Chapter 9: The Last Voyage
After escaping from Equestria City, the Ninja, the Mane Six and their allies were surprised to find the races of their allies gathered outside Equestria City. Along with the dragons, yaks, hippogriffs, seaponies, griffons, and changelings, there were the Kirin, buffalo, and other creatures they had not yet properly met were also there, along with the ponies of the Crystal Empire, Canterlot, Cloudsdale, Appleloosa, and the other major Equestrian settlements.
While everycreature settled in, building makeshift homes, Frost, Wu, and Star Swirl looked across the Endless Sea and found the swirl of dark clouds in the middle of it.
"Hmm, most peculiar," Frost said as his Falcon perched on his shoulder while Star Swirl looked through a telescope. "Yesterday there was nothing but open water, and now there is an island."
"The Dark Island, Frost. A forbidden place with the very soil made of pure evil itself," Starswirl told him. "But what I find more peculiar is after Equestria was attacked by the Stone Army, today they have vanished."
"Do you think they are on this Dark Island?" he asked his teacher. "Garmadon and his Legion may be responsible."
"I fear that too," Wu said. "And it may have just confirmed what Discord had told us. But what's most important is we have to find out what is on that island."
Frost then turned to his Falcon. "Perhaps my Falcon can scout ahead for us," he said as his Falcon flew off in the direction of Island of Darkness.
Down below the creatures were mingling amongst each other. There were initial tensions, but the leaders and the Council of Friendship were able to stop the before they got a bit too crazy.
Rarity was currently receiving an apology from the Diamond Dogs while calming an argument between them and the Abyssinians, Fluttershy and Applejack were talking to the Kirins and Buffalo, respectively, Rainbow Dash and the CMCs were conversing with Gilda and Gabby, and Celestia and Luna were discussing strategies with Novo, Thorax, Rutherford and Ember. Meanwhile, the ninjas were trying to repair the rocket boosters on the Destiny's Bounty when oil leaked out and sprayed Thunder in the face while he was trying to screw something in. "Ugh, useless pile of junk!" He complained as Aqua let out a sigh.
"Oh, it's worse than I feared," she said in a worried tone. "The rotors on the starboard booster are completely destroyed. The port boosters are shorted from the strain." She then turned to the others who are working on the other boosters. "Oh, sorry guys. She's not getting airborne any time soon."
"So, if the Stone Army attacks again, we're sitting ducks!" Landrush complained.
"Um, ducks can fly, Landrush. That reference doesn't seem to work in this situation," Gaia retorted.
"We just got our tails handed to us, and we couldn't even stop one of them," Trail complained as Wu and Frost walked up to them. "Ugh, I hate feeling helpless."
"We mustn't give up hope, Trail," Wu told him.
"But the Stone Army is indestructible," Lloyd reminded him. "You saw it. They're immune to any magic any creature in Equestria has, and all my powers can do is slow them down."
"That's not entirely true," Misako spoke up when she walked up to them. "There is a way to defeat them. And it is told within the scrolls." This has piqued their interest as they joined her in the bridge with the Royal Sisters, the Pillars, the Mane Six, and the Young Six. She then unraveled one of the scrolls she had and it was a picture of the six the Ninja, six ponies resembling Twilight and her friends, and six other creatures of Equestria (showing an odd similarity to the Young Six) giving power to the Light Ninja. "The prophecy reveals that the power to defeat the Stone Army lies within the Light Ninja."
"I tried! It didn't work! I gave them everything I had!" Lloyd tried to say before his mother stopped him.
"Yes, but you're stronger than you think," Misako said before turning back to the scroll. "Look. The true power of the Light Ninja can only be unlocked when his six protectors, the six Guardians of Harmony, and the six Champions of Equestria and Beyond, find their true powers within."
"Are you talking about us?" Flash asked with interest as he gestured to him, the Ninja and the Mane Six and the Young Six.
"Pfft, silly question. Of course, she is, ha, ha…Right?" Thunder asked Misako.
"If we are what the prophecy is referring to, then we're doomed," Frost said.
"He's right. Our Golden Weapons no longer exist when we destroyed Garmadon's Mega Weapon in the past," Gaia reminded them. "We cannot tap into our elemental powers without them."
"What's more, the Elements of Harmony were destroyed by Sombra when he came back a third time, even though the Tree survived to become the Treehouse of Harmony. Either way, without them, the girls and I can no longer use their powers," Twilight added with her ears folded.
"And the only time we had powers was when all of Equestria's magic was being sucked away and the Tree of Harmony saved us," Gallus added before Sandbar gently elbowed and gestured to Cozy Glow. "Ah, no offense, kid."
"But that's just it. The powers do exist, within each of you, including the magic from the Treehouse of Harmony and the Elements that once powered it," Misako told them, "And there is a way to unlock your powers on your own. We must go to the Temple of Light."
"'Temple of Light'? What's that?" Aqua asked as Star Swirl placed down another scroll on the table and unraveled it.
"While it is true that the gold for the Golden Weapons was mined from the Golden Peaks, the place where they were forged was in the Temple of Light," he told them as they saw a picture of three hexagons, one inside the other with each of the Ninja's elemental emblems, the Mane Six's cutie marks, and symbols of each of the Young Six standing at each corner and intersection, with an emblem of a dragon in the middle of the all. "A powerful place I thought only existed in legend."
