Chapter 48:
Midnight Strikes Part Three
As Midnight and Tempest’s ship heads towards Mount Aris, Midnight has ordered the ship to set a course for the opposite side of the beach. Midnight takes a look at the Mane Six, Starlight, and Spike from her orb for a second as they all walk through and come to see it is a ghost town as she expected given what Tempest told her after her actions from the past that led up to that before putting her orb away as she prepares to fly off on her own.
“Where are you heading, Midnight?” Tempest asked before she could take off. “I’m just wondering since from the looks of things of things you planned for all of this to happen and wondering why we are stretching the hunt for Princess Twilight.”
“Indeed I have planned for this to happen and for a very good reason.” Midnight answered as she turned to face her. “These first two attempts that had just happened were a test to see if Twilight would react as I predicted and by doing so…” She further explained as she showed the previous scenes of Twilight and her friends barely escaping from them to her second-in-command. “…We managed to plant doubt and distrust in her.” She added as she zoomed in on Twilight starting to view her friends as dead weight following their most recent escape. “And by planting doubt and distrust in the very thing that defines her role as princess and beliefs of friendship, once the seeds grow big and strong, they can be used to tear down Twilight’s respect for her friends and by extension her beliefs in friendship assuming it this point she still has from everything they put her through so far.”
“I see.” Tempest now understood where this is going as Midnight spreads her wings to prepare for take-off.
“And now that phase three is underway it is now time for a little personal intervention from the princess of darkness herself.” She said as she briefly faced the upcoming tall mountain before turning back to face Tempest. “You know what to do from here?”
“Yes I do.” Tempest replied with a nod as Midnight flies off ahead. “Especially since it is clear now that friendship is failing her.”
“And especially since the queen is now going to facing herself with a few uninvited guests and one very special guest.” Midnight then said as she evilly laughed as her heart glowed neon purple again.
Back at the mountain the Mane Six, Starlight, and Spike all make their way up the stairs as they climb up the mountain.
“We had to crash the balloon at the bottom of the mountain!” Rarity the last one climbing the stairs complained. “That's it! I simply... cannot... even! I have nothing! The bad guys have won! I'm so sorryyyyyyyy-y-y-y!” She then stopped climbing as she laid on the ground in dramatic defeat.
“We're almost there!” Rainbow told the unicorn from the top of the stairs.
“Will you stop saying that?!” Rarity growled back.
“No, really! We're actually here!” Rainbow seriously told her as they all reach the top of the stairs.
“This is it!” Twilight smiled in excitement seeing that they have now all finally arrived.
“About time.” Starlight said in agreement.
“Ooh!” Pinkie awed in amazement.
“Well, I'll be.” Applejack chuckled in amusement. “Hippogriffs, here we come!
“Time to rest my hooves!” Rarity said in relief as they all walk through town but their smiles fade when they see the place is not what they expected it to be as they find the place completely deserted and empty. Not to mention gray and gloomy to match it's mood and surrondings. ”Are we sure this is the right place?”
“Hello?! Is anypony home?!“ Applejack called out hoping for a nearby voice to respond back.
“No Hippogriffies here!” Pinkie replied as she eyed a cob-webbed tea pot on a small table. “Or here! Or here! Or here or here or here! Waaaaaiiit! Nope! This place is emp-ty!” She added as she hopped around from top to bottom before landing in front of Twilight.
“But... Celestia... The map. They have to be here.” Twilight said in confusion why they are finding this place empty.
“Something bad happened here. Something that turned this whole place into a ghost town.” Spike correctly theorized as he eyes the statues covered in moss.
Behind one of the statues was Midnight secretly hiding in the shadows as she secretly and personally spies on the heroes.
“A g-g-g-g-ghost town?!” Fluttershy stammered in fright as they hear somebody humming from a distance.
“It's coming from over there!” Twilight told the others as she led them in that direction. She lead them under a rock opening from down below to which the others one by one follow after her as Twilight uses her horn as a flashlight as they reach a big pond in the center of the room inside where they have found a source of the humming who then gasped when she heard noise courtesy of Pinkie accidentally stepping on a chipped piece of the stairs.
“What was that?!” She said as she immediately dived in the water.
“Hey! Wait up! Cannonball!” Pinkie immediately called out and jumped into the water to search for the source of the voice.
“Pinkie!” Twilight called after her.
“She's gone!” Pinkie told her as she joined up with the others who got into the water to join up with them just as they heard water below them flushing like a toilet. Thinking quick Twilight used her magic to produce air bubbles for everyone as they finds themselves sucked down below the whirl pool that is currently developing.
“Everypony hang on!” Twilight told every pony as they all get sucked down the water twister. “This is going a bumpy ride.”
“Huh?” Pinkie wondered why.
“Oh, boy. I hate epic adventures.” Rarity commented knowing that this is going to suck as they all slide down the whirl pool sucking them all down the drain.
