A Thorny Problem

Gloriosa hovered in the air. Her arms were raised over her head. The brambles were taller, thicker, and darker. They cast huge shadows over the camp.

Fluttershy trembled. “Why do these kinds of things always happen to us?”

“I’m startin’ to think it ain’t Canterlot High that’s the magical element. It’s us,” said Applejack.

“What are we gonna do?” Rarity cried.

“What we always do,” announced Rainbow Dash grimly. “Save the day.”

The girls’ eyes met. What else could they do?

Only one person was excited. Pinkie Pie. “Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy,” she gushed. “This is gonna be so much fun! I only wish we had time to make superhero capes!”

“Me too.” Rarity sighed. “I guess these incredibly chic ponchos will have to do.”

“Enough about our wardrobes,” Rainbow Dash snapped. “We’ve got to stop Gloriosa from trapping everybody in here.”

The girls threw on their “capes” and leaped into action. Ears sprouted from their heads; their manes swished back and forth. The pony magic was on!

Rarity used her crystal shield to protect a group of campers from a twisting vine of brambles. Applejack summoned her mighty strength and hurled boulders through the wall. But it only grew back thicker than before. Rainbow Dash began running in ever-faster circles around Gloriosa, trying to confuse her. Pinkie Pie decorated the wall with exploding sprinkles. But no matter how many holes she opened, they grew back in a second. Gloriosa’s magic was just too powerful.

Fluttershy called out to a crew of groundhogs. “Um, hi,” she whispered to them. “Do you think you can give us a hand, er, paw? We could really use a way out.”

The groundhogs nodded and began digging a tunnel under the brambles. Fluttershy quietly ushered kids over to it so they could escape to safety. Too late. The brambles filled the hole.

Gloriosa rose into the air. She rose above the whirl of dust Rainbow Dash had stirred up. She surveyed the campgrounds. She directed vines to stop Applejack. But Rarity protected her friend with her shield.

Next Gloriosa tried to stop Rainbow Dash. But Pinkie threw sprinkles on the attacking vines and Rainbow Dash scooted to safety.

But Applejack was worried. “None of this is working. Her magic is too strong!”

Campers huddled together, terrified.

The brambles were climbing higher and higher. They were arching toward one another. They were creating an enclosed dome of brambles. The campers were more trapped than ever. This was terrible. This was the worst thing that had ever happened to the Canterlot High kids. Gloriosa was the worst monster of all.