caverns, Fluttershy and Onua reached to a crystallized temple sprouting with gemstones that reflected the sun and the moon. It was old yet foreign that nopony ever was seen. Upon entering it, both of them take a few glanced at the carved walls. It was in strange symbols with pictures of figures , each shown different of them, one of them running from a black shadow creatures, the next all six prayed to what appeared to be a solar system, another shown all the solar system send down six figures and fighting against the dark creatures, next they found six golden masks as they hold their weapons up high.

"What are those pictures and those languages?" Fluttershy asked.

With carefully read it, Onua turned to her "This is the Prophecy of Heroes."

"You mean the one that you mention before?" she asked as he nodded.

"Here I read it for you," Onua said as he read the languages carefully "When times are dark and all hope seems lost, the Protectors must unite, one from each tribe. Evoke the power of past and future, and look to the skies for an answer. When the stars align, six comets will bring timeless heroes to claim the Mask of Power and find the Mask Maker. United, the elements hold the power to defeat evil. United, but not one."

"Wow...." Fluttershy was amazed then she caught something else in the carvings "There's something else in there."

Onua looked at what she's pointing as he wiped the dust out of it, revealing another set of pictures, depicting the six heroes encounter six ponies, each bore of familiar cutie marks that he and his siblings know, fighting creatures of darkness while the six ponies rushed to the pedestal of crystal mask.

"And when time seems to be in dark, the heroes shall call forward six other timeless heroes, bore of the Harmony, to reclaim the Elements of Harmony, and unite together to find the Mask Maker and defeat evil." 

"That looks like us!" Fluttershy said.

"So it looks like Ekimu was right. It was meant to happen that was written." Onua mused.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, that our fate towards you and your friends was intertwined." Onua said, "Ekimu must realize this part of the prophecy and he must carve the six crystals into the Crystal Mask to sealed it away into your world."

"But does the Protectors known of this?" Fluttershy asked.

Onua shook his head "To be honest, I don't think they notice it other than the prophecy was incomplete."

The Master of Earth got up "We better head to the Crystal Mask."

Fluttershy nodded as they hurried towards the shrine.





At the Shrine of the Crystal Mask of Loyalty, Tahu and Rainbow stopped at pillars of lava like crystals flowing with fiery lava from the inside protruded across the area. Languages of Okoto were surrounded across the pillars with the descriptive of the Prophecy of Heroes. From the middle, a pedestal with the Crystal Mask of Loyalty floating, waiting for its master.

"There it is!" Rainbow pointed as both made a quick dash to it. A fiery blast hit the ground stopping them as they turned and saw 3 Skull Hydras floating as it roared at them.

Tahu pulled his Lava Blades "Rainbow get the mask! I'll handle them!"

"Are you crazy?! You can't face them by yourself!" 

"There's no time to argue! Hurry, before Kulta's creations get it!" Tahu shouted as he rushed towards them with one charging at him as they trade blows from their swords/claws.

Rainbow grunted, closed her eyes and rushed towards the shrine but two more Skull Hydras swoop in and knock her to the ground.

"Oh, you want to do this the hard way?! We'll do this the hard way!!!" Rainbow lunged at them knocking them down but another swipe it's claw and knocks her back to the ground but she manages to get back on her hooves. The second flapped it's skeletal wings as it lunged at her knocking her down.

"Rainbow!" Tahu shouted as he roundhouses kick the first one and rushed towards her. Just then, the third one dive towards him and knocking his mask off which the first one, grasp it.

"TAHU!!!" Rainbow screamed as the first Skull Hydras place Tahu's mask on it, siphon his elemental energy.

"Give that back, you creeps!" Rainbow shouted as he charged at them only for two others swoop at her knocking her down. Rainbow grunted in pain as she got up weakly. 

"R-Ra-Rainbow......" Tahu struggled, whispered to her "H-Hurry.......y-your..... m-mask........"

"I know, but I can't leave you........" Rainbow grunted glaring at the Skull Hyrdras. 

"P-please.......b-before....." he was unconscious as Rainbow saw Tahu's mask begin to turn translucent orange.

"Okay........" Rainbow nodded as she flared her wings and soar through the shrine. Most of the Skull Hydras charged at her but she dodges quickly as she can as the first one, launched the torrent of fire as her eyes widened at first but gather enough speed, a sonic rainboom zip through it as she reached to the shrine and grabbed her mask.

"I've got it!" she said but her cheer is short lasted upon seeing more of the Skull Hydra coming.

'Put on the mask'. a voice was heard as she looks around frantically.

