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Hurricane flew casually through the sky above the ocean. He spontaneously flew in a loop just because the thought popped into his head. Being able to fly about was such a rare luxury now, he never missed an opportunity to enjoy every minute airborne he could.
His eyes happened to fall on the ocean and thee objects on the surface. He figured they were sea ponies. He spiraled down towards the water. The three were sea ponies bobbing on the surface like buoys. Pearl Diver, Manta Ray, and Undertow watched him as he hovered just above the water.
"Hey, guys. What are you doing on the surface?" Hurricane asked.
"We're looking for Sand Dollar and her friends," Pearl Diver said. "They should've been back from Dream Valley by now, but no one's seen or heard from them."
"It's been two days," Manta Ray said. "At very least one of them should have come back to say they would be staying longer, especially with all the foals they took with them."
Hurricane glanced away and mulled what they told him over. Sand Dollar and her friends often traveled to Dream Valley on trips to visit the mares living at Dream Castle. Fortunately travel below the waves was as free as ever. However, they were usually day trips, especially now that they took some of the foals. If they were staying longer, they usually let the others know beforehand or sent a message if it was spur of the moment.
Hurricane's mind wandered into what some of the others had told him of the many threats Dream Valley faced. He thought they were pulling his wing. Dream Valley could not be that overrun with monsters and evildoers.
However, with Sand Dollar and the others missing, it was logical to assume foul play was involved. Everyone in Dream Valley could be in danger and might need their help. "Well, if they're not back by tomorrow morning, I'll fly out with Blitz and Jet Streak to see what's going on in Dream Valley. How does that sound?"
"That'll work," Undertow said.
"What about the pirates?" Manta Ray asked.
"We'll just have to risk it," Hurricane said. "Besides, I'm getting tired living my life around those blubbery criminals."
Something faint reached Hurricane's ear. He turned around so his flapping wings were out of the way and listened intently. Her heard it again, just clearly enough to determine what it was. It was someone screaming for help, perhaps two. "Did you hear that?"
The sea ponies strained towards the faint cries.
"I did," Pearl Diver said. "Someone's in trouble."
"Make that big trouble." Undertow pointed at a gray cloud sitting on the water a few miles away. "There's only one cloud like that in the islands."
"Speak of the devil, it's the Dreadtusk," Hurricane said dully. "The pirates must have gotten someone."
"Then we need to get them back. Come on, boys." Pearl Diver dove underwater.
Manta Ray and Undertow hopped out of the water to splash in head first. They followed Pearl Diver under the surface towards the cloud.
Hurricane flew low and behind them. Yet another impromptu rescue operation. Hurricane had been on both ends of too many of them. However, the pirates had not succeeded in holding anyone captive in the year they had plagued the Mangrove Islands, and they would not break that streak on his watch.
Wind Whistler felt a pit form in her stomach as the crane pulled her and Fizzy level with the deck. It was that sickening feeling you get when you realize you are helpless before the inevitable. The pirates held sabers and machetes in their flippers. Their mouths spread into wide grins of yellowed, crooked teeth. The net stopped as it came to the pulley on the arm.
Snaggletusk gave a cruel chuckle. "Prepare the brig fer our 'guests.'"
"If I was my right size," Honeysuckle grumbled, "I'd blow these pirates to the end of the earth."
"Well you're not," Paradise replied. "It's actually better that we remain hidden. They might not notice us."
"What about getting help from the islands?" Morning Glory asked.
"You wouldn't reach them in time," Galaxy said. "Our only hope is someone was in earshot and can help us. Otherwise…" She paused. "I don't even want to think about it."
"Please tell me you have a plan, Wind Whistler," Fizzy whimpered, practically on the verge of crying.
Wind Whistler bit her lower lip. She did not have one. The only thing at their disposal was the Rainbow of Light, and the pirates' rainbow negated that. Even if they could get free, her wings were soaked meaning she could not fly very fast if at all.
Her mind wandered to their friends trapped in Dream Castle. They had to be so scared and hoping she and Fizzy could pull through. Thinking about them waiting for help that would never come brought her to the brink of tears. For their sakes, she and Fizzy needed a miracle.
A white, pegaus stallion with scarlet hair suddenly flew out of the gray fog. He rammed the crane operator out of his chair and pushed the lever to the opposite position. The crane swung back out to dangle the net over the ocean again.
