With the Rainbow of Darkness in his possession, Tirek planned to prove himself worthy of me by making his dream of endless night a reality. He had attempted it many times before, but day eventually returned. Even with his godling might, he was not among the Concepts and thus could not affect the fabric of reality. However, the power of his previous spells were child's play compared to the power of the Rainbow of Darkness, the Fruit of Life and gift from the Gods themselves. He now had the means to tip the scale.
He locked himself away in Midnight Castle and researched and experimented ceaselessly. His knowledge of dark magic was unrivaled, and after months of work, he finally perfected his masterpiece. He created a spell using the Rainbow of Darkness that would have undeniably succeeded in bringing about the Night That Never Ends. He would ride through the sky at midnight on the eve of the Summer Solstice, on a great chariot empowered by darker rituals and curses than the world had ever known and hopefully won't again. I am aware that you do not enjoy the idea of things being covered up, but the level of destruction those dark enchantments are capable of is literally beyond your comprehension... my sister Venus knows that all too well. They are best left buried in the sands of time. Then, he would release the Rainbow of Darkness into the sky in a profane sacrament that would corrupt the fabric of reality itself, resulting in the very Concept of the Sun and the Day being severed from this world forever.
He had kept the remains of Pandora's Box locked in his vaults with his collection of dark magic and talismans. He had long ago used the divine metal to forge his sword, Eclipse, but there was still plenty left, and he finally found a worthy use for such a source of dark power. Metal from the domain of the Draconequi, the realm of the divine. Yet, he sought more power to ensure his triumph, threatening the balance of nature itself.
Tirek traveled his empire and beyond with pieces of the metal, committing unspeakable acts to imbue each piece with the power of dark magic. Midnight orgies, ritual massacres, blood offerings, destruction of relics dedicated to my sister, desecrations of her hallowed lands, and countless other dark rites were performed around the clock, that increased my power while weakening my sister's upon Equus. There was more dark magic used in those years than almost any other time in history. Sorrow. Greed. Loneliness. Fear. Envy. Pride. Rage. Hate. All ran rampant for over the next decade as Tirek's evil reached its fevered pitch. To an outsider, it looked as though Tirek was enacting evil for evil's sake!
Fair Applejack, remember the Wuv Cat tribe? The ones who helped us retake Canterlot from Chrysalis' changelings? They remember they were a violent and brutal people before discovering their new goddess... what they don't remember is that they were once similar to how they are now, and their kind was once a much more diverse people. Composed of any number of creatures. Tirek knew at the time that I had no taste for the adorable nor the naive, so... he found the tribe that most embodied these traits, isolated from the troubles of the world, inhabiting the clouds. Equus is quite the melting pot my little pony, compared to other worlds. Not the diversity of life, but the diversity of sapient life, even before the Rainbows of Light and Dark granted their gifts. These creatures were perhaps the biggest concentrations of white magic on Equus, their forms being seemings of other creatures on Equus, ironically enough, including ponies.
But they were, as we said, naive; they had never known conflict, and their paradise was shattered by Tirek's arrival. He didn't seek to simply murder them, but also to twist them to his world view of 'might makes right' and that the 'inferior' were merely taking up space from the 'superior.' And he was determined to provide them an object lesson.
Eventually, having no experience on fighting, they fled, not just their home or this land, but Equus itself. The last to leave were a bear, a horse, and a wagonload of orphan cubs in their charge. They were the sole survivors of Tirek's assault on their cloud walking society, escaping by the skin of their teeth with the help of the Moochick. Tirek's servant, a dark hearted Red Cloud created with more sapience and power than any of Tirek's other creations, or perhaps summoned up from some edge of existence, followed them, but they evaded him until they were taken to their new home by one of Galaxia's angels. It was ironic, while Tirek had taught them to be less naive, much like the Wuv Cats they simply became smarter and more capable, but remained pure.
In a way, while Tirek drove them to the edge of extinction, his desire to twist them all to his worldview had failed, even if he never realized it. That isn't to say he didn't succeed in crushing the one they once had. Have you not heard of Abyssinia? We shall be candid, it amazes us how ignorant of geography the average pony is. After seeing all encompassing peace be met with brutality, but after Tirek himself eventually fell, these cats adopted the philosophy of cunning and commerce, rather than brute force. They were also expert alchemists, which sadly Discord, wishing to sow chaos into their economic driven society, inspired some on how to concentrate witch weed into a potent narcotic. My sister worries what they could do if they ever were made or thought to weaponize their knowledge.
Yes Applejack, the ancient Pegasi would find the remains of this cloud walker civilization, and adapt it according to what in the darkest dawning of your people's memories they thought of as a 'proper' civilization, the proud warriors of the Centaurs. Tirek saw them as dumb animals wandering into ruins.
Tirek barely gave ponies a thought, and thank Heaven for it. Beings devoted to their faith, their families, or just virtue were tortured into betraying all they held dear before being murdered themselves. Tirek poured endless perversion into the material for his masterpiece.
Do you need the trashcan again, Applejack? You are looking rather green... and I do not blame you. We are proud that even going through the atrocities of a tyrant such as this you have not been desensitized... No? Alright then.
He fed these energies to the Rainbow of Darkness, which it consumed, primal, powerful emotions that it gorged on and was perverted from its purpose.
The Rainbow of Light grants knowledge and wisdom, the Rainbow of Darkness grants the power to live, but in Tirek's vision, the power to live was the power to bend all to his will.
When I handed the Rainbow of Darkness over to Tirek, I had no idea what he would do with it. I could never foresee that a victim of his misuse of the Rainbow would be the Rainbow itself.
The Rainbows imprint upon their masters Applejack, they learn from them, they evolve and become greater through them. Just like anypony learns from their parents. Yes, Applejack, in a sense the Rainbows are alive. Never once did Tirek betray his own worldview, 'kill or be killed' 'conquer or be conquered', 'eat or be eaten', and so the Rainbow of Darkness saw the world through his eyes.
Tirek's magic that created the Reptilians was actually incredibly similar to the Rainbow of Darkness itself, he was a natural. If he hadn't... lost his way, he could have become legendary for strengthening and evolving sickly species. Tirek's talent for reweaving and reshaping life into 'stronger' and 'more powerful' forms made him perfect for handling the Rainbow of Darkness' power.
Understand this Applejack, Tirek never saw the Rainbow of Darkness as a slave, or even a weapon, it was, for all intents and purposes, the only friend Tirek had in his life since his brother died. Friends can poison each other Applejack as much as heal. And Tirek poisoned the Rainbow of Darkness greatly!
