Back at the Empire, Black Knight was having one of his thugs attempt to open the vault containing the final Crystal Sun shard. Black had just been delivered the other three shards, and was eager to complete the set. The thug strained, but couldn't open it.
"Umm, it's locked, sir." The thug declared
"Oh geez, I guess we'll have to pack up and go- OF COURSE IT'S LOCKED!" He roared, his horn sparking. He grabbed the thug and chucked him into a wall.
"Ow…" The thug whimpered.
Black then turned to another thug. "You! Get me prince Shining Armor! He'll know how to open this thing."
"Y-yes, sir." The thug bowed, before hastily rushing out the room.
The thug went down to the dungeon and retrieved Shining, who was still bound in dark magic.
"Ah, just the stallion I wanted to see." Black smiled. "I need you to open this vault for me."
"Never." Shining growled.
"Never say never." Black smirked, his horn glowing with dark magic.
"What are you?" Shining glared.
"I'm Equestria's reckoning." Black answered. "Here to end the borrowed time you've all been living on! "
"You're pure evil!" Shining spat.
"I'm necessary evil!" Black retorted, diving at Shining.
Black proceeded to beat Shining badly, throwing hoof after hoof against Shining's body. The prince was doing a good job in holding his ground, but it wouldn't be long before it would be too much for him to handle…
"Open the vault!" He kicked Shining in the side.
"Never!" Shining grunted, trying to shake off the pain. "I don't care what you do to me. I won't open it!"
"Ooh, self-sacrifice." Black snorted. "How noble. But about your wife and son? What do ya think they'll do if something happens to you? Oh, I can't imagine their sorrow! And all because you were too stubborn to give in. I'll have you know, I interrogated ponies with stronger resolves back in Saddle Arabia, and let's just say they aren't currently with us anymore…"
"I..." Shining stumbled, his resolve fading.
"If you ever wanna hope to see them again, then you'll open this vault." Black threatened.
"...Fine, I'll do it." Shining groaned. "But even if you have all four pieces, you'll never win."
"We'll just see about that, princey." Black smirked.
Shining opened the vault.
"At last..." Black took out the final shard, then turned to the shadow ponies. "Take him back to his cell. And bring me Celestia..."
Moments later, Black Knight was lounging in his throne, when Celestia was brought in...
"Ah, Celestia..." He turned to the shadow ponies. "Leave us alone, men, this is between me and her."
The shadow ponies nodded and faded away, as Black turned to Celestia.
"What is it you want now, Eclipse?" Celestia glared.
"Cut the crud, Celestia, nopony else is here but us... you can say my name..." Black smirked.
"...Black Knight..." Celestia muttered.
"You're Faust dang right." Black chuckled. "Look at us... how times have changed... with me being the ruler, and you being the prisoner... ironic, isn't it?"
"How did you do it, Black?" Celestia demanded to know. "How did you survive that night? I saw White throw you off the side of a mountain!"
"Ah, yes... I'll admit, I underestimated him that night... cost me my eye." He pointed to his eye patch. "But I managed to survive through nothing but sheer will... and a bunch of trees that broke my fall. Took me weeks to recover, even longer to find out what the buck to do."
"And this is what you decided?" Celestia snarled. "To take the power of the Crystal Sun? Well, now you have. I can tell by that smug smirk on your face. You have what you wanted, so why don't you just let us go?"
"Not just yet." Black declared. "I need your magic to power the Crystal Sun. As I said before, the Sun requires lots of magic, and I don't want to put in all the work of putting the pieces together only to not be able to use it."
"Well, unfortunately for you, I no longer have it." Celestia smirked.
"I'll get it soon enough." Black shrugged. "Your husband and daughter can't hide forever."
"You will never find them." Celestia declared. "Never."
"Oh, princess…after so many years, you are still that Faust wretched twit that ruined my life so many years ago…" Black growled.
"And you the same power-hungry war monger that took innocent lives and threaten other ponies, including your own brother, into defending you." Celestia spat back.
"My brother..." Black sneered. "He was weak. Too weak to see what I was trying to accomplish."