From above the pool, Midnight having just caught a glimpse of them from the top of the stairs then produces an air bubble of her own as she jumps into the pool to slide down the whirl pool after them.
Everyone then found themselves underwater in deep darkness as they wonder where they all are as they see a dark shadow swimming around them.
“Hello? We're looking for the Hippogriffs.” Twilight called out.
“How do I know I can trust you?” The female voice spoke appearing in the form of a bright gold light.
“Please. Midnight Sparkle and the Storm King invaded our land.” Twilight called out to her as Spike clings onto the alicorn princess for safety. “And we need their help.”
“The Storm King?!” The female voice said sounding pleased to hear this as she came into the light to reveal herself as a yellow seapony with bright blue fins and matching eyes. “I'm so glad I saved you guys! I'm totally taking you to my mom!” She then said as she took Twilight by the hoof to take them to her home.
“Does your mother know where they are?” Twilight hopefully asked.
“Oho! She might have an idea!” She giggled in a sing-song tone.
“Hoo-hoo!” Twilight said very pleased to hear this as Midnight from the shadows deviously smirks as she secretly follows them from behind.
“We're almost there!” The seapony told the others as they all approach a remarkable well-decorated underwater castle.
“Wow!” Everyone said in amazement as the seapony leads them all inside the castle as she approaches her mother sitting on the throne in the center of the room.
“Mother, look what I found!” She happily told the white-colored seapony with purple fins, eyes, and hair, wearing a yellow crown with light blue antennas on the top.
“Is it another shell?” She asked with annoyed closed eyes.
“Mm-mm.” Her daughter shook her head.
“Because I am telling you if it is another shell, I am…” The parent further went on as she gasped at the sight of the visitors. “Princess Skystar, whatta you done?!” She quickly and harshly scolded her daughter. “You know surface dwellers are forbidden here! Guards!” She called out to them and immediately they all moved to surround them at spear point.
“Well this is certainly nice of you to bring out the proper welcome committee.” Starlight sarcastically commented.
“No no n-no! M-M-Mom, please!” The young seapony pleaded for her mother to listen to her. “It is so not like that! The Storm King is trying to destroy their home, too!”
“We need to find the Hippogriffs. Do you know what happened to them?” Twilight asked while making a plea for help.
“Well, of course I know. I'm the queen. I know everything.” Said queen replied that they have found them in a somewhat sarcastic tone.
“Oh, oh, it's such a good story!” Her daughter eagerly spoke.
“Don't you dare tell them!” The queen sternly warned her daughter against it though it seemed to fall on deaf ears to her.
“Once upon a time, like, a while ago, the Hippogriffs did live on Mount Aris.” The princess told them as she showed them an image of them flying around said mountain.
“Did I not say don't tell them? But hey, I'm just the queen. Don't mind me.” Her mother said completely annoyed with her going forward and telling them anyways.
“Fine! I can't tell you!” Her daughter reluctantly agreed not to say anymore. “But if I could tell you, I'd say that that horned beast did show up to steal their magic!” She then added as she showed them an image of said creature.
“Seriously?” Her mother in a deadpan tone asked.
“But, to keep it out of his clutches, their brave and majestic leader, Queen Novo, hid them deep underwater where he could never go!” The princess showed an image of their queen along with an image of the castle throne room. “We are... Well, we were the Hippogriffs! Ta-da!“ She giggled as she floated over to the eight visitors. “But I totally did not tell you that!” She whispered to them.
Seeing that the pony is out of the bag, the queen decided it was to best to give up the avoiding stance and to properly introduce herself. “Well, I guess the pearl is out the oyster now. I am Queen Novo.”
“Hold on now. Lemme get this straight.” Applejack wondered as she approached the queen before two of the four guards stopped her at spear point. “When the Storm King came, you just abandoned your entire city and fled?”
“We didn't flee! We swam! Y'know, in order to flee.” Princess Skystar said preferring a different term to describe it.
“But... how?” Twilight asked,
“Oh! Can we show them? Huh?” She eagerly asked her mother as she repeatedly tapped on her chest. “These are the first guests we've had in, like, foreveeerrr! Can we, can we, can we, can we, can we, can we, can we, can we, can we?”
“Well, I suppose I should make sure it still works.” Queen Novo reluctantly agreed as she floated up to the jellyfish chandelier over them to gently release a white sparkling pearl from inside.
“Careful, now.” Queen Novo said as her daughter squealed in joy of what is about to happen as she taps on the pearl to everyone finds themselves transformed into seaponies themselves and they all marvel at their new and transformed appearances.
“These fins are divine!” Rarity remarked very impressed with her diamond coated tail.
“Hey, Applejack, I'll race ya to that coral!” Rainbow challenged.
“You're on!” Applejack accepted the challenge as they set off to race ahead.