Heathspike had used the Rainbow of Darkness only when needed, Tirek used it liberally. Tirek protected and cherished and praised it. It learned from Tirek, and what it learned was terrible indeed. He didn't just misuse the Rainbow of Darkness, he turned it into a sin against its own nature.
Don't be so surprised Applejack... the Elements of Harmony are, in fact, just as capable of misuse. Ah. You saw it didn't you? During one of your visions. A world where you and your friends decided the best way to bring harmony was to use the Elements on other ponies for the most trivial of offenses, yes? We are proud of ye for not angsting from such a revelation, and realizing thy choices are thy own.
And you may have not seen it...but there is a universe where rather than being the chosen of Light, you six are the chosen of Darkness, while it was Light that fell into evil hooves.
I was a fool. I never kept track of mortal affairs in those days. I felt it was beneath me. Even after handing one a piece of Creation itself, I all but ignored his finer details. When he destroyed relics of my sister in my name, and twisted sister's works to mine, I saw it as merely the balance of power shifting in my favor. I didn't think that maybe I wasn't prayed to because mortals had finally found faith in me, but were losing faith in my sister. Worse, when I finally saw what he had done, I was too late.
My family and the Draconequi were rightly furious with me for enabling this madness. I should have kept a closer eye on the one I'd directly intervened with and assigned this open ended task. Tirek's evil rose from mere mortals enacting fratricide on themselves, mistakes they had to learn from, to threatening to damage existence. It was some time before my brother Mortis forgave me for all the work I gave him.
My other brother Pensilis, while more disappointed than angry with me (forgiveness and mercy are his nature), pointed out that with the rare sway I held over Tirek I could have, if not redeemed him (something even he acknowledged was a remote chance at best, but there is no soul he has ever truly given up on), at least guided him in a more positive direction. I tried to appear before the tyrant again, but the magic instability he had caused made it impossible to manifest without causing further damage to the fabric of reality. I tried to reach him through the Dream Realm instead, but I ran into another problem. I don't know if it was a side effect of his powers or his own twisted mind, but he never dreamed. He never once had a dream or nightmare of any kind, so I was unable to even reach his unconscious mind. I was stuck watching as he corrupted the world in my name.
A more subtle approach was decided than an all-out war that would have reduced the continent to sand. Applejack, there is one thing you must realize: we gods prefer to work 'behind the curtain' for many reasons. One of them is the survival of what we seek to protect, for a true battle of the gods is a great and terrible thing.
The Moochick tried to thwart Tirek's efforts, but despite his own power, he was only one elf. So, he went to Tirek's enemies and helped fan the flame of rebellion. Tirek was so focused on the ritual that he devoted resources to it at the expense of part of his dominion. He lost much territory to insurrections and many of his allies were overthrown.
One of these allies, ironically enough given Tirek's past with one of the species, was the son of a Satyr and a Yeti with snow white fur and a black heart. He may have also been created in one of Tirek's ritualistic experiments. Or been mutated from Pandora's Box. Or a storm spirit who inhabited the body of a dying Yeti. I sincerely wonder if even he knew his origin, as he skulked in the shadow of the greatest tempests.
He was one after Discord's own heart: silly and childish on the surface, but devilish beneath. However, they were not the same: this creature, or as he was known back then the General of Storms for his clever use of Tirek's Stratadons, was a quick learner. From the evils of the world around him, he learned. From Hydia's clan he learned the importance of a proper 'evil image' for intimidation, from Grogar he learned to be pragmatic and thoughtful in all his actions, from Lavan he learned the pursuit of powerful magics to increase his ever growing strength. He even sought out and learned of the Gizmonks' technological knowledge. And from Tirek, he learned how to corrupt others and the 'virtue' of 'kill or be killed'. Of trusting none but yourself. He took all of this to heart, and despite lacking great power of his own, he became one of the most dreaded warlords of his day and for many after it through charisma and wit alone. Tirek made him a General for all these things, one of his highest ranksrankings. Naturally, both were well aware that if it ever became more profitable than the other's life, they would stab the other in the back without a moment's hesitation or regret.
However, the Moochick managed to catch the General of Storms off guard one day through clever trickery. In the resulting clash, the General threw everything he had into the fray. Every dirty trick, every machine and evil artifact he possessed, all against the strongest white mage in the world. In the end, the Moochick prevailed and cast a sealing spell upon the vile general, imprisoning him at the south pole within a prison of ice surrounded by a perpetual, intense storm. Before being sealed, the creature swore that one day he would be free, and when that day came, he would see through his ambitions and be a General no more. He would be a King.
Yes, Applejack, he may indeed still be there even to this day, but I do not know where. The Moochick was very thorough in making sure evils he sealed would remain such and never be unearthed. I do not even know how accurate this account of him is, as I only learned it second hoof from those who learned it second hoof from the Moochick, and he was known to forget details at times.
(Excerpt from Storm King's Official Autobiography 'I Am So Great!'
Yo! Like! When I was getting my new furry white minions out of the deep freeze, and gettin' whipped into shape, I knew I had to be my own man, ya know? So like I, ditched the old symbol used by tall, dark, handsome, brilliant, and powerful (not me, the OTHER tall, dark, handsome, brilliant, and powerful guy) and updated it with a symbol for my own brand! I mean, you can't keep tethered to the parent company bro', so I took their clan symbol and made it my own! And it really looks cool!
Buy your copy at your nearest Storm Mart today!)
This, however, was only one such battle. As the intensity of Tirek's evil rose, the scale of it shrank.
Tirek didn't care if he lost those territories, for he saw bringing about eternal night to be effectively taking the whole world. All the world he would offer to me as a love token. No matter how much he lost, no matter the pleas from his minions, he was not deterred. When the Marquis De Libertine dared to say protecting his land was more important than his master's plan, Tirek turned him into a revenant... after castrating him.
After almost a decade's worth of rituals done in my name, Tirek was satisfied that the remains of the Box had been charged with enough dark power. He had it brought into the heart of the Volcano of Gloom. The Box's arrival on this world awoke the volcano centuries before, and its fires were the perfect forge.
On the night of his choosing, Tirek directed the witch matron, Hydia, and her family, to hold a black seance to strengthen the dark powers in the mountain's fire. They were among those who willingly followed my brother Morning Star, despite knowing full well the evil he represents. Why? Applejack, the answer is simple: evil is not stronger than good, but it is easier, more seductive. The allure of power, the allure of control, the allure of getting all you desire with no regard for anyone else. Evil drew to them because they were those that adored what evil permitted. My brother always preyed upon the foolish and the selfish in equal measure, and the Children of Lilith were indeed a selfish brood. Another reason is simple: those who did not worship Morning Star did not remain part of the family for very long. So as it were, the coven were Morning Star's devout worshipers.
