//------------------------------//
// Episode 10: "Send in the Royal Clones" 
// Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Season 12 
// by twilightsparkle3562 
//------------------------------//

…

…

For some time, the clones of Twilight Sparkle and her friends had been hiding from Grogar. Despite the fact that they were members of the Legion of Doom they had their own agenda that they were following. They wanted to overthrow Grogar for their own purposes just as they planned to do with their original creator, and they were willing to do anything and everything it took for them to reach that goal.

Down in the dungeons of Grogar's moon palace, Mean Applejack was hauling up the stairs another one of the many stasis pods that Grogar had recovered from space.

"Hey!" Mean Rainbow Dash grunted, holding up the back of the pod with rope. "Put some muscle into it, Samson! We haven't got a lot of time here!"

"It's probably just a heavy pod," Mean Applejack replied, giving her fellow clone a hard glare. "Whatever's inside is nothin' short of nothin'!"

"Move your flank, know-it-all! You're slower than molasses!" Mean Rainbow Dash growled, and the two evil mares continued to haul the pod out of the dungeons. "Twilight's going to be waiting! I'll tell her it's your fault we were late."

As they reached the main floor, the clones saw Queen Chrysalis flying past them. Seeing two of her creations with a stasis pod made the overthrown queen very suspicious.

"They're up to something," Chrysalis thought to herself. "Knowing how treacherous they are, I'll bet it's a plot to overthrow Grogar," As she flew towards Grogar's throne room, Chrysalis began to produce a sinister smile, her sickly green eyes glowing with delight. "But when it is all said and done," she whispered. "They're going to be fed to Grogar's beast for treason. They couldn't overthrow me, and they won't stand a chance against that old ram."

Arriving in the throne room, Chrysalis joined the large group of villains gathered around Grogar's throne. Taking her spot next to Tirek and Cozy Glow, Chrysalis gave her boyfriend and his daughter figure a look. "Don't tell anyone else I told you, but we might have a backstabbing going on." She whispered to them.

"What do you mean?" Cozy Glow whispered to her mother figure, but before anything could be said, the sounds of stamping hooves from Grogar called the meeting to order.

"I'll explain later," Chrysalis whispered to Cozy and Tirek. "This will be our little secret."

…

…

Meanwhile, Mean Applejack and Mean Rainbow Dash carried the pod to a room in the west wing of the castle where Mean Twilight and the rest of the clones were waiting.

"You took your sweet time getting here!" Mean Pinkie Pie snapped as they lowered the pod in front of a cauldron sitting on a black carpet in front of Mean Twilight.

"It wasn't that heavy," Mean Applejack muttered, shaking off any sweat that she had on her. "Why I could handle that thing in my…"

"-Shut up!" Mean Twilight snapped and interrupted. "We don't have a lot of time! We must seek out the spirit that we need for our ultimate plan. You two have already wasted enough time as it is."

Doing as they were told, the mean six prepared the pod to seek out the creature to assist them. Lifting the pod again, they tossed it into the cauldron much to the delight of Mean Twilight.

"All set." Mean Fluttershy laughed as she dusted the dirt off of her hooves.

Mean Twilight stepped forward, preparing to cast a spell that would bring the spirit inside to life. With her horn glowing, Twilight stood in front of the cauldron, raising herself onto her hind two legs and spreading her forelegs out. "From the depths of the universe!" She cried out as magical energy swept throughout the room. "Hear my cries! Evil spirits of toil and strife, give this fallen spirit new life!"

Almost as if on cue, the spirit of the pod's occupant was pulled into the cauldron and blasts of multi-colored lights filled the room, causing it to shake!

Suddenly, the entire room fell silent as Evil Twilight's grin grew wider and wider. After a few moments of silence, the sounds of a faint buzzing noise similar to that of a violin out of tune was heard from the cauldron.

"What?" Mean Rarity frowned. "You built up all our hopes just for a buzzing noise?!"

"Patience, motor mouth!" Mean Twilight snapped, directing Mean Rarity to look at the cauldron. "Watch!"

At that moment, the six were greeted by a gold colored mosquito with green wings that had red stripes on them.

"Ewww, an insect!" Mean Rarity hissed. "How repulsive!"

"Yes, just what we need," Mean Twilight laughed. "Come forth and claim your destiny!"

Hearing her, the mosquito turned its attention to Mean Twilight, looking her right in the face. "Transquito, terrorize!" The mosquito shouted and it transformed from insect to robot mode, its red eyes looking out amongst the six clones.

"Excellent," Mean Twilight smiled. "Welcome, our loyal servant. I am Twilight Sparkle, or rather the dark side of her. And these are my minions, the dark sides of Equestria's princesses."

