The Elements of Nature, Book 2

Chapter 4, The Swamp

In a Geo Firma village, Zuko and Iroh are sitting on straw mats, waiting for pedestrians to walk by, which one does. Iroh holds his hat out to the pedestrian and begins to talk to him. “Spare coins for weary travelers?” Iroh asked the pedestrian, who tosses a couple of copper pieces into Iroh's hat as Zuko turns to his uncle in anger.

“This is humiliating! We're royalty! These people should be giving us whatever we want.” Zuko angrily said.

“They will if you ask nicely.” Iroh said as a peasant Unicorn mare strolls past. “Spare change for a hungry old stallion?”

“Here you go.” The Unicorn said as she levitates a silver coin to him.

“The coin is appreciated, but not as much as your smile!” Iroh said, causing Zuko to slap his forehead in frustration as the young mare giggles lightly and walks away.

Just then, a Unicorn with broadswords on his back wonders up to Iroh and Zuko, and smiles. “How about a little entertainment in exchange for a gold piece?”

“We're not performers.” Zuko said with some annoyance in his voice.

“Not professional anyway.” Iroh said as he stood up. He then begins to sing. “It's a long, long way to Ba Sing Se, but the mares in the city, they look so pretty!”

“Come on, we're talking a gold piece here! Let's see some action!” The Unicorn said as he withdraws a sword with his green magic. “Dance!” He then begins to slice the ground near Iroh's hoofs, who hops up and down to dodge the attacks, all while singing.

“They kiss so sweet that you really got to meet the mares from Ba Sing Se!” Iroh continued while dodging the slices.

The Unicorn then stops and begins to laugh. “Ha-ha! Nothing like an old stallion dancing for his dinner! Here you go!” He then tosses his gold coin on the ground and walks away.

“Such a kind pony.” Iroh said as he picks up the coin, while Zuko glares at the colt in anger.

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Meanwhile, the group are flying a swamp, with Fire’ and Agua staring at the swamp below. Soon, without his own knowledge, he uses his magic to gradually lower the chariot. “Hey, why are you taking us down?” Spitfire asked Fire,’ who, along with Agua, continue to stare at the swamp.

“Fire,’” Twilight said, snapping the two out of the trance, “why are we going down?”

“What? I didn't even notice.” Fire’ said as he stops.

“I didn't either.” Agua said.

“Are you two noticing now?” Rainbow said.

“Is something wrong?” Fluttershy asked.

“I know this is going to sound weird, but I think the swamp is calling to me and Agua.” Fire’ said.

“Is it tellyng yo' whar we kin git sumpin t'eat?” Applejack asked while holding her stomach.

“No, I ... I think it wants us to land there.” Agua said.

“No offense to the swamp, but I don't see any land there to land on.” Rapidfire said.

“Ah doesn't know. It looks t'much like th' Everfree Forest.” Applejack said.

“I say we just keep flying and-” but before Rainbow could finish, a tornado suddenly emerges from out of nowhere, heading right for them. “RUN!” Rainbow yelled out as they begin to run from it. But the tornado reaches them and picks them up and throws them into the Swamp and splits them into two groups. Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Rainbow Dash, & Scootaloo land in one part of the swamp while the others land in a different part several miles away.

“What happened?” Scootaloo said as she got up.

“Ah don’t know. Ah reckon thet tornado hurled us somewhar in th' swamp.” Applejack said.

“Aww ... My hair!” Rarity said as she got up, her mane and tail covered in mud and gunk. The others soon laugh at her. Rarity then gasp when she looks over to ... “Rainbow, you've got an elbow leech!”

“What!? Where? Where?” A panicking Rainbow said as she takes to the air, not noticing the leech on her front left elbow.

“Where do ya think?” Applejack said to the rainbow mane Pegasus.

Rainbow then finally notices the leech and tears it off before it could such any blood. “Why do things keep attaching to me?”