"No, he was strong." Celestia countered. "Stronger than you'll ever know."
"I highly doubt that..." Black huffed, as he laid back in his throne, giving a small grin. "By the way, how is that old castle of yours in Everfree holding up?" Celestia perked up in shock. "'Cause I would hate to send my men into a death trap..."
"What?" Celestia gasped. "How did you..."
"I served under you for five years, Celestia, and dedicated forty more to end you." Black declared. "I know more about you then you do about yourself. Speaking of which, lay off the cakes."
"No... no..." Celestia trembled.
"Yeah, that's always been your problem, Celestia... you underestimate every adversary you come across." Black taunted. "To Equestria, you may be a goddess... but compared to me... you are a lowly freakshow, and I, your better. Take her back to the dungeons, boys!"
"You monster!" Celestia roared, struggling against the shadow ponies grip. "You will not succeed! Do you hear me? You will not! And you will pay for all your misdeeds! Every last one!"
"Promises, promises." Black shrugged off, "But by the time I'm through, it is you who will pay the ultimate price…"
Celestia let out a scream of anguish as she was dragged back to the dungeons.
Meanwhile, in the Everfree Forest, Shine and Miracle were trekking alone, just arriving at the Castle of The Royal Pony Sisters.
"This is the place." Shine declared. "We should be safe here."
"Are you sure?" Miracle asked. "I heard a story once about how this 'Pony of Shadows' still haunts the castle."
"That's just a scary bedtime story." Shine chuckled. "There's no such thing as a 'Pony of Shadows'. Now, come on. It'll be getting dark soon."
They hurried into the castle. Though it had been restored in recent years, it was still dank, and somewhat bleak.
"Okay, now we can finally rest." Shine sat on one of the old thrones, his weary hooves grateful for the reprieve.
"And then?" Miracle asked. "What do we do? Just keep on hiding?"
"For now, I guess." Shine sighed. "Not much else we can do..."
Miracle started sniffling.
"What's the matter, sweetie?" Shine asked.
"What do you think's the matter?!" Miracle suddenly started crying. "Our family and friends have been imprisoned, and we're on the run from an insane, power-hungry lunatic!"
"It'll be okay, Miracle..." Shine said half-heartedly.
"No it won't!" Miracle bawled. "Everypony I love is gone! Everything's hopeless!"
"Miracle, calm down..." Shine urged.
"Calm?!" Miracle growled. "Don't you realise how bad things have got? It's like a living nightmare!"
"Tell me, dad! How can things get better from here?!" Miracle demanded.
"Well…" Shine frowned, as his voice grew shaking, "It's... you see..." He then put a hoof to his head. "Oh, who am I kidding? You're right! I have no clue what to do! I just wish I could do something! Anything!"
"Dad…" Miracle whimpered.
"You think I wanted to leave your mother behind? Or Big Red and Cherry? Or even Caboose and Sleight? I didn't, but what could I do? I never once in my life thought I'd even be in this sort of mess." Shine ranted, tearing up.
"Exactly!" Miracle bawled. "How could anypony be prepared for this! It's just not fair!"
"I know!" Shine wept.
Shine embraced his daughter as the two let out their anguish. They cried for a few minutes before they were finally able to calm down…
"Everything will be fine." Shine sniffed.
"How can you still think that, dad?" Miracle hiccoughed.
"Because we at least have each other." Shine declared. "It's better than being alone, right?"
"Yeah, I guess so." Miracle shrugged.
"Look, I still don't know what to do, but I'm sure that if we keep strong, we will persevere. You think you can pull that?"
"…I think I can." Miracle sniffled, with a nod.
"That's my girl…" Shine smiled, patting her shoulder.
Suddenly, a loud bang at the door echoed throughout the castle.
"What the…" Shine muttered.
"Come on! P-put your back into it!" The familiar voice of Twitch barked.
"Oh no…" Shine whispered, "Not here…"
Suddenly, the doors were blast open as Twitch, his men, as well as the shadow ponies came in…
"Knock, knock." Twitch smirked. "Anypony home?"
