Fluttershy gets trapped in the realm of man, can she get back to her fellow ponies?
Fluttershy is sent to the dimension of man by a mysterious pony with unknown intentions, and she is lost and confused as she tries to figure out why she is here. She hopes to find someone who will help her, but stumbles upon to something far worse. A man filled with the lust for power discovers these ponies, and plans to use their magic to his demands. Fluttershy has to reunite with her pony friends and stop him from continuing his plans.
"I'm so excited! I just love parties!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie as she hopped down the road with her friends.
"Just please try to contain yourself, this is a prestigious party," Rarity said.
"Hey, why is she having this party anyways?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"I don't know Pinkie, it didn't say in the letter Celestia sent me," Twilight said.
They were making their way down the path towards their pony drawn carriage. Princess Celestia was holding a party at her castle in Canterlot and had invited all of them to attend. They were all pretty excited to see princess Celestia again at her castle, especially Pinkie Pie, although they had made her leave her party cannon at home.
When they got to their carriage, they paid the ponies carrying it and were on their way.
"Rarity, I just love these outfits you made for all of us. They fit us so perfectly!" said Twilight.
"Oh, why thank you Twilight. They did take a while to make, but nothing less for my friends, "Rarity smiled. "Except, I can't quite remember where I got the material from."
"What do you mean?" Apple Jack asked.
"Yeah, how do you not know where the material came from?" questioned Rainbow Dash.
"Well, I woke up one day wondering what in Equestria I would use to make our outfits, when I went downstairs and this beatiful material was just laying there ready to be used" explained Rarity.
"That seems a little strange don't you think?" asked Twilight.
"Well how could I just throw it away! It was so magnificent!" said Rarity.
"I guess..." mumbled Twilight.
Just then the carriage pulled to a stop, and they all got out.
They had been to Canterlot before, but it still looked amazing as they walked towards the castle.
At the doorway Celestia stood and welcomed them. Everyone else went in but Celestia stopped Twilight.
"Twilight, I have something to tell you," said Celestia.
"What is it?" asked Twilight.
"Well," Celestia began," A few weeks ago there was a tremendous storm."
"Oh yeah, I remember that, everypony had to stay inside their houses it was raining so hard. Where were all the pegasi?" asked Twilight.
"They were investigating a strange phenomenon," said Celestia," that happened in the everfree forest that day.
Ponies claim to have seen a very bright light coming from the forest right after a very large thunder strike occured.
I felt a strange feeling like our very world was momentarily ripped, like there was a big hole. I sent the pegasi there to see what they could find but nothing was discovered. I want you to investigate that area and see if you can find anything, if anyone can do it I know you can." she smiled at her best pupil.
"You got it," said Twilight. "I'm going to search that entire area, and I won't let you down!"
"Thank you, Twilight, I can always count on you," Celestia said.
Twilight walked into the room and joined her friends. "What did Celestia want?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"She wanted my help in a discovery she has found," said Twilight.
"Oo, can I help?" Pinkie Pie asked. "I don't see why not," said Twilight." I'll need your help too Fluttershy, I want you to talk to the animals in the everfree forest and see if they've seen anything peculiar."
"Oh, me?" Fluttershy said as she tried to make herself unnoticeable. "Th-the everfree forest?"
"Yep," said Twilight," the everfree forest." A look of worry was on Fluttershy's face.
"I guess i can try to be of some help," she said.
"Well, for now we can all enjoy this party," said Twilight. They looked around the room at the ponies dancing and the refreshments. "
"Way ahead of you," said Rainbow Dash as she spotted the wonderbolts.
"I'm going to go talk to princess Celestia some more," Twilight said. As she walked away, Rarity saw some ponies she recognized from canterlot and said she was going to go catch up.
Apple Jack went outside to set up her apple stand and started selling her apple products.
Pinkie Pie noticed a beautiful waltz being played by Octavia and some other ponies, and brought Fluttershy over to dance with her. Except her dancing wasn't quite the right dance for the song and some classy ponies gave her strange looks.
As Fluttershy shied away, for she wasn't the best at dancing, she said, "I'm going to go use the little ponie's room," In a quiet voice.
"Ok, but don't take too long! The party is really getting good now!"
Fluttershy walked down a dimly lit hallway towards the restroom and the only noise was that chatter and cello music coming from the other room, but she couldn't help the feeling that she was being watched.
As she looked behind her she said, "Hello? Is anyone there?"
But there was nopony in that dark hallway and she tried to ignore it. But as she turned her head back to the direction she was going, she came face to face with a strange and mysterious pony standing right in front of her.
The pony was wearing a drab and wrinkled cloak, hiding the ponie's face. Inside her cloak her eye's burned like amber.
Fluttershy was startled by the ponie's sudden appearance and gasped.
"Greetings", the cloaked pony said telling Fluttershy that she was a female pony,"and what brings you to this hallway, where I lay."
"Well...I...uh..." Fluttershy stammered as she was still recovering from such a surprise. "
Tell me, are those wings I see, the ones that set you free?" the cloaked pony asked.
"Y-yes I am a pegasus." Fluttershy said.
The eyes that glowed in the darkness seemed to get brighter, as this pony looked even more determined.
"Well I,uh, better get going," Fluttershy said as she turned around and started heading the other way.
"Wait!" the mysterious pony said forcefully as she ran in front of her to stop her in her tracks.
"I have something very special for you."
With her mouth she reached into her cloak and brought out a very strange looking circular device with several buttons .
She set it on the ground in front of her and pushed one of the buttons, bringing the strange device to life as it started to whir and brightened with lights turning on. Fluttershy stared at it in awe.
Then the strange pony started to back away. "Now!" she yelled.
A light came from the shadows behind the cloaked pony, and illuminated a familiar face coming out of the darkness, one that filled Fluttershy with dread. Before she could run or call for help, a magic shot from this ponie's horn flew into the object on the floor, and Fluttershy's world went black.
Damien Rahm had always enjoyed building things. Since he was a small child he liked to take things apart and put them back together. He later made his own business inventing new products and other things, and made millions. But enough was never enough for Damien. He had a lust for power, always wanting more. No matter how much money he made, or how much land he owned, he could never quench his thirst for power.
So he kept inventing, making more products, making more money. Until one day, while staring out his window on his private island. A blinding light filled the sky. Moments later it vanished, and Damien went to go investigate. What he found would change his life forever, and give him a chance at what he wanted most: everything. What he found lying on the ground several feet from his house, was an unconscious unicorn. Over some days Damien came to be sort of fond of the unicorn, for it shared his lust for power. He was also fascinated by the unicorns powerful magic, and wanted it for himself.
So Damien got to work, studying magic. And, eventually, he found out how to harness it. But of course this was not enough for Damien, for upon hearing the unicorn's tales of Equestria, and all it's magic, Damien decided he wanted more. That's when he built his best creation yet, a device that can allow passage between dimensions. Using the unicorn's magic it was able to rip a hole, and then the device opened it and made it visible.
Damien thought back then, and to think it was only one or two weeks ago that he found this remarkable unicorn on his island. And now it had finally brought back another, a pegasus. Now all he had to do was deploy his men to get her before she removed her dress. And after the other five are brought here, he will have the most powerful magic, able to power his latest invention.
"Aha! exclaimed Damien, "she is showing up on the monitor. BALROG!"
"Yes sir?" Damien's burly assistant asked.
"I need you to take your men and go to this location to pick up the pegasus." Damien pointed at his monitor.
"It might not want to come nicely, so if it tries to run take out it's wings."
"Yes sir!" Balrog said and gestured for his group to follow him out the door.
It would have been so much easier to send the pegasus back through the hole that was already made several feed from his house, but according to his unicorn friend the other end was not as convenient to get her through. So the hole had to be made wherever the pegasus was at the moment, and the hole in this dimension would appear at some random location. But lucky for Damien, as long as she wore that dress he could track her. Now he just needed to get the other five in this dimension before they removed theirs. They had never sent other things to this dimension before, so his unicorn friend was to come here briefly to confirm that it worked before going back for the others.
Just then the door opened and Damien greeted her. "Hello, Trixie."
"Hello, Damien."
__ __ __
After a couple hours the party started to end, and everypony started to leave. When Twilight was ready to leave, she walked over to Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack who were talking with worried expressions.
"Hey guys, what's going on?" she asked.
