//------------------------------// // Downward Spiral // Story: Attack on Two Fronts // by Shy-Brony //------------------------------// Twilight awoke to a familiar weight on her head. Thinking it was Spike, she tried to wave it away. It refused to budge, and she groaned. "Spike, really, I need to sleep." She had spent the remainder of yesterday mourning with her friends, as well as assisting in the removal of Fluttershy's remains. Once she had recovered from the grisly work, she spent the evening devoting all of her time and intellect to gathering evidence to convict Cavalier. Thanks to a brief semester of forensics classes, as well as innumerable mystery novels, it was painfully obvious that he was the culprit. All she needed now was evidence. The weight persisted, and she heard voices at the foot of the bed. Opening her eyes, she saw a large figure, outfitted head to hoof in intimidating armor, wrapping a silver band around Spike's head while he looked on with an expression of fear. Twilight leaped out of bed, horn glowing with energy and aimed at the intruder. Before she could demand a name, the figure turned, revealing the weary face of Princess Luna. Wrapped around her neck was Fluttershy's Element of Kindness, which, without it's bearer, had faded to black. "P-Princess Luna?" she stammered. "What are you--" "There's no time. Meet me outside immediately, and do not remove your element." With that, she vanished in a flash of light. Twilight reached up, feeling the pointed stars of the Element of Magic. Before she could voice her confusion, Spike spoke up. "Twilight, I think we need to go. The princess can fill you in." He climbed onto her back, resting against her neck. She nodded, teleporting outside. It was madness, ponies screaming in terror as they fled from enormous changelings, each as big as Celestia herself. Above, the night sky glowed with a sickly green aurora, casting small light particles to the ground like pollen. Luna was busy fighting off the half dozen that targeted her specifically, using simple telekinesis to hold them in place. Once they were secure, her mane came to life, reaching out from under her helmet and beheading the insects. Now that Twilight was fully awake and under the moonlight, she could get a good look at the princess. She wore light, plated silver armor, emphasizing speed over defense. A leather belt held a rapier against her side. Numerous glowing runes covered the armor, originating from the breastplate and travelling across the suit in intricate patterns. A few minor dents and scratches riddled the armor, as well as splashes of green blood. Twilight ran up to her, starting to panic. "Luna, what's happening? Why are changelings attacking?" She waved at the descending pollen. "What is this stuff?" Luna heaved a heavy sigh, then turned to face Twilight. :The Crystal Empire has fallen under changeling control." She gestured to the corpses on the ground. "These were likely sent to assassinate you and your friends, or at least deliver you all to the queen. Canterlot has already been attacked, and the Royal Guard defeated." Twilight looked up to the mountain, seeing the capital city surrounded by a golden barrier. "My sister was forced to quarantine the city. I came to assure your safety." "What about my friends? Are they okay?" "Yes. My guards should be escorting them here as we speak." Twilight sighed in relief. "Thank goodness. And this... pollen?" She tried to stay away from it; something was telling her that things would only get worse if she did. Fortunately, when they got too close, her element glowed, and the particles were dispelled. Spike's headband had a similar effect. "That is what defeated the Royal Guard. When he particles make contact with any part of the body, the pony seems to be absorbed into the changeling hive mind, becoming loyal to the queen and her wishes. Of course, she wanted my sister and I out of the way, as well as the bearers. Of course, Equestria needs you to use the Elements of Harmony to defeat her." "I understand..." She fell silent for a moment. "Princess... did you hear about--" Luna turned away. "I have. But know is not the time for mourning. Once this threat is gone, then Fluttershy will receive a proper burial." Just then, a thunderous boom came from alleyway, and three sizzling ponies flew into the street. Cavalier stepped out of the alley, stopping when his front half was under the moonlight. He sneered, horn crackling with electricity. "Fools..." "Spike, get inside," Twilight whispered. He obeyed, lightly shutting the door behind him. "Cavalier! Stop right there!" He blinked, turning to the mares. "Luna?" Snarling, he took a step back. "Halt!" Luna barked, holding him in place with her magic. With surprising difficulty, she managed to drag him out of the alleyway. When he was fully exposed, they gasped. His coat was riddled with rather large holes, each lined with a burning green light, revealing his grey fur underneath. Since the attack, his back half had been almost completely exposed, the pollen burning away the disguise. Now out in the open, the illusion was worn away, leaving the king bare for all to see. To his benefit, he seemed to be protected from the