Chapter 26:
Dragon Land Search - Part 1:
Meet Applejack and Dragon Lord Ember
"The Dragon Lands are home to many Dragons and it's dominated by Mount Stoker, an unstable volcano that makes life on the surface very dicey…," Celestia explained.
"...The Dragons there have been forced to mine the metals that Slash uses to forge his army's weapon," Luna added.
"Do they have a leader or something?" Twilight asked.
"Yes, her name is Ember," Celestia replied.
"Better make sure to remember that name," Spike commented.
"There's been rumors that said that Slash is holding Cliffbore and Inferno somewhere in the mines…," Luna continued.
"...We know he's using them to power the last two crystals he needs to open the portal," Celestia said.
"...Twilight, you and Spike must find them and free them before Slash gets the chance," Luna instructed.
"Boy, Mount Stoker really is in a bad mood," Spike commented, looking at the volcano.
"Yeah, it sure is. But no time for sightseeing, Spike. Time for us to get serious. Let's go," Twilight said as she sets out to begin her search and rescue mission.
"Oh, not again," Spike groaned as he followed right behind her.
As they began their search and rescue quest, appearing from a tunnel ahead of them, are some of Slash's forces as they ran down the mine tracks and towards the two.
"Here we go!" Twilight said as she puts her skills to the test on every one of them.
She used her Water Shards, Nature Darts, and more to defeat them, including kicking some of them into the lava. After defeating the small grunts, a war tower behind them exploded. Twilight then attacked the captain and defeated him with ease.
Before they could continue on their search, Twilight managed to destroy some of the forging machines with a little help from her magic and Spike's firepower too.
Once the machinery is done, Twilight and Spike entered the tunnel where their enemies came from and ran through it, along with having some encounters with some beetles that were in that tunnel. When they reached the end of the tunnel, they saw a Commander holding up a flaming mallet which creates a barrier that blocks their way. Twilight flew towards the Commander and used her Water and Nature Magic and her aerial combat skills to defeat him, along with knocking off his armory and off his post.
With the Commander defeated, the barrier dissolves, which means Twilight and Spike can keep moving. But before they could, Twilight and Spike looked to see four more Ape Creatures jumping down before them. Twilight switches to magic and sends a magic bomb exploding, scattering the enemies. Then Twilight uses her aerial combat skills once more and her magic powers to defeat every one of them.
Four more small Ape Creatures jumped down, but Twilight defeated them too. Suddenly, a stick of dynamite went boom behind her and Spike as they looked up to see a Captain throwing some dynamite at them. Switching to her Electricity Magic, Twilight ran and flew up to him and zapped him, knocking him off the platform, and defeated him.
After dealing with Slash's Forces, Twilight and Spike headed on over to an old wooden gate as Twilight used her Air Magic to blow the gate apart and down. After knocking down the gates, Twilight and Spike approached something. Ahead of them is a Dragon and another Alicorn.
The Dragon is a female cyan dragon with blue spikes, light grayish ram-like horns, and brilliant red eyes. She also appears to be taller than Spike and Twilight.
The Alicorn next to her, is an orange Alicorn mare, around Twilight's height, with a blonde mane and tail, wearing a cowgirl hat on her head, brown stepson, and green eyes. Her cutie mark is of three red apples.
"I wonder if that's Ember, Celestia was telling us about," Spike whispered to Twilight, wondering if that's the Dragon Lord.
"Sure looks like it. But who's that Alicorn with her?" Twilight whispered, looking at the orange Alicorn next to the Dragon.
A little startled, the orange Alicorn and cyan Dragon in front of them got into their defense positions, ready to attack anyone who'll dare to hurt them, surprising Twilight and Spike.
"Who's there? Who are you two?" the orange Alicorn demanded in a western voice, wanting to know who they're up against.
"It's me, my name's Twilight Sparkle," Twilight replied, introducing herself and assuring her fellow Alicorn that she's no threat.
"And I'm the mighty Spike the Brave and Glorious," Spike introduced himself as well, looking at his claws like a proud dragon.
"Oh, yeah. I've heard about you two. You're the ones who freed Mount Aris from Slash's Forces, aren't you?" the cyan Dragon, starting to recognize the two heroes.
"We are. But who are you two?" Twilight asked with a raised brow.
"My name's Applejack and this here is Dragon Lord Ember," Applejack said, introducing herself and the cyan female Dragon to Twilight and Spike.
"Well, it's nice to meet you both, especially you, Dragon Lord Ember," Twilight said as she and Spike bowed down to Ember in respect and kindness.
"Well, I was the Dragon Lord. But I'm not anymore I'm afraid," Ember said, looking down in sadness and defeat.
"But why? What happened?" Spike asked.
"Well, you see, inside those caves, are those of Ember's Subjects who aren't mining for Slash are holed up in there, and they're scared out of their scales, waiting for Mount Stoker to blow," Applejack explained, pointing to the caves with her wing.
Inside the caves, an Ape Soldier growled at a Dragon, causing him to work harder and faster.
After Applejack explained to Twilight and Spike, they felt the ground starting to shake violently.
"Which shouldn't be long. But if you two can help us to free them, is there something Applejack and I can do for you two?" Ember added, wondering what she and Applejack could do for Twilight and Spike in return.
"Well, we're looking for two stallions named Cliffbore and Inferno," Twilight said.
"Wait, you two are looking for the Alicorn Guardians of Earth and Fire?" Applejack asked as a hopeful smile appeared on her face.
"Yeah, why? Do you know them?" Twilight asked, raising a brow in confusion.
"I sure do, sugarcube. Because Ember and I know where they are being kept," Applejack replied, giving Twilight and Spike an honest answer.
"She's right. See, in the mines near a large labor camp, where two of my most trusted dragons, Garble and Smolder. Maybe we can help each other," Ember said with a hopeful smile on her face too.
"But which way do we go? What should we do next?" Twilight asked.
"It's simple enough, Twi. But you got to hurry. Mount Stoker is getting more unstable by the minute. I'll help you and Spike clear these caves before we can help our friends," Applejack said.
"And you were asking her for directions? Talk about an Alicorn leading another Alicorn," Spike commented as Twilight rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Forget what he said. We're in," Twilight said.