The shadow ponies formed the image of Black once again.
"You…" Shine gasped.
"Hello again." Black grinned. "Let's keep things simple, shall we? I want the brat, and I want the magic Celestia gave you, Shine."
"What?" Shine frowned. "Celestia didn't give me any... Oh, who cares? Whatever you want, you're not getting it!"
"Oh, I'm getting it, alright." Black sneered. "Whether you like it or not."
"Attack!" Twitch yelled.
The thugs and shadow ponies attacked Shine en masse. Shine tried his best to fight them off, but he was exhausted, and badly outnumbered. They overwhelmed him, and beat him into the ground.
"Something's wrong." Black frowned. "Why isn't he using Celestia's magic?"
"Maybe he doesn't know how?" Twitch shrugged.
"Maybe..." Black shrugged. "Give him a bit more of a beating, just to be sure..."
"Stop!" Miracle stepped forward. "Leave my dad alone! I... I'll give myself up! Just don't hurt him!"
"Miracle... no..." Shine groaned.
"Sorry dad, I have to." Miracle said firmly. "I don't want any more ponies to get hurt. Especially you."
"My, what a refreshingly helpful attitude." Black smiled. "Such a thoughtful little filly. Just for that, I think I'll have my boys lay off your dad. Even bring him along for the ride. Wouldn't want you getting lonely."
"You heard the boss." Twitch declared. "Do it!"
Shine and Miracle were carried out of the castle.
"You didn't have to do that..." Shine whispered.
"Yes, I did." Miracle replied. "I'm not losing anypony else. Especially not you, dad."
Miracle put her hoof on Shine's. Shine nuzzled his brave daughter.
Meanwhile, the Napoleons and their mares ware trying to maintain balance in the slanted office, as they dangled off the cliff.
"Nopony make a move." Lars instructed, remaining perfectly still. "As long as we remain still, we should be fine."
"Are you kiddin' me?" Slot growled. "It's gotta be below zero right now! We can't stay in here forever."
"I know... we just have to go at this systemically... I'm sure if we slowly make our way over to the broken windows one by one, we could easily slip out of here." Lars declared.
Everypony remained silent.
"To buck with that!" Vinny grabbed Berry. "Every stallion and hot mare for themselves!"
Vinny and Berry rushed towards the other end of the room.
"Vinny!" Grimoire yelled.
The entire room began to slip off, and at once, every colt grabbed their mare and just ran towards the broken windows, with Vinny and Berry crashing through first. Salt charged up his horn and blasted through the wall as he and Redheart (on his back) leapt through. Everypony else followed suit... Grimoire and Zecora were the second to last out, as Caboose had to jump as the room slipped off the edge. He barely made it onto the snowy edge, but began to slip.
"No, no, no, NO!" He yelped.
Grimoire and the rest of the brothers formed a chain and grabbed him.
"Pull!" Grimoire groaned.
Working together, the brothers pulled Caboose back on to the ledge.
"Somepony's put on weight." Slot groaned.
"Yeah, Sonny." Caboose glared.
"It's good that we're all okay, but what now?" Lyra asked. "We're stuck on some snowy peak, out in the middle of nowhere!"
"Looks like it, yeah." Bon-Bon agreed.
"That's just great." Vinny started pacing back and forth. "That's just bucking great! What the buck are we supposed to do now? We are in deep crud now! That's it man, game over man, game over! What the buck are we gonna do now? What are we gonna do?"
Suddenly, Vinny tripped over something.
"Ow!"
"You okay, hon?" Berry asked.
"Yeah." Vinny groaned. "Just peachy."
"You must have tripped over a rock or something." Murray declared.
"Wait." Grimoire brushed away some snow from where Vinny tripped, revealing a metal wheel. "Well, I'll be..."
"Is that..." Lars gasped.
"One of our old emergency bunkers." Sonny smiled.
"It's been so long since we built 'em, we forgot one was even out here." Salt chuckled.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Vinyl asked. "Let's get in there, before we freeze to death!"
