Chapter 5: Old Bond Breaks. New Bonds Forge
The next day, the group are seen in an open field in front of a big tree with pink flowers blooming on the leaves and branches.
North and Des were still not seeing eye to eye, or however it works for North, where Sunny, Zipp, and Izzy looked at the map.
Sunny: That's the tree from the map! That means…it's this way.
Sunny pointed the way where everypony followed where Pipp and Hitch are seen distraught.
Hitch: What am I even doing here, hoofing it across Daisy Fields, looking for a magical crystal that doesn't even exist!
Pipp: It was supposed to be my best show ever. Now it's all over. I'm a criminal, and it's all because of…
Pipp/Hitch: Them.
Pipp: And that is so not cool.
Hitch: No, it is not. Did I just agree with a pegasus?
Desna: Yes you did.
Pipp ran up to Zipp.
Pipp: Hey, are you sure she even knows where to find this other crystal?
Zipp: Don't you trust me at all?
Pipp: I don't know. You are the one that just got Mom thrown in jail.
Zipp: Look, once we get our magic back, the whole kingdom will be so excited, they won't even remember what happened back there. You'll be a hero, Pipp.
North overheard the sisters' conversation and still felt guilt. While it was Des who exposed them, he still had some involvement where he slowed down to walk beside them.
North Star: Listen, I'm sorry what happened to your mother. While Des was the one who exposed your family, I was right there and could've stopped him. So I want to apologize for what happened. Because of us, your lives are basically done.
Zipp: There's no reason for you to apologize North. It's like you expect Des to do that.
Pipp: If it was mostly his fault, shouldn't he apologize?
North Star: Des can be…a little too serious about the main goal at hoof and after how far we got, I bet he wanted to make sure we get the crystal so bad that he was willing to take far lengths just to make sure we succeed. But still, I really am sorry Pipp. So if anything, don't blame your sister, blame me and Des.
Pipp was still confused about North, even though he wasn't at fault, he was willing to share the blame with his friend and even apologized about her family's downfall.
Pipp: It's…It's fine. I'm willing to forgive you. But your friend, that might take time.
North Star: That's good. I'm glad we can stand on equal hooves now Pipp. Also…I was trying to dance and sing while you were performing.
Pipp: What?
North Star: When I hear good music I REALLY like, I get the urge to sing and dance to it. That shows how much of a good performer you are.
Pipp felt flattered. Just yesterday, they were at each other's throats, but now here they were, having a normal conversation where North was even praising her.
North Star: Now I can just imagine what you will be like if you can fly for real. Now that will be a sight and memory to treasure. I would, it could see. The ability to fly high and be free from all stress and to get away from your problems.
North just smiled at the two sisters where they felt their hearts skipped a beat.
Zipp/Pipp: (What was that just now?)
He just apologized, had a heartwarming conversation, and smiled. So why did they feel this?
Hitch ran up to Sunny all serious where he had had it.
Hitch: Let's get one thing straight.
Sunny stopped for a brief moment to face the group.
Sunny: We're almost to the river, everypony!
Hitch: After this whole escapade is over with, you are going to march back home to Maretime Bay with me. Is that clear?
Sunny: Crystal.
Sunny just walks off with a smirk.
Hitch: Great. Because this badge means that I'm the sher…Argh!
Hitch felt around his harness and noticed his badge was missing.
Hitch: No, no, no, no! Where's my badge? Hey! You.
Hitch pointed and called out Izzy who was walking beside North.
Izzy: Hmm?
Hitch: I know unicorns like shiny things.
Izzy: Oh, you know, I think I did see a shiny badgey thing on the ground a few hours ago.
Hitch: What? Hours?!
Izzy: Well, maybe it's for the best. Between you and me, buddy, that badge was creating an unhealthy power dynamic.
Izzy trots off singing where North followed her as he chuckled from her positive energy.
North Star: Ah, Izzy. Always so positive. Need more of that.
Hitch: Oh really? Like more of you?
The group stopped where Des was about to confront Hitch only for North to stop him.
North Star: And what does that mean?
Hitch: Oh you know what I mean. Seriously, what even are you? Some mad scientist's crazy invention? An outlandish creature? A monster from the darkest pit of Equestria? A creature like you shouldn't exist.
Sunny just frowned after hearing that. How could Hitch say that?
North walked up to Hitch where they met face to face.
North Star: I have every right to exist as much as the next pony. You don't get to decide how I should live. I live for what I believe in, and that's to reunite all ponies together, bring back magic, and restore Equestria to its former glory.
