Final Fantasy: Twilight Elysium

by Matrix7o6

Wrath of the Infernal

Ask any former-orphan what the greatest moment in their life was, and they'll tell you it was when a loving family walked through the doors and chose them. An overwhelming joy would flutter across their face at the memory of walking out with their newfound parents to a life of wholesome family ties. Sadly, this hasn't been the case for a certain orphaned pony known as Scootaloo.

It would seem to Scootaloo that her destiny will be to suffer in this orphanage until she aged-out, when she'll be thrust into the so-called loving world of the ponies. A world that for all its whimsy, has found itself jaded by her beyond recognition.

Her dreams of being adopted by the Fastest Flier in Equestria were, for a lack of better words, dashed when the mare had gone back on a promise she'd made the filly not too long ago. Now emotionally crushed, Scootaloo stayed in her room and wallowed in her sadness.

Her friends attempted many different ways to pull her out of her depression. Most of the ideas didn't manage anything but a scoff or two in their direction. But eventually they were able to give her a new goal entirely; to take revenge on Rainbow Dash and get so popular that there wouldn't be a pony in town who wouldn't want to adopt Scootaloo. Together they had came up with the perfect way to do it.

It hadn't been a secret that Ponyville's previous resident librarian and mage, Twilight Sparkle, has been missing for over a year now. The young Cutie Mark Crusaders had cooked up a plan to try to find her a bring her back to Ponyville. It was great; they would be known as heros to everyone in town- in Equestria. However Scootaloo didn't happen to be the luckiest pony in the world.

It seemed this victory had vanished with the lavender mare as the fillies discovered that Twilight wasn't just missing from Ponyville or Canterlot. She'd disappeared from this world entirely. Now Scootaloo felt that the only thing she could do is lay in her bed and dream of a life that would be good to her.

But adventure seldom takes time off for anypony.

"C'mon, Scoots," Applebloom groaned in frustration as she knocked on the door. Having grown up with a family meant Scootaloo's were slightly alien to the country filly, so it was a tad difficult for her to comfort her friend. But that didn't usually stop Applebloom from trying, "It's not tha end of tha world. We're not gonna give up!"

"Just go away Applebloom," Scootaloo responded, smooshing her face into her cover. "It's over."

"Not'ntil we say it iz!" Applebloom fired back. "Yur our friend. Sweetie and I have been like sisters to ya. An' we don't give up on family."

After a few moments of silence Scootaloo opened her door. "Why don't you just drop it!?" she shouted.

"Is that really wut you want?" Her friend stared her dead in the eyes. Scootaloo's composure broke as she sighed and slumped back to her bed.

"No," she answered somberly. "But I'm tired of dragging you all down with me." She turned away from her friend. "You and Sweetie Belle are just wasting your time with a filly like me. You both have lives to live; don't let me ruin it."

"How many times do Ah have ta say it ya dumb filly!? We. Are. Yur. Friends," Applebloom fumed. "We want ta help ya, so we're gonna help ya."

"Applebloom, I just want-"

"GIRLS!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she darted past a nurse. She barely managed to skid to a halt in front of the two fillies. "P-Pinkie Pie!" she panted.

"Slow down Sweetie, what happened to Pinkie Pie?" Scootaloo raised her hooves in a calming gesture.

"P-Pinkie Pie," she started, still panting. "I saw her running. It looked like she was being chased by some mare. They were going in the direction of the Everfree Forest."

At the same time, Applebloom and Scootaloo's eyes widened in surprise. "If they get lost in there, it won't be gud," Applebloom stated. "We need ta find Zecora if they did go into tha forest. It's dangerous ta run around in there."

"Dangerous?" Scootaloo said. "Okay, who are you and what have you done with Applebloom?"

The country filly smiled at the response. She patted Scootaloo's back. "Good ta have ya back, Scoots."

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A knock on the Apple family's door gained Appejack's attention. "Ah'm commin'," she said when the visitor knocked again. She opened the door and took a small step back. Rainbow Dash now stood across from her. "Rainbow Dash!"

"Long time, no see... Applejack," Rainbow Dash greeted mechanically. She took a step forward and offered a smile. The mares hugged each other.

"Whut'n'tarnation are ya doin' down here? Ah thought ya had Wonderbolt trainin'."

"Well, me and Spitfire broke up and I was feeling a little homesick. So I took a few days of leave. I was just about to say hi toBinky Bie, but I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd say hi to you."

Applejack chuckled. "Binky Bie! Guud one, Dash."

Rainbow Dash furrowed a brow. "Her name isn't Binky Bie?"

Applejack frowned. "Ya seriously don't remember?"

Before Applejack had time to react a green bolt streaks past Rainbow Dash. It hits Applejack's chest, throwing her into the wall beside her fireplace. The bolt oozed with a green gel-like substance that was holding her in place on the wall.

"We rehearsed this!" Shining Armor shouted as he stomped out from behind a bush. Several royal guards followed. He slapped Rainbow Dash on the back of the head. "It's Pinkie Pie, not Binkie Bie. Stay focused; we still have four more to go."

Rainbow Dash winced, then bowed. "A thousand apologies, My King," she said before erupting into green flames. Now in her place was a changeling drone.

"Shinin' Armor!?" Applejack shouted as she struggled. "Whut'n Faust's name is goin' on!?"

"You're in the way of my goal, as well as my queen's. So we must dispose of you. You can be happy in knowing we have no intentions to kill you. And we're taking you as a family." As the words leave his mouth four drones bring Granny Smith and Big Macintosh into the house. Two changelings to each pony, the chains holding them made from the same green substance that was restraining Applejack.

"Applejack!" Granny Smith started thrashing about in her goo-like cuffs.

"We're going to usher in a new age," Shining continued as if nothing were extremely wrong. "One with no need of the Elements of Harmony-"

Just then BigMacintosh headbutted one of the changelings holding him. Then he bucked the other changeling. Despite the restraints digging into his neck and legs, Big Macintosh charges at Shining Armor with all his strength. He swung his weight around to his back and reared upwards, delivering a powerful buck straight at the winter coated stallion's head, uncaring if it was a lethal blow.

However Shining Armor was unmoved by the act. As the powerful hooves came at him he'd simply helf up his foreleg to block the blow. Big Macintosh couldn't believe that not even a mark had been left on the guard's limb. He was astonished that Shining seemed unphased.

The unicorn chuckled. "Not as strong as you thought huh, Macintosh?" Shining said with a smirk. "Though, it is true that the Earth ponies magic resides in their muscle structure, which makes them ideal for extremely laborious tasks." He took a small breath. "That is why the Earth ponies are going to make the bulk of our slaves.

"You, however," Shining added as he reared a forehoof back, "need to learn some manners." He slapped Big Macintosh, sending the farmhoof flying through a wall and into the Apple family's kitchen.

"Big Mac!" Applejack and Granny Smith screamed in unison.

"What about the sssssmallest one?" a drone questioned.

"The spies can bring her in when she returns. Your priority is to find the Jewel and bring them all to Chrysais."

"Yes, My King." The drone leaves and joins the others in their search.

"Make your queen proud. Though the reall work begins tomorrow." Shining then turned to face the two female Apples. "Now it's time to deliver you to the queen."

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Though the city for the most part has stayed unbiased in these dark times of Niflheim's endless quest for dominance Altissia, the Jewel of the Sea, had been no stranger to the echoes of conflict. But, the city has been able to stay out of direct conflict for may reasons. One being that, should Niflheim attempt to force their flag in the city, they risk the wrath of the sleeping goddess awaiting under it's oceans.

This goddess in question laid in wait for the call of the Oracle. The Leviathan being as strong and stubborn as she was, if the Oracle were to face her with arrogance, Altissia would learn the wrath of the tides. And Niflheim forces were relying on this stubbornness as they'd been making their way toward the city on the ocean, expecting for it to be crumbling by the tides. But as they drew closer to the city they found it succumbing to flame.

Endless flames roared through the city, burning everything in sight. Cries of anguish could be heard in the distance. Cries of a warrior that has lost part of herself. A tragedy having now repeated itself has given birth to a monster created from good intentions. And now a monarch of the sun must face the flames of the underworld.

Woe to you Celestia. Woe to you as you face The Wrath of the Infernal.

"TWILIGHT!" Celestia yelled as she blocked a fireball with her glaive. "Please, you must fight this! Twilight!" She spun her glaive with her magic, deflecting a large wall of flames.

"Why... Why... Lulu... I could have saved her...I COULD HAVE SAVED HER!"
Twilight roared and rushed toward Celestia. "WHY DIDN'T YOU LET ME SAVE HER!?"

Celestia took to the air with a flap of her wings. "Twilight, I'm sorry about this. But this is for your own good!" She spun her glaive once more and closed her wings, sending herself into a freefall.

Twilight's flames only grew, reducing the ground around her to molten rock. She jumped at a break-neck speed toward Celestia. Twilight's sword lit up in an arc of fire moments away from meeting Celestia's glaive. As magic met weapon a wave surged amidst the air in a massive burst, separating the former teacher and student pair.