"Seconded." Slot added.
With a turn of the wheel, the hatch to the bunker opened, and they all went inside. The first thing they did was light the furnace.
"Ah, sweet warmth..." Redheart sighed.
"What's that over there?" Lyra pointed to a large room.
"Just the armory." Lars shrugged. "Packed with all kinds of weapons and armor."
As they all settled in, Grimoire turned to Zecora.
"So... you're pregnant." He declared. "How long have you known?"
"Not long, it is true." Zecora smiled. "I was hoping to surprise you."
"Well... mission accomplished." Grimoire hugged her. "I can't believe I'm going to be a father again, after all these years... I didn't think it was still possible…"
"Um, hello? Napoleon virility! It's kinda in our DNA." Salt bragged.
"Speaking of surprises, what's with this Twitch character?" Berry asked. "Something else you neglected to tell us?"
"Not exactly." Vinny scratched his head.
"It's a long story..." Lars admitted.
"We've got nothing but time." Lyra declared.
Hastily, the brothers told their mares the story.
"So... just so we're clear...Equestria is being threatened by this stallion named Red Eclipse, a pony that you boys had imprisoned under the manor for ten years, who had become infused with the horn of a dead pony you guys found, when you were actually trying to capture another stallion, Twitch, who murdered your older brother that none of us knew about, and now both of them are trying to kill us." May ran down the information.
"And according to Caboose, this Red Eclipse is actually an ex-Royal Defense Legion general who murdered an entire village, named Black Knight Paladin, making him the uncle to our own Prince Shine Paladin... are any of us missing something?" Vinny asked.
"No, that's pretty much the gist of it." Caboose shrugged.
"So basically, Equestria is in danger because of you guys." Vinyl noted.
"Pretty much." Slot shrugged.
"Great." Lyra frowned. "More secrets."
"I'm... just gonna go check something over there." Caboose said awkwardly.
"We only kept Eclipse and Twitch a secret because we didn't want to burden you." Grimoire declared. "It was our problem, our grudge."
"We had a right to know." May insisted. "We're in this together, for better or worse."
"May is right." Zecora agreed. "These secrets should have been brought to light."
"Yeah, maybe..." Murray shrugged.
" So... what do we do now?" Sonny asked. "I checked the rations, and there is only enough to feed all of us for only a few weeks, even lesser given that two of us are eating for two..."
"It's obvious, ain't it?" Salt declared. "We gotta jump countries! Equestria is no longer safe with Red and Twitch running the show!"
"And how you suppose we do that?" Slot inquired. "We're far from any city that has any form of transportation leading out of here, and that's even if Red hadn't cut off all the escape routes."
"Well..." Lars pulled out a map, a quill, and an ink bottle. "I'm sure we might be able to manage something... I'm sure if we take skis down to this lovely little town here..." He drew some lines. "Hop a cart, go here... and commandeer an airship from an airfield here... and come back here to pick up the mares..."
"Yeah, yeah, that could work..." Vinny perused the lines.
"Like we really have a choice..." Bon-Bon frowned.
"The only question is, where would we go?" Murray pointed out.
"Well, if Twitch is still lookin' for us, Bitaly would be the first place he'd look... how about Russiaddle?" Grimoire suggested.
"How about nowhere?!"
The brothers glanced up, to see an upset Caboose.
"Caboose..."Grimoire whispered.
"I can't believe you guys... are we seriously going to run away?!" Caboose asked.
"What choices do we have, Caboose?" Salt countered. "My wife is nine months pregnant! I can't protect her and my foal when there's a guy out to kill us!"
"Who says I need protecting?" Redheart said indignantly.
"Salt's right." Lars nodded. "We can't stay here forever! If Red and Twitch don't kill us, then starvation and thirst will! This is the best chance for survival for us and our wives!"
"...What about me?!" Caboose glared. "My wife, my daughter, and my buckin' BABY BOY is down there! You're asking me to abandon ALL OF THEM?!"
The brothers frowned deeply, as well as the mares...
"He's got a point there..." Lyra declared.
