Several unicorns, even Lightning and Starla, had been summoned to Grand Ruler's palace. A rainbow stone had been located in another dimension, and the time had come to send a volunteer or two through the portal warp.

As much as Lightning wanted to go, he knew he couldn't in case Titan's minions tried to attack again, and Grand Ruler couldn't go either as it would be most unwise to leave his kingdom during such fearful times. He had to stay and maintain the order of nature and balance anyway.

Buddy Rose and Artie decided to go, and Doctor Penny was summoned to give them examinations to see if they could physically survive the trip, and or any ordeals they would come across on their adventure, but Buddy and Artie were very nervous, almost afraid even. They had never had been outside of the kingdom before, and didn't know what to expect. They didn't even know where they were going

They had gone to the library many times to research on as many of the outer-dimensions as they could, but there was just so much, almost too much they Inquerius suggested they leave and relax.

Still… the rainbow stone was very important, and needed to be obtained at all costs. The boys agreed to do it, no matter what. Grand Ruler was proud of them.

"Are you ready…?" he asked them. The boys just hesitated, and gazed nervously at one another, and as Grand Ruler tried to explain that no one was forcing them to go if they want to, "I'm ready…"

"Me too…"

Grand Ruler smiled and went over their final details, but also granted them one last thing before departure. He stood upright, folded his hooves, and concentrated. His golden horns glowed and zapped the boys' horns with soft lights.

He explained that he had made it so their horns would help them locate the rainbow stone. The closer they got, the brighter their horns would glow, and if they were separated it could help them find each other as well and also the precise area where they would land upon arrival so they could return. All they had to do was return to the position where they landed and send a flash of light from their horns to signal the transport.

The bottom line who nobody knew who or what they would find inside that dimension. "Go with care boys." Grand Ruler said "Look out for one another and return with not only the stone, but also with swiftness and experience."

The boys bowed to their ruler. "We won't fail you, your majesty." said Buddy Rose.

"We'll the get the stone." added Artie.

The large stone doors were already open, and there was the portal gate all ready. All the boys had to do was step or jump through it. "Good luck, guys!" said Lightning.

"Come back safe." added Krysta.

The boys nodded, and then turned to face the portal. They both took a running start and jumped in, and with a two bright flashes… they were gone!

"Boy, I sure wish I was going with them." Lightning said

Grand Ruler understood how he felt. For now, all they could do was wait.

…

Buddy and Artie felt like they were going down a super fun slide like at Pinkie Park, going over and under, in loops and curves as they sailed across the pathway through dimensional space. What a sight to behold! The colors of the void outside was prettier than a rainbow, but just the thought of the fact that straying from the path and falling into it, and getting thrown to who knew where, did not make it seem as friendly.

They didn't notice a pair of red, and evil looking eyes gazing at them from afar. Then they vanished into the void.

So many portals to so many other worlds and dimensions passed by, and they too were amazing to look at and wonder what they were like. "Look up ahead…!" cried Artie. A large glow of light was illuminating ahead of them and getting brighter every second. "It's the portal!" cried Buddy "We're almost there! Get ready to fly!"

The boys spread their wings just as they reached the end of the path and after a bright flash of light they found themselves soaring high in the skies above the new world. "We made it!" Buddy Rose cried excitedly.

"Yeah… but exactly where are we?" asked Artie. Neither one of them could see through the clouds as they were up far too high. In fact, the clouds below seemed orange and grey instead of white and fluffy. The boys started to have a really bad feeling, and decided to fly lower and investigate. They weren't likely to find the rainbow stone in the sky anyway.

As they dropped below the clouds, what they saw nearly turned their bloods cold. Everywhere they looked they saw ruin and destruction as if a-thousand storms had ravaged the lands below. The grounds were all laden with rocks and bits of rubble, planks and logs of wood. Buddy Rose could tell just by looking at the ground, "I could never plant anything in this. My whole garden would die in a second."

Artie never saw anything so awful before, but he reminded Buddy, "Come on, we have a job to do here."

Buddy agreed. They had to find the rainbow stone and get back, "Maybe we can find out what happened too."

And so they went along their way.