Twilight righted herself and skidded back when her feet hit the ground, creating magma filled ruts in theprocess. Once she came to a stop she slowly walked forward. Her flames burned any unfortunate object in her path. Meanwhile Celestia's landing wasn't as graceful. The blast had knocked her back with such force that she had no chance in righting herself before careening into the window of a dress shop.

I... don't... understand, Celestia thought to herself as she struggled to stand. Glass and splinters of wood were lodged into her back along her wings. Blood was running down her forehooves from high upon her chest. She had blood staining her snow white coat and her once regal mane was matted with the tips burnt off by the vengeful Twilight Sparkle. What sort of magic has tainted my student!? This world is truly irredeemable to corrupt such an innocent soul!

"Twilight!"

Celestia's call was answered by the roar of a monster. Twilight continued to shamble her way toward the princess, only stopping for a moment when she saw the shop's sign near a pile of rubble. Familiar memories flooded her mind of happier times with Lunafreya. Tears started welling up in her eyes, only to evaporate before they could fall.

"Twilight you must remember who you are!" Celestia pleaded. In doing so she snapped the snapped the walking inferno out of her trance. "I know we can help you," Celestia continued. "Come back to Equestria. Your friends and I can undo what's happened to you!"

"Why can't you just... leave me alone?" Twilight asked. Her flames died down a bit. "I just want to be left alone."

"You know I couldn't do that Twilight." Celestia's tone was more gentle this time. "Your friends and family miss you. The need you, Equestria needs you. It is your destiny to protect Equestria."

"MY DESTINY!?" Twilight's flames burst forth again, causing Celestia to reel back. "You had all that time! You sat with some of the greatest heroes Equestria has ever known! Starswirl the Bearded, Clover the Clever, the list goes on. And you're telling me you never tried to come up with a way to protect Equestria with them!?"

"They could only do so much!" Celestia's pleas became desperate as Twilight now stood right in front of her.

"Because you never tried!" Twilight swung hard and her fist connected to the side of the radiant alicorn's face with enough force to send her into the building beside them.

Celestia's vision was a blur as she struggled to get on all fours. She had to use antique shelves to lift herself.

As this went on, Leviathan continued her battle with Noctis.

"King of Lucis," she spoke sternly. "Your trial must be put on hold. This situation has become even more dire than it had been."

"Like Hell I will!" Noctis yelled back. He floated in place in the air, the weapons of kings past swirling around him. "Take this!" He fired all the weapons at the large sea monster, causing her to reel back in pain.

"YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND!" The Leviathan slammed into Noctis head-first. "The blood of Ifrit runs through that woman's veins! If she is not stopped we'll all be in danger. She will slowly lose herself to the power and burn everything in her path. Help me stop the daughter of the one who cursed this world in the first place." The Leviathan's arrogance had quelled to fear. Noctis thought for a moment.

"We're not going to kill her," Noctis stated sternly. He waited calmly for the goddess's response.

"We may not have a choice," she replied carefully. They looked at each other for a quiet moment before proceeding. Together they headed toward the epicenter of the flames.

"Twilight!" Celestia begged before getting kicked in her stomach. The blow forced its long-forgotten contents to spill from the princess's mouth. "P-please, come to your senses," she choked out through a burning throat. She tried regaining control of her breathing but the pain from shards of glass and wood imbedded in her sides caused the breaths to come out rushed.

"Die... Just die... DIIIE!" Twilight roared. Her flames burst again, burning the ceiling and surrounding shelves. The various antique pieces from the former shop began to melt around them.

Twilight opened her hand. Her horn, now white as snow, ignited and twisted until it became a sword. Flames spiraled from the base of the hilt to the tip of the blade, only stopping at the top, where they continued to burn. Twilight raised her arm.

With no other choices, Celestia ran to the shop's display window. She crashed through it and landed in the street just as Twilight had brought her sword down. Enough force came from the swing that Celestia was flung into another wall across the street. Though, Celestia was able to shield herself from the subsequent shattered window so more glass didn't slice into her. Celestia looked back at the shop to find that the flames from Twilight's weapon had caused the building to catch fire.

Celestia then slid off the wall and readied a spell. "This is for your own good Twilight," Celestia said in urgency. As she was focusing on the flaming building, the sword came flying out at her. Celestia only had a split second to dodge and she took it, although she failed to see that Twilight was now beside her.

Twilight grabbed Celestia's right wing.

A sickening pop filled the air, followed by Celestia's screams.

"Twilight!" Noctis shouted, now hovering above them. Twilight snapped her attention to Noctis, seeing that the Leviathan was behind him.

Celestia weakly rose to her hooves, shaking. Her right wing now horribly dislocated, she limped away toward the water. As she got closer to the water, Celestia flickered open a portal. Need... to get... her friends, she thought to herself. But before the princess could make it Twilight grabbed her leg, heaving her backward. Celestia cried out in pain, as her leg was being burned as Twilight held it.

She turned to plead with Twilight. "Twilight please-!" Her words were cut off by a fist to the face. Celestia felt as if she'd been punched by the finest of chiseled stones.

"That's enough!" Noctis yelled. He hurled several weapons at Twilight at once, knocking her away from them and into a pile of rubble. "Get out of here!" Noctis directed Celestia.

Celestia was dumbstruck for a small moment at the act, but knowing her chances for getting Twilight back for the time has disappeared for now she felt there was no point in dying here. She needed to go care for her wounds and come up with a new plan. Celestia hurriedly limped back to the portal stepped through it. It vanished as soon as she was through.

"NOOOOOCTIIISS!" Twilight hissed as she broke through the rubble pile. She whipped her head around, searching for Celestia. Once she realized what happened, she roared angrily at the prince. "You let her get away!"

"She didn't kill Lunafreya!" he yelled back. "Ardyn did! I know it hurts Twilight, but you must get yourself under control. You're going to hurt other innocents if you don't."

"I'm going to kill you Noctis!" She jumped with intentions of ripping him open.

"We have to stop her!" Leviathan shouts. She rams head-first into Twilight, knocking her sword from her hands. But the Tidemother's feat of strength was short lived.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" Twilight yelled in a rage. She managed to grip the side of the great serpent's head. Twilight fell back to the ground and righted her feet. Then with an immense strength and force, she was able to throw Leviathan out of the way. The serpent's body crashed into the city streets, leveling any building that was unfortunate enough to be in the way.

Noctis began hurling more weapons at Twilight, only for her to swat them away like flies with a wide arc of flames. He rose higher into the air in an attempt to avoid the fire that almost caressed his shoes, then prepared for another bombardment. While doing so he noticed that Twilight swung back to throw her sword in his direction.

In retaliation Noctis summoned an axe and throws it at her sword. The two weapons clash as Twilight appeared at her sword. Two violent energies worked against each other as neither combatant backed their force down. For a few moments the air surrounding them was rendered nearly unbreathable by the tension and all was quiet for a few terrifying moments.

Then the area erupted in flares of sparks and flames as the sky lit up with explosions. Niflheim transport ships that found themselves too close to the two warriors were destroyed. Some crashed into the water while others fell into the city, causing more destruction.

Suddenly Twilight appeared closer to Noctis. She has sprouted a pair of very large demon-shaped wings that were coursing with fire.

Noctis hurled his javelin at her, but she moved her head in time. He attempts to capitalize on the miss by teleporting beside her and he goes in for a kick. But Twilight manages to grab his leg and hurls him into a Niflheim capitol ship.

Before he could pry himself loose, Twilight flew to him at full force and slammed him through the ship itself. The ship's hull swelled, then erupted with sparks as the two continued their viscous battle within the bottle-necked hallways of the craft. Any onlooking Magitek troopers did not fare well during the quarrel.

Meanwhile the captain of the ship is barking at an interfacing monitor. "They are inside my ship!" he shouts. "This is your chance! Fire, dammit, FIRE!" He stumbled as the structure was rattling and quaking beneath him.

"Your sacrifice will be remembered," a disembodied voice said through the screen. Then three capitol ships rose in plain view of the windows.

"Glory to the Empire!" the Captain shouted. A pillar of flames erupted under him. The capitol ships started firing upon the remains of the ship, their massive cannons tearing through the ship with ease. The remains started going up in massive explosions.

As smoke rushed out from the exploding craft, two figures were launched outward from it. One landed in the water, while the other struck a ruined rooftop.

The Leviathan made her way to Noctis on the rooftop. He weakly rose to his feet. "Not a moment to lose, Chosen King," the serpent started. "She has been weakened; now is the time to finish her off."

"I said I WILL NOT kill her!" Noctis shouted at the Leviathan, who spins two face him in a rage.

"DO NOT BE A FOOL!" she roared. "If we leave her, she'll recover and destroy without pause. You would risk this world for-"

"I will not sacrifice a friend!" Noctis interrupted. Before he could continue his protest, Leviathan took it upon herself to dive into the water after Twilight. "You damn serpent!"

The prince flew into the water after the serpent.

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A pink blur that rivaled Rainbow Dash's sprinting speed darted past a thick bunch of branches, and was being chased by a grey pony in a frock. After a few moments the grey colored pony was able to get to where she was right behind her sister. "Pinkie!" Her voice was loud, but also still kept it's usual monotone. "Stop running!"