Wind Whistler watched the pandemonium that quickly consumed the deck. A seal came up from behind the stallion and raised his machete over him in preparation to strike. "Watch out!"
The stallion looked back. He bucked the machete from the seal's flipper and jumped up to catch the blade in his mouth. He flew off the deck and swooped around to the net.
"I'll get you down from there," the stallion said with his teeth clenched around the handle of the blade. He slashed the rope suspending them from the crane. They plummeted into the ocean. However, a giant clam shell lifted them out of the water.
Three sea ponies surfaced in front of them. "Shoo-be-doo, shoo, shoo-be-doo," the purple mare and blue and green stallions sang as was sea pony custom when announcing their arrival and departure.
The three ducked underwater as a net hit the water where they had been. Wind Whistler looked up at the deck from where the net had come from. It was crowded with seals holding nets and ropes.
The mare surfaced. "We can't get them out of here with the pirates throwing nets at us," she said to the pegasus.
"I'll take care of it," the pegasus replied.
He flew back to the galleon and up towards where the black mainsails were attached to the mast. He slashed his machete through the ropes holding the largest of the sails to the mast. The sail fell to the deck and covered a large amount of it as well as just about all the crew.
The pegasus flew back down to them. "Let's get out of here."
The two stallion sea ponies surfaced and grabbed ropes. They and the mare towed the shell away from the galleon.
Wind Whistler looked back to see the giant sail draped over the ship as it rustled from the crew fighting to get out from under it. She heaved heavy sigh in relief. They got their miracle.
Hurricane landed on a tiny lump of sand that could barely be called an island. The fronds of the single palm tree growing on it stretched out farther than the sand did. However, it was as good a place as any to get the two mares out of the net. Pearl Diver and the others towed the netted ponies to it and pushed the shell up on the sand.
"Are you two all right?" Hurricane asked
"We will be once you have freed us from this net," the pegasus said.
Hurricane turned to the Sand Dollar. "Okay. Pull the top of the net out so I can slash it open."
"Just be careful not to hit them," Pearl Diver said.
Manta Ray and Undertow pulled the top of the net away from the two captives. Hurricane brought the machete down and slashed the top of the net off. He dropped the machete and grabbed the net in his teeth to help the two mares work their way out of it.
"Thank you so much for coming to our aid." The pegasus kicked the net off her back to hoof.
"It was nothing, really. We've done it more times than…" Hurricane got his first good look at the pegasus and just stopped. She was stunningly beautiful along with well spoken. It felt like his heart leapt into his throat as she walked up to him.
"We should probably introduce ourselves," the pegasus said. "I am Wind Whistler and this is my friend, Fizzy."
"Hello," her unicorn companion said.
"Who are you?"
"Me…I'm Hurricane."
"Are you all right?" Wind Whistler asked. "You seem flustered."
Hurricane thought fast for an excuse. "I guess I'm just a little stoked from saving you." He forced a grin. "Nothing like facing down pirates to get the blood pumping." He held his elbow to his chest and felt his heart thumping like crazy.
"I'm Pearl Diver. These are Manta Ray and Undertow."
"Hi. How're doing?" Undertow said. "You two wouldn't happen to be from Dream Valley, would you?"
Fizzy and Wind Whistler opened their mouths to answer. However, they closed them. The two looked to each other and then lowered their heads sorrowfully.
Wind Whistler looked to Undertow. "Yes," she said solemnly. "You are likely asking because your friends have not returned or sent a message to you. I am afraid that is because we were attacked and they are being held captive along with most of our friends."
Pearl Diver gasped. "No."
A tiny white pegasus flew out of Wind Whistler's mane. She was joined by pink and pale blue ponies that appeared to have wings made of gossamer and a pink unicorn winked in at Wind Whistler's feet.
"I'm afraid so," the pegasus said. "A sorcerer shrank us and took over our castle."
"You're telling me this happened to Sand Dollar?" Pearl Diver practically sobbed.
The pegasus gave a solemn nod.
Pearl Diver buried her head in Manta Ray's pale blue chest and wailed. He wrapped his fins around her and patted her back. "At least we know."
"Sand Dollar is Pearl Diver's little sister." Hurricane wanted to bite his tongue for the unfortunate choice of words.
Pearl Diver shot a glare at Wind Whistler and Fizzy. "Why weren't you shrunk?" she asked accusatorially.
