Sol let out a sigh as the last traces of magic faded from the portal. Even though Celestia, Luna, Rainbow, Eris, and the guards had helped with evacuating the ponies of Canterlot, he was sure that there were plenty of ponies that didn't make it who were now at the mercy of Tirek and Chrysalis.
Muttering a quiet prayer for their safety, Sol turned away from the closed portal to the other active ones, where he watched as ponies began running through the portals in fear, no doubt thanks to the changelings that had been terrorizing them. Thankfully, despite how panicked they were, Sol felt a smile creep up when he saw them calming down a little as saw and were directed by Twilight. Moments later, she was joined by Luna, who helped ease the burden of Twilight's job.
"Hey, Sol!"
Sol looked up and saw Rainbow hovering beside him.
"Hello, Rainbow. Glad to see you in one piece after that battle." Sol paused as his eyes scanned over her. "You appear to be in good condition. I take it that you are unharmed?"
Rainbow smirked. "Well duh. Those bugs couldn't hope to land a hit on me with my speed, even with this sweet armor weighing me down. You on the other hoof, look like you could use a breather."
"It's nothing to worry about. I'm just not used to covering that wide of a distance with my healing magic so rapidly."
"Huh. Well, not much I can do about that. Anyway, it looks like Princess Celestia's coming to talk to you, so I'm gonna go see how my mom and dad are doing. Catch ya later."
Sol waved to Rainbow before she flew up into the castle, leaving him with Celestia as she approached him and began looking over him.
"Are you alright, Sol?" she asked, her eyes and magic tracing over Sol with worry. "That was a bit of a hit you took back there."
"I'm alright, mother. The hit I took is not nearly as bad as what I'm sure you did to Chrysalis. I'm just a little tired is all, but not enough to stop me from helping everypony."
Celestia's eyes wandered over him for a moment longer.
"... alright. Just make sure you don't push yourself. You've already done a lot for everypony, and we-"
Celestia was interrupted as screams rang out throughout the area. Seconds later, everypony's attention was drawn to the sources as three of the portals began rapidly closing on their own, safely expelling anypony who was caught in the portal itself as it started to close.
"Sol!" Flying down to land beside him and Celestia was Twilight, who shared brief hug with Sol. "What's going on?! Why are the portals closing?! Is it the changelings?!"
"It must be," he figured. "Some of them must've made contact with the portal while wearing those necklaces of theirs, and its magic caused the portals to automatically shut down."
"What about the ponies that were caught in the portals as they closed?"
"Don't worry. I made sure to install some safety features into the portal archways beforehoof. If for any reason a portal is deactivated with a pony, or any creature for that matter, passing through it at that time, the runes will activate and eject the pony back to the side of the portal they came from."
Though satisfied with his answer, Twilight still felt a pang of worry and sadness.
"But the ponies who didn't make it... they'll all be left behind."
Sol's gaze fell as he sighed. "I know, Twilight. I don't like the thought of our ponies being left behind with Chrysalis' changelings like this, but there isn't much we can do for them at the moment. For the time being, all we can do is take care of those who did make it, and hope that those who didn't can endure until we can save them."
"But how long will that take? None of us will know what's happening to them all, or how their conditions will be by the time we do go back."
"You are right, Twilight," Celestia agreed, "but at the same time, we may not have to worry as much as you may be thinking."
"What do you mean?"
Celestia draped a comforting wing over Twilight. "What I mean is that, while Tirek and Chrysalis may have revenge and domination on their minds, they're not stupid."
"Besides," Sol added, "we may not be down here for all that long. My guess is that we'll be ready in a few weeks, months at the latest. Still, we won't be stuck down here for years like many are probably thinking."
Twilight shivered as she tried calmed herself with the help of Celestia's presence.
"Alright. What's the plan?"
"For now, we set up an encampment for the refugees, get everypony settled in, and get a headcount. Tomorrow after they've rested, we'll let them move into whichever town they want to live in, then convene in the throne room and go over ideas on how to carry out our counterattack." Sol paused as his attention was drawn to a rather empty gateway, one that had gathered a fair-sized crowd of ponies to it, but none of which were panicking. "... and we might even get some outside help."
Following his gaze, Twilight and Celestia both saw that the portal to the Crystal Empire was still open, but nopony was trying to go through it. Though some of the guards did approach it and begin to cautiously prod it out of curiosity, everything on the other side seemed more-or-less normal.
Maybe we'll be able to keep tabs on those who didn't make it after all? Twilight hopefully thought. "Did Chrysalis' changelings not get inside the Crystal Empire?"
"It would appear they did not," Celestia said, letting go of Twilight and approaching the portal. "I'm sorry to leave you two here like this, but I need to speak with Cadence and Shining Armor. They need to know what has happened, if they don't already."
Sol nodded. "Then we will stay here and help the refugees."