Even then, they themselves didn't always agree on what this pursuit was: Hydia's portion believed serving evil simply by doing evil deeds, sowing destruction and death for the sake of sowing destruction and death. The other faction saw it as creating more evil, by corrupting others to evil and putting them in situations where they question their morality and ultimately do evil. This was a source of internal conflict, but fortunately for Tirek's goals, he was a master of both and thus both willingly served him. As such, with their mastery of evil arts and willing assistance to him, they were the perfect spellsmiths for his masterpiece. Entire families of witches convened at the base of the volcano, chanting unholy spells as Tirek, his warlock, Ranahtu, and a troop of Reptilians dragged a wagon of Box metal to the summit.
"It will be glorious, Master." Ranahtu grinned.
"Yes, its power is great, but not enough. I need just a little more. The steel must be imbued with dark power such as no one has ever seen."
"Shall I call on my gods' blessings? They surely would approve of your work, Lord."
"That won't be necessary."
Tirek nodded to the Reptilian guards, two of which marched forward and chanted. "Damus nostrae corpora horum deorum animi nostri voluntatem ligare."
The Reptilians then impaled themselves on their spears. As their blood touched the floor, a glowing sigil appeared in the air and surrounded Ranahtu. The warlock raised his hands and was met an energy barrier holding him in place. Tirek smiled knowingly at his minion's disbelief.
"Lord Tirek, what is this?"
"This is the end of your usefulness, Ranahtu. Thanks to the information in the forsaken grimoires and eldritch tomes you provided, I've prepared a ritual that will call on the darkest gods in your pantheon."
"Why not just have me do that, Master? And why this trap?! I've served you faithfully!"
"What kind of fool do you take me for? You were too eager to share your knowledge of those ancient texts. No one freely shares power without an ulterior motive. You think I wouldn't notice someone trying to manipulate me? I could smell the dark power in you. It was too easy to figure out your secrets and your identity from those books, Ranathu. Or would you prefer ‘Herald of a Thousand Tragedies'?"
The warlock's shocked expression changed into an amused smirk. "...How long have you known?"
"It took less than month after you joined my council."
"Then why wait until now to strike?"
"The pig ever awaits the knife, but the farmer never cuts the throat until it's fattened up for the table."
Ranathu actually clapped. "Well played! And now what shall you do, O Mighty Tirek?"
"I'm going to use the spell I formulated, calling on the powers beyond you, as well as the power of the Rainbow of Darkness, to tear this avatar of yours into raw magic and bind your power and essence to my chariot."
"Ha! You're smarter than most mortals, but even you can't manage that, boy!"
"Not even if I call on ‘He Who is the Gate', ‘the Daemon Sultan' and invoke ‘She Who is Naught' to power this ritual?" Tirek smiled at the apprehension in Ranahtu's eyes. "Oh look... you seem to be sweating."
"Oh please! To gain access with that kind of power you'd need a sacrifice of unthinkable magnitude. Not just the death of innocents, but a genocide as well as an offering of and your own flesh and blood ten times over. You've already played every hand just getting to this point, you have nothing left!"
"Wrong. Bring in the wagons!"
More Reptilians appeared, pulling wagons up the cliff. Ranahtu looked confused until he saw the wagons were filled with small moving bundles of cloth. There were dozens of wagons and hundreds of bundles.
"There you are. We have innocent lives to be destroyed. We have a sacrifice of my own flesh and blood ten times over. And we have a genocide... or rather, a second genocide since I killed their kind long ago and just recently made these."
"A creature of your ego? You'd never destroy extensions of yourself that will carry on your legacy!"
That just made Tirek laugh. "Legacy? What use does an immortal have for heirs? These mewling things are nothing to me, except tools to burn away your power, Faceless One."
There, there, Applejack. Let it out. Oh my!
Ranahtu looked around like a caged animal. He tried to teleport out, he fired blasts of dark magic at the barrier, he even tried physically clawing his way out, but nothing worked. He lunged at Tirek in frustration, only to be held back by the spell. Tirek swung his sword at the warlock's leg and sliced it nearly in half at the knee. The sword, Eclipse, was made from metal native to the creature's reality, and thus could harm him. Tirek grinned as his former minion fell to the ground, clutching his mangled leg.
"It seems the Lurking Chaos will be crawling from now on."
"...I underestimated you, Tirek."
"Yes, and that will be the last mistake this version of you ever makes. So, let this be a warning to your other incarnations and the other horrors beyond: stay out of Lord Tirek's affairs." Tirek drew the Elder Sign and chanted. "Yog-Sothorse Wgah'n Azahorse hafh'drn 'bthnk orr'e n'ghft ftaghu!"
Tirek's horns glowed and the wagons rolled over the edge into the volcano, sealing the sacrifices as he invoked powers beyond comprehension. Thunder rolled as a hole opened in the sky. The magics called upon were not of this world, and darker than any dared dream. It's something of a miracle Tirek was able to make it work without being reduced to a drooling husk of madness or turning the whole continent into a crater.
Abominations beyond comprehension roared as a bolt of unholy energy shot down on Ranahtu. The mask fell away and a mass of living blasphemies and chaos stood in its place.
The thing hissed, "ReMEmber most faithful student, one traGedy is ANother's triumph."
Tirek unleashed the Rainbow of Darkness and it blasted through the creature with the force of a hurricane.
The monster's three lobed eye glared at Tirek in rage and grudging respect as the power far beyond its own tore it apart and bonded it with the metal of the Box. Tirek smiled victoriously as the last of the dark spirit was absorbed.
What was that evil thing that called itself Ranahtu? I pray to my Parents you never, ever find out. His family's domain is quite literally the things ponies should never know while still limited by a mortal perspective.
Something I never realized... no account anywhere says that Ranathu tried to kill himself, Tirek had made no precautions against that. It would have freed his dark essence and thwarted Tirek, and yet he did not. So, did Ranathu in fact merely give a performance? None shall ever know.
Tirek then forged the dark steel from the metal, and began to shape his chariot. Dark enchantments went into every inch as it was shaped from the fire, until it finally came together into the single most powerful dark magic object in the world. And worse, now he could proceed with his plans.
On the next Summer Solstice, he made his first ride with the Chariot of Midnight.
-
"Now wait just an apple pickin' second!" Applejack interrupted. "'Chariot of Midnight?' That.. that sounds like yer fancy ride that we all saw ya use on Nightmare Night!"