“Woo-hoo! Ooh! Try it, Fluttershy!” Pinkie cheerfully told Fluttershy as she enjoyed her seapony transformation.
“Yay.” Fluttershy shyly giggled as she looked at her tail while floating from her back.
“Guys? Guys? What is…” Spike asked in confusion at his transformation as he puffs up due to being a blowfish. “...happening?!”
“Aw, so cute!” Fluttershy giggled at him.
“This is amazing!” Twilight herself said while very impressed with this transformation as she approaches the queen as she tried to get a close look at the pearl. “With this, we could transform everypony at home into something powerful enough to face the Storm King's army!”
“Or it could end up in his greedy claws!” Queen Novo refused as she moved to keep it out from her reach.
“But...” Twilight tried to speak.
“Honey..." She soften her tone as she tries to turn her down without totally hurting her feelings. "...I'm sorry about your home. I truly am.” The queen apologetically and sincerely said. “But my responsibility is to protect my subjects. The pearl... is not going anywhere.” She cemented her decision as she places the pearl back inside it’s safe place.
“But we've come all this way.” Twilight pleaded with her to reconsider. “And you can't just hide down here! Trapped forever! There's so much you're missing!”
“We are one hundred percent okay with that!” Queen Novo firmly declared.
Before Twilight could go further by bringing up Princess Celestia had sent her a red jellyfish came to talk to her majesty.
“Yes, Jamal?” She asked as he chittered something to her. “Ooh!” She then sparked enjoyment in her tone. “Time for my seaweed wrap and yes, a massage, too. Mama needs her deep tissue.” She then told Jamall as she went off ahead.
“So that's it? We came all this way for nothin'?” Applejack asked.
“Oh, my gosh! Best... idea!” Princess Skystar eagerly proposed. “You can stay with us! Forever! There are so many things we can do! We can make friendship bracelets out of shells and... picture frames outta shells and... decorative wastebaskets out of shells...” She presented said items. “Oh, I have so many projects that involve shells, haha! Now I have someone new to share them with! I mean, aside from my friends, Shelly and Sheldon. Right? "Shelly"?” She presented said shells as Twilight, Starlight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Spike give forced smiles in response. “And "Sheldon"? Get it?” She asked if they got they joke to which only Pinkie did.
“That sounds lovely, darling, but you must realize, we can't stay.” Rarity politely declined.
“We've gotta get back to our families.” Applejack brought up.
“Oh, no. Of course. Of course. Heh. Of course you have your own friends back home. It's fine. It's fine. Heh. [whispering] Shelly and Sheldon get jealous anyways. Heh. It's probably for the best.” She briefly whispered to her shell friends before sadly accepting their decision. “Yeah, I'll just, um... I'll get Mom to, uh, turn you back so you can go home.” She then sounded like on she was on the verge of tears as she floated off to do so.
“I know we have to go, but you guys saw how disappointed Princess Skystar was. Couldn't we stay for just a little longer?” Pinkie pleaded with her friends.
“Pinkie, we just don't have time for…” Applejack tried to protest they can’t as Twilight thinks of an idea.
“Oh, no. No no. Pinkie's right.” Twilight spoke up seemingly agreeing with her party pony friend for once in this entire journey.
“Say what now?” Rainbow Dash asked in confusion as the others look just as surprise while Starlight is truly suspicious of her motives.
“Well, even when we have some help meeting us back at Mount Aris, we still need to come up with a plan to get back.” Twilight brought up as she placed her fins on Pinkie’s shoulders to urge her to go for it. “A few minutes won't make a huge difference. And if there's anypony who can cram a lifetime of fun into a blink of an eye, it's Pinkie Pie! So, go ahead and show Skystar the best time ever!” Twilight eagerly motioned her head for her to do so as Pinkie eagerly smiled.
“I won't let you down!” Pinkie saluted in response.
“I'm counting on it.” Twilight assured them as the rest of her friends minus Starlight go off to do so while Twilight herself eyes the pearl in the jellyfish tentacles.
“Uh, Twilight?” Starlight spoke up with a worried eyebrow seeing why she said and did what she just did. “You’re not seriously thinking of taking their pearl are you?”
“Of course! Well at least what I'd prefer to call it in this case borrow it until the day is saved.” Twilight confirmed to her as she looked around the security system behind the pearls encasing. “I mean it’s the only way to save Equestria.”
“While I admire your deviousness and cunning…” Starlight spoke still going with her gut feeling on this even while taking time to admire her dark side. “…I got a deep feeling this is a really bad idea.”
“Why would it be?” Twilight asked very confused by that statement while eyeing for any openings and flaws in the security system securing the pearl.
“Well, despite your friends screwing around and nearly got themselves sold into slavery because of dancing around a con-artist along with Rainbow giving away our position to Midnight and Tempest because of her need to perform a Sonic Rainboom, you should at least give it one more try before you do something you’ll might regret.” Starlight pleaded with her with her fins on Twilight’s shoulders to get her teacher to listen to reason.
