Chapter 26: Fighting Spirit
On a clear sunny day, it would've been a beautiful morning, but it wasn't the happiest one yet.
Since a few days ago, after the attack on Canterlot and the Crystal Empire burning down, the Mane Sixteen, Grazer, Shining Armor, Cadance, Flurry Heart, Grazer, Santos, and Jewel were walking through a jungle path towards somewhere safe for a while. Chase was still unconscious as Grazer was carrying him gently in both of his hands.
"We should be arriving at my grandfather's house by now." Jewel said to the group as she and Santos were leading the way. "The Quinkan won't be able to find us here."
"Let's hope so, honey." Santos said to his wife with a hopeful look before he turned his attention to Chase. "How do you think Chase is holding up, Twilight?"
"He's still out cold." Twilight said with a concerned look on her face. "There's no telling when he'll wake up."
Santos nodded before he and the rest kept on walking down the path.
"Is he gonna make it, Mom?" Nyx asked Twilight worriedly for her father's well being as her mother gently caressed her unconscious husband's cheek lovingly.
"Only time will tell, sweetie." Twilight said gently.
"I don't even wanna think about what will happen to him." Fluttershy said worriedly.
"He'll make it, Flutters." Sokka said to his wife gently while holding her close with a foreleg.
In a few seconds they came into a clearing as they arrived at their destination.
It was a traditional japanese styled house with a third roof, five ten windows, a sliding door in the corner, and a blacksmith hut.
Judging by the looks of it, it was still in shape as well.
"Here we are, everypony. This is one of my grandfather Chen's blacksmith houses." Jewel said to the group.
"Well, at least now we have a roof over our heads." Shining Armor said with a relieved look.
"Let's get Chase inside." Santos ordered the group, who complied as they went inside.
(Scene changes)
Inside the house, Jade and Sunray gently placed Chase's unconscious body onto a comfy bed before they covered him up with a blanket.
"There. All we can do now is wait for him to wake up." Jade said as they, minus Twilight, left.
Jade was the first to look back at Twilight as her sister-in-law sat down on a chair, closer to her husband. She then turned around and walked away to join the others, leaving Twilight alone.
As Twilight looked at her husband with concern and worry, she looked down at her tummy which has now grown a bit, indicating that in a few months, maybe even three more, the baby will be coming out soon.
"Chase, please hear me. I need you more than ever, our baby is coming soon. Please come back to me, my love." Twilight said with a tearful look as tears trickled down her face, worried for her husband.
While that was happening, Twilight would've noticed that Chase's medallion gave off a slight glow before it died down.
*Main theme*
At Canterlot, things have gone from far to worse as the Windegos continued to fly in the sky with lightning clashing. The city was now turned into an armed fortress as the soldiers of the White Lotus Clan and the Crystal Ponies were forced to do Zhao's orders as the Quinkan soldiers watched over them while some were cracking the whip.
In the Canterlot Castle, Zhao has turned the throne room into a more japanese styled way, but he created his old throne chair.
He was focused on Grogar's bell as he was fusing his powers with Celestia, Luna, and Discord's magic as it gave off a dangerous glow. Kai, Tai Lung, Celtic, Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow watched from the side with anticipation.
Once Zhao is done, he uses his magic to open the portal to the Netherworld and holds out the bell through it. A gonging sound was heard from the bell as it fired a beam of orange electric magic into the Sanzu River. He then stops as the river gurgled before coming out were the rest of the Quinkan soldiers, rising up.
They approached the portal and stepped through into the throne room as Zhao stared down at them firmly.
"Welcome back to the living, my soldiers." Zhao said as he smirked evilly while the rest of his arm bowed in respect to their master. "Now, help our army finish the construction around Canterlot."
The soldiers complied as they went off to aid the rest of the army while Zhao and his men watched them leave.
"I must say, Master Zhao. This was ingenious." Chrysalis said to the leader of the Quinkan with an evil grin. "I feel as though we have won the battle."
"That may be, but we still have more important business to deal with right now." Zhao replied back firmly. "This was the second part of my plan to rule the world and become emperor of both dimensions. All I need to do now is release the Sanzu River into the south part. While I am doing that, I want you, Tirek, and Kai to keep an eye out for any sign of intruders that may be of use to me."
Chrysalis bowed in respect to Zhao as Kai and Tirek did as well. The three then walked away offscreen out of the throne room as Tai Lung, Cozy, and Celtic walked over to him.
"Master, we just had word of the recent disappearance of the unicorns at the School of Magic. They are nowhere to be found. Not even the creatures that are in their homelands." Tai Lung said to Zhao as he turned to the snow leopard. "We also haven't seen Lightning Dust around either."
"Hmm." Zhao hummed while looking down in deep thought before he turned back to Tai Lung. "That won't matter. Just be sure that you see her and bring her to me."
Tai Lung bowed in response before he, Celtic, and Cozy left the throne room.
Once they were gone, Zhao turned to walk over to the windows to see Ponyville lightly covered in ice as some of the Dinoquins were patrolling the area looking for any sign of the Earth Ponies.
"After a millenia, this world is finally mine." Zhao said with a sinister smile as he chuckled deviously.
(Scene changes)
It was been two months as the Mane Sixteen, Shining Armor, Cadance, Grazer, Flurry Heart, Santos, and Jewel were at the traditional house and Chase was still not able to wake up.
Over the past two months, Sunray and Jade had been able to make a new set of katanas for their older brother in hopes that he will wake up, find anything valuable to eat since they all found some fruit trees, and Twilight hasn't left her husband's side yet, hoping that he will wake up soon.
