Chapter 18:

Searching Mount Aris - Part 1:

Never Easy

"Mount Aris was once home to a proud nation called the Hippogriffs…," Celestia explained.

"Oh, bless you," Spike joked.

"Spike," Twilight, Pinkie, and Rainbow chided the young dragon.

"The Hippogriffs were the ones in tune with the rhythm of the seasons, focused on their relationships to the land, sea and sky, through their sacred pearl," Luna explained further.

"But they've all been driven onto hiding by Slash and his forces, who've taken over the Pearl Chamber," Celestia added.

"We sensed that's where Slash is keeping Gaia and Marina, trying to power two more crystals. You four must rescue them before he could succeed," Luna finished.


"Right, it's never easy for us, is it?" Spike commented.

"Nothing worthwhile ever is, Spike," Twilight replied as she began heading towards the mountains with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie following behind her.

"Oh, so now you're spreading wisdom, here, Hero Girl?" Spike asked sarcastically.

"Come on, Spike. We gotta find and rescue Gaia and Marina," Rainbow Dash said as Spike follows behind them.

When The Mane 3 and Spike made it to Mount Aris, they saw one of the Soldiers of Slash's forces, who started running off. Thinking he might lead them to the guardians, the four decided to follow him and entered the kingdom of Mount Aris.

But as they entered, Mount Aris was covered in fog and looked a bit more like a ghost town. After following the small Soldier, the Mane 3 and Spike have just found themselves confronted by a few more small soldiers and one medium captain. But using their elemental powers, Twilight, Pinkie, and Rainbow Dash managed to defeat them in a cinch.

Continuing on their search, the Mane 3 and Spike then entered the center of Mount Aris where they found themselves surrounded by four small soldiers. But Pinkie and Twilight easily defeated them with their Electricity Magic. Suddenly two medium Captains arrived and jumped down to them as two more small Soldiers appeared as well.

"Rainbow, you and Pinkie handle the Captains and the Soldier. I'll handle the Commander," Twilight instructed Rainbow as she and Pinkie nodded and did what they were told.

Pinkie and Rainbow handled the Captains and Soldiers, using their Air and Electricity Magic. While Twilight took care of the Commander by using her Magic, Air Magic, and Electricity Magic and aerial combat fighting skills.

After defeating the Commander, the Captains, and the Soldiers, Twilight and her friends regrouped as they now have to figure out where to go next to find Marina and Gaia.

"So now what do we do, Twilight?" Rainbow asked.

"Yeah, I'm starting to think that fighting Slash's Forces are not helping us in our search," Pinkie Pie stated, seeing how this isn't getting them anywhere.

Twilight looked around to see if there was something that could help them find their way. That's when she noticed that one of the podiums was standing tall, perhaps a little too tall for her to fly up to or jump. Then Twilight saw what looked like some kind of button block and headed on over as Rainbow Dash and Pinkie watched her walk over there in confusion.

When Twilight arrived and saw how the block was sticking up, she jumped up and landed on the block, making go down. But after Twilight jumped onto the block, The Mane 3 and Spike heard a rumble and looked to see another podium rising up to the same height as the first one.

"Hmmm, maybe we can use these podiums to help us on our search," Twilight suggested, getting an idea.

"Well, come on. Let's go find more of those blocks to raise more," Rainbow said as they continue on to find more blocks to raise more podiums.