//------------------------------// // Chapter Nine // Story: A New Home II: A Queen's Revenge // by APoeticHeart //------------------------------// The baby dragon and the fillies except for Sweetie Belle were waiting on the dock of the Ponyville train station for the Friendship Express to roll in. Spike tapped his foot impatiently on the wooden surface as he looked all around for the unicorn filly. He threw his claws up in the air in a frustrated manner and turned to Applebloom and Scootaloo. “Where is Sweetie Belle at? Doesn’t she know we don’t have all the time in Equestria,” he let out a puff of smoke. The four fillies chuckled at him as Scootaloo hovered above him and patted the scaled on top of his head “Easy there dragon boy, she said she will be here soon. She said she has a surprise for you, Silver Spoon, and Diamond Tiara,” she smirked proudly. Diamond and Silver’s ears perked at the word surprise. Diamond asked “Oh, what kind of surprise Scootaloo?” She beamed with excitement and curiosity along with Silver Spoon. Applebloom giggled and replied “Diamond, ya know we can’t tell ya or it wouldn’t be a surprise,” Scootaloo nodded in agreement letting out a chuckle. Suddenly Sweetie Belle came galloping onto the waiting dock panting “I’m… here… don’t… leave…yet,” she sat down on her haunches to rest while she was wearing her saddlebags. She was also wearing her Cutie Mark Crusaders cape which caught the curious eye of the other fillies and dragon. Spike let out a sigh of relief “Finally you’re here Sweetie. Don’t worry, the train hasn’t even got here yet, so you are okay,” he gave her a soft smile and looked at her saddlebags curiously. “Uh… Sweetie, what’s in your saddlebags, and why are you wearing your cape for?” Sweetie Belle smiled at the other fillies and dragon “Well, I thought we could wear our capes to show support for our little brother,” she opened the flaps with her magic and levitated five extra capes. “Here you go girls,” she levitated two over to Applebloom and Scootaloo. “I also decided to make capes for you three,” she levitated the last three over to Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and Spike. Spike smiled slyly as threw the cape around his back and tied it around his neck “Whoa, very cool Sweetie Belle, thanks,” he stood with his claws on his hips tilting his head up with pride. The fillies chuckled as Diamond and Silver smiled at their capes “Thank you Sweetie Belle,” they both replied. “It’s no problem guys. We have to be there for our little brother and friend,” she smiled at them and they all nodded in unison. Soon enough the Friendship Express pulled up to the station and came to a slow steady stop. Diamond reached into her saddlebags to pull out the tickets and pass them out. They watched as the passenger doors opened and out stepped the conductor. “Welcome aboard the Friendship Express, please show your tickets before you…” he cut himself off when he noticed the baby dragon and three fillies from last time they boarded the train. “Oh no, not you four again. I told you last time if you came near this train I would have you four banned from the station for good. Now get,” he gave them all a stern look. Spike looked up with a hopeful look “But Sir, this is an emergency. You see my…” the conductor cut him off by waving a hoof in front of the baby dragon. “I don’t care. Rules are rules, and I warned you the first time so go before I get your parents involved,” he started stepping towards them. “Sir, if you would just listen, we…” Spike was cut off with a hoof on his shoulder. He turned to see Diamond Tiara with smirk on her face. “Don’t worry Spike, I got this,” she said as she cleared her throat and looked up at the conductor with her eyes furrowed in frustration. “Listen to me mister, my daddy is the richest pony in Ponyville and his name is Filthy Rich,” she stomped her hoof on the dock. “Now if you don’t let us on that train, I will personally tell my daddy to replace you just like that. Do you understand me?” The conductor shook and nodded vigorously “Y-yes Miss anything you say,” he swallowed nervously. “May I see your tickets please?” He held out a shaking fore hoof. “Thank you Sir, that’s better,” Diamond Tiara smirked as she handed the conductor her ticket first and trotted onto the train. She was followed by the others one by one. Sweetie Belle looked at Diamond disapprovingly “That was kind of mean, don’t you think Diamond,” as the six took their seats. Diamond blushed and giggled “Well Sweetie Belle, like daddy always says to be successful in business you got to be little aggressive and also persuasive,” she gave her a smirk. Sweetie Belle sighed softly “Well, I guess that does work,” she let out a giggle along with the others. With all the passengers aboard the conductor announced “Next stop, the Crystal Empire,” as the passenger doors closed and the train started. The hearts of the six young passengers were pounding heavily as they began their trek to visit Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor. Deep below in the caverns of Rambling Rock Ridge the three Diamond Dogs were returning from the Badlands. As they approached their home they noticed their guards were nowhere to be seen. They each scratched the back of their heads with a paw. “Eh… boss, where are the troops at?” Fido asked as he looked over at Rover and Spot did the same. “Neh… I don’t know you idiots, but I don’t like the look of this,” Rover looked all around as they kept walking. “Oh, I don’t think you are going to find them occupying this fine living establishment any longer,” a sly and sinister laugh echoed throughout the caverns causing the three dogs to shake. “Neh… whose there,” Rover asked as him the other two looked around while Spot and Fido clung to each other trembling. “Show yourself you coward.” A cackle rung through the cavern “Oh, a coward am I?” Suddenly the yellow eyes of Discord appeared out of nowhere in front of the Diamond Dogs and his draconequus form took shape. “Well, I assure you my good mutt that I am no coward,” he chuckled as he stood tall. Rover looked up with a scowl of anger “Neh… and who might you be?” He asked in frustration as the other two shook behind him. Discord looked at him curiously “Oh, so you don’t know who I am, do you?” He smiled mischievously “Well, let me show you,” with a snap of his talons