This is the 15th chapter. I don't own the series of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
Toxic Bogs
After Mario has been informed about the location of the fourth Serpentine Staff, he let Twilight, his friends, and his family know that he'll be leaving for a while since he'll be helping his friends. Zane have also informed Cheerilee about it as well, which made her worried about him, but understands that it's important to him to meet up at the Dojo Temple in order to find out about the location of the Serpentine Staff. Twilight and her friends are worried about him, but with the mission that's important to him, they let him, and Zane leave Ponyville. Now, they're at the Dojo Temple and Master Wu speaks to his students.
"Thanks to all of you, 2 of the Serpentine Staffs are in our hooves, but Garmadon and the Serpentines nor the demon army are going to give up easy." Master Wu informing his students. "Thus, the 4th Serpentine Staff is being discovered."
"The last 2 we found were at the Mountain of a Million Steps and at the Dragon's Land." Skylor points out. "Where's it located?"
"At the Toxic Bogs, near the Everfree Forest." Master Wu answered.
"What?!" Jay exclaims in shock. "You've got to be kidding me! Couldn't be any easier to find?!"
"I'm sorry, Jay, but nopony says finding the staffs are easy." Master Wu told him.
"And your complaints aren't helping much, either." Morro adds with annoyance, causing Jay to groan.
"But with the Serpentines and the Oni found the location, we need to get to the Toxic Bogs before them." Master Wu continued. "Now, there's no time to waste. Head to the bog and find the Serpentine Staff before Garmadon's army get a hold of it."
The Elemental Masters nod as they get ready to leave for a journey to Toxic Bogs. Jay didn't like about going there, but with Lord Garmadon's army making their move to look for the Serpentine Staff, he joins them. Master Wu then looked at the portrait of his brother with concern, hoping his students get to the Toxic Bogs and find the Serpentine Staff first.
In the Underworld, Lord Garmadon is watching Ponyville who are in peace, which made him smirk with sinister since he'll be ruling Equestria in the future. While his army are still searching for the remaining 2 Serpentine Staffs, but in order to get the rest of the 2, he'll have to come up with a method to get them in order to unleash the Great Devourer. But in case it didn't work, he always has a backup plan by using the powers of the Mirror Pool to unleash many armies to overrun the ponies and creatures to rule Equestria by darkness.
"Lord Garmadon."
Lord Garmadon turned his attention to an Oni, who approached him.
"What is it?" Lord Garmadon asks.
"We informed by Orochimaru, they're able to find the location of the fourth Serpentine Staff. It's located at the Toxic Bogs."
"Toxic Bogs? Hmm...I believe Orochimaru can use it as an advantage." Lord Garmadon said with a sinister smirk, thought of an idea about getting rid of the Elemental Masters as he releases the flames to call Orochimaru. "Orochimaru. Before you head for the Serpentine Staff, I have a plan on getting rid of the Elemental Masters."
And with that, Lord Garmadon begins telling Orochimaru while the demon snake listens carefully as he tells him about the plan.
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Ahhh
My Little Pony
I use to wonder what friendship could be
My Little Pony
Until you all share this magic with me
Big adventure,
Tons of fun,
A beautiful heart,
Faithful and strong,
Sharing kindness
It' an easy feat
And magic makes it all complete
You all have my little ponies
Do you know all you're my best friends?
After Lord Garmadon finished his explanation, Orochimaru is starting to like the idea about using the Toxic Bogs as the advantage and use it to get rid of the Elemental Masters while taking the fourth Serpentine Staff.
"And with them out of the way, the fourth Serpentine Staff we'll be ours and we'll get to find the final Serpentine Staff." Lord Garmadon told him.
"While the plan is excellent on using the Toxic Bogs as our advantage, which we will use, but what about the other 2? We still need all 5 of them to unleash the Great Devourer." Orochimaru said with a question which Lord Garmadon smirks, glad he brought that up.
"Hmm...I'll have to use either the Bearers of Harmony or the children as a leverage, or probably both. And once that happens, we will form a trade." Lord Garmadon answered. "A Serpentine Staffs for the mares and their kids."
"But you know the Princesses won't let it happen." Orochimaru points out with a serious look.
"No matter, I'll deal with them and my brother myself if it happens." Lord Garmadon said. "Also, we still need them to extract the venom and use it for the map I've managed to find. It will tell us where we could find the Great Devourer and awaken its deep slumber."
Orochimaru then smirks, knows how powerful Lord Garmadon is ever since he once ruled Equestria, being sealed to the Underworld while trains himself to get stronger by taking down the Oni, Serpentines, and demon army. And now with the seal broken, Lord Garmadon is free and ready to unleash his army, but he's taking his time while formulating a plan to rule Equestria. But if the first plan failed, he'd always have a backup plan.
