Ch-5 - The Discovery

"There are the WildPine mountains" said Twilight pointing to a group of tall mountains. Fluttershy gulped.

"Um..do the Moserbas grow at the bottom?" she asked without much hope.

"Sorry, Fluttershy" replied Twilight. "They're only at the very top"

"Just our luck" moaned Rainbow Dash.

"What are you complainin' for Dash? Atleast you can fly." pointed out Apple Jack.

"My wings get tired too ya know" she replied.

"Then walk" said Aj simply. Rainbow did, though she wasn't happy about it. Fluttershy and Twilight's wings hadn't done much so far though, so they flew up the mountain. They had already reached a good way up by now and started talking about the plan.

"When we find the plants, what are we gonna do with them? " asked Rainbow.

"Well.." said Twilight " I got some matches, so my plan was to burn them" Everyone stared at her. "What?" she said indignantly. "I couldn't think of anything else, and fire will turn them to ashes.''

"It's a good plan, I guess" said Aj. "By the way, how are we gonna find the plants anyway?"

"Zecora told me the plants were dark green with small white flowers. These flowers have black seeds in them which give out that fume. Also, don't forget we also have smugglers to catch. I have a feeling they'll be here, to get those flowers."

"It sounds pretty easy" said Rainbow "We catch the smugglers, burn the plants, and everything will be great again!"

"Easier said than done Rainbow Dash" said Rarity. "Oh girls, I thought of something else!'' wailed Fluttershy." What about all the ponies who are already infected! Zecora said there's no cure! We can't just let them suffer forever!" Everyone was in shock.

"I never thought about that" said Twilight. "I'm sure there must be some cure. " then she gulped. "We'll have to think about that later. We've reached the top!" Everyone looked around. There was nothing but hard dirt and a few patches of ice and snow, though it was quite warm. "I don't see any flowers. Do you?'' asked Pinkie, sliding in the ice.

"Nope" they answered. Suddenly Twilight had a panic attack. "Oh my gosh you guys!What if it really was just a silly legend? What if we came all this way for nothing! I knew it was a bad idea! I-"

"Woah woah woah Twi" said Rainbow, putting a hoof around her. "I'm sure the plants are somewhere here. And if they aren't, we just go back. The path wasn't so bad.'' Twilight calmed down and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry everyone, i'm just so nervous. I just want this mess to be over."

" We all feel like that" said Spike kindly. "But we've got to do it. FOR EQUESTRIA!'

"For Equestria!'' repeated the others.

"I think the smugglers already took all the plants. There probably weren't too many." said AJ. This wasn't a very happy thought, but it made sense.

"Do you hear that" said Fluttershy suddenly. They all stopped and listened.

"Other ponies" said Twilight quietly. "This way!" They followed her and hid behind a large dirt mound. They saw three unicorns, fighting. They were too far away to hear what they were saying.

"Look." whispered Aj. One of them was holding a wheel barrow full of white flowers!

"The smugglers" said Twilight. They looked at the three strangers- all of them were a goldenish brown with bright hair. Twilight guessed they were siblings. There was a mare and two stallions.

"What are we waiting for" said Rainbow impatiently. "Let's go knock them out!"

"Rainbow wait" started Twilight, but she had already flew to them. Quick as a flash, the biggest stallion tackled her while the mare tied her up. The other stallion, who seemed to be the youngest, stood akwardly in the background. Twilight and the others raced to rescue Rainbow, but they all suffered the same fate.

"What are you doing here in the borders" asked the large stallion angrily. Rarity gasped.

"I know you three!'' her friends looked at her in shock. "Girls, these siblings ran a diner in Canterlot. He's Lime Jelly" pointing to the oldest stallion with dark blue hair. "She's Honey Pancake" pointing to the surly looking mare with brown curls "and he's Butter Sauce" pointing to the young, shy looking unicorn with bubblegum pink hair.

"Nice to meet you' said Pinkie happily. "I'm Pinkie Pie, this is Rain-"

"That's enough!" snapped Lime Jelly. He smiled evilly. "Ah yes, that little diner... I hated that place. But now I won't have to work anymore!" Looking angry again he asked" And I asked you a question. What are you doing here?"

"Never mind that!" said AJ angrily. "We know why you're here. And we're not letting you infect the ponies!"

Looking a bit surprised, Lime smirked and said "And what are you gonna do tied up?"

Twilight replied smugly "forgot we have magic?" she was about to do a spell to untie the ropes, but Honey Pancake tackled her.

"You think you're so smart,huh?" she said in a cruel voice.

"Get them in the dungeons!" ordered Lime Jelly. They dragged the ponies to a concealed trap door in the ground and took them in.

"Why don't we just infect them with the flowers?" asked Honey Pancake.

"We need to save it as much as we can" he replied. "These brats can't do anything now anyway." With that they left and locked the door. They were hopelessly trapped.