"No!" the pink pony with long, flat pink hair shouted. "I'm not letting you do this to me again, Maud!" She abruptly jumped to another path parallel to the one they'd both been on to try and evade her sister.

Maud stayed on the path she'd been on and managed to get slightly ahead of Pinkie. She rushed by several trees, keeping her eyes open for any opening to get through. Finding her opportunity, she dove through some branches and straight into Pinkie.

The two sisters slammed into the dirt and slid a few good feet. But luck was not on their side today, as there also happened to be a hill in their path. Gravity took hold of Maud and Pinkie and they tumbled down the hill, hitting rocks and bushes along the way. They tumbled onto a lip in the hill that had a sudden drop-off that put them in a dark clearing. Maud landed mostly okay, while Pinkie had managed to fall onto a jagged rock foreleg-first.

"P-Pinkie...Fight her," Maud grunted.

"Fight me?!" Pinkamena screeched as she tried to scramble back on all fours. Though due to her run-in with the rock she was less than graceful, and she cried out in pain as she attempted to put pressure on it. She looked down to find that her leg was covered in dirt and blood. That is definitely going to bruise nastily, she thought to herself.

She looked back to Maud. "Why," Pinkamena shouted. "Why would she fight me!? I protect her! I will do what she is afraid to do!

"You're only hurting her," Maud replied steadily. She stumbled to her hooves and started walking toward her sister.

"Really!?" Pinkamena laughed. "And here I thought you couldn't make jokes that weren't about rocks." She scoffed. "When those bullies came, who was it who protected Pinkie!? Because it sure as Faust wasn't you!"

Before their arguing could escalate, they were silenced by a howling whistling within the trees. "This is not good," Maud whispered, her eyes darting around the clearing, searching for the source.

"We've been in the forest enough to know what it is," Pinkamena stated. "Timber Wolves." Pinkamena also looked around the clearing slowly. Soon, twelve pairs of glowing green eyes shifted in the darkness behind the foliage.

Growls and low rumbles signaled to the others that the prey had been found. Sounds of creaking and splintering wood echoed through the clearing as six large wolf-like creatures composed of wood prowled around the Pie sisters. They could sense that one was hurt, so they were all zeroed in on Pinkemena.

"Get out of here, Pinkie." Maud jumped in between her sister and the timber wolves.

"Sh-shut up, Maud." Pinkamena stood up. "I'm not a helpless little foal."

"I'm not argui-" Maud'ssentence is cut off as both of the ponies hurriedly jumped out of the way of the pouncing predators.

Pinkamena winced at the jolt of pain that shot through her shoulder. She clenched her teeth as she spoke. "I-if we don't scare these things off, there won't be an escape for either of us!" She shifted her weight onto her good foreleg as one of the timber wolves charged at her. After rolling out of the way, Pinkamena managed to slam into the wooden construct's leg. This broke the creature's leg and caused it to fall face first in the dirt.

Maud bucked a timber wolf that attempted to pounce on her, shattering its lower jaw in the process. Stepping away, she saw that branches and leaves were coming out of its chest, twisting and reforming to regrow it's lost lower jaw. She gasped.

"We need to run before they regenerate," Maud called to Pinkamena, who was busy dodging another timber wolf. By now the one that had tried for Pinkamena the first time was already starting to regenerate.

"Easy for you to sa-OW!" Pinkamena shouted. "I won't be able to keep up!"

As the other timber wolves herded closer to the Pie sisters, the sounds of glass shattering could faintly be heard. The timber wolves were about to pounce again when one of them recoils in disgust after taking a big breath of the air. It backed away. The rest of the pack also recoiled when they got a smell of the air, and the creatures retreated.

"EW!" Pinkamena shook her head in disgust. "What is that smell!?"

They heard a voice speak up from behind some overgrown bushes. "'Tis a batch of mushrooms I keep preserved. And a good thing they fled, for that was the last of my reserve." Pinkamena and Maud look to see Zecora approach them along with three multicolored foals.

"Zecora?" Pinkamena asked.

"I see you found a timber wolf pack. As quick as you are, they will cut you no slack." She got closer to the Pie ponies.

"We wuz wunderin' why ya run into tha forest," Applebloom piped up from behind Zecora.

"The three fillies came to me post haste, when they explained I knew there was no time to waste."

"I was trying to get away from this moron," Pinkamena said and pointed a hoof at Maud. The three fillies stared in shock.

"This can be settled while we walk." Zecora gestures for the Pie sisters to follow. After a moment the two nod to each other and followed her to her hut.

All parties were unuware of the danger currently infiltrating Ponyville.

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Fluttershy's days have definitely become more interesting with Discord around. Though, and unbearable guilt seemed to follow her for not mentioning anything about him to her friends. But what could she do? If they knew he was out they would tell Celestia, and she'd seal him in stone again. He didn't deserve that. He wasn't hurting anyone. Was he?

Fluttershy sighed as she poured more feed in the troth for her chickens. She waited as they all piled out of their coup. All the while, she'd had the mental battle raging inside her head. That's it, she thought. I need to tell my friends. I can't keep-

"Miss Fluttershy." A stallion's voice startled startled her. She jumped, causing a few stray chickens to cluck in surprise. She turned around to see that it was one of the royal guards.

"Oh hello," she replied, breathing a sigh of relief.

"You must come with me," he instructed sternly. "Princess Celestia has summoned the Elements of Harmony to Canterlot."

"I understan-" She tried to answer, but she cut off when she noticed that several pebbles on the ground had grown legs and were running around in circles. Her eyes went wide with panic. "Um! One second!" she stage whispered to the guard with a frantic wave.

The buttercup-colored pony hurried back into her cottage to confront Discord. "Discord, what are you doing?" she whispered.

"There is something... off about that guard, Fluttershy," Discord answered as he spun a red licorice rope around one of her light fixtures. "I can't put my paw on it, but there is something wrong."

"I can't do this right now Discord," Fluttershy stated. "If you keep messing around out there he'll find-"

"Fluttershy look!" Discord pointed out the window just our of sight from the guard. She took a peek to find a horrifying sight.

The guard had started writhing in his place. Green flames began spewing from his body, causing Fluttershy's animals to flee in terror. As the flames overwhelmed him, his head changed into the head of a duck. His left foreleg was replaced with a bear paw and a bunny's tail.

"Discord! Stop it!" she shouted in a panic.

"This isn't of my doing!" he defended himself. He looked on as the guard continued to tranformation. When the flames finally went out, what was left was a black insect-like pony with battered wings and neon blue eyes that reflected the sun's rays.

"It's a changeling," Fluttershy spoke in shock.

"And it's impersonating on of Princess Celestia's guards," Discord added. "If it's after you, that may mean they're going after the others as well."

The changeling bolted through the door then and hissed aggresively.

"Batter up!" Discord shouted. A large sucker poofed into existence and slammed into the side of the insectoid's head, sending it into a wall. Before the changeling could remove itself from the wall, Discord grabbed Fluttershy's hoof.

The two vanished in a puff of confetti. Upon realizing its quarry had gotten away, the changeling hissed in anger. As to not draw attention to itself, the creature transformed himself back into the guard pony it had previously been disguised as before leaving the cottage in a rush.

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Trixie had grown tired of sitting around the library day in and day out. To a point the days just kept seeming to get slower and slower as she looked for ways to alleviate her boredom. So she'd come up with an idea; practice her magic tricks and blow Ponyville out of the water with the return of The Great and Powerful Trixie!

But a certain orange unicorn was not too happy about this.

"Do you really have to do that here?" Sunset grunted as she watched Trixie set up some confetti launchers. And it seemed to her that Trixie may have been going a little overboard with the confetti. "You're going to make a mess. And besides, you're putting entirely too much confetti in that. It's an injury waiting to happen."

"Then why don't you come over here and help me?" Trixie sighed.

"Are you that desperate to get me to do something?" Sunset replied.

"Yes! By Faust, I've seen bumps on logs move more than you do from that spot!" Trixie rebuttled.

"Like it's going to matter soon!" Sunset fired back. "As soon as Celestia returns with Twilight I'm outta here! And if you knew what is good for you, you will do the same."

"Then why don't you just stay in Canterlot?!" Trixie argued.

"Because I didn't have a choice!"

"Like I don't have a choice but to test the confetti cannon inside the library." A sinister smirk formed on Trixie's face as the words left her mouth.

"Fine! But you will clean it up," Sunset grumbled. She rolled her eyes and returned to reading her book.

"That's fine." Trixie wrapped a cord around her foreleg. "Huh... I guess I made these too long."

Sunset's attention went back to the magic-practicing pony. "You packed it too tightly," she warned Trixie again. "Just let go of the cord and unpack the confett-"

"I'm not listening." Trixie stuck her tongue out at Sunset in a childish manner.

"Damn it, Trixie. I'm not about to be stuck here because I have to replace things of Twilight's that you broke. Give me that cord." Sunset got up from the bean bag chair she'd been sitting on and walked up to Trixie.

Trixie giggled and walked around to the other side of the cannon. "No," she said, stamping a hoof.

"Quit being a foal Trixie. Give me that cord."

"No." Trixie put the cord behind her with her magic.

