Chapter 22:
Searching Mount Aris - Part 5:
Rescuing Marina and Gaia
The Mane 5 and Spike continued heading towards the top of the mountain and when they got there, Queen Novo and Skystar were already there waiting for them. They were quite impressed by how five little ponies and one small dragon can defend themselves and make it this far.
"I have to admit, you ponies have done better than I thought possible," Queen Novo admitted, feeling quite impressed with the progress they've made.
"I'll bet saying that has to hurt, huh?" Spike smirked.
"More than you could imagine." Skystar said cheekily, "There are some things about the Pearl Chamber you should know before you enter…,"
While Skystar was talking and was about to warn them about something inside the castle, Fluttershy looked ahead and saw something that made her gasp in fright, and the others took notice of her.
"Fluttershy, what's the matter?" Twilight asked.
Fluttershy only whimpered in reply as she pointed to the air with her hoof in fear. Twilight and the others looked where she was pointing and to their shock flying above them and out of the castle, Slash was flying away from Mount Aris letting out another demonic whinny.
The Mane 5 and Spike watched as Slash flew away and Spike looking at him in shock says, "And I think we're done here,".
"Not before we rescue Marina and Gaia," Rarity reminded him.
"The Chamber has been discrete and the Guardian of the Pearl hasn't been at peace since Slash's forces arrived," Queen Novo stated.
"But if you can subdue his anger, Mount Aris will be free and our people can come home," Skystar added as well.
"That's fine. But we came to free Marina and Gaia," Rainbow Dash told them.
"You must go through the Guardian of the Pearl to free them," Novo warned them.
"Knew you were gonna say that," Spike said as the Mane 5 walked ahead and headed to the castle.
Once they made it inside and entered the Pearl Chamber, ahead of them, they saw that laying down near Queen Novo and Skystar's thrones are two Alicorn mares looking drained and weak, just like Voltwing and Storm Heart.
One mare is light blue coated and her mane was dark blue with streaks of silver and tied in a ponytail with a seashell beret. Her outer wing feathers are shaped like swirling water. She wore a silver and light blue dress with light pink shell clamps, she had a pearl and shell bracelet and necklace with her own gold medallion with the mark of a water droplet. Her dress also obscured her cutie mark which was a cyan-blue tidal wave.
The second mare laying next to her was light minty green and her mane was dark green and striped with jade green, long and wavy, almost touching the ground with flowers decorating it. Her wings' outer feathers her darker green and looked like leaves. She wore a yellow leaf laurel crown and a garland of different colored flowers and attached to it a cloak made from leaves that went right to the ground she wore it around her frame and at the center of the garland was a bright pink flower with a gold medallion with the symbol of a sporting plant. The cloak also hid her cutie mark which was a rainbow flower blooming.
Rarity gasped in shock, "Marina!".
"Gaia!" Fluttershy said in a worried tone.
Twilight, getting the same feeling she had back at Yakyakistan, stopped them both with her wings before they could rush over to the two Alicorns.
"Hold on, we need to be careful. Remember what happened last time," Twilight warned them.
"But Twilight, Slash just left and I don't see any big crazy Ice Kings around this place," Spike stated.
Unfortunately, Spike once again jinxed it, as suddenly appearing before them, a huge blue Coral Giant covered in Barnacles and sea plants rose up and started thumping its chest and roared as he stomped and slammed his hand on the floor, ready to fight the intruders.
"When will I learn? When things look good, run for the hills," Spike moaned.
"Well, we're not running for the hills! We came here to rescue Marina and Gaia and that's what we're gonna do," Twilight said as she got into her fighting position.
"She's right. Let's teach this Coral Giant Freak what happens when he messes with us," Rainbow Dash agreed as she and the others also got into their fighting position.
The Coral Sentinel approaches them ready to attack. But Twilight quickly slowed him down by blasting him with her magic bombs three times. The Coral Sentinel attempted to kick her, but Twilight quickly dodged out of the way and so did her friends. Pinkie came up to the Coral Sentinel and zapped it with her Electricity Magic, making him weaker. The Coral Sentinel then tries pounding Pinkie, but she dodged it as well. After the Coral Sentinel has pounded his fist on the ground, vines grew out and tangled around it tying it to the ground, courtesy of Fluttershy using her Nature Magic.
With its fist tangled and tied, Rainbow Dash flew down to the Coral Sentinel and struck it with a ball of strong winds. Rarity used her Water Magic to make a huge tidal appear and wash it over the Coral Sentinel. As the wave disappeared, the Coral Sentinel collapsed, getting weaker and weaker, but he was still standing. Seeing that they have almost defeated him, Twilight knows it's time to finish this creature. So focusing on her magic, she rises up and unleashes her Magic Fury Attack as purple magic fireballs appeared and bombarded the Coral Sentinel until he finally dropped in defeat.
Seeing how they have finally defeated the thing, Twilight and her friends high-hooved each other, for they have reigned victorious once again.
After defeating the Coral Sentinel, the Mane 5 and Spike entered the throne room where the Hippogriffs gathered around and bowed to them, thanking them for saving their home. Twilight and her friends approached Queen Novo and Princess Skystar sitting on their thrones smiling with Marina and Gaia, who have recovered, standing on both sides of them.
"You have Subdued the Coral Sentinel, restored our kingdom to its former glory, freed our people, and saved our pearl. Our people are in debt to you and your friends, Twilight Sparkle," Queen Novo congratulated Twilight and her friends for saving their kingdom.
"Well, that's what I'm talking about. I've always wanted to have respect and be called 'Spike The Brave and Glorious'," Spike bragged looking at his claws.
"That's very nice of you, your majesty. But we have to get back to our home," Twilight said, declining the offer kindly.
"Yeah, and figure out how to stop Slash once and for all," Rainbow Dash agreed.
"My dear Hippogriffs, I am Spike the Brave and Glorious, scourge of the despots …," Spike said to the Hippogriffs.
"They're right, your majesty. It's time for us to head back to where we belong," Gaia Evermane, the light minty green Alicorn mare said in her motherly-like voice.
"Yes, yes, we would love nothing more than to stay and be a part of your primitive, Avian-Equine society. But duty calls, duty calls," Marina, the light blue coated mare said in a prim-lady-like voice, turning to Queen Novo and Skystar.
"If you must, you must. But remember and know that you're now part of the Hippogriffs nation, one of us," Queen Novo said.
"I am Spike the Brave and-...Whatever," Spike complained.
"By the way, Twilight. You and Rainbow Dash are right," Skystar said.
"About what, Skystar?" Twilight asked, raising a brow.
"Maybe Two Heads are better than one…Even if one of them is a bragging Lizard," Skystar joked as she and Queen Novo escorted the Mane 5, Spike, and the two Guardians back outside of the castle.
"Lizard? Me? Is that…Oh," Spike said, getting what she was talking about as he followed behind them.