"Brother... we're sorry... if we could do something for them, we would, but we are seriously up a creek without a paddle!" Sonny sighed.
"We can do something!" Caboose urged. "We can march down there, take on the shadow ponies, and rescue everypony!"
The brothers gaped.
"Caboose, that is the stupidest idea I've ever heard, even by your standards!" Vinny snorted.
"At least my plan doesn't involve leaving only MY family to die!" Caboose shot back.
"Oh, right, because we made it to where only you have to lose somepony on purpose." Slot grimaced.
"BUCK YOU, SLOT!" Caboose roared.
Slot gaped at his words.
"Whoa." Vinyl deadpanned.
"Caboose, you're asking us to go into the heart of the enemy territory, up against an army of ponies that want to kill us... it can't be done!" Salt declared. "There's only eight of us!"
"We've been dealt worse hooves before!" Caboose pointed out.
"You don't get it, Caboose... every time we ever got into trouble before, we always had a back-up plan, a fail-safe, something to fall back on!" Lars stated. "But ever since our mansion exploded, we've barely survived on luck alone to get to where we are right now! The probability of us eight takin' on an army and winnin' is nonexistent!"
"Oh, and your plan to go to an airfield that might not even exist anymore is a better plan!" Caboose snorted.
"Lars was working with what he had... we've all been doing that the whole time!" Murray pointed out.
"No, you're just working with the least of what you have... I'm sure we can figure this out and go down-" Caboose started.
"No, Caboose! It's over!" Grimoire interrupted with a pained growl. "Once that storm settles down, we are going to that airfield, and with our wives, we are going to get as far away from here as possible!"
"But my family..." Caboose protested.
"I'm sorry, Caboose... I really am... but we can't do anything to save them..." Grimoire declared.
"And what of Dusty?" Caboose growled.
The brothers gaped, as Grimoire tried not to break down.
"Grim, your daughter is also down there... so is Blueblood and your grandsons... are you saying that we can't do anything to save them as well?" Caboose asked.
"Yes, Caboose... that is how it is..." Grimoire declared, trying to stifle his tears.
"...Bull-crud." Caboose snorted. "I know that if one of you guys' wife or marefriend was down there, you'd want to save them too!"
"Caboose, please..." Grimoire begged.
"You know what, fine!" Caboose began to storm off. "You guys can abandon your family all you want, but I am not! I'll go down there by myself!"
"No, Caboose! I forbid it!" Grimoire ordered.
"Sorry, bro, but I am a grown stallion... I don't take orders from you anymore!" Caboose said firmly.
"I said no!" Grimoire grabbed Caboose's tail and yanked him back.
"Let go, Grim!" Caboose tried to pull away. "I'm not leaving my family to die!"
"Well, I'm not letting my youngest brother commit suicide!" Grimoire pulled back.
"Why not?!" Caboose demanded. "You want to leave your daughter behind, yet you don't want me to stay behind?! WHY?!"
"Because I promised Anarchy!" Grimoire began to tear up. "I promised him on his deathbed that I would protect you! How can I do that if you go back to the Empire?! Huh?!
Caboose was silent.
"I know it hurts, Caboose!" Grimoire yelled. "Dusty is the only memory of Sandy I had left...but I have to go on with what I have! It's the only-"
Suddenly, Caboose slammed his hoof into Grimm's snout, knocking him to the ground.
"Bro!" The other brother yelped.
"Grim!" Zecora gasped.
They glanced at Caboose, who was seething with rage.
"What a load... of buckin... bull... CRUD!" Caboose spat.
Grimoire got back up.
"What the buck was that for?!" Grimoire demanded.
"You think Anarchy would want this?!" Caboose asked. "For us to run off to Faust-knows-where leaving our loved ones to die?! No! He wouldn't want that! He'd want us to fight!"
"And how you would know?! You never knew him!" Grimoire shot back.
"No, but I do know that he would be ashamed of each and every one of you for being cowards!" Caboose raged.
"Oh, that's tears it! You crossed the line!" Grimoire punched Caboose.