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In another part of the swamp, Twilight, Firebrand, Agua, the Wonderbolts, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy are looking around. “Spitfire, see if you can see the others.” Fire’ said to her. She goes up to the tree tops and sees nothing and goes down.

“You couldn't find them?” Twilight said.

“No, and the tornado ... It just disappeared.” Spitfire said.

“We better get out of here.” Rapidfire said as he pulls out a machete from his saddlebag and begins to cut the vines.

“Maybe we should be a little nicer to the swamp.” Fire’ said to Rapidfire as he cut some more vines.

“Oh, don’t go all Fluttershy on us, Fire.'” Misty Fly said to him.

“Firebrand, these are just plants. Do you want me to say, ‘Please’ and ‘thank you’ as I swing my machete back and forth.” Rapidfire said.

“Maybe you should listen to Firebrand. Something about this place feels ... alive.” Agua said.

“I'm sure there are many things that are alive here and if we don't wanna wind up getting eaten by them, we need to find the others and get out as fast as we can.” Twilight said to them as Rapidfire continues to slice through the vines. Unknown to them, on a branch not far away, something watching.

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Over where the others are at, they are making their way throw the swamp, leaving there footprints behind. “This place sure is creepy.” Apple Bloom said to her older sister.

“Don’t worry, sugarcube. We’ll find our way out soon. I hope.” Applejack said.

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Meanwhile, Twilight’s group is walking throw a foggy part of the swamp. “Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo!” Twilight yelled into the fog.

“There's no way they can hear us and no way we can see them. We'll have to make camp for the night.” Fire’ said.

Just then, a huge bubble of swamp gas rises from the muddy water below them. The gas grows closer to the group as they panic slightly. “What was that?”

“Nothing, just swamp gas, Agua. Look, there's nothing supernatural going on here.” Twilight told her. They all groan as they smell the horrid gas, when they hear a terrifying scream, making them huddle together in fear. The scream happens to be just a white bird with a big mouth.

“I think we should build a fire.” Spitfire said as she goes to a nearby tree to get wood.

“Guys, the longer we're here, the more I think you shouldn't be doing stuff like that.” Firebrand said to the Wonderbolt captain as she gets some wood.

“No, I asked the swamp. It said this was fine.” Spitfire said as Rapidfire chops at the roots, with both Fire’ and Agua looking somewhat annoyed. Later, the group are huddled around a fire, with Twilight staring at the darkness.

“Does anyone else get the feeling that we're being watched?” Twilight asked.

“I had that felling for a while now.” Fire’ said to her.

“Please, we're all alone out here.” Rapidfire said as a fly is buzzes around him. He then tries to uses his machete to try to scare the fly off. The fly then turns into a big, shining ball of light, which shows the group several eyes staring at them.

“Except for them.” Fluttershy said as they huddle together.

“Right, except for them.” Rapidfire said.

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The others are laying down on a giant tree branch. They can’t sleep due to the many noises there are. “Ugh, I can’t sleep with that racket.” Sweetie Belle said. Rarity is also annoyed by the noises.

“QUIET!” Rarity yelled out, which causes the noises to stop. “Thank you.” Rarity said as she puts her purple sleeping mask back on as they go back to sleep, only for a frog to ribbit, waking them up.

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At the others camp, the fire is beginning to die out. The eight friends are huddled together, asleep. Someone, or something, is looking at them through the vines as one snakes its way to Spitfire’s leg, which is sticking out. The vine begins to wind around it and then to Spitfire’s whole body. A bit later, each pony is tied up by three or four vines that snake around them. For the moment, they are still asleep, but they wake up screaming as the vines simultaneously yank them all away from each other. Rapidfire puts his machete in the ground as he's dragged away as both Agua and Firebrand are also dragged off into the mist. The others get up and start hacking the vines with some daggers Twilight conjured up. They frees themselves and run back down the tree root, pursued by more vines.