"I'm not asking!" Sunset shouted. She started running around the cannon. Trixie screamed and also ran around the cannon to avoid Sunset. As they continued in circles, the cord got wrapped around the cannon. And unbeknownst to Sunset, a part of the cord also managed to get tangled around a back hoof.

The girls' squabbling was interrupted by a knock at the door. "One second!" Sunset called out. She goes to open the door, preparing to meet another annoying visitor. "Just stay quiet," she advised Trixie, bracing herself for another day of interacting with the hapless townsfolk.

But before she reached the door, she blinked and the Element of Magic's ethereal and sickly form stood in front of the door. Sunset's eyes widen in surprise. The sickly Element offered a weak reassuring smile. In the next instant there was a loud crack as if glass were breaking, and Sunset's ears rang as a massive crack shot upwards from the Element's body. It tried to say something as it fell to pieces, but Sunset was unable to make it out.

"NO!" Sunset tried to run to the Element but she was yanked back by the cord her hoof had been tangled in.

Hearing panic inside the house, the pony that knocked on the door threw it open and rushed in. A royal pegasi guard clad in his golden armor didn't have time to process the situation though, for when he stepped forward his ears were met with a deafening boom and his face became very acquainted with a large condensed ball of confetti. He was knocked out cold and was sent flying into the wall by the now-open door.

A few minutes of piercing silence haunted the library as the loose specks of confetti flitted around the room. "Well, looks like you were right," Trixie said bashfully as Sunset struggled to get the cord off of herself.

"YOU IDIOT," Sunset yelled at Trixie. "That's one of Celestia's royal guards! Do you have any idea how much trouble this could put us in!?"

"You're the one who set it off!" Trixie protested. She thought for a moment. "We.... We'll wait for him to wake up and explain everything."

"Wait for him to wake up?" Sunset shot back, appalled. "He just took a big ball of confetti to the face that knocked him into a wall! He needs to go to the hospital!"

Before she could continue her shouting, Trixie gasped in shock as she saw that he was engulfed in green flames.

"Sunset! Look!" Trixie pointed at the guard.

Hoping is was a sign he was waking up, Sunset looked, only to be greeted by a horrifying sight. The snow-furred white pegasi had been replaced by an insect-like pony with smooth black chitin and two large fangs.

"W-what is that?" Sunset questioned as she back away from it slowly.

"A changeling." Trixie looked on fearfully at the creature. "They attacked Canterlot a year ago." She gulped. "Th-they're impersonating royal guards now?"

"These are the shapeshifters the girls told me about then." Sunset hurriedly shut the door to not attract anypony else to the library. Then she went over to study the unconscious creature. "I highly doubt they could do this with Canterlot's security being as tight as it is... But with Celestia gone, security may no doubt be more lax."

She dragged the changeling over to Trixie, who let out an eep as it was dropped in front of her. "What are you doing?" Trixie asked in a panic.

"The girls said these things were led by some queen. If that's the case it means they're not acting on their own," Sunset started.

"You don't know that!" Trixie interrupted.

"Why royal guards, of all ponies then!?" Sunset fired back. "Why somepony so important? Obviously they should impersonate somepony that others wouldn't think to question. It would be easy to make off with one of us, having the citizens thinking it's a summons for Celestia. I don't know any other reason they'd take such a risk if this wasn't planned out."

Sunset stood in thought for a few minutes before facing Trixie again. "Get some food and water and ready your cart."

"What for?" Trixie asked.

"So I can hide in it," Sunset grumbled. "They're looking for me and Twilight's friends; it's the only logical explanation. But they aren't looking for you, and the only one who would know you were here is that one." She pointed to the changeling with her head. "We're getting out of here. Talk to nopony. Don't even look at them."

"What about the others?" Trixie questioned as she trotted into the kitchen.

"We may be too late for them," Sunset responded. "For all we know, this could be their last stop. Let's not take any unnecessary risks. If any of the others were ponynapped and replaced they'd warn their friends."

"And what about the changeling?"

"For whatever good it will do, I'll tie him up and lock him in the closet. If time is on our side we'll be long gone before he wakes up, but that depends on how fast we can leave."

"Say no more," Trixie said. She hurriedly raided the fridge and cabinets.

"Looks like those camping lessons will pay off after all," Sunset muttered to herself as she ripped the cord out of the cannon. She began tying up the changeling.

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Ignis, Gladio, and Prompto sprinted down a flight of stairs, only stopping on a bridge to collect their bearings. "Is the trial over?" Gladio asked.

"I can't see a bloody thing from here," Ignis said in a firm tone. "We need to get back to that altar."

"What about Twilight?" Prompto asked through his panting.

"She's probably already there," Ignis answered with a hint of concern in his voice.

Just then a scream peels through the skies. A wave of flame blasts through the air, frying the engines of some Empire transport ships in the process. One ship trying to regain its altitude began to freefall straight toward the bridge the group was standing on.

"MOVE!" Gladio grabbed Prompto and dived away from the oncoming craft. With a split second to react, Ignis sprinted to the other side as the transport crashed into the bridge. The force of the crash sent Ignis into the water.

"IGGY!" Prompto yelled. Gladio pulled him out of the way as the remains of the bridge started to collapse.

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Not too far from the transport crash, an unconscious Ignis is kept afloat in the cold waters by a piece of wood. The wood bobbed in the water, causing a splash to Ignis's face, which snapped him awake. As he came to he looked around to recollect himself and make a plan.

He located a platform not too far from him and began swimming toward it. Along the way he ended up underneath another bridge. He paused under it to observe some Magitek troopers that happened to be crossing just then.

I need to beat them to the altar, he thought to himself. Once they were out of sight Ignis continued to the platform and pulled himself up onto it. Once on the platform, his ear piece started to vibrate, thankfully undamaged during his time in the water. He answered it as he made his way up a flight of stairs.

"Iggy!" Prompto said through the ear piece. "Thank goodness, we thought you were a goner."

"It'll take more than some sea water to take me down. But it might do it for my clothes," Ignis mused. He stopped walking as he caught sight of a lone Magitek trooper. "I'm about to get real busy, so here is the plan; I need you two to distract the enemy. I'm headed to the altar."

"On it," Prompto responded.

"We'll meet you as soon as we can," Gladio followed up.

"Then I'll see you there." Ignis rushed the Magitek trooper, not giving it a moment to react. He took it down easily in a flurry of blows. But six more troopers showed up once the one was destroyed, two being Magitek axemen. Ignis concentrated for a moment and his daggers lit up with electricity. He readied them and charged at the troopers as they charged at him.

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The water surrounding the altar boiled violently as geysers of steam blasted from its depths. An injured Noctis was sent to the surface, followed by a heavily damaged Leviathan. Soon after, Twilight slowly rose from the waters. Any water that was left on her body almost instantly evaporated.

"Twilight!" Noctis pleaded once more, distress coating his voice.

He did not get an answer in words, but Twilight unleashed a hellish scream, then charged at the prince and the serpent.

The three battled fiercely. Noctis was taking on both Twilight and Leviathan. The Leviathan attempted to crush Twilight with the force of her mighty maw, only to be caught by the girl's hands. As Leviathan was trying to bite down, Twilight was planted in between her upper and lower teeth, preventing the creature's jaw from closing.

The pressure was causing the serpent great pain, a testament to the power that lay before her. In an attempt to end the power struggle Leviathan threw her head into the air. Twilight was sent flying helplessly, but was able to right herself in the air. Her horn took form of a broad sword, and Twilight brought it down on the divine serpent's head. The Leviathan roared in pain.

Twilight then turned and saw Noctis flying at her. The two clashed swords in mid air before the Leviathan swats them both into the ground before tumbling over in exhaustion.

"King of Lucis," the Hydraean heaved. "This endeavor to save your friend is fruitless. You must understand; this is not what fate has deemed. She was never meant to be here."

"I don't care!" Noctis shouted as he slowly got up. "It doesn't matter what fate wants! I'm not letting her die!" His eyes shimmer with flecks of red, and the gound begins to shake.

Out of the water the Archaean rose up. Wasting no time, with a roar he slammed his fist into the ocean. This action sent spires of earth to erupt at the great serpent. Leviathan sent several constructs made of water, though the Titan took them with barely a sign of damage.

One such construct managed to ricochet and strike Twilight, sending her form crashing into a wall. She hit the ground and wall she went through fell on top of her. Finally fatigue took hold of her body and sent her into an all too familiar darkness.

The Leviathan's heavily injured body began dissolving into glowing dust which flowed into Noctis. "You fought well, King," Leviathan bellowed. "But know this; unlike that coward you cannot run away from your fate. You are the Chosen King. I give you the blessing of the tides. Use it well and banish the darkness."

With a final flash of light the Leviathan vanished. Now that the battle had ended, Noctis's weapons also disappeared. Exhaustion then overtook him and he began to fall from the air. His death was all but assured, had the Archean not extended his hand and caught him. The Titan carefully placed him beside Lunafreya's body.

With the knowledge that the King was safe, the Titan turned to confront the remaining Imperial forces attempting to draw closer to the altar.