"Well, what are we waiting for?!" Rainbow Dash asked as she hovered above their heads. "Let's go there and power up!"
"Please, Rainbow Dash. There's one big problem," Celestia spoke up. "When the First Spinjitzu Master split Equestria into two long ago, the Temple of Light was on the side that would become the Dark Island when it happened."
"So, what you're saying is…" Applejack said slowly.
"Our only hope is to sail to the Dark Island and find the Temple!" Misako declared as she rolled up the scroll and stood up.
"And then we get awesome powers!" Smolder asked excitedly. "Wahoo!" She jumped up high.
"But there's still one more big problem: the Bounty can't fly," Aqua reminded them.
"But she is a ship, ay?" Rockhoof asked. "Canna' she sail?"
"Silly question. Of course, it can, ha, ha!... Right?" Thunder asked the others.
"Well… if we are going to sail to the Dark Island, we need a proper crew to sail it… and I might know who to get for that," Twilight said as she had a great idea of a few friends to help with the journey ahead.
After getting the Destiny's Bounty onto the water in the Endless Sea, Everycreature had gathered to say goodbye to their heroes.
"We need to remain here and protect the creatures, in case those Samu-Taurs come back," Flash Magnus told them as he gestured to the Pillars.
"That's all right," Twilight told them. "We needed somepony here to keep an eye on things while we're away, anyway." She then turned to her family. "We promise we'll be back and stronger than ever."
"Just come home safe," Velvet asked. "Not only does Equestria can't afford to lose a princess, but we can't stand to lose one of our children either."
Twilight then hugged her. "You will see me again, mom. I promise," she said as Velvet smiled and hugged her back.
"And here," Night Light used his magic to levitate a book over to Twilight. "We have a feeling you want to document of what you find over there on that Island, so we got you this to do so."
Twilight squealed and hugged the book.
Meanwhile Flash was talking an orange-coated Pegasus mare with a purple mane much like his, and an orange-coated, blue-maned Earth Pony colt with a baseball bat and ball cutie mark.
"Mom, I'm going to miss you," Flash told the mare as she came in for a hug. "And First Base, be brave for your big bro."
"I will, BB," First Base said nervously as Flash then ruffled his mane. He hugged Flash. "I'm gonna miss you much."
Flash's mother then held his shoulder, "You remind me of your father every day," she said.
"Thanks mom." Flash said as he gave her a big hug.
Meanwhile, Gaia was with her mom. "I bet Grandpa would be pretty jealous of me going to an island he'd never been to before," Gaia said as she rubbed the back of her neck.
"To think my little filly who I thought was going to lead a life of cleanliness is going to an uncharted island, miles away from Equestria," Rose sighed before pulling out a compass. "Well, if you're going to a new land, you're going to need this."
Gaia raised a brow. "What is it?" She asked.
"It's your grandfather's compass," Rose answered as she placed it in her hoof. "It always guided him to the right place he wanted to go. And now… it's your compass."
Gaia's eyes started to tear up before she gave her mom a tight hug.
"I love you mother," she said softly.
Rarity was busy saying goodbye to her own family as she hugged her parents, but for some reason, Sweetie Belle was nowhere to be seen.
"I will be missing you both so much," Rarity told her parents. "But where could Sweetie Belle be?"
"She must be helping her friends with their job," Cookie Crumble said before she pulled out a box. "Now before we forgot, we have a little something for your little adventure."
Rarity looked a box curiously. "What is it?" She opened and was shocked by what she saw.
"Just a little something we made you," Hondo Flanks answered her as I side the box was a rainbow stone necklace, "Made from the rarest stones we could find. Now, I know we're not much experts in gems like you are, pumpkin, but well-"
He stopped halfway when he and Cookie were caught in a hug, as Rarity smiled before letting them go to put on the necklace.
Thunder was saying his goodbyes to his parents. "Now, promise me you'll eat your vegetables," Scrip told Thunder.
"Mom!" Thunder grunted as his cheeks blushed red.
"Oh, I mean it! You get sluggish when you don't get enough vitamins," she told him before she turned to Bolt. "Bolt, tell him if he's going to save the world, he has to eat his vegetables!"
Bolt just sighed and smiled, "Errr… just listen to your mother, son," he said.
Pinkie was with her family, who held their emotions well compared to the pink pony.
"I'm going to miss you all so much!" Pinkie Pie shouted as fountain of tears gushed out of her eyes and hugged her family tight.
"Hey buck up, Pinkie Pie," Limestone told her sister as she smirked. "You can't be miserable like me for this mission. You gotta be your perky and pinky self."
"Mmhmm," Marble nodded with a small smile.
"Just be safe, Pinkie," Maud said in her usual deadpanned manner.
"Prithee, daughter, do warrant to bring any rocks thou find yonder back," her mom asked with small smile as she tilted her hyper daughter's chin up.
"Upon thy return voyage, a celebration to thy standard we shall avow," her dad told her, which made her very excited.
"Oohhh… I love you guys so much!" As she pulled them into a big hug, they just smiled and took it in as they were used to it after all this time.
Elsewhere, Landrush and Applejack were saying goodbye to their own families.
"Y'all gonna be fine without me to help out on the farm?" Applejack asked her brother, Sugar Belle, Granny, and Grand Pear.