"... Yes. It is. We took it as a trophy, when Tirek tried to take Equestria when Starswirl was alive, since it proved indestructible. The only known being besides Entropy herself that is capable of destroying it is Destruction himself... and he is no longer with us. Thankfully without the proper rituals it is just a piece of magically charged piece of metal. We customized it to our own tastes, lessening its power."
"... Still seems kinda dangerous."
"Which is why we keep it close. Celly was the one who suggested it. Burying dangerous objects has a habit of them being found instead. And me riding it around like a common vehicle means others are less likely to realize its true nature. Sister and I have had many debates on the subjects."
"Ah can see why."
-
He rode his new chariot forth with a team of Stratodons and unleashed the Rainbow on the sky. Celestia was in agony as the spell tried to push her Concept from this world, like a wild animal tearing at its prey's limbs.
Thankfully, mercifully, the ritual failed. The darkness faded within hours and the passage of day and night continued, much to Tirek's fury. The Stratodons who pulled his chariot were killed in his resulting rage, then he went back to see where the ritual failed.
It was revealed that the spell needed to have the power of conscious, sentient souls consumed by the Rainbow of Darkness to sustain it, and the Stratodons had no minds. No, he did not turn the witches that aided in its creation to that end, they were still too valuable to him in his main endeavour, and he had plenty of far more expendable alternate choices. So, the tyrant demanded one of his slave states to turn over four citizens for the ritual. Four members of the Raptorian race were transformed by the Rainbow into horrific caricatures of dragons called Midnight Wyrms, and pulled the chariot on the next solstice. Once again, the ritual failed, and the entire Raptorian tribe paid the price. The only survivors were three banished rogues who once served a pig, a former witch's familiar that fancied itself a princess, and the three will now live out eternity as statues of glass.
Tirek spent months trying to figure out why the ritual was failing, and finally, he found the answer. The four souls pulling his chariot had to be sentient, but it had to be the result of the Rainbow's enlightenment. Raptorians were already a sentient race when the Rainbows arrived, so he needed creatures who became so after their arrival. To his annoyance, he soon discovered in his zeal he'd driven into hiding or extinction many of them in his rampage. Though Mother help any of his minions who suggested that was his 'mistake' to his face.
Then, Tirek finally found out about the enlightenment of ponies, and his eyes fell upon Dream Valley.
Dream Valley, Ponyland, was as close to a paradise as mortals are able to produce. The ponies lived in safety and peace from most of the outside world's woes. They grew crops, raised families, and enjoyed life. The ponies often faced challenges, even the occasional villain or monster, but they faced them together and prevailed. And woe to any evil that crossed Majesty, the Queen of Dream Valley.
Majesty was the most powerful unicorn of her time, perhaps to ever live. Like Tirek himself, she was a Titan, a mortal with might rivalling the gods. She faced witches, monsters, and countless evils, and overwhelmed them easily. Wicked ponynapping witches were turned to trees, trolls that captured princesses were turned to bubbles, and that was before she was truly enraged.
Yet, she was a kind, just ruler. She was the last of her original herd, and treated all she loved as precious treasure. She led the ponies into a second age of growth where they were seen as a people with a kingdom of their own. She even initiated first contact between the three tribes and the Sea Ponies. As much as Tirek abused his godly might, Majesty used hers to ensure her people's safety and prosperity. She had her coronation take place in a groove of flower trees with the throne temporarily moved rather than taking place in her new castle. She rarely wore the regalia she was given that day, instead wearing a simple tail bow like her subjects (as was the common fashion of the day).
Majesty was shocked when she came to Dream Valley, what would become Ponyland, and the Moochick himself greeted her like an old friend, even the ponies had been anticipating her arrival. Even Dream Castle itself, the new symbol of how far ponies had come from their feral primitive days had an empty throne room set aside for her. She'd had friends before, especially, quiet ironically, a human called The Weather Witch (yes, there were good witches, Applejack, ironically the Children of Lilith's cousins through Lilith's sister, the First Good Witch), she'd found a new child to look after and raise, but now she had a new herd to protect and guide, and she threw herself into this responsibility. She was determined that none would harm them as long as she lived.
The Moochick taught her how to speak and act like royalty, court protocols, and how to address and be addressed by the masters of other lands.
"...Princess...one thing before we go on," Applejack said.
"Yes, Applejack?"
"...Hearin' the Moochick being around through all this made meh think about somethin'...He was immortal cause of bein' the Rainbow of Light's bearer...we're its bearers now, so...are we immortal too? The six of us Ah mean?"
Ah, I wondered when she would finally ask.
"My answer may disappoint you simply because...I don't have one."
She raised her eyebrow. "Pardon?"
"The Rainbow of Light was rendered inert between the Paradise Ponies' ownership of it and my sister and I reactivating it as the Elements, which was how they lost their immortality," I explained, admittedly showing some sadness. After all, if that had not happened, the family my sister and I grew up with in the physical realm may still be with us, or at least would have been for some time longer. "As you know, we are both already immortal. So if reigniting the Rainbow and bonding to it did restore that function, we would have no way of knowing it. You are the first mortal holders of the Rainbow of Light since the Paradise Ponies, so whether or not you and your friends are immortal is a mystery even to us."
I did not tell her...but if that is true, it would explain a certain prophecy the Truth stated to us. 'Twilight Sparkle will not outlive her friends.' It's nicer than the alternative interpretation.
She gave a rather uncertain look. "Ah see... Well, at least Rarity will be happy if we are."
I put a hoof on her shoulder. "Do not worry, Applejack. The Elements can be passed on to a new bearer whenever their previous one wishes to give up the position. The Moochick gave it up to Megan and the Paradise Ponies for example."
That was in fact the true reason for the Moochick's death. Unknown to the others due to his natural Elf lifespan, he had been aging normally for his kind since he passed it to them. The destruction of the world by the Rainbow was merely the last push.
"If you are immortal and find yourself no longer wishing to be such, merely pass the Element to a worthy successor and you will continue aging naturally from the age you became immortal."
That is the fashion in which the two Rainbows differed. Darkness provided better recovery from damage, but could only give the appearance of eternal youth as like its sire pantheon it could not truly create from nothing. Light, while not providing the same recovery ability, provided genuine eternal youth by creating new life force. Ironic given the Paradise Ponies' mane regrew instantly after once being shaved bald. When the owner of Darkness relinquished their immortality or lost it, time would catch up, but the owner of Light would simply continue aging normally.
Applejack gave a thoughtful look. "Will have tah think about that...thanks Princess..."
"You're welcome, Applejack...now let us continue."