"Twilight!", Apple Jack said, "Have you seen Fluttershy? We can't find her anywhere."
"No I haven't" Twilight replied.
Rarity saw them and walked over. "Has anyone seen Fluttershy lately?" she asked.
"No that's what we were just wondering," said Twilight.
"Why don't I search all over the castle", offered Rainbow Dash.
"Good idea," said Twilight," I'll go ask the princess if she knows where Fluttershy is."
Pinky Pie was begging Octavia to play another song and Twilight called her over as they walked out.
Rainbow Dash removed her outfit and gave it to Rarity.
"Without this I'll be able to go faster," she said and took off through the castle.
She checked in every room, every hallway, and still couldn't find Fluttershy.
So she returned to her friends defeated, but found that no one was there. She flew outside to find Celestia saying goodbye to some ponies, and she asked them where everyone was.
"Zecora came and told them she had found Fluttershy in the everfree forest. I have no idea why she would be there either, but Zecora has never been known to lie."
Celestia paused for a few seconds and said, "But there seemed to be something different about her. She was the same Zecora but something about her personality was...off. Why don't you head over there and make sure that everything is alright."
"On it," Rainbow Dash said.
She flew over Canterlot and felt the wind flow through her cyan feathers. She always loved to fly, but there was an urgency in Celestia's voice and Rainbow Dash tried to hurry as she flew towards the everfree forest. She doubted they were there yet, but she didn't know where they would be right now and decided to go there and wait for them.
She went to Zecora's house and waited by walking around that house and looking at the strange masks. After a while Zecora entered.
"Zecora! Where is everypony?" said Rainbow Dash.
"Rainbow Dash! I forgot about you...uh they all went home" Zecora said.
"Did they find Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash asked wondering why she wasn't rhyming like she usually does.
"No," replied Zecora, "But I have something that might help you find her."
She placed a strange circular device on the ground in front of Rainbow Dash and turned it on.
"I'll be right back," she said.
She left the room and a few seconds later Trixie burst through the door.
"Trixie?!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash.
Trixie smiled."Hello Rainbow Dash," she said as her horn started to glow.
"What-" Rainbow Dash started to say, but then Trixie shot magic into the device and the house was filled with a bright light and Trixie turned away. When she turned back Rainbow Dash was gone. But then she realized something and groaned. She wasn't wearing the dress Rarity had made with the material she supplied. There would be no way for Damien to track her.
"I'll have to bring her to Damien myself" she sighed and pushed a different button, opening the hole. Something about the ripping of the world makes someone get sucked in if they're near it and the force knocks them unconscious. But now that the hole was already there all the device had to do was enlarge it and Trixie was able to pass through unharmed. Before going through she remembered she'd have to contain Rainbow Dash, and grabbed some of Zecora's rope. Then she went through the hole into the human world.
Fluttershy awoke and looked around groggily. She was laying on a cold metal table. There were vials and needles lying around the room on counters. There was an open window on one side of the room, and a door on the other side. She tried to get up but found she was strapped to the table. Then it finally hit her: she was trapped!
She became scared and thrashed around, but the straps kept her to the table. After a bit more thrashing, she realized that it was hopeless and just laid there.
After what seemed like an hour, the door opened and a strange looking creature came in.
"Hello, I am Damien," Damien smiled. "Sorry for strapping you to this table, but I need a sample of your DNA. What's your name?" He asked as he walked over to a counter.
"I...I...I'm Fluttershy," she said
"Ok Fluttershy, now this may pinch a little," He said while he picked up a needle.
At the sight of the needle Fluttershy lost it and started thrashing about again.
"No! No! Don't touch me!" She yelled as she made the table fall over, causing the latch on the straps to break. After realizing she was free she jumped into the air and started flying around.
"Wait! Wait!" Damien yelled and tried to catch her. "BALROG! GET IN HERE!"
But it was too late, Fluttershy flew through the open window and was gone.
"No! Come back here!" Damien yelled after her as she flew accross the island. Fluttershy isn't the fastest flyer, but she flew as fast as she could away from the strange man. But soon she ran out of land and was flying out over water. In the distance she could see some tall strange looking buildings on some more land. She flew towards it in hopes of finding somepony who could tell her what was going on.
__ __ __
As Fluttershy flew over the immense city she tried to look for something familiar. She had heard stories of really big cities like this, like Manehatten. But she never thought a city could be this big. there were buildings as far as she could see, and the air smelled terrible with smog. Down below she could see more of the strange creature she had seen on the island, walking around and driving in machines. She thought of asking one where she was but was too scared. And then when she felt like things couldn't get worse, it started to rain. She spotted a large park in the middle of the buildings and landed in a wooded area next to a pond. The rain was coming down harder now, and as she looked into the pond, she started to cry. The situation seemed hopeless. She didn't know where she was, or how she got here, or what those strange creatures were.
She took off her soaked dress and laid it behind her. She started walking through the small wood and wondered what she would do next. Then something flew past her head, and hit a tree nearby. A dart fell to the ground. She looked behind her and a tall muscular man was standing there holding a dart gun.
"Shoot, missed," He said as he was reloading.
"Ahhhh!" Fluttershy yelled as she started to run.
After a few flaps she took to the air and started flying away. Another dart flew several inches from her leg and she started flying faster. Still winded she landed on a building and looked behind her to see if the man was still following her. Then a door neaby opened and several men got out.
One came by and took a swing at Fluttershy, but she ducked and kicked him in the stomach. He let out a groan and fell to his knees. Then she jumped and flew over some more buildings. But just as she thought she was in the clears, something whizzed by, and she felt a sharp pain in her wing.
She tried flying with only one wing but she started losing altitude, and slowly fell to the ground. Her wing was bleeding and she fainted just before hitting the ground with a large thud.
Elijah was an average man. Never really good at anything special. He got a job as a mailman and made just enough to keep him going and pay for his small apartment. Except at the moment he lacked milk. It was dark and raining now but he would need some milk for breakfast, and decided to just quickly go pick some up at a nearby store. He didn't have a car, so he put on his raincoat and started walking there.
Because it was late there were few people passing by, and most kept to themselves and looked at the ground. But Elijah was lucky and curious enough to hear the gunshot look up just in time to see what looked like a huge bird falling into a nearby ally. He could've just kept walking but was too curious for that. He walked into the ally and looked around. Then he was shocked as he found a pegasus lying on the ground, it's wing bleeding.
Pegasi aren't real, he thought to himself. I must be imagining this. It must be an elusion. But as he aproached he noticed it was still breathing, and he touched it. It IS real, he thought. And who ever shot it must be close by, and wanting to hurt it. He looked down at the magnificent creature at his feet. It looked beautiful with the water streaming down it's dirty yellow feathers. It also looked helpless, unconscious lying in this dark ally awaiting it's pursuers. Also, it must've lost a lot of blood by now and will get sick in this rain if it doesn't get somewhere dry.
He looked around but there was no one there. He took off his raincoat, picked up the pegasus, and wrapped the coat around her. Then he carried her home, completely forgetting about the milk.
__ __ __
Fluttershy woke up to find she was laying on a couch wrapped up in a blanket and feeling quite warm unlike a few seconds ago. She looked around and wondered where she was. Last she knew she was flying over some buildings, and then something hit her wing...
She looked at her wing and found it was crudely bandaged, but winced when she moved it and tucked it back next to her. The room she was in was a little smaller than her cottage back home. Home, she thought. It seemed like only a day ago she was in her cozy cottage back in Ponyville. But to be truthful she didn't know how much time had passed. And,she thought, she really needs to find out what the heck is going on here. But for now she felt better than she had been in a while under the warm blanket.
After a few moments a door opened and yet another creature walked in carrying a bowl filled with water. Fluttershy got a little frightened, but thought anyone who would fix her wing like this couldn't be that bad.
"Oh, you're awake," He said as he put the water on the floor in front of her.
"H...Hello," Fluttershy said quietly. The man looked at her in disbelief.
"You can talk?" He asked
"Where am I?" Fluttershy asked.
"You're in my home,"He replied,"I was walking and saw you fall out of the sky. So I brought you here and tried to bandage up your wing to stop the bleeding."
"What are you?" Fluttershy asked
"I'm a human, and my name is Elijah," He informed her.
"I've never heard of humans before..." Fluttershy said.
