//------------------------------// // Chapter 64: The Awakening Part Two // Story: Light and Dark: Road to Redemption // by MXCDarkHorse2020 //------------------------------// Chapter 64: The Awakening Part Two Late at night at Canterlot inside the catacomb dungeons all the prisoners just sit in their cells as Cozy and Nightmare both watch over the prisoners. “Cozy?” Fluttershy called out to the filly. “What is it?” Cozy replied as she allowed her to ask. “I just want to know why?” Fluttershy pleaded with her. “Why what?” Cozy questioned what she is trying to say. “Why are you doing this? Fluttershy clarified. “I know she is your mother but how could you help Midnight and do this to Twilight and us after all she’s done for you is try to help you learn about friendship?” “As I told Twilight she gave me what your friend couldn’t do by giving me what I desire…power!” Cozy simply replied. “Something that Twilight nor any other pony would ever give me if they wanted to.” “But Midnight doesn’t really care for you.” Fluttershy further pleaded to her to listen. “She’s only using you. As soon as she gets what she wants and sees she no longer has use for you she is just going to discard you like you meant nothing to her.” Hearing this sparked anger in Cozy’s mind as she flies over to her cell. “You don’t know what you’re talking about!” Cozy angrily yelled at her taking great offense as if it is a comment of complete disrespect towards those who care for her. “My mother has treated me like any other good mother would and is the best parent I could ask for her. If she says what she is doing is right, I believe her!” Fluttershy is then reduced to tears seeing that her offer to turn the other cheek failed as the others comfort her and wonder why Cozy is doing all of this while disapprovingly glaring at her for making Fluttershy cry while Nightmare Moon places a calming hoof on her shoulder. “Easy little one.” Nightmare calmed her down. “They are neutralized. But remember they say anything to make you doubt yourself.” “Don’t worry, Aunt Nightmare.” Cozy said with narrowed eyebrows. “Any doubt I had got pounded out of me the day I left my home.” As the two villains were conversing, Flash and Discord snuck behind them and released poison joke flower dust over them causing them to cough as Cozy’s wings feel out of whack causing her to lose control of her flight and crash into the wall while a burst of magic from Nightmare from her uncontrolled magic caused her magic to ricochet across and knock her out when it made contact with her while freeing every pony from their confinements. “Discord!” The Mane Five said in surprise. “Shhh!” Discord immediately said in a hushed tone. “We need to get out of here now!” He then turned to Starlight. “But why can’t you do it?” Starlight questioned of why he isn't using his magic for an easier escape route. “There’s no time for questions!” Discord urged them to just do what he asks of her. “Do it now!” The unicorn immediately teleported them out of the catacombs and to the room where the portal is as Sunset immediately comes inside with the bell in tow. “Quick! Through the portal!” Sunset immediately ran at full speed at and quickly taps some buttons to make some adjustments so they can ride it to the Crystal Empire. “Let’s go now!” Unfortunately, Midnight, Chrysalis, and Tirek have all arrived inside the room by the time Sunset could get the portal working. “Get them!” Midnight commanded the two as Daybreaker flew on over to the catacombs to check up on Nightmare and Cozy Glow to which the changeling and centaur charged at them to which Starlight and Sunset quickly produced a smoke bomb and launched it at the three as Midnight quickly protected herself with a magic shield as Tirek and Chrysalis were sent and knocked back by the two unicorns within the fog as the princesses, Flash, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Young Six, and the Mane Five all run through the portal while Neighsay, Star Swirl and the Pillars quickly make their escape through the nearby windows to avoid being captured again as Midnight clears the smoke screen with one swoop of her wings. Midnight then looks at the portal as she uses her magic to incinerate it into ashes as her heart glows neon purple constantly with brewing fury that they all have managed to escape her grasp. “Well, at least we still have a few bargaining chips and the magic we needed from the bell.” Midnight calmly said despite her fury at Sunset and Discord managing to help the prisoners escape as her heart then stops glowing before turning to Tirek and Chrysalis who both got back on their feet. “Make sure you all have everything you need ready for the invasion and tell Sombra that the plan is moving ahead of schedule because we leave first thing in the morning!” Both Tirek and Chrysalis obeyed and ran off without saying anything knowing Midnight’s anger about this despite being so calm about it as Daybreaker brings Nightmare and Cozy Glow in the room to which Midnight responded by working her magic to help them regain consciousness and place ice bags on their foreheads to help them heal faster. “I’m sorry Midnight. I don't know how.” Nightmare said with pain after waking up first. “But somehow that fiery colored unicorn and idiot Discord managed to get in and help the prisoners escape!” “It’s