The Elements of Nature, Book 2

Chapter 2, The Cave of Two Lovers

“We should get to Omashu by the afternoon.” Twilight said as the group rest by a river. Most of the Wonderbolts are lazily floating in the water, just enjoying the warm spring sun.

“Hey, Agua, whut are yo' doin'?” Applejack asked as Agua bends some of the water.

“I’m practicing my bending.” Agua answered as she creates a globule which eventually transforms into eight whip-like water tentacles.

“That’s really cool, Agu--” Apple Bloom began, only to be cut off by some sounds in the distance. “Does anypony else hear that?”

“I sounds like ... music.” Fire’ said when they hear a guitar and a pony singing.

“I hear it, too.” Pinkie said. “And I know where it’s coming from.”

“Where?” Rainbow asked as she gets out of the water.

“There.” Pinkie said as she points to a group of nomads from Geo Firma.

The leader has a brown coat with a yellow mane and tail. He is wearing blue clothing and has a flower neckless. He has a pink flower for a cutie mark. He’s the one who's singing, “Da, da, da. Don't fall in love with the traveling mare. She'll leave you broke and brokenhearted,” he then notices the group, “hey, river ponies!”

“We’re not river ponies.” Rarity said to the hippie.

With a puzzled look, the lead nomad said nothing for a second. “You're not? Well, then what kind of ponies are you?”

“Just ... ponies.” Twilight said.

“Aren't we all, sister?” The hippie said.

Rapidfire then walks up to the group. “Who are you?” He accusingly said.

“I'm Chong and this is my wife, Lily.” The lead nomad said. “We're nomads, happy to go wherever the wind takes us!”

“You guys are nomads?” Firebrand said to them.

“Weird.” Spike said.

“Yep.” Chong said as he notices Spitfire’s and the other Wonderbolts flight suit, “Oh. Nice underwear...” The Wonderbolts then blush out of embarrassment.

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Meanwhile, in a forest severally kilometers away, Zuko emerges from some bushes. “I didn't find anything to eat! I can't live like this! I wasn't meant to be a fugitive. This is impossible!” Zuko said, as he looks over at Iroh, who is staring at a bush with a white flower, “Uncle, what are you doing?”

“You're looking at the rare White Dragon Bush.” Iroh said to his nephew, drooling. “Its leaves make a tea so delicious, it's heartbreaking. That, or it's the White Jade which is poisonous.”

“We need food, not tea.” Zuko pointed out. “I can’t believe I’m gonna say this, but I'm going fishing.” Zuko the leaves to go find the nearest river.

“Hmm ... delectable tea? Or a deadly poison?” Iroh dreamily then suspiciously said.

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Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle runs up to Rarity, wearing a wreath of pink flowers on her head. “Were did you get that? It’s positively lovely.” Rarity asked her little sister.

“Lilly.” Sweetie answered. “You should hear some of their stories. These guys have been everywhere!”

“Well, not everywhere, Little Unicorn. But where we haven't been, we've heard about through stories and songs.” Chong said while tuning his guitar.

“They said they'll take us t'see a giant night crawler! Uh ... whut’s a night crawler?” Apple Bloom said.

“Don’t know. Don’t wanna find out.” Spike said.

On the ground, Moku, one of the nomads is talking in a dreamy voice. “On the way, there's a waterfall that creates a never-ending rainbow!”

“Look, I hate to be the wet blanket here, but since Rarity is busy, I guess it's up to me.” Rainbow said as Rarity glares at her while Lily braids her mane. “We need to get to Omashu. No sidetracks, no worms and definitely no rainbows.”

“Wow, sounds like someone has a case of destination fever. You're worried too much about where you're going.” Chong said.

“You got to focus less on the ‘where’ and more on the ‘going.’” Lilly said.

“O. Ma. Shu!” Rainbow impatiently said.

“Rainbow's right.” Fire’ said. “We need to find King Bumi, so we can look for the next Avatar.”

“Sounds like you're headed to Omashu.” Chong said, causing Rainbow to smack her forehead. “There's an old story about the secret pass right through the mountains.”