"Tell me, where did you come from?" Elijah inquired.
"I'm Fluttershy, from Ponyville, in Equestria," She replied.
"Ponyville? You mean there are more of you?" He asked.
"You don't know where Ponyville is?" She looked concerned.
"No, there's no place called Ponyville around here," He said. "I've never heard of Equestria either, is it possible you're from a different planet?" He asked.
"I don't know anymore," Fluttershy said sorrowful.
"Well I brought you some water you can drink if you're thirsty," He said.
Fluttershy strained to get up so she could drink some water, for she was immensely parched.
"Thank you, Elijah," she said.
Elijah looked at her drink and wondered if she'd be ok. Her wing was pretty badly injured and he didn't know how to care for her. And he couldn't just bring her to a vet or hospital, what would they say!
"I need to find my friends, they're probably worried sick trying to find me," Fluttershy said.
"Well I don't think you'll be able to fly on that wing for a while, it's pretty badly injured," Elijah said.
"Do you have anything to eat, I'm starving," Fluttershy said.
Elijah chuckled, "I bet you are. I'll go see what I have." As soon as he left, Fluttershy thought: Humans aren't so scary after all.
__ __ __
Rainbow Dash woke up uncomfortably and noticed that her wings were tied to her body, and her legs were tied together. Also she couldn't help notice it was unbearabley hot, and the sun was beating down on her back. As she turned over she felt sandy ground beneath her, and looked around to find nothing but sand in all directions of her. Well, almost all directions. Trixie was standing a few feet from her panting and muttering to herself.
"Trixie!" Rainbow Dash yelled. "What's going on, where am I, why am I tied up?!" She asked in disbelief that she was actually awake. "Oh, you're awake," Trixie said. "Well you've just made my day now. The hole we opened brought us to the middle of nowhere! I think we might be near, like, Egypt. I heard Damien talk about this place." She began to pace back and forth trying to figure out what she was going to do. Sure, she could open up the hole and go back to Zecora's house, and then open up the hole right on Damien's island, but after turing around trying to figure out where she was, she lost where the hole was. If she were to make another one, she would have no idea where she'd end up back in Equestria, but the real reason was Damien had said that if two holes are made close to each other, their paths might cross. And, he said, that would not be good at all. The least she could expect would be an explosion, which would kill her. But she couldn't die of exhaustion and lack of water either. She decided to start walking in a direction to get away from the hole, and if she didn't find someplace where she could contact Damien, she would make a new hole farther away. So she used her magic to lift up Rainbow Dash and started walking.
"What's going on Trixie?" Rainbow Dash asked.
So Trixie filled her in on where she was, what was going on, and her plans of getting out of this wasteland.
"You know, if you untie me I could fly around the area and see if there's any civilization around here," Rainbow Dash tried.
"You're my prisoner, like you would come back if I untied you," Trixie said.
"Eh, I had to give it a try," Rainbow Dash smiled. She tried to stay in high spirits in spite of herself.
Twilight had no idea where she was or how she got here. One moment she and her friends are following Zecora to the everfree forest, and the next she's gone.
She looks around and finds that she is in a forest. It reminds her of the Everfree forest, but it seems different somehow.
Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie are waking up nearby.
"Does anypony know where we are?" Twilight asks
"No, but I got me a mighty head ache from hitting the ground," Apple Jack says.
"Well, let's try to find somepony nearby that can tell us where we are," Rarity suggested.
Their conversation is interrupted by creatures none of them had ever seen come out from behind some trees. They have dart guns in their hands, and they fire at Apple Jack and Pinkie Pie.
"Youch!" Yelled Pinkie Pie. "I don't feel so good..." She says as she and Apple Jack collapse on the ground.
"Run!" Rarity says as she starts running through the trees.
"Wait we can't leave them!" Twilight says and uses her magic to stop a dart in mid air before it hits her. She then turns it around at flings at back at the men shooting at her, and it hits one of them.
"Woa..." He says before falling on the ground.
Twilight looks at the other man and he puts up his hands as he drops the dart gun.
"Don't hurt me!" He said as he glances behind Twilight.
Twilight has just enough time to look behind her before another man shoots her, and she falls into a deep sleep.
__ __ __
Spike woke up and yawned. He had stayed up late last night waiting for Twilight to return home, but she never had. Spike just assumed she would be late, so he eventually went to bed. But he was surprised to see that Twilight wasn't in her bed. Where could she be?
He walked downstairs saying, "Twilight? Are you here?" But there was no answer.
Maybe Rarity knows where she is, he thought, making an excuse to see his favorite pony.
As he approached her house, Opalescence, Rarity's cat, hissed at him, and ran away. What was Opalescence doing out here? Spike thought. He knocked on Rarity's door, but there was no answer. He opened the door and called, "Rarity? You home?" But there was still no answer. He checked every room, and she was no where to be seen.
"No Twilight, no Rarity, where is everypony?" He asked himself.Mabye Apple Jack knows where they went, he thought.
He approached the farm, expecting to find Apple Jack harvesting her apples. But she was nowhere to be found. Spike then spotted Macintosh.
As Spike walked over to him, he asked, "Macintosh, have you seen Apple Jack?"
"Nope," was his reply, but Spike could see the worry in is eyes.
"Well, thanks anyways," Spike said as he left.
"Yup," Macintosh said.
__ __ __
Damien entered the room and made sure the window was closed.
"Hello everyone," he said.
Twilight asked, "Who are you and what's going on?"
Damien filled the ponies in on their situation. "And," He said in conclusion," now all I need is the two pegasi and the second unicorn. Then I can harnness the elements of harmony and power my latest invention." He laughed maniacally.
"And how are you going to do that when the elements are in Celestia's castle?" Pinkie Pie questioned.
"Pinkie Pie!" Everpony said simultaneously.
"Oh that's quite alright, I already know everything," Damien smiled, "And that won't be a problem once I extract some of your blood and give myself unicorn DNA." He said to Twilight.
"Trixie's magic is powerful, but she tells me she was beaten by you twice now."
"Trixie?!" Twilight said in astonishment. Damien's smile got wider.
"Yes, now, hold still for a moment," He said as he picked up a needle and walked towards Twilight.
Balrog walked into the alley and found his men looking around. One of them saw him walk up.
"Balrog!" He said, "I'm sorry, but we lost the pegasus."
"What?" Balrog asked.
His man trembled, "We shot her down and she landed in this alley, but when we got here she was nowhere to be found. Any blood she lost was washed away in the rain."
"Hmmmmm..." Balrog thought. Then he left without a word. His men knew trying to finding the pegasus would futile, for any clue as to where she went was washed away in the rain. But Balrog wouldn't give up. He walked down the sidewalk and thought about what to do. The pegasus would've been too weak to go on by itself, someone must've saw it fall and picked it up. But they couldn't be far considering he was gone before my men got there, he thought.
As he walked a man carrying some groceries passed by him and for a second their eyes met. Then he kept walking. But something about him caught Balrog's attention. He tried to think what it could be, when he put the pieces together.
The man was wearing a wrinkled shirt with red stains on it. And, being the observant person he is, Balrog noticed that inside his grocery bag he saw an unusually large amount of carrots and apples. Some people would've thought that he just really liked carrots and apples, but considering he had a huge back full of them, and other than milk that's all he was carrying, and that Balrog had no other clue or lead as to how he would find the pegasus, he turned around and started following the man.
He was trying to act casual, taking a normal walk, but the man kept looking behind him. He quickened his stride. Balrog quickened his. He started to run slowly. So did Balrog. Then he took off in an all out run, as fast as he could while carrying the groceries. But Balrog had no trouble keeping up with him.
__ __ __
Elijah got worried when he noticed a large man started following him. He just started walking faster, and sure enough the muscular man walked faster too. Elijah tried to lose him by not going home first but running around a block. But the man easily caught up with him. He turned into an alleyway and quickly stashed the groceries behind a dumpster. Then he climbed over a fence just as Balrog came into the alley.
Elijah kept running as Balrog jumped the fence as well. This man was after him, Elijah thought. He ran as fast as he could and when he looked back again, he was gone. Relieved, Elijah retrieved the groceries and went home. When he entered Fluttershy was still lying in his bed, as he left her. He set some carrots and apples next to her and then sat down to watch some TV.