In the bedroom, Chase was still unconscious as Twilight was still sitting next to her husband with concern and looks downward. In her state, her belly has now grown a bit larger now, indicating it was nearly time for the baby to arrive soon.
As Chase was still remained unconscious, he flinched a bit.
(Scene changes)
In his dream, Chase was lying still on the ground before he tiredly opens his eyes and groans.
"W-w-what happened?" Chase said while placing a foreleg to his head.
When Chase opens his eyes again, he was shocked to see that he was in a dessert with some puddles around and he looked around.
"Where am I? Hello! Hello!" Chase called out. "Anypony? Twilight!"
No one responded as he looked around, seeing an arch on top of a hill.
"What is this place?" Chase wondered.
Chase kept looking around when a figure with white and black glowing marks appeared in the arch.
"Hello, Chase." The figure said.
Chase turned to the arch and saw, to his shock, his element from staring down at him with a smirk.
"Remember me?" Element Chase asks with a grin and walks down towards the alicorn stallion. "Your elemental form Don't tell me you've forgotten already?"
"But that's impossible?" Chase said.
"Oh, it's possible, and I'm still as tough as ever. The question is; are you?" Element Chase asked, holding his aura fist up once he used his magic, stood on his hind legs, and aura hands replacing his front hooves.
"What is this? I'm not gonna fight you." Chase said.
"Then I suppose you will be destroyed!" Element Chase said as he snarled, pointing at him. "Hyah!"
He did a fighting pose as Chase used his magic to make his aura hands appear, stood on his hind legs, and got into a fighting stance before he noticed his medallion.
"No! My medallion, it's gone!" Chase said in alarm and shock.
Element Chase came at him, then spun around to kick him, but missed as he ducked, then he dodged another kick, then he blocked a punch with his forearm, before Element Chase kneed his chest, knocking him back. Chase charged at him to punch him, but he grabbed Chase and pulled himself back into a puddle, throwing the alicorn stallion away as he did.
"AH!" Chase shouted as he painfully moaned.
He rolled through the puddle, getting himself wet as he did, then he turned around, as Element Chase got up and held his right aura hand like a chopper.
Chase got up and jumped to kick Element Chase, but missed as he ducked, then Chase spun around to tackle him, but missed as he jumped slightly and moved away. Element Chase turned to Chase, who got up. Chase ducked as he tried to punch Element Chase, then spun around to tackle him, but Chase jumped and twirled around sideways, landing on his hind hooves.
Chase jumped sideways to his left as Element Chase spun around to tackle him, then he landed and turned, as Element Chase tried to whack him with his arm, but missed as he ducked. Chase tried to punch him as his back was turned, but he blocked it with his forearm while raising it up, then Element Chase turned to elbow Chase, who blocked it with his own. Element Chase grabbed Chase's arm, then pulled him over his shoulder into the puddle. They both rolled around in it, before Element Chase got up, pulling Chase with him and he threw the alicorn stallion away.
"AH!" Chase yelped, twirling around sideways.
He landed in the puddle on his back with a splash, before he pulled himself up.
"Washed up already, Chase?" Element Chase joked.
Element Chase jumped and dived to kick Chase, who hit his hind hoof with his aura hand while dodging him, who then landed on his hind legs. He turned to kick Chase, who wrapped his arms around his leg, then lifted it up and threw him away.
"Ah!" he yelled.
Element Chase twirled around before he hit the puddle on his back.
"Oh!" Element Chase moaned.
Chase looked at him as he pulled himself up.
"I see you got a lot of fight left in you, but is it enough?" Element Chase asked with a smirk.
He raised his left hand up and vanished.
"Wait!" Chase called, but it was too late, and he was confused. "What are you talking about?"
(Scene changes)
Back in reality, Chase remained asleep in the bed as Twilight still sat next to him while keeping her eyes on him worriedly.
"Chase!" A voice was heard, but nopony heard it.
(Scene changes)
In Chase's dream, Chase stood in a dark forest of thin trees, hearing a voice laughing.
"Chase! Chase!" The voice called out.
"Something tells me we're not in Ponyville anymore." Chase said.
"Or the Everfree Forest!" The voice called again, echoing.
It laughed evilly as Chase looked around, when a figure dived down and landed nearby, who he turned to, seeing it was his super form from the Tree of Harmony.
"Huh?" Chase muttered.
"Looks like you lost something important, huh, Chase?" Super Chase inquired with a teasing grin, getting up.
"My super form? But your powers were gone when King Sombra destroyed the Tree of Harmony." Chase recalled.
"You can't keep a good alicorn down." Super Chase said, waving his arms.
"Ah... Not again." Chase said as he lit his horn, aura hands replacing his front hooves, and stood on his hind legs.
"For old times sakes." Super Chase said with a smirk.
Super Chase charged at Chase, who charged back, then they somersaulted past each other, before they turned to face each other. They both whacked each other's arm, then Chase tried to kick Super Chase, but missed as it dodged, then dodged again as Chase tried to whack him. He grabbed Chase's forearm as he tried to punch him, then his shoulder, before he pushed the alicorn stallion away, making him flip sideways onto his back.
"Ah!" he moaned.
Super Chase took out one of his katanas and pointed it at Chase, as he turned around and pulled himself up, clutching his chest. They both moved slightly while staring at each other, then Chase dodged two stabs from Super Chase, then ducked to avoid a slash, which hit a tree. Chase sent a flying kick at Super Chase, who dodged it, before they turned to each other. Chase blocked a kick with his forearm, followed by another, then ducked and rolled away as Super Chase tried to slash him before he got up.