"We…we were not there at the time," Wind Whistler answered meekly. "There was nothing we could do."
"We also shouldn't go down the road of what could have been." Hurricane put himself between Pearl Diver and Wind Whistler. He did not know why he did, but he felt the need to protect Wind Whistler from Pearl Diver. "What's done is done. We can't change that. We should concentrate on saving them."
"We are trying to rescue them," Wind Whistler said. "In fact, that is why we have to come to the islands. We are searching for a piece of the Rainbow of Light. We believe those pirates have it in their possession."
"You mean the Drab Arch?" Hurricane asked.
Wind Whistler nodded. "I believe that is what the pirates called it."
"Who were they anyway?" Fizzy asked.
"They call themselves the Pinniped Pirates," Hurricane said with a growl to his voice. "They've been plaguing the islands for more than a year now."
"A year?" Wind Whistler asked. "Sand Dollar and her friends have never said anything about this."
"Most sea ponies don't know what's really going on," Pearl Diver said. "The elders prefer we don't get too involved. Only a select few dare to get as close to their ship as we did."
"Monsoon also didn't want you to know because you might get put yourselves in danger," Hurricane said.
"Monsoon?" Wind Whistler paused. "Right, he is still here."
Hurricane furrowed his brow. "Of course he is. He's only a hundred twenty-seven."
"No, I mean he is still in Ponyland," Wind Whistler said. "I keep forgetting he did not leave with Sprinkles when the last group left."
"He lives on Spell Halt Island…along with everyone else now." Hurricane spread his wings and jumped into the air. "We can take you to him. You can explain what's happened on the mainland, and he can explain what's been going on here."
Wind Whistler leapt into the air and flew after him. Pearl Diver and the others pulled the shell off the mound and towed it after them. Hurricane led them east towards Spell Halt.
He looked down at Pearl Diver. She wore a pained expression. He could only imagine how painful it must be for her. Unless she had left Ponyland, he had to have a sister among the mares living in Dream Valley. However, he had not met them since they were foals. While the mares' plight was saddening, it was not a personal blow to him. However, Pearl Diver always fretted when her little sister and her friends left, and now her worst fears had been realized.
Wind Whistler flew down to the shell. She glanced to Pearl Diver who looked back at her, scowling resentfully. The expression pierced her deeply. She knew what she had to be going through. Seeing her and Fizzy unharmed while her sister was being held captive must have aggravated her grief.
"Galaxy," Wind Whistler whispered, "can we talk in private?"
"Sure." Galaxy winked out and winked back in on Wind Whistler's head. Wind Whistler fell back to where she believed they could talk without being overheard by the others.
"Galaxy, do think things could have gone differently if Fizzy and I had been at Dream Castle. We were not there because we stayed to visit with the bushwoolies."
"I doubt it. Ribbon's telepathy and my intuition failed to pick up Arachnis' presence and we could not escape. The only difference is you and Fizzy would likely be prisoners with the others."
"I just feel bad for having escaped this. I have often been the one to think of a way out of crises. I cannot help but wonder if I could have stopped this."
"I suggest you don't think about it. Like Hurricane said, what's done is done. We need to concentrate on rescuing them."
"We're approaching Spell Halt Island!" Hurricane shouted.
Wind Whistler looked ahead. They were headed towards a volcanic island. The coal dust gray cone of the volcano was surrounded by sandy beaches and lush jungle. Hurricane descended and landed on the black sand beach, and the sea ponies pushed the shell ashore.
As Wind Whistler landed, Galaxy groaned weakly. "Is something wrong?" Wind Whistler asked.
"I just feel a little dizzy," Galaxy answered weakly.
Honeysuckle and Morning Glory collapsed. "I suddenly feel sick," Honeysuckle grumbled.
"What's happening to you?" Fizzy fretted.
"It's okay," Hurricane said casually. "Their magic is just being blocked. The dizziness and nausea will pass in a few minutes."
"Why would their magic be blocked?" Wind Whistler asked.
Hurricane walked up to one of many bushes covered in pale blue, starburst-shaped flowers. Wind Whistler suddenly noticed he wore a lei made of those flowers around his neck. He held one up. "It's because of these. These flowers are magic and block all other magic. That's why this island is called Spell Halt. No other magic works here."
"But I don't feel dizzy." Fizzy said. She concentrated and a bubble formed in front of her. "And my magic still works."