But after a few minutes, there was a scream from the other room, and a crashing sound. Elijah sprinted into the bedroom and found that the man who had been chasing him earlier was climbing through the broken window. Glass shards stuck into his hands, but Balrog had long since trained himself to be immune to pain and emotions. He knew no right or wrong, only what his boss told him. Elijah's apartment room was on the second floor, and Elijah wondered how he had gotten through the window. Balrog glanced at Elijah, then looked at Fluttershy. Fluttershy was screaming and she jumped out of the blankets.
"Aha!" Balrog said triumphantly, "I knew it was you who found the pegasus," He said to Elijah," And now you're coming with me!" He said to Fluttershy.
Balrog started toward Fluttershy, but Elijah grabbed a lamp from a table near by and smashed it on Balrog's head. Balrog yelled and took a swing at Elijah but he ducked. Then he punched Balrog in the face, causing him to get even angrier.
"Run Fluttershy! Get out of here!" Elijah yelled as Balrog picked him up and threw him to the other side of the room. Then Balrog turned to get Fluttershy, but she was already gone. He walked out the doorway and saw a yellow feather in the bathroom doorway.
Balrog grinned as he walked into the bathroom and said, "Where are you?"
Elijah fled down the hallway past the bathroom and down to the base of the apartment. He found Fluttershy just leaving the building and he ran to catch up as the woman at the desk asked,shocked, "What the heck was that thing?"
Fluttershy, injured, couldn't run very fast and Elijah caught up with her and picked her up.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you," He said as he ran. Balrog then exited the building and saw Elijah running, and he took off after them.
"Get back here!" He screamed.
Elijah ran as fast as he could, and made it as far as the docks where he stopped by the ocean. Balrog was catching up with him and he couldn't run any longer.
He set Fluttershy down and said, "Go hide, I'll hold him off."
"Will I ever see you again?" she asked.
"Mabye someday. Now go!" He said as he turned to confront Balrog.
"You'll have to get past me first," Elijah said.
Balrog smiled, and said, "Gladly."
Then Elijah took a huge blow to the side, and he thought he might've heard some ribs cracking. Then Elijah jumped on top of Balrog and held on while he violently shook to try to get him to release. Then he grabbed Elijah's shoulders and threw him to the ground. Elijah kicked him in the stomach, but Balrog felt no pain. He picked up Elijah one last time, walked over to the edge of the dock, and threw him into the water.
"That's enough of that," Balrog said.
But then he realized that that had been his whole plan. Fluttershy was nowhere to be seen. He had failed.
Fluttershy kept running and running, and she didn't look back. She blindly ran into streets and cars stopped to honk their horns and yell. She just kept on running and running. And after a long time, she came to her senses and slowed to a stop. She looked at her surroundings and realized she was lost. This place was strange to her, and she didn't even begin to know where to go. She couldn't even fly away, because her wing was bandaged and still badly injured. She decided to just start walking through town and look for something familiar.
A few people gave her strange looks and wondered what a pony with a pink mane and butterflies on her rump was doing walking around the city. But most were too caught up in their own lives to wonder about it. Also they couldn't see that she had wings due to the bandage. She then realized she was very hungry, and started searching for something to eat.
A man was running a hot dog stand close by and Fluttershy's nostrals were filled with the aroma. She walked up to the stand and said, "Hey mister, can I have one of those?" She pointed at the hot dog. A few days ago she wouldn't have been able to walk up to a total stranger like that, but recent events had changed her.
The hot dog seller just stared at her in disbelief.
"That's funny, I thought I heard this pony talk," He said to himself as he wondered what this pink maned pony was doing wandering the streets.
"Oh, you weren't mistaken, I just want one of those things, they smell so good," Fluttershy said.
The man's eyes got wide, and he said, "Uh, one moment please."
He walked to a police officer nearby and started talking to him. Then he pointed at her and the police officer started to walk over.
"Hello, and wheres your owner, huh?" He said.
"Owner?" Fluttershy asked, confused.
The police officer stared at her.
"I told you!" The hot dog seller said.
"Why don't you come with me," He said and reached out his arm. His grip was forceful and Fluttershy suddenly wanted to leave.
"Uh, that's ok, I really need to get going," She said as she yanked herself free of his grip and started running.
"Hey, wait!" The police officer said as he tried to catch up, but was too slow.
After Fluttershy was sure she'd lost him, she sat down and rested. It was late by then, and she was hungry and tired, and wanted more than anything to be back in her comfy cottage in Ponyville. She walked drowsily into an alleyway, found some old newspapers, and went to sleep on top of them.
__ __ __
It was now dark and Rainbow Dash was extremely uncomfterable. The rope was too tight and her wings and legs were getting sore. But Trixie was no better. She went on and on about how her feet were killing her and holding Rainbow Dash with her magic was exhausting. She finally collapsed on the ground and went to sleep. Her magic no longer kept Rainbow Dash in the air and she fell to the ground as well. If she could just get out of these ropes, she could run far away from Trixie. Or, fly, in her case. She tugged and pulled and gnawed at the rope until finally her hooves were free.
But she was only momentarily happy, for she realized she had no way of getting her wings free. She couldn't reach at the rope with her mouth, and couldn't get it untied. She strained and strained, but it was just out of reach. The only way she could get free was Trixie, but of course that wouldn't work.
So Rainbow Dash figured the only thing she could do is start walking. She walked for what seemed like hours. Her legs were killing her, but she had nothing else to do but keep on walking. Then the sun rose, and it beat down on her until she finaly collapsed. She just didn't have the strength to continue, and layed there to die. So this is how it's gonna end...she thought. But her thoughts were interupted by someone yelling at her.
"Rainbow Dash!" Trixie gasped, "And what...Do you think...You're doing?" She tried saying before collapsing next to her. After breathing for a bit she said, "We're gonna die out here."
"Can't you just use that device to take us back to Equestria?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I wish!" Trixie said, "But it won't turn on. It seems to be broken or something."
"Well that's just wonderful," Rainbow Dash said sarcastically. She glanced to her right, and then took a second glance.
"Hey, is it just me, or are those buildings over there?" Rainbow Dash asked. Trixie sat up and looked over at a small collection of houses about a mile away.
"I do believe they are." They bothed looked at each other, and Rainbow Dash did a facehoof.
__ __ __
They arrived a good time later and found that was here was only a few small buildings and several men talking in a language neither of them understood. Then they spotted the airplane.
"That thing looks like it has wings," Rainbow Dash said.
Trixie nodded and said, "Yeah, looks like a big bird. I bet these guys use it to travel by air, since they don't have any wings. I think I heard Damien talking about these aircrafts."
"That's crazy," Rainbow Dash said. "So wait, is Damien the guy you're taking me to?"
"Yeah," Trixie said.
"And he has my friends there too right?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"They should be," Trixie replied.
Then that's where I need to be, Rainbow Dash thought. With my friends.
They waited until no one was looking and then ran over to the plane and hid in the cargo hold. A few moments later the people started up the plane and it rose, bringing Rainbow Dash one step closer to finding her friends.
Damien was frustrated. He had lost signal of the second pegasus and unicorn completely, and Trixie or Balrog had not returned yet. Where could they be?
One of his questions was answered a few seconds later as Balrog entered the room.
"Balrog, where is the pegasus?" Damien asked not expecting that his right hand man could fail.
"I lost her," Balrog said sullenly, "There was a man that interfered. But do not worry, I disposed of him."
Damien was furious. "At this rate, we will never complete our goal! I only have three of the six needed to use the elements of harmony, and the other three are nowhere to be found! I don't even know where Trixie is." He sat down and rubbed his forehead.
"Do not worry, I will find her," Balrog insisted.
"No, I have something else for you to do," Damien said. "Follow me."
__ __ __
Twilight's leg hurt. The sample of her blood had been taken rather forcefully, but there was nothing she could do but squirm around on the table she was strapped to. After flinging some people in lab coats accross the room, she was shot with another tranquilizer gun. She couldn't move the table she was on either, for after Fluttershy's escape, Damien had bolted all his tables to the ground. Not even Pinkie Pie seemed to be faring well, although she tried to stay in high spirits.
After some time, Damien opened the door and entered the room followed by a muscular man and some others dressed in black suits. They each held a gun in their hand.
"Hello Twilight, I don't believe you've met my assistant, Balrog," He gestured toward Balrog. Twilight stared at him.