Super Chase fired a lightning bolt from his aura hand at Chase, which hit the ground behind the alicorn stallion, creating an explosion.
"AH!" Chase moaned, falling forward onto his chest. "Oh!"
(Scene changes)
Back in the house, Jewel had just arrived as she had placed a hoof on her eldest son's forehead while Twilight continued to sit as her mother-in-law retracted her hoof from Chase.
"Don't worry, Twilight. He'll be okay." Jewel said to Twilight as she patted her daughter-in-law on the shoulder before walking downstairs.
Twilight turns her attention back to Chase sadly and looks down.
Jewel had just went downstairs as she joins the others in the living room where they were all sitting down.
"How's he doing?" Antonio asked his aunt with concern.
"He's still asleep. It might be more than just what Chase is going through." Jewel replied back with concern.
"Ah!" Sunray growled angrily, punching the wall. "Why won't he wake up?"
"Healing takes time." Santos told him gently. "And I think Chase is recovering from more than just physical wounds. "His spirit has also been grievously injured."
"I'd have to agree with Dad." Jade said as the others turned to her. "This isn't like anything we've dealt with."
"But he's faced so much and pulled himself together. Isn't there anything he was able to do for you guys?" Cadance asked the four members of the Elite Ninja with hope as Flurry Heart was on her mother's head with a sad look on her face, scared for her uncle's well being.
"Twilight is worried she won't see him again. We can't let him pass on like this." Shining Armor added with concern for his brother-in-law's well being as well as his sister watching over him.
"Yeah, haven't you guys pulled stuff like this before?" Rainbow asked as well, wanting Chase to come back just like the rest.
"If he was here, then we would tell him all the times he's helped us when we were only kids." Trini said sadly.
"What're you talking about, Trini?" Applejack asked curiously.
Clay and Sokka remembered what the Elite Ninja were going through as they realized something.
"Wait, you guys told us this before when we were little. Right?" Sokka asked with hope.
Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio nodded back still feeling worried for Chase.
"Well, if Chase was still here, he's gonna pull through this. I know he is. He has to." Jade said. "I mean, he knows what kinda trouble we'd get into without him. Like… I remember the time I built that remote controlled cart."
Flashback
A young Jade was holding a remote, driving a toy cart he'd built with it through the grass in Canterlot while Chase watched, not entirely impressed.
"Check out the turning radius on this thing, Chase." Jade said happily.
She then sped the cart up, then skidded it around to go back towards them, only for it to fall into the river water, making Jade's smile drop.
"Oh!" Jade moaned frustratingly, as the car drifted away.
"Remind me to never let you behind the wheel of a real cart?" Chase asked.
"Hang on." Jade said, handing Chase the remote before she ran after the cart. "I'll get it."
As Jade ran, the cart was surrounded by some pieces of wood and other debris, and then she picked up a stick.
"There were all kinds of debris clogging up the river, and Canterlot was overflowing from the heavy rains we just had." Jade's voice narrated as her younger self put the stick down near the cart and stopped it. "But I wasn't paying attention to that. I just wanted my cart back."
Before he could drag the car towards him, a big box came towards it and knocked it away from the stick, and caused him to lose his balance.
"Ahh!" Jade yelped, as he fell into the water.
"Jade!" Chase cried.
Chase ran after his sister as Jade drifted along the water towards a waterfall.
"Ahhhh!" Jade yelled, as she fell down it.
Jade landed in the water at the bottom with a splash, then rose her head up to breath, but couldn't move.
"Chase, I'm stuck!" Jade cried loudly. Her right leg was trapped between some wood and a big rock, and she couldn't get it loose. "I can't get my leg free! Chase! Ahhhh! Ahh! Chase!"
More water began to pour over Jade, and then it sucked him under it, before she tried to pull his foot out, but he couldn't. Jade then managed to raise her head up above the water line again.
"Ahhh!" Jade gasped, as the water got higher, leaving only her arms up.
Chase then came, jumped down onto a small pipe, and then dived into the water. He swam towards Jade, then grunted as he lifted the wood up, freeing his sister. He threw it away, and swam to the surface while holding onto Jade.
"Ahh!" They both coughed.
Chase then swam towards a small tunnel nearby while holding onto Jade, and then when he made it, he put his sister down, before lying down beside her, and then they catch their breaths.
"What? You didn't get the cart?" Jade asked.
Chase turned to her, both annoyed and confused.
Flashback ends
"Wait! What?!" Rainbow asked incredulously. "Are you kidding?! No 'Thank you for saving my life'?! What kind of question is that?"
"Aw, Dash! You're ruining the story!" Pinkie complained.
"Yes. Thank you, Pinkie." Jade said before she turned back to the room Chase was in with Twilight. "But I do know that Chase really came for me that day. He always does. And I know he will again."
"Ha! Looks like you got him hanging on your every word, Jade." Sunray deduced.
"Guess it's my turn now." Trini said as the others turned to her. "In all the years we've had fun together, he's never once let us down when we were in trouble."
Flashback
A young Trini was doing a number of slicing moves with her Kunai at her parents home in Manehatten, trying to blow off some steam.
"I remember that time I was blowing off stream at Mom and Dad's house in Manehatten because I was angry when I couldn't master the wall jump technique." Trini's voice narrated as Young Chase walked over to her, and saw she was angry and frustrated.