"Who said that?"

'Hurry, put it on and your powers will be awakened.'

She glanced at her mask and gave a determination look, put it on her muzzle. Energies of her Element of Harmony begin to surge around her body but unlike when she used it as a necklace, another energy surged on her. To her amazement, her entire body begin to transform. Her hooves take shape in a bipedal shape as crimson armors shaped up almost like Tahu's, and from her muzzle changed shape. Her wings turned into blades identical to Tahu's and a fire rainbow sword appeared in her right hand.

After the light's faded, Rainbow look over at herself in shocked and amazement.

"WHOA, what just happened?!" Rainbow looking at herself "What happened to me?!"

However, the screeched from the Skull Hydras stopped her shocking thoughts as she prepare herself, but notice that on her back, she have bladed like wings as from her thoughts told her to fly, she swoop towards them, knocking the two down and land a punch onto the first one, knocking Tahu's mask off of it as she grasp it and swoop down to him.

She places the mask onto his face, as the Elemental energies regain his conscious as he got up, rubbing his head "Ugh, what happened?"

"Tahu, you okay?" Rainbow asked as he turned to her, he was surprised at her new look.

"Rainbow, what happened to you?!" he asked "You look different! You look like a Toa!"

"I know, I'm trying to figure things out but," she helped him get up "my guess is my Crystal Mask have something to do with it."

However, the Skull Hydras growled at the two as both prepare their weapons, however, a large rumble knocking them to the floor as the ceilings of the cave begin to break. Web of cracks appeared as lava poured out, making the lava rising.

"We need to get out of here!" Rainbow shouted and they turned only to find the entrance was sealed.

"We'll use that!" Tahu points a cavern under the ceiling.

Turning his Fire Blades into Lava Surfboard, Tahu jumps into it and riding across the lava with Rainbow following him. With the Skull Hydras now chasing them, the Master of Fire and the now Harmonic of Loyalty dodge every stalagmite falling down on them but the Skull Hydras did the same and getting closer. 

"We can't shake them!!" Rainbow shouted, dodging more of the stalagmites and dark magic from the Skull Hydras. 

Tahu glanced back at Rainbow who was almost caught by the claw of the Skull Hydra, using his elemental power, he conjured a small lava geyser, burning it in the process.

"Whoa!" Rainbow glared back at Tahu "Watch it! You almost burn my tail!"

"Sorry!!"

All of them continue dodging the stalagmites as they saw a light shining on the farthest.

"There!" Tahu pointed "A way out!!"

"But we got these skeletal freaks coming!!" Rainbow shouted "At this rate, they'll catch us even if we've escape!!

Tahu look around and got an idea "Then we need to seal the entrance! And we need to make sure we get there fast!!"

"How?" Rainbow asked.

"We need to use the Sonic Rainboom!" Tahu shouted and Rainbow widened her eyes at his idea.

"Are you mad?!" Rainbow exclaimed, "I can do it, yes but I need more speed to do that and it will be impossible to do it while those guys are chasing us!!"

"Use your Crystal Mask!" Tahu said. "It will give you power like never before!"

With the Skull Creatures closing by, Rainbow reluctant nodded and halt her flight, passing by 3 Skull Hydra and one chase her while she dodge stalagmite falling onto her and once she got her distance, she dashes forward, trying to gather speed. However, with the stalagmite and lava waves closing in along with the Skull Hydra, she closed her eyes, focusing her element to gain enough momentum than at the moment, everything went slowly........

'BOOM!'

At the moment, a Sonic Rainboom appeared and she went through the Skull Hydra, reduce it to rumbles and ashes. The impact from the Sonic Rainboom causes the cavern to collapse even faster. As she sped through, she knocks the second Skull Hydra's Wings, then grab Tahu who quickly got his Lava Board and both fly out of the cave leaving the final Skull Hydra to be trapped in and melted.

"YAHOOOOO!" Rainbow whooping in joy and both landed near to a safe ground.

"Did you see that?! My Sonic Rainboom was even cooler than it was back at Cloudsdale Best Young Flyer Competition!!" Rainbow giddy at this and Tahu chuckled.

"That's because your Crystal Mask gave you it respond to your thought."

He looks as the part of Foal mountain having one black smog from the cavern they escape.

"Well, we better head back to Ponyville for now and wait for the others to come back."

Rainbow nodded and they start walking back to the train station.

"I just hope the others are doing fine, getting their Crystal Masks."

"Don't worry, Rainbow, they'll be okay" he looked to the clear blue skies "I hope so"