"Don't ya worry about us," Granny Smith told her as she tied her scarf around her granddaughter's neck. "Y'all just focus on gettin' them powers to kick that no-good Garmadon's keister."
"Eeyup!" Big Mac said as he and Applejack hugged each other.
"Don't worry, we'll be fine," Sugar Belle as the two hug as well.
"Thanks, Sugar Belle," Applejack thanked but looked around. "Where's Applebloom, though?"
"I believe she said somethin' about helpin' Cozy Glow with somethin' with her friends," Grand Pear said as Landrush was saying goodbye to his dad.
"I don't know what to say," Steprush said as he hugged his son.
"You don't have to say anything," Landrush told him before he pulled back.
"You're right. I don't have to say anything. But I do have to sing!" he declared as he turned to his Royal Blacksmiths. They started to hum and scat acapella as Steprush began to sing.
"Who's gonna save Equestria's hide~?
Who's gonna to make his old stallion swell with pride~?
Landrush is~!
Landrush does~!
Landrush, Landrush, Landrush~! "
Everycreature gave an applause when they were finished and Landrush had a big smile on his face.
"That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard, pop," he told his dad as he hugged him again.
Rainbow was saying goodbye to her family as well as her dad ruffled her mane. "Go make us proud, kiddo!" Bow said.
"We know you'll stop Garmadon and come back home, better than ever!" Windy cheered.
Rainbow blushed and still smirked. "You know it!" She declared but looked around and scratched her head. "Say, you two seen Scootaloo around? Thought my number-one fan would come by to wish me luck~" she asked.
"She's with her friends on something. Some kind of secret project," Windy answered.
"She couldn't even say goodbye?" Rainbow wondered before she shrugged.
Meanwhile Trail and Aqua were talking to Dareth. "Now Dareth, as the honorary 'Brown Ninja', your job is to help Ultra Dragon and the Pillars keep everycreature safe in case Garmadon launches a sneak attack while we're gone," Trail told Dareth. "Are you up to the task?"
"I won't let you guys down," Dareth told him before turning to the crowd. "Did you hear that?! I'm officially the Brown Ninja!" They all cheered before he turned back to Trail and Aqua. "Hey, what's my elemental power?"
"Umm… 'Brown Power'?" Aqua answered sheepishly.
Dareth however did not notice the lackluster answer. "A power unique to me alone… Sweet~" he said as Fluttershy was saying her goodbyes to Discord and her family.
"You will take care of my animal friends while I'm gone, Discord?" She asked him.
"I promise you, that I will take care of them like they were my own kids," Discord told her as he briefly snapped into a "Mister Rogers" outfit and some of the animals into kids' clothes before holding them close, almost like a picture-perfect family.
"Try to come back in one piece, all right, big sis?" Zephyr told Fluttershy as she rolled her eyes a bit with a light smile.
"Of course, Zephyr," she said as her mother gave her a kiss on the cheek and her father hugged her.
"We'll miss you so much," Mrs. Shy said as she and her husband hugged their daughter.
Lloyd was riding on the back of Ultra Dragon looking down at the others.
"Discord and the Pillars are going to need you guys to help protect this place while we're gone." Lloyd told Ultra. "We know we can count on you!"
"You got it, little guy!" Flame said.
"If you ever need us, we'll be there," Nimbus promised.
Up on the Bounty, Frost was watching his friends saying their goodbyes with envy, as he silently wished he was down there as well.
"Is there anyone you would like to say goodbye to?" Wu asked Frost when he walked up to him.
"My only family is my Falcon, and my only memory of my mother was nearly erased," Frost told his Sensei. "I will miss Equestria, for it is all I know. But I am excited to see what the future has in store."
"Well, my Nindroid friend, there are a few who would like to say goodbye to you," Wu told him as he pointed out a bunch of females from each creature race as a fan club of his.
They cheered for him until Comic Marvel pushed through the cheering crowd. "I love you, you stupid Nindroid!"
Frost chuckled as he nodded to Wu. "Everything is ready!" Captain Celaeno said as her crew, Capper Dapperpaws and Grubber were finished up putting some supplies on board.
"Y'all ready to do this thang?" Capper asked.
"Hold on!" Tempest said, looking up as she saw something flying in. "Somecreature's coming!"
Everycreature looked up to see a gargoyle flying before landing before them.
The old unicorn wizard's eyes squinted a bit before he recognized the visitor. "…Scorpan, old friend!" he remarked as he approached the gargoyle and shook his claw.
"Th-The Scorpan...?!" Twilight asked before she nearly fainted and Flash caught her.
"What are you doing here?" Celestia asked him.
"When I learned that my brother had been freed and started stirring up trouble again, unleashing the Stone Army upon this land… well, I knew I had to try and make him see the error of his ways," Scorpan explained as he bowed to Twilight. "Which is why, Princess, if you will allow me, I will join you on this venture to stop my brother and his allies."
"We'd be more than happy to have you aboard!" Twilight said excitedly.
"It will be like old times," Luna said as Scorpan smiled bright.
"Splendid!" he declared.
Cadence and Shining Armor then stepped forward, "Excuse me, everycreature," Cadence said as she and Shining moved aside, "but we may have one more member joining this crew."
Walking up from behind them was a purple-coated, cyan-maned unicorn mare with a brown shawl.
"Radiant Hope?!" Celestia, Luna and Wu exclaimed.
