Chapter 14
Applejack
"Applebloom...Big Mac" Applejack reached her hoof towards their faces "what are ya doing here ? "
" We know how ya like to do anything yer way, but we were lookin' for ya for quite some time now" Big Mac shielded his sister with his body " We couldn't just leave you here with this monster. We tried to reach ya the moment we got here"
"Hey, watch who you call a monster !!!" Deception roared, turning red" Ya stupid ponies ! That orange brat almost got a nice half melted brain, easy to corrupt. Deception never leaves work unfinished. Step aside if ya don-"
BAM !
A mass of muscles ran into her when Big Mac charged on her, sending her flying and crashing on the jade wall of the space around them.
"Why you..." she hissed and jumped at red stallion.
Two bodies locked with each other as Big Mac shouted
"Applebloom, take Applejack somewhere safe. I trust ya that ya'll do good. I'll buy ya some time here !"
Little filly's lip quivered but she obediently semi-lifted Applejack and started to help her walk away
"Don't worry sis. I am here with ya" Applebloom whispered.
Applejack muttered something under her breath and shook her head
"What the hell happened here ? I am the one supposed to care about you...When did ya become so wise, huh ?"
"I didn't, just..." Applebloom hugged Applejack tightly " When we found...yer body...ya where shivering and screamin'...somethin' about mom, dad, not wantin' to fight anymore, takin' care of everythin', even if it wasn't your choice to take those problems upon ya...that was really scary. And we just...went here. I don't know why or how...but I do know...that we can't let that bad pony have ya. Sis...ya're not the only one who misses mom and dad. I didn't even had a chance to properly meet them. Big Mac misses them too, even if he is not so good in revealing feelings. I can't say how lonely I felt because I never had what others had...but there is no reason to give up. We can be stronger, three of us and Granny. We can show those evil spirits where is their place. We will go back home. And even if our family is broken, we can't let it fall apart again. As long as we love each other, it should be enough. Ya can rest now sis. You don't have always be mom to me. I am glad that you were but...I love you as my sister. Big Mac and I will help you with your doubts. Just come home with us "
Applejack blinked and her eyes started to water, which for that extremely tough, not-crying mare was an occurrence as rare as snow in August.
"Apple...bloom...Ya dummy" she said in a broken tone, hugging her younger sibling even harder.
Their embrace would probably be longer but then something flew directly over their heads.
Both sisters turned their heads and screamed, when they saw Deception plastered on the jade rock, sticking from the mist.
Her body was bleeding deeply and two of her limbs seemed to be broken. But she was laughing loudly.
Somepony put a hoof on Applejack's back
"I don't know how much longer ah can do it. I am sorry" Big Mac whispered, his eye swollen and body bruised " She is incredibly strong, ah never seen anything like it"
"But at least you made her tired, right ?" Applebloom asked pleadingly
"Sorry to disappoint ya kiddo" The cut and broken body moved and a steam rose from the wounds, which began to close. Bones cracked, connected and returned to original configuration when Applejack's clone raised up and yawned " That was lovely bit of exercise, but I am one of Dark Reflections. I can't be killed by physical force. And my counterpart can't return to control as long as I am here. So good luck !"
"What are we goin' to do ?" now it was Applebloom's turn to hug Applejack.
Older earth pony patted her sister on the head in reassurance
"Whatever will come on us, we will fight together" her eyes shone
"Yep !" Big Mac nodded shielding his sisters once more.
********************
Rainbow Dash
"You...are...seriously...annoying, you know that ?" Treason laughed as she was thrown against cerise sphere only to raise up and charge at Rainbow Dash, while both were soaring through the sky
"So I've been told. But at least I am not a fricking masochist who likes to thrown against the wall and still laughs that off" Rainbow replied through the wind.
"Oh, that's so cold, especially coming from you. There is nothing wrong in enjoying a good fight, is it ? Tell me then, how many times you risked your own safety because you wanted to impress others ? And when I think about it, what about the times you endangered others to get what you wanted ? You and I, we are really not that different..."
"Hell we are not !" Rainbow bucked but Treason grabbed her hoof before the impact and smiled
"In that case..."
She kicked Element of Loyalty with full force and sent her flying to the ground, while yelling
"We have nothing to talk about anymore !"
Rainbow crashed on the earth and Treason was over her in an instant.
"I really admired your fighting , I didn't have a stretching like that in eons. But now I will be taking your body and stab some more backs. Prepare to-"
Suddenly, Treason screamed as something pulled her back and off Rainbow Dash.
