AUTHOR'S NOTES: Enjoyed the first two chapters? Great, here's number three! I don't have MLP the movie which sucks, 'cause those ponies are so cute! I love 'em, there the cutest little things. All the ponies I'm using are from the movie (except for Whizzer; I needed a second Pegasus). Oh, & I'm sorry for the constant, annoying Disclaimer, but I feel it's necessary...whatever. I also realize it'd be kind of hard to capture a Pegasus, but hey; bare with me here, haha. Lickedy Split is, of course, the same Baby Lickedy-Split from the movie, just so we're all on the same page. Anyhoo, ENJOY CHAPTER 3! R&R, please.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own nor am I affiliated in any way with My Little Pony™ or Hasbro®.
SUMMARY: Wind Whistler and North Star are kidnapped on their journey for help by Reeka and Draggle, and the rest of the ponies are left to deal with Hydia's threat on their own. Lofty and Whizzer go to find Megan, Molly, and Danny, and the rest have to set out to alert the Moochick and the Flutter Ponies. Can they rescue the two Pegasi and throttle Hydia's evil plans once again?
Chapter Three: Gone Missing
A full moon and numerous twinkling stars shone their light down on the two Pegasi Wind Whistler and North Star, who are attempting to prepare Dream Valley from the witch Hydia's threat. They first had to get to Flutter Valley to inform the Flutter Ponies that Hydia might be up to something and they should be alert and ready to act if need be. This would be easier said than done of course, for more reasons than one.
The Flutter Ponies were often quite independent and refused to get involved in matters that didn't concern them. Reason number two that their journey would be perilous is because they had to travel close to the Black Mountains, and both Pegasi knew what lurked there. Sure enough, as they were traveling by the Mountains (traveling as far from the base of them as possible), they encountered Hydia's repulsive daughters, Reeka and Draggle.
Reeka and Draggle spotted the ponies flying lower and lower for a flying break, so they snuck over to them as quietly as they possibly could. North Star and Wind Whistler, unfortunately, weren't paying as much attention as they should've been to their surroundings. Wind Whistler took a look up from the stream they were drinking from and when they looked up they only had time to see Draggle's scrawny and disheveled form before a net was closing over her.
Fighting frantically against the netting, Wind Whistler glanced to her right and saw Reeka struggling with North Star. Both Pegasi felt rather stupid for being captured as a Pegasus that could simply fly away if given enough room. Reeka and Draggle hadn't walked right up to them, though; they crept up to them while their heads were down. Making as much noise as possible and flapping their wings until their muscles were too sore, Reeka and Draggle dragged the Pegasi up the Black Mountains to the Volcano of Gloom.
IN DREAM VALLEY
When the sun rose over Dream Valley and North Star and Wind Whistler weren't back, Gusty and Buttons knew something might be wrong. North Star had said that they might not be back for a while, but they'd been gone for awfully long time. Gusty wasn't one to be a worry-wart, but she couldn't help being a little concerned for her Pegasus friends. The sun had risen considerably in the sky before Buttons decided to alert the other ponies (baby ponies included) to Wind Whistler and North Star's absence.
"They're really not back yet, Buttons?" Shady asked, concerned.
"No. I don't want to think that anything happened to them because they said they'd be gone a while, but this is a long while," Gusty said seriously.
"I'm sure they're fine," Magic Star said, though she didn't sound so sure, "they're Pegasi. What could hurt them when they're in the air?"
"It's not what could hurt them when they're in the air, but when they're not in the air. They could've gone down to the ground at any time, it's not like there's no reason to," Fizzy said.
"You're right," Sweet Stuff agreed.
"You're such a suck-up Sweet Stuff," Buttons said.
"I am not! Why can't you leave people alone Buttons? You're part of the reason we almost lost Lickedy-Split last year!"
"You guys, please! This is no time for fighting," Lofty said.
"So what's the plan of action?" Gusty asked.
"Well...we don't know if North Star or Wind Whistler is actually in any kind of trouble at all, so I think we should wait a while. Maybe they'll turn up soon."
"I guess so," Shady said gloomily.
Little did the ponies know as they dispersed that they'd be embarking on just as perilous a journey as the Pegasi had. As day wore on and North Star and Wind Whistler were nowhere to be found. Gusty grew more and more concerned as morning turned to afternoon and afternoon faded to evening. The sun was setting over Paradise Estate and as Gusty looked onto the Black Mountains, she made up her mind. Wind Whistler and North Star were in trouble, and there was no doubt in Gusty's mind that Hydia was behind it. Gusty was tired of fighting Hydia and her revolting daughters and their dreadful Smooze. It was time to take major action against the witch and rid Dream Valley and all of Ponyland of her and her offspring. Turning from looking at the hideous Black Mountains, she ran to Paradise Estate where the other ponies had no doubt gone; Paradise Estate had become quite popular since they had given Dream Castle to the Grundles.