"I have something to show you, and please don't try to resist, or I'll have these nice men show you what these weapons can do. Now unstrap her, Balrog."
Balrog unstrapped Twilight and she jumped to the ground. She didn't want to find out what those weapons could do, so she went along with him out the door. She followed Damien down a long hallway, then he turned and entered a room. Twilight followed him into the dark room, but couldn't see anything inside it.
Damien spoke, "I have done some research about your world's magic, and I believe that the elements of harmony are powerful enough to power this." He turned on the lights and Twilight found herself in a room filled with control panels and cords running along the ground and connecting to a large mechanical sphere in the middle of the room.
"I created this machine to harness the elements of harmony, and it can manipulate it's powerful magic to my will. With this machine I can use the magic to create an explosion a size of my choosing, at a location of my choosing, by typing in the information into this super computer." Damien smiled at his own genius, "I built that too."
"That's crazy, no one should be allowed the power to blow up whatever they want," Twilight said.
"I won't just blow up everything, I will only use it when I need to. And it can help me achieve my goal."
"What goal?" Twilight asked.
"Well, simply to rule the world," He grinned maniaclly, "I will begin a new era, create a new world, with me as it's leader!"
He laughed and Twilight looked appaulled at the thought of this man ruling the world.
"And once I have conquered this world, I will rule Equestria as well. No one will do anything without my command."
"Why are you telling me all of this?" Twilight asked.
Damien answered, "Because I want you to rule with me. Think about all the power you will have at my side! And you can help me better understand your magic."
Twilight was about to decline, but she got an idea.
"Ok, I will join you. Just let me get my friends to join in too."
"Ok, go to them and I will await you in the other room," He said as he left.
Twilight was surprised he was so stupid, after building all of this.
She walked into the other room and said, "Ok guys we're gonna get out of here. There's gotta be another of those dimensional transporter things around here somewhere."
She looked all over the room but didn't find a thing.
Damien entered the room and Twilight looked up and tried to act natural.
"You do know I have cameras in this room," He said as he pointed to them.
"Oh come on..." Twilight said as she was tranquilized for the third time and fell to the floor.
__ __ __
Twilight woke up several hours later on the table again.
"Hey Twilight, I see you're awake," Apple Jack said.
Twilight looked over to see the man called Balrog had been assigned to keep watch over them. Balrog had never questioned Damien before, but he was a little uneasy after seeing his latest invention and hearing what it could do.
"Why do you do what he tells you?" Twilight asked
Balrog had never wondered that himself. He had not thought about the fact that what he was doing was not right until looking down at the helpless unicorn. For a moment he thought he felt some emotion and tried to put it out of his mind. But, as he thought about it, maybe it wasn't so bad to do the right thing. Maybe he was going soft, but he did not care. This pony had to get out of here and Balrog was the only person who could save them.
But there was nothing he could do with Damien watching his every move. At the first chance, he was going to set these ponies free. It was the right thing to do and he could not allow Damien to get the elements of harmony.
__ __ __
Spike was really worried now. He had gone around town and every pony he asked had not seen Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, or Apple Jack in a while. He paced his house and hoped Twilight would just burst through the door, ok and back home.
"I know!" He said, "I'll ask Celestia if she knows anything." He got a pen and quill and wrote a letter asking Celestia if she knew where everypony was, blew fire on it, and watched it's ashes leave out the open window.
A few minutes later he coughed up another letter. He read it and ran out the door. Celestia had not heard of any of them since they followed Zecora to the Everfree forest. She too was worried and told Spike to meet her at Zecora's house for some major questioning. Spike hoped Zecora knew where his pony friends were, as he ran down the path towards the Everfree forest.
Rainbow Dash and Trixie were very lucky. Because it just so happened that the plane they stowed away upon would be traveling overseas and landing in the city where Damien's private island was located a ways out in the ocean. But by the end of the planes trip, they were both starving. Once again they waited until no one was looking, then sprinted out and hid. They took on the sight of the huge city and started walking.
Trixie said, "I don't know how many big cities there are in this world, but I know I could see one from Damien's house. It's possible we're near where we need to go!"
"Can you take this rope off so i can stretch my wings already?" Rainbow Dash tried.
"No, not until we arrive at Damien's house. I promised him I would bring him all six of you."
"Why are you even following his orders anyways?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Because he said I could rule the world with him if I helped him get all of you." She replied.
Trixie knew that ponies actually did exist in this world, but pegasi and unicorns definitely didn't. She thought the wings and horns would arise suspicion, and Trixie used her magic to grab a hat and a jacket from a nearby stand. She put on the hat and gave the jacket to Rainbow Dash.
"Now we have a disguise," Said Trixie.
Rainbow Dash wanted get the rope off so he could fly again, but he had no idea where this guy Damien was at and how to find him. So she figured the best thing she could do was follow Trixie and see where she took her. Then her stomach grumbled, and she remembered how hungry she was.
"We need to find something to eat," Rainbow Dash said as they walked along the side of the road.
"Agreed," Trixie said has she felt her own stomach start to growl.
__ __ __
Fluttershy woke up and felt terrible after sleeping on the hard ground. The old newspapers gave her only a little padding. She got up and winced at the pain in her wing. The pain had gotten even worse than before.
She looked around and the first thing she noticed was her hunger. She hadn't eaten anything in many hours, and she couldn't think clearly. She exited the alley and started to look for some food. There had to be something in this city she could eat.
__ __ __
By mid-day Rainbow Dash and Trixie had still gotten nothing to eat. They tried stealing some from a hot dog stand and the man, frustrated for his misfortune in ponies begging for food, chased them off. Trixie suggested she pick up the rude man and throw him to the ground, but Rainbow Dash said that she was pretty sure their cover would be blown if she did that. So they kept looking for some free food, or at least some that wasn't being watched, when Rainbow Dash spotted something and she froze, mouth gaping.
"What is it?" Trixie asked and followed her gaze. Then she saw it too. A wanted poster, with a drawn picture of a yellow pony with pink hair that looked exactly like Fluttershy. They were going to give money to whoever turned her in, but it didn't say why she was wanted.
"She must be somewhere in this city!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "We have to find her!" Rainbow Dash took off with new enthusiasm, half expecting to see Fluttershy just around the corner. Trixie yelled at her to wait up and tried to catch up with her. But, as if planned, when Rainbow Dash turned the corner she ran into Fluttershy and they both tumbled to the ground in a heap.
"Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, not fully believing what she was seeing. Fluttershy's eyes were wide as she tried to comprehend what was going on. Then Rainbow Dash remembered Trixie, and thought now would be a good time to lose her.
"Follow me," Rainbow Dash said as she ran down the sidewalk. Fluttershy followed her finally realizing somepony she recognized was finally here.
As soon as they were far away from Trixie and hidden, Fluttershy started firing off questions. "Where have you been? What's going on? Where are we?"
"Wait!" Rainbow dash said, "Could you gnaw this rope off?"
Fluttershy gnawed off the rope and Rainbow Dash stretched her wings.
"Man my wings are sore." She said.
Then Rainbow Dash explained everything Trixie had informed her and Fluttershy felt a lot better that she knew what was going on and one of her friends was with her.
"Now let me ask you, what happened to your wing?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Fluttershy told her about being shot out of the sky and being taken care of by a nice man named Elijah, but she had no idea where he was now and worried about him.
"Hey, do you by any chance know where Damien's place is?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I think I might remember it if I see it. It's near this city," she replied, "But can I get something to eat first?"
Rainbow Dash was worried. She and Fluttershy were sitting on a park bench eating some food they stole from a family having a picnic nearby. They were busy playing with a Frisbee and didn't see them take the food. So for the time being they weren't hungry. But Fluttershy was still worrying her. She said her wing hurt and could hardly walk. Whenever she moved her face showed that she was hurt.
"Let me take a look at it, Fluttershy," She pleaded.
"No, I'll be ok," She kept saying. But she winced with pain again.
"That's it, I'm taking a look," Rainbow Dash declared as he moved closer.
"No, I'll be fine!" Fluttershy insisted.
But Rainbow Dash wouldn't take no for an answer. She moved closer and grabbed the bandages with her mouth, then she pulled, and they tore off. Rainbow Dash said, "Oh my Celestia..." as she stared at Fluttershy's wound.