Trough half-blurred vision, Rainbow saw Treason struggling with some orange shape on her back, which was pulling her mane.
Her eyes widened
"Scootaloo ?" she whispered.
Finally, Treason tossed pegasus filly near Rainbow Dash
"For Tirek's sake, give me a break !!!" she yelled hysterically " Just who the hell is this brat supposed to be ?!!!"
"I am Scootaloo. And I am here to save my big sister" said Scootaloo, as valiantly as she could manage with her trembling voice.
"Better move aside if you don't want me to finish you too"
"No " shrieked Scootaloo " Rainbow Dash is coolest and most amazing pony I know. She took care of me when nopony didn't care about poor pegasus that can't fly. Heck, she believed that I can be even stronger than any flyer if I keep my spirits high. So I am not giving up on her. Not ever !!!"
"Scootaloo, don't be stupid...run while you can...it is too dangerous out here" Rainbow muttered.
"Like I care about that. Like I said, I can't just leave you here" Scootaloo countered.
"This is really sweet and all...PERISH ALREADY !!!" yelled Treason, jumping at them.
Then he crushed with a thin, magenta wall.
Dark spirit fell on the ground only to jump back on all fours.
"Ah, I see. You both express strong Loyalty, my natural opposite. It would take a bit more time to break through this magic. But I am up or it !"
"Keep it up Scoots. This is neat and it can actually help. I am really, really proud of you now" Rainbow smiled in the way she considered as a reassuring one.
"Thanks !" Scootaloo beamed. Though both of them were scared to death, they felt more understood than throughout most of their lives"
*******************
Pinkie Pie
"Do you we want to know what happened here ?" Limestone cringed, looking at the pink mist and Pinkie Pie standing alone right in the middle " Besides, didn't goatface jerk said that it will be two of them ? Something is off..."
Limestone and Maud moved slowly towards their sister when Marble trotted closer to pink pony
"Pinkie..." her soft voice was more quite than the softest breeze.
Pinkie Pie started to turn around
'Crap' Limestone thought 'this isn't good !"
Then, Pinkie smiled brightly
"Hi there, I missed you !" Let's get out of here of this gloomy place. I was stuck here with some boring evil monster but it got bored and left me here alone so. I was so sad that it happened but then I found you. Let's go out before she founds us"
Marble ran to her twin sister and hugged her
"Hmm" Limestone muttered " Maybe I am just paranoid. Oh man, did I just say that out loud ? **** !"
Pinkie Pie started to walk alongside Marble when suddenly, Maud stopped them
"Hold it" she said quietly
"Yes Maud, what is it ?" Pinkie twisted her head, smile still not leaving her face.
There was a long moment of silence when Maud's dull, but in the same time strangely focused eyes penetrated Pinkie
'Celestia damn it, what is going on here ? Just say something ?' Limestone thought once again.
Finally, Maud stepped back and hardness of her gaze turned from that of the regular rock to that of a diamond
"My little sister would never use words "gloomy", "sad" and "boring" so close to each other. You're acting was obvious. Conclusion: You are not Pinkie Pie." the rocktor explained with unphased expression.
Marble gasped
"She is not..."
"GIVE US OUR SISTER BACK, YOU MONSTER !!!" Limestone jumped on the imposter, when suddenly...
"You passed !" The false Pinkie reached to her back and...zipped her own skin away. Underneath the costume was...
"Pinkie ?" Limestone yelled, trying to stop herself in flight. In the result, she flew few meters up and fell flat in almost the same location she pounced from.
She blushed and yelled at pink pony, who just came from the costume...of herself.
"WHAT WAS THAT !!! HONESTLY, I WAKE UP EVERYDAY WITH A FEELING THAT MY LIFE DOESN'T HAVE ANY SENSE BUT THIS IS EVEN BEYOND ME !!! PINKIE, ARE YOU TRYING TO BE KILLED ?!!!"
"No silly !" party pony hugged her sister, who was still red from wrath and embarrassment " I wanted to test you. Since I was here with that evil meanie, I thought that if someone comes for me, I have to check if they are indeed who they are pretend to be. So I disguised myself and tried to act abnormally. And you passed. I am so happy right now"
"Pinkie..." Marble trembled " You have a full size costume of yourself"
Limestone sighed
"Seriously ?! Our sister can defy physics, journey to the other worlds and do literally everything and this is the disturbing detail ?!! Well, when you think about it, it is quite off...but still..."
Suddenly, the mist around them started to swirl and darken
Maud stared at the mist before stating
"The mist is moving. Pinkie, did you tell us everything ?"
