-One thousend years later-
“How long has it been since we were frozen?” a female voice asked calmly.
“I don’t know… too long… lost track after the twentieth year,” A second male voice admitted
“It’s been over one thousand years… how did you not know that?” A third darker voice added with a chuckle.
“Well we ain’t all shadows that could leave our prisons are we Sombra,” the second argued back.
“And I only did that to keep an eye on your brother, so don’t start Kirito,” Sombra argued back.
“Both of you quiet…. something's wrong here,” The first voice said.
“What the big pink shield wasn’t a giveaway for you?” Kirito mocked.
“I think Asuna’s more referring the fact that shield just shattered,” Sombra pointed out.
“What’s going out there?”
Suddenly a loud roar was heard before the sound of something else shattering was heard above them before a voice was faintly heard in the distance however they were unable to make out what was said.
Seconds later an almost human like creature appeared in front of them then had black skin that almost looked like some sort of synthetic armour, the creature was also wearing what looked to be a purple and red top with large brown trousers. She also had a long purple mane that looked to end halfway down her back, on her back, she also had a small shortsword in a sheath however it was almost covered by her hair.
It was at that moment they saw her placing someone on the floor in front of us before they noticed that it was Craig, who looked limp almost lifeless. The creature that had been holding him then looked at the status before it said “It is almost time for my kind's freedom… and it will be by your son’s blade.”
We all looked at her in surprise before she disappeared in leaving only a faint purple glow that faded instantly before seconds later Chaoma appeared above Craig before her hand began to glow as Craig’s wounds began to heal over before his eyes slowly fluttered open.
He then slowly sat up before he said “What just happened.”
“You were almost killed by her… you need to be more careful?”
“I also need help… Chaoma… take the elements from their chamber just like… he… did last time.”
“Are you sure… you know the risk of what you are doing… what if…”
“Chaoma… I have no choice… this is not about me anymore… not about me wanting revenge… this if for everyone up there… before they suffer.”
“If you're sure,” Chaoma replied before disappearing.
Craig then looked towards us before he said “Don’t worry you three… you’ll be free soon, I swear on my life.”
A minute later Chaoma reappeared holding a small box as she said “Before we do this… you sure there’s no other way?”
“If there was… I’d be taking it… but if I'm going to stop her… we need everyone’s help… otherwise Canterlot then Equestria will fall.”
“Okay then… are you ready?”
“Yes… I am,” Craig replied as he drew his sword he had been given by Celestia back when he first arrived in Equestria.
“Okay then,” Chaoma replied as she opened the box as the six gems from the Elements of Harmony floated up from the box and circled Craig sword before releasing six beams each in the colour of the element struck the blade before it and Craig was engulfed in a bright prismatic light.
Once the light faded the sword he held had changed, the hilt now looked much more ornate the hand still bearing the same symbols as before also had six new indentations each in the shape of one of the elements and each indentation was currently glowing in the same colour as the element would normally when used.
Chaoma then looked at him before she said “You okay?”
“I’m better than okay… I feel like I could take on an army, but first, we have some people to free.” Craig said as the blade of his sword began to glow in the same prismatic light as when the elements hit him only moments ago before two beams of light moved from the blade towards our statues as they began to crack before the stone began to peel off our skin and we fell to the floor.
“Welcome to the world of tomorrow!” Craig declared with a smirk.
“Futurama… really Craig?” Kirito chuckled “You really do never change”
“What's the fun in changing my personality?”
“Fair point.”
“So… what happens now were out?” Asuna asked as she slowly stood up her legs shaking as she readjusted herself to standing on her own to feet after one thousand years of being frozen.
“Well… Canterlot’s being attacked by….” Craig said before a group of changelings appeared around them, “These things and their queen.”
“You three will come with us now and hand yourselves over to our queen, and you…” one of the changelings said pointing to Craig “Will be executed for crimes against the hive.”
“Who gonna make me… you.”
“Do you really think you can take on an army… we are…” The Changeling then stopped as we saw what looked to be a fist going through its chest.
Seconds later an unfamiliar voice said “You talk too much… also, you should never insult our master.” a figure behind the Changeling said in annoyance as he pulled his fist back and the changeling dropped to the floor.