…

Back in Unicornicopia, Lightning and Krysta were charged with looking after Buddy Rose's garden while he was away. It was a good thing they saw him do it so many times which was why they were doing so well. Lightning was tending to the wedding while Krysta sprinkled water on the plants. She couldn't help but wonder if the plants missed Buddy Rose.

"Well… I bet these weeds don't!" growled Lightning as he struggled to yank them out, only to fling backwards into the wheelbarrow and hit the wall. Krysta couldn't help but giggle. Lightning was not amused. "Very funny, Krysta…" he grumbled.

As the two of them worked, they couldn't help but wonder how Buddy Rose and Artie were doing. "What do you think they've found?" Krysta wondered aloud.

"I don't know… but I'll bet that it's pretty exciting and maybe even fun."

…

If they only knew…!

Buddy and Artie found no signs of life, but just more chaos and destruction wherever they went. They were starting to think that maybe something had attacked this realm, "But what…?" asked Buddy Rose. It obviously wasn't Titan, when he was sealed away all realms under his curse went back to normal. "From the looks of this damage…" said Artie "I'd say this place was attacked recently… but I don't think it was Titan. We all saw the last of him long ago."

As the boys pondered over this, their horns gave a quick, soft glow. "Did you see that…?" asked Buddy. Their horns glowed again "I saw it…" answered Artie. This was what they were waiting for. They were getting closer to the rainbow stone, and the sooner they found it, the sooner they could leave.

They ran along and, just as The Grand Ruler had said, their horns were glowing brighter than ever, which meant they were getting closer. The problem was the two of them were so concentrated on following their horns they lost track of each other and ended up wandering away from one another, and they didn't realize it until it was too late.

"Buddy Rose…?"

…

"Artie…? Where'd you go?"

Buddy found he was all alone and wandering about, but his horn was still glowing though. He couldn't decide whether or not to keep trying to find the stone, or look for Artie. Both were so important, but ultimately he decided to look for his friend. All he had to do was follow his horn as it glowed in orange, the same color as Artie.

…

Artie was still looking for Buddy as well, when suddenly he heard a small clattering sound coming from the wreckage of a smashed home. "Who's there…?" he called. "Hello…?"

The clattering continued and Artie moved closer. His horn was also glowing brighter than ever, but not red to locate Buddy Rose, but rather the stone he was looking for. "Hello…?"

He reached the wreckage and began to move some of the rubble aside. His horn was glowing wildly now, and there ahead, he could see something shiny- A small jewel, half red and half orange. "That… that's it!" he cried "I found it! I found the rainbow stone!"

Suddenly, he heard the sound of someone whimpered. "Please…" it squeaked "Don't hurt me!"

Artie felt confused. "Whoever you are…I'm not going to hurt you." he said gently as he tried to get inside through the wreckage. He still couldn't see who was there though. "It's okay… you don't have to be afraid of me."

The creature saw Artie get closer and could see he was unicorn. She gently stepped forward revealing that she was a small human-like creature with pointy ears, short black hair. Yet she was all dirty, seemed famished, and was wearing a set of ragged old clothes that had seemed partially burned, and hung on a band round her head was indeed the rainbow stone.

"It's okay… you can trust me." Artie stood on all fours and extended his front right hove in a friendly manner; the little girl walked up to him slowly and gently touched his hove with her hand. "What's your name…?" Artie asked.

The girl hesitated for a moment, and then said "Ilia. I'm an elf."

Artie wanted to know everything… so Ilia explained.

Her dimension was called Elfaron…

It used to be a harmonious place with lush green fields; forests, ponds, and all her kind were elves. They were a peaceful race who had ceased the need for weapons, or magic powers for many centuries and devoted their lives to potion-making, or even playing and enjoying the necessities of life.

However, recently, an evil creature- a giant dark serpent-like monster with fangs, razor-sharp fins, and red burning eyes found its way into her realm, and began to lay a path of destruction and chaos as it was searching for something.

Everyone panicked and immediately escaped the realm to seek sanctuary somewhere else, but she was mistakenly left behind, and felt too afraid to leave on her own. She had no idea where to go.