pollen's effects. Twilight gasped, stumbling back in shock. Luna quickly moved between them. "I was told you were dead," Luna growled. Her horn lit up, and she pawed at the ground. "How are you still alive!?" Despite the obvious threat, he didn't move to protect himself. "I don't want to fight you, Luna. Not now, at least." Ignoring him, she stepped forward, eyes burning with white light. "Answer me, cur! Speak, else I will cut you down where you stand!" She roared in the Royal Canterlot Voice. He sighed, his horn glowing with dark magic. Twilight stepped out from behind Luna, her own horn glowing. "Give up, Sombra! You can't beat us both!" Despite her bravado, she was shaking ever so slightly, remembering his tricks inside the tower. Ignoring what she thought he could do, she instead focused on what he had already done. He's hurt my family, my friends, nearly killed Spike, stolen from me, wrecked my house, and... And... "Tell me...," she said in a shaky voice, "are you the one that burned down her house? Did you kill Fluttershy?" An tense silence passed. He smirked, "Yes." Twilight lost it, screaming bloody murder and firing every offensive spell she knew. He dodged around each blast, taking advantage of his ghostly body to weave in and out of the shadows cast by the moonlight. The attacks, strong and vicious as they were, never hit their mark, and her rage grew with each failed shot. With each shot fired, a chunk of some poor pony's home or business was hit, blowing large holes into the walls. She didn't care anymore. Dark thoughts clouded her mind, and her magic reflected those thoughts, the beams increasing in power and size, and changing to a roiling black color to match her aura. Luna grabbed Twilight, whirling her around to look her in the eyes. "Twilight, calm yourself! You can't let him get to you!" Twilight thrashed, uselessly trying to free herself. Her anger rose, and purple smoke began to trail from her eyes "Let me go! I'll kill him! I'll avenge Fluttershy!" Luna sighed, preparing a sleep spell. "Twilight!" From the direction of Sweet Apple Acres, familiar voices called out. The bearers, accompanied by Luna's Night Guard and wearing their elements, sprinted towards their friend, skidding to a collective halt when they saw Sombra. Judging by the collective looks of murderous rage on their faces, they too had heard the confession. Inside the library, there was a flash of green light that went unnoticed. Rainbow Dash recovered first, charging at the tyrant with murder in her eyes. Unafraid, he de-materialized into shadow upon impact, becoming a black, inky cloud that ensnared the pegasus. His face appeared inside the cloud, wearing a cocky grin. He squeezed the writhing mare, causing her to cry out in pain. "Now I have a bearer." For extra security, he conjured an electrified barrier around them. The three bearers, together with Luna and her guards, surrounded the pair. Beyond that, they didn't move, silently acknowledging the stalemate. He sighed in relief, relaxing his crushing grip, but maintained the makeshift cage. "Now will you listen? Or shall I take yet another life?" Before anyone could respond, or even move, a blinding light shone from above, causing everyone to cover their eyes. In that moment, Princess Celestia flew forward, horn ablaze, piercing both Sombra's barrier and body and ripping Rainbow Dash out of his grip. He roared, exploding into a formless mess. As he tried to pull himself back together, Celestia carried Rainbow Dash away from the demon, landing to set her on the ground a few yards away. After confirming her safety, she turned to the group. Everyone gasped at her appearance. Unlike her sister, her golden armor was almost obstructively bulky, allowing her to endure assaults while preparing more complicated, destructive spells. It bore no runes, the magic fueling them having run dry. Her own suit was heavily damaged, bearing large, burnt gashes and craters. In particular, her right flank was completely exposed, the armor having been damaged in the initial attack. Her forehead was wrapped in bandages, with dried blood coloring the gauze. "Sister!" Luna shouted, running to her side. After a quick glance upward to ensure that, yes, the barrier over Canterlot remained intact, she began inspecting Celestia's wounds. "Are you alright? What of Canterlot?" Offering a small, reassuring smile, Celestia turned to her. "I'm fine, as is Canterlot. Spike told me about Sombra's arrival, as well as his involvement in Fluttershy's murder." Her expression became one of silent rage, and the sisters walked to the group. The other ponies parted, and the princesses confronted the king. "You're being very polite, Sombra, letting us talk like this. What are you planning?" Sombra, who until now had been looking on with a look of irritation, snorted at the comment. "I would like to offer a temporary truce, that we may join forces to defeat the changeling threat." At first, there was stunned silence. Then, to everyone's surprise, Pinkie Pie stepped forward, standing beside him. He noted that she looked nothing like her picture, with a straightened mane and dull coat. She extended a hoof. "Count me in." He took the hoof, and gave it one