//------------------------------// // The Magic Thief and Cacophony Chromium- Part One // Story: Days in the Mind of One that is Great and Powerful // by The REAL Mister Pkmn //------------------------------// The day had come to enact the plan to rescue Cacophony. Trixie was a bit apprehensive, but if Maestro felt it was necessary, then who was she to argue? She got to the agreed upon meeting place after school, and saw the intrepid group gathered. Trixie looked around. “Where’s Twilight and the others? They off fighting Tirek already?” Maestro shook his head. “Not just yet. He’ll probably show in a little while…” He stood tall as he looked around the group. He saw that all the people that were on his mission were here- Sarah, Janice, Chessmaster, Briana, Phantom, Trixie, Tyra, Cheryl, Diana, Rai, Carmen, Natalie, and Slieghthand were all present. He sighed. “We can’t start without them. Hopefully it doesn’t take long for them to show.” No sooner had the words left his mouth did the others make it there. Twilight, Ashley, Rarity, Pinie, Flora, Micaela, Ayumi, Alex, Spike, Gearbox, Serine, Star, Mystquake, Hawkblood, Frigid, and Catseye had arrived. Twilight had a slightly sheepish grin. “Sorry that we’re late. Is everything ready?” Chessmaster nodded as he turned to Trixie. “Hide those of us that are sneaking in with your illusions when I give you the okay. Alright?” She nodded, and Chessmater whistled using his fingers. A large bus pulled in, and when the doors opened, they saw that the Discord they knew was in the driver’s seat. He grinned toothily. “All aboard who’s coming to foil Evil Starlight!” The group filed into the bus, and Maestro paused at the front to talk to Discord. “Thanks for doing this. Traveling to where that castle is by foot…” Discord rolled his eyes. “Oh, posh! Think nothing of it, my friend. The chaos that you and the other outsiders generate is thanks enough for me! Now sit down, and buckle up!” Maestro took a seat next to Sarah, and did as instructed. Discord shut the doors, and turned his bus driver’s hat backwards. “This ride is built for speed!” He adjusted the gearshift, and put on the gas as the bus lunged forward. He yelled out in excitement as most of the rest of them adjusted to the discomfort of the insane speed. “Yahoo! Now this is what I call a Chaos stream!” The world when looked through the windows seemed to twist in unusual ways, yet when the windows were rolled down, it looked normal for how fast everything was going by. It wasn’t long before the bus came to a stop in the Outback. Discord opened the doors, and Chessmaster spoke up. “Alright, Trixie. Now.” She took a deep breath and focused. She reached out her magic to all those involved in the infiltration, and with a single thought shifted their perception so that none could see them. She opened her eyes, and they were all invisible aside from those going off to face Tirek. She spoke up. “Alright. Now, unicorns of the group, turn on your magic sight. Find a non-unicorn partner, and guide them to stay with the group.” Once Trixie saw that her instructions had been followed, she grinned. “Alright. We’ll exit all as a group. Those visible will go to where Tirek is rampaging. The rest of us will follow Chessmaster to the castle. Let’s do this!” They all filed out of the bus in an organized fashion. Once everybody was out, Trixie whispered to Twilight. “Good luck out there. We don’t know who the Tirek was before, but they are pretty powerful.” with a slight nod from Twilight, the groups separated as the bus disappeared into thin air. Chessmaster took the lead for the infiltrators as they crossed the Outback and Twilight’s group faded into the distance. Chessmaster raised a hand after a few minutes to stop the group. He spoke in a hushed tone, so no prying ears would overhear. “Here is where things start to get a bit dicey. Magical mines are strewn about the area, with a myriad of nasty side effects. We will have to proceed with caution to get through this. Keep close, alright?” a nod was shared among the group as Chessmaster led them through the delicate path among the mines. It wasn’t clear what the mines would end up doing if touched, but from Chessmaster’s tone, it likely wasn’t pleasant. It was a bit easier on those who could fly, seeing as he only had to hiss out a direction an air mine was in so they could avoid. Though, once they made it through, Chessmaster looked around. He squinted. “Hm. That’s odd. I think they might be expecting us, given how clear the rest of the way is. Be careful, and stick close.” A nod went through the group as they approached the castle with caution. Meanwhile, Twilight and her friends had recently spotted Tirek. The hulking centaur had just tossed aside another anthro after draining their magic. Twilight looked towards Ayumi. “Well, now or never, right? Let’s do this!” She led her group into the open, and saw Tirek turn to face them. A smirk grew upon his face. “Ah, you again. I see that Xavier isn’t with you. Pity. I was hoping of squashing all my opponents in one fell swoop, but…” He shrugged. “What can you do?” A shocked gasp went through them, and Ayumi realized who it was that was talking. “Ramona? You accepted some kind of deal just to get back at Phantom?” A smirk danced upon his face. “So he’s gone and done it, eh? That makes things easier.” He cracked his knuckles as his smirk grew to a grin. “Stand aside, and I won’t hurt you. Much.” Alex grew to human size and moved to get some fighting room as said, "No can do Tirek. For one thing I don't surrender bullies. And you know what bullies are? Cowards. weaklings." "You had a chance to get stronger, but you threw it away by refusing to apologize Xavier. You weakened yourself by bullying people who were different and surrounded yourself with yes-creatures. When they chose the path of light you cast them away." She calmly ranted. "And now you've gone let yourself be turned into a centaur. YOU THREW AWAY YOUR HUMANITY FOR WHAT? REVENGE?  THAT IS THE CHOICE OF THOSE TOO WEAK TO CHANGE!" After saying her piece Alex go ready to fight Tirek. The halls of the castle were empty, which only set the group on edge. Then, it happened. Their illusion wore off as they were captured in some sort of cage. A figure approached, a striking resemblance to Maestro. All his colors were darker in shade, and he had a malicious air about him. Maestro called out. “Cacophony! Stop this! I just need you to go back-!” Cacophony’s eyes twitched at his suggestion. "Go back? GO BACK?! You think that I want to go back in there? Not being allowed to have my fun was suffocating!" He glared. “I won’t ever go back! Now that I have what I want, there is no stopping me!” Slighthand growled. “Where is Renddown!?” Cacophony smirked as he snapped his fingers. The cage levitated off the ground, and he walked off as the cage was forced to follow. “You won’t like it. Trust me.” Maestro tried to bust through the bars of the cage with magic, but to no avail. “Bah. Those are some tough enchantments.” He turned to Natalie. “Well? Now’s a good time…” Hesitation was upon her face, but she sighed as she pulled out her phone. She scrolled through the e-mails until she found the one in question. She took a deep breath. “Well. Here goes everything!” She opened it, and jumped back slightly as midnight blue light filled her vision. A mark could be seen on the screen, a gibbous moon with small sparkles coming off of it. She yelped out as midnight blue fur spread across her. She hid it from the sight of their captor as he dragged them to the throne room...