“And what if they don’t succeed?” Twilight brought up not convinced. “In case if you weren’t there you saw how trying friendship outside of Equestria turned out and the fact that Midnight and Tempest are on the verge of victory right now with my appearance out and large being the one small thing to decide victory and defeat in this battle.”
“True, but a wise teacher told me “Even the smallest change – can snowball into an avalanche of trouble for the future.” “ Starlight said to her teacher as she presented a water bubble presentation of a bubble of water rolling down a slide growing into a huge bubble before bursting into multiple small bubbles. “Like what you taught from the day I changed for the better what I didn’t understand back then, I do know.”
“But the fate of Equestria depends on this…” Twilight tried to speak.
“…And it will be resolved successfully if you stay true to who you are.” Starlight cut her off and finished for her. “Don’t fight fire with fire because that is something Midnight would want you do to.”
Twilight then though deeply for a moment of what her student had just told her and after a minute of deep thinking then smiles at hugs her student.
“Thanks, Starlight!” Twilight told her as Starlight returned the hug. “For being a good student to remind me of that.”
“Well, I had a pretty good teacher.” Starlight thought nothing of it as she went ahead after Princess Skystar, Spike, and the Mane Five. “Come on let’s go check up on the others.”
At that moment evil laughter from a familiar pony emerged from the darkness.
“Go! But you only just arrived.” Midnight told them who both glare at her in response.
“Midnight!” Twilight narrowed her eyes in fury along with Starlight.
“Hello, Twilight and Starlight!” Midnight casually greeted them as she emerged from the shadows. “At last we finally meet face to face once again. Though I have to admit I am impressed with how far the Princess of Friendship has managed to evade my grasp up to this point.”
“Why are you here?” Twilight demanded. “You already have control of Equestria and the other princesses turned to stone what more do you want other than capturing me?”
“Nothing more other than a couple of students.” Midnight simply replied.
“What?” Both Twilight and Starlight asked very confused by that response.
“Think about it, Princess Celestia understands your potential of princess, but I on the other hoof understand of what you are both truly capable of deep down. When my takeover is complete Equestria will be a place of learning and research I can’t wait to see you’ll accomplish.” She told both ponies as she placed both hoofs on their shoulder as she floated over to them. “What we’ll accomplish.”
“What?” Twilight responded in disgust as she pushed off Midnight’s hooves.
“Are you crazy?” Starlight asked completely dumbfounded by this proposal.
“I mean think about it…” Midnight told them as she began to break out into a song of her own.
“I know that your down
Hey, now, don't be sad
I know you cannot stay
But we've got a couple minutes
And a little time to talk…”
Midnight sang as she circled around the two ponies as she placed her hooves on both ponies as they both shrugged it off again.
“But we can still pick one small, little thing
To do with you, y'know!”
She sang as she pointed to the pearl above.
“One small thing doesn't seem like a lot
One small thing, work with the time you've got
Soon, one small thing becomes two
After two, perhaps another few
Then one small thing is not so small
One small thing can be the biggest thing of all.”
She sang as she motioned for Twilight at the pearl to urge her to reconsider her stance on the pearl.
“All right now, since you're here
Let’s make one thing clear
You and I are not alike
And that’s one small thing I never let happen.”
Twilight firmly stood her ground in song.
“I've got wisdom and power
That says the most powerful should be queen.”
Midnight tried to charm her again with her manipulative influence.
“Well, we could play the game
Where I kick you flank
You'll like this one a lot!”
Twilight retorted through song.
“One small thing, it's a good place to start.”
Starlight also sang in agreement with Twilight
“Just one small thing.”
Twilight and Starlight sang together against Midnight.
“One small thing, and we don't seem so far apart
Cause deep down we are one and the same
Soon, one small thing leads to something more
So much more than there was before
Just one small thing and you will see
The start of something big for you and me.”
Midnight continued to try to sway them as she again gestured to the pearl.
“One small thing
Just one small thing
Could be the key to victory
Or the small thing leading to defeat.”
Midnight further sang as placed a hoof on Twilight’s chin to stroke it.
“So many things and everything to the end of time.”
“There's one small thing for each and everyone!”
Midnight sang as Twilight backed away from her still refusing to give in to her inner darkness.
“Now you listen you here you and me
We are not the same
Even though we think and act alike
We will never be like you
Because one small thing
That’s keeping us from doing so
Is never giving in to you.”
Starlight sang to counter Midnight’s argument.
“Besides if we do what you suggest
Then we’d be evil and cruel
Using force and threat
That is no way to rule.”
Twilight added in song agreeing with Starlight.
