Everypony was astonished, seeing Blue’s eyes glowing.
“Blue…” Twilight called again.
It was then that the glow ended and Blue now had an illuminated look.
“Now I understand…” Blue said.
“What do ya understand?” Applejack asked.
“Those dreams and visions I had…” he said. “They were all about this…”
“Does that have something to do with that sword” Rainbow Dash asked. “Seriously, dude, where did you get it?”
Looking to the Diamond Sword, Blue remembered the night before starting the journey to Tambelon.
“At the Diamond Domain” he said. “It was inside the Diamond Heart… My talisman…”
Everypony shared a look and then Pinkie Pie said:
“Okay, guys, I think Blue had just lost his marbles. I think it is better if we put him to bed.”
Twilight approached Blue and asked:
“Blue, when you say talisman, are you referring to the three talismans?”
He didn’t reply, but it was obvious what the answer was.
“Wait, so you had a talisman and you didn’t tell us?” Rarity asked.
“Dad, how could you?” Star asked. “You should have told us.”
“I didn’t know about that” Blue replied. “It was only moments ago that I remembered everything. I remembered the sword… It was like my mind was being reset. Now, I know what my mission is.”
“What mission?” Twilight asked.
“His mission… is the same as ours” a voice replied.
Time Turned and Bright Night appeared beside Blue, each one on one of sides. It was Time Turned who had spoken.
“A mission that we shared” Bright Night added.
“Ow, where did you guys came from?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Yeah, because appearing from nowhere is really not very nice” Pinkie Pie said, causing the others to look at her. “What?”
It was then that Blue, Time Turner and Bright Night kneeled before Twilight and the General of Time said:
“We’re here to pay our respects to you, Princess Twilight. I am Time Turner, the General of Time and the keeper of the Ocean of Time.”
“I’m Bright Night, the General of Portals and the keeper of the Ethereal Divide” Bright Night said.
“And I’m Blue Sword, the General of Balance and the keeper of the Diamond Domain” Blue told.
Twilight didn’t know what to say to that, mainly when Blue was also kneeling before her.
“Princess, my actions and Bright Night’s has been disrespectful and we’re ready to atone for them in any way you see fit” Time Turner said. “But know this: we only did what we did to protect you. You are the owner of the original light of all Pony Reality, the Lord of Order’s greatest creation. Forgive us.”
“Our job is to protect the Pony Reality from the greatest threats that come from out of it, while covering for the Generals of the Light Kingdom in times of great need” Bright Night explained.
“While mine is, not only preserve the balance, but also watch for the safety of the original light” Blue said, smiling lovely to his wife. “A job that I’m taking much better than Perfect Scale, don’t you think?”
“However, it seems we’re too late” Bright Night said. “After the Lord of Chaos’ defeat at the war, we never expected that he would carry on with a former plan, one that I and Time Turner have hopped he would forget about it.”
“Once we realized the plan has been resumed, we could only hope the General of Balance would fully awake in order to fight them” Time Turner continued. “Only with our power combined we can really prevent a great calamity from happening.”
“The Dark Mistress… what is she doing?” Star asked.
The three Generals got up and Blue replied:
“She’s trying to bring to our world a terrible monster that will cover everything in chaos and darkness.”
“Oh dear, that really doesn’t sound good” Fluttershy said.
“We don’t know very much about this new threat, but there is a dark aura around this island” Bright Night said, summoning her mirror and looking to it. “A powerful one. The light of this kingdom was what attracted Grogar to carry on this evil plan. If we don’t deal with this right now, the situation will only get worse.”
“I have tried to see what the future can bring to us, but there’s too many variables for me to perceive anything” Time Turner replied. “Because of that, we’ve been watching from the shadows. However, now that we’ve revealed ourselves, that cannot be done now.”
“We only wanted for Blue Sword to come to help us, but we didn’t think so many of you would come as well” Bright Night told.
“But we came exactly to help” Twilight said.
“Yes, I made a promise to my great-grandfather I would free Tambelon” Star said. “And I know can do this with the help of everypony.”
“The Dark Mistress is our enemy” Bright Night said. “We’ll deal with her and stop her plan by ourselves.”
