From The Gates

by Dirty Bit

Chapter 43

At the element chamber, Twilight pushed the doors open and galloped for the magic door with her friends in tow. When they skidded to a halt in front of it, Twilight composed herself and trotted over to the door with a look of resolve on her face.

Applejack tilted her head "Not t' dampen th' mood, but won't we be needin' th' princess fer this?"

Twilight turned back to Applejack "Desperate times call for desperate measures, Applejack. I'll have to tap into my deepest reserve of magic if we're going to open this door!" She narrowed her eyes "We need the elements for this, and we'll have to do whatever it takes to get them!"

Pinkie squealed "Oh! Oh! I think this is gonna be one of those Deus ex machina moments!! The kind where you manage to do the impossible and get whatever's out of your reach! Do it, Twilight! Doitdoitdoit!" She hopped up and down with glee.

Twilight nodded "Right..." Her horn glowed as she licked her lips "Here I go!" She then inserted her horn into the door's circular lock and began to channel more of her magic. Sadly, the door did not respond to Twilight's current magic output. Annoyed, she grunted as she focused more magic into it.

Rainbow Dash looked worried "C'mon, Twilight! You can do this! They need our help!"

Twilight had a strained look on her face as she continued pushing more magic into the door with no response 'I can't quit now! This is for Equestria!!' She was beginning to feel exhausted, but she shrugged it off as she tried even harder.

Rarity was more worried than Rainbow Dash "Oh dear! She can't go on like this!"

Pinkie stopped her hopping "We have to help her! C'mon, girls!" She then trotted over and placed her hooves on Twilight while she focused.

Rainbow Dash noticed and looked annoyed "Pinkie, we can't pull her away from the door! Get away from her!"

Pinkie looked serious towards Rainbow Dash and the others "Just get over here and do what I'm doing! Twilight needs our help, right? Well let's help her!! We're in this together!"

Fluttershy was confused until she got what Pinkie was saying "She's right. The elements are behind that door, and we need them to respond to us..." She trotted over and placed her hooves on Twilight as well.

Rarity looked at both Pinkie and Fluttershy and sighed "While this does seem crazy, we particularly have no other alternative..." She did as Fluttershy and Pinkie have and placed her hooves on Twilight.

Applejack nodded "Pinkie's right! We're in this together! We gotta help Twilight since our elements are in there as well!" The cowpony then joined the others.

Rainbow Dash was the last to glance at the group of ponies grouped together in front of the door. She felt reluctant with how funny it looked, but she wondered if Pinkie and the others were onto something "Guess I'm in, too! Let's do this!" She glided over and joined the rest of the element bearers with Twilight.

Twilight was almost running out of focus while she kept her horn on the door 'No...I can't lose now...We need the elements...' She almost felt lost until she finally recognized her friends at her side. The lavender bookworm opened her eyes and weakly shifted them about to look at them smiling back at her 'I'm glad to have friends like them...They've been with me ever since I first came to Ponyville, and now they're helping me with this new problem ahead of me.' She closed her eyes as she managed a sincere smile 'Thank you, girls...You're the best...'

With that, she focused more, and a mysterious wave felt from beyond the door managed to strengthen her. Her horn glowed brighter than before, and the door slowly lined itself with luminescent lights and finally bursted open. The element bearers flew back, but recovered when they noticed the gem-encrusted chest in front of them. Twilight smile "We did it!" The element bearers cheered and made their way to the chest.

Twilight levitated it over to them and opened the chest to reveal all six elements glimmering brilliantly. She then passed them around to each respective owner with determination "Alright, everypony! We got what we needed! Now we should hurry and help Greed and the others!" She galloped off with the other element bearers. While Twilight galloped, she looked up at the castle with concern 'Greed...Please be okay in there...'
_____

The former homunculi trotted long enough before they finally reached the throne room containing Father, Chrysalis, and their five prisoners. Greed looked to see the approaching alicorn and sneered.

