//------------------------------//
// The Time Has Come... 
// Story: Fall Of Equestria 
// by Pinkamena666 
//------------------------------//

	Twilight and the others were getting closer to the Crystal Empire.
"Getting close!" yelled Twilight, trying to talk over the wind.
The breeze was so strong that it was picking up red sand. The ponies had to cover their face.



Viper arrived in the dungeons of her Dark Castle and approached a tall, red, cylindrical crystal. Inside was Celestia. Viper smiled as she began circling it.
"Hey, there, Celestia." she said. "Enjoying your prison in time?" She let out a giggle. "I know you can hear me. Your brain's free, it's your body that isn't. Fascinating thing, Time Prison. Too bad it only works once every 6 months, but..." She stopped in front of Celestia. "I'll make do." She reached a hoof out, penetrating the red crystal as if it wasn't even there, and touched Celestia's cheek. "So close you are... and yet so far away."
"Mistress Viper." came a voice from the dungeon entrance.
Viper pulled her hoof out of the crystal, the hole sealing back up. She then ran a hoof down the crystal's smooth surface.
"Yes, Amante? What is it?"
"Thy enemies hath been located."
"Where?" asked Viper.
"They were headed towards the Crystal Empire."
Viper slammed her hoof on the crystal, causing it to crack. Celestia found the strength to look at Viper before the cracks disappeared.
"The Crystal Empire... How could I have been so stupid?"
"What troubles you, Mistress?"
"The Crystal Empire. Of course the Dark Hold would have no effect. Those... Crystal ponies and their precious Crystal Heart." Viper spat.
"What is thy will, Mistress?"
"Stop them. Whatever it takes." She turned to face Amante and began trotting towards her. "They must not reach the Crystal Empire." Amante began backing up. "If they do, they will be safe from me." Amante backed into the wall as Viper stood in front of her. "Don't fail me, Amante."
"I-I won't, Mistress." said Amante.
Viper smiled. "If you're half as good as your sister, I have no doubt you'll succeed."
"Thank you. I do hope to be like her some day."
"I'm sure." said Viper. "Now, go."
Amante nodded before turning and heading back upstairs. She met Deva at the top.
"Got a task, sis?" she asked.
Amante nodded. "Yes... And I don't plan to mess this up."
"Deva!" yelled Viper from downstairs.
The Demon looked down the stairs and then back at her sister.
"Don't piss her off, huh?"
Amante smiled. "I don't plan to."
She left Deva and headed down the hallway. The other Demon sighed and headed downstairs. When she got to the bottom, she saw Viper leaning her back up against the red crystal.
"I got an idea." she said.
"Such as?" asked Deva, stopping at the bottom of the stairs.
"If Kyra and the others make it to the Crystal Empire, they'll rally more fighters."
"Afraid they may win?"
Viper glared at her. "Don't underestimate my sister."
"Right... Sorry." Deva paused. "What's the plan?"
"We're gonna find our own fighters to join us."
"Any in mind?"
Viper smiled deviously. "Oh, I got an idea."



The light of the Crystal Empire was getting brighter as the ponies neared it.
"We're getting closer!" yelled Twilight. "Hurry!"
Just then the sound of wings could be heard. Twilight, Kyra, Dash, and Luna stopped and looked up.
"What's that?" asked Dash.
Twilight noticed the other ponies looking. "Keep heading towards the Crystal Empire!" she yelled. "Hurry!" The others began running faster. Twilight trotted over to Kyra. "What is it?"
Kyra sighed. "Amante."
"Her?" asked Dash.
"Who's her?" asked Twilight.
Just then Amante landed near them, cracking the ground on impact. "I'm her."



Viper and Deva landed in front of a cave in what was left of a forest. The two entered and found themselves following the cave downwards into the earth.
"How far down does this go?" asked Deva.
"How should I know?" asked Viper.
After a minute or two, they reached the bottom, which was a large underground cavern filled with stalagmites and stalactites.
"This place is huge." said Deva, looking around. "So much space."
Just then two Changelings popped out from behind a rock and blocked the two Demons. They both snarled.
"Oh, isn't that cute?" asked Viper, mockingly. One of the Changelings began clicking and chirping in their language. "I'm sorry. I don't speak mutt."
The two Changelings growled as a larger one approached.
"What's going on here?" she asked.
"Finally." said Deva. "One who speaks normally."
"Chrysalis?" asked Viper.
The large Changeling looked them up and down. "And... who are you?"
"Name's Viper. I'm a Demon Pony... And I sort of run this world now."
Chrysalis' eyes narrowed. "I am the ruler down here and also that of the Changelings."
"Oh, I know." said Viper. "I have no intention of taking away your leadership."
"Then what are you doing here in my lair?"
"I would like to extend my hoof in friendship..." said Viper, holding out her hoof. "so that we may become an unstoppable team and defeat Twilight and her pathetic pony friends."
"Twilight Sparkle?" asked Chrysalis. "It's her brother I want. Him and his new bride."
"And you can have them. To do as you please."
"How can you guarantee this?"
Viper smiled. "Twilight and the others from Ponyville are heading to the Crystal Empire. Her brother and Princess Cadence are there."
Chrysalis' eyes narrowed as a grin spread across her face. "Perfect." She took off into the air and hovered. "LISTEN UP, MY SUBJECTS!!!" yelled Chrysalis, her voice echoing off the walls. All the Changelings stopped what they were doing and looked at her. "THE TIME HAS COME FOR US TO RISE ABOVE AND TAKE OUR REVENGE ON THE ONES WHO DEFEATED US!!! THE TIME HAS COME TO TAKE BACK WHAT'S OURS!!! THE TIME HAS COME... TO REGAIN OUR HONOR!!!!" She paused and smiled. "NOW GO FORTH AND JOIN THE DEMONS IN CONQUERING EQUESTRIA!!!"
The Changelings let out their own battle cries and began marching passed Viper and Deva, heading up above. Chrysalis landed next to Viper as the three watched the Changeling army march pass.
"How many are there?" asked Deva.
"About 500." answered Chrysalis.
Viper looked around. "563." she said. "To be exact."
Chrysalis smiled. "Very good, Viper."
The Changeling army reached the mouth of their cave and began running and flying towards the Crystal Empire.