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As Ignis rushed at a Magitek armor, he weaved around the oncoming missiles and gunfire. His daggers are replaced by a javelin in his hands, and once he found a gap in its attack patterns he took to the air and slammed down on the armor's leg. He cut into the missile storage compartment, then kicked off and away from the mech in time to avoid the explosion. The armor's leg burst, sending the large from of the machine crashing into the ground. The rest of the armor exploded; another enemy defeated.

Ignis got to his feet and looks over at the altar. He stared in awe as the Archean appears. "Is that-!?" He tries to see what's going on, but can't see much past the god's legs. Be safe, I'll be there soon, he thought. "Twilight, can you hear me?" he attempted on the ear piece.

He almost started running across the bridge, but stopped as he saw that a transport ship swatted by the Archeon was headed in that direction. Just my luck! Ignis sighed heavily and doubled back to avoid being hit.

"Did you find the ring and the princess?" a voice asked. Ignis dove behind a pillar to not be seen a two people pass; Ravus and a young man with blond hair and blue eyes clad in a white and gold armor.

"Yes, High Commander," the other man answered. "She and the king are at the altar." The two walked to the edge of the water. "But we cannot get to them, so long as the Archean stands in our way."

Ravus scowls as he sees the Titan decimate his forces. "Even the gods are on his side," he seethed. He turned to the young man. "Neither the princess nor the king will make it out alive if the fighting continues. I'm calling a full retreat. I'll go alone."

"Sir, I don't think that-"

Ravus stops him by holding up his prosthetic arm. "I assume you know how I got this arm?"

"Yes sir," the man responded.

"Then you know the ring is useless without someone who can wield it. So see to it you get my sister, General Shinra," Ravus ordered.

"Yes sir." Shinra salutes his commander and walks away with clenched fists and grinding his teeth. How dare that upstart address me as an underling! The Shinra family has served the Empire for generations, and I'll be damned if that Tenebrae brat is going to beat me to the ring! He sneers in thought as a transport lands close by.

Ignis waited for the transport to leave before sprinting back toward the way he came. He held a finger to his earpiece. "Madam Secretary."

"What now?" she answered in a rather annoyed tone.

"I need to get to the altar. Noctis is in danger."

"So is the rest of my city, if you haven't noticed. He and Lunafreya are probably already long gone." Her tone was casual, which slightly bothered Ignis.

"I made a promise and I intend to keep it," Ignis said with determination. He was scaling rooftops now with a hookshot device he'd taken from a Magitek swordsman.

"Very well," the Secretary said. "Some citizens are still evacuating at the docks. If you're lucky they might have a boat to spare. Oh, and tell Twilight I'm billing her for the damages."

"Can do." With that their conversation ended. Ignis made his way toward the docks.

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He couldn't let this happen. He just couldn't bring himself to sit by and let bad things happen to these ponies. They took him in, and showed him friendship without fear. This lone changeling knew the odds were against him, but he wasn't going to let that stop him. Even if the ponies he knew would hate him forever.

Thorax quietly scurried out of the alley. He darted his head around corners before making his moves toward the town square. Lately the square has seen a lot of hustle; with the Empire's growing demand for imports and exports, the entire area has become a major trade hub for many ponies. Thorax found himself being extra careful not to bump into anypony as he weaved his way through the crowds.

He was soon stopped by a candy corn colored hoof. "Oh, I'm sor-" Thorax began as he tried to walk past the pony, only to see a terrifying sight in front of him. "Pharynx," he whispered. The candy corn collored filly scoffed.

"How could I be related to someone so spineless?" Pharynx growled. Ponies trotted by them, too wrapped up in their day's events to eavesdrop. Not to mention the bad manners it would show to do so, anyhow. "You deserted our subjects and our queen for these pastel sacks of food. Why?"

"Ponies aren't unreasonable, brother," Thorax retorted sheepishly. "They're very nice when they get to know-"

"You?" Pharynx cut him off. "You think that just because you're hiding out here meant that ponies actually love you? Have you been to their capital? Have you even set foot outside of this Empire?"

Thorax lowered his head in defeat. "No, I haven't. But that doesn't mean we can't talk. Let's just show them that all we want to do is live, just like them. Please Brother, help me end this conflict," Thorax pleaded.

Pharynx sighed in disappointment. "I'm warning you now Thorax; the queen already sees you as a traitor. I don't want to hurt you. But the invasion will begin tomorrow as planned. However, since King Sombra still needs a few weeks to reform, most of the ponies are going to flock to the Empire for safety.

"Sabotage their means of escape and turn that drake captain in, and our queen will not only forgive you, but reward you as well. You can be a hero of the hive and finally get some respect." Pharynx's tone was cold as he spoke. "If not, I will be forced to hunt you down. And you will be the example, not the exception. Please do not make me do it Brother. Think about it, but please don't take too long." There was a hint of worry in his last sentence.

With that, Pharynx backed away into the crowd and vanished, leaving Thorax with a heavier heart than before. The offer was weighing greatly on his mind.

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By some miracle of Faust, ever since her fateful meeting with Photo Finish, Rarity's business had soared to new heights. The top faces of Canterlot, and even Manehatten, sought out her illusive boutique for a chance to buy her unique dresses. However, since talking with the Element of Generosity she's found herself with a case of creator's block.

Rarity's eyes bore deep into an empty parchment as she racked her mind for new designs. With the creator's block, her mind has been left to wander. Maybe I am too obsessed with my work. Maybe I have neglected my friends, she thought. But is it really neglect? When ponies need to work to eat and live, there is no compromise. Surely good friends understand that... Right? After all, they have to work too.

A bell rang from the front of her shop, snapping her from her thoughts. Grateful for a distraction, she let her pencil fall to the empty parchment and made her way to the front. "Coming," she called out as she came down the stairs.

"Hello, Rarity," Shining Armor said once the designer pony was in view. He waved a hoof in greeting. "Hey, I was hoping you could help me."

"Ah, Shining Armor!" Rarity grinned. She pleasantly trotted up to him. "It's been far too long since we last spoke darling; how can I help you today?"

"I was hoping you could craft on of your famous dresses," he responded. A hint of pink reached Rarity's cheeks.

"Sure," she responded. She turned away to rummage through her stock of gowns. "What's the occasion?"

"Oh, nothing much." He casually looked around. "Marriage... a coronation."

Rarity shot around fast enough to give herself whiplash. "Really!? Are you and Cadence getting back together!?"

"Nope." He waved off the question. "This is somepony different. She's actually a queen." A smirk played at the corner of this mouth.

Rarity beamed at the opportunity for her designs to be displayed on royalty. "Who is this lucky queen?" she asked excitedly. "May I meet her?"

Shining's smirk grew as he answered. "In fact, you have already met her once before. She has also sent me to invite you and your friends to our wedding." He paused for a moment to watch Rarity's face. "Chrysalis, you remember?"

Rarity's eyes bulged in shock before she let out a giggle. "Come now darling; pranks are more Rainbow Dash's thing."

"Oh, this is no prank." Shining turned to the door then. Several guards trotted inside. "And you are invited to the greatest undertaking Equestria will ever see. The question is," he looked back, "are you coming? Or do we have to drag you kicking and screaming?"

The guards went up in green flames to reveal their changeling forms. Rarity tried to run for the door, only to be hit with several green beams. She was plastered to the wall with the same green slime-like substance that had been used to capture so many others.

It was this moment that it dawned on Rarity; she'd wasted her time on her dresses and now her time has come. Even if she lives through this, she'll never be the same. She was almost hyperventilating in panic as her vision was engulfed by green.

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It only took Ignis a few minutes to reach the docks. The remaining people waiting to leave almost instantly recognized him and let him pass to the front of the line. He hurried to a man wearing a dark blue and white uniform.

"I just received instructions from Madam Secretary to let you commandeer a boat," the soldier said, pointing to a small boat. "Please, hurry. These people have been waiting and they're getting anxious."

Ignis nodded and tapped the button on his earpiece as he climbed into the boat. "Prompto, Gladio. I need you to keep any advancing forces busy on your end."

"You got it!" Prompto replied. "Just get Twilight and Lunafreya; no one's getting left behind."

"Just hurry and get them out of there!" Gladio said with a grunt of determination.

Ignis didn't need to be told twice. He sped off in the boat, maneuvering through the churning waters as the Titan continued destroying any Niflheim ship that dared get too close. As Ignis watched, the god grabbed a Magitek transport ship out of the air and hurled into the turbine of a capital ship. The capital ship exploded and it started plummeting in Ignis's general direction.

He weaved under the giant craft with ease and without pause; he was going to get Noctis and nothing was going to get in his way. At least, that was the plan until a missile struck the water close to his boat. Ignis was thrown overboard into the cold water a good distance away from his vessel. After it was knocked over a smaller transport ship hovered over the capsized boat.

The door to the transport opened, revealing the blonde haired man from before. "So, it's one of His Majesty's royal retainers. Now why could you be all the way out here?" A large bronze Magitek prototype suit was waiting behind him. "I'll introduce myself; I am General Rufus Shinra." He smirked. "You should be honored, Crownsguard; you get to die by my hands!"