“Is this real or a legend?” Twilight asked with some skepticism in her voice.

“Oh, it's a real legend. And it's as old as the legendary art of earthbending itself,” he then begins to sing. “Two lovers, forbidden from one another, the war divides their people and the mountain divides them apart! Built a path to be together!” He then stops for a moment. “Yeah, I forget the next couple of lines, but then it goes ... Secret tunnel! Secret tunnel! Through the mountains, secret, secret, secret, secret tunnel! Yeah!”

The others soon clap, including the other nomads. “That was one cool song.” Pinkie sang.

“I think we'll just stick with flying. We've dealt with the Fire Nation before. We'll be fine.” A unamused Rainbow said as she puts on a harness, along with the Wonderbolts.

“Yeah, thanks for the help, but all Pegasi hate going underground.” Fluttershy said as she and the others get into the chariot. “Besides, we need to get to Omashu soon, and flying is the fastest and safest way...”

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Five minutes later, the group were sighted by a Fire Nation battalion, and are being fired upon. They desperately try to escape as the Fire Nation fires missiles their way. “Launch!” Several trebuchets are activated, launching an assault of fireballs at the team, who manages to narrowly avoid them, scamming their lungs out.

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Five minutes later, the group, covered in ash and scorch marks, casually stroll past the nomads. “Secret love cave, let's go.” Spike said to them as he points forward.

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Meanwhile, Zuko arrives back to his and Iroh’s campsite from his fishing trip. Unfortunately, he has only managed to spear a single, tiny fish which flaps about helplessly on the large branch he used for a fishing pole. Zuko then sees his uncle, hunched over. “Zuko, remember that plant I thought might be tea?”

“You didn't...”

“I did...” Iroh said as he turns around “...and it wasn't.” He is now swollen and covered in red marks. Zuko, out of shock drops the branch with the tiny fish. Surprisingly calm, Iroh begins to talk while scratching his back with a branch. “When the rash spreads to my throat, I will stop breathing. But look what I found.”

He then shows Zuko the branch which has some pink berries. “These are Bacui Berries, known to cure the poison of the White Jade. That, or Maka'ole Berries which cause blindness” Zuko then grabs the branch of berries and hurls it into the bushes.

“We're not taking anymore chances with these plants!” Zuko said to his uncle. “We need to get help.”

“But where are we going to go?” Iroh then crouches down and scratches his rash vigorously. “We're enemies of Geo Firma and fugitives from the Fire Nation.”

“If Geo Firma discovers us, we'll be killed.” Zuko said.

“But if the Fire Nation discovers us, we'll be turned over to Azula.” Iroh said as he gets up while still scratching. After a long pause, Zuko makes the decision.

“Geo Firma it is.” Zuko said as they head for the nearest village.

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“How far are we from the tunnel?” Rainbow asked as they journey to the tunnel along a wide street surrounded by the ruins of a temple.

“Actually, it's not just one tunnel. The lovers didn't want anyone to find out about their love, so they built a whole labyrinth!” Chong said.

At this, Rarity, Applejack, Fire,’ and Twilight all stop in their tracks. “Labyrinth?!” They all said as they catch up to the others. “How are we supposed to get through?” Twilight asked.

“All you need to do, to get through, is trust in love ... according to the curse.” Lily said.

“Curse!” Everypony, except the nomads, said.

“Hey-hey! We're here!” Chong said as they approach a dark entrance.

Applejack then walks up to him, “Whut exackly is this hyar curse?” She asked.

“The curse says that only those who trust in love can make it through the caves. Otherwise, you'll be trapped in them forever.” Chong answered.

“And die.” Lily finished.

“Oh yeah, and die. Hey, I just remembered the rest of that song!” Chong said as he stands before the entrance, strums, then sings in an ominous line. “And die!”

“That's it!” Rainbow yelled out. “There's no way I'm going through some cursed hole!”

“Rainbow. Remember Zecora, how you all thought she was an evil enchantress that put a curse on us. It was just poison joke, remember?” Twilight pointed out.