“One small thing, so much we can create
You and me, we started something great
It's so amazing, look around
At all the happy sights and sounds
One small thing is big, it's true
You did this all for us
I just wish there was one small thing
An extra special kind of thing.”
Midnight further sang as she floated down to their eye level.
“And one small thing that will happen…”
Twilight sung back
“That you could do for you me…”
Midnight sung back.
“Is that I’ll never become you
No matter how hard our friendship is tested.”
Twilight sung back.
“And that’s one small thing we’ll never let you do you us.”
Starlight also sang back fearlessly in the face of her enemy.
“…Is get that pearl for me
And you’ll see I’m the princess of generosity
Who says that the path of darkness is the way to go.”
Midnight further sang at the two.
“And why in the end
One small thing could be the difference to victory and defeat
And why in the end
You’ll join me by side because of
One small thing.”
Midnight finished singing in front of the two ponies still glaring at her.
“And as we made it perfectly clear in song we will never join you because deep down we are not the same.” Twilight defiantly refused the offer. “We may have our similarities but because your heart is so dark and full of said magic that gives you no moral restraints that’s one small thing that will indeed never happen to me or Starlight, not as long as our friendship remains strong.”
“Fine, have it your way.” Midnight accepted their decision as she made her way to leave before stopping for a second to say one more word. “Oh, but before I go, here’s what I agree on what is one small thing that you should consider for next time.”
She then quickly flung Twilight into the tentacles of the jellyfish right next to the pearl to set off the alarm to alert Queen Novo with her tail.
Twilight tried to break free but couldn’t as she struggled to move a hoof from the grasp of the jellyfish tentacles.
As they all hear Queen Novo, Princess Skystar, Spike, and the Mane Five come over Midnight then makes her leave leaving Twilight and Starlight behind.
“See you back in Canterlot.” Midnight gave a farewell salute as she made her escape.
The Mane Five were shocked and devastated to see this sight as Queen Novo snarls as she quickly swims up and snatch’s the pearl before Twilight could get ahold of it.
“No! Please!” Twilight pleaded on deaf ears as the queen refused to hear her out anymore having seen through and halted her attempt to trick her.
“All of this so you could sneak in and take the pearl?!” Queen Novo furiously roared as she grabbed her daughter away from who she now sees as criminals.
“Now your majesty, before we jump to conclusions, please let us explain. This is all a misunderstanding.” Starlight pleaded in Twilight's defense only to be immediately ignored.
“This is why we don't bring strangers into our home!” Queen Novo furiously scolded her daughter before turning to Twilight with an ominous brewing fury. “You don't deserve to be one of us.”
She then used the pearl to transform them all back into regular ponies while refusing to let Twilight or Starlight explain themselves or what really happened.
Next thing they know is that they all find themselves quickly emerging above water on the opposite side of the mountain. In short time they quickly made it back to dry land on the nearby shore as Twilight walks off ahead with Starlight joining by her side. The others specifically Rarity collapsed onto the ground after nearly drowning to death though they didn't waste time in confronting Twilight for just what happened that led to where they are now.
“What were you thinkin'? I mean, stealin' their pearl?” Applejack asked in angered disbelief towards Twilight who dried her mane while still not looking at them.
“Well it was the only way to save Equestria...” Twilight started to explain herself until Pinkie interrupted her before she could continue.
“'Cept it wasn't! The Queen was going to say yes! We did what you told us and that's what made her realize we were ponies worth saving!” Pinkie pointed out until she then gasped in realization of her original true intentions. “Unless...You didn't really want us to show her the best time ever! You just wanted us to distract her!” She then threw an accusing hoof at her direction to which the others ponies expect Starlight gasped in realization of her true motives.
“All right before we start saying something we might regret let’s all calm down here.” Starlight tried to reason with Pinkie to let her and Twilight explain what really happened down there.
“And you! You were there too! You were in on this as well!” Pinkie further accused her to which Twilight immediately got in front of her pupil in defense.
“I never would have done it and I never asked her to join in on this, but in case if anypony else hasn’t noticed this isn't Equestria!” Twilight then said in defensive frustration back as the others still look on with silent regret like Rainbow and Fluttershy or betrayed anger like Applejack and Rarity. “We can't just dance around with con artists, make rainbooms in the sky and expect everything to work out! It's not enough! We are not enough!”
“No, Twilight! We stuck together! We were gonna get the help we needed!” Pinkie retorted while pointing a hoof back in her direction. “The only thing that stopped us... was you!”
“Well, I'm doing the best I can!” Twilight angrily swatted the hoof away with her anger building up from the accusations and not being able to explain herself as she walked opposite from Pinkie. “It's all on me. I'm the one Midnight and Tempest want. I'm the last Princess!”
“And like Midnight you're also the only one who doesn't trust her friends!” Pinkie went the extra mile to insult Twilight to which Starlight gasped in shock knowing that she really pressed Twilight’s button saying that to her as her eyes widen in rage hearing that.