"Who?" the others asked.
"I'm sure you have questions, but they can wait. I was hoping to come with so I could talk to Sombra," Hope explained. "Please… I knew him longer than anypony."
The Ninja and the Mane Six glanced at each other. "I don't see why not, as long as we get goin'," Applejack said.
"The more, the merrier," Thunder declared.
Hope smiled and came up onto the deck. "All right then, time to set sail!" Wu declared.
"And be careful," Star Swirl warned. "Remember, it's not just Garmadon, his villains, and the Stone Army on that Island." Soon they all climbed aboard and Celaeno took the helm as it set sail for the Dark Island.
Everycreature waved them off as they sailed away. "Thunder, did you remember to bring extra clean underwear?!" Scrip called out.
"Yes, Mom!" Thunder yelled an embarrassment as his friends laughed at him about what his mom said, though none of them noticed four pairs of eyes hiding in a crate peeking out.
"Good luck, my friends!" Star Swirl called to them as they disappeared over the horizon, "May Harmony guide you and keep you safe."
The sun was beginning to set over the ocean. The Ninja, the Mane Six, and the Young Six were looking at the Dark Island at the bow of the ship as they wondered what was to come when they would arrive, while Gaia and Rarity were comforting a seasick Applejack.
Along the trip, the Mane 6, Young 6, and Ninja learned that Radiant Hope was a former student of Celestia and Sombra's former best friend. She had abandoned her studies after he and the Crystal Empire had vanished. She had wanted to see him again so she used Starswirl's time travel spell to travel to moment when the Empire would return, "Unfortunately, it seems I made miscalculation in the coronal position and I ended up traveling to when the Empire was evacuating," Hope explained, "Though I suppose it was lucky that Sombra had returned in this time as well."
"I still can't believe you were actually friends with that creep," Thunder commented.
Hope sighed, "I don't what inside him changed, but before then he was a very kind stallion," She said before looking determined, "And as his best friend, I owe it to him to find out why!"
"I agree. I failed once to reach my brother, I am not going to let that happen again," Scorpan declared.
"I wonder what kind things we'll see when we get to the Dark Island," Trail said as they looked at the island far ahead.
"Maybe we get to see some never-before-seen creatures," Fluttershy thought excitedly.
"An entirely new ecosystem?" Frost suggested.
"Completely unused materials for fashion?" Rarity thought.
"Ooh! Veggies that taste like cake!" Thunder wondered.
"I'd like that!" Landrush commented as Pinkie nodded eagerly.
"I wonder if this is going to be the end of our destiny," Lloyd said nervously.
"We get it. You're scared about facing your father when the time comes," Aqua said as they gave him a comforting smile. "But we'll be right by your side the whole way."
"In meantime, Yona very excited to get power that smash Stone Army!" Yona shouted as she jumped around, her size rocking the Bounty.
"Hear, hear!" Rarity added.
"But we should be careful," Twilight told them. "Remember if the legends are true, then the Overlord will be waiting for us on that island too."
"Hey Frost, still no word from your Falcon?" Flash asked as he noticed Frost looking a little concern.
"Not yet," he said before he heard shuffling sound and turned to a crate and narrowed his eyes while activating his heat-reading vision which detecting four small creatures inside it. "But right now… I sense we have some unexpected company."
The others turned to the crate moved towards it slowly. Both Flash and Landrush sneak their way towards the crate as did Capper and Thunder. Once they were close enough, they quickly grabbed the crate and yanked it up to reveal the CMCs and Cozy Glow.
"Apple Bloom?!" Applejack asked in shock to see her little sister here.
"Sweetie Belle?!" Rarity asked in the same tone.
"Scootaloo?!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
"Cozy Glow?!" Twilight exclaimed before she walked up to the four. "What are you doing here?!"
Cozy, Applebloom and Sweetie looked a little nervous while Scootaloo rubbed the back of her head smiling sheepishly. "Hehe, well, funny story-" Scootaloo remarked, trying to explain things.
"What's so funny?!" Flash retorted before he sighed. "You know you were supposed to stay back in Equestria."
"When did ya sneak on board anyway?!" Trail demanded.
"We just came to help ya and everything, is all," Apple Bloom explained.
Before the CMCs and Cozy could be scolded more, they heard small hisses coming from their saddlebags.
"What was that hissing?" Capper asked as they all raised a brow.
Twilight and Flash recognized that hissing and narrowed their eyes at the four foals. "You brought Melody and the others with you, didn't you?" Twilight growled.
The four smiled sheepishly once again, as curling up from the crate were the five young Serpentine. "Umm, it seemed like a good idea at the time, heh-heh?" Cozy explained.
"We asked you to look after them and stay safe!" he scolded the four of them before Frost's eyes turned bright blue and he can see what his Falcon is seeing.
"The Falcon has arrived at the Dark Island!" he told them all.
Twilight turned to the foals. "We'll settle this later!" she told them warningly as they all went to the bridge.
Frost was wearing a special set of goggles as Twilight was hooking them up to the main monitor. "There, now we can all see." she told them as the screen turned on.
They all saw the Falcon flying near the beach of the Dark Island. Frost had the Falcon looking down when a Samu-taur seemed to spot it and threw a glaive at it, losing visual contact.
The impact shocked them all and knocked Frost off his hooves. "He's… he's gone," he only said, a little shook up by what he had just seem.