“Oh yeah.” Rainbow said when she became ‘Rainbow Crash.’

Moku then notices some smoke in the distance. “Hey, somepony's making a big campfire!”

“That's no campfire, Moku.” Apple Bloom said.

“It's the Fire Nation. They're tracking us.” Agua said.

“So all you need to do is trust in love to get through these caves?” Firebrand asked Chong.

“That is correct, Master Fire Mane.” Chong answered. 

Firebrand than stares at Twilight for a moment. “We can make it.” Fire’ said.

“Quick, everypony into the hole!” Spitfire said.

Just as they get into the hole, several Fire Nation tanks rumble across the terrain toward the entrance of the tunnel and stop once they reach the mouth of the cave. “Hold on!” The commander said to his subordinates. “It's too dangerous. Haven't you heard the song? Just close them in. The mountain will take care of the rest.”

The tanks then fire rotating grappling hooks from canisters into the tunnel and release them after a few moments, unleashing an avalanche of boulders, trapping the group inside. “It's so dark! I can’t even see my hoof in front of my face!” Rainbow said, beginning to panic along with the other Pegasi.

“Thats my hoof, Rainbow.” AJ said to her.

“And my face.” Twilight said.

“I can’t use my magic to make light. Something is blocking it.” Fire’ said.

Light then appears as Chong lights a torch. Firebrand then walks up to a wall. “The walls are rich in the same iron ore the Fire Nation uses in their tanks.”

“Uh ... Meaning?” Spike asked.

“Meaning, non of us can use magic at all.” Fire’ said as he thinks. “We need a plan. Chong, how long do those torches last?” Fire’ asked the nomad.

“Uh, about two hours each.” Chong casually said.

Lily then lights the rest of the torches. “And we have five torches, so that's ten hours!” She said.

Agua then uses her bending to put them out. “It doesn't work like that if they're all lit at the same time!” Agua said as she takes the leftover water from the torches.

“Oh, right.” Lily said, slightly embarrassed.

“Ah's a-gonna make a map t'keep track of exackly whar we've been. Then we sh'd be able t'solve it like a maze an' git through.” Applejack said as she gets a pice of paper out as they begin to navigate the cave. Twilight and Fire’ then look at each other with unsure expressions.

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In a small village, Iroh is being treated for the White Jade by a Unicorn mare with a white coat, bright blue mane and tail, pink eyes, and a red cross for a cutie mark. The rash has spread to his face and his cheeks are now swollen. “You two must not be from around here. We know better than to touch the White Jade, much less make it into tea and drink it.” The mare said as she wrings a pice of cloth with her magic. She then flicks Iroh's hoof away when he scratches his rash.

“Whoops!” Iroh said.

“So where are you traveling from?” The mare asked, causing Zuko to sit up.

“Yes, we're travelers.” Zuko said nervously.

“Do you have names?” The mare asked as she gives Iroh some ointment.

“Names? Of course we have names. I'm, uh ... Lee and this is my Uncle, uh ... Mushi?” Iroh then shoots an angry look at him as the mare opens a jar with her magic and pulls out some lotion and begins slathering it over the inflamed areas.

“Yes, my nephew was named after his father, so we just call him Junior.” He then leans over to the side and gives Zuko a pleased smile. “He hates it when we call him that.”

Zuko them glares angrily at Iroh and moves his hoof across his neck, meaning that Iroh is dead meat, but halts when the mare turns to look at him. “Mushi and Junior. My name is Song. You two look like you could use a good meal.” Song said as she slaps Iroh's hoof away when he goes to scratch his rash again. “Why don't you two stay for dinner?”

“Sorry, but we have to be moving on.” Zuko said.

Song then screws the lid of the lotion and puts it up. “That's too bad. My mom always makes too much roast duck and pineapple.” Song said with an innocent smile.

“Where do you live exactly?” Iroh asked excitedly.

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Back at the dark tunnel, Shining is standing with a map on the ground. He tilts it to the side a few times before drawing it closer to him. “Applejack, this is the tenth dead-end you've led us to.” Rarity said to her.

