Ch.7: The Rescue Party's Obstacles

Back with the rescue party, it was making its way up the mountains, Twilight in the lead. On her back was Spike, who was looking up at the mountain with a gulp. Behind her, Lionwing had Marvin, Applejack, and Rarity ride on his back. Pinkie skipped at his left; Rainbow flew at his right, and their guardians right behind them.

Boulderon then went charging up the hill, his fists clenched as the Subterra gem in his chest glowed with energy. His eyes flared with anger as he vanished in a flash of light. Groudon shook her head and followed the Subterra Guardian, knowing that he's more determined than ever to save Fluttershy.

"It sure is high up," Rayquaza stated looking up at the mountain. "Don't you think that it might be quicker if those of us with wings or flying abilities just fly us up there?"

"I just can't help but get the feeling that dragon might expect that," Twilight answered her.

"Lionwing and I can check," Marvin volunteered. "If the coast is clear, we'll come back for you."

"And Helios and I will go too," Drago added, "just in case they need backup." Dialga and Twilight just frowned at them with concern. It sounds like a good idea, but it also sounds dangerous. The Martian and Dragonoid anticipated this of course.

"Don't worry," Marvin assured Twilight as Applejack and Rarity got off Lionwing's back. "As long as Lionwing, Helios, Drago, and I stick together, we'll be okay." Twilight then hugged him as Dialga hugged Drago.

"Be careful," the Time Dragon whispered to him as Rainbow then hugged Lionwing and kissed him on the cheek and Rayquaza kissed Helios.

"You so much as break a bone in your body, and that will be the last kiss you get from me for a week," Rainbow said to Lionwing sternly.

"Same to you, Helios," Rayquaza said to him sternly. The gryphon and Darkus Bakugan just laughed as they nudged their girls softly.

"Don't worry," Lionwing replied. "I've faced far worse than this."

"You're just so cute when your mad, babe," Helios teased as Marvin got onto Lionwing's back. The others stood back as Lionwing, Drago, and Helios spread their wings for take-off…and glowing green tentacles shot out at them from the side.

"DRAGO!"

"HELIOS!"

"LIONWING!" Their girlfriends screamed as the Dragonoids fell to the ground and the gryphon reared up with surprise, causing Marvin to jump off. Twilight rushed up to him.

"Marvin, are you okay?" she cried.

"I'm fine," he answered, "but the guys—" The two of them turned to Lionwing, Helios, and Drago as said gryphon fell to the ground, the tentacles becoming green ropes tied around their waists to pin their wings to their sides. Marvin, Twilight, and Rainbow then rushed up to them, as did Dialga and Rayquaza.

"Lionwing, what happened?" the rainbow-maned Pegasus cried as her boyfriend stood up.

"I don't know," he answered, turning to the ropes. "These things just shot out at us." He then tried to gnaw them off with his beak and cut them with his claws and the Dragonoids did the same with their claws, sword, and guns, but they're as strong as wire. Helios then roared with frustration.

"WHY AREN'T THESE STUPID THINGS BREAKING ALREADY?!"

"It must be a spell that Discord, Razenoid, and their goons provided for the dragon," Twilight answered.

"Well, couldn't they give it a different color?" asked Rarity in disgust.

"I agree," Taylean concurred. "That shade of green just won't do at all."

"Ooh, I think I have some yellow streamers in my saddle pack!" Pinkie said, looking into one of her packs.

"Yeah, that might help," Trister said, looking in to help also.

"Guys, we need to focus here," Pyrus said. "That dragon obviously wanted to keep us away from him and Fluttershy."

"Seems rather odd," Dialga said with some thought. "Angel and Boulderon never mentioned anything about a fight or a struggle (well, except for Groudon tackling Boulderon). It's almost like…the dragon asked her to come with her, and she said yes."

"What are ya getting' at, Dia?" asked Applejack.

"Yes," Wolfurio said to her, "what is on your mind."

"What if this isn't a kidnapping of vengeance but…a kidnapping of passion?" the time dragon then asked.

"You saying that dragon's crushing on Fluttershy?" Rainbow cried.

"That's just weird, dude!" Helios concurred with a face.

"Hey, I don't see you complain about Skyress' and Spike's—" Pyrus was suddenly cut off when Pinkie shoved a cupcake into her mouth to keep the red Dragonoid quiet about Skyress' and Spike's crush on Taylean and Rarity. Marvin and Dialga watched as the two of them exchanged glares but decided to brush it aside.

"I am simply saying if he wants vengeance on Fluttershy, why didn't he attack her instead of kidnapping her and attacking us?" Dialga asked. Twilight then placed her hoof onto her chin in thought.

"She does have a good point now that I think about it," stated Rarity.