okay.” Midnight replied as she works her magic in getting them healed while having them rest on the library’s couch. “Just rest here for the time being so we can be ready for our next attack in the morning!” “We’re attacking so soon?” Nightmare responded very confused as if it is all so sudden. “Forgive me for asking but isn’t the plan to attack a week from now. “Well due to the unicorn managing to sneak in through a portal I didn’t even know about until now…” Midnight explained gesturing to the destroyed portal. “She knows of our plan to attack the Crystal Empire. So now is the time to attack and destroy any chance of preparation they might have now and get that bell back.” “But why the bell even though we managed to get the magic from it?” Nightmare questioned in confusion. “Because we need that bell to recruit a very valuable ally to our cause. The real deal.” Midnight replied as she turned her attention to Cozy Glow as she places a gentle hoof on her shoulder. “This minor setback calls for readjustments to the original plan in order to get things back on track.” She then said with narrowed eyebrows and determination to ensure that this is nothing more than just a minor setback as her heart briefly glows neon purple again. Inside the Crystal Empire, Twilight heart glows neon purple too as she is awaken by a loud noise from inside of the castle to which Twilight springs into action despite her injuries by flying over to the source as Tempest, Cadance, and Shining Armor all arrive on the scene to the room where the sound source is. “Shhh…” Shining whispered to every pony as he slowly opens the doors as they all have their horns lit and wings spread out ready to attack the intruder as he slowly opens the doors as both Twilight and Tempest charge in to attack the intruders with sounds of fighting and screams of pain come from the shadowed figures as Princess Cadance turns on the lights after hearing some familiar voices to reveal the other princesses, Sunset, Starlight, and the Mane Five all being pinned down and tackled by the two ponies as Flash, the Cutie Mark Crusaders and the Young Six all back all into the nearby corners for safety. “Twilight?” Everyone said in shock upon seeing her. “Girls?” Twilight said in equal surprise upon seeing they were the surprise and uninvited visitors as she holds them in arm-locks with her magic while personally restraining Sunset. “Sunset?” Cadance said in the same tone. “Tempest?” Starlight voiced as Tempest hold her in an arm lock too. “Starlight?” Tempest returned. “Princesses?” Shining Armor asked the two sisters as they both appeared on the both of the pile of ponies. “Pinkie!” Pinkie cheerfully exclaimed as everyone glares at her for that. “Oh I mean Discord!” She glared at the Lord of Chaos. “What are you pointing hooves at me for?!” Discord asked sounding offended. “Well, okay I guess I deserve that.” He then accepted that after seeing Sunset glare at him. “Okay? Everypony stop!” She spoke up as she groaned as she released Sunset as she flew up and groaned from her injuries before any of her friends could consider tackling her for a hug in relief seeing her alive. “Before anything else… What is going?!” She then suddenly shouted in complete confusion and exasperation before flying back down as Cadance placed an ice-bag over her bruised spots as she felt the pain again. “Perhaps it’s best we explain things from the beginning.” Discord suggested as they all made their way to the throne room as Sunburst and Flurry Heart met up with them where the girls explain the escape plan Sunset and Discord came up with on the spot as Grubber presented food for everyone. One long explanation of what had just happened later.... “…and that’s how we got all here?” Pinkie finished rapidly explaining as Twilight process this all. “So let me get this straight, you all were imprisoned, then set to be executed by Midnight in the morning, but you were busted out thanks to Sunset’s arrival for the need of more pages for her magical journal and Discord’s arrival without magic?” Twilight summed up the explanation. “Yes.” Sunset calmly replied as she hugged her to which the alicorn winced from her injuries. “And we all honestly thought you were dead.” “You did?” Twilight said in surprise as the others nod their heads in agreement. “We sure did, Twi.” Apple Bloom said in teary relief as she and the other Crusaders hug her. “We all did when Midnight told us what happened.” Scootaloo said in agreement. “We really thought we lost you!” Sweetie Belle cried in Twilight’s chest as they all cry as they hug Twilight. “But if that’s what Midnight said then everyone else must believe it’s true too.” Twilight came to realize what this meant. “Everyone thinks I’m dead! The whole world!” “I know this might be very awful to take in darling…” Rarity spoke in comfort as she approached her friend. “…but at least what’s important is that you’re alive and safe.” She added with a hug as everyone one of her friends join in as Twilight backs up in pain. “What’s wrong Twilight?” Pinkie worryingly asked of her friend as she groaned from her injuries. “Still hurts.” Twilight replied as she placed a hoof on her chest. “Your chest?” Pinkie questioned as she examined her alicorn friend. “How?” “Uh Pinkie, I wouldn’t…” Cadance tried to warn her against invading her personal space as the party