good pump. Her friends looked on in shock. "P-Pinkie, why?" Rarity stammered. "Why would you even--" "What the hay, Pinkie!?" Rainbow yelled, butting her head against Pinkie's. "What're you thinking, siding with this creep!? Have completely lost your mind?" Rarity, slightly irritated at the interruption, tugged Dash away by her tail. "You do know what he's done, right? What he did to Fluttershy?" Her already dour expression worsened, and she walked with Rarity back to their friends. "Yeah. I had a real doozy that day. But here's what I think: once the changelings are gone, he should be too weak to stop us from killing him again." A disturbingly malicious grin appeared on her face. "For real this time." Thoroughly worried about her friend, yet unwilling to confront her, Twilight instead faced Celestia. "What do you think, Princess?" The sisters looked to each other, silently debating the pros and cons. After a short while, they turned and said, "Agreed." "What!?" Dash sputtered. She flew to the princesses, hooves pressed together. "Please, please tell me you're not really gonna let him help us? After everything he's done?" She looked to her friends for backup, but any arguments they had died the second their rulers had spoken. With a heavy groan, she dragged a hoof across her face. "Fine! If we're going to attack these guys, I'm going home to get ready. See you in a bit." "Smart girl," Sombra said, turning and walking down the street. "We should all get ready for this; we can't afford any mistakes. Prepare as though this is the day you die. It may very well be." "And you, Sombra?" Celestia asked. "Where are you going?" "The blacksmith. Whether or not I have a physical form, I refuse to go into battle without armor. I shouldn't take any more than an hour." He paused, remembering something. "Also, a herd of ponies attacked me a little while ago. There shouldn't be any casualties, but I recommend they be sent to the medic." With that off his chest, he left in a flash of light. A nod from Luna sent the guards on their way. Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie all left for their respective homes, leaving Twilight alone with the princesses. After a few seconds, she retreated into her house, leaving the door open for the sisters. The next hour passed far too quickly for anyone's liking. Letters were written, apologies given, and possible last meals shared. Ponies were gathered, counted, and on one occasion, subdued. Armor was forged, repaired and refueled with magic. And for the last ten minutes, the bearers, princesses, and Spike all sat together in the library, simply cherishing one another's company. There was a knock at the door. Spike opened it, seeing Sombra clad in steel armor, similar to the suit he wore before his banishment. "Are we ready?" he asked. The group stood, shaking off numbness in their legs. With Celestia in front, they filed out of the library, heading for the train station. Spike stayed behind, on the unspoken agreement that he would help defend Ponyville. Looking to each end of the tracks, Celestia turned to the group. "We'll have to follow the tracks north to the empire." "What?" Rarity said, legs already trembling from the perceived strain. "But that would take days!" "Indeed," Luna agreed. "By the time we get there, there may be nothing left to save." "Looks like we won't have much of a choice." Applejack pointed to her right as the burning cab of the Friendship Express came screaming down the track. The magic users among them used their telekinesis to bring it to a halt and put out the flames. They lifted it off of the track, turning it to the north. The door had been removed, and the inside gutted, with nothing but bloody smears and ashes decorating the inside. They piled inside, with Sombra and Twilight staying outside to study the wheels. "Can they be salvaged?" He asked. "No," she said, ripping them off of the axles. "We'll need to find replacements, but that would take too long." "Did your teacher never teach about transmutation?" She looked at him. "That's a no, then. A shame." He cut crude wheel-shaped chunks of dirt out of the ground, attaching them to the axles and zapping them with a peculiar beam. Slowly, they changed, first to stone, then iron, then steel. He looked at her, gesturing as if to say, "was that so hard?" "I would've known that spell if you hadn't stolen my book!" Twilight yelled. "Yes, I'm a monster and everything is my fault. Now be quiet. I need to enchant these." She grit her teeth, holding back several scathing remarks. The sooner he was gone, the better. Grumbling, she joined the others, squeezing into the car. Applejack, deciding to change the subject, said, "So do we have a plan? Or do we just charge in and blast 'em?" "A good question," Celestia said, turning her head to hide a quick yawn. "We should use the cover of night to launch a sneak attack. Luna, can we afford to have the night continue for a few extra hours?" "Very funny," she said, "but we can't allow any more panicking. The return of Nightmare Moon would only aggravate the situation." She ignored the brief chuckle from outside. "However, if we hurry, there may be no need. It would be best to mask ourselves upon