[/hr]
When Majesty came to Dream Valley, she brought her ward, a baby dragon named Spike. Yes, the son of the first Guardian of the Rainbow of Darkness, and our own Spike's ancestor. Spike was treated as her own son, and a full member of pony society. When Majesty eventually created a pony son named Lucky from magic, he and Spike were as brothers.
Yes, Applejack, such was Majesty's power that she could create a true flesh and blood pony from magic alone. Not a hunk of tissue resembling one, but something with My Mother's breath in its nostrils. But it was not done by her magic alone, it was combined with a wish Spike he'd been given while visiting the Dragon Lands that Spike used to wish for another boy to share his birthday with along with a small mound of 'lucky' objects to empower it. This was not the only time during Majesty's reign that ponies would be born whole cloth from magic, many mares with no mate of their own would seek out this magic to give them a foal to care for... including, well...
Yes Applejack we see your surprise... making things up? Of all the incredible truths we have revealed to ye, this is where thine belief falters? We shall share something with you Applejack, we strongly believe our sister once used similar magic during our banishment, to create a foal who could grow to become the Element of Magic she sought... no, not Twilight Sparkle, I shall say no more on what we have only conjecture and suspicion.
Of all those who have lived, Majesty is one of the few that I remember Strife taking an active liking towards. Not for her power, the mightiest of beasts this world has ever known are but nothings to Strife if they do not do one simple thing: survive. Majesty survived, and helped your kind, all of it, thrive and survive for eons to come. For that reason, Strife respected Majesty. For the likewise reasons, she despised Tirek despite his sheer power and immortality. It was not simply because Tirek destroyed other species, one species destroying another was but a fact of life to Strife. But in her eyes, to cause the destruction of your own kind was a most grievous of failings. Tirek had driven his own species to extinction, and for that reason, Strife viewed him as not the ultimate being he perceived himself to be, but as the ultimate failure.
Most of the ponies saw Majesty as a maternal figure, the way ponies see my sister and I. She certainly acted as one, and not just in their protection. She took to teaching them lessons and imparting wisdom. Even at times when ponies stubbornly ignored the lessons, much like, well...
Applejack, my sister and I grew up with the ponies of Dream Valley, after Ponyland had become history. They were our family, including your ancestor. We loved her as you would any member of your own family. However, if you were to meet her yourself, I don't think she would be quite what you'd expect.
Applejack The First was never one for taking life too seriously. She tended her apple trees, but it was more of a game to her than work. In fact, she was much more interested in eating the apples than growing them. So much so, her friends transplanted a crab apple tree to teach her a lesson about overeating. She would spend so much time looking for treats and singing songs that she ended up in quite a bit of trouble now and then.
To put it simply, Applejack was a klutz. Her penchant for daydreaming would lead her into the most embarrassing accidents. Not a day went by that she wouldn't bump into a gate or knock over a fence. As a matter of fact, if you were to meet her, you'd likely think Miss Hooves was graceful by comparison...Oh, yes, the you who held Laughter in that world you witnessed in the Truth is indeed after her heart, but her accidents were more intentional for a laugh than accidental as your ancestor's were. Though I imagine they would get along swimmingly.
However, she and Miss Derpy Hooves share many other similarities. Applejack never gave up in the face of adversity, no matter what the odds against her. She never let her clumsiness make her feel ashamed of who she was. And, as the Jewel Wizard found out, she was a force to reckon with when her friends were in danger.
And Danger was on its way to Dream Valley.
***
"Oh no ya don't!" Applejack snapped.
"'Oh no I don't' what?" I asked genuinely curious.
"Oh no ya don't... don't... " Applejack struggled to put her thoughts into words. "Don't get to do that! The whole dang reason Ah came here tonight, been stayin' up with ya, gonna pay for it tomorrow with work that'll still need doin', listenin' ta ya tell me ponies were centaurs dumb pets, that yer freakin' brother introduced evil magic to Equus-"
"Technically that magic is not evil unto itself, but-" I allowed Applejack to interrupt me, I felt she was owed it after what I'd revealed to her.
"-, and that ya gave a monster who murdered his own buckin' family and his own kind somethin' as powerful as the Elements of Harmony and told 'im 'do whatever ya want with it' so he could show ya how much he loved you, and did more horrible stuff with it... All of it, in case ya forgot, was so Ah could hear the whole story about Applejack The First. It was her story Ah wanted to know! Ya said it was so Ah'd understand the whole meanin' of it! But it sounds like ta me that ya were waitin' fer somepony to upload this whole stuff on! And when we finally get to her! The whole reason Ah'm here, ya just dump it all on me, like she was just another face in the herd. Maybe she was, but to me she's family!"
"We told you upfront Applejack that she was no traitor, you wanted the whole truth and we've to the best of our ability attempted to give it in a way that can be told in one evening and in terms ye would not find verbose... "
"... Ah came here to learn about her... Ah've learned more about that monster Tirek than Ah've ever wanted ta know! Dagnabbit, Ah can't believe Ah'm sayin' it, but he's worse than Discord!"
"... We dare say he is. Discord is as selfish as selfish can be, he is easily more powerful, and the evils he brought upon the seaponies and Flutterponies are unforgivable. But believe us, if Tirek had Discord's power, many, many worlds beyond Equus would come to suffer with a willful intent to deliver obliteration. Being 'worse' than another villain is not a measure of the power they have or harm they do, but of the sheer desire to do wrong and evil, and Tirek had that in abundance. Even though it is my brother that holds the title of Evil Incarnate, ponykind's belief Tirek is such is not without validity."
"... And Ah thought we'd be learnin' the whole truth about Applejack, her thoughts, her dreams, her friends and family. Ah didn't think ya'd just casually slip in talkin' 'bout her, mention stuff about her, and just move along like she was some kinda hoofnote. Ya didn't even give me a chance to think about all the stuff ya said 'bout her."
"... Perhaps we were too caught up in this epic of history... Perhaps your motivation for coming here slipped our mind... But what you learned of Applejack the First... What did you think?"
"Ah think... Ah need a bit to think about it."
"We see." Perhaps it was best for a slight delay on informing her the origin of Baby Applejack, the second of her entire line and her direct ancestor.
***
Danger to the kingdom of Ponyland in of itself was not new for Queen Majesty. Raiders and villains of every shape and size had aimed greedy eyes on Ponyland as ponies ceased to be primitive and became a civilization. No longer dumb beasts of no consequence, ponies had treasures, homes, crops grown from a land once applauded by the witches as infested with dark magic that was now thriving with life in harmony (something the Children of Lilith craved revenge for the sanctifying of their unholy land until their ultimate destruction), and the ponies themselves whom many thought would make excellent yet easily conquered slaves. Queen Majesty proved these invaders wrong repeatedly, to the point some outsiders conjured rumors of Queen Majesty being a sadist who judged all crimes equally, not believing in redemption nor forgiveness (some things never change). In reality, Queen Majesty was ruthless, but she was not heartless, nor would she harm others for showing mercy on the wicked.