It was then we looked to the figure to see that he looked almost like some sort of demon almost vampiric in look, his skin was dark blue and he had what looked to be bones covering his head arms and chest almost like they were being used as some crude sort of armour, he also wore a red and purple cape that looked to be floating freely behind him.
The changelings around us then began to back away in fear before the figure said “Master, my name is Zombyra, I have come to fight by your side to thank you for freeing me from the witch he stole my soul long ago, my old body is long gone but my spirit lives on and will follow you till the day you die.”
Craig then looked at the figure before he realised who this was before he said “Wait… Zombyra… where did you come from?”
“Master… I came from the cards you have hidden away… and I am not the only spirit who has sworn their loyalty to you, you saved nine souls apart from myself from that witch… and we all swear ourselves to you and your cause,” Zombyra explained as the Changelings ran away in fear only to be stopped as multiple barbed vines shot from the ground and entangled them as they stopped and began to shiver in fear as a black and red dragon that looked almost to be made from plants landed in front of them.
“My lord… what do we do with them?” the dragon asked looking at me, “I can seal them underground in cells in the earth or destroy them for their crimes against you.”
“Seal them for now… they will be dealt with later,” I said as Zombyra and the dragon nodded to me before the vines began to drag the Changelings away as they began screaming for help only to be pulled into a small crevice that had appeared that close behind them shortly after.
The dragon then looked to me and bowed its head before saying “my lord, my name's Rose, The spirit of Nature, I too will follow you and help you defeat these things.”
“Thank you... Rose, Zombyra I'm glad to have you.”
“Actual master… there's eight more of use… but right now only three of us can support you at once.” Zombyra explained.
“Well… who do you think would help?”
“In a town… Nova’s too destructive… so either Colossal Fighter or Gravekeeper's Visionary,” Rose suggested.
“Colossal fighter may be the best here… A lot of guards have been defeated… he may be able to help save them.”
“A good choice Master,” Zombyra replied in approval.
“Well, lets hope this works?” I muttered before a single card appeared in my hand before it glowed before a single soldier that was covered in futuristic silver armour that had blue circular shaped glass on its arms, shoulders and knees, he also had a green visor covering his face so we could only see his mouth.
He the looked to me before he bowed to me and said “My lord, it’s a pleasure to fight by your side, my name as Rose told you is Colossal Fighter… but if you wish to call me anything else I will gladly accept it.”
“Will Cole suffice?”
“That is acceptable my lord,” Cole replied.
Craig then nodded to the group before he said “the five of us versus an army… this is not gonna be an easy battle… unless?”
“What are you thinking bro?” Kirito asked as he quickly flurried his swords as he got the feel for the once again.
“Are you forgetting someone?” Sombra voice said from behind Craig as his body materialised into an almost human look as he said “You have six… I'm here as well.”
“Okay, then we may have a small chance… but I think we have someone else to add to the group.”
“Who else is there?”
“We have one new ally hiding nearby,” Craig admitted as a staff appeared in his hand before it the ground as they suddenly teleported away from the statue garden leaving no evidence they were there apart from the one dead changeling body.
-Meanwhile-
Back in the throne room, Chrysalis sat on Celestia throne as she looked down at multiple ponies and people that she’d forced to bend to her whim before she said “Oh cheer up soon none of you will even care for that useless man.”
“Don’t you dare say that about him, he’ll be back and then he’ll take you down!” Rainbow Dash shouted in anger.
“You really think he’s got a chance I forced that boy to retreat and took down your strongest ally… you even think you have a chance?”
“You have no idea what my dads like he will destroy you for hurting Nick!” Scootaloo shouted in anger.
“Would you shut up!” Chrysalis shouted as she backhanded her into wall knocking her unconsciousness
“Scootaloo!” Rainbow Dash shouted before running over to her before looking towards Chrysalis as she said “I’ll kill you for…”
However, she was cut off as a clone of Chrysalis punched her in the gut before she said “Listen you… you, that useless child and everyone here and nothing more than slaves, pets or future Broodmothers… unless you want the rest of your pathetic life being spent as my personal toy, you’ll do as you're told and wait as my children bring in that child and your weak hero’s dead body.”