…

Poor Ilia, he eyes were brimming with tears. Artie very sorry for her, but couldn't help but wonder about the description of this monster. It didn't sound like anything of Titan or his minions' doing, but it was familiar.

"You've been alone all this time?" Artie asked.

"Mm-hmm…!" Ilia murmured as she wiped her tears, but then… the ground began to shake. "What's going on?" asked Artie.

"Oh no…!" cried Ilia "The beast approaches!"

Artie ran to an opening in the wreckage and could see a trail of dust off in the distance and heading straight for them as the rumbling got worse. "It's still here…?" he wondered aloud, but it was pretty obvious the creature was still there. "Ilia, you stay here… I'm going to check this out."

For all her begs and pleas for him not to go, Artie dashed back outside, and readied his "BIG BRUSH SPEAR!" Then he stood ready to face this thing. "How big can it be…?"

The demon got closer and closer and by the time it reached near Artie, it was about the size, length, and width of Buddy Roses' entire garden, and that was gigantic. "Uh… oh…!"

The giant serpent demon stopped in its tracks and gazed at Artie. Its raspy breathing and hissing made Artie want to run, but he had to be brave for Ilia, and not give her position away. "I am unicornicopian HV7J. Who are you, and why have you laid waste to this dimension?"

The demon hissed and breathed in a snarly growl and then answered. "I am… Serpent-Terror…!"

"Serpent-Terror…?"

"The stone…!" hissed the demon "Give me the stone!"

Artie could only assume he meant the rainbow stone, but there was no way he'd let such a monster get it, or it would lead him to Ilia. He just stood there and gripped his spear tight. This angered the demon greatly. "Heh, heh, heh…! You dare conceal its location? You are courageous, but foolish as well!" and he began to charge forward.

Artie tried his "PAINT BOMBS…!" but it was like throwing pebbles against an oncoming brick wall, no effect at all. Serpent-Tyrant just laughed and then opened his huge mouth "PLASMA VAPOUR…!" and he breathed a huge burst of trailing energy that Artie barely dodged, "WHOA…!" the blast went right past him and kept right on going and going until it reached a far off mountain… KABLAM! Such an explosion wiped out the whole mountain.

Artie couldn't believe his eyes, even Titan was never able to cause such destruction so easily as that, but he still wouldn't tell where the stone was.

The demon was charging again, and Artie tried his "PAINT BLOBS…!" to try and blind it in the eyes, but once again it had no effect. "What is with this thing?" None of his attacks were so much as making him flinch.

"Now try some of my own tricks…" Serpent sneered, "SMALL SERPENT SOLDIERS!"

His eyes glowed madly and right up from the ground emerged several lizard-like monsters, all with sharp claws and gnashing teeth. They didn't seem too tough though and he could take them on, but while he was busy fending them off, the demon was heading straight for the wreckage.

"Ilia…!" she was still in there, he had to try and get her out but he couldn't get past the monsters. "No…!" was all he could shout as he watched Serpent smash through the wreckage, and leaving nothing left.

Artie batted the monsters away with one swing of his spear, and he was ever so upset. "Ilia…!" he cried, but then he heard her voice from above. "Artie…!"

He looked up, and she was fine, riding with "Buddy Rose…!"

His friend winked at him "Well, I thought I'd never find you, and we got the stone!" He held out his hove to show Ilia had kindly given him the red and orange rainbow stone.

Artie was overjoyed. Now they could leave, "But first to take care of some business." Artie snapped.

The lizard monsters were all coming at him at once, but Buddy Rose decided to help with a new trick he had learned before. He placed Ilia down safely where she wouldn't get hurt and then soared back up high and flapped his wings hard at the ground, "SOIL STORM…!" His wings flapping stirred up a lot of dust. Now the monsters couldn't see a thing, it was time for Artie to try his new trick.

He raised his spear over his head, and bean whirling it round and around like a propeller. "ART ATTACK SPIN!" The spinning went faster and faster, and the sides of it began to flare with sparkling colors. Artie ran forward, still spinning the spear, and swung hard unleashing a wave of magic at the monsters, dissolving them into thin air, and he stopped spinning his spear.

Ilia leapt for joy. She was so glad the monsters were gone, but she pointed out. "He's coming back!" Serpent-Tyrant was coming after them again shouting. "Give me that stone!"

