> EquestriaBound Girls 2: The Journey for the Eight Magical Melodies > by Lucky Ness > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > The Return of the Sound Stone > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "DON"T HURT MY FRIENDS!" Ness wakes up in his bed drenched in a cold sweat, breathing heavily from the vivid memory of the recurring nightmare he's been having for the last couple of weeks. In it, Ness has been at a picnic with friends when he suddenly finds that he can't move. Out of the corner of his eye, he see's Giygas appear, then attack his friends. Ness can't do anything to help them, as he watches them take one attack after another. Eventually, Giygas enters the mirror portal and Ness wakes up. Ness, having calmed down, looks over at his clock and sees that the time is two in the morning. It's then that he notices a light emanating from inside the journal that he found in Twilight's Magicant three months ago. Ness turns on his bedside lamp and opens the journal to a certain page. 'Dear Ness, The girls and I have noticed something weird lately. We were sitting in front of the portal when the sky has darkened considerably, and this weird grayish alien like creature emerged from the portal. Pinkie keeps calling him Giegue and Giygas interchangeably. You told me to keep you caught up on the situation, to let you know if anything came up regarding those dreams. This sounds like something critical. What are the girls and I supposed to do? Your friend, Twilight Sparkle.' Ness grabs a pen and is about to write a response when Twilight writes the following response. 'PS. This weird purple stone just appeared on my bedside table. I can feel a strange energy when I hold it. Do you know what it's for?' It's then that Ness hears a familiar tune start to play in his room. "The Eight Melodies? How? I haven't heard it since the Sound Stone disappeared over a year ago." Ness turns to his bedside table and notices a white stone sitting there. 'The Sound Stone? What's it doing here?' Ness puts the familiar stone to his head and notices something off about it. The power of the Eight Sanctuaries were still in there respective portions of the stone, but that power felt empty and hollow, as if there was room for another Sanctuary's energy.' "There's a spot for a NINTH Sanctuary?!" Ness exclaims with the sudden realiztion. Ness turns back towards the journal and starts to write. "Twilight, I fear that Giygas has returned, and that you're world is now in danger. I think that stone you found was a variant of a Sound Stone. Those things store the musical energy of places that make you feel secure, your Sanctuaries. Each one is supposed to only hold eight. I know this because my old Sound Stone has reappeared as well. Get the girls ready. I'll be there in a few minutes. Sincerely, Ness.' Ness picks up the phone that Jeff built so he could communicate with the rest of friends. "Paula, it's Ness. Our worst fear has been confirmed. Giygas has returned." > Preparations > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Are we ready?" Ness asks his fellow Chosen. Ness had already written a note before going to find his friends, as an explanation to his mother where he had gone. Now Ness and his friends stand before the mirror that functions as a portal to Twilight's world. The others look at one another before turning to Ness and nodding. "Let's go, Ness." Paula says with certainty. The group of four friends step into the portal. Twilight and her friends were standing in front of Canterlot High, waiting by the portal for Ness to arrive. Everyone had dressed warm, seeing as it was a cold night. "How long does it take to tavel through a portal?" "Rainbow Dash! Ness told us to be ready. It would only make sense that he would want to be prepared as well." "We're being invaded by an evil alien from his universe, Rarity. You'd think he'd want to hurry." "I did hurry." Everyone turns to see Ness and his friends standing in front of the base of the Wondercolts statue. "I had to pick up Paula and Jeff, and wait for Poo here to teleport to my house." Ness turns to Twilight. "So, Twilight, could I see the stone you found." "Uh, about that. We were just talking, and found out that each of us has a similar stone." Twilight and the other girls each pull out a stone that matches their respective skin colors. "You said it was a variant of something called a Sound Stone?" "I did. But I believe that these are a special variety known as Melody Stones. Each one of these stones is a portion of one of these." Ness pulls out the Sound Stone. "This is a Sound Stone. It collects the energy of places that you would find peaceful and secure, or a place that's special to you. These places are called Sanctuaries, and there energy is usually absorbed in the form of a short melody, hence the name of those stones." "Places that are special to us, huh? Oh, like Sugar Cube Corner?! That place is very important to me!" Pinkie Pie exclaims. "Exactly." "GREAT! Let's go!" Pinkie starts running towards Sugar Cube Corner. "Wait! I wasn't-" Pinkie is long gone before Ness can even finish his sentence. "Finished." Ness finishes. "We've got to catch up to her. She doesn't realize that she's walking into a trap." Ness turns towards the others. "Every Sanctuary I encountered was guarded by a being of intense strength and power. Giygas has probably set up a guardian at each of the Sanctuaries in this world." "Ness, I can give you and your friends a ride to Sugar Cube Corner," Rainbow Dash says. "I can't let my friend walk into a trap." "Actually, I have a faster way to get there. Anyone who wants to join me should stand behind Poo." Twilight, Sunset, Fluttershy, and Rainbow stand close in a single file line behind Poo, while Applejack and Rarity decide to drive. "Good, we'll see you two there. PSI TELEPORT β!" The group of eight friends quickly get lost in the swirling vortex of motion and end up in front of Sugar Cube Corner, just as Pinkie arrives at the front door. "Hey, guys! You sure travel quickly!" Pinkie notices the nauseous look on her friends' faces. "Hey, are you okay?" "I'll get back to you on that, Pinkie, right after my stomach catches up to me." Rainbow replies, feeling queasy. Pinkie and the Chosen Four wait for Twilight and the others to recover from the side effects of teleportation. Ness decides to take the opportunity to tell Pinkie about the Sanctuary