a cloud of cotton candy appeared above the three and it started to rain chocolate milk. The three licked at the rain and said altogether “Chocolate milk?” Discord chuckled “May I introduce myself, I am the one and only Master of Chaos Discord,” he bowed his head to the three dogs. “Now Applejack,” yelled another voice as a large sized lasso came out from behind the shadows and looped around the three. “Ah got them Twi,” the cowpony suddenly appeared with the others coming out from different directions and surrounding the dogs. “Now let me tighten this up and… there. They are tied nice and tight,” she tipped her hat with a proud smirk. “Neh… what’s going on?” Rover asked as he looked frantically at the approaching ponies. Rainbow Dash hovered over to the three smacking each of them across the face with a hoof “Be quiet you mutts. Tell us where that no good slimy excuse for a queen is and where is she hiding Toby?” She lowered to the ground, kicked her fore hooves hard against the dirt and snarled at the three. “Do you mean that little runt?” Spot asked as he was struggling in the binding rope, but to no avail. Fluttershy looked curiously at them “Wait… how do you know my son?” Her lips slowly formed into a scowl. Rover chuckled and looked right at Rarity “Neh… you mean you didn’t talk about our little run in with you and that little shrimp whiny pony?” The others gasped and looked at the white unicorn as Fluttershy looked at her with a frown “Um… Rarity is this true?” Rarity shrunk back a little and swallowed nervously “Well…I… I…” she was cut off when Rover laughed. “Neh… of course it is true. We saw the whiny pony carrying that little runt on her back and thought we could get some gems in exchange if we nabbed him,” he chuckled until he and the others were tackled without warning by Fluttershy. She placed a fore hoof against Rover’ and pressed down causing him to gasp for breath. She leaned her head down close to his and her brows furrowed in anger as she gave him the stare “Be quiet you vile creature!” She was breathing heavily. “Fluttershy, you got to try and calm down,” Pinkie said as she stepped closer to the enraged pegasus. “Be quiet Pinkie!” She yelled not looking at Pinkie as she added more pressure to Rover’s neck. “Now tell me where my son is or I promise I will make sure you three won’t be able to hunt for gems anymore,” she gritted her teeth intensely. “The Badlands, she is staying in the badlands,” Spot and Fido spoke up. Fluttershy looked at the other two, but turned back to Rover “Is that true?” She added more pressure as she choked him and he nodded furiously. She lifted her hoof of his neck and quickly turned to trot away. The others looked on concerned for their friend as she trotted past them. Rarity carefully placed a hoof on her shoulder to cause to stop. Fluttershy was breathing heavily “Fluttershy darling, I am so sorry I didn’t tell you,” Rarity looked at her with a sad smile with tears stinging her eyes. Fluttershy lowered her head and said lowly “Not now Rarity,” she shrugged Rarity’s hoof off her shoulder and trotted off. Rarity sat down on her haunches and lowered her head solemnly. Applejack trotted up to her and rubbed at her back “She’ll come around sugaracube. Ya just got to give her some time. She is just concerned about Toby as we all are,” she gave Rarity a reassuring smile. Rarity gave a light smile “You are right Applejack dear. I just hope the little darling is okay and stays strong,” she sighed deeply. Pinkie Pie came up beside Rarity and patted her back “We all do Rarity,” giving her a soft smile as the three trotted out next. Twilight looked up at Rainbow “Rainbow Dash, do you think you can fly to Canterlot and tell the princesses that we know where Chrysalis is?” Rainbow nodded and saluted with a hoof “You got it Twilight. I will be back in no time,” with that she zoomed out of the caverns. Twilight sighed softly and looked at Discord “Discord, do you think you can keep these mutts busy for a while? We don’t want them to escape and try to go back to Chrysalis to warn her,” she narrowed her gaze at the Diamond Dogs. Discord bowed his head “Your wish is my command Princess Twilight,” he gave a light chuckle. “Seriously, you all be careful and bring Toby back safely,” he gave her a soft smile. She nodded at him “Thank you Discord, and don’t worry we will,” she gave him a soft smile before turning and galloping off behind the others. Discord turned to the three dogs and had a mischievous smile on his face “Oh, I am going to have fun with you three,” he let out a cackle as the Diamond Dogs swallowed nervously and began shaking. In the badlands, Chrysalis was standing before her army of changelings that were lined up in rows and rows of drones. She paced back and forth as an evil grin formed across her face. The drones fluttered their wings as they looked intently at their queen. “My children, today begins our reign as the true rulers of Equestria,” she spoke proudly. “We are going to take control of each of the regions until Canterlot is left, and that will be my region,” they nodded in understanding. She stopped pacing as she stood before her army. “First let the feast begin,” she cackled as she lit her horn up and shot many beams toward her drones. They were all enveloped in her magic and were infused with the love from Toby. Wide grins grew across their lips as the hovered into the air. Chrysalis smiled proudly at her children as they hovered with new strength and desire to feed on more love. She hovered up to speak to them “Now my children divide and conquer. Leave no region untouched and we shall finally take our rightful place we truly deserve,” she let out a loud cackle as the drones snickered. They bowed their heads to their queen and flew off in all directions to the different regions of Equestria. Chrysalis lowered to the ground “This is turning out to be too perfect that I even amaze myself,” she thought to herself. “I know if I try to feed on some more of the little one’s love, he will try to resist. However, I got to break him and I think I know how,” she smiled evilly as she turned to trot back into her cave. Her smile grew wider as she thought some more “And that sorry excuse for a king Sombra thought he was the only one who can make ponies see their worst fears,” she chuckled lowly as a wicked idea came to her mind.