Chapter 37:
Slash's Lair - Part 1
"Slash's Lair is where hope goes to die, young ones. It's a dark foreboding place in which Slash broods and skulks and plans his next assault. You all must make it to his fortress, where I am sure Celestia and Luna are being held," Inferno explained and instructed the Mane 7 and Spike.
"Next time I say that I want to face Slash, why don't one of you mares just go ahead and zip my mouth up," Spike said as they arrived at their destination.
"No problem, Spike. I got that covered," Twilight agreed as she starts to look around.
"This place is a little scarier than what Gaia told me," Fluttershy said, shivering a little in fear.
Suddenly a demonic whinny was heard catching the band's attention as they looked to see Slash flying up to his fortress in the clouds.
"Boy, Inferno made it sound like the place is uninhabited," Spike said.
"And what fun would that be?" Rainbow Dash asked rhetorically.
"Come on, we gotta take the guards out and make it to the fortress," Twilight said as she and her friends set out to deal with the guards and make their way to the fortress.
On their way to the fortress, The Mane 7 saw a white Ape Creature hooting and hollering ahead of them and banging in his armor. Realizing that he's been spotted, he ran and jumped crashing through a metal gate. Thinking he might lead them to the fortress, The Mane 7 and Spike followed after him. When they caught up to him, Twilight used her magic to defeat the thing.
But when they were about to move on, ahead of them, they saw that in their paths were two Electric Leeches. Pinkie walked ahead of her friends and took her shot with those monsters by zapping them with her Electricity Magic. Upon defeating them, Pinkie managed to kick one of them at the gates breaking it in the process.
Continuing on their quest, they have finally made it to one of the gates of Slash's Lair, at least until a giant Ape Creature came out and raised his weapon up, creating an electric fence, trapping the Mane 7 and Spike. Seeing that they're trapped, Twilight knows there's only one thing for them to do…
"Looks like we're gonna have to fight them to get in," Twilight said as she and her friends got themselves ready to fight.
The Mane 7 and Spike used everything in their powers to defeat their enemies. They used magic, electricity, air, water, nature, earth, and fire to defeat their foes. But it wasn't over just yet, just as the gates open, more of Slash's forces appeared and approach them. But those were taken care of thanks to a little help of Twilight and Applejack's Earth Magic. As they make their way inside, Twilight and Rainbow Dash handled the guards with their Air Magic with no problem and they even managed to get pass the electric fences.
After getting through those obstacles, Twilight and her friends continued on their way to find and rescue Celestia and Luna before the last two crystals are powered. But as they entered a chamber of Slash's Lair, they noticed the ledges are a little high and have spikes that repel them to fly up.
"So how are we gonna get up there?" Rainbow Dash asked, raising a brow.
Twilight has already started looking around to find the answer until she stepped on something and looked down. What she was standing on was a flat platform and that's when she got an idea.
"Girls, I've got an idea. We could use these platforms to get up on those ledges," Twilight offered her idea to her friends.
"It's worth a shot. Come on," Sunset agreed as she and the others got on the platform with Twilight as the purple Alicorn works her magic to activate it and the platform rises up.
By the time they made it to the next level floor, a metal gate opened ahead of them and appearing from it are more of Slash's Forces. Luckily, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy managed to defeat them by zapping and tangling them up with their Nature and Electricity Magic. After defeating those Monkey-Brutes, the platform began to rise up again as Pinkie and Fluttershy caught up with the others.
"We're almost there," Twilight said as they made it to the third level floor.
But as they arrived, Pinkie noticed something on the wall. Sparking lights were seen and then suddenly a blue sphere appeared with four pink legs. This also caught the others attention too.
"What in the name of Equestria is that?" Rarity asked, pointing her hoof at the thing.
"It must be one of those Conduits," Sunset replied.
Suddenly, another gate opened and more of Slash's Forces arrived.
"Oh, come on! Now we have two things to take care of?" Rainbow Dash complained, apparently not liking the odds against them right now.
"Sunset, you and the girls handle the bad guys, I'll work my magic on the platforms," Twilight said to Sunset as the fiery Alicorn nodded.