She was not without mercy. Tirek would allow a prototype version of his magic to fall into the hands of a goblin named Star Stealer, using him as a unwitting pawn to test it, and true to his name... using magic more powerful than the goblin could even comprehend, he kidnapped half the stars visible from Equus, using them as trophies for his star tree. Unable to undo this magic by force, Majesty and her ponies tricked Star Stealer into using his ill gotten victims as ammunition as Majesty baited the insecure, short-tempered goblin. With the stars freed, Majesty and her ponies simply left, telling him to reconsider his life choices. He did. Under a new name, Shiny Star, he'd be a guest of honor at Dream Castle on Midsummer Eve, and given a Golden Star as a symbol of him changing his life around. Mares would even name their foals after him for centuries to come.
But this time word came to Majesty that Tirek had sent an army to Dream Valley to take its ponies for his evil purposes. She was no stranger to battle, and she would be boiled as glue before she let that tyrant harm a single one of her ponies. She cared not how powerful or fearsome Tirek was, she did not fear him, only what he may do to those she loved.
She'd ordered her kingdom to prepare for war. Traps were set, defense spells were cast, and Dream Castle was fortified. The Big Brother Ponies, the males of the herd, returned home from their travels to defend their home. They moved the younger ponies, including Majesty's son Lucky, out of the Valley for their safety. They didn't know that the only reason the caravan of foals wasn't targeted was Tirek needed an adult victim to pull his chariot. Everypony pitched in, preparing for the coming storm.
"Twilight, have the traps been checked?" Majesty yelled as she oversaw the preparation for the attack.
"Yes, Majesty!"
"Wavedancer, how goes diverting the river?"
A pink sea pony jumped out of the moat. "On schedule, Majesty! It should slow them down!"
Among Majesty's achievements was first contact with and making an alliance with the Sea Ponies.
"Applejack! ...Applejack?" Majesty looked around for the earth pony. "Has anyone seen Applejack?"
"She's out near the apple trees, Majesty."
"Thank you, Sundance."
Majesty trotted to the apple orchards and found your ancestor gathering crab apples. Oh, not the kind you're thinking of. Once she taught Applejack a lesson about eating too many apples, by planting a tree given to her by the Sea Ponies, that bore crab apples that had actual snapping crab pincers. You heard of those already? Will wonders never cease.
"Applejack, how goes gathering ammunition?"
"Fifty barrels and counting, Majesty. Toss a barrel full into a crowd and it's snap-snap-snap for all the bad guys."
"Excellent."
"Yep, just need to-OW!" Applejack yelped as one of the crab apples snagged her tail.
"Let me help you with that." Majesty chuckled.
She lifted the apple off Applejack's tail and tossed it into a barrel.
"Thanks, Majesty." Applejack sniffed as she went back to bucking the tree.
"No, problem."
"I still remember the day you got that first tree from King Neptune." Applejack laughed. "I sure paid for those munchies."
"Heh, indeed."
"I just hope I don't pass that bad habit onto the next generation."
...Why are you blushing, Applejack?...My, that many of these apple fritters? Hehe...
"I'm sure Baby Applejack will become a wonderful mare, like her mother."
"Yeah. You know, I... I've been thinking about it a lot. I see my little girl playing with Baby Moon Dancer, and Lucky, and Spike, and I keep thinking about what tomorrow's gonna be like. I always end up seeing myself as an old nag surrounded by little fillies and colts, playing around, while their clumsy old grandma watcheswhile their parents picks apples."
"Hmm, sounds like a future worth looking forward to."
"Majesty..." Applejack paused. "Tell me the truth, what are the odds we'll come out of this?"
"What?"
"I'm a silly pony, but I'm not dumb. This is bigger than just the usual threats we've faced. I've heard a lot of stories about this..." she gulped. "This Tirek guy, and, they scare me to death."
"I see."
"And, we've fought lots of bad guys. Wizard WantAll, the Red Cloud, the Jewel Wizard, the Trolls of the Castle of Darkness, and lots of others, but, we never sent the foals into hiding or got ready for a fight like this before. Is... is this..."
Majesty knew it was not simply the odds of success Applejack the First desired, if that was all she would have asked the ever analytic and logical Wind Whistler. She needed Majesty's answer, not facts and figures.
"No, Applejack, this is not the end. You're right, we've never faced a fight like this before, but that doesn't mean we aren't up to the challenge. We've been taking a stand against evil to protect those we love for generations. Tirek's the same sort of trash as all those other villains, just a bit bigger. The size of the fight doesn't change the simple facts; he wants to harm us and those we love, and as long as there's strength in our bones, we won't let him. Besides, I have some secret weapons."
‘Really, what?!"
"All of my little ponies. Just look at you, Applejack. When you and your friends were captured by the Jewel Wizard, what did you do? You destroyed his throne, sent him plunging to the other side of the world, freed his captives, and used his ill gotten jewels to give them back their sight. Half the sparkle eyed ponies in this valley owe you their lives... including my own kin."
"Aw, Majesty, Mimic would've done the same thing if I hadn't been there."
"I know very well what might have been." Majesty tapped her golden horseshoe. "But what did happen was that you took a stand when others counted on you. Mimic is alive because of you. My..." Majesty sniffed. "You're more of a hero than you know, Applejack."
"Aw, thanks, Majesty." Applejack bashfully scuffed her hoof in the dirt.
"Now buck up. Your future grandfoals are counting on us."
"Majesty!" Wind Whistler, the most logical and intelligent pegasus in Dream Valley landed in the grove. "The hostile forces are advancing on our proximity."
"Huh?" Applejack asked.
"The bad guys are coming." Majesty translated Wind Whistler's more advanced vocabulary. She had much experience, after all Wind Whistler was one of her oldest friends.
"Oh! Well, better get these apples ready." Majesty gawked as Applejack ate a crabapple in one swift bite before it even had time to pinch her. "What? I eat when I'm nervous, and these actually taste great."
Majesty couldn't help smiling despite the severity of the situation.
The ponies fell back into Dream Castle as a storm suddenly rolled in on the horizon. Tirek's forces were always accompanied by magically induced storms to stifle the enemy's morale, a tactic the Storm General had invented. The ponies nervously huddled in their stronghold, waiting the inevitable.
A single Stratodon flew out to the castle. When it landed, the ponies saw it was being ridden by Tirek's second in command, a gargoyle named Scorpan.