“This hyar don't make sense. We already came through this way.” Applejack said.

Chong then walks up to her. “We don't need a map. We just need love. The little fillies know that.”

“Yeah, but we'dn't mind a map also.” Apple Bloom said, taking her sisters side.

“There's something strange here. There's only one explanation.” Fire’ said when he realizes something. The others then look at him, hoping for an explanation. “The tunnels are changing.” He said, and just then, the cave then begins to shake, surprising everyone.

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At the small village, it’s nighttime as Zuko and Iroh are eating at Song’s kitchen table. They are eating some noodles and roast pineapples, along with some roast duck. “My daughter tells me you're refugees.” Song’s mother said. “We were once refugees ourselves.”

“When I was a little filly, the Fire Nation raided our farming village. All the stallions were taken away. That was the last time I saw my father.” Song sadly said.

“I haven't seen my father in many years.” Zuko said.

“Oh, is he fighting in the War?” Song sorrowfully asked.

Zuko hesitates for a moment as Iroh is slurps up a bowl of noodles. “Yeah.”

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Back at the cave, Chong is frantically walking around. “The tunnels, they're a-changin.' It must be the curse! I knew we shouldn't have come down here!”

“Right, if only we listened to you.” Twilight sarcastically said to him.

Fluttershy then raises her hoof into the air. “Everypony be quiet. Listen.” She said.

They then hear a low snarl from within the darkness of the tunnel. Shining suspiciously holds the torch up to the tunnel to inspect the strange sound. Suddenly, a giant bat-like creature flies from the darkness of the cave towards the group, causing everyone to panic. “It's a giant flying thing with teeth!” Chong said as it flies around them.

“It’s a giant bat!” Twilight said.

“It’s a flying wolf!” Rainbow said.

“No! It's a wolfbat!” Moku said to them as it lands, taking on the appearance of a wolf. Rainbow then begins to wave her torch at the bat. Unfortunately, sparks hit a vain of magnesium, igniting it, releasing a discharge of rocks and debris. Firebrand uses his firebending to push the others out-of-the-way. But Twilight is out of range and the wolfbat is about to pounce on her. Firebrand then races towards Twilight and pushes her out-of-the-way as the wolfbat is crushed by a large boulder. Twilight then lights a torch she had and they see that the cave in has divided them from the group completely. On the other side, the Applejack, Rainbow, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Agua and the Cutie Mark Crusaders stare at the giant wall, with Spike digging at it but the rock is too hard for him.

“Yeah, it's no use, we can't move that wall.” Chong said when Spike stops. “We're separated. But at least you have us!” Chong said to them as the nomads smile.

The thought horrifies the gang to the point of screaming ... “NOOOOO!!!!!!” Everyone screamed, except for Pinkie. “Why are you screaming?”

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Meanwhile, Zuko is sitting on Song's front porch, she then comes outside and sits beside him. “Can I join you? I know what you've been through. We've all been through it.” She then notices Zuko's scar. “The Fire Nation has hurt you, haven't they?”

She reaches out to touch his scar only to have Zuko push her hand away. “It's okay. They've hurt me, too.” She then shows him her leg and shows burn scars on them. Zuko casts her a surprised look upon seeing this.

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Chong and his group are singing much to Rainbow’s annoyance. “Oh, don't let the cave-in get you down! Don't let the falling rocks turn your smile into a frown! When the tunnels are darkest, that's when you need a clown, hey! Don't let the cave-in get you down.”

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In another part of the tunnels, Twilight and Fire’ are trying to find the others. “Firebrand, look!” She cheerfully said as she points to a solid rock door.

“We found the exit!” Fire’ said as they make their way to the door.

Using all their strength, they mange to open it a few feet before Twilight jumps in. However, her look of hope changes into one of disappointment. “This isn't the exit.” She sadly said.

Fire’ then walks up to her, torch in hoof. “No. It's a tomb.” The tomb is large, at least twice the size of Twilight’s library. “It must be the two lovers from the legend; that's who's buried here.”