And just like that, Sunset, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Pinkie worked together to deal with the threats while Twilight worked her magic on the platforms down below them. Applejack and Rainbow Dash worked together to defeat the Conduit by using Earth and Air, while Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Sunset worked together to defeat Slash's Forces.
It didn't take long after their enemies were defeated, Twilight has managed to make three platforms rise up high.
"Done and done, Twilight," Spike said.
But as the platforms risen up, the gates opened up, revealing the outside world, where more of Slash's Soldiers appeared and ran inside to take care of the Mane 7 and Spike. Switching to her Electricity Magic, Twilight zaps them out of the way as she and her friends jumped from platform to another and made it to the other side.
As they made it back outside, Twilight and her friends handled the Commander with ease. When they were about to continue on their way they had a few more encounters such as dealing with Electric Leeches and Giant Electric Crystal Giants. Pinkie took good care of the leeches with her Electricity Magic but the Crystal Giants are a lot tougher and harder.
Seeing is how these things are too hard to take down, Twilight has an idea on how to defeat these things. Motioning to her friends to stay behind her and when the Crystal Giants surrounded her, Twilight rises up into the air and unleashed her Magic Fury Attack!
When she unleashed it, purple magic explosions occurred, bombarding and defeating the Crystal Giants in the process. But yet some of them are still standing, so switching to her Water Magic, and with the help from Rarity, the two Alicorns blasted them with water and defeated them with ease. The Mane 7 and Spiek continued on their way until but ahead of them, the gates opened up and more of Slash's Forces ran out.
"These things just won't give up. Won't they?" Rainbow asked, whispering.
"Not if we have anything to say about it," Twilight replied, whispering as well.
So just like that, Twilight and her friends once again took care of their foes. Defeating them with their magic and aerial combat skills. When they arrived at the gates, Twilight took care of the soldier guarding it, if you know what I mean. And just like that, the gate opened up and the Mane 7 and Spike ran inside. But when they did, they saw more soldiers of the Dark Army running up to them. But that didn't stop them at all.
"Looks like the cavalry is here!" Pinkie cheered.
"But our cavalry is much stronger than theirs," Twilight stated as they ran up to their enemies and fought like the warriors they are.
After the Ape Soldiers were easily defeated and done for, the gates ahead of them opened up, leading back outside. The Mane 7 and Spike headed for the exit but as they made it outside, the gate closed behind them.
"Something tells me we're getting close to the place," Rainbow Dash said, getting a strange feeling that something is odd and quiet.
"I don't know, Rainbow. But I'm getting the feeling that we must make sure we're in the clear," Twilight suggested, getting the same feeling she had at the Dragon Lands.
"You mean we're gonna need someone to go out there to see if any danger is coming our way?" Pinkie asked, wondering what Twilight is thinking.
Twilight nodded in reply, noting that Pinkie is correct.
Taking a deep breath, Spike walked up to Twilight and volunteered, "I'll do it," He said, raising his hand.
"Spike, you don't have to do it. Plus, it could be dangerous," Rarity said, not wanting Spike to get hurt.
"Don't worry, Rarity. I'm known as Spike 'The Brave and Glorious' and I'm gonna live up to my title," Spike assured her as he walks out into the open and looks around.
While Spike was looking around, appearing from the clouds was Slash as he starts flying down from the clouds and heads towards the young dragon. Seeing the dark Alicorn Stallion heading towards him, Spike let out a scream as Slash quickly flies over him, "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!".
And like that, Spike then falls to the ground and ends up looking at the sky.
"Spike! Are you okay?" Twilight asked as she and her friends approached the fallen dragon in worry.
"I can't talk, Twilight. My heart is breaking up," Spike whined quietly in fear.
"Here, Spike. I'll carry you the rest of the way," Fluttershy offered kindly as she placed the young dragon on her back.
"Well, now we know what dangers are waiting for us on the way to the fortress," Applejack stated.
"Come on, Celestia and Luna are waiting for us and the crystals must be halfway charged by now," Twilight reminded as they continued on their way to the fortress of Slash's Lair.