"Then if Rainbow, Rayquaza, or Skyress fly up there," Spike replied, "the same thing might happen to them."

"Yeah," Skyress said, perching on his shoulder. "And those…green things might be pretty quick, even for us."

"So we can't fly up there?" Rainbow replied indignantly.

"That stinks," Rayquaza growled.

"You can ride on my back if you like, Rainy," Lionwing purred, trying to cheer her up.

"And I can give you a piggyback, Ray-Ray," Helios teased, wrapping his arms around her and nuzzling into her neck. She and Rainbow just gave the boys a playful glare.

"Real sweet of you, Lion," Rainbow replied.

"Same to you, Heli," Rayquaza laughed.

"Well, we better keep moving," Twilight said to the group. "And be on your guard."

"Yeah," Drago said. "There's no telling what other tricks that dragon has up his wing or how strong they will be." With an agreeing nod, the others followed her up the mountain, hoping that Boulderon and Groudon have made it through the traps themselves.

As the Unicorn Bearer of Magic and her guardian have anticipated, Pyrus had sent out more spells to keep the rescue team from reaching him and Fluttershy. One spell had some boulders and dead trees take on the frightening appearance of monsters much like in the Everfree Forest when searching for the Elements of Harmony. Boulderon (the group caught up with him and Groudon) smashed them aside and roared like a beast, picking up enormous boulders and throwing them at the ugly faces. Groudon, although awed by his incredible strength and courage, attempted to calm her crush down, but he did not listen to her. He continued to bash them aside until all of them were rubble. Also, with Pinkie and Trister's Giggle at the Ghosties song and some laughter, they overcame the spell just like in the Everfree Forest.

Another spell had some vines in a large tree catch the little Ponies in their clutches. Fortunately, they missed Lionwing, Marvin, and Spike, and the three of them used Boulderon's enormous strength to crush the vines. Boulderon snarled and waved aside the ponies' thanks as he continued to advance. But Spike welcomed the gratitude, especially when Rarity kissed him on the cheek to make him woozy with a silly smile.

The final spell they came across was when they were only a few yards away from Pyrus' cave. A huge thicket of thorns brushes shot up from the ground and grew to five times as tall as Lionwing and five times his length from tail to beak. What's worse is that it took up the whole width of the path. The thorns look pretty sharp to cut through flesh, but Twilight isn't the slightest bit worried.

"Seems to me this dragon's loosing his touch," she replied before concentrating on a spell. Everyone watched in awe as the thorns glowed with a red-violet aura before blossoming into various vine flowers. Lunging forward, Boulderon grabbed the flowers and broke them into pieces, bellowing like an animal. He charged up the hill, with Groudon following him, again awed by his incredible power. Drago shook his head, then turned and defeated a group of Houndoom that were creeping up towards them. Dialga hugged him affectionately.

"That's my boy," she said proudly, making him smile at her affectionately.

"That's my girl," Marvin said to Twilight as he hugged her proudly. The violet Unicorn simply smiled affectionately before the group made it's way through the now safe vines.

Meanwhile, Pyrus had rushed back into the cave after he cast his thorn brush spell to stop the rescue group, Fluttershy still in his tail's coils. After the two of them are inside the cave together, the last of the medallion's magic became a door to keep the Ponies out.

"Pyrus, please," Fluttershy begged him fearfully. "Let me go, and I'll ask the others not to hurt you." Pyrus only turned to her with a firm face.

"Not until you agree to become my mate," he replied, bringing his tail closer so he can hold her in his arms and wings. The yellow Pegasus then looked into his golden eyes, her eyes shining with tears forming in them.

"Why can't you just give me some time to think?" she whimpered, trying in vain not to cry.

"Because of my size," he answered softly, affectionately brushing a stray tear from her cheek. "If I let you go, and you say no to becoming my wife, I will return to my original size. That's how the spell works. And I want to stay this size for you. I can't be with you if I'm not your size."

"What do you mean by a spell?" she asked him with confusion. "Are you saying you did this to yourself?"

"No," he answered with a shake of his head. "It was a creature who looks like a dragon but isn't and his guardian, who looks like a mix of a dragon and a spider. They call themselves Discord and Razenoid, and they wanted to help me win you over and help Groudon win Boulderon over. They shrunk me so that I can be with you, but it's only permanent if you agree to be wife before I let you go. And Groudon stayed behind so Boulderon won't interfere by challenging me to a Courtship Battle. Please understand, Fluttershy…I love you too much to become large again."

"Pyrus…" Fluttershy couldn't believe that this dragon and his guardian fell for Razenoid and Discord's trick just to be with her and Boulderon. And yet Pyrus is giving up his large size just to be with her. She would have said more, but he slammed his lips into her own to kiss her. Immediately, however, she closed her eyes and returned it. That sacrifice he made for her is just too much to ignore…

BAM! The door of the cave entrance cracked, then exploded in a flurry of shards as Boulderon smashed his ironclad fist into it, but the two of them kept kissing. Twilight and the others to rush into the cave. When they did, they were shocked to find Pyrus kissing their animal-loving friend on the lips.