arrival, then take the changelings by surprise." "Speaking of surprises," Rainbow interrupted, "what if we get separated? One of them could change into one of us and catch us off guard. We should come up with some kind of code." "A splendid idea," Rarity agreed, "but what kind of code?" The train lurched forward, tossing the ponies against the far wall. Sombra climbed inside, sitting next to the doorway to keep anyone from falling out. Outside, the platform moved further and further away at a rapidly increasing pace. "We should be there in about forty-five minutes," he said. "I've got it!" Twilight announced, earning odd looks from everyone. "The code will be something only we know: the night we rescued Luna!" Nearly everypony nodded their heads in recognition and agreement, except for Sombra and Celestia, neither of whom seemed to react. Satisfied, she continued, conjuring a large diagram. "Now that that's settled, do we have any ideas on how to approach the empire? I was thinking of following Princess Celestia's idea to sneak in and attack from inside. Any objections?" "One," Sombra said, looking away from the door. "How exactly do you plan to get inside unnoticed? There won't just be changelings to worry about, but the crystal ponies as well. Chances are they've been put under the queen's control." "I thought about that." The diagram glowed, and a simplistic, glassy caricature of the Crystal Empire appeared, surrounded by equally cartoonish changelings. A miniature "Sombra" stood at the entrance, backed by the bearers and princesses. As Twilight spoke, the characters acted out her plan. "My plan was that you would turn into your shadow form, enveloping the empire and preventing both access and escape. Once the changelings are distracted with trying to bring you down, we'll slip in, hunt down the queen, and hit her full force with everything we have, no holds barred!" He stared. "That's it? Just walk in and end it? You think it'll be that easy?" "Yeah, Twi," Applejack said. "It wasn't anywhere near that easy during the wedding, and the elements were right under our noses." "Okay, so it could use some fine tuning. Any ideas?" "Sombra, Luna and I will divert the changeling's attention," Celestia said, yawning and stretching out her wings as far as she could in the small space. "Twilight, I want you and your friends to locate and, if necessary, rescue Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor. Once they're safe, give her the Element of Kindness. She should be the next best match." Luna removed the blackened element from her neck, clasping it onto Twilight's. "You have your orders. Any questions?" Rarity stepped forward. "Yes, Your Highness. What about the crystal ponies? The changelings should be occupied with Sombra, but what about the citizens? Surely they won't simply let us through?" "One more thing," Pinkie added, "won't the commotion from holding off the citizens attract the changelings? Big fights aren't exactly quiet." "True," Luna admitted, "there are countless things that could go wrong. I fear we have no choice but to take our chances. I only hope that the three of us will be enough to keep you all safe." "Don't worry about it, Luna!" Rainbow declared, her usual bravado returning. Leaping up to hover in the air, she struck a confident, heroic pose. "We'll be done with this before breakfast, I guarantee it!" The cab shook violently, and an eerie green light passed over them. Outside, the snow-covered wasteland surrounding the empire replaced the Equestrian plains, with jagged, glowing crystals dotting the landscape. Sombra's horn glowed, and the cab slowly came to a stop a fair distance away from the gate. Pinkie poked her head out the window to get a better look, her friends quickly joining her. The three rulers stepped out of the cab, peeking around the corner. Nearly all of their enthusiasm, their confidence, and their hope drained away at the sight before them. The Crystal Empire, once a shimmering beacon of unity and light, was a twisted fortress, the gorgeous crystalline walls and spires now gnarled, black obelisks. Dug into these mighty constructs were gaping caverns, dripping with viscous slime and stuffed with countless eggs. Every few seconds, one would hatch, and the newborn changeling would rise to join the hundreds of waiting siblings that circled above. The skies, which would usually be a natural midnight blue, was all but blotted out by the massive army soaring overhead. Moonlight lit the streets, flickering madly as it tried to breach the veritable wall of bodies between earth and sky. "T-this... this is..." Rarity tried to speak, but the words died in her throat. While she was no great linguist like Twilight, her vocabulary was still quite extensive;all the same, she could find no words to describe the nightmare before her. The beautiful land she so admired, twisted into such a mockery of what it once was, brought tears to her eyes. Twilight, despite her experience with wordplay and description, found herself in very much the same situation as Rarity, though for entirely different reasons: she couldn't begin to fathom how her brother and sister-in-law, strong as they both were, could survive in such