The bulb of light lit up over Pinkie's head
"Ooooooh, riiiiight..." she said, playing with her puffy, pink mane " Did I forget to mention that this whole test was a deal with my buddy Sorrow before you came here ?"
"So where she is now ? " Limestone looked around " Somewhere in that mist ?"
"I think..." Pinkie sniffed and tasted the air for a few times " She is the mist."
"Yes." A hollow, depressed voice echoed from everywhere" Come join me in my Mist of Death. You are all going to-"
"We are going to die" Maud frowned as if she discovered some insect flying near her.
"W-w-we a-a-are go-going t-to d-die" Marble became white and started shaking
Limestone's eye started to twitch
"Pinkie, my most beloved sister..." she said in a perilous voice" can you tell me...why dID YOU HIDE THAT VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION ?!!! YOU KNOW, THE ONE ABOUT AS SUFFOCATING IN THE CREEPY MIST IF WE DON"T GET AWAY QUICKLY ??!!!"
Tears appeared in Pinkie's eyes
"But she Pinkie Promised that she will let us go if you pass the test"
"I am you reflection, I will always VIOLATE that promise" echoed through the fog.
Pinkie Pie pouted and sit on the ground
"Whoopsie, my bad ! I am so silly" she giggled
***************************
Twilight
"So it came to this... in all of the times I needed to win..." Despair and Twilight stared at the chessboard.
There were only two pieces standing.
Two kings.
"Looks like we have a stalemate, Twiley. A pity really... guess we have to move to a Plan B"
Twilight felt her head hurt and screamed.
"Me and my sister Deception can perform a telepathic attacks. You have a strong will and mind, but even you will be crushed beneath my might she heard Despair in her thoughts.
Twilight focused all she had on blocking the attack but she has already very weak from the chess match, that almost made her loose her body and earlier battle in the physical world. She felt her barriers crumble...
Tharima, shilea ! someone spoke in a calm voice over Despair
Evil alicorn flinched and severed the connection, looking around with wild expression
"Aka lima ! Impossible ! There is no idea you could know the Speech of Truth. You are too young. Unless..."
The sky above their heads became a mixture of silver and gold. The air was filled with aromas of bananas and lavender.
"YES, EVIL SCUM !!! LEAVE OUR FRIEND'S BODY AT ONCE !!!! " the all famous Royal Canterlot Voice boomed from behind.
There they were standing in her full glory. Royal pony sisters, Princesses Celestia and Luna.
Celestia lowered her head
"As you noticed, my sister and I both know the Old Speech" she spoke in a cold voice that suggested a control anger " You must be also aware that, as the basic language of magic, usage of that speech can grant you a control over somepony's mind, if the speaker is skilled in magic. I had a centuries years of experience. More than enough to defeat you. So, we will ask one last time. Give body back to Twilight and be gone. We will spare you as long as you stay away from Equestria"
Despair smiled
"Sorry, no way. You shouldn't underestimate the superi-"
"Fï aen deta, träigo ! " Celestia whispered in an instant.
The air around Despair self-ignited and explosion threw Twilight's clone high in the air, when she started to circle above the ground still surrounded by flames.
"Yrd calos ay hudami !!!" came a roar from above and the flames swirled in a ring around Despair and fell down on Celestia.
Princess looked at the inferno and snapped
" Callä liri atrope, yrd sela gimah foro !"
When the rain of flames fell down, Celestia stood there, not touched by heat, but seemingly glowing like a sun
"You don't know how to quit, huh ? Fine then ! Neyna, shetellai !"
The bonds of darkness covered Celestia, wrapping themselves around her tightly.
Solar Princess smiled
"Thanks for the comfortable spot. Let's end this now ! It will be quick ! La, feimah !"
Her body shone like a star and darkness faded away.
Before Despair could react, Celestia made four quick gestures with her hooves, invocating
"Era, aigo, vea, sera, neyna, lä. Tesu, vi hë tara 'menami"
Air, fire, water, earth, darkness and light. Please, aid me to fight with my love
Twilight blinked when she suddenly realized that she understood the weird language. She looked at Luna who winked at her and whispered, putting a hoof on her back.
"Telepathy. I will translate it for you, for your comfort"
Twilight nodded weakly and returned her attention back to the princess.
And she shivered. Celestia's face was a mask of cold determination, a sight Twilight saw only once.
In memory invoked by the elixir Zecora gave her during princesses' ponynapping. The memory of Celestia fighting Nightmare Moon.
Despair roared and her face melted a little, her eyes started to evaporate the same kind of violet smoke that Sombra and other umbrums.