guardians. "Remember that the guardian could be anything. You may even have to fight a friend or loved one." Ness says, finishing his explanation just as Rarity and Applejack arrived in Applejack's truck. Ness pulls out a few weapons including some bats, frying pans, and a bunch of scientific looking guns. "Everyone take a weapon. The guardians will be quite powerful, so you'll want something to protect yourselves with." Rainbow tentatively picks up a bat and gives a practice swing, while the others consider each weapon. Twilight and Sunset each grab one of the guns, and Pinkie and Rarity each pick up a frying pan. "Yah ahn't gonna arm yourself, sugar cube?" Applejack asks Fluttershy as she reaches down to pick up a bat. "I'm fine." Fluttershy responds. "I'll just let you girls handle the fighting." "Everybody ready?" Ness asks. Everyone nods. "Good. Now how do we get in?" Pinkie pulls out a key. "I've got a key." The Chosen Four stare at the her questioningly. "What? I work here." Pinkie unlocks the door and the group heads inside. > Sugar Cube Corner (Pinkie's Sanctuary) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Where's that light switch?" Pinkie asks as she feels around for the light switch. "Ah, there it is." She says as turns the lights on. "I'm going to go find some sprinkles. You know, so I can use my magic, in case it will be needed." "Wait, magic?" Jeff asks skeptically as Pinkie starts rummaging in a cupboard. "Yeah, we all have some form of magic in us. Mine makes sweets explode when I throw them." Pinkie turns towards Ness. "Your friends don't know about magic?" She asks as she finds a package of sprinkles within the cupboard she was looking through. "Where we come from, magic doesn't exist. The closest thing we've got is Psionics." Ness says as everyone except for Twilight stares at him in confusion. "That's a fancy word for psychic abilities." He explains. "Now, my friends and I will support you as much as possible, bu we thin that it's a good idea for you seven to take on the guardians, seeing as they're guarding YOUR Sanctuaries. Now then, Pinkie, where do you-" Ness is cut off by Pinkie running towards the back room. "In here! This is where I do the baking!" She says as she runs right into Mrs. Cake. "Oh, Mrs. Cake! I didn't mean to wake you. We're just here to-" "I've been waiting for you, Pinkie. This is your Sanctuary, but it's mine now. Take it from me, if you dare." "Uh, Mrs. Cake? Are you feeling alright?" "She's under Giygas's influence! We're going to have to fight our way past her! Poo! We need a Brainshock!" Ness says. "Sure, Ness. PSI BRAINSHOCK α!" Mrs. Cake suddenly starts acting crazy. "Pinkie, I can't let you get in there!" She charges towards Fluttershy. "Pinkie! The sprinkles!" Rainbow yells towards Pinkie. "Yeah, but." "No, buts. She looks like she seriously wants to hurt someone, and it doesn't matter to her who it is." "PSI PARALYSIS!" Ness screams, as Mrs. Cake suddenly stops moving. "I've made her Numb and unable to move. Quick, we can return her to her senses if we defeat her." "But-" "Poo and I can heal her if we have too, Pinkie!" "Okay." Pinkie pours some sprinkles into her hand and throws them at her employer. They explode as soon as they touch Mrs. Cake. It doesn't take to many tosses to defeat her, Pinkie barely used a fourth of the canister. Everyone gathers around the unconscious form of Mrs. Cake as Ness and Poo kneel beside her. "You can heal her, right?" Pinkie asks. "Oh, sure. But I think I'll let Poo handle this. He's the better healer." Everyone looks at Poo. Poo places two fingers against Mrs. Cakes forhead. "PSI HEALING Ω!" He says as his fingers get engulfed in a pale green light and Mrs. Cake starts to stir from her unconsciousness. "The rest of you go ahead. It will take a little while to fully revive her." He points towards the doorway to the kitchen. "You go get your first Melody." The group enters the kitchen, and almost instantly, Pinkie's Melody stone starts to respond to the energy of the place by playing a portion of a short melody about finding music before absorbing the energy of the place. "I think we've got it." Ness says as he turns towards Pinkie. "Now let's go check on your employer." > Soccer Field (Rainbow's Sanctuary) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "So, where do we go next?" Rainbow says as the group leaves Sugar Cube Corner, after having made sure that Mrs. Cake would be alright. "I feel like you're Sanctuary is next, Rainbow." "Pinkie Sense?" "Yep. I've got a feeling like we're supposed to go to a place with a black and white ball." "That sounds like the soccer fields behind the school?" "Wait, I'm confused. What's Pinkie Sense?" Paula asks. "Pinkie here has a sort of sixth sense, which we call Pinkie Sense." Rainbow explains. "She get's these feelings that sort of allow her to tell the future." "Like psychic premonitions?" "Exactly." "Well, let's go to the soccer fields, then. I think that's where we'll find the next Melody." Ness says. -AT THE SCHOOL- "Thank's for letting us take Applejack's truck this time, Ness." Twilight says as they arrive. "You're welcome, Twilight." Ness looks down sheepishly as everyone except for Rainbow, who used her magic to run along side the truck, gets out of the truck. "I occasionally forget how disorienting PSI Teleport can be, after having used it so many times in my last adventure." Ness turns towards the school. "So the soccer fields are behind the school?" "Yep," Rainbow replies, as she leads everyone towards around the school. "I spend an hour there practicing everyday after school." The group had made it halfway to the building when they notice someone walking up towards. "Hey, isn't that Scootaloo?" Pinkie asks. Rainbow narrows her eyes to try to see better, then turns towards Pinkie. "Why yes it is, Pinkie. Good eye!" Rainbow turns back towards Scootaloo. "Hey Scootaloo? What are you doing up so early? The sun hasn't even come up yet." "You shouldn't be here." "I know it's not school hours, but . . . " Rainbow stops as she notices that Scootaloo is still in her pajamas. "Wait, why are you wearing pajamas?" "Wasn't Mrs. Cake in a nightgown?" Twilight says as realization starts to dawn on her. "Wait! You don't suppose . . . " "SHE"S UNDER GIYGAS"S INFLUENCE!" Pinkie screams in answer to Twilight's unfinished question. "He, I guess I'll have to do this quick," Scootaloo says. "I can't let you get