A lot of her feathers were missing, the bullet wound was still bleeding, and it looked infected.
"That doesn't look good. We need to get some help."
"But where?" Fluttershy asked
Rainbow Dash looked around but couldn't see anyone who could help.
"Come on, we need to find somewhere where we can treat your wound."
Rainbow Dash took off to find someone who could help. Fluttershy started after her but then fainted from the pain.
Rainbow Dash looked back and was horrified to see Fluttershy laying on the ground.
"Help! Somone help" She yelled as she ran into the middle of the road causing cars to swerve around her and honk their horns. A taxi put on it's breaks and stopped right in front of her. A man got out and yelled, "Hey, get out of the road!"
Rainbow Dash said, "You have to help my friend!" She pointed to Fluttershy.
The taxi driver was momentarily taken aback at the cyan pony talking to him, but when he saw her friend lying on the ground he knew what to do. He was a wise and older man, and he didn't stop to wonder as he ran over to the pegasus on the ground and picked her up. Cars were honking their horns and swerving past his car.
As he put Fluttershy in the back seat he said, "Get in!"
Rainbow Dash got in the back seat next to Fluttershy and was relieved to see she was still breathing. The taxi driver got in and started driving again. Rainbow Dash had never been in a car before, and she found they could travel much faster than carriages.
The driver looked in the rear view mirror and ask, "A pegasus? I thought I'd already seen everything in this world, but I guess I was wrong." He shook his head.
"Where are you taking us?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"To the hospital." He replied. "Where else?"
They drove through town and Rainbow Dash became more and more anxious. When they finally came to the hospital Rainbow Dash couldn't sit still. She had known Fluttershy almost all her life, she could not lose her now.
The taxi driver picked Fluttershy up and carried her into the hospital. Rainbow Dash ran in after him. People stopped and stared while they ran past them.
The man got to the front desk and said, "Please dont' ask questions, this beautiful creature is dying and her friend is deeply worried."
The woman at the front desk stared at Fluttershy. Then she looked past the man at Rainbow Dashe's pleading eyes. Then she got a doctor's attention.
__ __ __
Rainbow Dash anxiously sat in the waiting room. A few others in the room threw glances at her.
"What are you looking at?" Rainbow Dash said a little louder than intended.
"Uh, nothing..." The person sitting next to Rainbow Dash mumbled.
"Just be calm," Said the taxi driver. He had stayed with Rainbow Dash because she looked worried and he felt sorry for her.
After what seemed like an hour, the doctor came in, and tried not to stare at the cyan pony with a rainbow mane.
"You can come in and see her now." He said.
As they walked in the taxi driver stopped the doctor and whispered, "I think it would be best if you didn't tell anyone about this."
"Okay, I promise I won't tell anyone." The kind doctor said.
They walked by the bed and Fluttershy was laying in it.
"The bullet wound was pretty badly infected. You should've brought her in sooner." The doctor
"Will she be ok?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Yes, she will be fine. She just needs to rest for a bit." The doctor replied.
Fluttershy said, "Rainbow Dash, I'll be fine, I just need to rest. You need to go save the rest of our friends." She pointed at the window. "You can see the island you need to go to out the window. I recognize it. Go..."
She fainted again from exhaustion and blood loss. "Don't worry, you can count on me Fluttershy, I won't let you down," Rainbow Dash said with tears in her eyes. "What is your name?" She asked the taxi driver.
"My name is Joe," He said.
"Joe, could you please watch after Fluttershy while I'm gone?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Joe said, "For you, I will. Your care for your friend is great. I will not let anything happen to her while you are gone, be sure of it."
Rainbow Dash wiped away her forming tears. "Thank you." She walked over to the window, opened it, and flew out over the city.
Damien paced back and forth. He didn't know what he would do next. Still three remained, and not only did he not have a single clue as to their whereabouts, but Trixie had been gone for days now. Then he thought of something.
"Ken," He said to the leader of his second best group of men. They were also the ones that had gotten the only three ponies he had so far. "When you found the ponies near those Canadian woods, exactly how many were there?"
Ken was embarrassed that he hadn't gotten all four of them, so he tried to avoid telling Damien. But he thought now was as good a time as any.
"There were four, sir."
Damien wasn't happy, but relieved to finally have some sort of plan.
"Why didn't you tell me you didn't get them all? I need you to go back to that location and search for the one you didn't get. It couldn't have gotten far on foot."
"Yes sir," Ken said as he gestured for his group to follow.
Well, Damien thought, at least I know where one of them is. But I just wish Trixie would show up.
A few moments later Damien's lead scientist walked in and spoke, "It's ready sir, come with me."
Damien smiled, it was time.
__ __ __
Spike ran the whole way to Zecora's house, and by the time he made it he was out of breath. Celestia was already there waiting for him. After waiting for Spike to recover so he could breathe again, they opened Zecora's door and went inside.
"Celestia, what are you doing here?" Zecora asked.
Celestia was confused; she had thought Zecora rhymed everything she said. And she couldn't help notice her eyes were glowing a bright red orange.
"Zecora, do you know the whearabouts of Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Apple Jack, or Pinkie Pie? Celestia asked. "They were last seen leaving my castle with you, and now they are nowhere to be found."
"No, of course not, I have no clue where any of them are," Zecora said as she slowly made her way to the doorway. Celestia wasn't buying it.
"Not so fast," She said as she stepped in her path. She noticed the strange cloak she was wearing.
"What are you hiding Zecora," She said as she used her magic to pull the cloth off Zecora. Then she could see a rather large circular device on the back of Zecora's neck.
"What is that?" Spike asked as he pointed to it.
Celestia pulled it off and Zecora's eyes went to their normal color.
"Now can you tell us something?" Celestia asked.
Zecora blinked and nodded. She walked over and picked up her device given to her by Trixie.
"Please forgive me princess-" Zecora started but Celestia said, "Don't worry about it, now let's go get them back." At the sight of the device her suspicions were confirmed.
Zecora pushed a button and enlarged the hole Trixie had made a few days ago. Celestia entered through it, and Spike warily followed.
__ __ __
Damien's head was in a lot of pain. His head ache at first made him faint in pain. It hurt a little less now, but he was still very much in pain. But it was all worth it, he thought as he stroked his new horn. He had Twilight's DNA, and it had been beyond painful. But he felt all the more powerful as he practiced levitating objects around him. Now he could power his machines with his own magic, without Trixie's help. No, he wouldn't need Trixie's help anymore. He wouldn't need anyone's help now. He was all powerful, and he was going to rule the world by himself. No one could stop him now.
In the heat of the moment he let his magic run wild and several windows and computer screens near him broke to millions of pieces. He thought even harder, and crushed a computer, then threw it to the other side of the room. Anyone brave enough to stay in there with him now was heading for the door.
Damien's mind was clouded with pain and he was blinded by his lust for power. There would be no reasoning with him now. He wouldn't stop until every man, woman, and pony bowed at his feet.
Rainbow Dash felt the wind once again flow through her feathers. She just loved being so high in the sky, above everything down on the ground. She flew with great speed, and approached Damien's island in no time at all. She landed several feet from the house, and walked up to the front door. It was left open, and she let herself in.
The room was dark and she warily walked into the middle of the it. Then the room was filled with light, and Rainbow Dash heard a voice from behind her.
"Greetings, so nice of you to come here without me having to go find you." He smiled, "My name is Damien. And from Trixie's descriptions, you must be Rainbow Dash."
"Where are my friends?" Rainbow Dash snapped.
"Feisty one I see. Don't worry, you will be joining them shortly."
Damien put his hands out in front of him, and Rainbow Dash saw the huge gun connected to his arm. Cords ran from it and up to his horn. It started to glow as Damien chuckled.
"I imagine you won't come quietly. I guess this is about as good a time as any to try out my latest invention."
A humming noise emitted from the gun and Rainbow Dash dashed out of the way just as a huge beam blasted out from the gun and made the couch behind her nothing but ashes.
"It's more powerful than I thought," Damien said crazily. His mind had finally gone mad. He couldn't think clearly, and was totally ignoring the fact that he had to keep Rainbow Dash alive to use the elements of harmony.
He charged it up again and destroyed a coffee table as Rainbow Dash rolled out of way again. Then Rainbow Dash flew up to Damien and gave him a good kick to the head. Damien fell backwards and glared daggers of hate at Rainbow Dash.
