Episode #1.3

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This place is coming down.

The door was here, wasn't it?

Why is it suddenly not here?

Look out!

Oh, I'm never going into another mysterious temple ever again,

no matter how pretty it is.

We're not gonna do anything ever again if we don't get out of here.

- Oh man. Oh jeez. What do we do? -Let's think of a plan and hero it up.

Excuse you. If anyone here is going to be a hero, it's obviously me.

Is that a challenge?

What? No. That's the challenge.

Saving our friends from being smooshed is the challenge.

Layla, as the only voice of reason left,

any idea how to save our friends from being smooshed?

Uh, okay. Um…

Hm.

Oh, oh, oh! I know.

This temple is made of rainbow sandstone.

Neat fact. It's still collapsing though.

Sandstone is a highly porous rock, Valentina.

Once it's frozen, it'll break apart. Show 'em the science, Glacier.

This can't be the end. Leaf just made us these awesome friendship bracelets,

and I haven't even gotten to journal about them yet.

Ava, look!

Come on.

-Layla! -Glacier!

It's coming down!

Jumping juniper.

Yeah! You made it!

You guys should've seen Layla and Glacier.

They were like, "Boosh! Ba-kow, ba-kow, blam!"

Okay, it was more like, "Mm, hm," and then science,

and then blam!

Thanks, Layla. We owe you one.

And you too, guys.

Thanks for keeping Wildstar and me from falling off that cliff.

That's just what BFFFFs do.

- -

Those poor plants.

The grim magic, it flew by us.

Yeah, we saw it too. But we beat Ravenzella.

So how is her grim magic still here?

I don't know. But we have to tell Ms. Primrose.

Students, I have bad news.

Grim magic has been spotted once more on Unicorn Island.

-What? -What?

-I knew it. - Oh no.

When Ravenzella was defeated, we thought her magic was gone.

But it appears some of it still lingers.

But rest assured, wherever grim magic is hiding,

we will root it out.

Until then, you are all to remain vigilant.

Grim magic has immense power.

It's a threat to us, to the unicorns, and to the island itself.

Good night, Leaf.

Try not to have any nightmares about, uh, you-know-what magic.

Grim magic? Big deal.

We've gone up against it before and won. We just need to do it again.

A Furi never lets her guard down, Valentina.

Grim magic is an unpredictable force.

What you've seen it do before, you might not necessarily see it do again.

-Yes, Auntie. -

That is why Ms. Primrose has decided to accelerate everyone's training.

Get your rest.

Tomorrow, Sapphire Dorm will ride the Proving Course.

- -

Did she say the Proving Course? Already?

Uh-oh.

I think Layla's having one of her brain overloads.

Luckily, I have no idea what Furi's talking about, so I'm good.

What is the Proving Course anyway?

It's an obstacle course

over some of the most challenging terrain on Unicorn Island.

Aw, man. Now I know.

It's supposed to be for advanced riders only.

Hm, advanced riders, huh? Sounds like my kind of party.

Yeah, the kind of party where you come in second.

What?

You think you're gonna beat me on a course?

'Cause I got a stack of show jumping trophies

that says that's not happening.

I know you're used to being a big fish in your cute little pony pond,

but you'll never match a Furi when it comes to unicorn riding.

Ha! Excited to see the look on your face tomorrow when that's wrong.

Come on, River. Let's get in some late-night training.

Prepare to eat our unicorn dust, Valentina.

Whatever.

Nice job, buddy. We're killing it out there.

Let's just get a few more laps in.

Come on, boy. I know you've got it in you.

There. Perfect.

Oh, wait. No, no, no.

Now it's perfect. I think. Maybe.

Don't worry, Layla. We'll take the course together as a team.

Then I guess Cinder and I will be waiting for all of you at the finish line.

As a team.

If River even makes it that far. He's looking a little haggard.

This guy? He's fine.

That's just his game face. Right, River?

Morning, unicorn riders.

What do you say we get this rodeo running?

Ethera, if you please.

This is the Proving Course. A harrowing trial indeed.

First, you must conquer the dizzying heights

of Floating Boulder Ridge,

then traverse the often surprising Flowering Fields.

Last, you'll test your balance and bravery at the bridge over the Starglow Rapids.

Remember what you've learned. Trust yourselves and trust your unicorns.

Easy to say when you're not the one scaling a floating boulder over a cliff

while trying not to go, "Whee."

I've run the Proving Course tons of times without going, "Eeee."

Really? Respect.

Students, it is time to begin.

We will be waiting for you at the finish.

-Hyah! -Hyah! That's it, Cinder.

Come on, Leaf. Let's go.

Saddle? Check. Reins? Check. Stirrups?

Hey, where did everyone go?

- -No, Glacier! No, Glacier, wait!

Would you look at that? I'm winning. No surprise.

Ha. And now you're losing. Also no surprise.

Come on, Cinder. I'm not letting them beat us. Faster. Ha!

Grim magic.

What if we win the Proving Course and save the island at the same time?

No way Isabel can compete with that.

After it, Cinder! Hyah!

Come out, you coward.

Cinder, try forcing it out.

We don't get any glory if the grim magic hides in a puddle all day.

Cinder! Are you okay?

- -Whoa!

How are you going so fast?

This… This could work.

Don't worry. We'll crush the grim magic once we're done with it.

But first, come on!

Huh. This isn't so bad. I can deal with this kind of obstacle course.

Catch, Storm.

Don't get sloppy, Rory. You heard Ms. Furi.

With grim magic loose, we've gotta be ready for anything.

Yes!

- Whoa! - Agh!

-Whoa. -You're right. I was not ready for that.

Did you see how fast Cinder was going? Someone's extra speedy this morning.

Personally, I think slow and steady is the way to go.

We're totally winning this. Ha! Told ya all that extra training would pay off.

Sleep is for the weak anyway.

Haha! So long, loser!

Let's go, River. We've gotta catch 'em. Let's go, go, go!

- -Now, how to get up these?

- - Oh, whoa!

Ho! Cinder, be careful!

Actually, keep it up.

Right. You can totally do that.

Whoa!