" Ilatir eali verokami " she hissed and Twilight felt that the words automatically gained meaning.
Your life will fade with my word
The stream of magic flew towards Celestia...only to be caught by her in one hoof.
Despair backed away and for the first time, a genuine fear flashed in her eyes.
"My death magic ! How can you catch it like that ?!!!"
Celestia looked at the ball of energy and then on Despair
"I am Celestia Aurora Astralis, the Rising Sun and Protector of all Ponies. I cannot die here, when the most precious to me are in danger. I already lost Luna once to the likes of you. I will not lose Twilight too. Retha !"
Despair was caught in a telekinetic grasp and lifted in the air. Suddenly, chains made from fire, earth, water, darkness and light appeared and started to close around her, while the air was keeping all of this contained in the form of the sphere.
Despair started to howl, wildly trying to break free.
"This will suck all of you real quick." Celestia nodded and lowered her head.
"Wonderful work sister. Now we just need to sent her where she came from" Luna spoke quite cheerfully.
Then Celestia lifted her head and Twilight screamed, putting a hoof to her lips.
There were a golden cracks near Celestia's eyes and her irises turned into a golden discs.
"More...more..."she whispered in a odd, raspy tone " Meta si 'kosa, ä horo iilikathaset !!!"
Despair's body started to decay and turn to dust, only to be reconstructed a moments later, in endless cycle of death
Luna's eyes widened
"That magic...No !!!! Tia, snap out of it. This is too much. Lea, lä neynaza, cora mellei elaka !!! "
Celestia inhaled deeply and her eyes returned to original, cerise shade.
The elemental sphere broke and Despair disappeared in a cloud of black smoke
Celestia was shaking.
She hugged both Twilight and Luna.
"I am sorry you had to see that. Especially you Twilight. It is nothing, it happens when I try to use too much powerful magic at once. But...the good news is that I made Despair leave. She is out there somewhere...but here victory is ours."
Twilight nodded. She could only think of how much research the experiences of recent days will require.
********************
Spike (before fight with Greed)
Spike was running as fast as he could.
Must reach Rarity in time he had to.
"Spike !" came a shouting from behind him.
Spike spin around in an instant and was caught by surprise by the sight of a unicorn filly galloping towards him.
"Sweetie Belle ? What are you doing here ? Are you okay ?"
Rarity's sister stopped next to him, breathing in a erratic pattern.
"I am alright more or less, I had quite weird conversation before I started searching for you. But...Spike, I know that you are in a hurry, but please...I have something to tell you. It is really important."
Strangely, Spike came closer and put a hoof on her back
"What is it Sweetie ?"
Sweetie Belle took a deep breath and began
"Spike...you know that I...really, really like you. In that crazy, inexplicable kind of way that happens only in those books Rarity is reading. I fell for it hopelessly..."
She chuckled lightly
"You know, I can't even figure out why I feel what I feel. And I hoped...that I will understand one day. But after today, I see that it is not meant to be"
Spike's eyes begin to widen
"Sweetie..."
She silenced him with a quick gesture, a small stream of tears flowing down her cheek.
"Please, just listen. I love you Spike, and cause of this I want to see you safe. I know that you feel the same for my sister and I can't really blame you...I do know that I became to love your conviction towards my sister and the others and your will to sacrifice everything for our sake. So now..."
Spike gasped when Sweetie's consciousness touched his own
"I like to think about the world as a story. A story of infinite choices and characters. Spike, I can give you something that I wanted to give you for some time. I give you my heart Spike. What I am going to do now, you won't accept. I don't expect it. But please, let me save you this time."
A streams of vanilla aura started to flow from Sweetie Belle towards Spike, who simply started at white unicorn, too shocked to even properly frame a thought.
"Sweetie Belle, no !!! Please stop !!! We will work this out !!! Please, don't do anything stupid ! You...can't just all of the sudden..." his vocal cords finally started working again and tears appeared in his eyes as well.
Sweetie smiled, with the green mist evaporating from her.
"Actually, I think this is the best things I ever did. I know that from very beginning your heart was set on my sister. You really love her and I guess I was just too late for that. So now I will give you all my memory and feelings of love towards you, so you can save Rarity. I am more than happy to help."
"But what about your own happiness ? I...I don't want to make you forget...I am really just a dragon who messed with love..." Spike shouted, his eyes gazing deeply into Sweetie's.
The filly shook her head and sighed
"Those feelings are mine Spike, but you made me feel them. It is natural, me returning them to the source. I think that the portion of love will save one of you from the place that you will be locked in. I know that being a silly idiot that you are, you will probably save my sister instead of yourself. And I...