The whole room froze up. Caboose rubbed the bruise on his cheek, as he glared at Grimm, not with hurt but with disappointment.
"Is this what it's come to, Grim?" Caboose asked. "Attacking your brother?"
"Caboose, I..." Grimoire mumbled, regretful of his action.
"You're right, I don't know Anarchy." Caboose admitted. "But from what you all told me, it seems like he'd be the sort to fight for what's right. I'd wager he'd defend our home with everything he had. How could we call ourselves his brothers if we weren't willing to do the same?"
There was silence in the air.
"...You're right, Caboose." Grimoire sighed.
"First time for everything." Slot joked.
"Anarchy would want us to take a stand." Murray smiled.
"And not just any stand." Vinny stated. "He'd want us to stand up for what's right."
"He'd want us to fight." Salt agreed.
"To defend our homes, and our loved ones." Lars nodded.
"Because that was the kind of stallion he was." Sonny added.
"And that's why we looked up to him." Grimoire chuckled. "So it's agreed. We fight, and we save everypony."
"Yeah! And maybe lose five pounds while doing so!" Caboose cheered, "Let's do this!"
"That's all well and good, guys." Vinny frowned. "But how exactly are we going to save everypony? We're still eight ponies against an army of shadows and a genocidal war lord here!"
"I... have no idea." Caboose admitted, "Guess I just got caught up in the moment…" He leant against a wall…which gave way to another room.
"Caboose! Are you alright?!" Grimoire asked.
"I'm fine…" Caboose groaned, as he looked into the room, "What's with this room?"
"I dunno…" Murray looked in, as he then hit a light switch.
The room lit up, revealing an old and rather odd looking device.
"What's that?" May asked.
"Well, I'll be…it's the emergency beacon we been workin' on." Lars smiled.
"The what?" Lyra asked.
"The emergency beacon." Grimoire smiled. "A device of last resort. When used, it emits a powerful light, and sends a mental message to every official mafia member to come to our beckon."
"Wait, to every mafia member?" Redheart asked.
"Every." Salt nodded. "We didn't say anything, but when we let in new recruits…we kinda…implanted crystals in them."
"What?!" The mares gasped.
"Relax, it's only for keeping track of who's in the family." Sonny shrugged.
"You know…we could use this!" Murray suggested, "It would most certainly give us the stallion-power we desperately need!"
"Yeah, he's right. We just need to give this baby a bit of a tune up, and she's be golden." Lars chuckled.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Caboose smiled. "Let's use it!"
"Wait." May stepped forward. "If you do this, won't it reveal to everypony that you're 'the mafia'?"
"…She's right." Vinny nodded. "By the end of the day, everypony will know who we are… and I don't think most of them won't be happy to know who's been 'messing' with them for years."
"And you could end up imprisoned for your crimes and lose everything when this is all over!" Redheart muttered. "And we would all lose you…"
The brothers frowned…
"…It'll be worth it though." Grimoire said solemnly. "Worth the price for freedom and..." He glanced at Zecora. "A place for our kids to grow up in."
"Oh, Grim..." Zecora beamed.
"Whatever happens to us when this is all over happens." Murray declared, "But even if we end up dead or imprisoned, it would be nice knowing that it happened for a good cause…"
"Yeah…though, if we do get sent to prison, I call not being 'jailbait'!" Vinny pouted.
"Lars, if you will." Grimm nodded.
It took Lars but a few seconds to adjust a few things with the beacon before it began to make a small humming sound. The brothers each share a glance, before Grimm went forth and pushed the button in the heart of the machine…
Just like that, a burst of light beamed into the heavens.
"Wow! That is one strong light!" Sonny covered his eyes.
"What did you use?!" Vinny asked Lars.
"Some Crystal Empire crystals, a hundred watt bulb..." Lars ran down. "Basically we went for 'bright'."
"You think ponies will see it?" Berry asked.
"Maybe not the blind ones." Vinyl snarked.
The light was indeed strong, as ponies from all around Equestria could see it.