Transquito looked up at Mean Twilight, already trying to get a feeling of just whom he was going to be serving.

…

Back in Grogar's throne room, the evil ram was showing off the powers of his bewitching bell, displaying a holographic image of a red humanoid creature with an exoskeletal body, wielding a "Z" shaped staff and another humanoid creature dressed in brown and wielding a magic wand with a circle shape at the top.

"We have a threat from another world that must be dealt with," Grogar informed the To this end, I plan to resurrect these two into our ranks!"

"Um," Sonata Dusk meekly inquired. "They seem nice, but…who are they?"

"Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa," Grogar continued. "The former occupants of this palace. Though they were turned to the side of good, I have a way to resurrect them in the prime of their evil ways and with the ability to exist independent of who they are now."

"Why would he do that?" Cozy Glow whispered to Tirek. "If he brought them back, they would overthrow us."

"Let's listen," Tirek advised to the young alicorn. "I don't think Grogar would do this unless he had a way to control them. He must know something we don't."

Suddenly, Grogar tapped into his bell's powers further, placing a set of chains around the two creatures. "But, they'll see that they are no longer in control of this palace!" Grogar declared as he forced the vision to show the two creatures down on their knees, bowing to the group of gathered villains. "I plan on seeking their spirits out to clone them, and I want you all to be the ones to help enforce my commands." Ending the spell, Grogar gave all the occupants a commanding stare.

"Any questions?" Grogar asked and Tirek reluctantly raised his hand. "What is it, Tirek?"

"Do they have magic?" The centaur reluctantly asked, much to Cozy and Chrysalis' irritation with the latter, even placing a hoof over her face.

"Of course they do, Tirek! They had enough magic to bring countless monsters to life and even make them grow to enormous size," Grogar replied, stepping down and towards Tirek. "In fact, if they get out of line, you shall be the one to absorb their energy. I know from history that when these two were evil, they betrayed anyone they didn't like."

Then Grogar turned to Chrysalis. "And as for you," He said to the former queen. "You shall drain any love that they have for one another. I'm giving you a free hoof!"

With his words said, Grogar turned around and headed back up to his throne. "Anyone else have any stupid questions they wish to ask?" He questioned, but the rest of the villains didn't reply. "Good. Now get out of my sight!"

Doing as they were told, the rest of the legion left the throne room, leaving only Grogar and Sombra alone.

"My emperor," Sombra asked, approaching Grogar. "Do you think it's truly wise to do such a thing?"

"Bringing back the former occupants of this palace?" Grogar asked back at the unicorn king. "Of course. If what happened in the other world is any sign, then we need to find help to keep the threat under control. Is that clear?!"

"Yes, my emperor," Sombra replied, causing Grogar to chuckle sinisterly as he sat back down on his throne. "In fact, my emperor, there;s something else I must discuss with you about."

Grogar's ears perked up. "What is it?"

"Those clones of Twilight Sparkle and her friends that Chrysalis created," Sombra answered. "Ever since you brought them back, well…they've been hiding in secrecy. I have a feeling that they're planning to overthrow us just as they tried to do with Chrysalis."

But Grogar was unfazed by this development. Instead, he sat in deep thought and confidence of his power. "If that is the case," He remarked. "I shall treat those clones the same way I treated the Storm King."

Sombra didn't reply.

Meanwhile, back in the west wing, Transquito stood before his creators as they relayed their instructions to him.

In her aura, Mean Twilight produced a book for Transquito to read. "Do you see this?" She asked, opening the book and showing the newly created Predacon a pair of alicorns, but not just any alicorns. "We intend to create clones of these former princesses. Evil clones."

"I do not understand." Transquito replied in confusion.

"You shall understand," Mean Twilight said in a firm voice. "You, Transquito, shall go to Equestria and bring us back the blood of the former princesses Celestia and Luna." And then she laughed in delight of the mission she had given to her new servant!

…

…

Once she had finished reveling in the plan she had solely created, Mean Twilight contained her composure and resumed her instruction giving.

"Shall I kill them?" Transquito asked, caused Mean Twilight to develop a shock and disgusted look on her face.

"No!" Mean Twilight retorted. "I only want you to drain some of their blood and bring it back to us. We shall use it to create evil clones of them. Do you understand what I have explained to you, Transquito?"

"Somewhat." Transquito answered.

"Good," Mean Twilight remarked. "Now transform and be off with you! And don't come back unless you got what I asked for!"

Taking a deep breath, Transquito transformed back into his mosquito beast mode and Mean Twilight cast another spell to shrink the Predacon down to a small size of a normal mosquito. Then, she casted another spell to send this mosquito down to Equestria.