Twilight walks over to them and sees some pictures on the sarcophagus. “These pictures tell their story. Lets see, they met on top of the mountain that divided their two villages. The villages were enemies, so they could not be together, but their love was strong and they found a way. The two lovers learned earthbending from the badger-moles; they became the first earthbenders. They built elaborate tunnels, so they could meet secretly.

Anyone who tried to follow them would be forever in the labyrinth. But, one day, the colt didn't come -- he'd died in the war between the two villages. Devastated, the mare unleashed a terrible display of her earthbending power -- she could have destroyed them all, but, instead, she declared the war over. Both villages helped her build a new city where they could live together in peace. The mare's name was Oma and the colt's name was Shu. The great nation was named Omashu as a monument to their love.”

The two then look at each other momentarily before turning around. They see a giant statue of the two lovers kissing, both Earth ponies. They then see an inscription above the statue. 'Love is brightest in the dark.' Is what it said.

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Meanwhile, on the other side of the cave, Applejack glares at her map. “Oh, great! Your plans have led us to another dead-end!” Moka said to the orange Earth pony.

“At least she’s thinkin' of ideas an' tryin' t'git us outta hyar, Moku.” Apple Bloom said, defending her sister.

“Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. We're thinking of ideas? Because I've had an idea for, like, an hour now.” Chong said.

“Yes! We are all thinkin' of ideas!” Applejack yelled at him.

“Well, then listen to this: If love is the key out of here, then all we need to do is play a love song!” Chong then begins to play a song on his lute, much to everypony’s dismay, except for the nomads.

“For once, I’m not in the mood for a song.” Pinkie said.

“Even if you're lost, you can't lose the love because it's in your heart...” Chong began. Rainbow then slaps her forehead again.

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Meanwhile, Zuko and Iroh are preparing to leave from Song's house. They are standing outside, with dozens of fireflies in the air. “Thank you for the duck. It was delicious.” Iroh said.

“You're welcome. It gives me pleasure to see somepony eat my cooking with such ... gusto.” Song’s mother said.

“Much practice.” Iroh said as he pats he stomach. Zuko then turns around to leave, “Junior, where are your manners? You need to thank these nice ponies.”

Zuko then turns around and bows to them. “Thank you.”

“I know you don't think there's any hope left in the world, but there is hope. The Avatars have returned.” Song said to Zuko.

“I know.” Zuko bitterly said as they then leave.

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“We're going to run out of light in 5 minutes ... at most.” Firebrand said to Twilight. “How are we going to find our way out of these tunnels?”

“I have a crazy idea.” Twilight said.

“What?”

Twilight hesitates for a second, but walks away, slightly embarrassed. “Never mind. It's too crazy.”

“Twilight, what is it?”

“I was thinking ... The curse says we'll be trapped in here forever unless we trust in love...”

“Right...”

“And at the tomb, it says, ‘Love is brightest in the dark,’ and has a picture of them kissing.”

“Where are you going with this?”

“Well, what if we ... kissed?” Twilight said shyly while blushing.

Firebrand is stunned by what he just heard and begins to blush. “Us ... kissing?”

“See? It was a crazy idea.” She then notices that the torch has a few seconds left. “What are we going to do?”

“What can we do?” Twilight then silently walks to him. They then stare each other in the eyes for a few moments. The two then begin to lean into one another as the last of the torch-light fades. They close there eyes as they are about to kiss. Suddenly, the ceiling of the cave lights up revealing thousands of glowing crystals gleaming overhead.

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Meanwhile, the others are journeying through the cave when they hear low growls in the distance. “What was that?” Fluttershy asked as they look in the dark tunnel, when several wolfbats come into the light, racing towards them. Spike waves his claws around frantically in the air, trying to scare them off. But they wolfbats just fly straight past them.

“Hey! You saved us, Spike!” Chong said.

“No, they were running away from something!” Fluttershy said.

“From what?” Moka asked. Just then, caves begin to rumble as a wall of rock begins to crumble. Without warning, two giant badger-moles burst through the caves, causing the group to panic.