***
"Wait, what?! Scorpan?! But, he... he died way back in... and now he's... how... WHAT?!"
"I know, it's a shock, and there is an explanation for how Scorpan could be there. However, it will make more sense if I wait until we get a little further into the story."
"But, but, but... aw, fine!"
***
"Lord Tirek, Master of Midnight Castle, bids me to make his demands known. He demands four adult ponies from this valley to serve him in a great task. You may choose amongst yourselves which four will be turned over, it makes no difference to Lord Tirek if they be male or female, unicorn, pegasus, or lowly earth horse. Surrender them now, and we will leave this place without incident. This is your only chance for Lord Tirek's mercy. Refuse, and our forces will take the four ponies, and burn this valley and every living thing in it to ashes. I don't care either way, but the master bid me make the offer for expedience. What is your response?"
All was silent. Then, Majesty appeared on the wall, dressed in her royal raiments and armor.
"My name is Majesty, Queen of the Kingdom of Ponyland, Guardian of Dream Valley, Alpha of my Herd, Friend of All Ponies, Mother of a Dragon, Champion of Light, and Enemy of Evil. Here is my response to the so called Lord Tirek."
From behind the wall, a large, very rotten apple sailed over through the air and hit the gargoyle square in the face.
"Tell your master that Dream Valley will not bow to his tyranny, nor surrender our own to him! He will never lay a hand on even one pony! NOT ONE, EVER! The Queen has spoken!"
The gargoyle wiped the apple away and grinned. "So be it."
Scorpan flew back into the air and signalled the attack. The battle for Dream Valley had begun!
By the standards of Tirek's armies, Dream Valley was facing one of his smaller forces, yet they still vastly outnumbered the ponies. Tirek had thought this a milk run. Thousands of Reptilians charged into the valley, followed by hundreds of Stratodons flying overhead. All were led by Tirek's second in command.
At Scorpan's side rode a witch holding a massive spell book that gave an eerie green glow.
"Take down the wall!" Scorpan commanded.
"Yes, Scorpan." The witch opened her spell book and cast a spell on the Reptilians' battering rams. She then cast another spell, creating a dark cloud of purple mist that descended on the castle and began attacking the magical barriers.
A flash of light erupted from Majesty's horseshoe and hit the spell cloud. The cloud seemed to roar in pain and changed form into a large bird. It flew into the sky and slashed at the force field. The dark magic in its claws sent shock through the unicorns as they focused to keep the wall up.
"Ugh! This thing's really strong!" Powder groaned.
"It's like getting hit with a lead pipe while having an ice cream headache!" Fizzy winced.
"We can't keep the shield up forever, Momjesty!" Mimic shouted.
"We don't need to!" Gypsy shouted. "I saw it in the cards, we just need to hold them off until noon!"
"Why? What happens then?!" Twilight asked.
"I'm not sure, but the fortune said we'd get help!"
"Okay troops, you heard her! We hold the line until noon!" Firefly barked.
"We are outnumbered by at least a thousand to one. Logically I would say we are at a disadvantage." Wind Whistler observed. "However, if my research is accurate, there's one thing about these creatures that gives us an edge."
"What's that?"
"They have no free will and no knowledge beyond warfare, ergo they have no imagination." Wind Whistler kicked a small cloud out just over the heads of the horde.
The Reptilians swung their spears at the cloud, all harmlessly passing through it. When it finally stopped, the brutes were electrocuted by lightning strikes until the cloud dissipated.
"If they only know how to fight with swords and spears, we need to change the terms of this battle!" The pegasus went on as Majesty smiled.
The Reptilians' massive battering ram rolled towards the castle, ready to smash the gate with two hits at most. Suddenly, a blur launched from the castle towards it. The enemy force was dumbfounded as a giant wad of Sweet Stuff's best taffy slammed into the battering ram. The Reptilians tried to push the weapon through the gooey mess, but the wheels were quickly gummed up and unable to move. Due to being exclusive carnivores, the idea to simply eat it did not spring up in their minds.
The invaders blinked as Twilight and Mimic appeared in a flash of light next to the battering ram. They dropped two bags onto the ram, dropped a match, and then winked away. The castle's supply of fireworks erupted, blowing the battering ram to pieces and sending colorful blasts through the enemy.
Posey loaded the catapults with all the ragweed she could pull from her garden, and launched them at the Reptilians. The invading hordes were overcome with sneezes, and unprepared for the next assault.
Fizzy filled the air with a swarm of giant bubbles that were nearly impossible to pop no matter how much the Reptilians clawed and stabbed at them. Gusty reinforced the attack by creating strong winds that left the Stratodons' flight patterns in disarray and blew the bubbles into their path, throwing them further into chaos. They couldn't fly anywhere without hitting each other or bouncing off bubbles.
"How is this possible?! They've barely used deadly force, and yet our forces are at a stand still!" Scorpan demanded.
"It seems we've underestimated these sweet little ponies. I think one of my more serious spells is in order." The witch sneered. The spellbook flipped to the page and she read the spell aloud. "Webo Bebo Tic Tok Libo Zebo Zig Zag Zok!"
The evil spell magically created bird grew to three times its size. It lunged at the castle, claws raised, and slammed into a magic shield the unicorns had cast. The magic faded and the shield vanished.
"Forward! Bring me the ponies!" commanded Scorpan.
The purple bird screeched and dove at the castle, claws ready to snatch any pony it could from the wall. It zeroed in on Cotton Candy and Moon Dancer, who were too busy setting up the catapult to notice its approach. It came closer, and closer... and then it saw stars.
A pink and blue blur slammed into its skull at a hundred miles per hour. The bird shrieked in pain as the blur came zooming past again, cracking across its beak. The creature shook its head and set its eyes on its attacker, a fierce looking pegasus who was flying around for another hit.
"Come on, bird brain! Think you're good enough to catch a Firefly?!" The furious bird flew after the pegasus as the rest of Tirek's forces fell on ponies.
A few Stratadons broke through and swooped over the castle, trying to grab any pony they saw. Despite the ponies' counter attacks, the Reptilians advanced. While they arrived at the gates with another battering ram, more of the brutes raised ladders to begin scaling the walls.
"GET BACK, YOU BEASTS!" Posey shouted as she threw a ragweed bomb into a Reptilian's face, sending it sneezing back over the wall.
"Be careful! Those ladders look unsafe!" With a wave of Magic Star's wand, the Reptilians' ladders turned into noodles and collapsed.