"Oh, gracious!" Rarity gasped, covering her gapping mouth with both hoofs. Applejack pulled her hat over her eyes sheepishly as Pinkie and Trister whistled with impressiveness. Taylean was left speechless as Wolfurio, Drago, and Dialga looked away awkwardly.

"Whoooa, didn't see that coming," said the surprised Rainbow Dash.

"Uh-uh," Helios said as Skyress fainted into the shocked Rayquaza's arms.

"Little one, I don't think you'd want to watch this," Lionwing said, trying to cover Spike's eyes with his wings.

"Hey, I can handle it," Spike retorted, moving the feathers off his eyes. "I'm old enough."

"Wow, just…wow," Twilight said with wide eyes before Marvin cleared his throat. Pyrus and Fluttershy broke the kiss and turned to the rescue group.

"Can we help you with something?" Pyrus asked in annoyance, a sign that he already knows the answer to that question.

"We want you to give our friend back!" Rainbow cried, quickly snapping out of it before flying in between the two of them. "And just what the hay do you think you're doing kissing her?"

"Rainbow, please," Fluttershy said, being her usual quiet and shy self out of bashfulness from the kiss. "Let me explain…"

"I'm kissing her because I am in love with her," Pyrus answered her with a growl. "And I am not letting her go, not until she agrees to be my mate."

"Not so fast, fire lips!" Boulderon roared as he slammed his fists the wall, the Subterra Mace glowing in them. Groudon went up to him to calm him down.

"Groudon?" Pyrus asked in shock. The Continent Pokemon looked at him with shame.

"Hey, Pyrus," she said timidly... Before Boulderon charged at him, wielding the mace.

"You are screwed, buddy boy!" Dialga warned. "That golem charging at you and about to smash your face in is none other then Fluttershy's guardian!"

"Pyrus," Fluttershy said to him with concern, "I don't think it's a very good idea to…"

"Her…become your mate?" Rainbow scoffed. "Yeah, right! Like that's ever gonna happen!"

"Oh, and like you're gonna stop me, little Miss Tough Filly and Blue Dragon?" he mocked back. "Oh, I'm so scared!"

"Hey, that's my girlfriend you're talking to, you overgrown blimp of hot air!" Lionwing snarled. Apparently, he's been hanging around with Rainbow too much to be able to talk like that.

"And my mate your talking to you, buster!" Drago snarled. Apparently, he's very close to Dialga.

"And your point is?" Pyrus scoffed, giving them a mocking look in his eyes. That got the gryphon, Dragonoid, and golem really angry.

"I'll rip your throat out for—"

"I'll literally burn you to nothing you overgrown-" Before Lionwing and Drago could finish, Boulderon charged at the dragon with a roar.

"Boulderon! Stop please!" Fluttershy whimpered as her guardian continued to barrel forward, the mace's flanged head gleaming in the faint light. "Pyrus! Boulderon is going to hurt you very badly if you don't stop..." Fluttershy said softly.

Pyrus ducked beneath Boulderon's swing and clobbered the Subterra Guardian in the stomach with his fist, but he responded by smashing the side of the Subterra Mace into Pyrus' chest, knocking the dragon away and loosening his grip on Fluttershy slightly.

"I promised... to protect her... to be a good guardian... like all those years before... Subterra represents steadfast and loyal, and I WILL save Fluttershy! Even if it costs me my life!" Boulderon roared, drawing the Crusher Mace from the Subterra Gem in his chest. He then lifted his weapon for the final blow.

"WAAIIIT!" Everyone stopped and froze when Fluttershy and Groudon finally cried out and turned to them.

"Um…will everypony please let me say something?" she asked timidly, sheepish about her sudden outburst.

"Please, Boulderon," Groudon begged the golem. "Hear your partner out."

"Of course, my beautiful dinosaur," Boulderon replied calmly, sliding the Subterra Mace into the sheath on his back and sitting on a rock. Groudon blushed at what called her.

"Of course, my little turtledove," Pyrus answered, letting her go with a smile. Rainbow and Helios' jaw dropped in shock.

"You're letting her talk just like that?!" they snapped at Pyrus and Boulderon, apparently annoyed.

"She can be pretty persuasive when you get past her timid nature," the red dragon and Subterra Golem stated with shrugs. Fluttershy then turned to the others.