“Ask a silly question.” Spike said as one badger-mole closes its hands together in a prayerful way, closing off a tunnel behind it with earthbending. The other badger-mole pounds the ground with its paws and raises a wall of earth, blocking off the exits. One badger-mole then uses its earthbending to create a split in the earth between the nomads and the main six (mines Twilight), the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Agua.

They tried to avoid the badger-mole's swipes, but Applejack is blown back several feet and starts hastily backing away, her hoofs hitting a string on the lute in the process, producing a musical note. The badger-mole cocks its head curiously at this as the creatures quiet down. Realizing what just happened, Applejack picks up the lute and begins playing a tune. “Hey, those things are music lovers!” Sweetie Belle said to the others.

“Giant moles a-comin' toward me. Come on guys, he'p me out!” Applejack nervously said while singing.

Chong and his group then get their remaining instruments and begin singing. “The big, bad badger-moles who earthbend the tunnels, hate the wolfbats, but love the sounds!”

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In another part of the caves, Twilight and Fire’ are staring at the ceiling of glowing crystals, with their hoofs still linked. “They're some kind of crystal. They must only light up in the dark.” Fire' said as they stare at the glowing, multicolored crystals.

“That's how the two lovers found each other.” Twilight said in realization as she gestures with her hoofs along the ceiling. “They just put out their lights and followed the crystals.” They then see the exit. “That must be the way out!” They then hug each other before realizing what they're doing.

“So, uh...” Fire’ began.

“Let's go!” Twilight then runs for the exit.

Fire’ then stares after her before shaking his head and smiling. He and Twilight make their way out of the cave and into the outdoors. The two then run around a little bit in the suns rays, but Fire’ stops when he remembers whats missing. “Wait! What about the others?”

The two are concerned at first, but they then hear a rumbling. At that moment, Shining and Cadence, the other Elements of Harmony, the CMC and the band of nomads emerge from the cave, riding on top of the badger-moles. Debris flies everywhere as Fire’ and Twilight shield themselves from the rubble. Rainbow then waves at the two as she gets off. “Rainbow!” Twilight said, happy to see her friends are all okay. 

“How did you guys get out?” Rainbow asked the two.

“Just like the legend said, we let love lead the way.” Twilight said.

“Really? We let huge, ferocious beasts lead our way.” Applejack said as Firebrand goes over to the others to see if there all right. Fluttershy waves goodbye to the badger-moles as they return to the caves. Spike runs up to Twilight ad hugs her, which is when Twilight notices something different about Rainbow.

“Oh my goodness! Rainbow, why is you forehead all red?” Twilight asked the rainbow maned Pegasus. But before she could answer, Chong walks up to them.

“Nopony react to what I'm about to say: I think that Agua and Fire’ might be the Avatars!” Rainbow then smacks her forehead, enlarging the red spot while Chong looks at her in curiosity.

“So are you guys going to come to Omashu with us?” Pinkie asked the nomads.

“Nope.” Moku answered.

“Okey-dokey-lokey!” Pinkie said as the band of nomads begin walking away as Chong places a necklace of flowers around Rainbow’s neck.

“Rainbow, I hope you learned a little something about not letting the plans get in the way of the journey.” Chong said as he hugs her, which amuses everypony, especially Applejack.

“Just play your songs.” Rainbow said, irritated yet blushing.

Chong then stops hugging her. “Hey! Good plan!” Chong said as he takes his lute and begins signing. “Even if you're lost, you can't lose the love because it's in your heart. Da, da, da...”

A few minutes later, the group walk up some hills, with Omashu on the other side. “The journey was long and annoying, but now you get to see what it's really about: the destination.” Applejack said as she takes the lead. “Ah present t'yo' th' Geo Firman city of O--” But Applejack stops abruptly as she stares at Omashu, which has a very bad thing on the outer wall.

“Oh no...” Applejack said as the others get to her location and see the very big problem, Omashu has been captured and placed under Fire Nation rule, with the Fire Nation flag above the entrance.