Chapter 3: Pipp, Pipp, Hooray! Welcome to Zephyr Heights!
The group of ponies followed the path as they journeyed to the home of the pegasi, Zephyr Heights.
Desna Any pony have any idea how much farther we are?
North Star: Well if I recall, Zephyr Heights is in the mountains and my senses are picking up anything.
Sunny: It's amazing how your senses evolve and how you gained a few extra ones to make up for your lack of eyesight.
North Star: Well to be honest, I wasn't always like this. When me and Des were little, I was small and puny, even my sister who is younger by two years is taller than me.
Desna: She's tall for her age and you know it. Why do you think every creature calls her the Giantess?
North Star: I still feel like I insult my sister by calling her that.
Desna: Don't be so sensitive.
Izzy: You guys keep saying every creature. What's up with that?
North Star: Well you see…um…excuse me really quick.
North walked up to Des and whispered to him.
North Star: Should I tell them about our home?
Desna: Well…ah I don't know. I mean, I trust them, but our home has remained hidden and secret for over 1000 years. Maybe after the trust is mutual or big enough.
North Star: Well that might not put a lot of trust in us for them.
Desna: Going to have to deal with it.
North backed up and turned around as he walked backwards to face Sunny and Izzy.
North Star: I don't know how to say this, but Des thinks it's best our home remains a secret for now. But if it makes you feel better, after some bonding we will.
Izzy: I like bonding.
Sunny: Okay. Do you promise?
North Star: I promise to tell you about our home. Cross My Heart, Hope To Fly, Stick A Cupcake In My Eye.
The girls giggled at the special promise North made.
Sunny: What was that?
North Star: No idea. A friend of my ancestor came up with it but that's all I know.
Izzy: I find it silly and fun.
Sunny: I actually amazed how calm you and Des were back in Maretime Bay when you two fought Hitch and Sprout. Especially you. When Izzy and Des were trapped, you were so calm. How did you do it?
North Star: I will admit, I was panicking inside, but my father, he told me those who keep a clear head, will always find a way out of anything.
Sunny: He sounds like a wise pony.
North Star: I bet your father was too.
Izzy: Oh look at that! We're bonding already. I knew you were a special pony North. You seem to bond quickly with other ponies and do it so easily.
North Star: Well, no pony is perfect.
Izzy: True, but that still doesn't make you special.
North just blushed bashfully as he scratched the back of his head.
Sunny: Has anypony told you you look cute when you act bashful?
North Star: Heh heh. Plenty.
Izzy: Well they're right. You just look adorable!
North Star: Come on, you're going to make me more red with bashfulness.
Desna: Well if you're done with the flirting, if we keep a good pace, we'll make it to a viewpoint of Zephyr Heights by nightfall.
North just made a cheeky smile as he felt embarrassed as Sunny smiled as she looked at North.
Sunny: (I feel…something warm inside. But I just met him. North, you sure are one special kind of pony)
Izzy: Oh. I'm actually nervous.
Sunny: Why Izzy?
Izzy: Well the pegasi are bad news. I heard bad things about them.
Sunny: Well earth ponies are wrong about unicorns. The same could be said about pegasi.
North Star: Besides, as long as we stay calm and stick together, we'll all be fine.
Izzy: But still.
Izzy runs up ahead.
Izzy: Up ahead is a sky growing dark. Where it leads is a big question mark. And I'm scared that I'll end up a pony gone missing from pegasus-ing.
North then runs up in front of Izzy.
North Star: But you're not alone! You got ponies in your crew!
Izzy: I do? Who?
North Star: I'm lookin' out for you! When you're off track! I got your back!
Desna: You can rely on us!
Sunny: I'm lookin' out for you. Back at home, it was "Earth ponies first" Heard it so many times I could burst! And I fought for a change but it's lonely 'cause you know Party of uno.
Izzy: Well if you need a friendly steed like you-know-who.
North Star: I think I do.
The group starts running down the path through woods, mountain sides, and forests.
North, Des, Sunny, and Izzy: I'm lookin' out for you! (I'm lookin' out) When you're off track! (when you're off track) I got your back! (I got your back) You can rely on me! I'm lookin' out for you! (I'm lookin' out) Lost in the hills! (lost in the hills) I got the skills! (i got the skills) Pony, let's get goin', Get goin', Get goin'! I'm lookin' out…For you!
It was then dark where the group were seen standing on a hill with a clear view of Zephyr Heights and the mountains the city rested on.
North Star: Made it.
Back in the Sheriff's Office of Maretime Bay, Hitch was seen pacing around frustrated as Sprout was holding an ice pack on his head.
Hitch: I can't believe it! Why did Sunny help them? Especially that monster?! Not to mention those stallions have those so-called Drivers which are stronger than ours!
Sprout: Well as long as the monster is far from here, I'm fine.
Hitch: Sprout! It had a unicorn horn and those weird wings! That's not even normal! Plus you didn't fight him, it had the combined powers of three different animals. The head had the powers of a hawk, the body had the power of a tiger, and the legs had the powers of a grasshopper. I can still remember the claws and jumping height.
Sprout was just silent after hearing Hitch's description.