to those fields." "Rainbow, you're magic is super speed, right?" Ness asks. Rainbow nods. "Then use your magic and run. We'll hold her off so you can get the Melody. We won't hurt her to much." Rainbow starts to run, and Scootaloo tries to follow suit, but before she can get very far, she's stopped by a sudden combination of psychic energy from Ness and exploding sprinkles from Pinkie. Rainbow doesn't stop as Paula conjures a gust of freezing cold air that circles around Scootaloo. Jeff and poo join the fray shortly afterward, with Poo summoning a bolt of lightning and Jeff using his Sticky Machine to snare her in goo for a little while. This goes on for a short while before Scootaloo started screaming. ---- Rainbow arrives at the fields and walks towards the center of one of them. The moment she does, the stone in her pocket starts to play another portion of the full Melody. The stone absorbs the energy of the place, just as Scootaloo started screaming. Rainbow immediately runs back, to find Scootaloo laying on the ground face first. "Is she alright." "She will be, Rainbow. We just attacked until she collapsed. She's not unconscious. She's just asleep. She'll wake up in a little bit." Ness said. True to his word, Scootaloo slowly stands up and looks around. "How'd I get here? Rainbow Dash! What are we doing at the soccer field this late at night?" "Do you remember what happened?" "No. I just woke up here." "Let me explain." > Sweet Apple Acres (Applejack's Sanctuary) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "And that's why we're all here behind the school at 3AM." Rainbow says finishing her explanation to Scootaloo. "So where do you have to go next." Scootaloo asks. "My Pinkie Sense is telling that it has something to do with apple trees." Pinkie Pie says. "Sweet Apple Acres? Ah should have known that mah home would've been my Sanctuary." Applejack says. "Well, what are y'all waiting for? Let's go." "LET ME COME WITH YOU!" "Scootaloo, I think you probably head home, darling," Rarity says. "You need your sleep." "But I can't sleep knowing that what happened to me might be happening to Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle." She looks down towards the ground. "I need to know they're alright." "That's not such a bad idea." Ness says, putting a hand to his chin. "If Giygas has taken control of her friends minds', then maybe she could actually help us talk them out of it, instead of having to fight them. I you let her come, then I will make it my personal agenda to protect her from harm." "Alright, you can come," Rainbow says. "Just as long as you stay close to me or one of the others. Okay, everyone, seeing as how we're at the school, I'll be taking Scoots and Fluttershy in my car. If anyone else wants a ride from me, please raise you're hand." Pinkie raises her hand. "Okay, then if that's it, then we'll see you at Sweet Apple Acres." -At Sweet Apple Acres- "We're here." Rainbow says as she turns towards Scootaloo. "Scootaloo, you can go check on Apple Bloom now, but make sure to take someone with you." "I'll go." Ness offers. "Thanks, Rainbow!" Scootaloo heads towards the house, with Ness in tow. It isn't long before they arrive at the front door, which is wide open. The two cautiously head inside, and Ness follows Scootaloo to Apple Bloom's room. When they get there, Scootaloo knocks on the door. "Hello, Apple Bloom? It's me, Scootaloo. I just wanted to make sure you were alright." There's no response. "Hello?" Scootaloo tries the doorknob, finds it unlocked, and opens the door to an empty room. "She's not here." "She's probably at the Sanctuary." Scootaloo finds a crumpled piece of paper on the floor, which upon being smoothed out shows a picture of a barn on it. "This was ripped off of the wall," she says as she notices writing on the bottom left corner of the page. "It looks like she wrote something." "It says 'Sanctuary.'" Ness says as he puts a finger to his forehead. "I need to get this information to the others. Hopefully one of them will be able to receive my telepathic message. Pinkie? Yeah, we found out where the Sanctuary is. Okay. We'll see you there." Ness turns towards Scootaloo. "I need you to lead us to the barn." ---- "Hey guys! I hear Ness's voice!" "Pinkie, that's impossib-" "He knows where the Sanctuary is! It's the barn!" Pinkie interrupts Rainbow as she receives more of Ness's telepathic message. "He says he and Scootaloo will see us there." "Then ah'd suggest we hurry," Applejack says as she moves in front of Rainbow. "Come on, this way." ---- "It shouldn't be much further." Scootaloo says as she leads Ness to the barn, which had appeared on the horizon. "Ah, there it is." "The two continue to walk towards the barn in silence until Scootaloo hears footsteps coming towards them from the direction of the barn. She stops and turns towards Ness. "Ness?" "I hear them, too, Scootaloo. It's probably the Sanctuary's guardian, so we should be cautious until the others show up." The footsteps gradually get closer and closer until a person with yellow skin and red hair can be seen walking towards them. "It's Apple Bloom, Ness." "Try talking to her. Maybe we can snap her out of it before the others show up." "O-okay. Apple Bloom?" Apple Bloom doesn't respond. She just keeps walking forward. "A-Apple Bloom. It's me, Scootaloo." Recognition flashes on her face when Apple Bloom hears Scootaloo's name, but only for a moment. "Talk to her about the things you've done together, it doesn't matter what, just make sure that it's something that she would remember." Ness says. "Apple Bloom. Do you remember that time we made a music video with Sweetie Bell?" Apple Bloom stops walking towards them, and stares. "Or how about when we formed a band for the Battle of the Bands?" It's at that very moment that Apple Bloom speaks. "Sc-Scootaloo?" "You're mind's being controlled by an alien named Giygas. You have to fight against his influence, Apple Bloom! You have to do it for everyone you care about!" "She can never leave my influence." "Yes, you can! Apple Bloom, you are strong enough to do this!" Apple Bloom starts to quiver. "No. I won't let you-!!!" She collapses to the ground and starts to shake as she lets out a little scream. "I'll help you through this." Ness's fingers start to glow yellow. "PSI LIFEUP!" The yellow glow leaps from Ness's fingertips and envelopes Apple Bloom, providing her energy as she fights