Shooting Ray
Note: Takes place during A Flurry of Emotions.
"Why are we in Griffonstone?", Starlight asks walking with Chrysalis (Disguised as a pony) and Trixie.
"My sister's grip on Equestria was strong, so the Rebellion led by Faust decided to gather allies by liberating the other kingdoms under the control of the Changelings.", Chrysalis answers. "The Changeling ruling Griffonstone at that time was by older brother Greed."
"What he like?", Trixie asks.
"He is manipulative and scheming as he is not above employ dirty tactics.", Chrysalis said. "Do you know how he took control of Griffonstone?"
"He invaded like Miasma?", Trixie asks.
"No, he challenged the king to a duel.", Chrysalis said. "But that duel was rigged."
The trio enters the library and Chrysalis pulls out a very old book from the shelf.
"This is King Grover's journal!", Starlight said in shock.
"Back then he was only a prince.", Chrysalis said sitting down and opens the book.
A young Grover burst into his father's throne room in panic.
"Father! The Changelings are here!", Prince Grover shouts.
"So Miasma has finally subjugated Equestria.", King Griffen said grimly.
"No, these Changelings are different. They appear to be gold and their leader is a male.", Grover said. "The leader challenge you to a duel."
"So Miasma wasn't the only one. There were others.", King Griffen said standing up. "I shall shall accept this duel."
"Father, please! Do not do this! It could be a trap!", Grover pleads.
"It is the law, my son. This is how the kings of Griffonstone are chosen to rule.", Griffen said picking up his shield, sword and spear. "We will respect it."
"But they're Changelings! You saw what they're done to the ponies of Equestria! If you lose they'll do the same to us.", Grover said.
"And that is why I will not lose. Our family has protected Griffonstone and its treasure for generations.", Griffen said. "It is the Changelings that will meet their end."
Grover sighs in relief as he sees his father stands over the defeated Greed pointing his sword to the neck.
"You have lost.", Griffen said. "Leave this place and never return."
"I'm afraid the fight has just begun.", Greed said with a smile.
From a far distance a Changeling points his blowpipe to Griffen's neck and shoots a sedative dart. The king's starts to get dizzy allowing Greed to take his opportunity to launch his counterattack, by ferociously beating him with his hooves before finally kneeing him to the stomach forcing the king onto his knees. Greed picks up the king's sword and positions it to the neck.
"You've cheated.", Griffen said whispers weakly. "Have you no honor?"
"I'm afraid the honor you knew is dead.", Greed whispers back swinging the blade down.
"NNNOOO!", Grover screams running to his father's body.
"I claim this throne and kingdom as ruler of Griffonstone!", Greed declares with nearly half the Griffons bowing before him.
"Never!", Grover shouts standing up. "No cheater or murderer will ever rule Griffonstone!"
"If you'll not join me. You will all die.", Greed said as his changelings and bought griffons point their weapons to Grover and his loyal griffons.
"You're all traitors!", a female griffon said glaring at the griffons siding with Greed.
"Unfortunately for you history will not see it that way.", Greed said. "Execute them!"
Grover and his loyal griffons makes a run for it as Greed's troops chase after them.
"That's horrible! This Greed is much worse than Miasma.", Starlight said in disgust.
"While Greed is a powerful fighter himself he's more of a business man than soldier.", Chrysalis said. "He rules at least 75 kingdoms, but he only earned through foul play like faking a surrender, disguising his army as dying pheasants, or winning rigged one-on-one duels. What really makes him dangerous is that he can control greed."
"How does that work?", Trixie asks.
"Greed starts off from a being's desire.", Chrysalis said. "Tell me, what is Twilight Sparkle's desire?"
"To spread the magic of friendship.", Starlight answers.
"Tell me, what would happen should Greed amplify Twilight's greed to a higher level?"
"Oh...", Starlight said realizing what Chrysalis is trying to say.
"Twilight Sparkle would eventually spread the magic of friendship in an extreme way like through force.", Chrysalis explains. "Whether it going to be used for good or bad, greed can be a dangerous emotion if not used wisely."
"In other words should he use his ability on an alicorn like Princess Luna..."
"There's a great chance it'll transform her back into Nightmare Moon, for the desire of Nightmare Moon still lingers deep within Luna."
"That is a dangerous power.", Starlight said. "Is there any way to defeat him?"
"By using his Greed's own greed against him.", Chrysalis said. "And his greed is collecting one of the kind items, like the Elements of Harmony."
"That's good to know.", Starlight said looking back at the book. "So what happened next?"
Rebel Camp, Everfree Forest...
"What do you have to report?", Lauren Faust asks two pegasus scouts.
"You were right. Miasma's castle is fully shielded and has now become a fully fortified fortress.", the scout reports. "Launching an attack would be suicide especially with our numbers."
"That is why I've sent Star Swirl to the neighboring kingdoms in hope we can form an alliance.", Faust said.
"But those kingdoms are under the control of the Changelings!"
"Yes, but not under Miasma's.", Faust said. "During my life in the Unknown, I learn a great deal about the Changelings. They are very prideful to the point that they refuse to call for help from another. Doing so would tarnish their fearless reputation."
"Where is Star Swirl at right now?"
"He should be at Griffonstone to meet with the rebels there.", Faust answers. "Me, Amore and a few others will be joining him soon."
"Why's that? I thought it was just a meeting."