Hitch: So me and you are going out there to capture Sunny and take down the monster.
Back with the group of friends, Des finished making a fire for the night only for North to sneeze ice over it.
Desna: You couldn't look away to do that?
Izzy: I didn't know you could do that?
Back in the Sheriff's Office…
Sprout: Wait, when you mean "we", do you mean?
Hitch: Yep. You and I.
Sprout: But uh…I can't because…you see, I'm actually in a lot of pain and still have to clean my workspace, and get my papers in order.
Hitch: Ah, forget it. This is a mission for Hitch and Hitch alone. Besides, I didn't use the true power of Accel. So this time, I'm ready.
Sprout just did a sigh of relief as Hitch grabbed his Driver and Accel unit and two other units as he opened the door to head out.
Hitch: Okay, Sprout, stay here while I'm out wrestling danger and defeating the monster. Keep everypony calm, maintain the peace, be a pillar of strength. *Sigh* Who am I kidding? Just try not to start a war while I'm gone, OK?
Hitch left as he closed the doors in front of Sprout who was annoyed.
Sprout: Oh, everypony loves Hitch! What does he have anyway? Sure, he's got a perfect mane, shredded abs, paid-off mortgage. So what? I've got stuff. I can do…um, things. Like that (pulls down calendar). And that (Messes with a filing cabinet.) Ugh!
As Sprout was still frustrated, his mom Phyllis ran through the doors.
Phyllis: Where's Hitch? Ponies all over tow. They're terrified. They want answers.
Sprout: He went after Sunny and the monster. Another solo Hitch mission.
Phyllis: Sugar cube, why the Sprout pout? That's great news.
Sprout: It is?
Phyllis: Yes. It means that you are the sheriff, at least for now.
Phyllis picked up a big golden badge and placed it on Sprout's harness.
Sprout: *Gasp* I am! Hey there. The name's Sprout. Sheriff Sprout. What's the problem, filly? Don't worry. Sheriff Sprout is here. Pick up that litter! Sheriff Sprout's orders!
Sprout looked at his mom who was smiling where he got an idea.
Sprout: Hey, mom. That monster, he had the power to combine the powers of three different animals. I want a power that surpasses that.
Phyllis: Oooh…. What kind of power do you want?
Sprout: The power of five, no seven! No, I got it. Ten. I want the combined power of ten different animals. That is a power that will definitely take down the monster.
Phyllis: Now that's my sheriff son!
The next day, Sunny, Izzy, North, and Des are seen walking through a canyon through the mountains as they continue heading towards Zephyr Heights.
North felt the air around him as his sense of touch told him how close they were.
North Star: I can feel the wind blowing through. We're getting close.
Izzy: Have I ever mentioned you're super senses are amazing?
North Star: This would be the third time.
As they continued making their way through, one of North's ears twitched.
North Star: Any of you hear that?
Desna: Um, you're the only one with super hearing. Gotta be specific.
Sunny: Wait…
Sunny heard it to where it was the sound of rocks crumbling and somepony behind them.
North Star: Move it!
The four ponies started to make a run for it as the sound was getting closer.
They continued running only to come across a pile of boulders blocking the path.
Desna: How did you not know about this?!
North Star: Hey, you try focusing on your surroundings while running! Forget it. Climb to the other side and get ready to catch!
Des performed his acrobatics as he made it to the other side.
North Star: Sorry girls.
Sunny: Sorry for what?
North picked up Sunny and Izzy as he tossed them over the boulders where Des caught them on the other side.
Izzy: That was fun!
North started to maneuver around and climbed the wall of boulders and made it to the otherside ashe caught his breath.
North Star: Don't worry. We're in the clear now.
North spoke too soon where a white blur jumped over them where it landed on a rock.
The blur revealed itself to be a white pegasus mare with a hot pink gelled mane with aqua and pink streaks where she had long light blue and lavender feathers on her wings.
The mare also had turquoise blue eyes and a pink and blue lightning bolt with a yellow crown on top for a cutie mark.
The mare had her wings stretched as she pulled them in as she saw the group of ponies.
White Mare: Woah! Two unicorns, an earth pony and some kind of bizarre pony? Okay, well, this day just got a whole lot more interesting.
The ponies then heard the sound of metal clanging as they saw two shadows approaching them.
The mare walked towards the edge as she turned back.
White Mare: Tell them you didn't see me.
The mare jumped off and glided down.
Izzy: There's no way we coooould! We don't even know your naaaame! Well she seems nice.
North Star: I actually wonder who she was.
The group turned around and saw two pegasi in a silver and gold helmet and necklace.
One was a sky blue mare with a purple tail and blue-purple feathers as her cutie mark is a castle tower.
The other was a spring green stallion with white feathering as his tail had a mix of shades of blue and green as his cutie mark was a horse head piece.
The stallion was shaking in fear
Armored Mare: Thunder, get it together!
Thunder: But that's an earth pony!
Armored Mare: They're harmless. They have very tiny brains.
Thunder: Then what about the unicorns?
Armored Mare: You bring the shield?
Thunder: What shield?
Armored Mare: Didn't you read the manual?
Thunder: Yes!...Okay no.