“Hey, don’t you dare to put as side” Rainbow Dash said. “We are just as capable of dealing with this Dark Mistress as much as you. We have already stopped very powerful villains, while you just kept watching.”
“With my power you could…” Star started.
“The threat you are facing is far worse than you know!” Time Turner replied.
“This is our job” Bright Night told. “We’ll handle it.”
“And for this mission to be successful, we can’t waste more time” Blue said. “We have to attack now.”
“I understand, but that’s why we’re saying you should let us…” Twilight started.
“No!” Blue exclaimed, surprising everypony. “I’m sorry, Twily. When we decided to come together, I didn’t know the full extension of this threat. Now that I do, I don’t want to risk the lives of the ones I love.”
He approached Twilight and, telling her, while caressing her cheek:
“Please, let us do this. Honestly, I didn’t want things to be like this, but it is my duty as General.”
Twiligh didn’t know what to say to that. Despite having total faith on Blue, she simply couldn’t let him face the Dark Mistress when she could help him.
“We three are between the most powerful Generals of Order” Blue said. “We possess weapons that can boost our powers. We won’t fail.”
“And those weapons… Are they the talismans that will bring destruction?” Rarity asked.
“Yeah, that’s a good question” Applejack said.
Star had to agree with that. In the plane he shared with Kurama, he told to the nine-tailed fox:
“My father and the others are hiding something. I know that.”
“How can you tell that?” Kurama asked.
“I know how my dad gets when he hides something” Star replied. “Call it personal experience.”
“Then we have to be certain” Kurama said.
Using his ability to detect negative emotions, he was able to confirm that his father and the other Generals were hiding something.
“If those talismans will bring destruction, then they shouldn’t be reunited” Star said. “Are they just weapons? Tell us your true mission. Why are you really here?”
Blue smiled and said:
“You really have improved your jinchuriki abilities.”
“These talismans are more than just weapons” Bright Night replied. “They are the keys to perform our ultimate mission.”
“That is also our greatest enemy… the Bringer of Destruction” Time Turner replied.
That made everypony trade a look.
“Oh, the Bringer of Destruction…” Pinkie Pie said. “The name does sound scary… Amazing!”
At the Dark Mistress’ sanctuary, she was talking to the Smooze.
“The energy is still not strong enough” he said. “I want more and we have no time to lose!”
“I know that, you don’t have to remind me” the Dark Mistress told. “I may have found the perfect energy for you, but I need to wait for the right moment.”
The Smooze released a grunt and then ended the communication.
The Dark Mistress advanced to the fountain and tried to perceive the lights that were threating their plans. She then noticed three lights shining brighter. When trying to perceive who they were, the images of Blue, Time Turner and Bright Night with their talismans appeared briefly. That surprised the Dark Mistress, while the water of the fountain was agitated like last time she did the same.
That disturbance made the Dark Mistress realize how powerful her enemies were getting. It wouldn’t last until they decided to invade the castle and face her. She had to get an idea to delay them, while she try to get what she needed to summon the Smooze. To do that, she summoned the last of her witches: the one with purple shades.
“Yes, Your Excellency?” she asked. “How may I serve you?”
“Shadow Velvet, the failures of your fellow witches have brought shame upon me” the Dark Mistress said. “They have allowed the ponies of Tambelon to feel hopeful again. Because of that, the Smooze still doesn’t have enough energy. My wish is for you to make up for their mistakes.”
“As the last member of your witch servants, rest assure that I, Shadow Velvet, shall eliminate our enemies” the witch said. “Trust in me, Dark Mistress. The Smooze and the Lord of Chaos will be pleased.”
“I’ll leave it to you” the Dark Mistress replied. “Protect our castle and our plan.”
“As you wish” Shadow Velvet told, bowing.
Back to the farm, Twilight asked:
“But who is this Bringer of Destruction?”
The three Generals traded a look and then Blue said to Time Turner and Bright Night:
“They deserve to know.”