for control of her mind. Eventually, she stops shaking and sits up, having returned to her senses. "Scootaloo? How'd I get here?" "You're mind was being controlled by an alien named Giygas. I know because the same thing had happened to me." "Okay, but why are you here?" "I came to check on you with Applejack and Rainbow. They should be on their way. They know we're at the barn." "Scootaloo!?" "Rainbow?! We're over here! We found Apple Bloom." "And freed her from Giygas's control." Ness adds as Rainbow and the others enter the clearing that Ness, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom are in. He turns towards Applejack. "The Sanctuary is now unguarded. Go get the Melody inside there." "Sure thing, sugar cube." Applejack pulls the orange Melody Stone out of her pocket and heads towards the barn. The minute she enters the barn, the stone starts to absorb the energy of the place, indicating it by playing another portion of the song and heating up in Applejack's hand. Applejack then returns to check on her sister. > Carousel Boutique (Rarity's Sanctuary) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- After making sure that Apple Bloom was alright, Applejack turns towards Pinkie. "So, where are we headed to next?" "I've got a feeling that the next Sanctuary deals with dresses." Pinkie says after shaking for few moments. "Then I guess we'll be going to the boutique next!" Rarity says excitedly. "We're not going there to shop, Rarity! We're going there for a Melody that's a source of great power," Applejack says gravely. "I know that! I just like going to the boutique!" Applejack puts her face in her palm. ---- The group of nine girls and the Chosen Four arrive at the Carousel Boutique, get out of their vehicles, with the exceptions of the Chosen Four who teleported there, and head towards the door. "Do we have a way in?" "Absolutely, Pinkie." Rarity pulls out a key. "My parents own the place." Rarity puts the key in the handle, and goes to unlock the door, only to realize that the door is already unlocked. "Th-that's not a good sign," Fluttershy stammers. "I have to agree with Fluttershy," Ness says, turning towards the others. "I can assume that the guardian must be inside. We must proceed with caution!" Rarity opens the door, pockets the key, and they all go inside. When no one can find a light-switch, Ness temporarily illuminates the room with a burst of PK Flash, so everyone can get their bearings. Immediately afterward, the lights flicker on. "Nice job finding the light-switch, Rare." "I didn't find the light-switch, Rainbow." "Then who turned on the lights?" "I did." "Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom, Rarity, and Scootaloo all exclaim unanimously. "I can't let you get to the Sanctuary." "But, Sweetie Belle, darling, we're your friends! I'm your sister! And we need the energy of this place, so we can save our world from certain destruction!" "I'm sorry, but I can't let you get more power. It would be terrible for Giygas." "Sweetie Belle! We both know what you're going through, Apple Bloom and I." Scootaloo says. "We both were under Giygas's influence. Please, let us show you that there's another way! Please, wake up, Sweetie Belle!" Sweetie Belle starts to wobble sleepily as she hears her friends pleas for her to come to her senses. "Keep talking to her. The more you talk, the more alert she'll get, and eventually she'll wake up from his influence. Bring up memories you've had with her. They'll help snap her out of it the most!" Ness says. "Sweetie Belle, remember when we went zip-lining? Remember how much fun we had, even if we got stuck about halfway down?" Sweetie Belle collapses onto her rear, as she slowly falls asleep. "Sweetie Belle!" Rarity exclaims. "Is she?' "No, she's just asleep. She'll wake up soon. But you should go find the Melody." "Okay, just take good care of my sister while I'm looking for it." Rarity starts looking around the boutique until she feels her pocket start to heat up as she enters the back room, and hears a muffled portion of a small song. When the song ends, she heads back to where her friends are standing and helping Sweetie Belle to her feet. "Are you all right, dear?" "I think so. But what are we doing here?" "We're going on an adventure to save the world!" Apple Bloom exclaims giddily. "No you're not." "But Applejack! Scootaloo told me about the journey you're going on , and-" "And she only came with us to make sure you and Sweetie Bell were alright." "But can we still come with you? We'll stay out of the way of danger." "No." "But" "Let them come." "What?" Applejack and Apple Bloom ask unanimously. "I can protect them, and they know how to bring reason back to their friends. That could be useful later on." Applejack sighs. "Fine, you can come, but you must stay out of danger, and be by Ness at all times." Applejack extends her hand. "Deal?" Apple Bloom shakes her sister's hand. "Deal." > Animal Shelter (Fluttershy's Sanctuary) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Where do we go next?" Scootaloo asks. Pinkie starts to shake. "I'm getting a feeling that the next location has to do with animals," She says as she turns to look at the timid Fluttershy. "S-so I-I g-guess it's m-my turn?" Fluttershy asks. "Ah guess so, sugar cube." Applejack says to Fluttershy, before turning to the others. "Looks like we're heading to the animal shelter." -At the Animal Shelter- "Okay, we're going in, but you three stay here with Ness and his friends," Rainbow says to Scootaloo and her friends as everyone gathers around the entrance to the animal shelter. "But-" "No buts. We don't want any of you getting hurt." Rainbow then turns to the others. "Does anyone have any idea as to what the guardian might be." Pinkie starts to shake again. "Uh, Pinkie?" "It's a rabbit." "What!" "I said it's a rabbit. That's what my Pinkie Sense is telling me." "Oh my gosh! Angel! What are you doing here! I thought you were at home!" Fluttershy says all of a sudden. Everyone looks at the ground, and notices Angel attempting to scratch at Fluttershy's legs. "This is the guardian? Seriously?" Rainbow asks skeptically, just before Angel jumps onto and goes to town on her face. "Someone get it off of me!" "Angel Bunny! Stop right this instant! You know who we are!" Fluttershy scolds as she pulls Angel off of Rainbow's face. "Now be a good bunny and go to Rainbow's car, so I can take you