"Gusty, they're not back," Shady said, and Gusty almost saw tears coming from her eyes.
"It's okay Shady; we're not giving up on them. You all know this has something to do with Hydia."
"Are you sure Gusty?" Magic Star asked.
"I'm positive," Gusty said.
"What about that disgusting cat lady Posey told us about, Katrina?" Shady asked.
"She was defeated a long time ago and she's good now, don't you remember, Shady?" Magic Star said.
"This has 'Hydia' written all over it and we know it. We have to rescue Wind Whistler and North Star...and all of Dream Valley and Ponyland. We can't let Hydia threaten us and our home again."
"What'll we do, Gusty?" Sweet Stuff asked.
"We set out on a mission and we recruit as much help as we can. First, we're gonna need Megan and the Rainbow of Light. Lofty and Whizzer, you can bring her here," Gusty said.
"Why should both of us go?" Whizzer asked.
"Because Molly and Danny might want to come too and we can't refuse assistance."
"We have to alert the Moochick. No doubt Hydia's working with her Smooze again. Shady, Buttons, Lickedy-Split, and Spike, you four go to the Mushromp. He must be able to help us somehow."
"What a leader you are, Gusty," Buttons said sarcastically.
"Stop it, Buttons."
"I'm not going with her," Shady said stubbornly, a grim look in her eye as she glanced over at Buttons, who returned the look.
"Fine! Shady, you can come with me, Fizzy, and Magic Star; we have to get to Flutter Valley. I'm sure Rosedust and Morning Glory will be very annoyed at seeing us again with yet another request for help with the Smooze, but we have to try. Sweet Stuff, you can go with Buttons. And no fighting! We're saving our friends and our home, there's no time for animosity," Gusty snapped.
"All right, all right," but Sweet Stuff rolled her twinkling eyes.
"We'll have to cross through Shadow Forest again, won't we?" Magic Star asked.
"So what?" Gusty asked impatiently.
"Gusty, are you sure we want to go through those giant sunflowers and Shadow Forest again just to alert the Flutter Ponies who probably won't even talk to us?"
"Yes! We can't just sit here and do nothing, Magic Star. There's no Smooze yet, but it's coming again I'm sure. Hydia's not going to give up, and we can't either."
"Okay, okay Gusty!"
"Now Lofty and Whizzer, go as fast as you can to get Megan. We need her and Molly to come with us to Flutter Valley. Danny, if he wants to come, can go with Buttons' group. We won't leave until you get Megan, Molly, and Danny here."
"We're on it, Gusty," Lofty said.
"Be back in a flash," Whizzer said, and she and Lofty took off with one flap of their Pegasus wings.
Gusty watched them fly into the last light of the sun and hoped they wouldn't be captured as well. While they were waiting, Gusty suggested they all go back to Paradise Estate and wait for Megan, Molly, and Danny. It was getting dark, so they agreed and to begin their journeys in the morning, when they could see more of what was around them. Gusty grew more and more restless as the night wore on; for both pairs of Pegasi. Wind Whistler and North Star were definitely in trouble, there was no more doubt in her mind. Gusty laid her head down on the floor to give herself a small amount of rest before they all set out. A thought popped into her mind as to who was going to look after Dream Valley while they went on their trek. Sundance can, Gusty thought, and she kept her head low to the floor.
IN THE VOLCANO OF GLOOM
"Let's hope you two don't mess up this time," Hydia said fiercely as her daughters brought Wind Whistler and North Star into the Volcano of Gloom.
"Do you always have to be so mean to us, momma?" Draggle asked.
"What did you call me?" Hydia said threateningly.
"Umm, Hydia…I said Hydia!" Draggle quickly corrected.
"That's what I thought you said."
"Hydia, we didn't get the phlume yet...just so you know..." Reeka mumbled.
"What was that?" Hydia said, although it was apparent that she'd heard her daughter correctly.
"We...di-didn't get the phlume yet."
"Well that's just like you, never thinking. I told you to get the ingredients first! Those ponies have a better chance of escaping since you two will be out getting the phlume and there'll only be one of me; use your tiny little brains for once! I should force-feed you eat ice cream again!"
"We're sorry, Hydia!" Draggle said, looking horrified at the prospect of eating ice cream again.
"I've wasted enough of my voice, energy, and time yelling at the two of you. Just go get the phlume and I'll let it go."
"Okay, Hydia," Reeka said and dragged her sister back out of the door and down the Volcano.