The boys decided it was time to leave, and since they couldn't leave poor Ilia behind, they were forced to take her with them. Soon all three of them were soaring high, but Serpent-Tyrant surprised them again by rising off the ground. "He can fly too…?" cried Buddy Rose.

"PLASMA VAPOUR…!"

"Look out!" screamed Ilia, and the boys managed to avoid his blast. They had to get to the spot where they landed and fast. Their horns were glowing faster indicating the point. "But wait… we can't just bring a stranger to Unicornicopia…" said Artie. "What will The Grand Ruler say?"

Buddy Rose paid no attention, and they both kept going and going, until they reached their specific spot and sent out the glowing signal. "Hang on, Ilia." said Buddy Rose.

Serpent-Tyrant could see them from the skies and began to dive straight for them growling "Rainbow stone…!"

The three friends let out a scream, but suddenly they were swooped up by a tube of light that carried them away just in time. Serpent missed them and skid along the grounds.

…

Across the pathway, through Dimensional space they went. "Where are we going…?" cried Ilia.

"Just hang on!" shouted Artie

As they continued to wander, Ilia could suddenly feel the force of something pulling her away, clear off Buddy's back. "ILIA…!" the boys shouted, but there was nothing they could do now. The pull of the path they were traveling was too strong.

…

The portal gate in Grand Ruler's palace was glowing madly, and in a bright flare, the boys emerged, and landed with a thud, and the stone doors closed tight concealing the portal away. "No, wait!" cried Buddy Rose, but it was too late.

"Ilia…" cried Artie "Was she…?"

"She's perfectly fine, boys." said a voice from behind. It was The Grand Ruler, who was pleased that they had returned safely and with the second rainbow stone. "What happened to Ilia…?" asked Artie. "Is she alright…?" asked Buddy Rose.

Grand Ruler assured them she was okay. He had been observing things ever since the boys had left, and when he found out about Ilia, he used his golden horns to contact her father, the leader of Elfaron, who was so happy to hear she was safe. Grand Ruler used his magic to send Ilia to the dimension where her people were safe.

The boys were very relieved to hear that, and also relieved not to worry about Ilia and her kind. Their dimension was in ruin, but it was possible for them to rebuild and start over. That is… after assurance that Serpent-Tyrant would never attack again!

Grand Ruler promised he would never allow that monster to enter his kingdom, and would do his best to keep him outside.

…

Leaving the stone in Grand Ruler's possession, the boys headed down to home sweet home. Lightning and Krysta were delighted that they were back, especially since they had been gardening all day and were exhausted. "I guess some people just don't have a green hove." Buddy Rose joked "Come to think of it, neither do I."

"What an adventure…!" sighed Artie. He had so many ideas and so many paintings to make to describe it. The only person who was curious was Lightning. "Serpent-Tyrant…!" he thought to himself "Could it be…? Is he that monster that killed my parents?"

"You alright, Lightning…?" asked Krysta.

Lightning didn't know if he or anyone else would be alright. Now it was clear there was another evil out there, and he too was searching for the rainbow stones, but why nobody knew. All they knew was they had to find the remaining two stones and not let Serpent-Tyrant get them!

…

As for Serpent-Tyrant… he was very outraged that he missed a stone. "They have not heard the last of me…!" he hissed deeply, and then he took off high into the sky and vanished, leaving the dimension. After which, those same glowing red eyes shone in the darkness, and then faded!

…

(In Grand Ruler's Palace)

Grand Ruler: "What an adventure it was today. Buddy Rose and Artie saw a lot of things they had never seen before, and met someone in need of help. Even though they were sent to find the treasure, they did what their hearts thought was right, and thanks to their efforts and teamwork, they helped each other find the rainbow stone and helped Ilia escape certain doom, but then again they also could had been led into a trap."

"Sometimes we must choose whether to follow our instructions, or trust in our own instincts, but it is uncertain which way will truly lead you to your goal. Sometimes the obvious choice is the wrong choice, and the right path is not the easy one. We all learn and discover new things every day, and some will change your life and the way you think forever."

"See you all next time, and keep on believing!"