a hellish place. Likewise, Celestia and Luna feared for the younger alicorn as well as their small party. With just Shining Armor's love for Cadance, the queen was able to defeat Celestia in a battle. Barely, but with a minuscule fraction of the power she was sure to wield now. Swallowing any remaining doubts, they nodded to the bearers, ordering them to exit the wrecked car. Once everypony was outside, Celestia signaled for Sombra to begin his role. When he didn't move,she nudged him. "What are you doing?" she hissed. "Attack!" Sombra wasn't listening;honestly, he wasn't even there. Ignorant of the real world, he charged, a berserk fury in his eyes. Thankfully, even in his delirious state, he exploded into shadow, quickly expanding into a dome of darkness around the swarm and city. Chasing after the furious stallion, the sisters tried to penetrate the black wall, only to be blasted back by a wave of dark magic. "Curse it!" Luna shouted, firing a blast from her horn that punctured a puny hole in the wall. Celestia stood by her sister, and they fired a combine beam that stretched the hole a little bit more, but not enough to allow entry. The wall seemed to shiver and snarl, and black whips reached out and lashed at the duo, forcing them to stop the assault. Applejack reached underneath her hat, retrieving her lasso and tying the tendrils together, leaving the mass to struggle against the bindings. Using what little time they had, Twilight and Rarity added their own magic to the attack, punching a clean hole through Sombra's body. Quickly, they all leaped through the wound, which closed immediately after their entry. The empire had descended into pandemonium, with jagged crystal spears launching from the streets and zooming up towards cloud of beasts overhead, more often than not hitting their targets, sending monstrous corpses to the ground. Above, Sombra's head was launching spell after spell, waves of fire, ice, and lightning emanating from his horn and cutting down scores of changelings. It made little difference, however, as the insects hatched faster than he could kill them, and they were steadily wearing him down. Celestia and Luna flew off to join the fight, and the bearers ran into the nearest building, a small shack on the outskirts. Inside, glued to the walls were see-through cocoons, filled with writhing ponies. Swallowing their disgust, the bearers sneaked over to a particularly large cocoon, Rarity slicing it down the middle. A haggard, slime covered pony fell out, unconscious, but alive. With a nod from Twilight, they went to work, cutting and tearing the cocoons open and releasing the captive ponies. Alas, none were Princess Cadance or her husband. After ensuring that the freed ponies were safe, they continued, dashing from house to house, barely avoiding any stray spells from overhead, as well as random growths of black crystals from the ground. The sheer effort wore them down, more mentally than physically. With each rescue, they moved further into the city, and Twilight's frustration grew. Once they were in the shopping district, surrounded by various stores, they hurried into the remains of what may have been a haberdashery. Just like every other building and home, the interior was nearly empty, the walls lined with cocoons. Unlike the others, for some the thrashing within had regressed to twitching, and most had stopped moving altogether. "Think they're still alive?" Applejack asked, laying a hoof on one of the still cocoons. It was warm to the touch, and despite the occupant's still form, it still beat with a steady rhythm. Twilight stood next to her, horn glowing. "Let's find out," she said, slicing the cocoon open. Instead of a pony, a small changeling, identical to the ones fought during the wedding, collapsed onto the floor. Applejack and Twilight leaped back, turning to warn the others. They were too late, and the newborn changelings, thirteen in all, surrounded the group, blocking both the entrance and windows. Despite their best efforts, as newborns, they were unused to their pseudo-alicorn bodies, and began hovering around, bouncing off of the walls and ceiling like gnats. "Pfft!" Rainbow scoffed at the clumsy squad. "This'll be too easy!" Twilight held her back with a hoof against her chest. "Go easy on them. They're still crystal ponies." With that, she charged, the bearers following suit. It wasn't much of a fight;between Rainbow's speed, Rarity's technique, Pinkie's unpredictability(where she had gotten fireworks would forever be a mystery), Applejack's strength, and Twilight's magic, coupled with the inexperience and awkwardness of their opponents, it was a short, painfully one-sided fight. When the dust settled, only one changeling was left conscious, cowering in a far corner. His mouth opened and closed silently, his own overwhelming fear keeping him quiet. The five mares surrounded him, and he curled into a tight ball, whimpering. Already tired of wasting time, Applejack stomped her hoof. "We're only gonna ask once: where's Princess Cadance?" He flinched, frantically searching the hive mind for any information that would keep him safe. What he found was numerous orders, the majority of them focused on one