"I believe it is because of your pendant," Wind Whistler said. "It protects you against harmful magic while letting you use your own. Since these flowers use their magic to dampen all foreign magic, it recognizes it as harmful and is preventing them from dampening yours."
"Huh?" Fizzy asked.
"She said your necklace is protecting your magic," Hurricane said.
"Why…yes." Wind Whistler was surprised Hurricane understood her immediately. Even most of her friends were still confused by her choices in vocabulary at times. It was not that she wanted to confuse them, but when she was excited or not thinking about it she would use more complicated words than needed. "You understood that?"
Hurricane put down the flower and shrugged. "Of course. I actually like your liberal use of vocabulary."
Wind Whistler felt her heart quicken at hearing this. This was the first time she had been complimented on her vocabulary. There was also something about Hurricane that made her feel strange.
Hurricane walked towards a path through the jungle. "Monsoon's place is at the foot of the volcano. Come on."
Paradise, Honeysuckle, and Morning Glory flew into Fizzy's mane. Fizzy trotted after Hurricane and Wind Whistler followed them.
Wind Whistler looked ahead to Hurricane. Why did being around him stir these strange feelings in her?
She tried to get her thoughts off it. She concentrated on her curiosity concerning the flowers. She had never heard of true plants with magical power. She walked close to the bush and sniffed a flower. She was greeted by a very weak, but sweet fragrance.
"An interesting species," Wind Whistler said.
"That's easy for you to say," Galaxy groaned. "It's not making you sick."
"Hurricane said you'll be fine any minute," Wind Whistler replied.
"There's Monsoon's place," Hurricane said, interrupting their conversation.
Wind Whistler looked up and saw he and Fizzy were several paces ahead. Hurricane pointed his front leg around a corner. Wind Whistler trotted to them and looked around the bushes and palm trees to where he pointed.
An open air structure made of bamboo poles sat at the base of the cone. Solar panels sat on the green palm fronds making up the roof and woven panels made half walls around it. The whole structure sat on stilts with a gangplank leading up to it.
There were quite a few pegasi inside. Wind Whistler recognized Contrail and Jet Streak as they were Heartthrob and Lofty's mates respectively and visited Dream Valley frequently until a year ago. There were also their sons who looked like smaller versions of them. The others were strangers, or at least she did not recognize them as adults since they were foals when they were last in Dream Valley.
Hurricane tapped his hoof against his forehead. "That's right," he said under his breath. "We're having a meeting this evening. I completely forgot."
"It is a fortunate happenstance for us," Wind Whistler said. "We can talk to all of them at once."
"That doesn't help the fact I'm late." Hurricane sulked up the gangplank to the hard wood floor.
"It's not like you to be the last one, Hurricane," Jet Streak said.
"I'm sorry, but I picked up a couple guests along the way," Hurricane replied.
Wind Whistler walked up the gangplank behind Fizzy. She looked around cabana. There were several round, wooden tables arranged around the floor. Multi-colored lights wrapped around the posts and rafters twinkled to give it a rather hackneyed feel.
A mint green pegasus with teal hair walked out from behind a bar in the corner. He was much older than the others, easily older than a century. He had slight wrinkles around the corners of his lips and eyes. Wind Whistler recognized the only pony alive during the Fall still in Ponyland: Monsoon.
"This is an interesting twist. Usually we go see the mares, not the other way around." His gravelly voice only confirmed what she already knew.
"Salutations, Monsoon," Wind Whistler said.
"Let me guess," Monsoon said abruptly. "Little Weather Vane."
"That is correct," Wind Whistler said.
Monsoon smiled and chuckled gently. "I knew it. You were such an intelligent and well spoken little filly."
"That means you're my twin sister." A gray pony with dark blue hair stood up and walked up to them. "The name's Strom Rider, formerly Windbreak Junior."
"I pleased to meet you," Wind Whistler replied. Although he was practically a stranger to her, she was happy to meet her twin. "I am glad to see you are doing well. It is too bad Mother and Father are not here to see our reunion."
Strom Rider shrugged. "Yeah. Too bad."
Monsoon looked to Fizzy. "And who is this?"
"I'm Fizzy," Fizzy answered.
"She was not born yet when you last visited Dream Valley," Wind Whistler added.
Monsoon frowned, but in a jokingly way. "Now you're making me feel old. That was Sprinkles' one hundredth birthday."