On those words, the guns on the sides of the transport let loose a hailstorm of bullets. Ignis dove into the water to try to throw the aim off and made a bee line to the boat. While the gunfire continued in the general area he had been in, Ignis righted the boat and climbed in it as quick as he could.

Once they realized he was back at the boat, their aiming was redirected. Ignis took off, prompting Shinra to climb into the prototype. As Ignis weaved around oncoming gunfire, he glanced behind him to see Shinra in the water gaining speed.

"An amphibious model!?" Ignis said in surprise.

"What's the rush Lucian rat!?" Shinra blasted over a speaker. Ignis turned a corner close to a ruined building in an attempt to get some distance. But Shinra decided to show off by having his suit jump onto the wreckage and running across it with ease.

"Once I gain the Ring of the Lucii, I will be unstoppable," the general continued. Niflheim will fall to me, not that old bat and wizened bastard." He jumped back into the water and fired a missile that just barely catches the back of the boat, which sends Ingis flying in the grounds of what used to be a market hub.

"Now PERISH Lucian scum!" Shinra shouted as he landed close to Ignis.

"Not today," Ignis replied as he got up. He brandished his daggers.

Shinra's Magitek transport ship reached them and hovered above them, dropping several axemen and swordsmen to assist in this confrontation. "This is your end, Lucian!" Shinra warned again. He unleashed a volley of missiles in Ignis's direction, but Ignis was able to duck out of their way.

Ignis used a Magitek trooper as a springboard and took to the air as he summoned his javelin. As he came back down he brought his weapon down onto the prototype suit's arm cannons. The force was enough to break the cannons off. "How dare you!" Shinra cried in a rage.

Shinra attempted to crush Ignis with one of his feet, but Ignis was able to move out of the way. Ignis struck the suit's leg as the troopers rushed at him. He spun to meet one that he heard coming and cut into it. A rotary blade on the end of the suit's arm spun at deadly speed, allowing for Shinra to slash away with reckless abandon as he tried to cut the crownsguard to ribbons. Ignis dodged around several troops as he evaded Shinra's blade, causing the general to take down his own forces.

Ignis dodged another swing from Shinra and managed to jump onto the suit's arm. He drove both daggers into the side of it, which sent an arc of electricity through the entire mech. With its systems crippled, the mech became sluggish in its movements. He was able to cut into the mech's other leg, causing the suit to collapse under its own weight.

Shinra unloaded the rest of the missiles left in his leg cannons at Ignis in a last ditch effort to kill him, but Ignis was able to dodge the strikes and threw a dagger into the cannon. This resulted in that leg of the suit to explode, leaving the cockpit as the only part of the suit left undamaged. Though the shockwave of the explosion was small, it was still enought to knock Ignis off his feet.

After what seemed like an eternity, Shinra managed to escape the mech suit. "Y-you bastard," he declared as he pulled out his pistol. "You've changed nothing-" His eyes went wide with pain as he looked down to see a blade protruding from his chest. Before he could try to make snse ofit, the sword was violently pulled out from behind him. As Shinra lay bleeding out, the culprit offered his prosthetic arm to help Ignis up.

"Ravus," Ignis said with slight venom in his tone.

"Save the sentiment," Ravus spoke. He turned to the Magitek troopers that had gathered. "The fastest way to my sister is to help you get to the king. But this does not mean I am on his side; my sister comes first."

Ravus brandished his cutlass and a roar blasted through the sky, signaling that the Archean's time was up. As they watched, the titan vanished in a flash of gold particles.

Ignis's voice was stern. "With the Archean gone I suggest we get moving."

"Fine. Don't get in my way," Ravus responded.

"Funny, I was about to say the same thing," Ignis shot back.

The two begin their trek as they charge at the approaching Magitek troopers.

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The smell of earth and various potion supplies was the usual mix for Zecora's hut. Her shelves were mostly filled with potions, for different ailments and other uses. Sweetie Belle was eyeballing some of the potions, trying to imagine what some of them could be used for. The other members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders were looking around in curiosity as they waited for Zecora to finish mixing a brew to heal Pinkamena's leg.

"Ah just don't understand what y'all ran into tha forest for," Applebloom said as she looked at the two Pie sisters. "All you older ponies tell us it's dangerous, yet y'all do it anyway."

"I was trying to get away from this sad show-" Pinkamena winced as she waved her hurt foreleg at Maud.

"This can wait until we get back to Ponyville," Maud responded in her monotone voice. She glanced at Scootaloo, who was looking into the mirror. The filly was checking her flank to see if anything had shown up. Scootaloo sighed when she saw her flanks were still blank.

"Are you almost done Zecora?" Sweetie Belle asked once she was finished looking at the potions. "I need to get back to my mom and dad before it gets too late."

"I'm almost finished my friends, there is no need to beg," Zecora answered. She was stirring a light yellow mixture in her cauldron. "This healing potion will mend her leg."

"Zecora, wuld ya do me a favor an' use one o'yur sight potions to see if mah bruther'n sister are home?" Applebloom asked. "I need ta talk to'em." She turned to Scootaloo. "An' yur comin' with me," she added sternly.

"What, why?" Scootaloo asked in bewilderment.

Zecora had finished the health potion then and poured it into a cup for easier drinking. Then she dispensed the rest into empty vials for future use. Once that was out of the way, she started up on something for Applebloom as the two foals continued their conversation.

"Ah'm sick o'seein' ya suffer like this Scoots. Yur ma friend. Heck, yur practically ma sister. The way Ah look at it, it wuldn't make much difference if ya were ma real sister." Applebloom offered a smile after her declaration, which earned her some wide eyes from Scootaloo.

"Applebloom, no," Scootaloo said as she shook her head. "I can't do that to you."

"Ah'm not takin' no fur an answer. Yu deserve a family. It might take some time ta warm them up ta the idea, but Ah know as sure as Ah'm an Apple they won't turn ya down," Applebloom explained.

Zecora finished the seer's potion then. She stirred it one last time and then took the cup of the healing potion over to Pinkamena. "This will reduce the damage to a minor fracture's pain," she started, "but work for a few days you must abstain." She looked at Applebloom. "Dear, that seer's potion is ready, go look into the cauldron; just lean over but keep your grip steady."

Zecora handed Pinkamena the cup and Applebloom trotted to the cauldron. Pinkamena started drinking the potion with little hesitation, but recoiled in disgust. Zecora nodded. "The sour taste will not last," she explained. "Given the history, you have asked for sweeteners in the past. But the Pinkie I see before me is not the one I usually see," she faced Maud, "I take it this is her split personality." Pinkamena flashed a fiery gaze on the potion maker.

"What is a-" Sweetie Belle started, but was interrupted by a panicked scream from the other side of the room. The two foals, Maud, and Zecora bolted to the source. "Applebloom, what's wrong!?" Sweetie Belle shouted in a panic.

"Ch-changelings!" Applebloom yelled, pointing to the cauldron. Zecora and Maud look into the liquid and see the Apple living room. In it sat three insect-like creatures conversing. As they watched, the creatures transformed themselves into Applejack, Big Macintosh, and Granny Smith.

"This can't be good," Maud says with a distraught look in her eyes. She looked up at Zecora.

"This is worrisome indeed. I'll go grab the supplies we need." Zecora went to work, first grabbing a saddle bag. She begins to fill it with potions, food, and supplies.

"What was that about changelings?" Pinkamena asked after limping up to Maud. "I can't leave the Cakes there alone; I have to go back."

"That wold be a bad idea," Maud replied. "If they took your friends, chances are they're looking for you too."

"She is right," Zecora said, continuing to fill another saddle bag. "The Elements of Harmony are needed to get through this blight. The enemy knows this and moves swiftly to undermine you all." She looked up at Pinkamena. "For united you are unstoppable, but divided Equestria will fall."

"Faust damn it," Pinkamena grumbled. "Then what do we do?"

"We go to Canterlot and find help," Maud answered.

"But we must not take the train; if Pinkie Pie is spotted our efforts will be in vain." Zecora fastened the saddle bags onto her back as she finished speaking.

"It'll take us days to get to Canterlot walking," Pinkamena argued.

"Wh-what about my sister?" Sweetie Belle asked in almost a whimper. "Mom... and Dad... I can't leave them."

"I understand Sweetie Belle and your heart means well. But if you are caught, your efforts will all be for naught." Zecora placed a reassuring hoof on the foal's head. "I promise once you are in safety's embrace, we will get help and rescue your family with quick pace."

Though Sweetie Belle's fears were still at the forefront of her heart, she knew Zecora was right. She nodded to agree with her.

After a little while longer with preparations, the six ponies left the hut and started making their way through the forest. Everypony was prepared for the perilous journey that awaited them.

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Ravus and Ignis fought their way through several platoons' worth of Magitek troopers as they made their way to the altar. After disposing of a few more prototype Magitek armors, the two finally made it; their fighting had finally paid off. However, something caught Ignis's attention as they were almost there. He stopped but Ravus, uncaring for anything but his sister at that moment, rushed ahead.

