//------------------------------// // Fighting the Darkness // Story: Sweet Affection 3 // by Masterob //------------------------------// Atop the dark crystals, Sombra let out a wicked evil laugh, glaring down at the ponies below. "Soon I'll have all the power I need, enough to overthrow even Princess Celestia herself!" Sunburst rushed to Twilight, "What should we do?" "I'm not sure, last time we used The Crystal Heart to stop him, but it's all the way back at The Crystal Empire!" Twilight said. "Then we'll just defeat him with our own power!" Sunset said. "It's all of us against him, he won't win so easily!" "But he weakened Starswirl, not to mention Night Glider, Double Diamond, Big Macintosh, Sonambula and Lightning Dust are hurt," Twilight explained. "I'm telling you I'm fine!" Lightning called out, just as a wooden piece of the roof fell, landing on her. "Ow..." "I know this looks bad Twilight," Sunset said. "But we gotta try something, otherwise we're all doomed." "Your defeat is inevitable regardless!" Sombra said, zapping down on the ponies, each of them scrambling to dodge out of the way. Once at a safe distance,Twilight, Starlight and Sunset all charged up some magic and blasted Sombra, stunning him for a moment. "Too bad you don't have The Elements of Harmony!" Sunburst said. "Elements?" Twilight wondered. "Wait that's it!" This got the attention of her friends, "If we can gather the Elements, then I can defeat King Sombra. I just need my friends!" "They're probably scattered across Equestria, how are you gonna find them?" Sunburst asked. "I can teleport, it won't be easy but I have to try," Twilight said, then saw Sombra regaining his composure. "Would you be able to keep King Sombra distracted?" "We can try," Sunset said. "But you'll have to move fast!" "Will do," Twilight said, but just as she was about to leave, Chrysalis flew towards her, ready to do battle "You think I'll allow you to escape!?" Before Chrysalis's attack could land, Flitter and Cloudchaser arrived from out of nowhere to ram the queen. "Whoa! Where'd they come from!?" Sunburst asked. "Who cares, I'm glad they're here!" Starlight said, then blasted Chrysalis afterwards to keep her down. Cloudchaser turned to Twilight, "Go do what you gotta do, we'll handle things here!" Twilight nodded and teleported away, as the Unicorns blasted Sombra with their magic, keeping him distracted. Twilight landed safely outside of Ponyville and flew off, focusing hard on Fluttershy first, knowing she had at least Applejack and Rarity with her. Once she was confident, she teleported to the once shy mare. Fluttershy's group had been moving towards Ponyville, when they came across Rainbow Dash's group, looking like they were recovering from an attack. "Rainbow Dash!? Pinkie Pie!?" Rainbow Dash saw her friend approaching, "Yo, Fluttershy! Applejack! Rarity!" The group made their way towards the injured, Fluttershy scanning to make sure none of them looked too bad. "What happened here?" Fluttershy asked. "Would you believe us if we told you it was King Sombra?" Rainbow Dash asked. Rarity gasped, "He attacked you as well!?" "Oh so you would believe us," Rainbow Dash said. "How'd he even get the power to return anyway!? Pretty sure he got vaporized by the Crystal Heart's magic." "I think he's building it, by taking magic from various folk," Applejack said. "I'm guessing he must have gotten to you as well." "He got lucky, next time we meet we're taking him down," Rainbow Dash said. "Not to mention Chrysalis and those Sirens," Ember said. "Can't believe all this is happening at once," Rainbow Dash said. "Figured it was only a matter of time before our enemies started to team up." "Look on the bright side," Pinkie said. "Maybe they'll learn about Friendship and become nice instead of evil!" Rainbow Dash furrowed her brow, "I don't think it's gonna work that way Pinkie." "Couldn't hurt to hope," Pinkie said with a shrug. Suddenly everypony was startled when Twilight teleported into the area, her spell fortunately working well enough to travel further across Equestria. "Twilight!?" Rainbow Dash said. "Rainbow Dash?" Twilight said, wondering if she focused on the wrong friend, then saw Fluttershy standing nearby. "Fluttershy! Looks like you're all in one location, great! That saves a lot of time." "Twilight what's happening in Ponyville?" Fluttershy asked. "Is Shining Armor alright?" Cadance asked. "What of Starswirl and our comrades?" Rockhoof asked. "Did you find Flurry Heart?" Pinkie Pie asked. "Whoa, easy there, one thing at a time!" Twilight said. "Look King Sombra's in Ponyville, he's gotten enough magic to resume his pony form. Now me and several friends managed to defeat The Sirens, so anyone under their control was free. Chrysalis won't be too much trouble, but we definitely need help defeating King Sombra." "What are we waiting for then? Let's go get'em!" Rainbow Dash said. "We still need a way of defeating him, for that we'll need The Elements of Harmony," Twilight said. "The Elements of Harmony?" Applejack asked. "They're back on the tree right?" "Yes, we'll need to use them again to defeat King Sombra, and perhaps Chrysalis as well, hopefully afterwards we can find Flurry," Twilight said. "I do hope she's alright," Cadance said, her heart aching so see her daughter