Giving the couple a motherly smile, Celestia mad her way to the portal and passed through it into the Crystal Empire.
"Well, I suppose we should get to it..."
Seeing Twilight saddened and upset like this, Sol wrapped his wing around her in a hug and nuzzle her.
"Everything's going to be alright, Twilight," he reassured her.
Sighing, Twilight leaned into Sol's side and nuzzled him back. "I know. I'm just worried."
"I know. I am too."
For the next few moments, the two stood there in each others' company, supporting one another. Though he didn't show it quite like she did, Twilight knew that Sol was worried for the ponies who didn't make it as well. Speaking of which...
"Do you think Spike and the others made it in time?" she wondered, causing a small chuckle to escape Sol.
"I wouldn't worry about them too much. After all, they have Spike and Starlight to look after them... and Discord too, I guess," he added with a small grumble.
"I thank you for coming back for me. The sight of Chrysalis and Tirek is not one I would wish to see."
Spike and Starlight chuckled as they led the way down the large tunnel with Zecora and Discord alongside them, the former pulling a wagon of her personal affects, while the latter's was filled with small animals. Once Discord had teleported Ponyville's inhabitants to the Tree of Harmony, they suddenly remembered that Zecora was still in the Everfree Forest, and didn't want to leave her there. Having grown to take an interest in the zebra himself, Discord disappeared from the group in a flash of light, returning a minute later with not just Zecora and a wagon filled with her belongings, but also with Fluttershy's animal friends that had been left behind at her cottage.
"Well, I couldn't really leave you behind," Discord said, looking away in a huff. "You are a mystery that I have yet to understand, and you are one of Fluttershy's friends. And besides you, I figured Fluttershy would feel better if she knew her animals were safe, so I needed to get them. Really, your place was along the way to Fluttershy's cottage, so getting you was more like a quick pit stop."
Zecora smirked at the draconequus' behavior. "So you say, but you cannot hide the truth. My eyes see your intent as clear as they see your tooth. You may use Fluttershy's feeling as an excuse, but it was your choice to help me, I deduce."
Ignoring the chuckles, Discord grumbled to himself as they continued on.
"Don't mind him," Starlight smirked. "Discord's just pouting because he doesn't want to admit that you're right."
Zecora gave a throaty chuckle. "Of that, I am well aware. Now, let us continue and get him to his mare. Perhaps she can calm his nerves, so he won't be so reserved."
Despite trying to drown them out, Discord couldn't help but hear their teasing and laughing. At one point he even swore he heard the animals laughing with them.
"Come on, Discord, it's not that bad," Spike said, patting Discord's shoulder. "I mean, it's not nearly as bad as what I got when Starlight and Rainbow started teasing me about being together with Rarity and Ember."
"Lucky you," he muttered.
"Ahhh, cheer up. You'll get used to it, eventually. Besides, it's all in good fun in the end."
Discord rolled his eyes. "Fine. I suppose it could be worse."
"That's the spirit."
"..."
"..."
"... how much farther do we have to go? I'm not exactly used to pulling things without magic, and my arm and legs feel like they're going to start cramping."
The next several hours were busy for everypony. With the sounds of scared foals crying, parents shouting desperately for their foals who got separated during the commotion, and moans of pain from those few who'd gotten injured either by changelings, or from being accidentally ran over by the stampede of ponies, Sol and the others had a difficult time tending to those who made it. Though the injured were easy enough to take care of, despite Sol's growing migraine from constantly using his healing magic, the separated parents and foals were more difficult to deal with, and had to get the guards involved.
They kept the portals open as long as they could to allow ponies to be evacuated, but most were forcefully shut by a changeling coming into contact with it. It wasn't until the last group of ponies came running in with no others insight that the portals were all manually closed, minus the portal to the Crystal Empire, seeing as the city was untouched by Chrysalis' army thanks to Cadence and Shining Armor having been informed of Tirek's return days before. Once everypony got settled down as best they could, Sol stood at the top of the tower overlooking the portals, along with Twilight, Celestia, and Luna, and addressed the populace using his Royal Canterlot Voice.
His speech was kept short as he began by explaining to them where they were, what the Underkingdom was for, and who he was. As expected, many of the ponies voiced their disbelief of Sol's role as King of the Underkingdom, though few spoke against their hidden location. Any disbelief was quickly quelled when Celestia, Luna, and Twilight spoke up for Sol, not only confirming his role as King, but also the location of the Underkingdom. Celestia had also considered coming out and telling everypony the truth of Sol's heritage, but decided against it for the moment, believing that the ponies were distraught enough as it was, and that presenting them with this new bit of information as they were would be too much for them to handle.