"Please try to understand," she then said to them. "Pyrus didn't kidnap me. He asked me to come with him so that he can talk to me, and I said yes. He then told me that Discord and Razenoid shrunk him because he wants to be the same size as me. And he can't let me go because—"

"Discord and Razenoid did this to him?!" Twilight cried. "Oh, I knew this is another one of their rotten tricks! They so would do something to capture Princess Celestia and Lady Arceus! Those guys are gonna—"

"Twi, sweetie," Marvin said quickly, "you're overreacting again…" The Unicorn stopped her ranting and looked around to see everyone staring at her as if she's gone psycho again.

"Uh, sorry…" she replied with a sheepish grin.

"Wait a minute," Groudon replied with a blink of realization. "Are you saying we've been…doped?"

"If by doped, you mean fooled, then YES!" Rainbow snapped. Applejack and Helios then pulled her down back to the ground so that she can calm down.

"The thing is, Pyrus and Groudon," she explained, "is that Discord's the ancient chaos demon from long time ago."

"And his guardian Razenoid is the Lord of Darkness responsible for the destruction of Vestroia," Wolfurio added.

"Discord's also in love with our ruler Princess Celestia and is doing everything he can to have her to himself," Twilight added. "He tricked Marvin here into being a Unicorn Pony so he can be with me, and he used Lionwing to get to Rainbow Dash. I think he and Razenoid shrunk you and tricked you into taking Fluttershy to distract us while he went to kidnap the princess."

"And Lord Razenoid is in love with our ruler Lady Arceus and is doing everything he can to have her." Drago added. "He tricked Dialga here into transforming into a Pyrus Dragonoid to be with me, and he used Rayquaza to get to Helios. I think he talked and tricked you, Groudon, into taking Boulderon on to buy Pyrus time while Razenoid went to kidnap the lady."

"Are you saying Discord used me?" Pyrus roared, now angry at the thought of the chaos demon tricking him into distracting the Ponies from helping their Princess. "Why, that rotten—" He let out an enraged roar that made Spike jump with a yelp and hide behind Lionwing, who was also surprised by the roar.

"Are you saying Razenoid used me?" Groudon roared, now angry at the thought of the Darkus Demon tricking her into distracting the guardians from helping their lady. "WHY THAT OVERGROWN-!" She let out a rage filled scream that made Skyress jump up with a yelp and hide behind Rayquaza and Helios, who were also surprised by the roar. Boulderon quickly stood up and tried to calm the enraged dinosaur down. Quite ironic since she tried to do the same for him.

"Where can we find those freakish excuses of dragon impersonators?" Pyrus demanded. "I'll teach them a thing or two about making a fool out of a dragon!" Fluttershy quickly went up to his side and placed her hoof on his arm to calm him down.

"Pyrus, please calm down," she said. "Getting angry won't solve anything. It will only make things worse." Pyrus turned to his beloved Pegasus, and his enraged face softened into a loving frown.

"I'm sorry, Fluttershy," he said to her. "I just feel so…responsible."

"Well, ya should be!" Rainbow snapped at him. "If ya haven't kidnapped Fluttershy, than the Princess and Lady—"

"Rainbow, stop it!" Twilight snapped with a glare. Realizing that she's only making things worse, the rainbow Pony stopped yelling at Pyrus.

"Sorry," she replied lowly.

Boulderon turned back to Groudon, who still has anger in her eyes.

"Razenoid and Discord need to pay! They tricked me!" Groudon screamed in anger. Boulderon hugged her close and sighed.

"You're not alone in this," he explained calmly. "I'm with ya all the way."

"I think we should go help the Princess 'n' fast," Applejack said.

"And the Lady too," Wolfurio added.

"Knowing Discord and Razenoid," Rarity stated, "they must have taken them to the abandoned castle in the Everfree Forest." Twilight nodded in agreement.

"Then I'm going with you," Pyrus said firmly. "I caused this mess, so I'm going to fix it."

"Same here," Groudon added firmly.

"Uh, it's good to hear that you want to help," Lionwing replied before turning to the ropes that are still binding his wings to his sides and doing the same to Drago and Helios. "But could you do something about these first please?"

"Oh, sorry," the dragon replied before poking at the ropes with his tail. The ropes shook a little before falling off of the gryphon and Dragonoids' sides, freeing their wings.

"Finally!" Lionwing cried, spreading out his wings as did Drago and Helios. Applejack then climbed onto the gryphon's back as Spike climbed onto Rainbow Dash's. Pinkie and Rarity climbed onto Pyrus' back. Twilight and Marvin climbed onto Drago and Dialga's backs as they flew off as well. Rayquaza and Helios lifted off and followed them with the other guardians riding on their backs. Fluttershy flew onto Boulderon's back before he charged forward, using the earth as his footholds. Groudon followed him on Pyrus' back. Then they all dashed out of the cave and flew off into the sky to find and rescue Princess Celestia and Lady Arceus.