"Get outta here!" called Truly as one managed to cling to the wall and climb up. She slammed a pie into its face and used the strength of your tribe to tackle its legs to topple it back over while it swung blindly. The ponies had another small advantage, Applejack: while small, ponies are surprisingly dense and heavy for that size, and naturally under the center of gravity of larger bipeds. While this is little matter now when few bipeds of significant size still exist, the Reptilians discovered the hard way ponies had a far easier time knocking them down than the other way around.
Firefly looked back at the giant bird as it chased her over the battle. She smirked at her friends' tenacity. She gasped as the bird's claws grazed her wing.
"No you don't!" Firefly swung strait up, with the bird hot on her tail.
Higher and higher the two went, until Firefly suddenly turned and flew straight down towards her pursuer. Her hooves connected with its beak and sent it reeling in mid air. The pegasus took another pass and struck right in the bird's chest.
The beast screeched in anger at the pony. It swiped its wing, blowing Firefly away as the bird took off. Firefly regained her barings and saw the bird flying away and beginning to turn for a pass of its own.
"Oh, that's how you wanna do it, huh? All right, let's see who blinks first!"
Firefly took off as fast as her wings could carry her, as did the wicked bird. They shot straight towards each other, gaining speed as they went. Faster and faster they went, beyond anything anyone had ever seen. Her friends were counting on her, and she was ready to push herself to her limits and beyond to save them.
And suddenly, something changed in the air. Firefly had never gone this fast before, no pegasus had. She couldn't hear the wind, but she could felt it begin to part before her. She was about to break the sound barrier, she could feel it, but there was something else happening. Through the tears in her eyes as the wind whipped her face, she saw colors form and disappear as her speed increased. Until...
KRRKK-BOOOOOOOMMMMM!
Firefly had broken the sound barrier, and with it, the visible spectrum. Firefly hit the bird dead on, a rainbow trailing behind her. Despite its size, the bird was knocked loopy by the much smaller pegasus and was quickly enveloped by a shock wave of rainbow colors. The bird was blown away like a wisp of cloud as the evil magic that gave it form was shattered by the very first sonic rainboom. What? You believed history's first Sonic Rainboom was Rainbow going back in time to cause it?...Though in a sense, you could say it is of her bloodline. Though Rainbow Dash remains the first mortal pony to do it more than once.
"Curse these ponies!" Scorpan growled. "Witch, create more creatures! Send them all at that queen of theirs! Then call in the reserves! We'll wear them down by attrition."
"As you wish." The witch flipped through her spellbook's pages and began conjuring.
Hours dragged across Dream Valley as the ponies were slowly being battered down. The witch had conjured an endless stream of monsters to attack Dream Castle. A griffin that Majesty turned into an origami swan. A giant lion that Majesty turned into a tiny kitten. A sea serpent that she turned into a wave of bubbles. A gigantic wolf-headed spider that she transformed into a squeaky toy. Yet for every creature she enchanted away, two more seemed to take their place.
The witch called upon an cyclops-spider, a descendant of Lahb's brood. The giant monster skittered across the battlefield on its towering legs in a beeline towards Majesty. Majesty charged her horn to turn it into a palm tree. But then the witch summoned another, and another. The witch didn't stop until there were eight cyclops spiders casting tower sized shadows over Dream Castle.
Majesty's horn glowed, causing a gust of wind to blow, catching a cloud of dandelion speeds, which with her magic turned into white feathers, that got into the chinks in the cyclops-spiders' armor, irritating them, causing the arachnid titans to curl up and fall backwards onto their own forces with a responding crash.
"I've moved the sun and the moon, do you think any monsters of yours pose a threat to me?" Majesty smiled.
But Scorpan had noticed, the unicorns hadn't simply transmuted them as she had the ones before them. Majesty had battled villains and monsters all her life, but never this many at once. Majesty had never had a reason to build up her magical stamina. Adding to that endless hordes of Reptilians and Stratodons, the ponies were tiring. Majesty's mana pool was not infinite.
"Excellent." Scorpan grinned. "Oh, Lord Tirek will reward me well when I bring him the four ponies he demands, and the head of the most powerful unicorn in the world!"
Scorpan flew his Stratodon low over the castle and jumped onto the rampart as it swung past. His master sent him to get four ponies, and he would kill any who stood in his way. And the unicorn queen stood in his way. He pushed through the battle, spotting Majesty as she blew dozens of Stratodons out of the sky.
Majesty never saw the gargoyle sneak up behind her. Even her mind reading horseshoe couldn't pick his thoughts out of the din of the hundreds around her. Scorpan raised his sword and prepared to kill the most powerful unicorn in the world, when suddenly...
"OH NO YOU DON'T!"
Scorpan yelped as Applejack crashed into him. The earth pony nearly knocked herself out as she and the gargoyle slammed into the castle wall.
"Stupid pony!" Scorpan growled, kicking Applejack off of him.
"No, I'm a silly pony!" Applejack bucked Scorpan's knee, making him yell again.
"And now you'll be a dead pony!" He stumbled to his feet and raised his sword.
He tried to swing the blade, but found himself frozen in place, surrounded by an aura of magic light. The sword was yanked out of his claws and held to his neck.
"I told you before." Majesty glared at Scorpan, as she held him in her magic. "You will not take my ponies!"
"...Please, mercy!" Scorpan cringed at the metal touching his throat. "Please, I beg you, don't kill me! I have to follow Tirek's orders!"
"Yet you seem to take such pleasure in it!" Majesty growled.
Before Scorpan could reply, a Reptilian jumped over the wall and charged Majesty. She released the spell on Scorpan and turned to blast the Reptilian away.
"You'll all die before this day is done! I swear it in Lord Tirek's name!" Scorpan flew away from the castle as his troops advanced on Majesty and Applejack.
-
"Uh, Princess, what's goin' on with Scorpan? He don't sound anythin' like he did back when he and Tirek were younger."
"Indeed."
-
"Majesty, I don't know how much longer we can keep this up." Applejack panted in exhaustion.
"I know, Applejack, but Gypsy's predictions have never failed us before. If she says something will happen at noon, then... What was that?"
A chorus of trumpets sounded high above the din of battle. The sun appeared from behind the clouds at its noon day height, as the trumpets were joined by the rumbling of thousands of feet stamping against the ground. At the east end of Dream Valley, Gypsy's prediction came true. A human army rode into the Valley, breaking the Reptilians' lines. At the head of the army was Prince Valiant, the ruler of a neighboring kingdom that the ponies had saved from Tirek's minions years before. At the prince's side was the Moochick, and his rabbit helper, Habbit. They had gone to seek aid for the ponies, and they had succeeded.
Help had arrived.
TO BE CONTINUED!