Seconds later they were interrupted by a guard as he said “My queen… we have a problem.”
“What could possibly be that much of a problem that you need to talk to me while I'm dealing with her.”
“My apologies… but I thought you may want to know that the child has escaped and we can’t find him… also…”
“We can find that child and deal with him… what’s else is there that’s a problem for you to complete your task?”
“The group we sent to retrieve the body… they’ve disappeared… well almost all of them?”
“What do you mean disappeared, and why did you almost all of them?”
“Well… this.” The guard said as two guards carried in another limp body that had a hole clean through its chest before he said “Someone killed him.”
“Who killed him… when I find who murdered one of my children, they will wish for death but will not get it.”
“What do you want us to do my queen?”
“Leave his body here… I want to give him a proper funeral.”
“Oh course my queen,” the changeling said as the body was lowered to the ground in front of her and left the room.
After the guard had left Chrysalis lowered herself to the changeling's body before she said “Little one… I will get the monster that did this to you and kill them myself,” she then lowered her head to the body before it ignited before she stopped and said “Why… why is there no soul left… What monster would dare prevent someone from passing on?”
-Meanwhile-
Near the bottom of Canterlot mountain, Craig and the rest of his group stood at the bottom trying to formulate a new plan after Storm had rejoined them. “So… it’s seven of us against all of them… these odds aren’t exactly in our favour… we need one hell of a plan to even get close to them... nevermind overpower an entire army.”
“Craig have faith… you're the one leading is right now… you can’t be unsure about this, you need to have complete confidence in your abilities.” Asuna said calmly looking at the small group that was assembled.
“Mum… it’s not like we have an army like we did back when we tried to free the empire one thousand years ago,” Kirito pointed out.
“No… an army of us would be too cumbersome… hard to control and lead as we are… a small force like this would be much more effective… besides Rose and Storm here could easily keep track of the forces and keep us updated on their movements.”
“Even then master… we still are severely outnumbered… it’s not like we're facing an enemy we can counter or manipulate,” Zombyra admitted.
“Hello?” The voice said.
Asuna then looked around before she said “Did you all hear that?”
“Yes, I did… and I know that voice,” Craig admitted, “Nick you lot okay up there?”
“Ha…. Really do you think I would let the kid get hurt?”
Kirito then looked to Craig before he said “You sure you know this guy?”
“We do… he is my grandson after all,” Asuna pointed out.
“Dammit Craig, who else have you added and not told us!”
“A few… but you know one of them… anyway, Nick… or whoever this is… where are you right now… we could really use you help with this attack.”
“Right inside why?”
“We’ve got a group of seven of us getting ready to assault Canterlot… we need as much help as we can get to breach the front gate.”
“Well, I’m already at the throne room so…”
“...What happened after… you know… I fell?”
“Well, Nick’s body almost hit its limit…. Oh, and by the way, Chrysalis is wounded.”
“If that’s the real her… she can use Chakra… she will have a lot of Shadow Clones… you sure it was the real her?”
“... Ha… HAHAHAHA… You think Nick would ever let me off the hook if I stabbed a fake!”
“Who even are you?”
“One of the six Reapers the Reaper of Death.”
“So… your basically a Shinigami… how is Scootaloo holding up right now?”
“...She’s... How do I put this… in a coma…I kind of put her in that state to stop the pain… Nick is truly sorry.”
“No… as long as she’s alive that's fine… if he can’t hear me tell him not to worry.”
“He is relieved….. But still, IF you still need an army just ask!”
“Hmm… can you cause a distraction, allow to get in close?”
“Or instead of over complicating thing I could teleport you guys over here.”
“No… we want her to know she’s screwed… we want to give everyone hope, make the guards wake up and fight back… otherwise, she’ll just come back again.”
“Ok, Distraction….. In 10 seconds so be quick. While you guys do that I’ve got some work to do….hehehehehehe.”
“You got it everyone to the front gate… time to take the fight to the bitch.” Craig said before teleporting them all to the main gate.