again. "It just worries me that Chrysalis and those Sirens are dragging her across Equestria." "From what one of The Sirens said, she left Flurry in the care of two Changelings, and it sounds like she left them very specific instructions on not letting them her hurt," Twilight said. "So if there was a bright side, I guess that would be it." Cadance sighed, "At least she's not in danger, but I still want to end this now." "And we will, now then, everypony gather around me, I'm gonna take us to the Tree of Harmony," Twilight said. "Can you teleport that many ponies?" Rarity asked. "Dragons too," Ember pointed out. "And Changeling, just throwing that out there," Thorax sheepishly said. Rarity sighed, "Fine, allow me to rephrase. Can you teleport that many creatures at once?" "I can help," Cadance insisted. "I can lend some magic as well," Thorax offered. "Good, to The Tree of Harmony," Twilight, along with Cadance and Thorax had garnered enough magic to teleport. At Sweet Apple Acres, Party Favor and the fillies were tending to Luna, who was still down after her fight Chrysalis. "Princess, you must get up," Party Favor urged. "Yeah, things are getting worse out here!" Apple Bloom said, nudging Luna a bit. Luna started to stir as she began to rise, "What happened?" She saw Sombra standing on top of a dark crystal from afar, using his magic to zap at Flitter and Cloudchaser as the two flew around him. "King Sombra!" "Yeah he came back somehow," Party Favor said. "I mean at least The Sirens are gone, but King Sombra might be a teeny bit stronger." Luna glared up at the evil king, "Curses, I won't allow him to bring ruin to Equestria again!" "Um, I think you should rest-" Party Favor was saying before Luna flew up at Sombra. "Or not." Luna began charging at the shadow king, "Sombra!" King Sombra turned around and quickly blocked a blast from Luna, jumping back to avoid the after affects. "Princess Luna." Luna and Sombra charged at each other, colliding horns. "I will not allow you to endanger Equestria again!" Luna shouted, pushing against Sombra. "You really believe you can stop me without your sister!?" Sombra pushed back. They both blasted magic at the same time, knocking each other back as Luna charged again, sending more blasts at Sombra, which were blocked by his magic. Starlight tried assisting, but Chrysalis blocked her path, "I don't think so." Starlight quickly dodged a blast, groaning in annoyance, "I hope Twilight gets here soon." Back with Twilight, she and her group arrived at The Tree of Harmony, The Elements sitting right where they always were. "There they are," Twilight said. "Quickly, grab your Element!" The ponies wasted no time grabbing their respective Elements, their artifacts latching on to them like the right fit of a puzzle. "Alright, now you just gotta go defeat King Sombra!" Spike said. "I just hope this is enough," Twilight said. "Wait, what about that Rainbow Power? Can't we use that?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Let's stick with what's familiar for now," Twilight said. "Gather around me, I'll get us back into Ponyville." Once again Twilight did her teleporting spell, bringing the ponies back home. In Ponyville, Sombra knocked Luna back, then fended off blasts from Sunset Shimmer and Starlight while Sunburst and Shining Armor kept Chrysalis occupied. "Keep attacking, we gotta keep her away from Twilight!" Sunburst said, before taking a blast from Chrysalis. Shining Armor became distracted when his ally got hurt, "Sunburst!" Chrysalis then blasted Shining Armor back during this distraction. "You pitiful foals have no chance of defeating me or King-" Chrysalis was then blasted into a building by a now recovered Starswirl. "That mare can be really irritating," Starswirl said, holding his head in pain. "Are you alright?" Mistmane asked. "I'm fine, just a little woozy from King Sombra's magic absorption," Starswirl said. Sombra looked down, "Back up are you, well then-" He took a blast to the side from Starlight. "Focus on us!" Starlight and Sunset combined their magic to one attack and blasted King Sombra, but he countered with his own magic, holding the two off. "My magic far outclasses both of yours!" Sombra said, knocking the two away. Before he could resume his attack, he saw Luna coming again, quickly dodging an attack of hers. "I tire of you Princess Luna." "Don't worry, I'll end it now!" Luna flew at Sombra again, but the sly King used his magic to raise a piece of dark crystal to impale Luna through the shoulder, bringing her a tremendous amount of pain. "Ah! Curse you Sombra!" "Princess Luna!" Starlight shouted in worry. This distracted her long enough for Sombra to blast her as well, knocking her into a pole and out cold. "Dammit!" Sunset said, glaring at Sombra. "How could your heart have gotten so dark?" "I sense some darkness in you as well young Unicorn," King Sombra smugly said. "Don't compare me to you, I already made the mistake of being anything like you once, I will not allow my hatred to take over again!" Sunset said, attempting to blast Sombra, though the king fired back with a stronger blast, knocking her to the ground, leaving her down and out as well. "Pitiful pony, if you embrace your darkness, you can learn to control it, and become much more powerful," Sombra