Once Celestia was finished, Sol informed the ponies of the gargoyle guarding the castle, and that they had no need to fear them, despite their rather intimidating appearance. He then went to go over the Underkingdom's villages and locations. However, before they would go to their new temporary homes, Sol announced that he would have supplies brought to them here, allowing for everypony set up camp and rest if they chose. They were already a few hundred yards westward of the Undercity, so if they wanted to, ponies could walk around to the front gate, or fly above the city walls and pick out a place to live.
Despite being warned ahead of time, the ponies didn't react very well when they Sol's gargoyles flying down from up in the Undercity, each carrying a large crate filled with supplies like food, water, bandages, and tents until Sol and the princesses could get everything sorted out. Most of the pegasi and thestrals, upon seeing them, had second-guessed flying up to the castle, and instead decided to return to the ground with the other ponies. After all, it wasn't every day that they saw a flying creature made of living stone carrying a round shield and halberd, and having a large, double-headed axe on the end of their tail.
As time passed, with the help of the gargoyles and guards, the tents were all pitched, creating a large refugee camp where the ponies could eat and rest in peace. But still, despite the feeling of safety from the threats above the surface, many ponies couldn't help but worry for those who didn't make it, and what Tirek and Chrysalis might be doing at this very moment.
Tirek was not happy. He and Chrysalis had Sol and three of the four alicorn princesses within their grasp, and they let them slip away. Thanks to his large size, he was unable to get past the plants that were defending the portal. Whenever he got too close to any of them, their roots, branches, thorn-covered vines, or plant pollen where there to attack him. And since he couldn't get close enough, it had fallen to Chrysalis, who had failed and been carried off unconscious to the castle with green blood leaking from a large crack in her face's carapace.
Failing to capture Sol and the princesses, Tirek decided to blow off some steam by taking a walk through Canterlot and destroying random buildings. Though it helped in easing is anger, he still wasn't satisfied.
Such incompetence, he mentally seethed. A swarm of changelings, and despite them being snuck into the city, they only managed to capture, at best, a quarter of these ponies. And Chrysalis; to think that she would be so easily defeated, and from a single buck to the face, no less!
Tirek's scowl deepened as he thought of how easily Chrysalis was defeated. If it weren't for the usefulness of her army, and the fact that only she could control the otherwise unruly creatures, he would've deeply considered disposing her. As things stood, so long as she wore her stone necklace, he wouldn't be able to drain her of her magic, nor could he try taking it off. Same went for the other changelings. Since they were always in groups of four or more and were never apart, if he so much as tried to remove one of their necklaces, he would've been spotted and restrained by their magic, and then find himself dealing with a swarm of changelings and Chrysalis.
If I can somehow sneak up on them and take them by surprise before they notice, I could take them on the spot. The only problem would be when the others find their bodies drained of their magic. As I am right now, I can't take on the whole changeling army and Chrysalis at the same time, even if she is temporarily weakened. I must have more magic before I can make such a-
"Help."
Tirek ceased his mulling and stopped in place as he heard a weak, raspy voice. Looking around to find the source, he heard the voice again and followed it down one of the roads to an unfortunate changeling who had their lower-half being crushed beneath a section of stone wall that had crumbled on top of it.
Seeing the struggling and lone changeling, Tirek felt his scowl slowly morph into a dark grin.
Guess today's my lucky day after all.
"Please. Help me."
Tirek came to a stop, standing over the pinned changeling before taking a look around for any onlookers. Seeing no other changelings around, Tirek quickly reached down and grabbed hold of the changeling's horn and face with one hand, and tearing off its necklace with the other. With the cursed rocks no longer touching it, Tirek dropped the necklace and began the process of draining the changeling of its magic.
Like the ponies, the process of draining its magic was quick, though he found it to have an almost bitter taste to it, than what pony magic tasted like. Within seconds, Tirek had drained the changeling of its magic and released its head, letting it drop to the stone floor almost lifelessly.
"Thank you, changeling," Tirek said, picking the necklace up with his now-changeling-infused magic, and tying it around its owner's neck. "As you can see, now that I have finally drained one of you of your magic, I finally have changeling magic flowing through me. No more will your charms save you from me draining every one of you dry of your magic." Tirek chuckled. "But don't worry. You shall be rewarded for your unwitting sacrifice... and I know the perfect reward."
Tirek got up and turned to grab the side of the unsteady wall.
"I see that you are in quite a bit of pain there... allow me to free you of that pain."
With little effort, Tirek pulled the rest of the unsteady wall towards the changeling. Almost immediately, the stone blocks started to shift and fall, toppling over the changeling like a blanket of stone. As Tirek watched, he didn't flinch when he heard the wet, sickening crunch beneath the stone, nor when he saw the street in front of him splatter green with the changeling's blood. All he did was grin with a throaty chuckle as he walked away.
And now I have what I need... but I can't act hasty. For now, I'll let Chrysalis and her changelings continue like they are. Besides, why do all the hard work when they can do it for me?