"We don't know that," Celestia as they all stood up.
Fluttershy and Trail helped Frost up, "Oh Frost, I'm so sorry." she apologized.
"He was our friend too, so we aren't going to let him go in vain," Trail promised. "If Garmadon wants a fight, then we'll bring him one."
"But right now, that's gonna have to wait," Celaeno said as she pointed ahead, "because we're sailing right for storm! All claws and hooves on deck!"
The thunder and lightning crashed and flashed across the sky as the waves grew larger and larger.
Meanwhile on the Dark Island, the Stone Army had created a fortress and they were digging and scooping up an odd dark purple substance from within a pit while Chrysalis's Darklings (a shortened name for "Dark Changelings") patrolled the skies.
As some of the warriors were working, Garmadon and his Legion came down on the lift and walked over to them.
"This is foolish. We have an unbeatable army to conquer Equestria!" Garmadon remarked a little displeased at the recent work effort.
"And yet, here we are playing in the mud like a bunch of foals." Nightmare Moon hissed.
"Just what is that gunk, anyway?" the Storm King asked as he used his new staff to poke it. "And why the heck are we collecting this stuff? Doesn't look good for anything~"
"It is not good for anything… because it is evil for everything we're doing. What you call 'mud' or 'gunk' is concentrated evil," the Overlord told them as a lift was carrying up a huge load of it. "A Dark Matter that with one drop could make a creature's heart turn as black as night."
Tirek leaned close to the pit and felt the dark aura coming from it. "He's right. I can practically feel the evil from this substance."
"Still, just yesterday we managed to drive all the creatures from their Kingdoms. Everything was poised for us to take control!" Sombra retorted. "Why did you ask us to recall the army and start collecting this Dark Matter?!"
"Have patience, Sombra," the Overlord told him. "The Celestial Clock ticks backwards to doomsday and cannot be stopped." A drop of the Dark Matter fell out of the load and back into the pit where the Overlord emerged from it. "The time will come for all of you. But we must prepare. We must build a super weapon the likes of which has never before been seen." This has reached both Garmadon and his Legion's interest.
"Hmm. A super weapon?" Garmadon repeated before he gave an evil grin. "I like the sound of that!" He then started laughing evilly.
Meanwhile, the other villains decided to talking amongst themselves, out of listening range of their new "ally".
"Have any of you noticed that the Overlord's been quite quick to help us conquer Equestria?" Chrysalis asked quietly to the others.
"Yes. Quite eagerly, as well." Sombra agreed.
"…Perhaps too eagerly." Tirek said suspiciously.
"Well, why wouldn't he? I mean, just look at him!" the Storm King told them as he gestured to the Overlord. "He's literally a ball of dark energy without a body. Not only that, but he was trapped here by that First Spin-what-zu guy for a really, really, really long time."
"Yes, but something tells me that he's up to something," Nightmare Moon whispered to them. "There's no doubt he needs us, but to what end? It's like he has something planned that's he not bothering to tell us."
"And now, he's got Garmadon wrapped around his finger," Tirek said. "Um, metaphorically speaking. We don't even know how all this will benefit him later."
"May I suggest we tell Garmadon to watch where he walks around the Overlord, from now on? As do we all?" Chrysalis suggested, to which the others nodded as she looked out to the sky. "In the meantime, let's not forget our 'Mane' problem."
"Ahhh… right, those ponies of friendliness," the Storm King said before giving a laid-back grin. "Ehhh, don't worry 'bout it. Let's just say I sent them a little… 'surprise' to make sure they won't get the drop on us."
Meanwhile, the Ninja were helping the crew keep the sails up while the hurricane winds were kicking up. The only two not helping were Thunder and Rarity, as they were holding onto the rails and staying out of the rain.
"Hold the line!" Rainbow told the others.
"The winds are too strong!" Lloyd shouted.
"And the waves are too high!" Fluttershy cried.
"Just keep your eyes on the horizon!" Mullet told them.
"I can't find the horizon!" Capper retorted.
"Thunder, Rarity, come here and help us!" Flash called out to them.
"He's right!" Frost shouted. "We need everyone's help!"
"But I don't want to get my mane all wet! Do you know what seawater does to a perm?!" Rarity shouted.
"And I don't wanna get wet either!" Thunder added. "I only have one pair of underwear!"
"Thunder, this is no time to be making jokes!" Gaia shouted. "And Rarity, you can just easily dry off once we make it through the storm! The Bounty can only take so much!"
"You think I'm trying to be funny?!" Thunder shouted before they all heard laughter coming from everywhere. "Okay, laugh all you want, but we'll see who laughs last, when I have to go commando!"
"Oh, for the love of Faust, we're naked all the time!" Applejack shouted with the rope in her mouth. "And who the hay is laughing anyway?!"
Meanwhile Celaeno, Aqua, Misako, Wu, Scorpan, and the Royal Sisters were on the bridge as they heard the laughter too.
"Ugh, sounds like some of us are getting a real kick out of all this!" Aqua retorted.
"That's not laughter!" Scorpan retorted.
"What is that sound, then?!" Wu asked before they saw a bunch of starfish with teeth landed on the window.
"Starteeth!" Misako and Scorpan retorted.
"Oh no, we've sailed into their territory!" Celestia said.