pony ignores her warning. “Come on, tell those aching bones to beat it.” Pinkie further pressed her as Twilight’s heart glows neon purple as she sends a blast of dark magic right at Pinkie sending her flying across the wall shocking everyone. “Pinkie!” Twilight shocked, immediately flew over and caught her before she could hit the ground. “Are you okay?!” “Waiter!” Pinkie said in a dizzy dazed state. “There’s some chaos in my soup.” She said as walks around feeling very dizzy only for Twilight to use her magic to freeze her in her tracks. "I'm pretty ture I didn't put chaos in the soup I just made." Grubber pointed out as Tempest rolled her eyes at his clueless. Twilight couldn’t believe what just happened as she groaned in pain and took notice of her own glowing heart. “Whoa!” Rainbow Dash the first to speak in disbelief. “Did your heart just glow and shoot dark magic at Pinkie?!” “Rainbow!” Applejack scolded the blue Pegasus while still shocked. “I’m sure Twi, didn’t mean to strike her friend like that. Isn’t that right, sugarcube?” “Yes! I mean of course not! I would never! I mean...” Twilight quickly spoke in mortified defense. “I didn’t mean too! It just came out!” “And we believe you.” Fluttershy comfortably said as Twilight couldn’t help but feel distraught as she sees that she once again has dark magic in her heart just like back when she was Midnight as Cadance approaches her. “It’s all right, Twilight.” She assured her. “Since Celestia and Luna are here we’ll have them look at you.” “Oh that reminds us.” Sunset brought up as she pulled out Grogar’s bell as Discord took control and worked the bell to have their magic returned to them before returning his own magic to himself. Once Discord got his powers back he snapped his fingers, smiling that he can use his magic again as the royal sisters examine Twilight with their magic after Discord returned the two sisters their magic. As the two further inspected her heart their expressions got very serious. “It’s not good is it.” Twilight figured from their expressions that this is not an easy fix. “I’m afraid so, Twilight.” Luna solemnly confirmed. “For this dark magic you received from Sombra is really stuck in there that can only be removed by yourself.” “Okay that shouldn’t be too hard.” Rainbow shrugged it off. “Just use the elements like last time.” “Mmm. That’s a good plan. Expect for one little detail…” Twilight calmly replied before bluntly shooting it down. “…Sombra destroyed the tree.” “Oh.” Rainbow replied as she immediately remembered the incident a year ago. “Not to mention it is under Midnight’s control now so even if we did get to the tree we got an entire army just waiting there to kick our flanks all over again.” Twilight further added in angered exasperation. “We barely got out of there with our lives!” "I wouldn't say all of our lives just....99% of it." Sandbar spoke up as his friends glared at him as to say "Seriously?". "What? the 1% is to account for the part where we all managed to escape." “Sorry!” Rainbow quickly raised her hooves up pleading with her friend not to get riled up over it. “It was just a thought that I thought would work and it didn’t occur to me until a second later.” “Though I do wonder…” Twilight then calmly said as she turned to Discord with suspicion as Discord starts to get nervous upon seeing the menacing look on her face. “How exactly did Sombra return alive and well?” “Why do you ask?” Discord asked as he started to sweat with a nervous smile and gulp. “Because what Sunset told me just earlier, you said you walked all the way from Tartarus without magic during those last three days without magic during the power drain. You also had time before the drain to teleport in a flash. Was there more that led up to that?” Twilight then asked with brewing fury as she keeps her cool with Sunset too glaring at him to compel him to confess to everyone. “Because…I brought him back.” Discord reluctantly relented as he confessed. “You did?! But why?! “ Rarity asked in horrified shock. “Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.” Discord honestly explained. “Which is why I also brought back three other villains one of them Midnight included. So... my bad.” The others could not believe what they are hearing come out of his mouth that he orchestrated the team-up of Equestria’s most dangerous villain’s. “You did WHAT?!” Shining Armor angrily exclaimed. “But why Discord?!” Cadance just as furious as her husband demanded. “Why did you think any of this was such a good idea in the first place?!” “Well…” Discord further confessed as he snapped his fingers to show them the flashback of him following Twilight’s departure during the royal sisters announcement they are retiring. “…After seeing Twilight didn’t feel confident to rule Equestria seeing that it reminded her of her dark past so much, I decided to bring them back to boost her confidence so that she would overcome it.” He said as he showed the memory of himself disguising as Grogar to help Midnight bring back the other villain’s. “Well expect for Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon that was Midnight’s doing.” He quickly added as he showed the memories of him working with the dark alicorn in question. “With Midnight’s help we teamed up to plan an epic attack at the right time right on what was supposed to be the