The kick had made the cords connecting to his horn fall off. He ripped the whole thing off and threw it to the ground. He was not about to be beaten by a flying miniature horse!
He swung his fist at Rainbow Dash but she dodged it, then he caught her in the ribs with his other hand and Rainbow Dash fell to the ground.
Damien put his hands together and was about to bring them down on Rainbow Dash but she rolled out of the way and kicked him hard in the stomach. He reeled back with pain.
"That's enough!" He yelled as he activated his horn's magic. He picked Rainbow Dash up with the magic and threw her at the wall. Then he picked her up again and threw her to the opposite wall.
"No one can match my power!" He yelled.
He picked up his discarded gun, connected the wires to his horn again and aimed it at Rainbow Dash.
"Goodbye you weak fool," His horn glowed and the gun started to hum.
This is it, Rainbow Dash thought. Then right before the blast that would kill her came from the gun, Damien yelled and dropped it. He fell to the ground and laid there still. Rainbow Dash was confused, and looked behind him. A man stood in the doorway, a rock in his hand.
He spoke, "Are you a friend of Fluttershy?" He asked. Rainbow Dash nodded, stunned.
"Are you Elijah?" She asked. He nodded.
"Where is she now?" Elijah asked.
"She's ok, she is resting back in the city. But we have to save the rest of my friends." Elijah nodded. "I was walking out by the docks and saw you fly towards this island. So I stole someone's boat and drove it out here."
A woman in a lab coat walked into the room and gasped at the scene. She then pushed a red button on the wall and loud sirens were heard all over the building. Red lights also turned on from the wall.
"Go save your friends," Elijah said, "I'll get the boat started."
And with that he went out the door. Rainbow Dash went the opposite way down a hall.
__ __ __
Balrog was surprised to see that the alarm was on. But, he thought, now was his chance.
"I'm setting you free," He said quickly as he freed the ponies.
Twilight smiled and said, "Thank you."
"Yeah yeah..." He muttered. "Now quick, follow me."
He knew if they ran into Damien that would be the last of it. They ran down a hall and Balrog bumped into Rainbow Dash as he turned the corner.
"Get out of the way, you won't stop me!" She yelled as she kicked him in the face. Though Balrog felt little.
"Rainbow Dash! Get a hold of yourself, this is Balrog and he's helping us escape!" Twilight assured her.
Rainbow Dash blinked as she saw her friends standing behind him. "Oh, sorry..." She said sheepishly. "Follow me guys, we have a ride out of here."
They followed Rainbow Dash as she led them down the hall, but when they got the the next room several men with guns burst through the door.
"Stop where you are!" One of them said as he pointed the gun.
"Hey, Alexander, calm down. Damien wanted me to escort these ponies to room 12," Balrog said.
"Do you know where the intruder is?" He asked.
"No, but keep looking," Balrog said as he walked past them. Alexander didn't look so sure but he kept on to the other room.
When they entered the next room, Balrog was surprised to see Damien lying on the floor. But he didn't work for him anymore, and stepped right over him. When they exited the house, Elijah waved over to them.
"Over here!" He yelled.
They all got in and they took off.
__ __ __
"You can't go in here!" The doctor yelled.
Trixie wondered why he wasn't surprised to see a unicorn coming towards him, but decided that was a good thing. It might confirm her suspicions about finding somepony here.
She used her magic to fling the doctor out of the way, and entered the room to find another man standing next to a bed. A bed where Fluttershy lay. She smiled at her luck.
She had been worried for a while that she had all but completely lost Rainbow Dash. But she had been lucky enough to look upwards and see Rainbow Dash leave through the window of this building.
She would return, and when she did Trixie would be here waiting.
Rainbow Dash led the way as the group followed her. It was quite a sight, the two ponies, two pegasi, and a unicorn just walking down the sidewalk.
Elijah was nervous as everyone stared at them, but Balrog was singularly at ease. In fact he was more happy then he'd ever been. He decided it felt great to do the right thing, and a little emotion wouldn't hurt. You could almost see a smile on his face, but just almost.
Rainbow Dash kept having to wait up for the slow group, and she was getting frusterated at their pace. After what seemed like forever, they finally arrived at the hospital. But as they approached the room where Fluttershy awaited them, there came a familiar voice from behind.
"Oh, this is just too good. Not only do I have the pegasi, I have the entire group! Damien will be so proud of me!" Trixie said as everyone turned around. Trixie frowned, "Wait, where's Rarity?"
"We don't know, but even if we did we wouldn't tell you!" Rainbow Dash said.
"Well that's too bad...I was hoping to get all of you at once," Trixie said as her horn started to glow.
"Oh no you don't," Twilight said as she stepped in front of everyone and shot her magic just as Trixie shot hers. The magic clashed and each unicorn tried desperately to over power the other. Trixie strained and strained but Twilight was just the superior magic user.
Trixie was furious, but she was forced to retreat. She moved away before the magic shot her, and flung some furniture at the group. As they moved as to not get hit,Trixie slipped out the door and ran.
"Not so fast!" Rainbow Dash said as she flew towards her. She ran into Trixie and they fell on the floor in a heap.
"Get off me!" Trixie yelled. Before she could use her magic, Twilight trapped her in a magic force field, and levitated her as they all walked back to Fluttershy. Trixie glared down at them.
As they entered the room Joe greeted them. Then, after finally being reunited, they all went in for a group hug. "I'm glad you're ok Elijah," Fluttershy said.
"So, what now?" Elijah asked.
Then they all looked at each other and remembered what Trixie had said. They had all forgotten about Rarity!
"We need to find Rarity. We can't just leave her here," Twilight said.
"Yeah, and we still have to take care of Damien," Rainbow Dash said. "Even if we can find Rarity and get back to Equestria, he can make another one of his dimensional transporters and power it himself now that he has a horn."
"To get rid of his magic, we need to cut off his horn," Twilight said.
"Well I think we should find Rarity first. She must be scared being all alone and all," Fluttershy said.
"But how are we going to find her?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"I think I can help," Joe said.
They had all forgotten he was standing there and were surprised to hear him talk. Joe smiled as he finally knew what to do with all his money.
He never told anyone his last name, for his father had disowned him many years before. His mother died of cancer even before that and had no say in the subject. Having nothing, Joe got a job driving a taxi around. For twenty years he did this. Then recently he got a letter in the mail, telling him his father had passed away. And in his will he gave all his money to Joe. Joe had no idea why he had given every cent to him, for he thought his father hated him. But, wanting nothing, Joe didn't have a clue as to what to do with the money he had gotten. He could retire, but other than his taxi job he had nothing, no friends, no family. So Joe continued driving people around. But now, now he felt he had a purpose. He would use all his resources to help these ponies. Joe had never done anything important, and this was his chance to do something with his life. He brought everyone and everypony to his house, averagely sized although he had enough money to buy houses five times the size.
Once settled in the living room, Joe asked, "So you say last you saw Rarity you were in a forest?"
Twilight, Apple Jack, and Pinkie Pie nodded.
"Well that doesn't narrow it down much..." He muttered.
"Hey, I got an idea," Elijah said. "Why don't we use one of those things that got you all here in the first place? We could just go back to where you ponies were in Equestria and open that portal, we'll be right where you last saw her!"
"Were are we gonna get one of those?" Apple Jack asked.
"Trixie has one," Rainbow Dash said as she looked at Trixie.
"Yeah but it's broken. So you can have it anyways." She threw it over to them. "Can I go now? I don't know anything else."
Twilight said, "Fine, you're no help to us anymore." She lifted the force field and Trixie ran out the door.
"Twilight, you can't just let her go! She's with Damien!" Rainbow Dash said.
"There's no reason to have her along, she already knows our plan now. I think it would be best if we just got rid of her." Twilight said.
"Well, let's try to fix this thing now," Joe said. "I can hire some of the greatest minds in the world to take a look at this."
__ __ __
Trixie was worried Damien would be mad at her for failing, but relieved Twilight had let her go. 'How stupid she was!' Trixie thought.
She was also brightened to find that someone had just left their boat with the keys in them by the docks. Did anyone think anymore?
As Trixie approached Damien's house, she started to get nervous. When she entered she called, "Damien?"
Damien came into the room looking like a wreck. His face was contorted with pain, and he looked furious.