North walked off ahead of the group who followed where Des just spit at Hitch's direction as he followed.
The group reached a stone bridge over a chasm only to discover it was destroyed.
Sunny: What are we going to do?
Pipp: Any ideas, Zipp?
Zipp: You know what would be great right now? Let me think. Maybe something like the ability to fly?
North Star: Hey, get along, you two, we talked about this.
Pipp: You know what would even be better? Not being stuck in the middle of nowhere…
Hitch: Oh, well! That's the end of that. Time to go home. I wish I could say it was nice meeting all of you, but it wasn't. Come on, Sunny.
Hitch was about to walk off where Desna grabbed one of his hind hooves with his tail.
Desna: Nice try.
Sunny then saw North trying to get Zipp and Pipp to stop arguing where she had it.
Sunny: Everypony stop. We're gonna get to the other side, find the crystal, and bring back magic. And once we do, (to Zipp) you'll get to fly, (to Pipp) you'll get your fans back, (to Hitch) and you'll have me in custody. Everypony happy now?
Sunny heard a loud crash behind her where she turned around and saw that Izzy somehow used her horn to cut down a nearby tree and make a new bridge.
Izzy: Ta-da!
North Star: If it weren't for my echolocation noticing that, I would have a hard time believing it.
Zipp: All right.
Hitch: Ah, great.
Sunny: Come on, everypony.
Everypony followed across the tree where North was at the back.
He was doing his best to keep his footing while using his echolocation to find his next step.
Everypony else was already at the end waiting for him.
Izzy: You got this North!
North was doing good so far where a small gentle breeze caught up some dust that North sniffed up.
North Star: Oh no.
North tried his best not to sneeze where the others were worried.
Sunny: Come on, hold it in…
North was able to hold back to sneeze where he did a sigh of relief only to let out a strong sneeze where his frost breath covered the section of the tree in front of him.
The tree was so frozen, it started to crack where it shattered like glass as North fell where everypony was in shock.
Mares and Des: NORTH!
North was falling down with his back first where he flipped himself upright and spread his wings where the air currents pushed him up like a rocket.
North jetted out of the chasm and into the sky thanks to his gliding where he belly flopped into the dirt.
North Star: Not my best landing, but I had worse.
North got up where the mare surrounded him to see if he was okay.
Sunny: Are you alright?!
Izzy: Are you hurt?!
Zipp: Are your wings fine?!
Pipp: You didn't sprain a hoof from that fall, did ya?!
North Star: Girls, girls, I'm okay. Nothing to worry about. Just a scary moment that should be treated like a bad dream.
The mares took a sigh of relief.
Desna: You see Pipp, that's why we need magic.
The group turned their attention towards Des.
Desna: Now just imagined if that was one of your royal subjects.
Pipp was just hit with hard reality. If that was one of her family's subjects and not North, things would be really bad.
Pipp started to freak out where Zipp tried to comfort her. North had enough where he got into Desna's face.
North Star: I don't know what your problem is Des but this has got to stop. She and Zipp have been through so much. They lost all respect from their subjects, their mom is in jail, and now they're wanted! They don't need any more of this!
Desna: I'm just being honest with her! She was SO fine of not having magic she didn't even think once about what would happen if something like that just now would happen to another pegasus!
North Star: There's a solid difference between honest and truthful you know! And now because of what you just said, she's freaking out!
Desna: Not my fault her family decided to lie! If anything, the way ponies behave today, it's the reason Equestria is like this. Fear, lies, conflict, greed, because of all the ponies letting themselves subject to those elements, they rather stay away from each other and not talk.
North Star: Well maybe you should add aggressive to the list because you are doing just that!
North shoved Des back.
Desna: Well maybe our talking will be stronger if we were!
Des shoved North back who shoved Des down.
Sunny: Stop it, you two are friends!
Desna got up and lunged at North as both of them started fighting.
Desna had North pinned where the dragon-pony hybrid kicked him off.
North then lunged at Des who used his tail to grab one of his hooves and throw him.
North lands on his hooves where he fires his frost breath and freezes Desna's head.
North then throws a punch with his hoof where the ice shatters where Desna just bucks North back.
North falls on his back where Sunny grabs one of Desna's front hooves.
Sunny: Stop it! You two are doing the opposite of what you stand for!
Desna: Not now!
Desna pushed Sunny back as Izzy caught her where North rammed into Desna who fell to the ground.
North Star: Go home Des!
Desna shook his head and looked at North.
Desna: What?
