“How did he take them?” Twilight asked with fear in her voice.
“The answer is for you to calm down and get some rest,” Luna replied. “My sister and I shall explain Grogar, and why he is so dangerous.”
---------------------------------
“Grogar was a ram from the Ibex Empire,” Celestia began. “He eventually went into the study of dark magic, and similar to King Sombra, it corrupted him.”
“My sister and I used the Elements of Harmony to imprison him in his own dark city, Tambelon,” Luna continued. “But it seems he has found a way to escape.”
“So… how do we stop him?” asked Rainbow.
“Back when we fought Grogar, he was searching for the Rainbow of Darkness,” Celestia explained. “So I suggest we find the Rainbow of Darkness and use the Elements of Harmony to destroy it.”
“Then the six of us will-“ Rarity began.
“To keep out of Grogar’s sight, only one can go,” Luna interrupted. “Too many ponies will attract his attention, and he’d go after the Rainbow. Now we should get some rest.”
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That night, Twilight had a strange dream. She was in a vast expanse of ruins. “Is this… Tambelon?” she asked herself.
“Ah, so my dream spell has you in my grasp.”
The unicorn turned around to see Grogar. “How amusing… to think the most powerful magic in all of Equestria would end up in the hooves of six mares.”
Twilight glared at the ram, and he was silent. He then grinned evilly and victoriously as his eyes set their freezing gaze on the Princess of Friendship. “Oh, I must apologize, Princess,” Grogar said with sarcasm. “I don’t believe we were properly introduced during that little incident in Cloudsdale. My name is Grogar, Lord of Tambelon. Though your Princesses have already told you that…”
The unicorn snarled, glaring at the ram. “Just stop this,” she said quietly. “This instant.”
He then blasted Twilight with a beam, knocking her over and further wounding her barrel. “But that would be boring. Now then… I have a small favor to ask you.”
“I’d never… do anything to help you,” she hissed.
Grogar shot another beam at Twilight, knocking her back even more. “Oh, yes you shall,” he countered, his eyes full of malevolence. He then blasted her again. “All I need is for you to head to the tomb surrounded by standing stones in the Prancing Plains. It won’t be difficult for somepony who’s defeated Nightmare Moon, Discord, the queen of the changelings, and Tirek.”
“Then go there yourself,” Twilight said back at the ram, her barrel burning with dark magic.
Grogar just frowned at the mare. “And attract the attention of the Princesses?” He conjured up a magical projection of a bag. “Get this bag and bring it back to me. If you tell the Princesses, I will destroy Canterlot. If you tell the Bearers, I will destroy Ponyville. If you tell your brother or parents, I will destroy the Crystal Empire. And if you do not listen to me, I will personally kill you. Do you understand, Princess Twilight?”
Twilight gulped, trying to keep her wound from getting worse. “Fine… I’ll do it…”
“Good girl,” Grogar said. “I’m expecting that bag.”
Twilight then woke up.
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Soarin looked at Twilight nervously. “Thanks again,” said the Princess of Friendship.
“Y-You’re welcome,” Soarin stuttered. “I-I guess I could take you to the first spot on that map.” He then picked Twilight up, and began to fly when he felt some extra weight.
“SPIKE?!?” yelled Twilight. The purple dragon was holding onto the unicorn’s tail.
“Um… hi, Twilight,” Spike said nervously.
“So, where’s the first place on the map anyway?” Soarin asked, distracting the dragon and unicorn.
“Knight’s Peak, south of the Macintosh Hills and the Forest of Leota, but north of the Changeling Kingdom,” Twilight replied. The Wonderbolt landed in the Macintosh Hills. “OK, the quickest way to Knight’s Peak is by going south through the Appaloosan Mountain Range and then on through the Forest of Leota… go around the Timberwolf Territory. There we can stay at the Royal Guard Watchtower for the night, and we’ll be there! Simple!” Twilight explained.
“As in through that old mine over there?” Soarin asked.
“Exactly.”
Spike looked at the statues around the mine entrance. “I think this is a diamond dog mine,” he said.
“I know that because I’ve been here before,” Twilight deadpanned. “Back when the Crusaders were foalnapped by the changelings.”
“I wonder how long it’s been since the diamond dogs last used this mine?” Soarin asked.
“From the looks of it, about 200 years or so,” the unicorn estimated.
“So we’re in an abandoned mine? That’s not creepy at all,” Spike commented.
The cave then rumbled. And a booming voice echoed through the mine.
“PO-NAYS?”
Twilight groaned. “Oh no, not him…”
It was a large grayish-blue creature with moss on its shoulders and a heart tattoo on its right arm. A cave troll. “PWETAH PONAYS BACK!”
“RUN!” Twilight yelled, as she put Spike on her back and Soarin glided beside her. They went through the cave, getting as far away from the troll as possible.
“Well, that was interesting,” Soarin dryly commented.
Before anypony could say anything else, they were interrupted by the sound of cracks. Twilight looked up to see a large boulder falling right towards them. “RUN AGAIN!” Spike yelled.
Twilight put Spike on her back again, and pushed Soarin out of the way before teleporting away from the rock. The shockwave shook the passageway as more rocks began to fall. The whole cave was collapsing. They continued running towards the exit. Knowing they had only a little time before the whole mine collapses on them, they dodged rocks until they began to fall faster.
Though most of the cave had been destroyed by the tremor, Twilight’s heart raced when she saw the light of the exit. She then galloped as fast as possible while Soarin followed in tight pursuit. The moment they reached the exterior of the abandoned mine, the trio took in the fresh air.
Looking back at the ruined cave, they saw the entrance to the Forest of Leota ahead of them. As Spike and Soarin trotted into the woods, Twilight didn’t notice the malevolent figure appear just behind her. And she didn’t feel his presence until she heard his voice.
“Well, well…” Grogar said smugly. “I’m impressed that you got out of that cave, even after I made it collapse.”
“You what?!” she asked harshly, horn glowing.
Grogar just frowned. “You listened to Princess Celestia and not me. Just like I said, I would personally kill you.”
“You destroyed that whole cave!” she shrieked. “And almost killed me, Spike, and Soarin! You’re crazy!”
“Crazy?” the ram scoffed. “Please, I’m only ambitious. I do whatever it takes to get what I want. And I want the Rainbow of Darkness!” He was practically yelling now. “I don’t care who gets in my way! I’ll get the Rainbow of Darkness! Your deaths wouldn’t affect me in any way! But if you wish to see your friends again, do as I say!”
Twilight was so furious that she fired a beam at Grogar, who teleported behind the unicorn and blasted her with a beam of his own. Before Twilight could get out of the dirt, Grogar slammed his hoof into her back with such force that the unicorn coughed out blood. Teleporting out of his hold, Twilight fired yet another beam at Grogar, but he just blocked it.
“You didn’t listen to me at all, did you, Princess?” Grogar snarled hatefully. “For your little temper tantrum, that was your punishment. Now go get the Rainbow of Darkness. Goodbye, Princess Twilight…”
Grogar’s laugh echoed across the field as he disappeared. Twilight was absolutely livid now. She angrily galloped into the Forest of Leota. She wouldn’t let Grogar conquer Equestria.