Agua is struggling to free herself from her vines. Using a water whip, she cuts through her bonds and runs off into the mist. Firebrand also frees himself by burning the vines off. His bonds gone, he hops into the surrounding trees, closely pursued by more vines. He escapes a vine that pulls him to the ground by using his sword to cut it. He then runs far away and soon finds himself alone in the swamp. He looks for his friends, but he doesn't see them. “Guys?”

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At the other end of the swamp, a couple of strange, two-legged creatures, one tall and skinny, while the others is short and fat, carrying a stick, wearing small, animal skin loincloths with a single, large leaf on their heads that serve as hats, come across the tracks that Applejack’s group left. “What'd you reckon makes tracks like that, Tho?” The tall one said.

“Don't know, Due. Looks like there's 5 of em.' Maybe 6.” Tho said as he points his stick at a hoofprint Rainbow left.

“Leaves a nice, wide trail to folla'.” Due said.

“You know what's at the end of that trail?” Tho said. But Due just shakes his head negatively. “Dinner.” Tho said to him while smiling.

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Meanwhile, Agua is walking though the swamp where white flowers grow on the tree roots, trying to find the others. “Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Twilight, Firebrand, Spitfire, Misty Fly, Rapidfire, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy!” She then sees another Pegasus with her back turn toward her. “Hello? Hello? Can you help me?”

She then recognizes the mare as her ... “Mom?” She then begins running towards the figure. “Mom!” She said as she cries tears of joy. She then reaches the figure and places a hoof on its shoulder. “I can't believe...” But her smile soon leaves when she realizes that it’s just a stump and not her mother. She then falls to the ground and begins to cry.

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In another part of the swamp, Firebrand is trying to find the others. “Twilight! Agua!” He then notices an unfamiliar earth pony mare in a dress standing on a hill, accompanied by a winged boar. She has a sand brown mane and tail, an earth green coat. He can’t tell what her cutie mark is, but he can see that her eyes are gray, indicating that she's blind.

“Hello? Who are you?” Fire' said as the boar then flies off and the mare giggles and runs away. “Hey, come back!” He tries to chase the girl, however the girl is hard to keep up with, as she keep disappearing and reappearing, ever giggling.

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“Where are we?” Scootaloo asked.

“I have no idea.” Rainbow said as they trot along a river, but a little further down stream, covered by fog, is a group of six swamp tribe members are divided over three canoes, Due and Tho are sitting in the middle canoe, are following them.

They look at each other in silence for a few moments as Tho wets his lips using his tongue. “Uh, we have company.” Apple Bloom said as the others turn around.

“Look at that Tho. Talkin’ four leggers.” Due said.

“No, them’s what they call ‘ponies,’ saw some at a traveling show once, real smart they say.” Tho said as they inch their way closer.

“Bet they tastes a lot like chicken.” Due said.

“You think everything tastes like chicken.” Tho pointed out.

“I really don’t like they way they're looking at us.” Rainbow said as she takes Scootaloo in her arms.

“Same here.” Applejack said as the swamp tribe grows closer.

“Come on now fellas, just a little closer ... Nice and easy ... Don't worry about, we're just fixing to eat ya.” Due said. The group then scream and run/fly as fast as they can.

“What'd you say that fur?” Tho said with some annoyance in his voice.

Due then makes a 'don't blame me' gesture with his hands. “Well, we are.”

“But you don't have to tell'em that.” Tho said.

“Well, how'd I know they'd understand me?” Due defended.

“Come on! Start bending!” Tho said as Due stands up in front of the canoe and starts spinning his arms, bending the water behind his canoe to chase the group, with the other two canoes fallowing.

“Let's split up, y’all.” Applejack said as she and Apple Bloom continue down the river. Rainbow grabs Scootaloo and flies up while Rarity and Sweetie Belle turn left.

“We won’t be able t'ketch th' ones wif win's, but we can get t'others. Split up!” Tho said as two go after Rarity and Sweetie Belle as he and Due go after Applejack and Apple Bloom.