North Star: I said go home. If being aggressive and ruining the lives of others is how you want to succeed, then maybe you shouldn't even get involved anymore.
Des got up and shook himself off.
Desna: You think you're so strong because your father calls you his "little prodigy" but really, what have you done to do anything prodigetic?
North Star: I'm doing something aren't I?
Desna: You know you're helpless without me.
North Star: I'm not a little colt anymore. And I'm not helpless.
Des just scoffed and turned away.
Desna: You want me to leave? Fine! I'm going home.
Des walked off where North turned his back to the unicorn-kirin hybrid.
North Star: Have it your way.
Des then ran off into the distance where his figure disappeared.
North then lowered his head where he closed his eyes and started to cry.
Zipp and Pipp used one of their wings to cover North to comfort him as Izzy and Sunny both took one of his hooves as Hitch followed, still trying to progress what happened as they continued to Bridlewood.
It was now dark where Zipp was trying to start a fire.
North Star: He was my best friend. My foalhood friend. He was like a brother to me. I thought I could trust him.
Sunny rubbed North's back for comfort as Zipp used her hooves to create a spark where she used her wings to create a small gust to make the fire strong.
Izzy: Oh, yeah! Nailed it!
Hitch was seen by himself trying to start his own fire where he tried spinning a stick back and forth to start his own fire.
Hitch: Come on, stupid stick.
Zipp: You need some backup, Sheriff?
Hitch: No, thank you. I've got it.
Hitch continued spinning the stick.
Hitch: Come on. If only I had a match.
Hitch was then able to start a small fire where he rejoiced only for it to be short-lived after it to go out the next second.
Zipp: Oh, well, that was sad to watch. Come on, don't be a hero, dude. That's North's thing.
North: Hey.
That small joke was able to lift North's spirit as he had a small smile where Sunny walked over to her foalhood friend.
Hitch: Are you sure about all this? Because if we just go back to Maretime Bay…
Sunny: What have we got to lose?
Hitch: By giving magic back to our enemies? Uh, let me think. I know - a lot! And it's even more if that monster gets his magic back!
Sunny then formed a scowl on her face where she kicked Hitch's firewood away.
Hitch: What the…Sunny!
Sunny: You know, I'm getting tired of you and everypony else calling North a monster. He is not a monster! He's probably one of the most gentle and innocent creatures in Equestria. And you're not even giving him a chance. He did nothing to you. What do you have against him?
Hitch: Let me see. Oh, that's right. Public property damage!
Sunny: That's because you trapped Izzy and Des. Not to mention I'm sure anypony would not want to get hit with a slimeball. Because I know how it feels.
Hitch: If I knew any better, it seems you like him.
Sunny blushed at this. Sure he was cute, plus he was nice, but they knew each other for a few days.
Sunny shook her head to regain her focus.
Sunny: Well he's been more supportive towards me in the past few days then you have for the last several years. And does he along with anypony else look like our enemies?
Sunny and Hitch look back at the group.
Pipp: My sparkle is aquamarine? That's like my sixth-favorite color!
North reached into his bag where he brought out some marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate, as he had some good roasting sticks which got the girls excited.
Hitch: *Sigh* I don't know. Maybe I should just go back to Maretime Bay, where I'm needed.
Sunny: If that's what you want. But you should know I'm actually glad you're here, Hitch. We all are. Even North is glad you're here.
Sunny starts to walk back to the group.
Hitch: Wait, HE is glad I'm here?
Sunny: Yes. He thinks that if somepony like you could support what we're doing, we can have a better influence.
Sunny sits by down the fire where North gave her a roasting stick with a marshmallow already stuck to it where she took it and started roasting.
North Star: Got more than enough to go around you know.
Hitch just snorted as he walked over towards the group and sat next to the fire where North passed him a roasting stick with a marshmallow where Hitch was hesitant but took it anyway.
Hitch: North, was it?
North Star: Well my whole name is North Star but every creature calls me North.
Hitch: So where did you come from? I'm sure you won't be living at any place in Equestria because of your appearance.
North sighed and decided it was time for an explanation.
North Star: Me and Des came from a hidden village isolated from all Equestria. It's the only place where all pony kind and other creatures of Equestria live together in harmony that even hybrids like me and Des exist.
Hitch: Hybrids?
North Star: Desna is part unicorn and part kirin. Kirin are magical creatures which, according to legend, spread good luck. And can do magic that of a unicorn. But if angered, they become a Nirik. Their bodies blacken and their hooves, mane, and tail on fire.
The ponies were amazed by this.