Back in the throne room, Chrysalis was looking on the corpse of the guard who had been killed before Rainbow Dash said “What’s wrong… someone ruining your plan?”
“Shut it you otherwise you’ll be the first I'll drain of your love.”
“Like you could even kill me before he gets here and does the same to you as that guard… you even harm me and you're as good as dead.”
“She was already as good as DEAD the moment she tried to control me! HAHAHAHAHAHA I’m BACK!!!!!” said Dark Nick But nobody could see him.
“Ugh… why won’t you just die just like your useless father… maybe I should just kill all his family and be done with this… maybe get rid of those ugly statues in the gardens.”
“Because A reaper of DEATH CAN’T Die THAT EASILY!!! YOU IDIOT!!!! I mean we cause death so we are death...”
“So you killed my guards I sent to retrieve that body, well you going to regret it.”
“Ha… YOU'RE mad because I killed one of your guards but when you kill other people you expect them not to be mad?!”
“Oh I'm mad alright you murdered one of my children… I'll make your suffering last for that.”
“You can’t even touch me sooooo…… how are you gonna do that?”
“Oh who said I was going after you… I have something so much…”
She was then cut off as a guard ran in before it said “My queen… someone’s attacking us!”
“Who would so that… nobody should even know that Canterlot’s fallen yet!”
“It’s not a new enemy… and… they have two dragons with them.”
“HA! Right on time my old friend!”
“My Queen, what do we do?”
“Deploy everyone… kill them all… if needed kill some civilians to draw them out… maybe the purple one’s mother and father… make an example of them.”
“You mean the people I evacuated earlier? The only people left are in this room.”
“Well then find…” She then collapsed in pain before she said “Who’s doing that!”
“Hello, Bitch… remember me.”
“You really never do learn… you should just stay dead, what can you even do? I have an army.”
“We have the Elements of Harmony”
“Like you do… they’re all here in my control… you have nothing.”
“Oh, I never said the bearers… I just said the Elements.”
“God she is stupider than she looks! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!” Dark Nick started laughing up a storm a real storm.
“You can’t do a thing without the bearers… you’re just carrying some useless stones.”
“You clearly have no idea who he is Chrysalis,” Celestia smirked.
“And what does he have allowing him to use the elements?”
“A sword…….”
“A sword…. What's a sword going to do with the stones?”
“Everything to be sarcastic!”
“You’ll find out soon… look outside,” Craig said before a bright light was seen outside that seemed to burst from the area nearby the gate in a bright prismatic light in the shape of a star that seemed to travel down each side of a crossroad covering a large distance between Canterlot.
Chrysalis’s eyes went wide before she said “All my children I had at the gate… I can’t hear them… he…. He’s killed them… he’s killing my family.”
Rainbow Dash then looked up before she said “He’s back… and you’re going down.”
“Guards… shut her up,” Chrysalis ordered.
“Nopefish!!!” Dark Nick said coming out of nowhere. “Top of the morning to you lad’s and lass’s! Now time to sleep. Sie Sohn einer Weibchen!” A green mist spread through the room, as everyone started to fall asleep.
“Ugh dammit,” Chrysalis said as she teleported out the room not before grabbing the unconscious body of Scootaloo as she left.
-Back in the town-
As the group moved through the town Asuna looked towards Craig with a smile before she said “We’re making good progress, at the rate, we’re going we’ll get to the palace in a few minutes.”
“That's good, if this works we’ll get her dealt with and everyone will be safe.”
“My lord… this feels too easy… I expected more resistance.” Cole said as he punched through a nearby changeling.
“Hey, am I the only one doing work around here?! And yes it is easy for you guys because I have been dealing with most of them. Du Arschloch!”
“Yeah… did Chrysalis like my new trick?” Craig asked with a smirk as his sword struck another changeling as it dropped to the ground not dead but stone slowly creeping over its body. At the same time, Dark Nick transformed back to Nick.
“Just saying your an idiot.”
“What for… getting outnumbered again?”
“No, I am mad because……. ELEMENTAL COMBINATION!!!!!! YOU IDIOT!!!!!!”
“Look I’m sorry but I needed help and I was by my families statues at the time… I guess I wanted to have them back again.”