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Firebrand is still chasing the mare. “Who are you?” Fire’ said as he goes through some bushes. He then bumps into Twilight and her group. Agua hears the rumble and heads to investigate, while Rainbow and Scootaloo also hear it and head for it.

“Firebrand!” Twilight said as she gets up.

“Twilight! Boy, am I glade to see you.” Fire’ said as he gets up.

“Likewise. We haven't seen you or Agua since last night.” Fluttershy said.

“I've been looking all over for you guys!” Agua said as she lands near them.

“Say, Fire.’ Who were you chasing?” Twilight asked.

“I was chasing some mare.” Firebrand said.

“What mare?” Twilight said with jealousy in her voice.

“I don't know. I heard laughing and I saw some mare in a fancy dress.” Fire’ said.

“I thought I saw my Mom.” Agua said.

“You saw something too?” Fire’ said.

“Maybe you two were just scared and hungry and your minds were playing tricks on you.” Twilight said.

“Guys!” They turn toward the source of the sound and see Rainbow and Scootaloo.

“Rainbow! Scootaloo! Your all right!” Pinkie said to them.

“The others aren't, though. We got chased by some strange creatures that wanted to eat us. We had to split up.” Scootaloo said with worry in her voice.

“What!? Where are they?” Twilight asked.

“We don’t know.” Rainbow said.

“Call me crazy, but what if the swamp wanted us here?” Fire’ said to them, trying the change to subject when he notices something strange.

“Why would you say that?” Scootaloo asked him.

“Because where did that giant tree came from?” Fire’ said as he points to a tree at least 30 stories hight. “This is the center ... It's the heart of the swamp. It's been calling us here. I know it.”

“It's just a tree. It can't call anyone. For the last time, there's nothing after us and there's nothing magical happening here.” Twilight skeptically said. Just then, a seaweed monster jumps out from the water and grabs Twilight with it’s vines. “Well, I’ve been wrong before.”

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At the other end of the swamp, Rarity and Sweetie Belle are still running from the Foggy Swamp members. They meet up with Applejack and Apple Bloom. “Rarity! Sweetie Belle! Are we glade to see you!”

“Likewise, but we need to keep moving.” Rarity said as they begin to run again. Sweetie Belle reaches into Rarity’s saddle bag and throws a jacket at them. It hits one of the members, knocking him out of his canoe.

“Now what would a pony need a shirt fer?” Tho asked.

“How should I’s know?” Due said.

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Fighting the seaweed monster, Rainbow attempts to free Twilight from the monster's vines, but fails. Fire,’ however, manages to free Twilight as Agua ends the fight by waterbending repeatedly at the monster. A creature is seen inside the monster, controlling the vines. “There's something in there! He's controlling the vines!” Agua said as she slices through the monster, cutting all of the seaweed and showing a two-legged creature with a leaf over it’s crotch.

“Why did you call us here if you just wanted to kill us!?” Fire’ yelled at the strange two-legged creature.

“Wait! I didn't call you here.” The creature defended.

“We were flying over and me and Fire’ here heard something calling to us, telling me to land, when a tornado showed up and landed us into this mess.” Agua said to him.

“There the Avatars. Stuff like that happens to use a lot.” Rainbow said.

“The Avatars?” The two-legged creature said as he gets up. “Come with me.” He then takes them up the giant tree.

“So, who are you then? And what are you?” Agua asked.

“I protect the swamp from folks that want to hurt it, like this fella with his big knife.” The creature said, referring to Rapidfire. “I’m what is commonly called a ‘human.’”

“See, completely reasonable. Not a monster, just a regular creature defending his home. Nothing mystical about it.” Twilight said to them.

“Oh the swamp is a mystical place all right.” The human said. “It's sacred. I reached enlightenment right here under the banyan-grove tree. I heard it calling me, just like you did.”

“Sure you did. It seems real chatty.” Rainbow said to him while making a coco expression to the others.