thing: the destruction of the Royal Sisters and Sombra. It seemed that none of the other, older, stronger changelings even knew that the bearers were still alive. It was just panicked repetitions of "Kill her!", "Protect Queen Chrysalis!" and "Kill the demon!" However, just when the bearers started to close in for the kill, he heard a voice pierce through the noise. Bring them here. Bring them into the street. The voice was familiar, yet at the same time unfamiliar. It wasn't Chrysalis, but the voice held weight all the same. The newborn, assuming he didn't have a choice, quickly nodded, relating the information to the ponies before him. They looked to one another, confusion clear on their faces. "What do you think?" Twilight asked, facing her friends. "Smells like a trap to me," Pinkie said. Walking over to the young changeling, she placed both hooves on either side of his head. She pressed her face against his, assuming her "bad cop" persona. "How do we know you're telling the truth!?" she shouted, causing the small creature to nearly faint in fright. Just as he closed his eyes, Applejack picked him up and slung him over her back. "Truth or not, it shouldn't hurt to have some leverage of our own," she reasoned. "An eye for an eye and all that." When no one objected, she walked outside, back into the war zone, only to be tackled and sent flying down the street by a fully grown changeling. A dozen more followed after the mare, fangs bared and horns ablaze. She landed roughly on her side, skidding a few yards before scrambling onto her hooves, just in time to buck one of her assailants clean in the face. That one stumbled back, quickly replaced by three more, hissing and snapping at her. She tried to back away, and for a short few seconds it worked, until one tackled her from behind, pinning her to the ground and allowing its comrades free shots at the poor pony's head and shoulders, her captor moving aside just enough to allow shots at her legs and body. Seconds after the sneak attack, Dash took off to save her friend. Just like with Applejack, she was blindsided, attacked from all sides the second she was too far to help, a dozen insects forming a tight sphere around the multicolored pony. All she could see was black, swarming shapes barely lit by their glowing green eyes. They tore at her in a frenzy, biting at her wings and jabbing at her body with their horns, relishing the pained screams that came with each blow. When she inevitably fell, they pooled beneath her, using their bodies as a platform to keep her away from any kind of help, taking turns brutalizing the mare from above. On the ground, Rarity, Pinkie and Twilight were far too busy protecting themselves to assist their fallen allies, their cries of pain and calls for help acting as a haunting battle song. Despite their relatively improved numbers, they were at no more an advantage than the other two, as the majority of the changelings' efforts were concentrated on taking down the three of them. Even with three of them giving their all into fighting back, the attacks didn't seem to do anything more than startle any individual member, and the advancing swarm quickly forced them back into the store. Twilight resorted to erecting a barrier around the three of them, further restricting them. It paid off, and for once, they could breathe. For only a moment, though. Just as the bearers thought is was safe to rest, a barrage of beams fired from the crowd, eroding the barrier into nothing. The changelings filled the store, some taking to the air to fit in the small space. The crowd parted, and Cege stepped forward with a smug grin on his face, distinguished by the numerous glowing crystals. Unlike the others, his chitin bore several spikes jutting from his shoulders, adding to his already menacing appearance. "Ah, this seems familiar," he said. Seeing their confusion, he continued. "I'm the one who blocked off the holding chamber of the Elements of Harmony. At least, I set the trap. It's what I'm good at. If I was a pony, my cutie mark would probably be a chess board or something like--" His monologue what interrupted by a combined magic blast from both unicorns, punctuated by a missile to the face, the attack throwing a cloud of thick smoke into the air and filling the room with the smell of gunpowder. With of beat of his wings, Cege cleared the smoke, annoyed but unharmed. "Tsk, tsk. I would've taken that chance to teleport to safety or something. Your loss." Without another word, he charged, ramming Twilight into the wall, cracking it on impact and knocking her unconscious. Spreading his wings, he flapped them rapidly, emitting an odd sound wave. Rarity and Pinkie fell to their knees, screaming and pressing their ears against their skulls in a futile attempt to ease their pounding headaches. That pain escalated into migraines, and they soon lost consciousness. Seconds later, the two squads arrived, carrying the beaten, but alive, bearers of Honesty and Loyalty. Smirking in victory, Cege had them all wrapped up, demanding that the bearers be offered to Queen Chrysalis. He laughed as he watched the squad carry out his orders. "This is a good day. A good day, indeed." High above the Crystal