"Birthday," a voice squawked.
Monsoon flinched and glared up at a red McCaw parrot perched on a rafter. "Birthday, birthday, that was Sprinkles' birthday," the bird squawked.
"Shut Up, shut up!" Monsoon snapped.
"Why did you tell the parrot to 'shut up' twice?" Wind Whistler asked.
"Shut Up is his name," Monsoon grumbled.
"Actually, we've told him to shut up so often he thinks that's his name," Contrail said.
"Shut up," Shut Up said.
A hushed wave of chuckles made its way through the cabana.
Monsoon grimaced at the bird before turning his attention to Wind Whistler again. "Anyway, what brings you out to the Mangroves? I doubt you came all the way out here to catch up."
Wind Whistler felt her heart sink and her body slouch like a deflating balloon. For a brief moment, she had forgotten the dire quest she and Fizzy were on. "I am afraid it is terrible news. A sorcerer called Arachnis the Captor and his horde of arachnids have captured almost all the ponies living in Dream Valley and Flutter Valley. He shrank everyone except Fizzy and myself."
"This is a joke right?" A bright orange pony forced a laugh but stopped when he collected the glares of everyone else.
"See for yourself." Wind Whistler put her nose in front of a table so Galaxy could jump off her head and onto the tabletop. Paradise, Honeysuckle, and Morning Glory flew out of Fizzy's mane to join her. There was a collective gasp as everyone stared wide-eyed at the tiny mares.
"Is there anything we can do to save them?" a white pegasus colt with lavender hair, Contrail's and therefore Heartthrob's son, asked. He looked at Wind Whistler with a worried expression.
Wind Whistler nodded. "There is something we can do, and Fizzy and I are doing it right now. We have come here looking for a piece of the Rainbow of Light which can defeat Arachnis and restore everyone. However, we believe it is in the hands of some pirates who call it the Drab Arch."
"The Pinniped Pirates," Monsoon said sternly. "Those blasted seals and their orthodontic nightmare of a captain are the reason we no one has been to Dream Valley in a year. Anyone trying to leave the islands through the air has been intercepted and forced to turn back."
"They tried to capture us on the way here," Fizzy said. "If it wasn't for Hurricane, we'd be in their brig headed to who knows where. Where did they come from?"
"We're not sure where they came from, but they were a minor nuisance to start with. However, they obtained the Drab Arch and suddenly became a threat." Monsoon held up the lei he wore around his neck like the others. "We made these leis from the magic flowers on this island to protect us from it. However, while they protect us from it directly, it doesn't protect us from non-magical hazards it causes. They've effectively cut us off from the mainland and forced us all to live on this island."
"I wonder how it lost its color," Paradise mused allowed.
"It is possible the pirates' evil intentions have corrupted it and the loss of color is a manifestation of that corruption," Wind Whistler said. "Though, how did they find it in the first place?"
"There are stories of a treasure hidden on one of the islands," Monsoon said. "They might have scrounged around for something to use against us and found it."
"That's terrible," Fizzy said. "But what do they want with ponies?"
"From what we can tell they're slavers," Monsoon said. "They want to capture interesting creatures and sell them to highest bidder for whatever purpose they have in mind."
"Perhaps we can help you with them." Wind Whistler held up the rainbow locket around her neck. "We have already found one piece of the Rainbow of Light. We might be able to use it to take the other from the pirates."
Monsoon bobbed his head as he thought about it. "It's worth a shot. Those in favor of taking the fight to the pirates yell 'yea'."
A unanimous and enthusiastic chorus of "Yea!" resounded through the cabana.
"We must do it as soon as possible," Wind Whistler said. "Time is of the essence."
"Then we attack at dawn and end this once and for all!" Monsoon shouted to the cheers of the others. "In the meantime, let's prepare with a good meal and good night's sleep."
Paradise felt her mouth water at the sight before her. Dinner was a smorgasbord of tropical fruits. To her delight, this included honeydew melon. The sweet, green fruit was her favorite. She ate her fill which was probably less than she would have eaten in a single bite at normal size.
"One advantage to being small is you don't eat as much." A relatively loud belch suddenly escaped from her throat. She blushed. "Your belches are also less noticeable. Excuse me."
"I guess you're right," Galaxy said distantly.
"Is something wrong?"