He also saw sweat on her forehead, which she wiped off.
"Are you alright, Trini?" Chase asked his older cousin.
Trini growled and turned to Chase, but then stopped herself once she saw her younger cousin.
"Chase!" Trini gasped, breathing hard. "Sorry."
"It's alright." Chase assured, touching Trini's shoulders. "What's the matter?"
"I can't master the wall jump technique!" Trini complained, trying to clam down.
"So you're blowing off stream." Chase deduced as Trini nodded. "Trini, how many times have you tried that technique?"
"Four times." Trini answered miserably.
"Well, you've got to keep trying, sis." Chase told his older cousin. "It wasn't easy for me when I first tried."
"It wasn't?" Trini inquired, surprised.
"No, it didn't." Chase told her. "If you keep trying, I know you'll get it one day."
Trini turned and looked at the two columns outside the house's door, which she'd been practicing on, and then put her Kunai away.
"His words hit me right through the heart. I realized I should try again." Trini's voice continued to narrate.
Trini took a deep breath, then jumped onto the left wall, then kicked her hind hooves against it and jumped towards the right further down the tunnel, then kicked her feet against it and jumped towards the left wall further down, then kicked her feet again and landed on the ground with her legs bent.
Trini heard clapping, and then got up and turned to see it was Chase, who'd been watching her.
"You did well, sis." Chase said as Trini smiled at him. "All it takes is focus and determination."
Flashback
"He helped me realize that everyone has to learn at different paces." Trini said sadly. "I know it will be hard for Chase, but I need him to come back to us. I've still got a lot to learn from him."
Everypony, Spike, and Grazer looked at her sympathetically and understandingly.
"What about you, Antonio, darling?" Rarity asked Antonio, who turned back to her. "Haven't you needed Chase?"
Antonio looked down sadly.
"Well, not really. But if he was here, then I need him to concentrate on my voice." Antonio explained. "Chase knows how focused he gets when he sets his mind on something."
Flashback
Young Chase did some Kata moves in Angel and Zayto's dojo when Antonio came towards him, with some headphones over his ear, as he was listening to music.
"Like, I remember that time he was trying to prefect his katas." Antonio's voice narrated.
"Hyah!" Chase shouted, doing a hand palm move, as Antonio walked past him.
He then did a kick move, and then lifted his left foot up, while standing on his right tip-toe, and held his arms out slightly. Antonio then came back towards him, and looked at his face, which was completely focused on what he was doing.
Antonio grinned and took his headphones off.
"Hey, Chase, you seen my Power Ponies comic anywhere?" he asked.
Chase didn't answer and kept very still. Antonio moved his head slightly, so he was looking at Chase upside down, but Chase still didn't move.
"Hello!" Antonio said, waving his forehoof in front of Chase's face. "Earth to Chase. Anyone home?"
Chase didn't move a muscle, making Antonio tapped his front hoof to the ground as he began to think.
"Nothing in the word was gonna break his concentration, but that wasn't gonna stop me from trying." Antonio's voice continued to narrate as his younger self stuck his tongue out and made a rude noise, with his hooves on either side of his mouth. But Chase still wouldn't move, although he did lower his eyes slightly with a bored expression. "Ha, ha. He knows how I hate to be ignored."
Antonio then walked off, but then came back and blew a balloon up near Chase's face. Once he blew it up, he then popped it with a pin, but Chase didn't move an inch.
"Ahh!" Antonio growled as he gritted his teeth, annoyed.
He then put a pair of fake glasses with a mustache on Chase's face, and then he laughed lightly, before showing Chase in a handheld mirror. Antonio then looked past it to Chase, and saw he still didn't move, making him take the glasses off annoyingly, but now Chase's eyes were frowning.
Antonio then began juggling a two cloves of garlic, then he threw them up, caught them in his mouth and then ate them. He then walked over to Chase and burped loudly in his face, sending bad breath in Chase's face, but Chase still wouldn't move, making Antonio frown irritatingly.
"So then I decided if I couldn't make him laugh, maybe.." Antonio's voice continued to narrate as his younger self smirked. Antonio moved backwards while bringing a pair of Nunchucks out, and began spinning them around. "..I should just make him say 'Ow'."
Antonio then tried to whack Chase with one of his Nunchucks, but Chase caught it with his aura hand with his horn lit. He spun and tripped Antonio up while pulling the Nunchuck away from him.
"Oohh!" Antonio moaned as he dropped his other Nunchuck, and fell onto his back.
Chase then jumped up and pounced on Antonio, holding the Nunchuck he'd taken on his chest.
"Was I disturbing you?" Antonio asked innocently.
Flashback
"For all those years he's done for us, when he puts his mind to something, he's unstoppable." Antonio told the group. "So, if he was listening right now, I want him using that famous focus of his to come back to us."
"Ha!" Sunray scoffed as Everypony turned to him. "You ask me, Chase's not coming back 'cause he's afraid!"
"No one asked you!" Spike snapped.
"No, he got his flank whooped, and now he's chicken to come back and face it because of Discord!" Sunray said, walking away a bit as Antonio backed off.
"That's enough, Sunray!" Shining Armor said sternly, touching Sunray's shoulder, but his brother-in-law brushed his hoof off him.
"Well, I say, who needs him!" Sunray angrily said. "It's not like we can't get on without him playing fearless leader."
"Sunray, enough!" Jade said firmly, punching him in the arm.
Sunray didn't move, but then tears came down his eyes, showing he really was worried about Chase, something which surprised Jade.