home after I'm done here." Angel hops down, having returned to his senses, and heads towards Rainbow's car. "Ah think that was the easiest one yet, although I wonder how much of that was influenced by her magical ability to talk to animals." Applejack says as everyone except Fluttershy watches him go towards the car. She then turns towards Rainbow, who's face had been scratched up slightly by Angel. "You alright?" "I'm fine, it's just a flesh wound." "Let me help," Ness says as he casts the yellow glow of PSI Lifeup over his fingers and touches them to Rainbow's face. Almost instantly, the scratches close up, leaving no evidence that Angel had ever scratched her. He then turns to look at the others and notices that someone is missing. "Where's Fluttershy?" Everyone else looks around and notices that Fluttershy is missing, just as she walks out of the door to the animal shelter, with her yellow Melody Stone glowing in her hand. "I-I figured I ought to go get the Melody before something else happened." Fluttershy turns towards Rainbow. "Uh, Rainbow? Could you stop by my house on the way to the portal? I want to drop Angel off before we head to the next sanctuary." > Golden Oak Library (Twilight's Sanctuary) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rainbow pulls up to the school parking lot in her car with Fluttershy and Scootaloo after having stopped by Fluttershy's house. Even though it had only taken Fluttershy a few moments to unlock the door to her house, go inside, place Angel in his cage, lock the door to her house, and return to Rainbow's car, everyone else had already arrived at the portal by the time Rainbow arrived. "Hey, Pinkie! How long have you been shaking for?" Rainbow asks as she and her passengers step out of the car and walk towards the others, who are standing around a rapidly shaking Pinkie. "She's been shaking since we got here, Rainbow." Sunset says as Pinkie stops shaking. "BOOKS!" Pinkie exclaims "The next sanctuary has to do with books!" "I guess that means we're going to the library." Twilight says as Rainbow sighs and turns to head back to her car. "They could have called me with that information if Pinkie would have been faster." She says as she gets into her car. -At the Library- After everyone arrives at the library, Pinkie goes up and reads the sign. "'Golden Oak Library'." She turns and sees a giant oak tree in front of the building. "I guess that makes sense." "Okay, but how do we get inside?" Twilight asks as she tries the doorknob. "I don't have a key, and the door is locked." "Jeff, do you have your Bad Key Machine on you?" "I never leave home without it, Ness," Jeff says as he walks up to Twilight. "Here, Twilight, let me try," He says as he pulls the Bad Key Machine out of his pocket and inserts one of the many keys the device contains into the keyhole, turning it as he speaks, which causes the door to open. "Well, that was easy. But where's the guardian?" Twilight asks. "Which part of the library do you like the most?" Ness asks. "The non-fiction section." She replies. "Then lead the way. We'll find the guardian somewhere around there." Twilight leads them through the library until they hear a loud barking noise, which causes Twilight to look down and notice a familiar purple green doggy. "Spike? What are you doing here?" "I'm guarding this place." "Guarding it? From who?" "From you." He replies before leaping at her. "SPIKE! Why are you doing this to us? We're you're friends!" Fluttershy says as Twilight dodges Spike's lunge. "We love you, Spike! More than anyone else. We don't know what Giygas might have said to get you to attack us, but whatever he promised was a lie." "Wake up, Spike!" Twilight says desperately. "Remember the times I snuck you into Crystal Prep and Canterlot High? Listen to me, or at least listen to FLuttershy!" "Twilight! Try one of these!" Ness says as he tosses her one of the dog biscuits he had packed to give to Spike once Giygas was defeated. Spike jumps to the floor as Twilight tosses the dog biscuit to him. He quickly eats the biscuit, coming to his senses in the process. "Twilight? What are we doing here so late? I thought the library didn't open 'til seven?" "I was going on a little journey with my friends, Spike, when you attacked me and my friends." "I WHAT!" "We'll explain it to you as Twilight goes and gets the Melody." Rainbow says as she turns to Twilight. "Okay, I guess." Twilight says as she pulls her purple Melody Stone out of her pocket and heads towards the non-fiction section. The sound of music coming from the direction she went in confirms that she found it. All while this was happening, Rainbow was explaining to Spike about Giygas and what he had done to him and the other guardians. "I got the Melody," Twilight says as returns with the stone glowing in her hands. "Now that just leaves Sunset's Sanctuary." "And the Eighth Sanctuary," Ness adds. > Canterlot High (Sunset's Sanctuary) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Wait!" Twilight yells. "What do you mean, Ness?" "Oh, about the Eighth Sanctuary? I'll explain more about it after we find Sunset's portion of Melody." Ness says, as he notices Pinkie Pie starting to shake. "I saw a bunch of classrooms!" She exclaims as she stops shaking. "Well, I guess that means we're headed back to Canterlot High." Sunset says as she gets on her motorcycle. -Back at Canterlot High- "So all we've got to do is get inside the building to get the Melody." Sunset says as the group consisting of ten girls, the Chosen Four, and Spike start walking towards the schools main doors. "That shouldn't be to hard. All we have to do is have Jeff use his Bad Key Machine to open the school's doors, and then we'll just walk right in." "All that might stand in our way is the guardian. This will probably be the hardest one yet. Each guardian I faced was stronger than the last. Some of the guardians didn't even face me alone." Ness says, remembering some of the harder guardians, like the Carbon Dog/Diamond Dog. Ness's recollection is cut short by a pair of voices. "What are you doing here this late at night?" "Vice Principal Luna?" Twilight says, noticing the purple skinned woman standing in front of the doorway to the building. "Principal Celestia?!" Sunset exclaims, having noticed the white skinned woman standing next to her sister. "These are the guardians!" Pinkie exclaims, starting to shake violently. "I can't fight