"Hang on, everycreature!" Celaeno as she took the wheel. "I'm not making the same mistake Salt-Beak made what got this ship sunk!"
Meanwhile outside, three Starteeth jumped on the side of the ship as the others still heard the laughter.
"Uh, guys, why is the sea laughing at us?!" Trail asked as he was getting concerned about the laughter.
"And why do I have a feeling we're not gonna get the joke?!" Thunder added before some Starteeth jumped on board.
"Hey, what's that?" Landrush asked as he accidently let go of the rope. The others screamed as they were losing their grip.
"We're coming!" Rarity cried as she and Thunder grabbed the rope.
"About time, you two!" Flash retorted as a huge wave crashed onto the deck washing over them.
"Oh, great!" Thunder and Rarity grumbled as Landrush picked up one of the Starteeth.
"It looks like some kind of… starfish?" Landrush said as he saw the urchin-like maw of the Star-Teeth.
"Wait!" Tempest shouted as she ran over to him, "Don't let those things on board! They devour any ships that sail into their waters, and they won't stop chewing until we sink!"
The Starteeth then bit Landrush as he screamed and threw it away. More of them then jumped on to the rope holding onto the sails and bit it in half. With the sails loose, the ship started to rock as more Starteeth came aboard.
"Quick, get these things off the ship!" Flash shouted.
They grabbed each one and quickly toss them overboard. Some of the Starteeth jumped onto Trail, startling him. "Argh! I'm starstruck!" Trail shotted before he quickly got them off him and threw them back into the ocean. "Unh! Good riddance, water-vampires!"
"Faster! Or we'll sink!" Lloyd shouted as he tossed more overboard.
"But for every one we throw off, five more take its place!" Hope said.
As Thunder tried throwing them off, some latched onto his back. "Oh, my! Aah! Get them off! Get them off!" He panicked.
"Use your Spinjitzu!" Flash told him.
"NINJA, GO!" Thunder shouted as he did Spinjitzu, tossing the Starteeth off him only to land them onto the sails. "Okay, that was a bad idea," he said after he stopped spinning and saw the Starteeth eat off the sails.
"NINJA, GO!" the rest of the Ninja shouted as they did Spinjitzu and not the rest of the Starteeth overboard.
"Sink your teeth into that!" Trail shouted as Thunder saw some Starteeth chewing their way on the chains of the anchor.
"They eat through metal too?!" Thunder asked in surprised.
Twilight looked down and gasped, "Um, guys? I think we have another problem!" She said as they looked down and saw that the Starteeth had eaten a hole in the front port bow of the ship.
"Oh, I should've brought an extra pair of underwear!" Thunder complained.
In the morning, the Destiny's Bounty was still floating but was slowly filling up with water from the whole and the sails had been badly damaged. The crew were currently trying to get the water out of the ship but with little success. Thunder used a bucket to scoop up some of the water then tossed it out of the same hole that was made by the Starteeth. Everyone on board were helping with the water and there was a bit of tension in the air.
"Ah, this is hopeless!" Trail complained. "Now that we have no rudder, we've been drifting aimlessly and will never get to the Dark Island."
"Not only that, we can't sail back to Equestria, so we're pretty much stuck," Landrush added.
"We only know what is foretold will happen. Not when it will happen," Luna told them. "We will find a way to the Dark Island, eventually."
Frost then dropped his bucket and looked out the hole. "What's wrong, Frost?" Fluttershy asked when they noticed him acting odd.
"I sense something," he told them.
"Is it the Falcon? Is he all right?" Gaia asked.
"No, it's, uh…" Frost started before he saw the Bounty sailing towards something up ahead. "Something else. Brace yourselves!"
The Bounty then bumped into a small island with a tall tower in the middle of the ocean.
Everyone groaned and stood up. They stepped outside and looked at the building. "Who would build a lighthouse way out here?" Lloyd wondered
"It's not a lighthouse. It's a prison," Frost corrected.
"You all go check it out and see who lives here," Tempest told them. "The rest of us will stay on the ship and make some repairs."
The Ninja, the Mane Six, the Young Seven, the CMCs, Wu, Misako, Spike, and The Royal Sisters began their walk up to the lighthouse before they heard a large growl coming from the ocean.
"Oh, I should've brought an extra pair of underwear," Thunder said.
"What was that?" Sweetie Belle asked as she trembled.
Fluttershy then frowned. "I don't know, but it sounds… sad." she said.
They then continued up the steps until they reached the door and saw a camera on top of the door looking down on them.
"Uh, should we smile?" Thunder joked a bit.
The camera looked at Frost before they heard locks being unlocked and a familiar mare that Frost was shocked to see open the door: an elderly, bespectacled, white-furred unicorn mare with a greyish mane, a scientist's coat, and a pair of ice blue eyes who looked joyously at Frost.
"Frost!" the mare cheered. "Is it really you?! You finally found me!" She then hugged him tightly.
"Um, do you know him?" Smolder asked.
"Of course, I know him!" The mare smiled and adjusted her glasses. "I built the colt, for Celestia's sake!" Her eyes widened as she saw Celestia behind Frost and the others, causing her to recompose herself. "Begging no offense, of course, your Majesty!"
"But my memory tells me that you passed away," Frost told the mare with disbelief at the sight of her.