"What happens if he fails?" Mean Fluttershy asked. "Can we squash him flat like a pancake?" To prove her point as she spoke, Mean Fluttershy just so happened to catch an ant walking by and stomped on it.

"I think that's a splendid idea," Mean Rarity agreed. "But I get the wings!"

However, little did the clones know at that very moment, Cozy Glow was overhearing what was going on from outside the west wing.

"Golly," Cozy whispered to herself. "They weren't kidding when they said they were going to create clones. Too bad I'm going to spoil your plans like I did for other ponies!" Flying as fast she could, Cozy Glow met her parental figures in the palace's courtyard as they trained several more platoons of donkey soldiers.

"Move, you idiots!" Chrysalis barked. "Unless you wish to become bear food!"

"I still don't trust him," Tirek said as Chrysalis looked up at him. "I mean, what if…?"

"Tirek, I don't think that Grogar would go back on his word," Chrysalis sighed. "I mean, we were basically the ones who recruited those sirens to join our ranks, right?"

"Yes," Tirek remarked, shrugging his shoulders in reluctance. "But I still don't trust him. Plus, I can't forget the fact that he plans to feed us to Scarface…"

No sooner did Tirek say those words though than did several donkeys collapse in exhaustion from their training. "Which is what is going to happen to you if you don't get back up!" Tirek barked, storming over to the downed donkeys. "Move, now!"

Exhausted, the donkeys couldn't move and in a quick punishment, Tirek drained any strength they had in them. "You see what happens when you refuse to cooperate?" Tirek said as he smacked his lips at his brief meal, leaving the downed donkeys on the ground.

Just as Tirek had finished absorbing the donkeys though, Cozy Glow raced into the courtyard at a lightning fast pace.

"It's those clones of yours, Chrysalis!" Cozy Glow panted, her face dripping with sweat. "They plan to create clones of Celestia and Luna! Evil clones!"

Hearing this, Chrysalis turned her attention to a group of marching donkeys, placing a freeze spell on them. "What did you say, young filly?" Chrysalis asked.

"The evil copies of Twilight and her friends," Cozy Glow answered while taking several deep breaths. "They plan to clone Celestia and Luna somehow!"

Having heard what his daughter figure was saying, Tirek joined them. "What are you talking about?" Tirek asked. "How do they plan to do that?"

"They created some kind of mosquito," Cozy Glow explained. "Much like one of those Predacons Grogar sent to Vorak's kingdom after our victory. They told it to fly to Equestria and take some of the former princesses' blood. And if he fails they're gonna squash him like a bug."

Both Chrysalis and Tirek were intrigued by what they had just heard and leaving the frozen donkey platoon in the courtyard, they went to investigate the matter.

…

It was late at night when Transquito arrived in Equestria. The newly created Predacon flew over to the Castle of Friendship and turned on his interior scanners, trying to find the subjects he was sent to obtain. Flying into the Castle of Friendship, he flew through the hallways and eventually, he was detecting a large presence coming from one of the bedrooms. There laid a sleeping Celestia.

Working fast, Transquito flew onto Celestia's neck and stuck his mouth into her bloodstream, injecting saliva and in payment drained some of her blood. After three gulps, he proceeded to find his next target. Eventually, he came across a sleeping Luna.

Landing on Luna's left foreleg, Transquito did the same thing, sticking his mouth into Luna's bloodstream and injecting saliva to make a second payment of blood.

With his blood samples collected, Transquito flew out of the castle and having detected his task being completed, Mean Twilight prepared to teleport him back to the moon. "Very good, my servant. You have served me well." She said sinisterly, looking into the cauldron.

"What do you mean 'your' servant?" Mean Pinkie Pie questioned with a narrowed brow. "It was a group effort, wasn't it?"

"Of course it was!" Mean Twilight retorted, looking at Mean Pinkie Pie quite furiously. "But don't forget who the leader is, you imbecile!"

Brushing off her superior's behavior, Mean Pinkie Pie backed away, but not before sticking her tongue out at Mean Twilight.

"Now, to bring him back!" Mean Twilight declared, but before she could do so, she and the clones heard a knock on the door and were taken aback. "Go answer that!" She barked to Mean Applejack, knowing that her lies would keep them safe.

Going to the door, Mean Applejack opened it to reveal Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow on the other side.

"What do you want? Ain't you got better places to be?" Mean Applejack asked in a sarcastic tone.

"What are you all doing in here?" Chrysalis remarked in a stern tone. "And don't hide anything from us! We know what you're up to!"

"Uh, we're not doin' nothin'!" Mean Applejack lied.