"But for now, let's focus on the fourth Serpentine Staff and we'll focus on the other. And when the time comes, we'll proceed to another plan by holding the Bearers of Harmony and those brats hostage, using them as a leverage for the exchange." Lord Garmadon continued as Orochimaru smirks. "Now, have your group ready, the Elemental Masters are on their way."
"At once." Orochimaru replied, extinguishing the flames.
Lord Garmadon then sits on his throne with a sinister smirk, hoping that the plan goes well since the Toxic Bogs will be the Serpentines advantage because one of the snake tribes knows about the territory better than any other creatures, especially ponies. And once the Elemental Masters are gone, he'll be focusing on the final Serpentine Staff and planning to take the 6 mares and their children as hostages for the exchange in order to unleash the Great Devourer.
Meanwhile, the Elemental Masters were treading through the Everfree Forest to get to the Toxic Bogs in order to get the fourth Serpentine Staff before the Serpentines does. Jay grunts and groans, trying to swat the mosquitos away while Skylor, Cole, and Karlof watches in amusement.
"Ugh! I hate the Everfree Forest! So, full of plants...monsters...and bugs!" Jay complains, swatting the mosquitos.
"You should've brought something with you, like bug repellant. That way, you won't get stung by those things." Nya told him with a smirk, teasing him.
"Not funny, Nya!" Jay remarked, then smacks his face to get the mosquito. "Ugh! Are we even close to the Toxic Bogs?!"
Neither of them gives the Master of Lighting the answer, because they're standing there which Jay noticed as they look at the swamp known as...the Toxic Bogs. They remembered about the swamp being deadly and poisonous that's filled with acid, it's also the home for the Venomari tribe and where they'll find the fourth Serpentine Swamp.
"Eww!" Jay shuddered, noticing the smell.
"Hey, it's not me!" Kai told him with a shrug. "We're in the Toxic Bogs, this stuff eats you worse than Cole's chili."
"Hey!" Cole said, resents that.
Kai used his magic to grab hold of the stick, levitating it to the acid to prove his point by dropping it down, causing it to melt. They then head towards the Toxic Bogs by some use their wings to fly while the others jumps from tree-to-tree and swinging their vines to get to the tomb. Morro, Floyd, Zane, and Mario had a feeling that something isn't right. Usually, the Serpentines had some help from Lord Garmadon's demonic army, but now, they couldn't see any of them and it got them wondering why. And little did they know, Orochimaru and Kabuto watches the Elemental Masters making their way to the tomb, which it will lead them into a trap as they readied the plan. They then land on the ground at the center of the tree that has a tomb on the roots. Jay taps the door and the tomb opens it that will lead them to the entrance, but not without leaving them a nauseating smell.
"PU!" Jay shuddered as the echo was heard.
"Phew, that's some stank." Skylor said, waving her hoof in disgust.
"Don't look at me. Remember, you smelt it, dealt it." Jay jokes with a smirk, but earned a smack in the back of his head by Mario. "OW!"
"Let's just make this quick before Orochimaru and his gang gets here." Kai suggested with a sigh.
"Now where's the fun in that when you've failed to notice that we're here?" The voice of Orochimaru asks with a sinister chuckle.
It got the Elemental Masters attention, turning to the Serpentines burrowing from the grounds and coming out of the acidic bogs as they slowly slithering to them. Both Orochimaru and Kabuto slowly approaches them with a smirk on their faces.
"Well, well, so it would seem you came and fell right into our trap." Orochimaru said. "We were here before any of you came, but we have a little...alternative."
"Let me guess, Lord Garmadon has other plans for us?" Mario guessed with his narrowed eyes.
"Yes, and it would've been easy for us to get the Serpentine Staff before all of you, but it wouldn't be fun whenever there's no chance on fighting against all of you in the bog, now would it?" Orochimaru told him. "But thanks to Lord Garmadon, he ordered us to get rid of all of you."
The Elemental Masters knew that Lord Garmadon is given them an order while making the Serpentines wait for them to arrive at the Toxic Bogs, readied their fighting stance. Neuro is using his power to predict the Serpentines are overwhelming them and getting the Serpentine Staff, then turns to one of the Elemental Masters as he use his power to communicate.
"Listen, I'm going inside of the Tomb and find the Serpentine Staff. But I'm going to need some time. Can you guys try hold them off as much as you can so I can find it?" Neuro suggests.
"Are you sure about this?" Mario mentally questions. "You'll need somepony to go with you, and it'll be filled with traps like last time."
"I understand, but if we start having second thoughts on who's going, there won't be enough time. I can still find the Serpentine Staff without any hesitations, and remember, I'm the Master of Mind. Meaning, I can use my powers to predict and more." Neuro told him. "All I ask is buy some time and I'll find the Serpentine Staff."