day of her originally scheduled coronation. Alas, it turned out Midnight had other plans to go on about conquering Equestria and had executed a plan to double-cross me which I didn’t see until after I was stripped of my powers.” He then added as he brought up the magical memory of when Midnight threw him in Tartarus. “It wasn’t until I annoyed the hay out of the prisoners that I was able to get them to generously lend me their magic so I could escape.” He then showed a flashback of annoying them with Pinkie style antics combined with his chaotic antics until they did just as Discord described the scenario before escaping Tartarus alone. “But by then it was too late as my magic was immediately gone after the first day Midnight’s plan went into fruition leaving me unable to transport to the school to warn the others in time and by then it was too late.“ “And indeed it was definitely too late by then.” Twilight wasted no time with voicing stern words in agreement. “You did show up late to mention that little detail.” She then gritted her teeth furiously as her heart glowed again. “So let me get this straight. You wanted to boost Twilight's confidence, so you brought back Midnight, Chrysalis, and Tirek to attack her?!” Luna just as furious summed down of what she had just heard correctly. “Don't forget Sombra.” Discord felt the need to add even though it gained him no points to get others to look the other way. "Dude seriously?" Gallus asked with a cross tone. "Not helping your case." “And while you united these three villains, you pretended to be Grogar?!” Celestia asked just as enraged as the other princesses. “Discord, how could you do this to Twilight?! And us?!” Fluttershy cried as she sat down on her rump feeling completely devastated by this as Ocellus does the same feeling just as betrayed. “Look what a great job you did defeating Sombra.” Discord tried to make light of it while facing with a glaring Applejack and Silverstream as they both comfort Fluttershy and Ocellus. “All the confidence you gained. Remember the cheering? The hoof-bumps?” Discord presented with a self-bump. “Expect that was me alone who took down Sombra!” Twilight corrected him as she tries her hardest to control her temper. “Alone! And that I almost lost my coltfriend because of that!” "But you still had your friends helping deal with Sombra's army." Discord tried to make light of it to no avail. “For all the time you've spent with us, you really haven't picked up too much in the way of friendship lessons, huh?” Applejack also spoke of her disapproval of his ill-conceived plan. "And it doesn't look like you'll ever have the heart to take any of them even when given the chance." Ocellus voiced her disappointment as she produced a small glare at Discord. “To the point you were willing to help the worst villain Equestria has ever faced to do so!” Twilight further vented her fury. “Well I mean I didn’t free her or lose control of her but just worked with her.” Discord defended himself with honesty there. “And how was that supposed to help again?” Spike irritably asked. “I intended to prepare Twilight for anything by orchestrating an epic attack at her coronation.” Discord explained as he kneeled down to his eye level. “You beastly beast!” Rarity then yelled in his face as she ran up to him. “Don't you know how much that day meant to Twilight?! And me?! I made her dress! Why wait until now for such a horrible plan?!” "Oh, boy." Smolder said with rolled eyes at her over-the-top sense of priorities. "The drama queen." "Yona ought to smash stupid Draconequus for this!" Yona angrily snorted her snout as she joined Rarity by her side while drawing a hoof on the ground ready to charge at him. “You don't take a final exam on your first day of class.” Discord retorted before explaining with a smile of his well-intended vision he had in mind. “Just think after defeating five baddies along with vanquishing her arch-nemesis Midnight Sparkle, Twilight would have to believe that she's the leader we all know she is!” “You have made a grave misjudgment, Discord.” Celestia said as she flew over to him with seething rage frightening him as Twilight who has heart still glowing joins her. “A very grave misjudgement!” Twilight angrily emphasized. “Since by not keeping close tabs on her you got yourself swayed by her manipulations, not only did you get outplayed by her, you also paved way for the most dangerous mind and powerful pony in Equestria to take over which she just did and nearly killed me!” She further went on as she started raising her voice as Discord backs away from her in terrified fear. “What?! Were?! You?! Thinking?!” She shouted with fiery-fueled emphasis. “Nothing other than only that what I thought was best for you.” Discord could only say with a forced smile which did very little as Twilight grew even more furious as her heart still glows roars fire from her mouth as her mane and tail turns dark and deadly black along with the matching color flames creating dark fire and flames to which sent Discord crashing back into the back of the wall where Pinkie crashed into earlier. Once the flames died down the others looked on with shock and surprise seeing Twilight using dark magic like that as she turns to Sunset. “I do hope you have better news than Discord.” Twilight turned to the unicorn with regained