In the griffon territory, a griffon saw the light, and knew what it meant. He got off the eggs he was sitting on.
"Gotta go." He told his mate.
"What?!" Gilda growled. "Where d'ya think you're goin'?"
"Business." The male said bluntly. Be back soon."
"Unbelievable." Gilda frowned, as her mate took off.
In Appleloosa, a buffalo herd was stampeding, when the beacon erupted. One buffalo broke from the herd, and ran in the direction of the light.
At the same time, a stallion hiking in Whitetail Woods saw the light.
"Well, whattaya know." He declared. "Never thought I'd see the day..."
The stallion started walking towards it.
Back in the bunker, the brother prepared to leave.
"Now then." Slot declared. "We got us an armory, so let's use it."
The eight brothers cleaned out the room, arming themselves up, each of them putting on Kevlar-based versions of their mafia suits.
Murray loaded himself with extra bolts and two crossbows, twirling them around expertly. Sonny wrapped his hooves in accelerant-doused bandages, ready to be set aflame when need be, Salt equipped himself with brass-hoof knuckles, Lars with a mini-crossbow while he flourished his crop, Vinny with a baseball bat (and a hip flask of "good luck juice"), Slot with an unhealthy amount of knives, including two machetes at the hips.
As for Grimoire, he simply loaded up a singular crossbow.
"Ready to go, Caboose?" Grimoire turned to Caboose.
"Buck yeah." Caboose nodded, as he etched black dashes on his cheeks, and tied a bandanna around his forehead. He was currently lugging a bigger than usual crossbow.
"Dude, what's with the bandanna?" Slot asked.
Caboose just smiled. "Unlimited ammo."
Silence ensued.
"Just kiddin'." Caboose chuckled, "It looks cool."
"Okay." Murray smiled, as the brothers made their way to the door. "Let's go."
"Don't forget about us." Zecora declared. "We have our part in this fracas."
"Yes." May agreed. "We're with you."
"Sure are." Berry nodded.
"I don't know if I'll be much help, but count me in." Redheart smiled.
"And us too." Lyra and Bon-Bon nodded.
"Don't forget about me." Vinyl grinned.
"Absolutely not." Grimoire declared. "We can't put you at risk."
"Especially not you, 'Heart." Salt added.
"Don't even try that." Redheart snorted. "We're already at risk."
"Every pony is." May added.
"So we may as well do something useful." Berry agreed.
"Don't try and stop us." Vinyl declared.
The brother shared looks... then smiled.
"We wouldn't dream of it." Grimoire smiled.
"I think there's some spare gear left in the armory." Murray pointed. "You get suited up, and we'll take point."
Smiling triumphantly, the mares entered the armory... then heard the unmistakeable sound of the bunker hatch closing and locking.
"Oh, you can't be serious!" Lyra roared, as the mares rushed over to see the hatch was indeed shut.
"Sonny, open this thing!" Bon-Bon yelled. "Now!"
"Sorry, love, but it's for your good!" Sonny declared.
"You'll thank us later." Murray assured.
"You rotten cads!" May yelled.
"Slot, you'll pay for this!" Vinyl roared.
"Grim, you jerk!" Zecora yelled. "You'll pay for this piece of work!"
"Vinny!" Berry screamed.
"What did I say, Salt?!" Redheart yelled. "You'd better hope you don't make it back!"
"Now that's taken care of, let's go." Slot smiled.
Using makeshift skis, the Napoleons slide down the mountain.
"Onward, brothers!" Grimoire yelled. "To our finest hour!"
"Yee-haa!" Caboose cheered.
Meanwhile, in the Changeling territory…
Sazh and Wizel were still in the tower, having been forced in by the shadow ponies.
"This is it." Sazh sighed. "The end of us."
"I hate to agree, but when you're right, you're right." Wizel sighed.
"Um, Mr. Sazh? Mr. Wizel?" Glinda rushed over to them. "You might want to see this."
The two rushed over to the windows, where they saw the beacon's light.
"Wow... that is a very pretty light…" Sazh stared wide-eyed at the light in a daze.