The General of Time and the General of Portals looked at each other and, after considering, they nodded. Bright Night then told, while they showed their respected talismans:
“There is a moment when the three talismans resonate, a moment that is very dreadful for us. It’s when hope is no longer at reach to a world and the best thing to do is put it out of its suffering. When the talismans resonate, we, the three Generals who should never meet each other are gathered and our objects call upon the one who brings destruction, the servant of the Lord of Order who sleeps in the darkness until a moment of great need… the General of Destruction.”
That revelation was such a shock that caused everypony exclaim:
“WHAT!”
“Okay, it’s in moments like these that I need to have a glass of water at hoof” Pinkie Pie said.
“What do ya mean with tha General of Destruction?” Applejack asked.
“You mean there is another General that works for the Lord of Chaos, like the General of Chaos?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Haven’t you heard?” Time Turner asked. “The General of Destruction is a servant of the Order, but not like us.”
“What do you mean with that?” Star asked.
“There has been a few Generals of Destruction” Bright Night explained. “They have always reincarnated, with their star seeds becoming filled with a dark light, as they awake to do their job: causing a world’s ruin, making them fall quietly in the empty. And the talismans are the key to call him… or her. That’s their purpose. As Generals of Time, Portals and Balance, each of us protect one of those keys.”
“When we get together and our three talismans activate, it will cause the awakening of the General of Destruction” Blue continued.
“If this General should ever awake, then the world as you know it will meets its end” Time Turner concluded.
“How awful!” Buttercup exclaimed, while leaning over Jonagold.
“That’s why… the talismans will bring destruction” Thorax realized.
“Because we live in different planes, we don’t meet and that keeps the General of Destruction from awakening” Bright Night said. “However, after Perfect Scale’s fall and Blue Sword’s ascension as the new General of Balance, we ended up being pushed into this current situation, where we are facing the current reincarnation of the General of Destruction, triggered by the Dark Mistress’ plan. Her identity… is Tempest Shadow.”
When Bright Night revealed the General of Destruction’s identity, everypony was speechless and astonished.
“No way…” Fluttershy said.
“It can’t be…” Buttercup added.
But nopony was more shocked than Moonlight.
“So you’re saying… it’s her?” she asked. “Tempest is… the General of Destruction?”
Star didn’t know what to say, seeing his marefriend like that.
“Moonlight…”
“It was her voice in my dreams” Blue told. “It was Tempest’s soul calling for the talismans.”
“The time for the General of Destruction’s awakening is approaching” Bright Night said. “Her body is preparing itself. And she’s starting to feel it.”
“Since the Light Kingdom had returned and the Lord of Chaos was sealed away, the future has never been so bright” Time Turner said.
“That’s why the General of Destruction can never be awaken” Blue told.
“So what are you going to do?” Jonagold asked.
There was a pause and Blue replied:
“We must kill Tempest and then seal way the General of Destruction’s soul for good.”
That answer was a great shock to all the others, mainly Moonlight.
“No… you can’t!” Twilight exclaimed.
“We don’t know if the three talismans will activate” Rarity said. “Maybe they won’t.”
“Yeah, and how can you even consider that option?” Rainbow Dash asked. “You are supposed to be the good guys.”
“We are servants of the Order and we do everything to protect it” Time Turner said. “Besides, we can feel our talismans being called to do their job. We can hear the General of Destruction calling for them. We can feel the power overflowing in them… just like all the times we had to summon her. It’s not a matter of if she’s going to wake up, but when. And I can feel it’s very near.”
“But we’re talking about murdering!” Star exclaimed. “There’s got to be another way. Dad, you know that I proved there’s always a third option.”
“Unfortunately, son, in this situation, there’s not” he replied. “Besides, even if we don’t kill her now, she’ll die soon enough. Her body is feeling the changes and not waking up is turning her ill. You all have seen it… isn’t that right, Moonlight?”
That caused Moonlight to look towards the ground.
“When she was a filly, she was attacked by an ursa minor” Time Turner told. “Tempest was severely injured, but, miraculously, she recovered. Perhaps it was fate, but she was never the same after that. She was scared in more than just one way. But her time is coming to an end. Tempest’s body will fail her and her fragile life will be slipped away.”
“Isn’t any way to save her?” Moonlight asked. “Does she have to die?”