Reeka and Draggle had an awkward climb down the Mountains. They knew their mother was waiting to mix the rest of the Smooze ingredients and send the fetid liquid down the Mountains once more. The two girls' problem was not that they had no capacity to be evil; they'd been raised by a witch mother. They simply didn't have the desire to carry out their mother's evil deeds and do her dirty work.
If their mother wasn't constantly nagging and hassling them about being wicked, they could probably be just as evil as she wanted. If she wasn't sending them to get Smooze ingredients all the time and making them destroy Dream Valley when they could care less, the might be motivated to be a little more maniacal.
Reeka and Draggle traveled further in a swampy area and climbed a small mountain to get to the peak where the phlume plant sat menacingly. Draggle gulped as they approached it with the same pickaxe they used the first time around.
"All right Draggle, let's switch positions this time. I'll hold it, and you stick it," Reeka proposed.
"Why should we? I'm taller than you and my arms are longer. They're betting for holding, and you won't even have to touch it with your hands."
"Okay fine!"
Draggle readied the pickaxe that was in her hand and when both girls counted to 'three!' Draggle went straight for middle, as she'd done before. It fought harder than it ever had before, apparently aggravated that the girls had come back a third time. Reeka struggled to hit the plant in the base while Draggle struggled to hold it as steady as she could.
After Draggle yelled at Reeka to give it as good a whack as she could, they filled up another small bottle. The two girls wiped their brows and rested their hands on their knees momentarily, allowing their breathing to return to normal so they could make the tedious trip back up the Black Mountains to the Volcano of Gloom.
"We-got-the–ph-phlume, Hydia!" Draggle said, panting.
"Good work you two. Why can't you keep this up?"
"We're never going back to the phlume plant, Hydia," Reeka said.
"You will if I tell you to!"
"Sorry, Hydia. Yes, Hydia," Reeka said.
"Thank you very much for my phlume. Now watch those caged ponies while I concoct the Smooze. This time the Smooze will cover Dream Valley and all of Ponyland for good!" Hydia cackled, and Wind Whistler and North Star whimper in their confines.
BACK TO DREAM VALLEY
Lofty and Whizzer returned sometime during the night with Megan and her siblings. They were tired but agreed to help, and they went straight to sleep for a little rest before their journey in the morning. Danny threw a miniature fit about having to sleep in a pink house (Paradise Estate), but Megan lightly scolded him and he quieted down. When the sun rose over Paradise Estate and Gusty made eye contact with Megan, Gusty embraced her with such relief and comfort that it was almost as though Wind Whistler and North Star had been rescued. Lofty and Whizzer were snoozing calmly from their flight to fetch Megan and her siblings.
Gusty woke up Fizzy, Sweet Stuff, Magic Star, Shady, Buttons, Lickedy-Split, and Spike so they could all greet their new guests. Gusty looked at the Rainbow of Light around Megan's neck and new that what she did was right. Molly and Danny smiled at Gusty before rushing over and giving her a hug of their own. It filled her with happiness to know that they would soon be at least trying their best to get help for their Pegasus friends.
"I'm so glad you came, Megan!"
"I'd never stay away when you guys are in trouble," Megan said with a smile.
"I knew you wouldn't let us down."
"So, what's the plan?" Danny asked.
"You stay out of this! So, Gusty...what's your plan?" The ponies and Molly chuckled.
"Well...we need to get to the Moochick and the Flutter Ponies. You can come with Fizzy, Shady, Magic Star, and me to Flutter Valley, and Molly and Danny can go with Sweet Stuff, Buttons, Lickedy-Split, and Spike to the Mushromp. The Moochick might be able to help. The situation is, Wind Whistler and North Star have gone missing; they went on a mission the other day and they never came back."
"That's terrible!"
"You're telling us! We want to rescue them, but we want to get rid of Hydia's threat for good too. We need as much help as we can get."
"We're with you all the way," Megan said and smiled.
"Are you sure those Flutter Ponies will really be up to helping us with Hydia and her Smooze again?" Danny asked.
"We've got to try and ask for help, haven't we? Wind Whistler and North Star could be in Hydia's clutches right now."
"Well what are we waiting for? Gusty's group, follow me! Molly and Danny, you two go with Buttons' group. We'll meet up at the Black Mountains."
"You heard Megan guys, come on!" Gusty said.
Gusty and her group of ponies began walking behind Megan, while Molly and Danny followed Buttons' group. The two parties waved one last farewell to each other, and then parted on their separate journeys. Gusty was convinced that both the trips would be fruitful, and it was this thought and this thought alone that kept Gusty following behind Megan and toward the giant sunflowers, Shadow Forest, and Flutter Valley.