Chrysalis saw Greed and growled indignantly "You again!" While she glared at Greed, Father trotted up to him and the others and stopped in front of them with a stoic glance.

Father looked at Greed's group and greeted them with a smile on his face "You've come...I'm glad you got my message..." He spoke in his calm tone.

Greed scoffed "Well we wouldn't miss it for the world! Never thought you'd have Celestia, Luna, AND Cadence on the ropes like this!"

Father chuckled "And I've never thought you would emerge into this world along with the rest of your siblings. But tell me...where is Pride?"

Greed smirked "He couldn't make it here. And besides, we're a whole lot better without him, since all he'll do is kiss ass to you!"

Father snorted "If anything, you should join him in being wiped out of existence...But I should forgive your actions knowing I'm closer to greatness once again..."

Greed gave a dark grin at his Father "You're too kind! Afraid I might kick your ass again, pops!?"

Wrath grunted when he noticed Greed and the others "Greed...n-no...run!" He struggled.

Father sneered "I've expected better from you, Greed. To talk to your father like this...I would advise you to not make any more mistakes and end up like Wrath." He looked back at Wrath with a dark glare. He then shifted his gaze back to the group "But now that you're here, now I can finally get down to business..." He trotted over to Celestia's side and smiled at the former homunculi "Take a good look, my children! I have God at my side this very moment! Soon, I shall merge with her and become the perfect being once more!"

Greed growled "Are you stupid!? Celestia's not God, you idiot! And have you forgotten how your last plan ended up!?"

Father narrowed his eyes at Greed "It was all loused up by you and those humans! But I won't make the same mistake twice..." He smiled "This time, I will have no distractions." He looked around at the former homunculi "And maybe...just maybe I could let you live so we can all be a family again...I'll even provide you with all the power you could ask for...What do you say?"

Lust gave a small gasp and looked down. This was it for her. It was either abandon her friends and come back to her father, or fight for her new home and her new life. She then turned to Greed, who looked at her with a glare. But this glare was not full of anger, but with an urge for understanding from his younger brother. She then turned to Gluttony, who looked innocent and uncertain as he tilted his head. The lascivious mare then finally turned to Envy, who frowned at Lust at first, but then smiled. She did not need anything from Sloth, knowing his answer as well. With a deep breath, she opened her eyes at Father and simply uttered "No..."

Father's smile dropped at the answer "What was that?" He asked in his calm tone.

Lust took another deep breath as her mind was made up. She realized that she would only be treated as a tool by her own Father once more "I said no. While I owe a certain debt to you for bringing me into this life, I refuse to turn my back on those that have not only took me in as one of their own, but have treated me with trust and respect. You are only seeking power through destruction, and I do not wish to go that route once again...I've learned a lot from them, and I wish to know more about this world..."

Father did not change his frown "You do realize that I can grant you that knowledge along with immortality? Are you not listening to yourself, my daughter?"

Lust narrowed her eyes "You disgust me with how you still consider yourself my father after what you put me and Gluttony through! We've done your bidding for the longest time for your personal benefit alone! You've given no thought to our own desires while we've broken our backs for you! And for that, I refuse to see your goal through!"

Gluttony shifted his glance from Lust to Father until he finally answered hesitantly "If Lusty doesn't want to be with you...then neither do I! Sorry, Father..." He whimpered as he looked away "Besides...Pinkie is the best friend I've ever met. She gives me all the delicious food I could eat! And she likes me for it!" He smiled "I love you, Father, but I love my new friends even more!!"

Envy scoffed and gave its own reason as well "I'd say I've given you enough of my time, old man! I'm not going because I don't trust your judgement like I used to anymore! Those princesses you captured actually gave me a chance to live again! Not only that, I have somepony who would stick with me to the end!" It then sneered at Chrysalis "And I sure as hell ain't coming back so I could consider that ugly bitch my mother!!"

Chrysalis was taken aback before she roared with rage "How dare you!? You insignificant parasprite!! You are a changeling at heart! Would you defy me even like this!?"