Armored Mare: Don't worry…I got this.
The mare approached Des and Izzy when Thunder then saw North.
Thunder: Um…Zoom.
Zoom: What?
Thunder pointed at North where Zoom saw him. She saw his unicorn horn and his draconic wings.
Thunder: What is that?!
Zoom: I don't know! It's part unicorn, part pegasus, and part…whatever makes his wings like that.
Thunder: What do we do with him?
Zoom: The same way we deal with the others.
The ponies were apprehended and were now in an elevator where tennis balls were placed on the horns of Izzy, Des, and North whose wings were tied with rope.
Izzy: That's creative.
Desna: Yet why do they think this is effective?
North was sitting down with his eyes closed as he remained calm.
North Star: (Situation might be bad, but the helmets alone tell that they are royal guard soldiers. That means we're on our way to meet the ruler of the pegasi themselves.)
As North maintained his composure, he read the emotions from the two guard ponies and he sensed confidence towards the group, but fear that was aimed towards him.'
North Star: (Why is everypony scared of me? Is it because of what I look like?)
As North remained quiet, Sunny was going through her book asking questions.
Sunny: What's it like to fly? Is the wingspan the same as your height?
Thunder: Well I-
Sunny: Do you need a license to fly? How far can you go?
Izzy: Can you fly to the moon?
Sunny: Do pegasi wear horseshoes, or do they weigh you down?
Thunder: Well, I-I do collect sneakers.
Zoom: Hey, don't answer anything! They could be spies.
As Sunny felt annoyed, North sensed one emotion from Thunder that jumped. It was love. And that love was aimed towards Zoom.
North Star: (I guess I can ease the tension with some fun.)
North snuck over to Thunder to make sure Zoom couldn't hear them.
North Star: You like her…
Thunder: Wait what? I don't know what you're talking about.
North motioned his blank eyes towards Zoom where Thunder just gave in.
Thunder: How did you know?
North Star: I can sense and read emotions. And don't worry, it's your secret, so I won't say anything.
Thunder: Though I do have a question myself to ask.
Zoom: Thunder!
Thunder: What? Look at his eyes. They're so blank. I just wanted to ask why they're like that.
North Star: Well, I'll give you that answer. I'm blind.
Thunder: What?
Zoom: Impossible. You move around fine like you can see.
Desna: That's because his other senses are stronger than normal. His sense of hearing is so strong, he hears the sound of a water drop even if it's four miles. Sense of smell is so strong, even if you're in the middle of the ocean, he can track you. His sense of touch is so sensitive, just being a few feet away, he can tell how far a pony is and the change in wind. And a sense of taste so sharp, he can identify poison by just the tip of his tongue.
North Star: I also have echolocation and this radar sense.
Thunder: Radar Sense?
North Star: It's hard to explain. I can somehow emit these weird ultrasonic waves that can transmit and make an image of my surroundings and print it into my head. That's how I can see.
Zoom and Thunder were impressed by this pony, despite the fact he was their prisoner.
As the elevator continued to ascend, gone was the cloud and mountains, there, a complete view of Zephyr Heights.
Izzy and Sunny gasped in excitement as they looked out the window.
There were several tall buildings with pegasi walking around down on the streets as there was one big jumbotron with two newsponies. One stallion and one mare.
Stallion: Good morning, Zephyr Heights! It's another beautiful day in the big city. Looks like warm breezes and clear skies for tonight's royal celebration!
Izzy: Royal celebration? Ha! Talk about great timing!
News Mare: Tonight's royal bash for Queen Haven will be stunning, but the real jewel in the crown will be Princess Pipp's performance. Isn't that right Skye?
Skye: Oh, my, yes, Dazzle. And this just in- an exclusive vid from Pipp for all you loyal fans out there in ZH.
The screen on the jumbotron switched to the vid to show Pipp who was a light pink pegasus mare wearing a golden tiara with a green jewel and golden wheat where there was a lighter pink gradation where she had fluffy white wings where her hair was violet as she had a deep magenta music note with white bulbs where there was a yellow crown motif on interior of the music note.
Pipp: What is up, everypony? Big shout-out to all my fans, the PippSqueaks. So tonight's the night. I can't wait to debut my new song later. It has a very special place in my heart, but not as much as you guys!
The pegasi were in awe.
Random Pegasus: We love you so much, Pipp!
Pipp: Ok, guys, I love you lots. Got to go. Pipp, Pipp, hooray!
Pegasi: Pipp, Pipp, hooray!
Izzy, Zoom, and Thunder: Pipp, Pipp, hooray!
North felt the emotions of the entire city, and all he felt was pure joy which made him happy.
The elevator reached the top where the doors opened behind them.
The ponies turned around and faced outside.
Zoom: Move it.
Izzy: You betcha.
Sunny looked around and didn't see any pegasi flying.
Sunny: I don't see any pegasi flying. North, can you detect anypony?
North sensed the area and he couldn't detect any flying pegasi. Only the ones walking.
Izzy gasped in surprise.
Izzy: Oh, they have a castle!
North Star: I knew it. We're going to meet the royal family.
The group of ponies made their way to the castle as they were ready to get some answers.