Empire, Celestia and Luna had their hooves full with managing both Sombra and the swarm. For better or worse, the rampaging king could still tell friend from foe;he didn't go out of his way to avoid attacking the sisters, though. This meant that for every dozen or so changelings they cut down, they would have to look out for Sombra's spells, or worse, his gaping, fanged maw. Despite these rather unfavorable circumstances, things were going unexpectedly well. All the same... Luna pushed through the wall of bodies, her rapier rendered a barely visible streak due to a combination of acceleration magic and a "Come to Life" spell. With her bladed assistant covering her sides and back, she was free to focus on casting her wide variety of spells, mostly focused on twisting the enemy's perceptions and senses. Horn ablaze, she placed an illusory image of herself a few yards away, freezing and shattering the swarm that attacked the empty space. She used the moment of silence to catch her breath, observing the chaos before her, Sombra's feral display in particular. A thought crossed her mind. "Sister!" She called out. Immediately, a golden, vaguely pony-shaped bullet came tearing through the swarm, coming to rest next to the lunar princess. The light vanished, revealing Celestia's haggard form. "Something wrong, Luna?" As with Luna, the changelings had left the elder sister alone, focusing instead on the enormous, disembodied head of the former tyrant. Luna pointed to the spectacle. "Do you think we could have done better with punishing Sombra? His lack of a physical form seems to be more of a blessing than anything." Celestia shrugged. "Whether or not he's actually suffering from the spell, he's a great distraction." She scanned the ground for the bearers, Twilight in particular. "Now we can focus on--" A whistle got her attention, and she looked to the tower balcony. Hanging from the balcony, bound up to their necks in cocoons and swaying like an equine wind chime, were the bearers, bloody and bruised, their elements wrapped around their midsections, except for Twilight, whose crown had been removed. Standing on the balcony proper was Siren, cheerfully waving at the princesses and wearing the Element of Magic atop her head. "NO!!" Celestia roared, her mane and tail becoming pure, raging flame. Ignorant of everything around her, she charged at the taunting young creature, intent on boiling her innards until they oozed through the chinks in her armor. She headbutted Siren, locking their horns on impact and pushing her into the throne room. Once the initial shock wore off, Siren desperately tried to push back against the enraged mare, beating her wings with everything she had. This only seemed to anger Celestia further, and with a single, powerful flap of her mighty wings, she unleashed a grand heat wave, incinerating Siren's wings, knocking the Element of Magic off her head, and sending her flying against the wall. She collapsed, her armor glowing orange and steam rolling off of her in waves. Her armor cracked, and chunks off it fell away, exposing her soft organs. The raw heat burned away the air, and Siren gasped for breath. She tried to open her eyes, shutting them immediately due to the blinding sight of the superheated floor of the crystal tower. Hearing Celestia's slow, deliberate approach, the temperature rising with each second, she grit her teeth. Damn it, Cege, where are you!? Right here. Siren's eyes cracked open, and from her left she saw her brother try to tackle the large mare. He was barely two yards away when he was forced to the ground by a magical gravitational field, one that left a circular indent in the floor. Luna flew through the doorway, and with a wave of her horn, four crystal spears burst from underneath him and pierced his legs. The distraction gone, Celestia reached out with her magic, gripping Siren's head and ripping it from her shoulders, a task made easier by the softened, cracked armor. As Cege screamed in pain and horror, Luna levitated the bearers onto the balcony and freed them from their cocoons. After making sure that they were all still alive, she returned to the trapped changeling, stepping on his head. "I will ask you once: where is your queen?" When he kept screaming, she electrified the spears, further increasing his pain. "Answer me, and I will end your pain." "Queen C-Chrysalis... will kill you all," he managed to say. "You... your sister... those brats... that monster... you'll all die today!" His body began to tremble and glow with energy, and a twisted grin appeared on his face. His head was severed by Luna's rapier, causing the glow to vanish. "I think not." She turned to Celestia, who was searching the room for Chrysalis. "Any sign of her?" "None," she said, her mane returning to its normal state. She nodded to the bearers. "How are they? Any serious injuries?" Walking over to the beaten mares, Luna began healing their injuries. "Nothing I can't handle. They'll be just fine." In seconds, their wounds were gone, and she returned each element to its respective owner. "I guess it's up to us to hunt down Cadence for now. One of us will need to stay behind and look after them, though." Suddenly, a