“See this whole swamp is actually one tree spread out over kilometers.” The human said. “Branches spread and sink and take root and then spread some more. One big, living organism. Just like the entire world.” He said as he stops under the giant branches and sits down.

“I get how the tree is one big thing, but the whole world?” Fire’ said to him.

“Sure. You think you're any different from me or your friends or this tree? If you listen hard enough, you can hear every living thing breathing together. You can feel everything growing. We're all living together, even if most folks don't act like it. We all have the same roots and we are all branches of the same tree.” The human said.

“But what did our visions mean?” Agua said to him.

“In the swamp, we see visions of people we've lost, people we've loved, folks we think are gone. But the swamp tells us they're not. We're still connected to them. Time is an illusion and so is death.” The human explained.

“But what about my vision? It was somepony I had never met.” Fire’ pointed out.

“You're the Avatar of Fire. You tell me.” The human said.

After a moment, Fire’ comes to a conclusion. “Time is an illusion. So, it's somepony I will meet.” The human than nods in agreement.

“Sorry to interrupt the lesson, but we still need to find Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rarity and Sweetie Belle. There probably in a pot with those other humans by now.” Rainbow said to them.

“I think I know how to find them.” Fire’ then kneels down and places his hoof on the tree. “Everything is connected.” Energy then travels from Firebrand’s hoof to the others location. He sees them being captured by the Foggy Swamp members. Back at the banyan-grove tree, Fire’ stands up and turns to the others. “Come on! We've got to hurry!”

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Back to the Foggy Swamp members, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rarity, and Sweetie Belle are trapped inside a net made of vines, all the while, hearing Tho singing. “Set my lines by the river bed! Caught ten fish and I killed'em dead! Cut'em and gut'em and I tossed the heads in the water to keep them alligators fed.”

“This song sucks.” Sweetie said to Rarity. Suddenly, a jet of water destroys the boat next to Tho and Due's. The two people from the destroyed boat fly into the water. Agua and Firebrand then show up with the others.

“Guys!” Fire’ then uses his firebending to free Apple Bloom and Rarity from their nets.

“We're under attack!” Due yells out as he and Tho then uses their waterbending and throw some water at them, but Agua uses her’s and throws it back.

“Hey, you guys are waterbenders!” Agua said.

“You too! That means we're kin!” Due said as he looks over to the human with them. “Hey Huu! How you been?”

“You know, scared some folks, swung some vines, the usual.” The human the group are with, Huu, said.

“Huu?” Twilight said.

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Later that night, the group are at the tribes village, eating something that isn't pony related. “How you like that swamp banana?” Due asked them.

“Tastes just like Sweet Apple Acres apples.” Applejack said.

“So why were you guys so interested in eating Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Rainbow Dash, and Scootaloo? You've got plenty of those big things wandering around.” Agua said as she points to an alligator next to Due.

“You want me to eat old Slim? He's like a member of the family!” Due said.

“Nice Slim.” Fluttershy said as she pets the gator. She then offers him a big bug.

“Oh, he don't eat no bugs! That's people food.” Due pointed out as he takes the bug and eats the head off.

“Where'd you say you was from, Agua?” Tho asked.

“From the South pole.” Agua answered.

“Didn't know there was waterbenders anywhere but here. They got a nice swamp there, do they?” Tho asked.

“No, it's all ice and snow.” Agua pointed out.

“Hmm. No wonder you left.” Tho dryly said.

“We still need a way out of here.” Fire’ said.

“Don’t worry. I know this swamp better than anyone, I can get you out of here soon.” Huu said to him.

“Good, ‘cause I have had enough swamp to last a lifetime.” Rarity said as she pulls some gunk out of her mane.

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At the village where Zuko and Iroh are at, the stallion with the broadswords is walking down a street alone. He hears something behind him, turns and draws his blades. There is nothing behind him. “Who's there?” Some hoofs then grab his and throw him against the wall. He drops his swords as his assailant picks them up: it’s the Blue Spirit himself.