Zipp: Any other creatures?
North Star: Plenty. Dragons, Diamond Dogs, Hippogriffs, Changelings, etc. All of those who believe in friendship live there. As for me, I'm part pony, part ice dragon.
Izzy: Had a feeling your other half involved ice.
Hitch: So you're part unicorn part dragon?
North Star: Actually, I'm what you call an alicorn.
Pipp: Alicorn?
Sunny: Oh, I have a figurine back at my house of a purple mare. She has pegasus wings, and a unicorn horn. That's what you are?
North Star: Yep.
Sunny: I guess when you're part dragon, you have a different appearance to the natural thing.
Hitch: What's so special about alicorns?
North Star: They have the wings of a pegasus, or in my case, dragon wings. The horn of a unicorn. And the strength of an earth pony. All three kinds of pony in one package. Plus, they are also royalty.
Hitch: Wait royalty?
North Star: Yep, any existing alicorn like me is automatically labeled as royalty no matter who we are.
Hitch: So wait, that makes you a…
North Star: A prince? Yeah.
The group was in awe.
North Star: But you don't have to treat me any different. I don't care about status. It's just a sign to show off.
Ponies: Wow…
North Star: Now then, Sunny, what's the plan?
Sunny: So, I think we should set off at first light. Last stop, Bridlewood.
Sunny then saw Izzy was sad where North's emotion reading was picking up on it and felt heartache.
Sunny: What's wrong, Izzy?
Izzy: It's just that being with you ponies has been the best thing that's ever happened to me. I guess I just don't want our adventure to end.
Sunny: But, Izzy, you'll get your magic.
Izzy had a soft smile where North sensed some small joy which made him better knowing she was better.
Hitch: Can I ask you a question? Why did you and North come to Maretime Bay?
Izzy: I always wanted to visit. When I was a filly, I found this pretty lantern. It had a message inside.
Izzy reached into her mane and pulled out the same folded image she showed North and Des when they first met.
Izzy: It said I had friends in Maretime Bay.
Izzy showed everypony the picture where Sunny recognized it as she smiled.
Izzy: It…It was you!
Izzy and Hitch passed the picture to Sunny.
Sunny: I made it with my dad. We always promised each other that someday we would prove that all ponies were meant to be friends. We'll do our part. Hoof to heart.
Sunny held the picture close to her chest as she smiled.
North Star: As for why me and Des went to Maretime Bay, before it was me going out reuniting Equestria, it was my dad. But four years ago, he got sick and died. But before he passed the mantle to me, he told me to look for Argyle Starshine, Sunny's dad. Sadly he passed before we even started. But something else great came out of that.
Sunny: What's that?
North Star: I got a chance to meet you Sunny.
Sunny felt touched by North's words.
North Star: Hey, Pipp. If you don't mind, once this is all over, can you put on a private performance so I can listen to your sining?
Pipp: Really?
North Star: Yeah. I never got the chance to enjoy your singing because, well, you know.
Pipp giggled at North because he was trying to not make things awkward.
North Star: And Zipp, maybe when ever you have time, maybe me and you can have some private flying sessions.
Zipp: You mean it? Me and you flying?
North Star: Of course. You like flying right? I remember when you showed us that station and the way you used the fan to fly like how I glide. I felt the joy and freedom you were feeling. So I want to experience the same thing with you.
Zipp felt happy knowing somepony like North wanted to fly with her.
North Star: And Izzy…
North walked over to Izzy where he reached to the back of her head and brought her in where both their heads touched as their horns crossed.
North Star: No matter how far apart we are, we'll always be friends and always be together.
Izzy: But you said your village is isolated. How can we find you?
North Star: Then I'll show you. I promise, we'll always, and I mean always, be together.
North backed away where Izzy felt happy knowing North was there by her side since the beginning and was always there for her.
Hitch then made up his mind.
Hitch: Hey, um…
Everypony looked at Hitch.
Hitch: I want to do my part.
Sunny was happy to know her foalhood friend was going to be with them now.
Hitch: What have we got to lose, right?
The group cheered glad he was tagging along.
Hitch: I have to admit, a unicorn forest does sound kind of magical.
The next day, the group were standing right outside the border to Bridlewood where it was NOT so magical at all with DO NOT ENTER signs to the pegasi and earth ponies as a fearful aura was emitting from the forest.
Hitch: Or not.
The only one smiling was Izzy where everypony else was shaken from what they were witnessing.
Izzy: Come on! My house isn't far from here!
Izzy sings to herself as everypony else follows her into Bridlewood.