said, then saw a light emanating nearby. From it emerged Twilight and The Elements. "There you are, I thought you had abandoned your friends Princess Twilight." "I would never abandon anything I hold so dear to me Sombra," Twilight said. "Regardless, more allies won't do you any good, you have no hope of defeating me," King Sombra said. "That's what you think," Twilight said. "Gather around everypony." Twilight and her friends stood together, the magic from their Elements glowing, much to Sombra's curiosity. "What could this be?" The six mares began to lift off the ground as the Harmony Magic surrounded them, much to the amazement of their friends and the confusion of Sombra. Chrysalis started to stand up, dusting off her attack when she too saw the light. She looked up and saw the Mane 6 glowing while equipped with their elements. She quickly realized what was happening, "Be careful King Sombra! That is very powerful magic!" "Mine is stronger!" Sombra then started firing some magic lasers at the six. Shining Armor blocked the magic blasts, though got blasted himself for his efforts. Sombra continued to attack but each time he was thwarted, first with Thorax trying to ram him though he knocked the Changeling King away. Ember and Spike both breathed fire in an attempt to slow him down, but Sombra quickly put up a shield and knocked them both back. Flitter and Cloudchaser both did a kick to his head, but he knocked them away for their effort. Rockhoof charged at Sombra, attempting to knock him off the crystal, but Sombra's physical strength was enhanced by his magic and he tossed Rockhoof away through levitation, then zapped down an oncoming Flash Magnus. Trixie fired at him from where she was but it did little damage as Sombra picked her up and zapped her with electricity before tossing her aside. Cadance flew in and clashed against his horn, glaring at the King. "You've caused nothing but trouble! We're not allowing you do to any more harm!" "Foolish Princess of Love! The Crystal Empire shall be mine once again!" He then blasted her through a house and then used his magic to lift up a dark crystal. "This ends Princess Twilight!" He tossed it right at Twilight's chest, about to piece through her when it was grabbed magically and deflected right back at him, piercing him though the leg. "Agh! Who dares!?" Sombra said, then to his surprise, he saw Flurry flying over, holding Rumble through levitation. "Meanie king!" Flurry shouted. "What!? You!?" Sombra shouted. "Flurry!?" Shining Armor shouted in disbelief. "Rumble!?" Starlight said, also surprised. "Hi everypony," Rumble said, casually waving, acting like this wasn't weird." Soon the Elements finished charging their magic, Twilight giving the signal. "It's time!" Sombra's eyes widened, "What is happening!?" "Take this King Sombra!" Twilight shouted, as she and her friends blasted Sombra, the King in agony as the magic overtook him. "NOOOO!" Sombra shouted as his physical body began to disintegrate. "Damn you Princess Twilight This isn't over, I'll get my revenge!" The magic completely took over, his horn flying off into the distance. With Sombra destroyed, the dark crystals started to disappear, all the dark magic finally leaving the area. Twilight and her friends landed safely on the ground, surrounded by grateful friends who were happy for the six's success. "You did it!" Starlight said, hugging Twilight. "That was amazing!" Sunburst shouted, joining in on the hug. "I knew you could do it Twilight, your magic is quite impressive!" Starswirl praised. "Oh come on, it was nothing," Twilight insisted, a blush coming onto her face. Spike sat down, taking a sigh of relief, "It's finally over." "Fools!" they heard. Chrysalis was glaring at the group, "Have you forgotten me!? Even with The Sirens trapped and Sombra destroyed, nothing will stop my-" Once again, Chrysalis was interrupted by a strong kick to the back of her head, finally knocking her out. The ponies looked up to see that it was Lightning Dust who nailed the kick. "Ha! Take that you oversized insect! Who's the best in Equestria now!?" Lightning boastfully shouted, then noticed the ponies looking on in surprise. "Sup?" Cadance found a little humor in what Lightning Dust just did, glad that somepony finally shut Chrysalis up. She then heard a familiar voice. "Mama!" Cadance turned to see Flurry flying toward her, "My baby!" She grabbed Flurry and hugged her tight, tears streaming down her face, "Oh Flurry, mommy was so worried about you! Thank the stars you're alright!" Shining Armor quickly ran over to join the hug, the two parents then peppering their daughter with kisses to her head and cheeks. Rumble looked relieved to see that Flurry's parents were happy and that the little Princess was safe. Twilight then pulled Rumble into a hug of her own, "You really kept your promise to my brother huh?" "Of course, what kind of Knight would I be if I didn't?" Rumble said. "Speaking of Knights, I gotta go find Sweetie Belle." "She's back at the farm last I saw her," Luna said. "But how did you get here? I left you back at Canterlot?" "Flurry's got some strong magic and strong wings," Rumble said. "That girl is amazing." Twilight took a breath of relief, glad this was all over. They just needed to get this mess cleaned up.