the principal!" Sunset yells. "And you don't have to." Ness says. "Every enemy I found around a Sanctuary returned to their senses once I obtained the energy located there. So if you obtain the Melody, Luna and Celestia will be brought to their senses." He turns to look at Sunset and Jeff. "Take Jeff and run, Sunset. Run to the first door you find, and unlock it with the Bad Key Machine. The stone in your pocket will react the moment you set foot on your Sanctuary." He looks towards the others as Sunset leaves with Jeff. "This'll stop them, so they can get there." Ness says as reaches into his backpack and pulls out the Monkey's Love. He uses it, which encases the sisters in goo, robbing them of movement. ---- Sunset and Jeff ran as fast as they could around the side of the school, passing the soccer field where Rainbow obtained her portion of the Melody. They eventually find a door, and Jeff shoves one of the keys on the Bad Key Machine into the locking mechanism, unlocking the door in the process. "You'd better hurry and get that Melody. Ness won't be able to hold both of them off for long without hurting them, and that's even if he uses the Monkey's Love." He stands beside the door. "I'll wait here for you, in case the guardians show up. I can't let them keep you from getting the Melody." Sunset nods and enters the door. The moment she does the stone in her pocket starts to heat up and play another portion of the Melody. She heads back out after the heat dies down. "So you got the melody?" "Yep." "Good. Now lets go check on your Principal." ---- "Uh, Luna? How'd we get here? And what's this gunk that seems to be holding us in place." "Principal Celestia! Is it really you?" Twilight asks. "Yes it is. But what are you all doing here? And can someone please free us from this goo?" "I'll free you." Paula says as she casts PK Freeze over the goo, then smashes it with her frying pan. "Thank you." Celestia says to Paula before turning towards the girls. "Now what's going on here? It's not even light out." "We'll explain it to you. But be forewarned, it's a LONG story." Rainbow says as she starts to explain about Giygas and the Sanctuaries. Sunset and Jeff are just returning when Rainbow finishes her explanation. "Are you alright?" Sunset asks Celestia and Luna. "We're fine. But it sounds like you've got an evil alien to defeat, so we won't hold you long. Goodnight, Sunset." Luna says as she and Celestia head off towards their home. The group pays so much attention to them that they don't notice the purple skinned girl emerging from the portal behind them, that is until they hear her speak. "Hello, girls." > Portal (Princess Twilight's Sanctuary) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Princess Twilight?!" Sunset exclaims, having been the first to turn around and see the Princess of Friendship standing in front of the portal. "This is a pleasant surprise, but what are you doing here darling?" Rarity asks. "After I read the message from Sunset about those weird stones you found, I noticed a rainbow colored stone on the desk by the journal." Princess Twilight says as she pulls the stone in question from her bag. "I figured that it had something to do with those other stones you found." "Let me see." Ness says as he steps towards Princess Twilight. "I'm sorry, but I don't think we've met." Princess Twilight says as she reluctantly hands the stone over. "This is Ness." Sci-Twi says as Ness puts the stone to his forehead. "He helped me to permanently defeat Midnight Sparkle." "So you're the one from the other universe!" Princess Twilight says as realization strikes. "Sunset told me all about you. The ting that interests me the most is your PSI. I'd love to learn more about sometime." She would've kept talking, but was interrupted by Ness. "This is a Melody Stone. It will complete the Eight Melodies once the Princess here touches her Sanctuary." "I'm sorry? A Sanctuary?" "We'll explain later. We have to find your Sanctuary first." Rainbow says as she turns to Pinkie. "You see anything Pinkie?" Everyone watches Pinkie closely, but she doesn't start to shake. "Uh, Pinkie? Anytime now." She still doesn't shake. "I don't know why my Pinkie Sense isn't working." Pinkie says glumly. "We can't find that Sanctuary without it." "Maybe your Pinkie Sense isn't working because you've already found the Princess's Sanctuary." Another voice responds as a light purple skinned girl emerges from the portal. "Who's that?" Twilight's Canterlot High friends ask. "That, my friends, is my pupil in friendship, Starlight Glimmer. I don't know why she followed me here though." "I followed you because I can't let you get the last Melody." "Uh, Starlight?" "She's under the influence of Giygas!" Sci-Twi says as Ness puts his hand to his chin in thought. 'What could be so special here that Giygas would draw someone from another universe to protect it?' Then it hit him. "The Portal is the Sanctuary!" "What?!" Everyone except for Starlight says. "That's the only thing I can think of around here that's of significant importance that we haven't already visited." Ness explains. "That's why Giygas took control of Starlight's mind. So that we wouldn't be able to complete the melody even if we found Princess Twilight." Ness turns towards the Princess and returns the rainbow colored stone to her. "Princess Twilight. I need you to touch this stone to the portal. The moment you do, the energy associated with it will be absorbed into the stone in the form of a short Melody, and Starlight will return to her senses. We need this Melody so we can save this world from destruction!" Ness looks at everyone surrounding him. "And we'll keep Starlight from preventing you from collecting the Melody!" Everyone else nods their agreement, and Rainbow uses her magic to tackle Starlight to the ground. Twilight walks up to the portal and places the stone against the surface of it. Instantly, the stone begins to glow in a myriad of colors as it starts to get warmer in Princess Twilight's hand. As if on cue, everyone else's Melody Stones starts to play their portions of the melody in the order they were obtained, until Princess Twilight's stone plays the last portion of the tune. It's then that everyone's stone floats out of their pockets and combines with the pendants that grant them their magical abilities, increasing those skills exponentially, and implanting how to play the melody and