But the three villains weren't convinced. "Of course you're doing something, you're a liar!" Cozy Glow snapped, her alicorn horn glowing. "And you are going to show us what is, or else!"

"Or else what, darling?" Evil Rarity sarcastically asked. "Feed us to Grogar's pet teddy bear? I don't see that happening!"

"You have no idea how capable Grogar is, or how great his anger can be," Tirek warned. "Now let us in, or else!"

Acting fast, Mean Twilight went to the window and casted her spell to bring Transquito in. "Hurry, give me the samples!" She ordered in a hasty tone. "Put them in the cauldron, now!"

Acting quickly, Transquito was returned to normal Predacon size and dropped the blood samples of Celestia and Luna into the cauldron.

"Guys, look!" Cozy cried as Mean Twilight fired a blast of her dark alicorn magic into the cauldron and began to chant an incantation as the rest of the clones held the three villains back.

Streaks of fire and dark bluish magic emerged from the cauldron.

"What's happening?!" Cozy Glow cried, her voice suddenly turning to a shrill scream as flashes of lightning shook the ground! "WHAT'S GOING ON?! WHAT HAVE YOU CLONES DONE?!"

A few moments later, the sounds of evil laughter were heard from inside the cauldron and two alicorns: One white with a flaming mane and tail, and the other black with mane and tail like the night sky emerged from the cauldron, much to the delight of Mean Twilight.

"Behold!" Mean Twilight screamed, flying above the room and speaking in the Royal Canterlot Voice. "Day Breaker and Nightmare Moon, the instruments of your destruction!"

All Tirek, Chrysalis and Cozy Glow could do was stand in disbelief at what just happened before their very eyes!

…

…

Horrified and unable to move, the three core members of the Legion of Doom were now subjected to the horrors of Celestia and Luna's evil alter egos.

"Well, well, well," Day Breaker cackled. "This is a pleasant surprise!"

"Yes, it is, sister," Nightmare Moon added. "We live again, free from the imagination of ponies!"

"Of course you do," Mean Twilight declared, facing the two evil alicorns. "I am Twilight Sparkle, and I have given you a new mind, a new life, a new allegiance…to me!"

Pushing the door aside, Tirek and Chrysalis attempted to try and defend themselves against the two alicorns, but Mean Twilight expected this. "Now, destroy these three fools! Show them we're not to be taken lightly!"

"Of course! This will be child's play." Nightmare Moon laughed, firing her magic at the changeling and centaur while Day Breaker dealt with Cozy Glow.

The firings from the two alicorns began to cause damage throughout the room and all of a sudden, both Grogar and Sombra were hearing the commotion. The sudden activation of Grogar's bell further confirmed their suspicions.

Rising from his throne, Grogar went to investigate what was happening.

"My emperor, what is it?!" Sombra asked in a panicked tone of voice.

"I have traitors in our midst, and I don't like that at all," Grogar replied, turning around to briefly face Sombra. "Follow me! I think it's time Scarface had a late night snack!"

Charging his horn, Sombra followed Grogar out of the throne room as another loud noise caught the attention of Scarface who followed his master out of the throne room.

Meanwhile, despite doing their best to try and defend themselves, Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow found themselves being overpowered by the two newly created alicorns while the six clones watched with delight.

Letting out a loud yell, Chrysalis fired her dark green magic at Nightmare Moon, striking her in the chest! But the mare in the moon was quick to brush off any possible injury. Using her horn, Nightmare Moon then headbutted Chrysalis into a wall, causing the changeling queen to cry out in pain.

Racing to his girlfriend's defense, Tirek grabbed Nightmare Moon by the leg and threw her onto the floor, nearly crashing into the clones.

Day Breaker flew in and spat out fire at Tirek, hitting him in the shoulder. And Tirek replied by picking up a dresser and throwing it at Day Breaker, who managed to quickly burn it up with her fire breath.

"You can't defeat my powers that easily!" Day Breaker cackled, using her horn against Tirek. "I'm just too smart for you!"

Tirek ignored Day Breaker's threat and attempted to grab her again by the throat, but both her and Nightmare Moon were too fast.

Snarling, Chrysalis tackled Nightmare Moon out the window, breaking it into pieces while Tirek did the same thing with Daybreaker, sending her crashing through a wall! With the two clones momentarily stunned, Chrysalis and Tirek prepared to fire another round of their magic when they were suddenly stopped.

"Enough!" Mean Twilight cried, catching the attention of Tirek and Chrysalis. "Or this filly's new wings are getting plucked!" Holding Cozy Glow in her aura with the rest of her counterparts at her side/

Cozy Glow began to cry out in pain from her wings being pulled and tugged on.