"Sunray?" Jade said softly, seeing his tears.
"Back in the day, I always figured I was gonna be the leader of the Elite Ninja." Sunray said, opening his eyes. "I was strongest, bravest..."
Flashback
In the sewers at Canterlot, Young Sunray walks towards a boarded up sewer tunnel.
"I remember that time I brought him to that closed off section of the Canterlot sewer tunnel." Sunray's voice narrated as his younger self began to pull open the boards, as Chase came up behind him, not liking this. "We were playing 'Follow the Leader'."
"Sunray, you can't go in there!" Chase said frantically.
"Hey, it's my turn!" Sunray retorted, throwing a board away. "You're supposed to follow my lead."
"But Mom and Dad said it's off limits!" Chase argued, as Sunray pulled off another board, creating a hole big enough for them to go through.
"Mom and Dad said, Mom and Dad said." Sunray scoffed. "When are you gonna think for yourself? That's what a real leader does."
Sunray ran towards the hole, but then turned to Chase.
"Now catch me if you can!" Sunray dared, before running through the tunnel.
Chase kicked some of the remaining boards away, and then chased after Sunray.
Sunray and then jumped a board then drifted by him in the water, and began surfing down the tunnel.
"Wahoo!" Sunray cheered as Chase then jumped on another board and then surfed after him.
Sunray then jumped off his board as he came towards a tiny water, and then his board went under.
"Huh?" Sunray muttered, looking around, but couldn't see any pipes. "Dead end?"
He scratched the side of his head.
"Must've taken a wrong turn." Sunray deduced, as something rose up from beneath the water, and then he looked down as bubbles came up from it. "Uh...Chase?"
A giant alligator then rose up from the water, and knocked Sunray off his hind legs.
"Ahh!" Sunray screamed loudly, as he got up and ran away back the way he came.
Chase then jumped and pushed Sunray out of the way just as the alligator tried to bite him, and then it hit its head against the ceiling.
"Come on! Let's jet!" Chase said, jumping over the alligator's tail, before he ran off.
"No way!" Sunray argued while he lit his horn, getting Chase to stop and turn as the alligator turned to him. "This walking handbag's intruded on our turf!"
"You're the intruder, Hoof-for-brains!" Chase argued. "Now let's get outta here!"
"Hey, I'm the leader, this turn, remember?" Sunray argued as aura hands replaced his front hooves, punching his aura fist before he jumped onto the alligator.
"Fine. Handle it your way." Chase sighed annoyed as Sunray grabbed the ends of the alligator's mouth.
He then began to wrestle it, but it was too strong.
"Ahhh!" Sunray yelled as it made him hit the water, but he managed to keep hold.
Chase ran as the alligator pushed Sunray into the deeper part of the water, and then they both rose up, Sunray still holding it.
"Whoa!" Sunray yelled, as the alligator moved its head slightly.
"Can I offer a strategy tip?" Chase asked.
"No!" Sunray yelled as the alligator put its head under the water, but then rose it up again. "I got him on the ropes! He's right where I want him!"
Chase backed away slightly, not liking this, and then ran away as the alligator slammed Sunray into a wall.
"Ahh!" Sunray moaned, as he fell into the water, before he rubbed his head as he stopped using his magic. "Ooh!"
He looked up, as the alligator growled at him, making him panic.
"Right, that's it!" Chase said, determined with his horn lit.
Chase then jumped and flipped through the air as aura hands replaced his front hooves, before he landed on the back of the alligator's head. He then put his fingers on either side of its jaw before it could react, making it moan and calm down before it fell asleep.
"Whatcha do?" Sunray asked, cursorily. "Whatcha do?"
Chase got off the alligator.
"Ha." Chase said, rubbing his hooves. "Pressure points."
"Alligator pressure points?" Sunray questioned, as Chase helped him up.
"Little trick Mom and Dad taught me." Chase explained, before he walked off. "Come on, he won't sleep forever."
Sunray uneasily scratched his head.
"How 'bout another round of 'Follow the leader'?" Chase suggested, as Sunray turned to him as he ran off. "As in, back home."
"Lead the way." Sunray said, as he ran after Chase.
Flashback ends
"I don't know why I told you guys that story." Sunray said as he sighed. "I guess he's just… I mean… What I'm trying to say is…"
Sunray facepalmed himself as Santos approached his youngest son and touched his shoulder.
"Your brother would hear you if he was standing here, Sunray." Santos said gently as tears came down Sunray's eyes. "He understands."
Sunray then walked over to a window and cried some more, worried Chase wasn't gonna make it.
(Scene changes)
Back in Chase's dream, Chase sent a kick at Super Chase, who blocked it with his aura hand, then he sent one at Chase, who blocked it with his forearm. He then blocked one with his katana swords, then sent one at Chase, who blocked it with his forearm.
Then he ducked as Chase spun around to kick him, then Chase ducked as Super Chase spun around to kick him. Chase blocked a punch with his elbow, then sent one at Super Chase, who blocked it with his forearm.
Chase tried to whack him, but he ducked. Chase grabbed his arm as he tried to punch him, who then punched his arm. Then he ducked and spun around, tackling Chase, who tripped up onto his back.
"You still with me? Come on, get him!" Super Chase said as he snarled. He picked Chase up by the arm, then pinned him against a tree, but Chase raised his right arm up to block the katana. "Don't forget, I know all your old moves."
Chase grabbed him, making them both spin around before he pinned the super alicorn stallion against another tree.