The Elemental Masters glances each other for a few second, knows that somepony need to get the Serpentine Staff that's located inside of the tomb while the rest will have to stay and hold off the Serpentines. However, both Orochimaru and Kabuto are waiting for their move, but it made them notice that one of them is planning to head inside and look for the Serpentine Staff.
"Alright, but be careful." Mario mentally replied as Neuro starts heading inside of the tomb.
Kabuto then smirks as he vanished, pursuing after Neuro while leaving feathers behind. The Elemental Masters began to notice that when Orochimaru smirks.
"Do you really think we didn't know your mind-reading friend can predict us? It won't matter if any of us find the Serpentine Staff or fighting. The only thing is that only one of us get the staff and prevail." Orochimaru said with sinister look. "And the other will perish."
"Don't underestimate our friend yet, Neuro can still look for the staff." Kai remarked.
"Oh, I never said he's looking for the staff." Orochimaru stated with a chuckle. "I mention about your friend facing against...Kabuto. You see, it's not only he has expertise in medicals and science, but he's deadly in assassination and illusions."
It made the Elemental Masters wide their eyes with dread about Kabuto's capabilities.
"W-What do you mean by assassination and...illusions?" Jay asks nervously, swallows a lump on his throat.
"It's exactly as I said, Master of Lightning. While it's true his medical skills and science are extraordinary during his time in experimentation, but his illusions to make his enemies confused, combining with his assassination skills are much deadlier than my own. He even did it on himself by using the snakeskin and flesh, turning himself into a demon." Orochimaru explains. "I've had quite a fascination of his abilities, I even took him on and train him as my apprentice. Training him with his demonic traits, and even given him the targets to kill while letting him have his time in experimentation. He was able to conduct something that could be of use, while Lord Garmadon puts him in charge for medic. Though, he usually does it alone and not having any other monsters disturb him."
Mario then narrows his eyes in anger, remembering of Orochimaru and Kabuto murdered his mentor during the time when he was a colt back at the Temple of Nature.
"But he'd also became my second-in-command after a long serving with Lord Garmadon." Orochimaru continued.
"I thought one of your Serpentines were your own second-in-command." Floyd states seriously.
"Between the five of the different Serpentine Tribes are the Generals and in charge for the Serpentine Staff. They once served Lord Garmadon for a long time, and yet, the plan has failed and the staffs are scattered around Equestria." Orochimaru told him. "We've only found one if it weren't for all of you, and yet, you're able to discover more and took only 2."
"That's because we won't let you awaken the Great Devourer. We know what Lord Garmadon is planning." Zane said with a scowl.
"Oh? Well, if that's the case, he always has tricks under his sleeve. He's always intrigue me whenever he comes up with a plan." Orochimaru said, chuckled. "But I'm afraid I've said too much, and I believe stalling isn't in our favor. Might as well go on and fight, this'll be fun once we see you perish in this Toxic Bogs."
The Elemental Masters then decided to fight as they charge after the Serpentine while they do the same as he fight begins.
While inside of the Venomari Tomb, Neuro carefully treads through his path and look for the staff. He then noticed that he's being followed thanks to his Mind Element but felt the dark aura and killing intent around him. Neuro then noticed a Serpentine Staff at the altar, but had a feeling it's way too easy since he knows somepony is also after it and him. The sound of a hiss is heard, making Neuro kept his guard up and readying his fighting stance.
"So, you're the Master of Mind? Now that's quite interesting, reading my movements, using psionic powers, quite fascinating to experiment on." The voice of Kabuto said with a sinister chuckle, revealing himself from the shadows.
"Kabuto, so you're the one who commits many heinous crimes for your sick experiments." Neuro said with a scowl. "And yet, you're doing Lord Garmadon's work."
"He's very persuasive in his own way. We even had something in common, like rule Equestria and taking each and every one of you down." Kabuto told him. "And it would be fun to fight you."
And then, Kabuto makes his first move as he charges after him with the snake bare its fangs while Neuro is on defensive stance. The Master of Mind is using his power to predict his movements, sensing the snake is about to bite and Kabuto brings out his kunai knife to stab him. Neuro dodges the snake bite and using his psionic blast right at Kabuto, sent him flying as he lands against the wall with his hooves. Kabuto smirks while Neuro narrows his eyes as he then readied his fighting again, making the demon snake hiding into the shadows while try to confuse the Master of Mind by hissing and laughing. Neuro knows that the snake demon is trying to confuse him while waiting for him to get his guard down, but he kept his composure and keeping his guard. Neuro closed his eyes, using his senses to find Kabuto by using the sense of vibration and hearing. The snake the lurks out of the shadow and about to bite him as Neuro uses his psionic blast at it from underneath, sending it flying right at the ceiling and knocked out. Kabuto then lurks out and about lunge at him, causing Neuro to dodge to the side and made him missed. Neuro and Kabuto then clashed against each other by bringing their fists.