She wrapped her body, now shining green, around him
"I would really hate to lose you. Some things cannot be erased. But..."
"Sweetie..." Spike tried to add something, but it was cut by the lips pressing against his own.
They stood like there for a few moments and when they finally parted, Sweetie said, sliding against him to the ground
"Spike, I...wanted us to be happy. Together. But I know what I have to do to help all of you save the day. So Spike...if you had any feelings for me whatsoever..."
Spike clenched his fist
"You...and Rarity...I don't....I mean...love..."
"Sssssh..." Sweetie Belle interrupted gently " I am going to lose my feelings for you and this realm will give them to you. You are going to be sad, you are going to be furious, but....don't let this change you. Stay true to your heart, the heart I fell in love with, and you will save my sis, and everyone else. And I am sorry, cause I am your test here..."
Magic started to fade, disappearing within broken Spike. Sweetie put a hoof to his cheek.
"Before I go, please smile for me. The last time I will remember..."
"How in Equestria can I smile now ?" Spike muttered.
Sweetie's gaze fixed dreamily upon him
"I don't regret doing this. I really wanted our story to begin but...I feel good knowing that we got the possibility to even consider it happening. That's a good thing. So...please remember my love, Spike. You have to find my sister, tell her how you really feel, then you shall date, and get married and have a bunch of kids. But as long as you will carry me within you, it would as if I were there with two creatures I most love. And that still would be" she winked at Spike and smiled weakly " the greatest story never told..."
Then her eyes closed and hoof fell to the ground.
It could be seconds, minutes or even years before Spike moved. He didn't really care.
He reached his shaking claw the check the pulse.
She was alive, breathing was regular, as if she was in a coma or just deep sleep.
Spike stood up and took a few wobbly steps.
Then he screamed and as he screamed, flames flickered between his clenched teeth and slowly, the scream turned into powerful roar, one worthy the ancient dragon such as Torch.
"WHAAAAAT THE HEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!"
Spike slowly turned to sleeping Sweetie and fell to his knees once again, sobbing and shaking over the friend, who chose to save him and Rarity.
The crying attack lasted several minutes.
But then it suddenly stopped.
When he raised his head, his eyes were cold and seemingly calm.
That wasn't a wrath that was like fire, incinerating everything on its path
It was wrath consuming and devouring everything like a deep ocean.
A flame so cold it could burn even more.
Spike took still unconscious Sweetie on the back and started to run, searching for a weak scent of honeysuckle.
'They will pay dearly' he thought ' No one hurts the ones close to me. I am going to find Rarity, save her, tell her that I really mean it, we will save everyone...but I will never forget your love Sweetie Belle. Not a one minute. I promise."
Holding a ball of energy, which was Sweetie Belle's love, he ran until he spotted a familiar white silhouette.
He put a filly on the ground and looked at fashionista, cracking his wrists.
"Greed...I am coming for you...I will make you leave" he muttered in a grim tone, when he collapsed, venturing into Rarity's mind.
************************************
Discord
Cruelty flew higher to meet the burning gaze of draconequus.
"How the **** are you still ******* alive ? I thought that the Tree will kill you !!!"
Discord grinned, conjuring a white flag with his picture showing thumbs up.
"Harmonia and me... we are enemies, but for the benefits of both of us, we have ceasefire"
Cruelty licked her lips
"The ********* I care ? You are a pest that must be exterminated !!!! DIE !!!!"
She kicked Discord in the face but draconequus teleported beside her and struck her down to earth.
Cruelty was pinned to earth, when Discord increased gravity. She laughed and slowly raised up
"Your magic is still regenerating, isn't it ? Such a ******* pity !!!" she punched him in the jaw.
Discord summoned the flames that surrounded Cruelty.
Evil spirit looked shock and started to scream for help...
but then started laughing once again.
"You are forgetting..." she passed through the flames as if it didn't burn her flesh " Inflicting a suffering upon my own body is also a form of cruelty. I am immune to all physical pain. So, mister all high and mighty, how are you planning to defeat me ?"
Fluttershy galloped to Discord's side
"Discord !!! Are you all right !!!" she asked with worry in her eyes.
"Throughout billions of years, I've been better. But it is almost as badly as Celestia beat me up when I walked into the bathroom and she was showering..."
"Discord... " Fluttershy squeezed her eyes shut " I want to tell you something...just i case we don't make it..."
Discord smiled tiredly
"What an interesting coincidence. I have something to confess to yo-"
He was tackled to the ground by Cruelty
"Don't ignore me while we fight."