Ignis sees a dog with a white coat limping toward him. "Aren't you... Lady Lunafreya's-" His sentence was cut off as the dog fell onto its side. It dissolved into a bright light in front of Ignis, blinding him. Visions invaded Ignis's mind; of an older Noctis sitting on a ruined Lucian throne, him being struck by each Lucian king one after another, Noctis's hand slowly slipping from his own sword.

Then a voice boomed in his head. "A power even greater than that of the Six, purifying all by the light of the crystal will cleanse this star of its scourge. And upon this the chosen king will inherit, at the cost of his life, his own. Only then will the chosen king banish the usurper and bring the light back to the world." The voice seemed to reverberate as he sees images of the many king attacking a familiar face all at once. "But the interloper will not accept this. She will destroy-"

The voice was cut off by the sound of a sword sticking into the ground. "I DON'T CARE!" The images showed Twilight, covered in flames, looking to the sky where six large shadows looked down upon her. "All that talk about Destiny as if you have no control over it; but there is no one else but you to guide the fates of others! I reject you and your damned plans! I can't change the past, but I REFUSE to let you get away with this!"

Twilight holds up a broken tiara to the figures. "You will help me build a new future whether you like it or not!" Twilight pointedly places the tiara on her head before everything goes white again.

Ignis found himself back in reality in moments, confused at what went through his head. What was that? he thought. What does Twilight have to do with this?

He tried to push the images to the back of his mind as he continued to run toward the altar. "NOOOOCT!" He could only look in sorrow at the sight before him. His two friends lay on the ground, a dead and glowing Lunafreya beside an unconscious Noctis, her unmoving hand on his shoulder. "No," Ignis whispered.

Ravus could barely fight back his tears. Though, his sadness was short lived once his eyes befell on Noctis. "First the Lucians stole from me my mother." Ravus drew his sword. "Now they make a sacrifice of my sister!?" He goes in to stab Noctis only for Ignis to step in the way, blocking Ravus with his daggers.

"What are you doing?" Ignis grunts.

"What I should have done long ago! Ridding us of this menace!" Ravus shouted before breaking the stalemate. Ignis took the chance to tackle Ravus. Not wasting a second to halt Ravus's grief-stricken advance, Ignis quickly rises and tackles him, this time causing both of them to fall to the ground. The two rolled out of the altar's threshold.

Ravus shot to his feet at the same time as Ignis. His sword coursed with electricity as he slashed at Ignis relentlessly. "Stay out of my way or meet the same deadly fate!"

Ignis pivoted around a slash and batted away another, then the two men locked weapons once more. "Come to your senses Ravus!" This time Ignis went on the offensive, striking at Ravus with precision. Though, Ravus was able to avoid the blows and managed to find an opening to kick Ignis backward. "I understand the pain you must be feeling, but Noct isn't the one who did this to her."

Ravus charged at him in an attempt to slice his torso, only for Ignis to kick flip over the cutlass. Ravus's prosthetic arm coursed with electricity and once it gained enough power he fired several arcs of lightning at Ignis. Ignis was able to avoid the attacks by kicking off of a nearby wall. And since the lethal attacks were slow to recharge, Ignis had the opening he needed to close in on Ravus.

Ignis punched Ravus in the face once he closed the distance between them. "Lady Lunafreya came to her king's aid in his time of need. She was fulfilling her calling. You told me the blood of the Oracle runs through your veins; you would have done the same thing. You and Twilight both."

"Do not try to justify this!" Ravus screamed. He swung at Ignis with his cutlass and the two entered a stalemate with their weapons. As Ravus spoke he applied more pressure down on Ignis's daggers. "She didn't have to die! And where is Twilight now!? If Lunafreya is dead, then for all her bluster about protecting her 'family' she's failed!"

"Noctis's ascension was ordained by the crystal!" Ignis shot back. His daggers lit up with flames. Both men pulled back and clashed again. "It wasn't mere happenstance, he didn't choose to be king." They both pulled back and swung again, and this time Ignis attempted to slash Ravus across the chest, only for Ravus to block with his Magitek arm.

"It was a mistake! One that needs to be corrected!" Ravus charged at Ignis once more.

"You of all people should know how Noct feels! Bereft of both parents, forced to carry on despite that pain! But at least you still have Twilight!" Ignis dodged another lightning attack from Ravus.

"HA! Twilight!? Twilight was never my family! She was a damn orphan from another planet! Once this is all over she'll return to her world and forget any of us ever existed! I hold no love in my heart for her! And if you know what's good for you, you won't get attached either!" These statements caught Ignis off-guard enough that Ravus was able punch the crownsguard into a wall with his Magitek arm.

Despite the pain and breathlessness from the blow, Ignis managed to land a punch of his own to Ravus's gut. This caused Ravus to fall to a knee, which gave Ignis the opportunity he needed to plunge a dagger into Ravus's prosthetic arm. The two combatants panted as they gave everything they had left into their weapons. They continued until neither could hoist their weapons any longer.

After a tense pause Ravus calmly stumbled to his feet and walked toward his sister's body. His anger had given away to pure grief. "I always knew you'd fulfill your calling without hesitation," he said to her as he knelt beside her. "But a part of me hoped that your burdens would be lifted and you would be free to live and love as you saw fit."

Ravus caressed her cheek and turned her face to look at her. Ravus was sobbing now, his tears staining her already tattered dress. "You would have made a beautiful bride," he continued. "Mom would have been so proud." He cradled her in his arms as she started to glow brighter. "Even in death you do not rest; only once the darkness is banished will your calling be fulfilled."

As Ravus laid her body back down, Lunafreya's glowing spirit lifted into the air. Ignis and Ravus gasped as her spirit smiled down at them. "And as in life, I know she will face the next tribulations beside Noctis in spirit... with that same smile on her face." Lunafreya's spirit began to float away and Ravus grasped for here in vain. "Sister, please don't go. Please don't leave me," he cried. Her spirit vanished, leaving Ravus a sobbing mess beside her dead body.

Ignis could only hang his head. Though this was what the Oracle had wanted, it would no doubt leave a scar on all she touched... an even deeper wound for the friends and family she'd left behind.

"Iggy!" Gladio called out as he ran up to his friend.

"Gladio! Where's Prompto?" Ignis asked. Gladio seemed to pay no mind to Ignis as his eyes caught sight of Ravus. "Well, well. What do we have here?" Gladio summoned his broadsword.

"Gladio!?" Ignis called out as Gladio swung at Ravus. Ravus deflected it as soon as the sword was about to make contact.

"You. Ardyn," Ravus growled, with venom coating each letter of his name. Gladio chuckled.

"Oh dear, was I that obvious?" Gladio's form dissolved and in his place was a smirking Ardyn. Several Magitek troopers seemed to come out of nowhere. One hit Ignis with the butt of its rifle while another forced him to the ground. Two other Magitek troopers held Ravus in place.

"Game over my boy," Ardyn said. He scooped off Ignis's glasses and nonchalantly tossed them into the water. "You risked life and limb to safeguard the King of Kings, only to fail so spectacularly." Ardyn drew from his coat the same dagger he'd used to stab Lunafreya. "What good is life if all it ever does is let you down. Why not end it all here?" he hods the dagger's point close to Noctis's neck.

"Unhand him!" Ignis demanded as he thrashed against the troopers holding him.

"These two wayward lovers can have their wedding together in the afterlife." Ardyn pulled back the dagger, ready to bring it down on Noctis. Ignis could only watch in horror.

"NOOOOOCT!" Ignis yells out in a vain attempt to wake his friend. But it didn't work, and there was nothing that he could do from stopping that dagger from staying true to its mark.

That is, until a loud roar shook the entire altar. The roar was followed by a massive explosion as something covered in smoke lands at the peak of the altar. "Oh dear," Ardyn commented as he stood. "I have to give you some credit Twilight; you're far stronger than anyone could have guessed."

With that another roar blasted the smoke away, revealing an ash-colored Twilight. Cracks were present all over her body, her eyes were dark red, and her once raging flames for hair had died down to mostly embers. Ignis felt a twinge of panic in the pit of his stomach seeing her in this state.

"Ardyn... Killed... Luna... ARDYN!" Without another moment's hesitation Twilight flew in front of a Magitek trooper and ripped it half with ease. Other troopers began to fire on her, but an intense heat melted any rounds before they reached her. She wasted no more time, tearing apart more troopers.

"Twilight!" Ravus called out. She stopped dead in her tracks.

"R-Ravus... Brother..." Twilight looked to him. She slowly shambled her way toward him, ignoring the troopers still firing at her. "Lulu... Gone... Wasn't fast... Yes... Was fast... Interfered... Celestia INTERFERED!" Flames roared back to life from her body. She turned back around to continue with the troopers.

"It would seem this is a bad time. I will leave her to you, high commander," Ardyn told Ravus with a smirk. He turned to Ignis. "I wonder what you'll think of her when you learn the truth." He walked away. The troopers that had held Ignis back let go of him to join in the fight with the others.

Twilight continued to rip the forces with ease. "Ardyn killed Luna... Ardyn... DIE!" Twilight growled. The cracks grew longer on her body.

"Twilight!" Ignis shouted. He stood then. "You must get a hold of yourself!" Noctis was in her path, so she kicked him, knocking him out of the way and close to Ignis's feet. The Ring of Lucii fell out of his hand. Ignis picked it up.