“Well, maybe, I would've been better off without friends like you!!!” Twilight furiously yelled back at her with her horn flaring up just like Tempest and briefly turning into the appearance of her evil counterpart.
Pinkie gasped in shock hearing that as she sadly looks down feeling completely hurt after hearing that nasty comment from her best friend.
Twilight then after calming down reacted in shock after seeing her reflection in the water and what she just said as her friends had similarly reactions of aghast shock hearing of what they both had just said to each other.
Fluttershy looked like she was going to cry, Rarity reacted in silent shock as she gaped and retracted a hoof, Rainbow Dash and Applejack both look on in disbelief with Rainbow looked more angered than Applejack feeling very deep down hurt by that comment as Twilight after turning back into her normal appearance runs off in shame.
“Twilight!” Starlight called out to her. “Please come back!”
“No I can’t!” Twilight sobbed while ignoring her as tears fall from her eyes. “I just can’t talk to any of you right now!”
All of her friends could not believe what had just happened as Pinkie and Twilight engaged in one of the worst knock-out drag out fights they never had before with both saying to each other the worst things no pony friend would ever dare say to each other. To everyone there it was worse than the fight they had at the wedding rehearsal and in prison and once again because no pony let her explain herself again over a misunderstanding.
“You want to know what really happened?” Starlight then glared at Pinkie in disgust. “While you all were pleasing the queen into helping us, Midnight came by to tempt me and her into getting ahold of the pearl. And while she did intent to do so at first, I managed to talk her out of doing it.” She added as she circled around the pink party pony. “And if you hadn’t made that remark about her being like Midnight and at least let her explain herself you would have found out the true reason she got tangled in the queen’s defenses is because Midnight flung her up there because she didn’t want any of us getting the queen’s help.”
“But I didn’t know...” Pinkie could only speak as Starlight further ranted.
“As if being completely stressed out over dealing with the threat of her and Tempest wasn’t bad enough, it only strengthen her fear of becoming the villainous pony she vowed never to become.” Starlight then further told off Pinkie as she got right into her face. “Apparently, something true friends like you obviously never took the time from treating this journey as an adventure while making all of the classic magic kindergarten mistakes along the way.”
“But…” Pinkie tried to speak again which is meant with a raised hoof from Starlight to silence her.
“Now if you’ll excuse me I have to go and comfort my teacher.” Starlight refused to listen to her as she walked off in Twilight’s direction. “And I hope you all have an apology in order for her when we come back because if I were you I wouldn’t try talking to her at all.”
Starlight then stormed off as she ran off to be Twilight as Spike ran off after her leaving the Mane Five further saddened by what had just happened while now feeling remorseful and guilt-ridden for the way they treated Twilight.
Both Starlight and Spike then make their way in the direction Twilight ran off to by following the tear trail she left behind but when they finally caught up to her they see that Twilight is already agreeing to be taken prisoner by both Midnight and Tempest as she calmly walks inside her cage as the cage itself is lifted into the airship.
“No no no no no! Noooooo!” Starlight cried tears of horror herself seeing this as she fired magic at the chain to try to melt it only to be restrained by one of the guards.
“Twilight!” Starlight and Spike called out to her as they are both restrained by the guards as Twilight is lifted up into the airship and much to their silent horror Twilight didn’t even look or acknowledge their presence as she calmly watches as she dragged up inside only shedding a single tear as she is seemingly accepting her fate.
Spike and Starlight use their fire and magic combo to create a burst of fiery magic that burns both soldiers as they run off trying to sooth the burns they have just been dealt with before running away from them to regroup with the Mane Five.
“I don’t understand this?” Spike said in confusion as she rode on Starlight’s back. “She just willingly surrendered herself to them.”
“I know!” Starlight agreed. “Why would she do that?”
“Looks like she gave into that lost faith of friendship and accepted whatever destiny Midnight has in mind for her. Or…” Spike guessed he thought.
“Or maybe she has decided to put an end to this by facing off Midnight herself!” Starlight quickly theorized in horror. “We have go warn the others and hoping the reinforcements we called before we left are able to find us here.” Starlight then ran off in top speed to do so as Spike hangs on to Starlight.
Inside the airship, Twilight inside her cage has a stoic and uninterested expression as she looks to her surroundings as Tempest approaches her. Even seeing her doesn’t spark any fear in her.
“Aww, the "Princess of Friendship". With no friends! And no way out.” Tempest taunted while circling around her prison.
“Like that matters to me anymore.” Twilight remarked emotionlessly as she is too stung from her previous fight to let the unicorn's taunts get to her. “I think the real question is why are you doing this? You're a pony! Just like me.”
Tempest responded by angrily banging one of her hoofs on the cage as she flared her horn taking offense to those words to which Twilight doesn't even bat an eyelash at her angered response.