composure as her mane and tail returns to normal color who looked disturbed with what she had just done even if he deserved it. “Well…” Sunset stumbled in her words before recovering from her shock. “When I was obtaining the bell from Midnight’s quarters I came across her who was with her followers in a war meeting.” She said as she recalled the flashback of her sneaking through the castle hallways until she makes her way to Midnight’s bedroom. “I was lucky that she is at the meeting instead of being in her bedroom because unlike the dumb luck that got me caught last time I tried to steal something from the castle, I would have been a dead pony on wheels.” Sunset then made her way to a portrait of Midnight to which had the magically created safe behind and after carefully cracking the code based off of what Twilight would have put in. “And needless to say cracking the code wasn’t easy, nor was being able to spy on Midnight and making it out alive. I tell you if it weren’t for that portal you created we all wouldn’t be here by now.” She then said in relief as she pulled the bell out of the safe then closed it before making her way through the castle quietly. “When I was sneaking out I overheard Midnight’s next plan.“ “I assume she isn’t stopping at all of Equestria?” Twilight correctly guessed. “I’m afraid so.” Sunset solemnly answered as she presents the flashback of said meeting with her magic. “Now that you all had time to get your petty little differences off of your chests shall we discuss our next move?” Midnight asked Tirek, Chrysalis, and Daybreaker with a serious tone to which they all nod after Midnight makes her authority perfectly clear to them. “Yes.” Chrysalis immediately said without question “Out of our chests.” Tirek agreed with her without hesitation. “Let’s open the discussion.” Daybreaker immediately voiced to move on to the important issues and tasks at hoof. “Very well.” Midnight relented as she uses her magic to operate the cutie map table. “Even though we have Equestria now under control we still have outside forces of Equestria who all strongly support Celestia and Luna.” She said pointing to the area of the Dragon Lands, Yakyakistyan, Griffonstone, Mount Aris, the changeling kingdom. “And how do you propose we deal with these threats?” Chrysalis wondered. “They will all definitely want to attack here in Canterlot when word gets out we have their student’s hostage.” Midnight responded as she pointed to the castle on the map. “So we need act before they decide to act to try to invade Canterlot.” “Come on.” Chrysalis found it hard to believe. “They should know by now they don’t stand a chance against us.” “While everyone in Equestria knows it…” Midnight acknowledged. “Everyone outside of Equestria doesn’t.” She said as she presents the symbols of their flags against the flag against Canterlot. “And together they could to pose a threat to my rule as long as they have their fighting spirit. So we need to use this time before they launch an attack to destroy their spirit.” She then said with as pulls up a projection of the Crystal Empire. “And this is where and how we are going to do it.” She told her followers as she turned to Sombra who is looking eager at this opportunity. “At the end of the week we will attack and take over the Crystal Empire while taking care of Princess Cadance, Shining Armor, Tempest Shadow, and Flurry Heart as well since they are all the last of Equestria's most powerful ponies still standing at this point.” “Finally!” Sombra said very pleased with this announcment. “A chance to finally take back what’s mine.” He then chuckled evilly as his dark magic casts a shadow over the room to which revealed Sunset’s shadow to Midnight to which she quickly noticed and shot magic right at her to which she barely avoided once she saw it coming. “Tirek! Chrysalis! With me!” Midnight instructed them to follow her. “Daybreaker join Nightmare and Cozy Glow and make sure the prison is under lockdown!” Daybreaker immediately raced off ahead to do so but not before she and Midnight shoot fiery magic at her to which she barely dodged as Daybreaker teleported in front of her in attempt to cut off her escape only for the unicorn to simply teleport inside the room where the portal was. “Figures.” Twilight took this with no surprise. “As long as she knows that there are others out there who will resist to this all of this will have something to say about it and I have a good feeling that since she caught you she is only a few hours away from carrying her plan out to avoid us managing to be prepared for the element of surprise.” “Tempest!” Shining Armor immediately turned to Tempest urgently. “Alert the troops and tell them an impending attack is happening today we need to lock down this empire!” As Tempest bowed and immediately ran off to do so Celestia turned to the other alicorn princesses. “Twilight! Luna! We need to make a plan since Midnight will be here soon ready for a fight!” Celestia just as urgently told them. “And I hope you all have one ready to go.” Midnight’s voice said as she opened appeared inside with the royal guards she encountered inside the palace with Cozy Glow and Sombra appearing by her side. “Because I am already here and I'm ready for that fight.” She grinned evilly as the others could only be taken aback by her sudden appearance...