"I just feel vulnerable without my magical powers. I guess you don't realize how much you depend on them until they're gone."
"I'm afraid I can't say I know how you feel, but at least we're with friends."
Paradise happened to let her eyes wander to Wind Whistler. She sat quietly at a table in the corner. Hurricane carried a plate piled with an assortment of colorful fruits to the table and set it down in front of her.
"Here you go," Hurricane said.
"Thank you," Wind Whistler said. "Would like to join me?"
"Thanks." Hurricane sat down next to her.
Hurricane looked around the cabana. "It's been a while since spirits have been this high around here. We had just about given up hope of getting those pirates out of our islands. Some of us were planning to leave and find a new home on the mainland."
Wind Whistler swallowed a piece of cantaloupe. "We are always glad to help those in need whenever we can. You should have let us know. We could have dealt with them."
Hurricane shrugged. "Maybe. You were caught flathoofed by them."
Wind Whistler looked to Hurricane. "We were fortunate you heard us. If it was not for you, who knows what would have happened to us?"
"Don't make a big deal out of it." Hurricane turned away from Wind Whistler and pawed the floor. His mouth bent into a screwed up grin. Paradise could swear she could see his cheeks redden under his white coat. "I just do what needs to be done."
"I have to admit I found it very dashing," Wind Whistler said.
The two looked at each other. Paradise was shocked at what she saw as a sparkle seemed to come to Wind Whistler's eyes. Wind Whistler of all ponies had fallen in love at practically first sight? Paradise felt anticipation swell within her as they drew closer.
Wind Whistler blinked and the sparkle was replaced with wide-eyed shock. "What am I doing?" She practically jumped to her hooves and galloped out of the cabana.
Hurricane looked around with a confused expression. "What, do I have bad breath?"
Paradise felt like the proverbial chair had been pulled out from under her. She planted her hoof on her face and sighed. She should have seen this coming. She flew after her. "Wind Whistler, come back."
Wind Whistler ran until she came to the end of an outcropping of volcanic rock jutting from the sand. The red sun was just starting to touch the ocean as it would soon disappear over the horizon. It seemed as good a place as any to be alone with her thoughts. She sat down and sighed.
That was what she was feeling. She was attracted to Hurricane, and she got the sense he was attracted to her. Having never met an eligible stallion her age before, she was unsure at first. However, she knew all too well now.
Wind Whistler heard Paradise sigh. "Ah, l'amour." She landed on Wind Whistler's forehead and slid down her nose.
"Stop it." Wind Whistler shook her head to make Paradise to fly off.
"Just feel lucky Heartthrob isn't here. She would be gushing like a dam break seeing you like this."
"But it is illogical." Wind Whistler stared out at the sinking sun. "My friends are being held captive and are counting on me to find a way to save them. A gang of pirates has a corrupted piece of the Rainbow of Light we must obtain. All this is happening, and I am thinking of something as frivolous as love and with someone I've only just met?"
Paradise perched on Wind Whistler's nose. "Whether you like it or not, you are not a being of pure logic. You also have emotional needs."
Wind Whistler coughed a tiny laugh. "Emotions. I have never been one to express my emotions freely or give in to sentimentalism. The truth is I do not because I am afraid of them. I would rather face a wall of incoming magma than my own feelings. The magma follows a set of rules so I can predict its behavior. Feelings on the other hand have a habit to breaking all the rules, and I fear they will lead me wrong."
"It's not that feelings break the rules, but rather the rules are more complicated," Paradise said. "It's actually natural seek companionship in a crisis like this."
"I guess I am also afraid to pursue this further only to discover it was a momentary infatuation with my rescuer," Wind Whistler said.
"You won't know unless you try," Paradise said. "He seems kindhearted and understanding. Get to know him and let him get to know you. I personally think you two make a great couple."
Wind Whistler managed a small grin. "I guess you are right."
"That's the spirit." Paradise flew up and sat in Wind Whistler's mane. "Now, go back in there and tell him your feelings."
"I do not think I will be so blunt." Wind Whistler stood up and walked back to the path. "I think he likes my reserved personality. Going into it too abruptly might frighten him, so I will take it slow."
"Oh, Wind Whistler."
Buttons glanced out the window again. Twilight had faded completely. The sky above the courtyard was black and studded with twinkling stars.
She turned to Ribbon. "Is it safe yet?"