As Wizel glanced at the light, he felt a twinge in the back of his head… and immediately, a look of determination appeared on his face.
"The time has come…" Wizel whispered.
"What was that, Wizel?" Sazh glanced at Wizel.
"Sazh, do you have the prison cell keys?" Wizel ignored the question.
"Um, yeah… why?" Sazh questioned.
"Because as of now, we need strength right now… and I know where to get it…"
"Strength…" Sazh repeated, before he caught on to what Wizel was suggesting, "Wizel… you're not serious, are you?!"
"I am…" Wizel nodded, "Right now, we need all the help we can get…"
Moments later, Char was surprised to see his cell door opening.
"Are you sure about this?" Sazh asked Wizel. "After everything he did…"
"I know what he's done." Wizel declared. "But he always had our kind's best interests at heart. Right now, we're on the same side."
"I've heard what'zzz going on." Char declared. "Izzz it true? Izzz Red Eclipzzze…"
"I'm afraid so, Char." Wizel nodded sadly.
"I knew we zzzhould had killed that monzzzter when we had the chance!" Char snarled.
"Ah, how I've missed your brutish attitude." Sazh snarked sarcastically.
"Now is not the time for making fun, Sazh." Wizel admonished, "Right now, we need your help, Char."
"What do you need me to do?" Char asked.
"We need to rally our brethren." Wizel urged, as he break the chain collar off of Char. "We must fight this scourge that has infested our land. Can we count on you to do that?"
"With pleazzzure." Char smiled.
The trio stepped onto the balcony of the tower, and saw the Changelings being herded together.
"My brethren!" Char called. "Do not allow thezzze monzzzterzzz to puzzzh you around! We are Changelingzzz! We muzzzt fight!"
"He's right!" Wizel agreed. "We are nopony's slaves!"
"We won't go back to being second-rate citizen again!" Sazh added. "Give us freedom, or give us death! Who's with us?"
The Changelings, galvanized by the speech, rose up and attacked the shadow ponies, with a ferocity that assured the edge. Within mere minutes, the shadows were beaten back, reduced to nothing but wisps.
"Good work, everyone." Wizel smiled. "But this is just the beginning! Now, we take on the master of those shadows! To the Crystal Empire!"
"Company, forward march!" Char declared.
"What he said!" Sazh answered after him.
The Changelings began their march…
Meanwhile, in Canterlot…
Mist and Blue Blazes saw the beacon blazing in the sky.
"What is that?" Blue peered. "It looks like it's coming from the Crystal Empire."
"It is!" Mist smiled. "Don't you see? The other must've sent it, to give his hope!" She turned to Iron Hooves. "Captain, round up the Royal Guard who are able to fight! We're taking our home back!"
"Yes, your highness!" Iron saluted.
"Count me in!" Luxury, who had joined them earlier, smiled. "I'm coming, Constell!"
The Royal Guard renewed their fight against the shadow ponies. The citizens of Canterlot, inspired by their second wind, joined in the fight, driving the shadows away.
"Now, on to the Crystal Empire!" Mist declared.
Meanwhile, in Ponyville…
The Mane Six and Spike saw the light, and came to the same conclusion.
"It's a sign." Spike smiled. "I knew Twilight would be okay. She's calling us right now!"
"And it would be rude to be late." Rarity smiled.
"Come on, ponies of Ponyville!" Rainbow flew up high. "Our princess is sending us a sign. She's telling us to fight back. So let's do it!"
The ponies, inspired, rose as one against the shadow pony forces, with Pinkie of all ponies leading the charge.
"Take that, you meanies!" Pinkie cheered, as she blasted them with her party cannon.
Before long, they repelled the shadow ponies.
"Git 'er done!" Applejack cheered.
"Our job's not done yet." Fluttershy pointed out.
"Right." Spike nodded. "Let's get moving. Twilight needs us!"
With their homes freed, all the ponies of Ponyville and Canterlot joined the march, ready to take the fight to Black Knight… this was a call to arms, and they weren't going to let anypony take their country without a fight...