"Ahh, you found your memory switch," she said before they heard the growls again which made the mare concerned. "Hurry, it can't know that you are here, or else there'll be dues to pay," she whispered to them.
"And what is 'it' exactly?" Rarity asked with concern.
"I'll explain everything inside," she told them before she turned to Frost, "including why it is that you thought I was dead."
They all walked inside before Aqua gave one last look towards the Destiny's Bounty.
"Well, the Bounty's sailing days are over," Aqua said with a sigh before she joined everyone inside.
The mare then quickly closed the door and used a key to lock it. "Locking, barricading, hoof checking," Frost's mother said as she checked the cameras and sighed in relief, "I think we're safe. This way." She led them upstairs and into a room with a bunch of machinery around and a few blueprints as well. "Please, please have a seat. You must be thirsty."
"Uh, have a seat where?" Rainbow Dash asked before the mare pulled a lever, the giant light bulb flipping over to be replaced with a table.
"There, of course," the mare said.
"Wow, that's pretty smart," Ocellus said as they all took their seats.
"A technical wizard," Landrush commented.
Soon, as they were all seated, thd mare pressed a button. A tiny robot came up, hopping onto the table and placing several cups for everycreature. The robot then returned to the mare, who gave it a teapot before it returned to the guests. It began to pour them all some tea, but Gallus decided to mess around, deliberately moving his cup around and preventing the robot from pour until it accidentally poured the hot liquid into his lap. Yelping in pain, he started jumping around in pain while everycreature laughed.
Frost then noticed his blueprints on a board, oddly the same ones that showed his being a Nindroid, as his mother walked over to him. "But mother, I don't understand. I saw you pass," he said as he turned to her.
"Yes, you did, and believe me when I tell you, I thought I was kaput, but as you know in Equestria, the past is the past," The mare told him.
"And the future…" Misako started.
"…is the future." Wu finished.
"So how are you still alive, miss...?" Twilight asked.
"Dr. Tinker Gear," she told them. "As for how I'm still alive, after I turned off your memory switch, Frost, while your memories were still resetting, bonehead Samukai came into our home and revived me with a special elixir."
"Samukai brought you back?! But why?" Flash asked as they wondered the same thing.
"He wanted me to build state-of-the-art war machines for his army, but I refused," Dr. Gear told before she looked down with a sad look. "After that, he brought me here and told me that if I didn't, then I would never be able to see my son again. And to make sure I didn't escape, he chained a Leviathan to keep guard."
"A Leviathan? Is that what we heard outside?" Cozy asked.
"A very rare but powerful creature of the Endless Sea," Luna explained. "But surprisingly, they are normally peaceful creatures who only attack when provoked."
"Oh, the poor thing," Fluttershy said, feeling sorry for the giant sea creature.
"Yes," Dr. Gear spoke up as she turned to Frost. "When Samukai didn't return, I thought I would never see you again." Her ears then dropped back as she had a sad look on her face. "But as so much time has passed, I started to question if you would ever want to see me again. I was afraid if you found out what horrible things I've created, you would think I was a... a monster."
"We will get you out of here, mother," Frost assured her. "Now that we are together, perhaps we can invent a way off this rock."
"Could you repair the rocket boosters on our ship?" Thunder asked as he pointed to the Bounty out the window. Outside, the others were working on the Bounty when the booster Capper was working on exploded, the impact pushing the cat off and into the water.
"That pirate ship has rocket boosters?!" Dr. Gear said excitedly.
Aqua the approached her. "Yes, but the rotors and gears are shot-"
"Oh, pish-posh!" Dr. Gear assured her. "No problem at all! I'll have your ship airworthy by dawn!"
The growling from the Leviathan was even louder than before and Dr. Gear knew what it meant as the whole place began to rumble.
"It's an earthquake!" Landrush shouted as they all tried to keep their balance.
"No. It's much worse!" Dr. Gear told them as a blue tentacle rose out of the sea, just as when Capper and the others took cover from it. "He's here. Everypony hide!"
Everybody hid in the corners as the tentacle looped around the Lighthouse and three orange eyes on the end peered inside.
"Nocreature make a sound," Dr. Gear warned in a light hush, as she turned to the Leviathan with a smile. "Aha, if it isn't my old chum!" she said. The Leviathan eyed the cups she forgot about. She quickly rearranged them into a makeshift drum set and started playing with them using spoons. "Hehe, just marching to the beat of my own drum." She scatted a bit before continuing. "You know, doing whatever I can to pass the time. Since I'm so, you know, heh, alone," she said.
The Leviathan then turned its attention to the Bounty and turned back to Dr. Gear. "Ehehe, oh my, how in Equestria did that get here?" she said nervously. "Oh, don't worry, I'm not going nowhere. Even if I could, that old ship's in too terrible a shape to sail anywhere."
The Leviathan then lowered its tentacle back under the ocean and once it was gone, the others came out of hiding.
"If we're gonna make something to get out of here, we're gonna have to hurry before it comes back," Flash suggested.
"Well then, let's get to work," Twilight declared.
After introducing Dr. Gear to the others, for the rest of the day the crew got to work restore the Bounty's flight. They got to work in replacing the sails, repairing the boosters, patching up the hole in the bow, and sewing together several fabrics for the sails, while some of the others took care of the Serpentine hatchlings. As they were sewing, Landrush, Mullet and Capper glanced at Boyle who was whistling "The Weekend Whip" and he turned to them. "What? It's catchy?" Boyle said.