Ribbon's horn glowed. "Yes. Those who didn't leave are asleep."
"All right, here we go." Buttons pointed her horn towards the key hanging on the hook next to the door. She concentrated and her telekinetic powers surrounded it. While telekinesis was a power all unicorns had, she had a more powerful version as her personal magic allowing her to lift more than her own body weight. At their diminished size, only she had a chance of brining the key to them.
Once the key was completely in her control, she willed it to rise and it slowly began to lift off the peg. It was heavy as its full weight came on her power. She spread her legs farther apart to brace herself and strained to keep it from dropping. "It's so heavy."
"Just get it to the sill," Magic Star said. "Then you can just drag it along."
Buttons pulled the key towards them. When it was well above the sill, she released it. The key hit the sill with a louder clang than Buttons was hoping for. She clenched her teeth as the echo resounded through the room.
"Are you okay?" Ribbon asked.
"I just need a second to recover." Buttons panted as she tried to catch her breath and gather her strength. "Did we wake anyone?"
"No."
That was all Buttons wanted to know. She again grabbed the key with her power. It was easier to drag it up to the cage. She released it when Spike grabbed its ring and picked up the key itself. "I got it."
He and Megan slid it into the padlock on the cage door. Sundance and Truly slid a pin through the hole in the key so they could help turn it. All four twisted the key until the lock popped open. Whizzer and Lofty slid the loop of the lock out of the door and pushed the door open.
Ribbon took a few cautious steps outside. Her horn glowed and she swept it from side to side. "It's safe."
"All right, we'll get the sea ponies." Megan mounted North Star and Spike mounted Lofty.
The pegasi and flutter ponies flew down to the tub the sea ponies were in. Because they could not move on land, the arachnids had left them there. The fliers hovered over the water so the adults could hop onto the backs of the adult pegasi and the foals could hop onto the backs of the pegasus foals and flutter ponies.
Buttons winked out and winked back in on the floor. The other unicorns materialized in shimmering sparkles around her.
"What about the earthlings?" Gusty asked.
"Actually, we are so small and light, they could possibly jump and land unharmed due to the decrease in our terminal velocity," Peach Blossom replied. "However, we can further cushion their fall using your wind magic and our Utter Flutter."
"Uh…right," Gusty said.
"Hold tight, little ones," Rose Dust said to the sea pony foals on the flutter ponies' backs. She then instructed the other flutter ponies, "Shift to Utter Flutter."
"But only enough to cushion their fall," Peach Blossom added.
The four ponies began beating their insect-like wings faster and faster. They reached a speed where they were producing wind that hit the ground and was deflected upwards. Gusty added her magic and twisted it into a vortex.
Magic star looked down at the vortex. Utter Flutter gave a shimmering affect to the air so she could see it. "Nice thinking."
She turned back to the others. "Gusty and the flutter ponies have made a vortex to cushion our fall. We'll go down one by one."
"Are you sure it's safe?" Shady whimpered.
"It's safer than waiting around for one of those eight-legged freaks to come by for a midnight snack," Lickety-Split replied.
"I'll check it out." Gingerbread leapt off the sill and into the vortex. The vortex slowed her descent and she gently planted her hooves on the floor when she reached it.
Magic Star heaved a sigh of relief. "Okay, foals next."
The three foals lined up at the edge. Little Sundance jumped first. She cheered as she slowly descended to the floor. Little Shady followed her and Little Lickety-Split then made her jump.
"Who's next?" Magic Star asked.
"I'll go," Lickety-Split said.
"All right, Sweet Stuff will go after you. Then Sundance, then Posey, then Cherries Jubilee, then Truly, then Shady, and I'll go last."
In the order Magic Star gave, the adults made their jumps. All of them landed safely. It was Shady's turn, but she took one look over the edge and backed away trembling.
"I can't do it," she said. "It's too high."
Magic Star sighed. She knew Shady would be frightened. That was why she chose to go last. "How about we make our jump together?"
Shady gulped. "Okay…I guess."
The two walked to the edge. "On the count of three," Magic Star said. "One, two, three."
The two jumped off the sill and into the vortex. The wind caught them and slowed their descent like the others. Magic Star felt like she was going in slow motion. The wind whipping through her mane and tail made her feel like she was in freefall, but the floor came closer very slowly. They finally reached the floor and Magic Star planted her hooves on the ground. Gusty and the flutter ponies ceased their magic and the vortex disappeared.