"Don't you dare hurt her!" Tirek demanded with a growl! "Or so help I'll end your pathetic existences right here and now!"

Snarling, Chrysalis attempted to lunge at the clones, but Tirek stopped her by putting his arm in front of her.

"Tirek!" Chrysalis protested, but Tirek refused to let Cozy Glow (despite the pest that she sometimes was to him) be subjected to such brutality.

"Let her go, please." Tirek sighed.

Complying, Mean Twilight released her grip on Cozy Glow, causing the frightened filly to fly into Tirek's arms. "You actually care about that alicorn wannabe? Pathetic, no wonder Grogar doesn't trust you!" Mean Twilight remarked, charging her horn again as this time she prepared to administer a finishing blow. "So predictable, and a disappointing yet fitting end for the original Legion of Doom."

Suddenly, however, a gold beam of lightning struck Mean Twilight and threw her against the damaged wall of the room as Grogar and Sombra emerged with their horns fully charged!

Day Breaker and Nightmare Moon prepared to counterattack, but Sombra stopped them, pinning them to the wall with his magic.

"Emperor…Grogar!" Mean Twilight grunted as she struggled to her feet.

"How dare you defy me after I went out of my way to recruit you into my ranks!" Grogar growled, extending his magic grip to include the rest of the clones. "For this you shall be severely punished!"

Emerging from behind his master, Scarface growled as he prepared to lunge at the clones. But at that moment, the grizzly was hit in the shoulder by an energy blast coming from Transquito, determined to protect his creators.

Angered that his pet was attacked, Grogar tapped into the powers of his bell and began to drain Transquito of his powers, causing him to yell in pain as he was absorbed by the bell, both body and soul.

"And as for you…" Grogar snarled, he began to pull the clone along with Nightmare Moon and Day Breaker also into the bell. Screaming, all were pulled into the bell.

Grogar then proceeded towards the opening caused by the fighting and letting out a loud roar, fired his bell out into space, sending eight streaks of light into the outer reaches of space and sending a ninth streak back down to Equestria. Just like that, the battle was over.

"Traitors," Grogar snarled in a quiet tone. "They don't deserve to be here. What a waste of an existence."

Turning around, he looked towards the downed Legion of Doom, huddled together. "On your hooves," Grogar ordered as he used his bell's powers to fully repair the room. "I want answers. What were these clones planning?"

Slowly rising, Chrysalis and Tirek struggled to give Grogar an answer.

"T-they were p-planning to… to overthrow you, sire," Chrysalis stuttered, her face filled with fear. "By creating evil clones of Celestia and Luna."

Grogar then turned his attention to Tirek, particularly towards the frightened Cozy Glow shivering in Tirek's chest.

Gently pulling Cozy Glow away from Tirek, Grogar looked down at the frightened filly. "Look at me, child." He said in a quiet voice and Cozy opened her tear filled eyes slowly.

"They threatened to pull her wings off," Tirek replied in protest. "She's been through enough."

"Silence!" Grogar barked, shutting Tirek up before turning his attention back to Cozy Glow. "Return to your duties at once. Your troops are frozen in the courtyard."

Doing as they were told, Chrysalis and Tirek left the room even with their concern clearly focused on Cozy Glow.

"Sombra," Grogar instructed. "Take Scarface to be examined for any injuries."

Slightly whimpering in pain, Scarface followed Sombra out of the room.

"What…what are you going to do with me, Emperor Grogar?" Cozy Glow asked in a scared voice, while looking up at Grogar.

"I sense fear inside of you, fear that you must conquer," Gorgar explained. "In fact, I see great potential in you, Cozy Glow. But you must learn to tame the fear."

Cozy gulped. "How…how do you plan to do that?"

Saying nothing, Grogar walked by Cozy Glow and the young alicorn filly followed, wondering just what Grogar had planned for her.

…

Meanwhile, Celestia and Luna both awakened and felt an itching pain on their necks and forelegs.

"Ugh, what in…?" Celestia grunted, trying to scratch her neck. "Since when…? Ugh! Mosquitoes!" Putting on her bathrobe and stepping out of her bedroom, Celestia went to the bathroom to try and prepare herself for the day as Luna also walked by, trying to scratch her right foreleg.

"I trust you had the same problem, sister?" Celestia asked.

"What do you think, sister?" Luna asked in reply. "Since when are mosquitoes welcome in the Castle of Friendship?"

"I'm sure it will go away eventually," Celestia remarked. "Let's just put some lotion on them and we'll be fine."

So they both walked to the bathroom to deal with their bites. However, little did they realize that Transquito had left something inside of them when he'd bitten them.

…

…