Envy matched its rage with the changeling queen "Watch me!! I don't owe you or my father shit right now!! The power's tempting, but I'm not coming back!! You're not my mother, and I'm definitely NOT your child!! Get used to it!!"

Sloth raised himself to stare blankly at Father "Working for you is a pain..." Those words were all he needed to state his answer.

Greed grinned at Father "Well, dad? I guess you got your answer from all of us! What do you have to say about that!?" He said as he assumed a defensive position.

Father stared, and his expression slowly contorted into rage "Foolish..." He uttered quietly as his body began to crackle with red static "You're all FOOLISH!!" The pale alicorn reeled his head back and jerked it forward as his horn shot a beam of red electricity that shocked the entire group. They all growled and struggled in pain while Father glared at all of them with untamed rage "You would defy me!? The one who gave you life!? Who gave you the abilities that you have made good use of in the past!? Foolish!! All of you!! You all shall become stones as you have before!!"

Greed had his teeth bared as he grunted and looked to see his body gradually glowing 'N-No...Dammit!!' He looked up and glared back at his Father while his transformation was taking place 'Twilight...I'm sorry...'

Before Father could finish, a projectile flew at him over his children and earned his attention. He ceased his static and defended himself with a magic shield. He saw that the projectile slid down his shield in a gooey yellow and red mush, then he looked behind his children to see an orange mare tossing an apple up and down in her left hoof while wearing a golden necklace and a determined glare on her face "Don't y'all be messin' with my friends, pardner..." She was then accompanied by five more mares.

Rainbow Dash soared in and noticed Envy picking itself up and flew down to it "Envy! Are you alright?" She placed her hooves on the jealous pony's shoulders while looking concerned.

Envy caught its breath and felt itself before smiling at Rainbow Dash "Yeah...You and your friends came at a good time as ever. I see you got them elements, too!"

Rainbow Dash chuckled "Trust me, it wasn't easy neither!! But we're here now! We can still win this!!" She picked up Envy and the two stood ready for a fight.

Greed picked himself up and chuckled when he saw Twilight in her ornate tiara "Good timing, Twi! Thought we were finished there..."

Twilight smiled and nuzzled Greed "I'm glad you're safe, Greed! Now we can take care of this problem!" She looked ahead and gasped when she noticed Celestia and the others trapped in a paralysis spell.

Shining Armor tried to look when he heard voices, and he managed a sad smile when he saw Twilight and tried to speak through his weakened state "Hey there...Twilie...Sorry you have to...see me like this..." He spoke through each breath.

Twilight widened her eyes, and then she was angered when she looked at Father "You did this, didn't you!? Why would you do such a thing!?"

Chrysalis chuckled to herself at Twilight's rage, but then she gasped when she looked at all of the element bearers "The Elements of Harmony!! We need to stop them!" She blurted out in shock. Even the changeling queen knew of their power.

Father dropped his shield and looked at all of the element bearers "So, these are the elements of harmony..." His horn glowed as he lifted all of the element bearers off their feet. When they were in the air, Father narrowed his eyes and he managed to strip the elements off of each mare before dropping them.

Twilight picked herself up and widened her eyes "No! The elements!"

Father nonchalantly levitated the elements into his sight and went through them "Honesty...Kindness...Laughter...Generosity...Loyalty...Magic..." He labeled each element and stopped on Twilight's tiara. After a small glance he smiled and bunched them all up in front of his eyes. He then reared onto his hindlegs as his forelegs gave off red static. Father growled as he slammed his forehooves into the elements. When his hooves along with the elements connected to the floor, each of them broke as if they were made of glass.

The element bearers and the former homunculi watched in shock. Greed growled as he watched the shards fall onto the red carpet "No!!"

Father took a deep breath as the static on his forelegs subsided "You see, my little ponies...Your dreams are like these elements..." He smiled, but then narrowed his eyes to slits as he scowled and hissed "They're meant to be shattered..."