thick, smoky cloud of darkness flooded the room. Green eyes with red pupils scanned the room, passing over everyone and everything before moving on to the next room, the darkness following. Luna shook her head, clearing away any lingering smoke. "Sombra?" Celestia stepped forward. "He's not important right now. You stay with the bearers while I search the castle." With a quick nod from her sister, Celestia left the throne room in search of Cadance's bedroom. Walking the halls, it didn't take her long to realize she had no idea where she was going. Sighing, she leaned against the wall, bringing a hoof to her forehead. "I should have come to visit. At least to see how she's doing." Her moment of self-pity was interrupted by a green light from down the hall, followed by bolts of dark magic. The building shook from the force, and Celestia ran to the source. Just as she reached the doorway of the bedroom, Sombra flew past her, tumbling across the floor, unconscious. Looking inside, she had to fight off the temptation to abandon everything and run away. Queen Chrysalis, now easily three times the size of Celestia, stood at her full height, head scraping the ceiling. The bulbous sac that was her stomach had vanished, replaced by saw-like teeth. Her hooves now ended in curved, scythe-like blades that dripped with acid, and her horn had split into several horns, forming a proper crown around her head. The Crystal Heart was embedded in her armor, where a pony's heart would be. Chrysalis grinned at Celestia, the minor damage Sombra had done vanishing. "Well, well. You sure took your time, didn't you? It's funny, I always thought--" A massive, golden beam of energy to the face cut her off. She didn't seem to notice, and in the blink of an eye, she closed the distance between them, a single swing of her hoof knocking Celestia against the wall. "How rude. I wasn't done talking." Celestia gasped for breath, leaning against the wall for support. That one, halfhearted attack cleaved clean through her armor, nearly removing her wing. The wound bled profusely, and the acid ate at her armor. Her horn glowed as she tried to heal herself. "Ah, ah! None of that!" Using her magic, Chrysalis lifted Celestia by her neck, squeezing it just enough to break her concentration. "I'm going to assume you're fireproof, so I guess I'll just rip off your head. Fitting, no?" She paused, tilting her head as though she was listening for something. She lashed out with back hoof, and Luna couldn't stop in time, earning herself a long, deep gash up her torso. Gritting her teeth, Luna managed to stay in the air, hovering above the bed. "Damn... What's happened to you!?" "That's a good question," Chrysalis said, holding Celestia between them. "Here's another one: where exactly were you during the wedding? If you were there, none of this would be happening. I'm not complaining, of course, but still." Luna coughed up blood, staining the bed. I need to keep her talking. "What's it to you?" Never one to stay still while speaking, Chrysalis began pacing around the room. "I just want some closure, is all. Of course, something to brag about to those cute little ponies you dragged along wouldn't hurt." "I was... sleeping. I am the Princess of the Night. Obviously, I'm nocturnal." She laughed, turning away from Luna. "Of course you are. In other words, your sister nearly died and your country was almost destroyed because you were napping? Oh this is just perfect!" Another hearty laugh followed, and Luna began charging up a spell. The center of Chrysalis' crown burned with an otherworldly green flame, which fired at the princess like a mortar . Far too injured to react, Luna took the full brunt of the attack, the fireball carrying her into the wall. She slumped to the floor, motionless. "Lu... na," Celestia croaked. Chrysalis tightened her grip, silencing her weak cries. The last thing she heard before blacking out was Chrysalis' mocking laughter. "I can't watch this anymore," Fluttershy whimpered, wiping her eyes and wondering, not for the first time, why she still had the ability to cry. Kneeling next to her friends, she lightly stroked Rarity's mane, fruitlessly trying to return it to its former beauty. Being a ghost, her hoof passed right through, and with each try Rarity would shiver just a little bit. "So what are you going to do?" Death asked, staring into the bedroom with sad eyes. "You have until the bearers die;haven't you thought of something?" "I... I don't know," she admitted, bowing her head in shame. "But--" "But nothing!" he snapped. "You have a few minutes, if you're lucky. You're out of time. I know it's sad, but there's nothing you can do." "I can think of something... I know I can! I have to!" He readied his scythe and cracked his neck. "You've been saying that for a while. Unless you're a unicorn, you can't just will things into existence." She tapped her chin. "Unicorn, unicorn... a-hah!" Death gave her an odd look. "Um... could I see Sombra's dossier? If you don't mind?" He looked at her for a long while before sighing and handing over the document. "Here. I don't know what good it'll do." "Just something to pass the time." She flipped it open, grinning wider with each second.