the lyrics for said melody in their memories. Lastly, Princess Twilight's stone transforms into a necklace that her all of her magical abilities while she remains here in Sci-Twi's universe. Pinkie then starts to shake. "We need to pay this melody in front of Giygas. All eight of us." She says as Starlight returns to her senses. "I suggest we take everyone else home." Ness says as he turns to the others. "We don't want anyone getting hurt." > Friendship (Ness's Sanctuary) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -The Next Morning- "It's missing something." Ness says after hearing the Mane Seven and Princess Twilight perform the Eight Melodies for the fifth time since they had set up in the barn at Sweet Apple Acres. "I don't know what could be missing, Ness." Sci-Twi says as the group deponifies from singing the song. Ness reaches into his pocket and pulls out the Magic Ocarina that Ninten gave him with his last letter, remembering what it said. 'Ness, I want you to have my Ocarina. I feel that Giegue is going to return soon. Wait until the right time to use it. You'll know when that time is. Ninten.' 'Maybe.' Ness puts the Ocarina to his mouth and blows into it. Ness was shocked to realize that the melody that came from the Ocarina was the new song that Sci-Twi and her friends found instead of the one that Ninten found. 'This must be what Ninten was referring to. The right time is now. When the lives of me and all of my friends depends on it.' Ness turns to look at Sci-Twi and the rest of the girls, whose talking with Paula, Jeff, and Poo. 'Yes. I know for certain that those eleven people are my closest friends.' That was when Ness heard the song he collected a year ago start to play. 'Am I hearing things?' Ness sees that everyone is looking a him. 'Apparently not,' he thinks as he pulls the Sound Stone out of his pocket, which is starting to glow. 'Is this MY Sanctuary here? Are these eight girls my Ninth Sanctuary?' The Sound Stone floats out of his hand, drawing his Star Pendant with it. They float closer together until they eventually touch, fusing together in a brilliant flash of light. After Ness's vision returns, he notices that his Star Pendant now has a brilliant white music note where the star used to be. The Melody Pendant floats down over Ness's neck until it rests on his chest. The moment it does, Ness is engulfed by a brilliant flash of white light. It's the last thing that happens before Ness fades from consciousness. ---- "Ness? Are you okay?" A voice says as he comes to. Ness groans as he puts his hand to the side of his head. It's then that he notices that his ears seem to be missing. He moves his hand up and down the side of his head until he feels pointy ears at the top of his head. 'Are these . . . pony ears?' He ponders as he tries to sit up, only to spin around in mid-air. 'Am I . . . floating?' "What happened?" Ness asks the group of people who are standing around him. "Ah think you might of ponied up, Ness." Applejack says honestly. Ness looks at the Pendant hanging on his chest. "I think we found what was missing," Ness says. "Come on, let's try it one more time," He says as he floats over to the group's instruments with his Ocarina in his hand. > The War Against Giygas > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -After Ness has played the song with the Rainbooms- "I think that was perfect!" Pinkie exclaims as she and the others return to their normal forms. "I have to agree with you, Pinkie." Ness says as he lands on his feet. " I think we're ready for the fight against the Cosmic Destroyer himself! All we have to do is find him." He says as he turns towards Pinkie. Pinkie starts to shake violently. "Giygas is in the Everfree Forest! I can feel it!" She exclaims as she recovers from her shaking fit. "Then we need to head out as soon as possible." Ness says as the Chosen Four and the Rainbooms walk outside. "The longer we wait, the more time Giygas has to defend himself." He says as he and his friends help Applejack load the instruments into her truck. He checks that everyone is ready to go before he and his friends get in the car that Rainbow's driving to the Everfree Forest ---- It took less then an hour to get to the Everfree Forest. Ness had everyone stop at the entrance by using his Telepathy to speak to everyone's minds. "Applejack, I'll be walking along in front of the vehicles from here on out." He says as he steps out of Rainbow's car. "Giygas will have taken every precaution imaginable, including putting his influence over as many of the animals native to the forest." He says as he pulls out his bat. "He'll not want to let these instruments make it to the center of the forest." Ness starts running ahead of the vehicles as fast as he can. "He dispatches every threat he encounters with either one or two swings of his bat, which including the bears and timber wolves Giygas threw at them when they were over half way into the forest. They eventually make it into the center of the forest where they see the grey alien floating above the ground. "You've finally arrived." He says with an evil laugh as the Rainbooms remove their instruments from the bed of Applejack's truck. "Now to destroy you and all hope for this puny world!" He yells as he launches an unrecognizable attack at them. "PSI SHIELD!" Paula yells as a shield of reflective light envelops the group, lessening the attacks energy. "Now's our chance!" Ness says as he pulls Ninten's Ocarina out of his pocket and puts it to his lips. He starts to blow while at the same time that the Rainbooms start to play. As they play, the group of nine friends start to float up into the air as they pony up. It's then that they start to sing, each one of them singing the respective portion of the melody that they had obtained from their Sanctuary. After Princess Twilight finishes her portion of the song, a rainbow launches from them, flying up in an arc before hitting Giygas square in the heart. An explosion of light follows, engulfing the group of twelve friends in warmth. After the light fades, everyone can see that Giygas lying on the ground. "Did, uh, did we win?" Fluttershy asks. Ness floats over to Giygas and casts the familiar green glow of PSI Healing over him. Giygas doesn't respond, remaining limp on the ground. "Giygas is no more." Ness says as he turns around and looks at his friends. "The War against Giygas is over." He says with