Meanwhile Celaeno, Aqua, and Twilight were looking over the blueprints. "Impressive work Aqua," Celaeno commented, "but will she fly?"
"We'll see when we get done," Applejack said.
Meanwhile back in the lighthouse, Dr. Gear let out a burp as the little robot helper took her bowl.
"Excuse me, but I must say, I never had such a meal in all my life," she told Frost quite satisfied, as Frost took the bowl from the little robot. "Where did you learn to cook? I never programmed that into you."
"I guess I just picked it up," Frost told her before he had a look on his face that says that he wanted to ask her something. "Mother, if I wanted you to make a change in me, would you?"
"A change?" Dr. Gear raised a brow.
"An alteration," Frost elaborated.
Dr. Gear chuckled. "But Frost, you're perfect. I could never make you any better than you already are," she assured.
"But I see no reason for me to have a memory switch," Frost told her. "I happen to like my life and don't want to ever forget you again." He then walked over and looked out the window as his mother placed a hoof on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, my son," Dr. Gear said. "We will both never forget." Frost then looked at her as she was smiling and gave a nod. "I'm glad you found me." The two of them then shared a hug.
"I'm glad you made me," Frost told her before they heard the Leviathan's growl and rushed to the others.
"Everycreature aboard! It's coming!" Dr. Gear yelled as giant blue tentacles rose from the ocean.
"It's already here!" Lix shouted as they climbed onto the Bounty.
"Get us out of here, Celaeno!" Thunder shouted as the Ornithian captain rushed to the bridge and started the engines.
"I hope she's ready!" Celaeno shouted as the rocket boosters turned on and lifted off from the ground. Everyone on board trying to keep their balance as the tentacles of the Leviathan tried to grab the ship. "Come on!" she shouted as she gave it everything she got.
"It's no use! It has us in its clutches!" Tempest said as they all held on tight.
Wu turned to Lloyd, "Lloyd! Use your elemental powers!"
"You got it, uncle!" Lloyd said as he powered up a ball of light, "Release us, you monster!" He fired the ball into the air as the Leviathan was disoriented and released them.
"All right, Lloyd!" Cozy cheered as the Bounty tried to fly away. But the Leviathan regained its sense and latched onto the Bounty again.
"Oh no!" Hope said as the Leviathan started pulling them down, "Now what do we do?!"
Then Frost and Fluttershy noticed something about one its tentacles. "It's chained!" Frost remarked.
"That's it!" Fluttershy realized before she turned to Silverstream. "Silverstream! We need your help!"
"Righty-o!" she saluted and ran over to them.
"I will need your help for what we need to do!" Frost told as he stood on the railing on the ship.
"Frost, what are you doing?!" Dr. Gear asked in a very worried tone.
"The Leviathan won't let us leave!" Frost told her.
"But we think we know a way to stop it!" Fluttershy added.
"But you can't!" Dr. Gear argued. "These oceans are filled with Starteeth!"
"We know." the two replied before they and Silverstream dove into the water.
"Fluttershy!" the Mane Six shouted.
"Silverstream!" the Young Six screamed
"Frost! NO!" Dr. Gear yelled as she saw the three disappear into the water.
Silverstream used her Pearl shard to transform her and Fluttershy into seaponies as they dived into the water, where the body of the Leviathan was seen. There they saw the base of where the Leviathan was chained before they spotted a few Starteeth nearby.
"Don't worry! You'll be free soon!" Fluttershy promised as the three grabbed as many Starteeth as they could and placed them on the chain, which the creatures began to eat off.
Above the water, the Leviathan was dragging the Bounty closer and closer towards the water.
"Oh man! This is the end!" Rainbow cried as the Starteeth were close to eating through the chain and Frost, Fluttershy and Silverstream saw the Bounty beginning to be submerged while the others screamed.
"HELP!" Lloyd cried.
Then at the very last second the Starteeth managed to cut through the chain. The Leviathan roared in elation when it realized it was finally free and then released its grip from the Bounty.
"It let us go!" Sandbar said as they stood up.
"What happened?" Dr. Gear asked as they were all getting up.
"Frost, Fluttershy, and Silverstream released the Leviathan, and now it's letting us go," Lloyd explained as he helped her up.
"But where is my son?" She asked in a worried tone as the three were climbing back on board.
Spike pointed behind her. "Right over there!" he said as she turned to them.
"Frost!" she said as she hugged her son and kissed his cheek.
"Way to go, Flutters!" Rainbow said as she and the girls hugged Fluttershy.
"Nice job, Sil!" Smolder said as the Young Six hugged their friend.
"How did you know if you freed it from captivity, it would let us go?" Celestia asked them.
"Because nocreature deserves to be held against their will," Frost answered. "Not even a monster."
They then turned and saw the Leviathan raising its eyed tentacle out of the ocean, releasing a happy growl.
"You are very welcome, Mr. Leviathan," Fluttershy said as the Leviathan started swimming away.
"Farewell, creature from the sea. Enjoy your freedom," Frost waved with Fluttershy.
"Don't be a stranger!" Silverstream as she waved.
Celaeno then started the engines again and the Bounty blasted away. "Next stop, the Island of Darkness!" she declared as the flying ship flew towards their greatest battle yet.