"That might be true, but I've learned a few new ones." Chase said.
He grabbed Super Chase's arm and pushed him away, who then ducked to slash his legs with the katana, but missed as he jumped up. Chase kicked his hind hoof against a tree, then dived and kicked his hind leg against another, before he dived towards Super Chase, kicking the katana as he tried to slash him, making him twirl and fall down.
"Ah! Oh!" Super Chase shouted as he painfully moaned.
He hit the ground on his side, as Chase landed on all fours.
"Impressive." Super Chase remarked, getting up. "Now we'll see if you can face your toughest challenge."
Chase stared at him before he vanished.
"What? Like that wasn't tough?" Chase said, panting before he noticed fog appear around him as it surrounded him.
(Scene changes)
Soon the fog cleared away as Chase found himself in another forest, only this one was a brighter green, had thicker trees, and had white clothes hanging from the branches. He also saw some downed pillars and shovels as he looked around.
"Okay, this is weird." Chase said. "Even by alicorn master standards?"
Then he felt a presence as a chiming sound was heard and he ducked just in time when a shiruken hits the tree. Chase turns to see his old empowered form, when he fought off Zhao at the mountains in the Crystal Empire from the Equestrian Games, approaching him.
"I thought I might run into you." Chase said as he used his magic to bring out a katana.
"It's been a while, Chase." Empowered Chase said. "I see you've still kept to basic black?"
"Seems to work for me." Chase said as he lit his horn again, aura hands replacing his front hooves, and stood on his hind legs while holding the katana. "Let me guess; you wanna fight?"
"You guessed right." Empowered Chase answered before doing his pose. "Yah!"
Empowered Chase charged at Chase, who pointed the katana at him before charging back. He kicked Chase's aura hand as he moved to stab him and they kicked each other's leg, then Empowered Chase grabbed Chase's arm as the alicorn stallion moved to stab him.
He spun Chase's arm around, hit it with his right hand, tried to whack Chase with his arm, but missed as Chase ducked and backed away, while he kept hold of Chase's arm.
Empowered Chase pulled Chase's arm down, then raised it up, then bent it down, making Chase bend down, then he lifted Chase's arm up and kicked the katana up.
"Ah!" Chase grunted.
Empowered Chase ducked and spun around, tackling Chase, who back flipped away onto his back, as he got up. He caught the katana, then points it upwards as lightning went out of the sword right into the sky as Chase got up. Blue lighting came out of the katana as the ground shook, then the lightning hit Chase, knocking him away.
"Ah!" Chase shouted as he moaned, hitting the ground.
He rolled onto his side and looked at Empowered Chase.
(Scene changes)
Back in reality, Chase's forehead sweat as they were coming down and he continued to lie still while Twilight began to feel sleepy as she still had her eyes on Chase with hope and concern.
In the living room, Santos and Jewel felt they needed to tell the friends and family about their side of Chase's story.
"I know that Chase isn't here to listen, but we need him to gather all his strength and confront his fear, just as he did many years ago." Santos said softly.
"Come on, Dad." Sunray said near the fireplace, getting Santos and Jewel to turn to him. "Chase's never been afraid of anything in his life."
"Sunray's right." Pinkie said, agreeing behind Santos. "I've never known Chase to be scared of anything."
"Yeah, us neither." Applejack added, surprised just like her friends.
"Not true, everypony." Santos told them, getting the others to gather round as he turned to Jewel. "Do you recall, Jewel, our early days with Chase?"
"Yes, I do, honey." Jewel said to her husband with concern for her son.
Flashback
Santos, Jewel, and a four-year old Chase were down in a cave tunnel. Jewel was dragging a bag full of wood and metal. Santos was carrying some rare herbs, while Chase was collecting crystals and minerals from the rocks and putting it into another bag.
"We were scavenging for wood, metal, and other supplies." Santos' voice narrated as Young Chase picked up a crystal from a small creek, and then put it in his bag.
"Looks like we've done all we can for this spot. Now for the other." Jewel said to her husband and son.
"Come, my son." Santos said, as he and Jewel turned and walked down the tunnel, while Chase picked up his bag and carried it over his shoulder. "There are more useful items to be found on the upper levels of the caves."
Santos began to climb up a ladder they used to climb down as Jewel followed behind, but when Chase reached the base of it, he stuttered nervously. He slowly began to climb after his mother and father, who stopped and looked down at him.
"Remember, sweetie. These tunnels stretch for miles in all directions." Jewel explained, as she and Santos began to climb again. "To avoid losing your way, you must observe your surroundings carefully."
Chase stopped suddenly and looked around worriedly, and then panicked as he looked down.
"Come on, Chase!" Santos called. "We are nearly at the top."
Chase began to shake, as he didn't like this.
"I...can't!" Chase said, freaked out and scared.
"Chase, you must." Jewel encouraged her son.
Chase tried to climb higher, but then he slipped and dropped his bag as he managed to hang on.
"No! No!" Chase shouted with a scared look.
Jewel grabbed him and put him on her back, and then the three began climbing again.
"It was then we learned that he had an irrational and paralyzing fear of heights." Jewel's voice narrated.
(Scene changes)
Later in their home in Canterlot, Chase was doing some katas on some small bamboo poles, while Santos and Jewel watched him.
"In the weeks that followed, we worked closely to help him overcome his fear..." Santos' voice as Chase was now blindfolded and on some higher bamboo poles, and did more katas as Santos and Jewel watched. "..focusing on balance."
Chase now did more katas on higher bamboo poles, still blindfolded.