"Ardyn! DIE!" Twilight rushed at Ignis in a blind rage. Ignis blocked her, but with seemingly no effort the enraged Twilight threw him across the threshold and into a wall. This knocked the air out of him.

"Twilight, stop!" Ravus tried to reason with her. But the few remaining Magitek troopers provoked her again.

"Ravus... Brother... Hate me... Failed..." Twilight leapt onto a trooper, tearing into its chest until it ceased to move.

"TWILIGHT!" Ravus fires a lightning attack at her, which sent her flying into a wall. She was sobbing heavily as she slid from the wall.

"Ravus... Brother I'm sorry.... I'm sorry. I'M SO SORRY!" she cried out. She slammed her fists into the ground, sending a large fireball toward Ravus. He brought down both his arms to block it, but the sheer impact sent him into the ground. His strength finally failed him as his body fell limp in exhaustion.

"NOOOOO!" Twilight's flames raged out of control, the cracks in her skin expanding again.

Ignis struggled to get on his feet. If I don't stop her she'll burn everything in sight. "Twilight," he said breathlessly. "I understand you're in pain." He stumbled toward the ring. "But I must protect Noctis. No matter the cost! Forgive me Twilight!" Ignis fell just a hair's length away from the ring and grabs it. He slid the ring on and was instantly wracked with visions and voices.

"Kings of Lucis," he struggled, "lend me your strength!" Ignis screamed in agony as he looked at Twilight. His vision darkened and he kept screaming as his eyes became lit with ethereal fire. Soon a new found power surged through his body.

Ignis grunted in pain and summoned his dagger. He charged at Twilight with a greater speed than he once had. Twilight called her horn to her and in her hand it transformed back into the flaming broadsword she'd been using previously. As Ignis reached her she brought the blade down, her sword clashing with his daggers. Flames and lightning arced from the clash, searing the ground beneath them.

"Twilight! I don't want to do this!" Ignis shouted in pain. The two broke their lock and Twilight began slashing at Ignis wildly. Ignis spun and pivoted around her strikes, taking advantage of small openings to land multiple strikes upon her.

After recoiling from a hit, Twilight swung her sword in anger, aiming a strike of flame at Ignis. Ignis jumped out of the flame's way in time only to be slung into the floor by a punch. Twilight's blind rage led her to further pummel Ignis into the once fine stone. Ignis lost one of his daggers in the process.

Before Twilight could get another punch in Ignis grabs her, the Ring of Lucii glowing brightly on his finger. Ignis rolled Twilight onto her back and pinned her down with his weight before she could try to stab him. He held one of her wrists to the ground and stabbed his remaining dagger into her other wrist, eliciting a gutteral cry of pain to escape her throat. He saw the dagger slowly starting to melt at the contact with her blood and knew he didn't have much time.

"Twilight!" he shouted as the ring started glowing brighter. "Listen to me. You have to calm down; I know it hurts!"

"She's gone! She's gone! My sister is GOOONE!" The flames around her intensified, making Ignis yell in pain. The dagger in her wrist had completely melted by now and Ignis was doing his best to keep her on the ground.

"Lunafreya wouldn't want this Twilight! I know it's hard but you must pull through! For her sake, and for Ravus's! For your own sake! You cannot let this anger consume you!" Despite the burns and Twilight's attempt to break his grip, Ignis tightened his hold. "For my sake!"

The words seemed to sink in, as Twilight's flames started dying down. Her red eyes returned to their normal lavender color. Her flaming hair slowly started turning back to normal. An overwhelming fatigue washed over her. She regained control over herself and the embrace of unconsciousness overtook her.

"Th-thank goodness," Ignis breathed. He collapsed on top of Twilight as he was hit with a wave of exhaustion.

Gladio and Prompto ran up to them not long after they collapsed. "IGGY! NOCT!" Gladio shouted.

"Twilight!" Prompto yelled. He tried to check her pulse only to recoil from a burning sensation.

"We need to get them out of here now," Glado stated sternly. "I'll grab Iggy and Noct. You get Twilight." Prompto nodded in agreement.

As Gladio went to pick up Noctis, Prompto heard a voice call out. Take care of her.

Prompto looked around a spied something shimmering by the edge of the water. He knelt down and reached for it. He squinted as he picked up two halves of a broken tiara.

"Prompto, get Twilight," Gladio urged, a hint of annoyance in his tone. He slung Ignis over his shoulder.

"Sorry!" Prompto said. He tucked the tiara pieces into his belt loop and hurried to pick Twilight up off the ground. The burning sensation coming from her body was not as intense as before and died down the farther he carried her.

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All was quiet in the Canterlot throne room when a portal opened up. A horribly injured Celestia stumbled out. She was cut and burned in many places, and dragging along a dislocated wing.

"Guards!" she heaved. "Gather the Elements of Harmony!" She panted waiting for a response that never came. "We can't wait! It is urgent!"

"I say what's more urgent is your sorry state," a voice commented from the throne.

Celestia turned to see Princess Cadence sitting on the throne. "I have no time for games, Cadence. Twilight is in trouble. We will talk about you being in my throne later."

"Nah," Cadence chuckled. "I think I like this throne. Especially with the idea of everypony bowing to me." Cadence hopped off the throne and strutted up to Celestia. Her form went up in green flames.

An insect-like pony with a jagged horn and a black crown emerged from the green flames. She had a dull greasy-looking mane and tail and she didn't have a coat; her body was covered instead with black chitin. This creature stared down at Celestia and grinned from ear to ear, revealing two large fangs amidst her teeth. "It's been a while, Celestia."

"Chrysalis!" Celestia gasped. "Leave at once!"

The changeling queen chuckled. "You think you are in any position to intimidate me?" she hissed. "Besides, you just got home. I only want to make sure you're comfortable. You can't make great amounts of love if you're in pain, after all." Chrysalis laughed.

"Twilight and her friends will stop you!" Celestia stated harshly. This caused Chrysalis to laugh louder.

"Bad bluff, Tia. I already know from a little birdie that Twilight is no longer on this world. I also took the liberty of making sure the other ones were out of the way." Chrysalis smirked. "It was so easy, thanks to my husband."

As if on cue, Shining Armor walking into the room then.

"Shining Armor! Is that really you!?" Celestia said frantically. "We have to leave and find the other Elements of Harmony!"

"After all the trouble I went through to capture them?" he asked with a grin. Celestia's eyes widened in horror.

"No... You wouldn't! She has a hold on you! You must fight her!" Celestia began limping toward him.

"I serve my queen by my own will," Shining responded. He used his magic to toss her aside. "You knew this was coming. After all, you act like you know everything is fine. After all, Equestria can rest easy knowing Twilight Sparkle and her gaggle of friends will save the day.

"Yet look at you now; without them Equestria will succumb easily enough. that is the price you pay for your utopia." Shining walked up to the battered princess. "With my queen by my side we will uplift the changelings and the ponies. The ponies might resist for a while, but they will see this as a kindness. A kindness they will repay with labor."

"What has she done to drive you to such madness?" Celestia questioned through gritted teeth. She carefully stood up. "The ponies will not follow you!" She looked to a glass stained window and still sees the sun's rays shining through it. "And I have no intentions of raising the sun and moon for you like a slave!"

Shining Armor and Chrysalis were both laughing now. After a moment Chrysalis calmed her laughter enough to speak up. "You think I need you to raise and lower the celestial bodies? Under normal circumstances I would need your power. But well..." She turned to Shining. "Demonstrate, my husband."

Shining Armor then dragged Celestia to the window depicting Twilight and her friends facing against Nightmare Moon. He shattered it, letting in a warm summer breeze. He pointed to the afternoon sun still high in the air, despite it being roughly around nine at night. His horn glows blue and a look of heavy concentration graces his face as if he was straining to gain control of the sun.

Celestia slightly smirked at his futile attempt to grasp the celestial body.

"Just kidding," Shining Armor declared. He looked at her with purple eyes and a chilling aura flowed from his horn to his body. He leisurely raised a hoof to the sun and lowered it. Celestia wore a look of utter terror as the sun obeyed and was lowered beyond the horizon.

"Im-impossible!" Celestia screamed. The sun disappeared over the hills and the moon rose in its place. A chill wind howled through the lands during the process.

Shining smiled as he finished lifting the moon to its rightful place in the sky. "What's wrong Princess? I thought you'd be impressed. Guess I was wrong." He shrugged and pointed a hoof at her. "Now we can begin to free Equestria. All we have to do is take care of its last shackle."

Shining Armor's horn glowed brighter as Celestia struggled to get away. But she was soon held in place by Chrysalis's magic. Celestia's fight with Twilight had exhausted her enough that she was unable to teleport at all. All she could do was cry out as a flash of blue light overtook her.

"Still in times of crisis... It suits you, Celestia." Shining Armor paced around Celestia, who was now encapsulated in a frozen block of ice. She was unable to move or speak.

"Now we can give a royal address to the ponies tomorrow," Chrysalis said as she licked her lips.

"I can't wait," Shining Armor added. Looking at Celestia's form, he ponders out loud, "Now, where to put you..."