"That wasn't so bad now, was it?" Magic Star said to Shady.
"We're out of the cage and off the sill," Gusty said. "Now how do we get out of this room?"
"Leave that to us, darlings." Heartthrob flew up to the door handle with Whizzer, Masquerade, and Surprise following her. They undid the deadbolt and jumped on the handle to pop it open. The door opened slightly and Magic Star wedged her body into the narrow crack. Others helped her push it just wide enough so they could get through comfortably.
Magic Star quietly stepped out into the darkened courtyard. The night was quite warm and sticky. The humidity hit her like a wall as she left the air-conditioned interior. In the almost non-existent light, she made out the faintest image of Strike next to the door. A muffled snore came from his mouth.
Magic Star looked back to the others. "He's asleep," she whispered. "Let's go."
Everyone filed out and crept as quietly as they could past Strike. Peach Blossom stopped and looked at the giant scorpion's stinger.
"What is it, Peach Blossom?" Rose Dust asked in a whisper.
"Arachnis said the venom Strike injected into the witches protects them from his shrinking magic," Peach Blossom whispered. "I wonder if it could hold the key to restoring us to normal size as well."
"I am afraid we are in no position to investigate," Rose Dust said. "Come on. The others are waiting."
Magic Star watched as everyone slipped past Strike and jumped down the stairs into the courtyard. She followed Peach Blossom and Rose Dust to bring up the rear. The hardest parts of their escape were now hopefully behind them.
"Aside from Strike, the courtyard is abandoned," Ribbon said.
"Then we just have to make it to the far wall," Megan said.
The far wall was only discernable by where the stars ended. The arachnids had left no lights on and the moon had not yet risen. Fortunately, the courtyard was completely open, and with no one around they simply had to walk forward.
"Could it be any darker?" Surprise asked rhetorically.
"At least we can't be seen," Sundance said.
"Actually, arachnids have a very effective night vision," Peach Blossom said.
Shady gulped. "Now you tell us."
"Fortunately they can't read minds," Ribbon said.
"At least we hope they can't," Gusty said.
They came to the far wall. Megan felt the bottom until her hand passed through it. "Here it is."
"Here's what?" Lofty asked.
"It's a drainpipe," Magic Star said. "Rainwater empties out of the courtyard through it into the stream. At normal size, they're barely noticeable."
"However, at our current size we can slide down them to escape." Megan disappeared down it.
The others followed. Magic Star again waited until everyone disappeared into the dark pipe before jumping in herself. The pipe sloped down and emptied into the stream. She fell out into the cold water below with a splash. She swam to the surface and saw the other earthlings and unicorns bobbing in the water with her. The pegasi and flutter ponies hovered over them as the stream carried them.
They swam to the opposite shore and pulled themselves out of the water. Magic Star shook the water out of her coat once she was on dry land. It actually felt good to get wet on this sticky night.
"Being small isn't all that bad," Little Shady said, giggling. "We can ride in whirlwinds and slide down drain pipes. It's actually a lot of fun."
"It won't be fun if we get caught," Lickety-Split said.
"I also have a feeling there are going to be storms before morning," Gusty said. "I for one don't want to know what a thunderstorm would be like at this size. We need somewhere to hide."
Magic Star pondered this for a couple seconds when Megan said, "How about my home?"
"Are you sure it's safe?" Shady asked.
"It's safer than here, and it's the one place Fizzy and Wind Whistler would think to look for us and Arachnis wouldn't," Megan replied.
"But the only way to get there is by flight," North Star said.
"I might have a solution for that." Rose Dust disappeared into the darkness with the other flutter ponies. A few seconds later they returned carrying a huge catalpa leaf. "We can carry everyone on this."
"Good thinking." Megan climbed onto the leaf with the others.
"Are you sure you can carry all of us?" Gusty asked.
Peach Blossom nodded. "In our miniaturized state, we can actually carry relatively more as our volume and apparent weight have decreased by an additional factor than the surface area of our wings."
"I'll take that as a 'yes'," Gusty said.
The flutter ponies and pegasi grabbed the edges of the leaf and lifted it off the ground. They then flew towards the nearby waterfall and rainbow that served as a bridge between Dream Valley and Megan's horse ranch. As they departed, Magic Star took one last look at their home which they had to abandon. Hopefully, they would return to retake it soon.