"Gradually building his confidence." Santos' voice said as Chase stopped doing his katas and stood still.
"Now, my son, remove your blindfold." Santos instructed.
Chase removed his blindfold, but then panicked when he noticed he was very high up, but there was a small hammock at the bottom of the poles.
"Ahh! Whoa!" Chase yelped as he began to loose his balance before he fell off. "Ahhh!"
He landed softly on the hammock, as Santos and Jewel looked at him, before walking towards him as he turns to his parents sadly and ashamedly for not facing it in time.
"We were beginning to wonder, if he would ever conquer the dark imaginings of his mind." Santos' voice said as his past self shook his head slightly a bit.
(Scene changes)
Later, Chase, Jewel, and Santos were crawling through a tunnel in the sewers.
"But we were unwilling to give up." Santos' voice said.
They then stopped by the end of the tunnel, and looked around and saw a bunch of pipes all around the room with gushing water, as well as a walkway. Santos grabbed a pipe that was nearby, and began to climb up it, before he turned to his son and wife.
"We must continue on, Chase." Santos explained, as he climbed up.
"He's right, Chase. Follow him, I'll be right behind you." Jewel said to Chase gently.
"You go ahead with Dad, Mom." Leo said nervously. "I'll go around the long way."
"That could take hours, my son." Santos argued as he kept climbing.
The pipe began to crack and bend, as Chase hid himself in the hole as Jewel looks at her son sympathetically.
"Uh, that's okay." Chase assured frantically. "I could use the exercise."
Santos kept climbing, before the pipe bent forward.
"Ahh! Aghh! Agghhh!" Santos yelped as it bent more and then the end of his kimono trapped him on the edge of the pipe.
"Dad!/Santos!" Chase and Jewel exclaimed upon seeing Santos dangling.
Chase then saw his father's kimono begin to rip slightly.
"Oh, no!" Chase shouted and panicked. "Dad."
Without thinking, he jumped and grabbed hold of the pipe, and then pulled himself up.
"Chase, no!" Jewel shouted in concern.
Chase then looked down at the gushing pipes and gasped worriedly. He then looks back to his father and his mother.
"Don't look down." Chase told himself quietly, closing his eyes as he made his way to Santos and Jewel watched everything. "Don't look down." Once he got close, he held his hoof out. "Dad! Grab on!"
Santos turned to him as he grabbed his hoof, and then Chase pulled his father up as Jewel joined them.
Chase sighed before he turned around and then the three unicorns began to make their way back when the pipe snapped some more.
"We'll never make it back in time!" Chase screamed, turning to his mother and father.
"Then we must forge ahead, my son." Santos said calmly as he turned to Jewel. "Honey, the ropes."
"I'm on it." Jewel said as she brought out a grappling hook from her kimono
Santos also took out a grappling hook from his kimono as the two unicorns spun them around as Chase, who looked confused, made his way slowly towards them. They then threw the grappling hooks at a grate on a hole above them.
Then Santos picked Chase up and put him on his back, and then the two adult unicorns swung them away with their son on his father's back just as the pipe snapped into a tunnel. Chase then jumped off his father's back as Santos pulled the grappling hook back towards him.
"But...you guys could've saved yourself...at any time." Chase said, confused as Santos and Jewel each put their grappling hooks over their shoulders before they turned to their son with very proud smiles.
"And you would still be consumed by your fear." Santos explained before he patted Chase's head, and then the three walked off. "By focusing on the task at hand, you were able to clear your mind of all distractions."
Flashback ended
"Wow, I didn't know that he was so scared back he was still a colt. Now I know how he felt when he used to be like me." Fluttershy said, speechless from the story of how Chase was able to push his first fears aside from the beginning.
"I can't believe it either. No wonder Chase had to keep his fear from being a secret for a while." Applejack said, not believing it either with her own ears.
"Over the past years, Chase has been able to get past his fears from growing up. It was one of those times when Darius was off before the Storm King got him." Trini said with a smile.
"I just wish he was back right now." Clay said with a hopeful look.
"And Chase would do so again." Santos said softly. "If he was in here right now, we would tell him to ignore the fear, let his spirit heal, and find his way home to return to us."
"We all wish that would happen, honey." Jewel said softly in agreement as she turned toward the stairs as Twilight still sat in her chair, sitting next to Chase as she was now sleeping with her head lowered.
(Scene changes)
In Chase's dream, Empowered Chase pinned Chase against a tree before they locked their aura hands together in a grapple. Empowered Chase flipped himself forwards, standing upside down above Chase while keeping hold of his forearms then he lowered himself down onto his hind hooves in front of him. He then turned and threw Chase away, who twirled around and hit the ground on his back.
Empowered Chase picked up a nearby pillar as Chase got to his knees and he put the edge of the pillar down, digging it into the ground. Empowered Chase spun around and kicked it, sending it flying towards Chase, which hit the ground behind him, creating a small explosion as it knocked him away.
"AHH!" Chase moaned.
He hit the ground on his side near Empowered Chase, who turned to him.
"You know better than anybody how powerful I am." Empowered Chase said, drawing out his katana. "Why don't you just give up the fight?"
"That's the one thing I'll never do!" Chase swore with a determined look while sitting up.
Empowered Chase turned slightly while pointing his katana at Chase, preparing to stab him.
"Then I guess this is over!" Empowered Chase said with his eyes narrowed.
Chase braced himself before Empowered Chase twirled his katana around, hushed his magic to make it disappear and held his hoof out.