relief as he turns back towards Giygas's remains. "We can finally relax, but I think we should give Giygas here a proper burial first he says as he starts to dig a hole in the ground with his PSI. The others quickly start to help Ness with giving Giygas his final resting place. > Friends for Life (Epilogue) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- After they laid Giygas to rest, the group of twelve friends spent the rest of the day at Pinkie's house, getting ready for a sleepover that night. The preparations included finding eleven sleeping bags and a pair of pajamas for Twilight (the Chosen Four had brought pajamas with them just in case they had to stay more than one night during the journey for the Eight Sanctuaries). After everything was ready, the group of twelve just talked to each other, except for Princess Twilight who did tests with Ness, Paula and Poo's PSI. Eventually the lack of sleep and adrenaline crash from their journey caught up to them and they all turned in, even Pinkie was asleep before Midnight, which both Twilight's commented on, as they and Ness were the only ones left awake when Pinkie went to sleep. They turned in shortly afterward, though. -The Next Morning- "Oh, this adventure has given me lots of ideas for my next Halloween party!" Pinkie exclaims with glee as she and the rest of the Mane Seven are standing in front of the portal bidding Princess Twilight and the Chosen Four a save journey home. "You five are free to come! I'll have Sunset and Twilight let you five know when it's going to be!" She tells her trans-dimensional friends as they wave goodbye. "We shouldn't keep them here longer then they need to be, Pinkie," Rainbow says. "They've been away from home long enough as it is." "But I wanted to let them know, so they could come if they want to." Princess Twilight and the Chosen Four look at one another before exclaiming "We'll be there!" unanimously. "But Rainbow is right. I have royal duties to tend to back in Equestria." Princess Twilight looks at Ness as she turns to go through the portal. "Goodbye, Ness. It was a pleasure to meet you and your friends, and I hope to see you again someday," She says as before she steps through the portal. "Goodbye everyone." Ness says as Paula, Jeff and Poo step through the portal. "I'll be looking forward to that Halloween Party, Pinkie." He says as he steps through the portal himself. -The End- > Pinkie's Halloween Party (Nightmare Night Bonus Scene) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Looking good, Ness." Ness says to himself as he applies the fake mustache to his face and examines his Mario costume in the mirror. "Now all I have to do is wait for Paula to get here so we can go to Pinkie's Party." He says as he hears a knock on the front door. "Coming!" He says as he walks to his front door and opens it to see Paula standing on the front porch dressed as Princess Peach. "I guess great minds think alike," Ness says as he considers their complementary costumes. Ness invites Paula in and leads her to the mirror. "You ready to go?" He asks. Paula nods her confirmation. "Then let's go." He says as they step through the portal to Sci-Twi's world and head to Pinkie's house. ---- Everyone stops as they hear a knock on the door. "Ooh! That must be Ness and Paula!" Pinkie exclaims as she rushes to the door in her old-school disco skater outfit, coliding with the door in the process. "Uh, Pinkie, I don't think it was a good idea to wear roller skates indoors," Sci-Twi says as she helps Pinkie up and opens the door to see Ness and Paula in their Mario themed costumes and invites them inside. When they do, they can see that Pinkie made her house look like a cross between the Devil's Machine and the Cave to the Past. She even had placed large images of Ghosts of Starmen and the other enemies that showed up there in various locations. After seeing the decorations and Pinkie's outfit, Ness turned towards the other guests and saw that Rainbow was dressed as an astronaut, Sci-Twi was dressed as a Greek soldier, Princess Twilight was dressed as a wizard, Fluttershy was dressed as a vampire, Rarity was dressed as a mermaid, and Applejack was dressed as a scarecrow. "I like your costumes," Ness says to the girls before turning to Pinkie. "Sorry that Jeff and Poo couldn't come. Poo has official royal business to attend to, and Jeff had last minute plans with his dad." Ness said, apologizing for his friends absences. "Do you like what I did with the place?" Pinkie asks Ness. "I sure do," he says while taking a trip down memory lane. "It reminds me where I fought Giygas the first time." "I know right? I went with the whole 'Devil's Machine' idea after we destroyed Giygas." Pinkie said, proud of her work. "I'm surprised that you came, Fluttershy," Ness says as he turns to look at Fluttershy. "I couldn't even get Lucas to go trick-or-treating when we were younger, and he's about as shy and timid as you are." "It took a lot of convincing from Pinkie Pie." Fluttershy explains. "That and Rainbow practically dragging me out of my house." "I did not!" Rainbow exclaims. "Just because I stopped by your house to drive you here doesn't mean I dragged you out of the house." She turns towards Ness. "I didn't even enter the house!" "Anyways!" Pinkie inserts before Rainbow could continue her rant. "Now that everyone's here, LET"S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!" ---- The party lasted for three hours. Ness and Paula did everything Pinkie had planned while they were there. They went bobbing for apples, ate treats, carved pumpkins, and even went through the Apple Family's haunted corn maze, with Paula clinging to his arm the entire time. Eventually, the time came for Ness and Paula to leave, but they promised to return in the future, but not before Ness took some treats out of his backpack that he had for the friends he had made here in this world. "Take care you two!" Pinkie said as they stepped through the portal. "Don't forget to write!" Sci-Twi added as they disappeared from sight. ---- After emerging from the portal, Ness walked Paula home, just like he did over a year ago when they defeated Giygas the first time. "Thanks for going with me to Pinkie's party," Ness said when they reached her front porch. "You're welcome, Ness." Paula say as she turns to go inside. Ness then went home and waited for his mom return with his sister from trick-or-treating.