"There are rumors of weapons powerful enough to decimate an entire army. If those rumors are true, then it's best that we destroy it while it's still there."
A group of griffon rebels are fighting off a battalion of Changelings in the forest.
"Don't lose to the Changelings!", a griffon warrior shouts. "Let's go!"
A Changeling grabs one of the griffons by the neck. "Pathetic creatures! Your futile resistance is the same as death!"
The Changeling toss the griffon aside before punching another one down. Watching the fight was Star Swirl sitting on a tree.
"They're really going at it.", Star Swirl said. "Time for me to make my entrance."
"Over there! A Changeling in the guise of an unicorn!", a griffon officer shouts pointing to Star Swirl jumping off the tree. "He's there! Fire your arrows!"
Griffon archers form a line and fire their arrows towards Star Swirl. Star Swirl looks up and sees a shower of arrows coming towards him.
"Hey, now! You got the wrong pony!", Star Swirl screams moving away just in time. "Fools! Look at this face! Do I look like I'd attack griffons..."
Star Swirl sees another wave of arrows coming towards him and runs behind a tree. Unfortunately he didn't make it in time as one of the arrows hit the flank where his cutie mark used to be.
"He's down! Get him!", the griffon officer orders as the archers draw out their swords.
"Why me?! If only I had my magic back!", Star Swirl said pain struggling to pull the arrow out. He sees the griffons charging towards him forcing him to flee. "Damn it! Faust! Amore! Knight! Ace! What's taking you?!"
"What's that?!", Greed said sitting on his throne. "Faust is coming here?!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Damn that Miasma! What the f*** is she doing?!", Greed curse. "No doubt she's coming to form an alliance with the griffons, but that all there is?"
"Is it possible that she's here to destroy our secret weapon?"
"No doubt about it, but what Faust doesn't know it that I was actually building two and fortunately for me one of them is finished. Let's put in on a test run."
Over the Celestial Sea...
Faust and Ace, a blue pegasus stallion with orange mane and tail and a cutie mark of a lightning bolt are pulling a train.
"Wait! Wait! Wait! Are you telling me that the train can fly?", Starlight asks.
"Actually Faust can use her magic to summon tracks in mid-air.", Chrysalis answers.
"That's funny, there should be any clouds today.", Faust said seeing a large shadow beneath her.
"Um, Faust. I don't think those are clouds.", Ace said looking up seeing a large metallic bird flying over them. "I think we just found our weapon."
Shooting Ray
Background Music
"Everypony hang on tight! It's going to a bumpy ride!", Faust shouts to the train carts as she and Ace take evasive maneuvers as the Shooting Ray fire it's main cannons.
"That thing got some serious fire power!", Ace said narrowly dodging the magical blasts.
"Go on ahead! I'll handle this metal monstrosity.", Faust said removing the harness.
"But I need your magic to summon the rails.", Ace said as Faust flies next to the cart where Amore is and hands her a drawing of rail tracks.
"Just use your magic onto this drawing and the tracks will appear, however you must be careful on the directions.", Faust said.
"You can count on me.", Amore said as Faust flies towards the Shooting Ray firing several magical blasts only for them to be blocked off by shields.
"Looks like this won't be as easy as I thought.", Faust said summoning her sword. "If I can't blast it then I'll just cut through it!"
The Shooting Ray open up two hidden double barrel machine guns and fire a barrage follow by a barrage of magic in a shape of missiles.
Faust creates a large spherical barrier blocking off the barrage as she approach the Shooting Ray. The mane cannons fire a second round and although the barriers withstood the attack the impact pushed Faust to a considerable distance. Seeing that the mane cannons are going to be a problem Faust changes her sword into a bow and summon two arrows.
Faust fires her two arrows each heading for the cannons. The arrows pierce through the barriers and then to the cannons destroying them although the barrier remains active.
The center of the Shooting Ray opens up revealing a large cannon hidden inside. The cannon fires a large blast of magical energy towards Faust. She survives the blast, but lost her barrier in the process. Faust fires back, but the ship's barrier persist.
"In that case, I'll just have to take that beam head on.", Faust said flying in front of the ship exposing herself to a second attack while charging her horn.
"Fire!", the Changeling Captain orders as the pilots fire another shot with their heavy cannon. Faust intercepts the beam with her own resulting in an energy clash.
"She intercepted the beam!", the Captain said. "Give it more power!"
"More power coming up!", the gunner responds increasing the power.
The Shooting Ray's beam starts to push Faust back forcing her to put more power to her beam.
"More power!", the captain orders.
"Just a little more...", Faust said putting more power to her beam.
"She's weakening! More power!"
"But sir! We have to shut off the barrier to do that!"
"Then shut it off!"
The Shooting Ray's beam grows even larger and stronger pushing Faust back, but Faust remains strong keeping the beam at bay with her own.
"Where is she getting her strength from?! More power!"
"But sir! We're already at max power! Going even higher would be disastrous!"
"I said more power!", the captain shouts increase the power himself only to cause the cannon to overload.
"I told you! The cannon can't handle that much power!", the pilot shouts as the cannon explodes taking the ship with it.
"That's what happens if your not too careful with power.", Faust said as she watches the Shooting Ray crash and sinks into the ocean. "Well then time to catch up with the others."
"Woah, Trixie wonders with the wreckage is still there?", Trixie wonders.
"After we finish this book, why not search for it?", Starlight suggests. "Bringing something like that would make Twilight freak out in excitement."