“Need help……… YOU HAVE A SECOND SWORD!!!!!!!”
“Seriously Nick… cut him some slack… he was almost killed by the fall.” Asuna said as walked by the stoned Changelings.
“.......... I will cut him some slack AFTER he gets the other sword!”
“What other sword are you on about kid… my brother only uses one sword to fight?” Kirito asked as he cleaved through multiple changelings with his swords.
“He has a sword with a name that starts with E, You have the same sword name for one of your swords to Kirito! If you don’t know what ability I gave you when we first met Craig.”
“You gave me an ability?” Craig said in surprise as he slashed the sword in a horizontal motion a beam of energy struck the oncoming Changeling freezing them in stone.
“Yeeeesssssss………!”
“A sword beginning with E… all I have is Excalibur?” Kirito said in surprise.
Nick smiles slyly “Ha….. Exactly!”
“Okay then… if you're sure I can do it… tell me how,” Craig requested as he looked towards some of the nearby Changelings who began to back away from him in fear, seeing the fate of those who had attacked him already.
“Just call for it. Feel the sword in your hand….. Well, that’s it.”
“If you're sure that’s it,” Craig replied glaring at the nearby Changelings before he clenched his free hand before he simply thought one word ‘Excalibur’ before a sword with a black and gold hilt and sheath appeared at his side, it also seemed to have a pommel they looked to have the image of a dragon engraved into it. The blade seemed to have what looked to be two black dragons swirling around the blade while the sheath seemed to be in a similar style except it was black and had a single white dragon travelling up towards the top on each side, it’s jaw open where the sword would rest in it.
“That looks nothing like Excalibur,” Kirito pointed out.
“Different universes, Different sword.”
“Of course it is… although that looks nothing like any version of Excalibur I know of.”
“Well at the same time it is supposed to match the user. Or user’s.”
“No offence to Craig… but why the dragon symbolism? I don’t see the resemblance?” Asuna asked.
“Could have something to do with me leading a horde of dragons now,” Craig pointed out. “But who knows.”
“The sword chooses the user, Craig. And the user chooses the design.”
“I had no idea that was the case,”
“It’s a give and take system.”
“Well okay then” Craig replied before he noticed something and said “you know… why have all the Changelings retreated?” Craig asked realising that they were no longer being attacked.
“Most likely to make one final push.”
“Or one last stand,” Asuna added.
“Why would she recall everyone… she still outnumbers us?” Craig admitted.
“Maybe SHE’S JUST LE COWARD!!!!!!!”
“That’s not the case… she’s faced me one on one before… it’s unlikely she would have retreated as an act of cowardice.”
“Well, maybe she retreated because of lack of logic?”
“Or maybe because I’ve decided not to let you slaughter anymore of my children!” Chrysalis shouted in anger as she landed near us.
“Slaughter's a strong word for what I've done… also, you miss me.”
“Hypocrite. On the horizon!”
She then looked towards Craig before she said “If you want to stop me meet me in the Throne room... alone we will settle this before you go after any more of my children,” Chrysalis said before teleporting away leaving a small note on the ground.
Asuna then picked the note up and read it before she said “Craig… you need to face her alone.”
“Why?”
“She has everyone… and she wants blood.”
“And….. I count as Craig at least the A.I. version.”
“If she doesn’t see you… we can take her together… besides… I never am alone am I?” Craig pointed out.
“And… the longer you take… she more likely she is to kill someone to get revenge on you both… also who said they killed that first changeling?” Asuna added.
“That technically was me I was well In that state...…….”
“Ugh… you two get moving… we’ll take up a support position nearby… we still have your sniper from last time we met Craig,” Kirito admitted.
“Okay let's go… Nick… this time we end this once and for all.”
Cole, Rose and Zombyra then look at Craig before Zombyra said “Then… we shall take our leave… oh and Rose… bring the changeling you captured back to the surface.”
“I should do that shouldn’t I,” Rose chuckled as three towers grew from the ground one near the castle, another near the town gate and a third one the ground next to us, which inside held a group of sleeping changeling that looked to be being sprayed with a pink mist of some kind as Both Kirito and Asuna flew away.