"Don't you dare interrupt me !!!!"
With a snap, Cruelty was send flying backwards and crushing back on the earth
Discord focused on Fluttershy once again
"Fluttershy, I promise you, I will make her go away and when I do, we will talk after this whole thing blows over. But before I settle this, I need to ask you something. Do you-"
He was interrupted by a soft kiss placed on his lips
"You don't have to ask" Fluttershy whispered " You changed so much since we first met...of course that I trust you. Do what you have to and I'll stay here to support you
"Thanks, I really...appreciate that" Discord said, giving her a wink and turning away.
'On the other hand, maybe you shouldn't trust me. Even I am scared of what I am about to do. If it works, it will definitely make that monster go away. But if it fails..."
The pile of rocks erupted and Cruelty jumped from the dust
"You are mine !!!!" she roared.
And then she stopped motionless in the air
"Wha..my avatar...why..." she looked at her opponent
Discord was looking down, his body sparkling with red currents of lightning.
"Don't let it swallow you...keep the grip tight..." came the muttering.
"Excuse me, what in the" suddenly, Cruelty was muted. She tried to speak but no sound came out.
Discord raised his head and Fluttershy's eyes widened. His eyes were now entirely red and some parts of his face were crossed by red cracks.
"WE HAVE NEVER FELT MORE FREE" he spoke and it sounded more like a choir of voices than one, singular voice. They were ancient, dry and malicious "ALL AROUND US WILL BOW TO OUR WILL"
Suddenly, all of the space disappeared as chaos overtook it and make a pandemonium of reality. Only Fluttershy remained untouched on the scrap of space floating in the kaleidoscopic maze of everything and nothing.
"SPEAK SOMETHING BEFORE WE OBLITRATE YOU."
Discord (if it was still Discord) snapped his claws and Cruelty yelled
"Just what are you"
"LISTEN !" Discord clenched his paw and Cruelty's body was squeezed as well " IF YOU DON'T WANT US TO DESTROY YOU, YOU WILL LEAVE THIS BODY IMMIDIATELY. AND IF YOU DON'T..."
A luminous glow enveloped his claws, which he directed at his heart
"WE WILL KILL OURSELF, ALONG WITH THIS UNIVERSE. ALONG WITH YOU !"
He appeared next to Cruelty and lifted her chin by one claw
"IMMORTAL BEINGS ARE ESPECIALLY AFRAID OF DYING AND NOTHINGNESS. HOW IRONIC..."
"You...you can't do that " Cruelty started shaking " You would destroy your precious whiney pegasus friend too."
A smirk twisted Discord's lips
"YOU THINK THAT WE CARE ?!!! WE ARE CHAOS, WE ARE EACH ORDER THROWN OUT OF BALANCE, THE DESTROYER OF HARMONY, BRINGER OF PANDEMONIUM, DISASTER OF THE UNIVERSE. WE ARE DESPAIR, SORROW, DECPETION, GREED, TREASON... AND CRUELTY. AND NOW BE GONE...YOU ANNOY US"
Cruelty screamed, clenching her head...and disappeared in bloody red mist.
The world returned to normal.
Discord levitated a few inches above the ground when suddenly a small tear fell down to earth.
"FOR WE...ARE...DISCORD" he muttered.
Then he fell to the floor
Fluttershy was by his side instantly
"Discord !!!! Discord !!!! Say something !!!! That was really scary, please don't ever do that again. I was so-"
Now it was her turn to be silenced by the kiss
'Jeez, silencing by kiss is becoming really common in this story' thought Discord.
"I am glad that work...that was so close... Fluttershy, I am so sorry you had to see this...but I had to let my full power in to overcome her spirit...please forgive me. You know that I would never let you die, right ?"
She hugged him, wiping his tears away
"Of course I knew all along. That's just how much you changed. Few years ago, you would just let your power destroy everything but instead, you saved my life. I am so proud of you. You were willing to destroy the universe for me...this is...ehm, very flattering...but don't do this ever again, okay"
Discord nodded
"Yeah, never ever. Pinkie Promise"
When he did the motion of the vow, he could have sworn that he heard Pinkie screaming in the distance.
He grabbed Fluttershy and snapped his claws.
"Come on Fluttershy, we got friends to save" he said, locating his teleportation on Spike.
**************************
Rarity (Spike and Discord too, sort of)
Back to present time
"Discord, how are we going to escape ?" Spike shouted through the roar of the wind pulling everything in the black hole down below.
"If only you had some strong emotional anchor on the other side, you could pull yourself back to your physical body" Discord wondered.