"You passed the test." Empowered Chase proudly said with a smile.
Chase took his hoof as Empowered Chase helped him up and the alicorn stallion was looking confused.
"Test?" Chase inquired curiously. "What are you talking about?"
He turned slightly, and saw Element Chase coming towards him.
"You haven't been fighting us." Element Chase said. "You've been fighting for your life."
Chase turned left, and saw his super form coming over as well.
"And you've proven your will to live is stronger than any alicorn master's power." Super Chase said.
Chase stared at all three of his powerful forms as Element Chase held up one of his hooves, then opened it up, showing Chase's Dragon medallion.
"This is yours." They said together with smiles.
Chase took the medallion from Element Chase.
"Return to your family and friends. Good luck, buddy." They said, bowing their heads in respect to the alicorn stallion.
They all looked at Chase, who clutched his right hoof as his medallion repaired itself.
(Scene changes)
Back in reality, Chase's medallion glowed a bit before the light died down completely to show it was repaired. Not only that, but it also cured Chase's body as well.
Chase's closed eyes twitched a bit before they slowly opened as he groaned slightly.
He shakes his head a bit before he sits up right and looks around curiously before he noticed Twilight as his wife was sleeping soundly.
"Twilight?" Chase asked, making Twilight stir a bit before she opened her eyes tiredly to see her husband looking at her.
Seeing her husband alive and awake, Twilight's eyes widened at the sight.
"Chase!" Twilight shouted happily as she hugged her husband with all her might after he was unconscious for a long time. She lets go gently of Chase's cheeks. "You're awake! How do you feel?"
"I feel slightly tired, but I'm okay now." Chase said as he smiled at Twilight, only for her to cup his cheeks.
"Don't worry, honey. You're gonna be okay, you're gonna be okay." Twilight said assuringly as Chase chuckled and gently takes her hooves off his face.
"Alright, alright, Twilight. Calm down. You're gonna break my face. Get a grip, will ya, honey?" Chase said with a chuckle as Twilight giggled, happy that her husband was back. Then Chase remembered something. "Where are the others? Where's Nyx and Flurry?"
Hearing this, Twilight realized what he was talking about as she went over to the doors.
"Hey, guys! Get up here!" Twilight shouted, gaining her family and friends attention. "It's Chase! He's awake!"
Running up to join her, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Nyx, Sokka, Clay, Rainbow, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie, and Fluttershy saw Chase alive.
"Chase?" Jade asked with a tearful smile.
"Hey, guys." Chase said to his family friends with a warm smile when he was given the shock of his life when Pinkie gave a big bone crushing hug.
"Chase! You're back!" Pinkie shouted happily.
"Ow! Okay, okay! Pinkie, settle down. That hurts." Chase said gently as he chuckled and Pinkie lets go of him as Nyx hugged her father happily, making him return the favor for his daughter.
"Come on, buddy. Let's get you out of bed." Sunray said with a smile as he and Jade helped their older brother out of bed.
(Scene changes)
In a few seconds, they were all downstairs while Chase was sitting on the couch with Twilight sitting next to her husband as Nyx was hugging her father closer to her as the others had just finished explaining what had happened.
"So we've been out here for months? And I've been out that long?" Chase asked the group incredulously.
"You had us worried sick, Chase." Cadance said with a smile as she turned to Twilight. "Twilight never left our side and barely slept."
"She was really worried for you, little buddy." Shining Armor said with a smile. "But we're glad you're back."
Chase smiled back as Jade approached her older brother with a new set of two katanas.
"While you were out, Sunray and I managed to make a new set of katanas for you. We think that maybe it would be a good time for you to begin your training tomorrow when the time is right for us to return home." Jade said with a smile.
Accepting the gift, Chase took it with a smile as he turns to the rest of the group.
"Then we better get started, guys. We've got a world to take back and save it from total destruction." Chase said with a determined look, making the group smile happily.
"It's good to have you back, Chase." Antonio said with a smirk as he and Chase shared a high hoof with each other.
"Welcome back, my son." Santos said as he and Jewel smiled towards their son proudly as Chase smiled back to his parents.
"Yeah, I mean, if you're not leading, then who am I supposed to complain?" Sunray added with a smirk as he and Chase shared a hoof bump as the others cheered.
Flurry Heart flew over to her uncle and hugged him happily as he returned the favor with a loving nuzzle.
Twilight smiled at her husband proudly while placing a hoof to her heart as tears fell from her eyes.
Chase approached Twilight and the alicorn couple shared a loving nuzzle, happy to be reunited with each other after so long.
(Scene changes)
Up at Canterlot in the throne room of Zhao's castle, Zhao had just opened another portal to the Netherworld.
The portal showed the Sanzu River gurgling with bubbles as it began to rise up more and more. Zhao fires another magic beam toward a waterfall to reveal the south part of Equestria and the Sanzu River began flowing out of the portal right into the open as it began to poison the water supply.
Zhao smirked evilly at the sight before he closed the portal.
"Perfect. Now that the Sanzu River is free, I will have all of the creatures kneeling to me and respect my role as the Emperor of both the Netherworld and Equestria. Soon the whole world will be helpless before me and there will be no one left to stand in my way." Zhao said sinisterly.
He then gave off a low chuckle before he laughed wickedly.
Author's note: Hey guys,
Here's the twenty sixth chapter of this story. I did my best on this one with a few twists and turns on it. I'll be back to write the twenty seventh chapter soon enough. I hope you enjoy this one.
Peace out!