"Where have you been?" Damien yelled.
Trixie cowered, "I'm sorry, I failed you. They got away. But I know that they're going to find their last unicorn next, and then they're going to try to stop you."
Damien still couldn't think clearly. His head hurt even more now that it had been hit with a rock. But he knew what he had to do. He would send his remaining men of his first group, and his third group. He needed to get the unicorn first. He would go with them, for his men had failed him too many times. Damien looked down at the pathetic unicorn.
"You are worthless," He said.
He used his magic to pick Trixie up and walked out to the shore. Then he tested his ability to see how far he could throw her. It was a tremendous distance and Damien himself was momentarily surprised.
"We'll never find her here, she could be anywhere in this forest," Balrog said.
"Well I don't see you coming up with any other plans," Elijah said. Balrog mumbled to himself.
They had been walking through the forest where Rarity was for hours. After finding someone who knew something about repairing technology, it was pretty simple to get back to where they last saw Rarity running into the huge forest. All they had to do was go back to Equestria, go to the spot where they were when Zecora sent them to the human world, and open the portal. But after some time they all started to lose enthusiasm.
Joe had stayed back at his house but had supplied them with whatever they needed. Balrog had heat detecting goggles but they didn't do much good with all the woodland creatures scurrying about. Rainbow Dash was flying in the air and looking down trying to see Rarity. Fluttershy's wing was healing quickly, but it still hurt to fly. So she stayed on the ground with the others.
Joe had also purchased a tracking device so he could find them once they arrived at the forest, and he would pay a search team to help them. But they hadn't arrived yet.
It was then that Rainbow Dash saw the helicopter approaching. She flew down to the others.
"Guys, there's a helicopter coming. Do you think it could be the search team Joe sent?" She asked.
"Well, let's see," Balrog said.
They waited until the helicopter landed, and then started toward it.
They came to a clearing and found two helicopters, and several men walking around and talking to each other.
They stayed in some bushes to make sure these guys were the search team or not. Then some more men emerged from the trees, and they were carrying a familiar tied up pony.
Rarity thrashed about and commanded them to let her go, but they ignored her. Her mane was a mess, and she was covered in mud.
"We found her, let's get outa here," Ken said. Seeing they were leaving, Balrog felt he had to stop them. He stood up and walked out of the bush. Everyone looked at him.
"Balrog," Ken said, "What are you doing here? I thought you were guarding the ponies."
Balrog was about to reply, but somepony stirred behind him and Ken noticed the ponies hiding in the bushes.
Ken said, "Oh, so that's how it is, doin the right thing huh? When did you get soft Balrog? All I know is I bring this unicorn to Damien, I get paid." He cracked his knuckles. "I suppose you won't listen to reason."
"Nope," Balrog said. With that he ran towards Ken and tried to punch him, but he held up his arm to block it. Elijah and everypony else followed and attacked the men.
Balrog was the biggest one there and everyone tried to avoid his fists.
Ken noticed he was losing, and remembered his gun in the helicopter. He ran over to his helicopter and retrieved his gun. When he turned around he saw that all his men were lying on the ground and groaning. He pointed the gun at them.
"None of you move or I'll shoot!," He said. But Twilight use her magic to grab the gun and put it out of reach. Then he turned around and got in the helicopter. He started it up and flew away.
They untied Rarity and everyone said their hellos.
But they noticed another helicopter approaching, and they hid in the bushes again. Moments later it landed and several more men including Damien got out.
"What happened here?" Damien said frustrated. He had consumed many pills to help his headache and could think more clearly than before. They looked around for some clues as to what had happened to all of Damien's men. They searched in silence as everypony watched from the bushes.
Then the silence was broken by a jazzy ringtone coming from Elijah's pocket. Everyone stopped and turned toward the bush they were hiding in. Elijah franticly tried to get his phone out of his pocket and answer the call and stop the music.
But just as he opened it Damien used his magic to levitate everyone and everpony out of the bush and threw them to the ground in front of it. Joe had been the one who called, and was wondering what had happened to Elijah.
Damien looked flustered as he stared at his right hand man who was getting up and glaring at him.
"Balrog, how could you betray me?" Damien asked.
"Because what you're doing is wrong, and I'm going to stop you," Balrog said.
Damien laughed loudly, "And how do you propose to do that? As you can see now that I have this magic, I'm all powerful."
"Well you might have that horn grown on your head, but we got the real thing right here," Balrog said as he moved aside and Twilight stepped forward.
"Take him down!" Elijah said as Twilight's horn glowed. Damien glared and his horn started to glow too. Then they both activated their magic and tried to overpower the other. But since it was Twilight's magic to begin with that Damien possessed now, they were evenly matched.
After a few moments both strained to keep their magic going, for they were pushing themselves to the limit and were exhausted. But it seemed neither would defeat each other.
Damien saw that neither man nor pony would win this fight, but as long as he had Twilight distracted his other men could move in. He signaled them to get the others, and they pointed their guns as they walked closer.
But they stopped in their tracks when a shadow fell upon them. They looked up to find the sun replaced with it's master.
"Celestia!" Everpony said simultaneously.
Celestia activated her own magic and picked up the entire group including Damien, and threw them several feet.
They laid there, some groaning.
Celestia descended and landed to the ground. Everpony bowed in her presence. Then came a call from her back.
"Twilight!" Spike jumped off and ran to give Twilight a hug. "I was so worried when you didn't return."
"How did you find us?" Twilight asked.
Spike said, "Celestia found out what was wrong with Zecora and she gave us one of the dimension openers and...Oh I'm just so happy you're ok!"
"I'm glad you came when you did, I don't think I could've lasted much longer," Twilight said.
Then they all looked over at Damien, who was getting up.
He said, "Fools...you cannot stop me..."
Celestia stepped forward and spoke, "Damien Rahms, you are an evil man and can not be allowed the power of magic."
Then celestia used a spell to consume him in light, and when it faded Damien fell to the ground and all his magic went with his consciounsness.
"That's enough of him," Apple Jack said.
Then, as if enough things hadn't come out of the sky, yet another helicopter flew over them and landed on the ground a few feet from them. After the helicopter stopped moving, Joe got out.
"Sorry I'm late, the search team wouldn't come when they heard what I was looking for was a unicorn." He looked around at the scene and said, "Looks like I missed all the action."
Then somepony else got out of the helicopter and almost everypony gasped.
"Trixie!" They exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, Damien was corrupt and I never should have listened to him." Trixie said.
"I'm sure you learned something from all of this," Celestia said. "Now let's go home, and stay there. All of the holes created by that device Damien made has been harming our dimensions. If too many holes are made the two dimensions could fall apart."
Elijah took the one they had fixed out of his jacket pocket, and set it on the ground. Then the three humans stood back as Celestia fired the device up with her magic and the hole began to open. They all made sure to keep their distance until all the pressure of the passage was released.
Fluttershy walked over to Elijah and looked at him a little shyly.
"Thank you for taking care of me, I would've never lasted very long without you." She said.
Elijah kneeled down and they hugged as they said their goodbyes. Then Fluttershy followed the others through the hole.
Celestia walked over as well and said, "Thank you for helping us ponies. Without all of your help I'm afraid not everpony would be here today." She smiled and walked through the hole as well as they said goodbye.
After Celestia left the hole was still open. Then Elijah had an idea.
He faced the other two, who were thinking about what they had just experienced.
"I'm going with them," He announced. They both stared at him.
"What?" Joe asked.
"I don't have anything here in the human world going for me. I don't have any friends, no family, and I've never told anyone this but I secretly hate delivering mail. It's just so boring. But when I looked at that pegasus lying on the ground and in need I felt like I had purpose."
Balrog and Joe looked at each other.
"I don't suppose my parents care what I'm doing at all considering I haven't spoken with them for ten years," Balrog said.
Joe looked at Balrog, then at Elijah, and smiled. "I'm in," He said.
"Then it's settled!" Elijah exclaimed as they ran towards the narrowing hole. They passed through just as it closed.
Moments later Damien and his men woke up dizzily. There was no trace of any of the ponies or the men who helped them. Although they noticed an extra helicopter with the keys still left inside them.
And Balrog, Elijah, and Joe were gone from the human world. The only person who noticed their disappearance was Elijah's boss, who called the police. But of course there was no clue as to his whereabouts, and he was eventually forgotten.