"Wait, you can exit whenever you like ?" Spike ask
Discord shrugged, trying not to lose balance and holding Spike in the same time
"Guess so. But my reformed morality is telling me to help you. I would appreciate if you came up with something though. I just confessed my feelings for Fluttershy...well, more or less. I really don't want to die on her right now."
Spike smiled
"Yeah, we will get the girls. Just as we planned"
Discord's tooth shone in the blackness
"Together"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rarity gasped and coughed, opening her eyes
"Oh, Rarity ! So good to see you awake !"
When Rarity's vision regained its sharpness, she saw Fluttershy leaning over her.
"Fluttershy...darling...you are alright" Rarity muttered.
Fluttershy smiled
"Yes, I am, thanks to Discord. But I am really worried about Discord. When we arrived, he just disappeared, saying he needed to help Spike"
Rarity's eyes widened.
Spike...
Memories flooded her mind...
Spike giving her that aura...kissing her to save her...
She raised herself up and looked around until he saw him.
A body of the purple dragon, laying motionlessly on the ground.
She approached and collapsed in front of him.
"Spikey..." she whispered" please wake up...this is some kind of silly joke...you will be awake in a moment and we will be joking about this...Spike, please...just open up your eyes...you....you..."
She felt her tears flowing down
" Idiot !!!!!" she cried, starting to shake him "Idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot !!!..."
She finally stopped shaking dragon and hugged him, her beautiful face now twisted with sadness and grief
"I am...an idiot" she sniffed.
Fluttershy extended a hoof, but then backed away. Some instinct told her that she was witnessing something important and that it was better to leave Rarity alone.
Rarity looked at Spike's face
"Spike...please don't leave me now. I...I know I screwed up, I really did, but...in that time, I was scared of what other's might think and...do you know how many stallions were chasing after me ? Your crush was adorable, but how could I know that you weren't just enamoured with my body ? I was scared and stupid, Spikey. Over the years, I kept repeating that you will grow up from it eventually. As if you loving me was something wrong...You know, I was so caught up in the fact that you had a crush on me, that I was overlooking that you were all that good partner supposed to be. You were always there for me, looking for me, supporting me and rescuing me from the oppressions...Spike, I had to learn it the hard way...but now I know. That sometimes fairy tales come in all forms. When I was a little filly, I was just sitting in my room, dreaming about my knight in shining armour...a little princess waiting in her often empty home for someone to take her away. But later, life kept showing me that the dream is never such good as something...or someone for that matter. You proved time and time again to be wonderful friend. But I just didn't know how to face it, until...this Hearthswarming, when you sang this beautiful song. You really think of me as something that nothing can compare too...I can honestly say that I never received so much warmth and affection from any of my previous admirers. From that moment, I just didn't know how to feel. And I kept myself in illusion until a talk with Princess Luna few nights ago and what I saw when you confronted Greed... Spike, I am sorry that you have to suffer from unrequited love for some long. It would be so easy to know a simple answer. But I guess not only you had to grow up. Spikey..."
She put a hoof on his cheek
"Please wake up and I will make it up to you...I will be there for you, just like you always were there for me. I will try to make you smile, to spend time and laugh will you. I won't ever use you again. If you are willing to forgive me for all the heartache I put you through...I am ready, Spike. Ready for...us. So please come back. The Boutique won't be the same without you there...I couldn't possibly walk away from loosing you. What I mean is...I love you. And I will pull you out of...whatever you are, no matter what !!!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rarity's words were echoing through the darkness and even through the wind.
"Did she...was that...you ?" Spike asked Discord, his thought spinning in shock.
Draconequus smiled a little
"Maybe I worked with dimensions a bit so you can hear each other. But we still need the link. We-"
And then the three little words echoed through the void.
Discord raised an eyebrow
"Don't tell me that this phrase is your anchor. This is so..."
Then he noticed Spike's dreamily gaze and sighed
"Well, it's fine as well as it saves our asses" he smirked watching his buddy disappearing in a green smoke, before disappearing in a flash of light.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So what if we are different species ? Or I am a bit older ? We will work something out !"
Rarity nuzzled Spike's cheek saying.
"There has to be some way to reach you"
She slowly approached his lips and kissed him.
And then she felt an opposing pair of lips kissing back and some sort of moan.
She quickly pulled back to reveal Spike smiling with his eyes closed
"Well, now I can die. I achieved total enlightenment" Spike said cheerfully, opening his eyes.
Rarity's sapphire eye twitched as her face reddened.
"You...you..."