“I'm nothing like you!” Tempest calmly but furiously stated as she turned away from her. “I'm more than you'll ever be!”
“It's time you learned a lesson
It's time that you understand
Don't ever count on anybody else
In this or any other land.”
Tempest sang as she circled around her stoic good counterpart.
“I once hoped for friendship
To find a place among my kind
But those were the childish wishes
Of someone who was blind.”
She sang as fire and smoke from inside of the ship appeared beside Tempest.
“Open up your eyes
See the world from where I stand
Me, among the mighty
You, caged at my command.”
She then sang as she approached the cage Twilight was in and placed her hoof on it again as Twilight still defiantly glares at Tempest while still showing no emotion even she see spins her cage a little and places a hoof on her chin as Twilight secretly uses magic to read her mind as the flashback of the moment she turned to darkness played out from the day she got her broken horn and scar.
“Open up your eyes
Give up your sweet fantasy land
It's time to grow up and get wise
Come now, little one, open up your eyes
We all start out the same
With simple naive trust
Shielded from the many ways
That life's not fair or just
But then there comes a moment
A simple truth that you must face
If you depend on others
You'll never find your place
And as you take that first step
Upon a path that's all your own
You see it all so clearly
The best way to survive is all alone.”
Tempest sang as Twilight now feels sorry for what has happened to her as Tempest as she walks up the steps to pull a lever to lift up her cage.
“Open up your eyes
See the world from where I stand
Me, among the mighty
You, caged at my command.”
She sang as she faced Twilight at her eye level once the cage rose up to that point.
“Open up your eyes
And behold the faded light
It's time to grow up and get wise
Come now, little one, open up your eyes
Open up your eyes!”
She finished singing as the cage was lifted up to outside of the airship with the invaded Canterlot a distance ahead while Twilight feels sympathy for the unicorn and how much the Storm King and Midnight’s influence has affected her.
“I'm so sorry you felt so alone.” Twilight sincerely told the commander unicorn as she joined by her side outside of the top of the ship.
“I saw the truth. My "friends" abandoned me when times got tough.” Tempest stoically responded as she still looked forward. “Looks like I'm not the only one. Face it, Princess. Friendship has failed you, too.” She told the just as stoic princess.
“Friendship didn't fail me. I failed friendship.” Twilight quietly acknowledged the real truth as she looks on at the approaching Canterlot with grim determination. “And now I am going to put an end to this all together.” She locked her eyes as the ship approached Canterlot ready to personally face off against Midnight herself no matter what happens in the end.
Back on the beach, all of the Mane Five sit and sulk in sorrow as Pinkie completely regrets blowing up at her like that especially after learning the truth from Starlight.
“This whole journey was such a mistake. All we wanted was somepony to help us.” Fluttershy sadly said as Applejack sighs while Rainbow looks aside still bitter at what Twilight had just said to them.
“Ya think, maybe it's time we talk to Twilight?” She asked everypony just when Starlight and Spike run up to them.
“She's! Been! Taken!!!” Spike shouted as she jumped off of Starlight’s back.
“What?!” Rainbow asked in shock as Spike and Starlight catch their breaths for a moment.
“Twilight's been taken! Tempest! She grabbed her! And took her on her ship!” Spike quickly explained to them of their friend’s predicament.
“Or more accurately she gave herself up so she can fight off Midnight by herself.” Starlight explained what really happened as the Mane Five gasp in shock hearing this and that Twilight is putting her own life at risk at her solo mission of defeating Midnight.
“We gotta get her back!” Rainbow Dash told everypony with newfound determination to save her.
“How? We'll never catch up!” Fluttershy pointed out the futile-less of crossing paths with her before they get back to Canterlot.
“And we got no way to defeat those monsters. Nor Tempest, Nor Midnight herself.” Applejack also agreed with her. “And the fact we have no way of being able to get back there in time and stop Twilight from committing suicide.”
Fluttershy sighs seeing the situation is hopeless until somebody spoke up from above.
“Well, good thing I happen to know of a group of mighty heroes that could handle this easily!” Capper heroically appeared on the top of the rock.
“Well! Look what the cat dragged in! Himself!” Rarity angrily remarked at his appearance still feeling betrayed with his attempting to sell them out to slavery.
“These heroes have faced the Storm King's army and escaped! I've seen them tackle the streets of the roughest towns, break out of the tightest situations, and inspire others to join their cause!” Capper honestly praised them for inspiring friendship into his heart.
“Ooooh.” The Mane Five, Starlight, and Spike awed in amazement.
“Now don't get too excited. He's just talkin' about us.” Applejack rightfully with suspicion after his initial deception quickly pointed out to which burst the hope bubble.
“They even escaped certain doom at the hooves of Commander Tempest and Princess Midnight!” Capper further commended to prove his now golden heart as he slid down the rock slide to face them from the ground.