While at the Toxic Bogs, the Elemental Masters are continuing the fight against the Serpentines. Orochimaru is watching the fight with amused look on his face, seeing the Elemental Masters tried to take down the Serpentines which they were outnumbered. Morro uses his wind power to conjure a wind funnels, blow the number of Serpentines away. The Master of Wind takes flight to gain distance in the air which Orochimaru took notice, using his power to bring out a giant snake that's merging out of the toxic bog. It causes the Elemental Masters to jump in midair to dodge the acidic rain, but the Serpentines are affected because of the skin that's durable to withstand the burns.
Morro turned his attention to the giant snake, that only stares at him and waiting for the Master of Wind to strike.
"Think we'd let you out that easy, Master of Wind?" Orochimaru asks with a sinister smirk, standing on top of the snakes head. "And if you're able to escape, I wonder what your teacher would think."
"Hmph, who ever said anything about escaping? I still had one thing that I can use." Morro said with a smirk of his own, bringing out the flute.
"Oh? Decided to play your tune before you die? How fitting." Orochimaru mocks.
Morro then begin playing the flute, which made the Serpentines scream in pain while covering their ears. Orochimaru grunts in pain and the giant snake hisses in pain, which it's enough time for the Elemental Masters to use their elements to bind them in between earth, nature, and ice. Some were able to knock them out and Jay uses his element of lightning to electrocute the giant snake, making it screech and Orochimaru able to leap in the air while having the sword coming out of its mouth. Orochimaru lunges at Morro, about to impale him when Floyd pushes the Master of Wind away and made him miss as he lands on the tree with a snarl. Mario slams his hoof, binding the demon snake with vines.
"Give it up, Orochimaru! You failed." Mario said with a scowl, but Orochimaru lets out a sinister chuckle.
"Oh, I don't think I have. You see, Kabuto is already dealing with your friend and taking the Serpentine Staff for the victory." Orochimaru said.
"Are you sure?" The voice of Neuro asks, earned their attention when he made it out of the tomb with the Serpentine Staff. "Because Kabuto has underestimated me and cost him to lose."
Orochimaru snarls angrily of the failure, knew that Lord Garmadon won't be too pleased.
"You may have won this fight, but I'll promise you this, the fifth and final Serpentine Staff will be ours!" Orochimaru shouts with declaration. "Serpentines, withdraw for now! But we'll be back, I promise you this!"
And with that, Orochimaru and the Serpentines vanished after the dark portal opens. Morro and Floyd lands next to them with worried look on their faces.
"The final staff? Is that even possible?" Kai questions.
"It does, five staffs and five Serpentine Generals." Neuro answered. "It would also bring the Great Devourer if they made an agreement and bringing the staffs together."
"But why?" Nya asks.
"I don't know, but Master Wu knows about it. We have to head back to the Dojo Temple and inform Master Wu." Morro suggests as they make their journey back to the Dojo Temple.
Back in the Underworld, Orochimaru, Kabuto, and the Serpentines have returned and Lord Garmadon isn't too happy about it.
"It would seem you bring nothing. And you haven't killed the Elemental Masters?" Lord Garmadon asks furiously.
"My Lord, we underestimated them. The Master of Wind has the flute to bring pain to our ears, and the Master of Mind have outsmarted Kabuto." Orochimaru informed him, which made Lord Garmadon sighed. "My Lord, shall we look for the final Serpentine?"
"No, it will be better if you take the day off. I have no use on the Serpentines running ragged like this, but for now, we still have other plans that could be of use to us." Lord Garmadon told him. "For now, save your energy until you find the final Serpentine Staff, and when we get the chance of capturing those brats, we'll force the Elemental Masters to surrender the Serpentine Staffs, and then, we'll unleash the Great Devourer."
Orochimaru and the Serpentines along with the demonic army smirks as Lord Garmadon chuckled with sinister.
Meanwhile, Mario and Zane made it back to Ponyville after given the Serpentine Staff to Master Wu, which now he gives them an explanation about the dark history of the Serpentine Staffs that were used by the 5 Serpentine Generals in different tribes and how the Great Devourer has been unleashed once. Mario made his way to the Golden Oak Library as Twilight greets her coltfriend by hugging him.
"So, how did it went?" Twilight asks.
"We were able to retrieve the fourth Serpentine Staff, but...I'm afraid there's something I have to tell you." Mario said.
It made Twilight worried, but decided to hear him out as she lets him inside and listen to Mario's explanation since it's important for her to know about the history of the Serpentine Staffs.
That's it for the 15th chapter.