“At this point, there’s only one way to save her body or her life” Blue replied. “She would need to turn into the General of Destruction… with the powers of a General. However, we cannot allow that to happen.”
Moonlight didn’t want to believe there was nothing they could do to save her. When she was starting to lose hope, Twilight said, with tears starting to appear:
“No… Don’t you see that’s wrong?! You can’t kill Tempest, you just can’t! There has to be a better way. After all, the future exists. You said that yourselves. The world will not end. We all will pass through this. We can save everything. I know it. So she doesn’t have to die!”
Those words were backed-up up by the others, who nodded with their heads. Moonlight couldn’t help but smile because of that. However, the three Generals were not convinced.
“That’s exactly what we thought you would say” Time Turned told.
“Which is why we can’t work together” Bright Night said, while she, Time Turner and Blue started to turn their backs at the others. “And it’s also why we can’t be allies, regardless what we may be feeling.”
“You can hate us” Blue continued. “If you rather want to see us as enemies, we don’t care. We have a job to do, our own mission to save the world. And we’re going to carry them out. And that includes the Dark Mistress and the rest of her minions.”
“Wait, don’t go!” Twilight called. “Blue, please, don’t!”
But there was a flash of light and they disappeared. Twilight was heartbroken for seeing her husband, the love of her life, simply going like that, with them apparently on different sides now. A tear run down her face and the sadness was overwhelming. It was then a gentle touch reached her hoof. It was Star who told her:
“I’m certain dad loves a lot, mom. He loves us with all his heart. But he’s a General and he can’t escape his orders. Maybe we can still persuade him.”
Hearing her son telling those words made Twilight feel better, but Moonlight, on the other hand, didn’t want a good friend like Tempest to be killed just because she was fated to become the General of Destruction. With that thought in mind, Moonlight took flight and started to fly away.
“Moonlight, where do you go?” Fluttershy asked.
But she didn’t answer, continuing to fly away, with her speed powered by the moon that was now covering the land with its light.
“Don’t you think she went to Tempest’s, do you?” Thorax said.
“Oh no…” Star said, worried about what could happen.
Then, he also took flight, deciding to follow Moonlight. Twilight then followed her son.
Moonlight didn’t take long to arrive to near Tempest’s place. The three Generals, who were watching Tempest, hidden nearby, noticed her arrival.
“Wait, but that’s Moonlight” Blue said.
The young half-thestral took a deep breath, while deciding to move forward with her decision. When she get to her store, Moonlight noticed Tempest lying on the ground, unconscious.
“Tempest!” she called, running towards her to help.
It was then that she opened her eyes and sat up, looking at Moonlight, while releasing a great shock wave that caused the half-thestral to stop and protect herself, with the same happening to the three Generals. The windows broke and the few ponies that were nearby run away.
Star and Twilight landed, arriving there with Star calling:
“Moonlight!”
They stopped, when they saw what was happening.
“What’s that?” Twilight asked.
And a wicked smiled appeared on Tempest’s face, with her rising up. Her eyes were now cold and cruel and a dark aura surrounded her. That was no longer Tempest. Extending her hoof and with her horn releasing sparks, she caught Moonlight magically and rose her in the air.
“Oh no!” Twilight exclaimed.
Star took flight and charged his horn to release Moonlight, but lightning coming from Tempest hit him and forced him to retreat and land.
“Are you okay, dear?” Twilight asked, while approaching her son.
They then saw Moonlight locket, while extracting a light from her chest. And the locket and a ball of light were taken from her. Her eyes lost their light and Moonlight then fell on the ground, staying then immobile.
“Moonlight!” Star called, advancing toward her.
Twilight looked at the one she thought was Tempest. She got Moonlight’s locket and the ball of light that Twilight recognized as being her own soul.
“Is that the General of Destruction?” Twilight asked. “She’s awakened already?”
The other Generals also thought of that, but, looking at their talismans, they noticed one thing.
“But our talismans are quiet” Blue said.
“Then who is that?” Bright Night asked.
The one they thought to be still Tempest laughed and then said:
“Thank you so much for getting what I needed. Now I can carry on my master’s plan. He will be so pleased and it was me who did it. Me, the Dark Mistress.”
And she laughed evilly.