“Yeah. That was pretty great.” Rainbow acknowledged.
“Are you kidding me?! That was awesome!” Captain Celaeno agreed with Capper appearing from the top of the nearby mountain rocks as Squabble squaked in agreement.
“Figured you could use a claw!” Boyle raised his mechanical claw.
“We're on board to help you fight the Storm King and Midnight Sparkle!” Captain Celaeno vouched their support. “Just not on board our... actual ship.”
“That crazy unicorn and alicorn sunk it along with nearly killing us. Heck we're lucky we even managed to survive that explosion.” Mullet voiced they made it out alive while thanking Rainbow for reawakening their adventurous spirit. “But you got back our argh! And we're ready to kick some booty.”
At that moment a golden light appears from the water as a magical creature rises in the sky as Princess Skystar now appears in her hippogriff form after secretly using the Pearl of Transformation to turn herself into a hippogriff.
“Is that what I think it is?” Capper asked the ship captain who awes in amazement at the sight of the creature.
“Hellooooooo!! Me again!“ Skystar giggled as she greeted them as appeared on the nearby rocks. “I'm gonna get so grounded, but I talked things over with Shelly and Sheldon and they pointed out that you were just trying to help your friends. So I wanna help too.” She vouched her support as she flew over to Pinkie. “'Cause ya know... one small thing... can make a really big difference!” She added with a raised claw while whispering to Pinkie who brightly smiled in response.
“That's it, right? We didn't make friends with anypony else?” Spike dully noted.
“All right, y'all! I think our course is clear. Y'all ready to do this thang?” Capper voiced what they need to do now.
“We're coming, Twilight!” Pinkie voiced her vow as everyone cheers in support “As soon as we bake up a plan!”
“And I can be pleased to tell you all that we already have a plan!” Shining Armor quickly voiced as he and the other leaders arrived on the scene while appearing in his captain armor and gear.
“Shining Armor!” The eight Equestrian citizens said pleased to see him as they all approached him.
“And it’s so good to see you all!” Shining Armor greeted them all with a smile. “And it’s great we all came as soon as we heard thanks to Spike.” He added as Spike placed a claw on the back of his head while blushing. “Speaking of which, where’s the little sister of mine who watches after you?”
Hearing him ask that question caused her friends smiles to fade as they don’t know how to break it to her big brother of what really happened.
“I don’t know how to tell you this…” Starlight spoke up having decided to break the bad news to him. “But I’m afraid she has already been captured.” She told him as the unicorn reacted in shock hearing this.
“What? No, Twily?!” Shining Armor voiced his horror. “How?!”
“Long story short, after a falling out with her friends thanks to Midnight’s manipulations, she surrendered herself to her and Tempest, and now she is on her way back to Canterlot preparing to face off against Midnight alone.” Starlight quickly gave the short to the point version to the prince of the Crystal Empire leaving the stunned big brother to sigh as she realizes what Twilight is putting herself into.
“But she is going to get herself killed by facing off against her all by herself.” Shining Armor pointed out still in shock that Twilight would be willing do that and surrender herself willingly not to mention willing to risk suicide to take down her evil counterpart.
“But thanks to Twilight giving me the chance to prove myself to all of you I managed to step up into the leader I was meant to be and later thanks to Starlight we have rekindled the friendship between me and my brother.” Thorax voiced his support as he placed an assuring hoof on the colt’s shoulder. “And now that Queen Chrysalis is in Tartarus you have the changeling’s support that we will get your sister back.” He assured the unicorn.
“Thanks to Twilight I gained the courage to prove myself to be the leader the Dragon Lands truly needs.” Ember also voiced her support as she approached everyone. “Along with the young dragon she raised herself.” She then eyed Spike who happily approached her.
“Ember, so good to see you again.” Spike happily said as they high-fived each other.
“So good to see you too, Spike!” Ember returned with a smile as she stroked his scales.
"Prince Rutherford!" Pinkie exclaimed in delight to see him.
"Yak happy to see best friend again!" The yak prince greeted the party pony with a tight hug.
"Grampa Gruff! Gilda!" Rainbow Dash greeted the two as they approached her where she and Gilda high five each other.
"Rainbow Dash so good to see you!" Gilda greeted with a hug. "I'm ready to kick some bad guy butt with you guys and help take back Equestria."
"She darn's right we are! Because no storm creature nor crazy alicorn is going threaten my home." Grampa Gruff voiced his support as Ember's turns to Shining Armor with a serious expression on her face.
“So, Shining Armor, what’s the plan?” She asked him as Shining Armor speaks up to everyone with a confident smile.
“All right so here’s what we’re going to do…” Shining Armor told everyone as he conjured a table with the map of Equestria where he has figurines of everyone in Equestria as he gives everyone separate instructions of how they are going to invade Canterlot in order to defeat Midnight, the Storm King, and their followers once and for all.