SLAP !!!
"Owww!!!" Spike shrieked, grabbing a cheek with a hoofprint on it "What was that for ? "
"That's for leaving lady alone in important moment" Rarity huffed
"Hey, I-"
A pair of sweet soft lips claimed his. They embraced and kissed passionately, putting the last ounce of will and love into it.
"And that's..."Rarity panted, after a long break without oxygen" is for coming back for me. I love you, Spikey-Whikey"
"I think I can get used to that" Spike slowly raised up and looked at Fluttershy and Discord, standing in the distance.
"Welcome back" Fluttershy waved at him and Discord showed thumbs up.
"You come back just to be killed !" A tornado of darkness surrounded them. Discord and Spike shielded the girls when they spotted familiar silhouettes of the Reflections.
"No !" someone shouted from above.
It was as if a star descended to earth. The beautiful alicorn with a body of pure light and a face that was more and more beautiful every second.
"I can't let you kill them. " said Harmonia coldly " Especially Discord. If he is killed, that happens only by my hoof and my hoof only"
Discord muttered something under his breath but said nothing.
"This is impossible ! You were sick and dying !" Despair hissed " How can you be here ?"
Harmonia smiled
"Throughout my realm, that group stayed true to my Elements and that was giving me enough power to stay alive. However, it was not until those two pairs confronted their feelings and opened their hearts, that I could manifest and help them.
Dark Forces, you were violating my laws for far too long. If you won't withdraw, I shall end you"
"Ha ! I would like to see that. You don't have enough power. We can strike you down in an instant !" Cruelty laughed
Harmonia sighed
"Then you leave me no choice. Discord, this is THE time."
Spike, Rarity, Fluttershy and Discord raised in the air. Two pairs positioned themselves in Yin-Yang position, with Harmonia between them.
"Harmonia and Chaos are meant to be opposites and foes. But in some rare occurrences, they can work in conjunction. And then they can do anything. Omnipotent beings, a god-like force. But it needs to come from the heart..."
"Save us this ! We have to world to conquer !" Greed interrupted.
Harmonia reached to Spike
"Love born from Harmony of heart, from dragon who always want to protect the one he cared about..."
Another hoof stretched and grabbed Discord's paw
"Love born from Chaos, from a spirit who fell in love with a mortal being..."
Harmonia began to shine brightly, looking at the Dark Harmony.
"This is the true power of Chaos and Harmony. Together, we can change everything and get to every heart, purify every darkness. This is The Love of Chaos and Harmony"
Despair, Greed and Cruelty all jumped at once.
Harmonia closed her eyes and said firmly
"Rewrite Light !"
The world was enveloped by the brilliant light and...
****************************
...Everywhere, the ponies felt the wave of love and peace flow through them and all the darkness perishing... the Tree trembled in foundations and roots...
Six Reflections were screaming...until it disappeared as if nothing happened.
*******
Spike blinked at raised up.
Then he was tackled down by two ponies.
Rarity and Twilight
"Spike, I don't know how, but you did it" Twilight smiled " We tried to distract the rest of the Reflections but...you really saved us."
Spike looked around and gasped. They were back in front of the Tree. In physical world.
They did it. They returned.
Spike could see all the ponies around him. Everywhere made it back safely, besides few bruises here and there.
Tree itself looked more healthy but it was dull and not-shining.
"Me and Harmonia were able to use our magic together, thanks to our love" Discord explained quickly" We managed to literally rewrite the history and erased them from there. But I am afraid that it really weakened Harmonia's magic... did I say that OUTLOUD ?! Gah !!!"
"Well, we will check if everypony is okay and then return to Ponyville." Princess Celestia ordered, before lowering her head. Luna did the same " Thank you all. Because of your efforts, we managed to meet our parents once again."
Discord blinked
"P-Parents ?"
"They wanted you to let them go Discord, it wasn't your fault. Do that for them and for us"
Discord looked at them with gratitude and nodded. He looked around
"So...what now ?"
Fluttershy flew up and gave him a peck on the cheek
"Now...we will fix everything up"
Spike felt Rarity's hoof in his claw and found her smiling warmly at him.
He smiled back, realizing what adventures awaited for them in the future.
Rarity...my marefirend...
This was too good to be true...
Still, it was still one thing to go through.
He looked at Sweetie Belle, still sleeping peacefully.
If it wasn't for her, he wouldn't save Rarity and because of that, everyone else.
It couldn't end like this for her...
Spike looked at Discord and the Tree of Harmony
God-like powers, huh ?
It wasn't the end. He still had a favour to ask.