//------------------------------// // Chapter 49 The Late Squeaky Clean // Story: Super Stallion // by PioneerofImagination //------------------------------// "I can't believe this happened," one of the royal guards said as he and several others walked around the rubble of the broken castle. "Yes, quite frustrating," Stone Wall, who recently became captain of the royal guard again said. "And what's worse, despite all the damage he did right in the middle of the capital, with all the guards here, he got away." The other guards noticed he was almost possessed with rage but was trying not to show it as it wouldn't help at the moment. "Let's focus on clearing away the rubble and getting the injured to what's left of the sickbay."  "Um, captain," another guard said.  "What?"  "I mean, is repairing the castle really our top priority right now? Shouldn't we look for the body or something-  "We'll get right on the rubble and the injured captain," the 1st guard said as he and a 3rd guard who were in-between the 2nd walked and made him come with.  "I know you're new here but you should try to read the captain more," the 3rd guard said. "He's dealing with a lot right now; his best friend is dead."  Super Stallion, after informing the princesses of what happened, brought back the tower that had broken off the castle during the attack. Princess Twilight used her recently mastered chaos magic to put the castle back together.  "Nice work princess," Super Stallion said. "Thanks but I can't take all the credit," Twilight said. "You did get the tower back."  "I just wish you could fix my other problem that easily," Super Stallion said while wondering how things could have gotten bad so quickly. ***  Celestia and Luna had recently informed Twilight that they were going to retire and that she would be taking their place as rulers of Equestria. Twilight fainted right on the spot. She was taken to the royal chambers and put in the bed where she was awakened after Stone Wall located some smelling salt. "Uh where am I?" "You're in the royal chambers Twilight," Luna answered. "Or rather you're in your royal chambers since this will be yours soon," Celestia answered.  "What?" Twilight said.  "Well Twilight when you become the leader of Equestria this will be your royal chamber as well," Celestia said and hearing that made Twilight faint again. Celestia was about to use the smelling salt again when Stone Wall stopped her.  "No no no! Let her sleep, maybe a good rest will help her process this a little better," Stone Wall said as he tucked Twilight in a little bit. "In the meantime maybe you could practice answering Twilight's questions a little less bluntly."  After getting more rest Twilight was able to take the news much much better and would take the time for her to be suited for the role. Such as finding somepony to run the School of Friendship but that would have to wait as news came to her other teacher about her literal crowning achievement.  "Oh my dear Twilight I'm so proud of you!" Discord said as he was holding Twilight up in the air in his arms. "My little chaos maker in the making is going to be in charge of all of Equestria." Discord then started to spin her around a bit which Twilight actually kind of enjoyed.  "Well I'm glad to know you like it Discord honestly you're taking it a lot better than I did. So was this the reason you asked me to come over here?" Discord then placed Twilight down who was feeling a little dizzy.  "I brought you to the Castle of the 2 Sisters because I wanted to make an announcement. Granted it's not going to top you becoming the ruler of Equestria but what can you do?" With the snap of his fingers a black flat hat and black robe appeared on Twilight.  "What the?"  "Congratulations Twilight you've mastered chaos magic." "I have? But I barely use it?"  "Oh look at you come so far and still so modest. Yes you have mastered chaos magic you've taken enough chunks of my magic to do it anyway. You've made it your own and are now at my level." "I have?" Twilight asked, taken back, being at Discord's level of chaos magic is saying quite a lot.  "Yes and since you're going to be ruler of all Equestria you're most likely going to need some sort of royal adviser." Discord then smiled while making numerous claw hands appear pointing at him.  "Oh Discord, would you like to do it?" Twilight asked rather sarcastically who answered by wrapping himself around Twilight. "Why Twilight I would love to."  "I'm sure you would but I think I should explore some alternatives first."  "Oh come on now Twilight haven't I always been there for you to offer sage advice besides between the 2 of us we can handle just about anything."  *** Meanwhile in Tartarus Cozy Glow, who managed to sneak in, had tried to help the other rogues. But the medallion she stole was only letting her go in and out and she couldn’t pick the locks of the cages. So until she thought of a way to help them all escape she was hanging out. "Oh Tirek," Cozy Glow said to her old pen pal. "It's Lord Tirek and what do you want now?"  "I just want to make sure you can see my best friend rock sculpture from over there," Cozy answered as she showed him a mini version of Tirek holding up Cozy Glow that she made with pebbles. However she wouldn't get to admire her own work for much longer as it crumbled away.  "Ugh will someone shut that brat up already," Storm King requested as he was sitting in his own cell taking a break from trying to break out. After another moment of rest he got back up and tried to break the bars with his bare hands. "You're at it again I see," Scar Flank said. "Seriously trying to get free is just about the only thing you do." "Well it's not like there's anything to do in here," Weather Warper said, whose cage was rather close to Scar Flank's. She, like Storm King was trying and trying to break free. "It's one thing to lock us up but why so tightly I can hardly work out. Seriously, how am I supposed to keep my body in shape here?" "I suppose you have a point there I wouldn't want to have you get out of shape," Scar Flank said. "But getting out of the cages isn't going to do you much good."  "Of course it will," Storm King said. "If we can break out we'll be free." "Except if you break out you'll still have to worry about the guard dog, remember?" Payback asked who had spent his time trying to plan escapes but none went further than an idea.  "Yeah he's always watching talk about puppy guarding," Cozy said with a giggle. "Get it Tirek because he's a dog." "Uhg, please don't talk to me."  "Oh wow, please , you're improving." "And even if you somehow did something about him there's still the GIANT FLIPPING DOOR that won't open from the inside," Payback continued.  "Please don't sugarcoat for him," Mad Alicorn said, who was trying to take a nap and was the only one of the bunch starting to accept she's going to be in Tartarus for the rest of her life. And it was showing.  "Come on now, don't be such a downer," Cozy said. "We can't just all give up. If we keep trying we'll find a way to get out. And then we can get our sweet revenge on all the creatures that wronged us," she continued with a sadistic smile at the end. "That filly kind of creeps me out," Weather Warper whispered to Scar Flank.  "I think she creeps us all out," Scar Flank whispered back. "Get real already, will you kid,” Mad Alicorn said. “We're stuck in here, we're not just going to magically vanish out of here." Suddenly that was exactly what happened for not only her but all of the rogues. They found themselves in a place none of them had ever been before.  "What in Equestria, did one of you do this somehow?" Scar Flank answered and the others answered no all except Weather Warper who was too busy flying around to even hear what he asked. "All right! Finally! I can fly around free once again!" She said with utter bliss. "Unbelievable," Mad Alicorn said. "We're free but who did this?" "It was I who freed you," a mysterious voice answered. The others looked around for who answered but saw no creature. "It came from that waterfall," Payback answered and when they all looked they saw a mysterious ram with abnormally long horns and a collar approaching them. "You freed us?" Storm King asked. "Yes, I just answered that," the ram said as he stopped at a table with a crystal ball. "You may call me Grogar. Hearing that made Tirek, Payback, Scar Flank, and even Storm King somewhat gasp. "That's impossible," Payback said. "He's just a legend." "I am very real."  "Who is he?" Mad Alicorn asked.  "Seriously?" Storm King asked. "I only came to Equestria on the day of the invasion and I've even heard of him."  "He was the 1st emperor of Equestria," Scar Flank added. "The Father of Monsters."  "Yes before Equestria became the land it was, it was simply a collection of farms and pastures that was when Grogar declared himself lord of all he saw," Tirek said. "I remember hearing tales of his tyranny when I was young."  "I gave life to the foulest of creatures and allowed them to roam wild taking what they want and destroying the rest. My reign was a glorious fear soaked epoch of darkness in Equestria," Grogar said as his crystal ball provided a few visual aids.  "So what happened to you then Bobar?" Cozy asked. "GROGAR!" He answered, making Cozy hide behind one of Tirek's legs. "The source of my power was my enchanted bell but that infernal Gusty the Great took it, believing doing that would defeat me but she only weakened me temporarily."  "Uh Tirek is really old, no offense you look great. But if he knew about you when he was young we have super different ideas about what temporally means," Cozy said.  "Silence," Grogar said, making Cozy hide under Tirek again. "I've spent millennia gathering power biding my time waiting for the perfect opportunity to seize control of Equestria. However a lot has changed since I once ruled over this land: new princesses, a new capital, even what you would call a superhero. I trust you all know who he is." "Wait, did that guy stop your plans too?" Storm King asked.  "Yes, some of us more than others," Payback said.  "Not me so much but I still know of him," Cozy Glow said, still under Tirek. "Will you get out of there already," Tirek said as he kicked her a bit, making her fly out.  "While I have been away from this land a long time I still stayed aware of what was going on. Super Stallion is not the only one who fought against you, there is also Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends." Grogar then waved in front of his crystal ball and showed the rogues her with her friends at the castle. "Soon she will become the ruler of Equestria leaving the Royal Pony Sisters to retire. She and her friends as well as Super Stallion have defeated some of you time and time again-" "Let me guess," Scar Flank interrupted, which rather annoyed Grogar. "You want us all to team up to defeat them." "I demand that you join me and together, Equestria will be ours."  "This again," Weather Warper complained.  "We've tried doing that, but it didn't work," Mad Alicorn said.  "Yeah no matter what we always get defeated," Payback said. "Wow I had no idea I was hanging out with a bunch of losers," Storm King replied. "You were defeated too pal," Weather Warper said. "Yes," Grogar replied. "And do you know why you always lose against those ponies?" "Because they don't know when they should give up," Payback said.  "Because they are annoyingly lucky," Tirek said.  "Because we don't have superpowers of our own," Scar Flank said. "Uh I'm just a kid so," Cozy Glow said. "It's because despite you using the clever idea of teaming up your leader was never qualified." "Didn't expect that to be the answer," Weather Warper said.   "The 1st leader was more obsessed with getting his revenge on his sister than anything else. The 2nd leader was far too busy planning one backstabbing after another to properly lead you," Grogar continued as he stared at Payback. "And the 3rd leader if you could even call her that didn't know enough about this world or how to use her new abilities properly."  "Well maybe this guy has a point or 3," Mad Alicorn said.  "Join with me and under my leadership the defeat of Super Stallion and the others will be all but guaranteed." "Uh and what makes you think we want you to be our leader," Storm King said to the surprise of others. "Oh what, you actually want to work under this ancient boar?" "I'm a ram."  "Like it matters." "Well what are you exactly?" Cozy Glow asked. "Are you like an albino monkey or something?" "Shut it brat!" Storm King replied as he spooked her and caused her to fly over and hide behind Grogar this time.  "Don't have much of a backbone do you young one?" Grogar asked. "Not really."  "As I was saying," the Storm King continued. "I don't need a leader. I already am 1. I'm the Storm King I traveled and conquered and conquered and traveled. Mostly I just conquered. Half the world was nearly under my control and if the invasion of Equestria worked out that would have been almost the 2nd half. I had an army under my control and almost more magic than even I'd know what to do with. If I just had those again nothing could stop me." "You think so?" Grogar asked.  "I know so!"  "All right then." Grogar then made his way over to Storm King and made the Staff of Sacanas appear, shocking the Storm King. "Where did you get this?" Storm King asked. "Power wasn't the only thing I collected all this time. I've infused it with some of my magic allowing you to use some of the powerful magic you crave so much. But if you want to invade you'll still need an army, try a prison not too far from here where some of your army were locked up." Grogar then hovered his crystal ball over to him to show Storm King a map to the prison.  "That's going to be a problem even with that staff," Scar Flank said. "The prison now has fractions of the former changeling queen's throne magic. It cancels out magic except changeling magic." "Which is why I also infused the staff with changeling magic as well," Grogar said. "You can do that?" Mad Alicorn asked. "I can do many things." "Except shut up and give me the staff," Storm King said. Grogar then offered the Staff of Sacanas to him.  "If you manage to conquer Equestria you may keep it but if you fail you will return to me and work under my leadership." "Oh really? And if I don't?"  "Would you like to go back to Tartarus? And that question goes the same for all of you," Grogar said, turning to the other rogues. "The magic you've been given is quite powerful but you should take some time to learn how it works-" "As if I need to listen to you," Storm King interrupted. He then used his new found magic to blast a hole through a nearby wall. "I always was a fast learner." The Storm King then made his way out of Grogar's lair ready to set a plan he was already developing in motion.  "Between you and me," Cozy Glow whispered as she flew next to Grogar's face. "I kind of hope he loses." "Yeah me too," Grogar said. "Hey, could I get a sample of that magic of yours?" Tirek asked. Grogar then got a piece of his magic from his belt and tossed it over to Tirek who ate it right away and that alone was enough to get him into his 2nd stage.  "Can I have some more?"  "Don't push it," Grogar answered Tirek.  *** After fittingly storming off, the Storm King made his way to the prison and trained to use his new staff along the way to make sure he'd know how to use his newly given powers. When he finally made it to the prison he single handedly took down all the guards and freed the prisoners. "Wow that was so awesome I even impressed myself," Storm King said to himself as he finished off the last of the guards. "We don't get paid enough for this," the last of the guards said to himself before the Storm King tossed him aside and he landed on the ground next to another guard. "I thought we wouldn't have to worry about this kind of thing ever again," the other guard said to the one that was tossed next to him.  "Listen up! I'm planning an attack on the capital and this time it's going to go as planned but I need an army first, so who's up for serving the guy that will 1 day make this whole world his own." "Oh great Storm King!" Clover called out happy to see his leader once again. "I am Clover from the once Fearsome Foursome." "Fearsome Foursome? You actually went with that name. What did you lose a bet or something?"  "We didn't really focus on the name to be fair," Spade said. "Well you should have, I mean imagine if I made a name for myself and it was something ridiculous." "Can you just get us out of here already?" Spade asked. "They won't let us fight in here." "I don't recall my troops giving me orders." "Don't mind him, he's just itching for a fight," Diamond said. "Just like I'm itching to get my hands on something shiny and valuable."  "Hm, I suppose I can understand." The Storm King then used his new found magic to free the prisoners from their cells. However when they were given the opportunity a majority of the prisoners stayed in their cells. "Ah hello I'm giving you all a chance to escape here what's the hold up?" "Yeah we've been given quite a few of those chances," one of the prisoners said. "We always either get stopped or recaptured," another prisoner said.  "Plus my time is almost up. I'm not going to throw that away with another escape attempt," a 3rd prisoner said.  The other prisoners joined in saying they'd rather stay and reform then go with him. "Wow, I guess we've been doing a better job at this than we thought," a guard that was on the verge of losing consciousness said to herself. "Are you all kidding me?!" The Storm King asked with frustration and annoyance. "I give you a golden opportunity to run free and you just want to sit around? That doesn't make any sense!" "Uh Storm King can we get going?" Clover asked. "You really think you're going to make something of yourselves here?" The Storm King continued on. "You think you'll just stumble onto greatness? No! You have to find it and take it!"  "What the heck is he talking about?" Spade whispered to Clover. "I think it's his idea of a pep talk," Clover answered. "Can we go now sir?" Diamond asked the Storm King who answered by blasting a nearby wall and creating a hole. "Hey fine let's go," the Storm King said as he and the storm creatures left with him. While he was disappointed in the not so big number he still had his army and decided to leave. "So now what boss?" Diamond asked. "We go to the capital, what else?"  "The capital?" Clover asked, surprised. "Isn't that rather risky for such a small group, what if Super Stallion shows up?" "Oh I'm hoping he does. It's time he and I had a little rematch." Storm King then brought his whole army to the capital with a teleportation spell. "Hope you're ready to fight if not, well it sucks to be you." "I've done nothing but train while locked up knowing that in some way, shape, or form, I would get my chance to fight once again," Spade said. "That's what I like to hear, let's get them," Storm King said.  Meanwhile Stone Wall was preparing to talk to some new guards or at least guards that joined since he was gone. "All right you stallions fall in line," Stone Wall said. "Uh actually I'm a mare in fact several of the guards here-" "I SAID FALL IN LINE!" Stone Wall interrupted and the guards did just that. Stone Wall then made his way across the guards looking them over. "My my, how progressive to see so many mares now in the royal guard. But don't expect any double standard nonsense from me. I expect equal competence from all of you understand?" "YES CAPTAIN," all of the guards answered except for one gray unicorn mare at the end of the row.  "Equal I don't think so," the female guard replied. "Excuse me?" Stone Wall asked and with that she walked out of the line and began approaching Stone Wall. "Mares have done much for this land than stallions have. We've been led by Princess Celestia for over 1000 years and her replacement is going to be another mare." At this point she was right in front of Stone Wall and was looking at his armor a bit while wondering if it would fit her. "In fact I've got plans to be the new captain of the guards around here." "You don't say," Stone Wall said, surprisingly calm but also annoyed by the mare's lack of respect. "Yeah so I wouldn't get too used to calling the shots around here cause I'm the one that's gonna, gonna," the mare tried to continue but Stone Wall's sudden hard stare made it rather hard for her to concentrate and actually sent some chills down her spine and made her legs wobble like jelly. "Oh hey I'm out of line." "In more ways than 1," Stone Wall replied as the mare guard got back in the line while the other guards snickered a bit. "A mare captain of the guard, that I would actually like to see but until then I'm calling the shots around here," Stone Wall then walked beside the guards. "As a royal guard you will be tasked with protecting the castle and more importantly, the princesses to do so you'll have to be, if you'll pardon the expression, be on guard. Always remember that and always expect the unexpected." As Stone Wall finished, the Storm King's magic made a hole in the castle. "Well that was definitely unexpected," one of the guards said. "Yes it seems that you'll be having an active workout today," Stone Wall said.  "Something tells me Super Stallion should help," Prince Squeaky said. "Yes I think you're right," Celestia agreed.  Squeaky then ran off to find a spot to change. As he was doing that Storm King continued his raid on the castle and Stone Wall gathered the guards to counterattack.  "I'd kind of like to turn it into a pile of rubble but it might actually make a decent place to live when I clear out all of the ponies. What do you guys think?" Storm King asked. "I think you're about to take the mother of all beatings," Stone Wall answered.  "And who might you be?" Storm King asked. "The pony that's going to give you the beating!" Stone Wall then fired a magic beam at the Storm King that hit him dead on and knocked him to the ground.  "Why you sneaky little!" Storm King jumped back up and aimed the staff at Stone Wall but he dodged the attack.  Meanwhile, Squeaky ran into a nearby closet but as he was about to change he came across an unexpected obstacle. "Squeaky what are you doing in here?" Swift Sweep asked who was in the closet. "What am I doing here? What are you doing here?"  "Well I was hiding a just because present for Luna when I realized I already hid one in here for her and forgot all about it." "Woah, I hope it wasn't a puppy."  "No, it's a chocolate sponge."  "Why would you get Princess Luna a chocolate sponge?" Squeaky asked after taking a few seconds to process Swift Sweep's question. "Just because, weren't you listening?" "Apparently not." "Well anyway we need to get out of here some albino monkey is attacking the castle." "Uh how about you go? I'll stay here and make sure the presents don't get hurt."  "Squeaky don't be ridiculous we could get really hurt come on let's get out of here," Swift Sweep said as he grabbed his hoof and pulled a bit to gesture to follow him out of the room. "Come on Squeaky let's go." "I can't!" "Squeaky what good would staying in a closet do in a time like this?" "A lot!" More than I would like to admit right now.  "Squeaky you're not making any sense!" "Swift Sweep, will you just get out of here already? I really need to be alone right now!" "No! I can't just leave you here when something like this is happening, we're friends aren't we and friends stick together." "Friends," Squeaky said after pausing. "Yes we're friends and friends also keep secrets right?" "Yeah," Swift Sweep said, confused.  "So if I tell you a secret that means you wouldn't tell anypony not a single pony or any creature for that matter?" "Of course not, losing a friend's trust is the fastest way to lose a friend forever." "Good because-" "FOREVER! Sorry, continue." "Uh anyway I have just about the biggest secret on the planet and you can't tell anypony or creature or whatever." "Okay I won't tell, but come on how big a secret can it be?" Shortly after Swift Sweep asked that Super Stallion flew right out of the window leaving a stunned to say the least Swift Sweep. "Wow, that was pretty big."  Super Stallion flew around a bit and saw the creature causing all the trouble. "Time to get to the eye of this storm," Super Stallion said to himself as he flew over to where the Storm King was. There Stone Wall had already gotten a few more solid hits.  "I'm surprised that a pony is capable of fighting like the way you do," Storm King said. "Tell you what I'm planning on putting this whole planet under my thumb. I could use a strong and fearless 2nd in command." "Not interested," Stone Wall answered.  "What the world could be-" "Not interested," Stone Wall repeated. "You'd make a terrible leader." "That's something everypony here can agree on," Super Stallion said, joining in the fight. While the Storm King’s forces were being pushed back, other guards got to work evacuating the castle including Prince Swift Sweep.  "Prince Swift Sweep, have you seen Prince Squeaky Clean?" One of the guards helping in the evacuation asked him. "I….last saw him when he was in that tower," Swift Sweep answered. Suddenly the Storm King used his staff to lift it up and tried to throw it at Stone Wall. Stone Wall used his magic to bounce the tower and it was flung all the way out of Canterlot and into the water at the bottom of the mountain. "You ponies are too strong for your own good.” Storm King then let out a powerful spell that hit Super Stallion dead on but while Storm King expected it to send him flying to another continent Super Stallion stayed put.  "What? All this power coming from the staff and it can't even make you move."  "Let me give it a try," Super Stallion said as he charged a spell and blasted through the staff's magic. When it hit the Storm King he was the one that got sent flying as he was knocked into the air and slammed into the castle.  "Try not to damage the castle anymore, it's been through quite enough already," Stone Wall said as a storm creature was about to attack him but Stone Wall jumped and bucked him before it had the chance to do that.  "Noted," Super Stallion said. Storm King used his staff to pick up pieces of the wall and throw them at Super Stallion who just threw them right back and bucked him. Storm King landed flat on the ground hard and almost unconscious. "Had enough?"  "I overestimated my newly found powers as well as my influence," The Storm King said as he forced himself to get up. "I won't make that mistake again." Storm King then teleported outside of the castle and used his magic to gather all of the storm creatures that came with him in 1 place with him. And then suddenly they all vanished. "They got away," Super Stallion said to himself. "I really really really don't like it when they get away." "Yeah well I'm not too fond of that either," Stone Wall said.  "Captain!" One of the guards that was handling the evacuation cried out as he ran over to Stone Wall. "We have a problem." "I'm guessing you mean beside the whole attack and the clean up that's going to follow?" "Yes sir, there's no easy way to put this so I'll just come out and say it, Prince Squeaky Clean was last seen in the tower that got thrown off Canterlot. And it's very if not at all likely that he survived wherever it landed." Stone Wall then gave a quick look to Super Stallion before looking back at the guard that recently gave him the bad news. "I, I see," Stone Wall replied, pretending to sound a bit sad and actually doing a rather good job at it. Super Stallion went to get the part of the castle Storm King threw. ***  With the castle being put back together the guards soon went back to the usual duties. Princess Celestia even helped with the repairs while Princess Luna saw to the injured. While she was helping with the repairs the guard that informed Stone Wall also informed Princess Celestia of her husband. "He's dead," Celestia replied, rather confused since Super Stallion just passed her a minute ago. "Oh, I see that is too bad." "Um princess did you hear me?" "Of course I heard you, my little pony." "Well it's just that you don't seem really bothered by what I told you." "Yes," Princess Celestia replied. "I guess the shock of it all just hasn't set in yet." Princess Celestia then gathered Luna, Twilight, Stone Wall, and Super Stallion saying she wanted to talk about how to find the Storm King. When actually she wanted to talk about her "late" husband and wanted to gather those who know about his secret to figure out what to do. "I can't believe I'm dead," Super Stallion said as the group was gathered together in private. "I was on the verge of retirement too." "Yes, that does present a problem for you," Discord said who was flying around the ceiling and flew down to be with the others. "Discord, what are you doing here?" Super Stallion asked. "I was just waiting for the flashback sequence or whatever you call it in literary form to end."  "Wait, were you here when the Storm King attacked?" Twilight asked and Discord gave a nod. "Why didn't you do something to stop him?" "Better question, why didn't you?" Discord asked as he poked Twilight in the nose. "You're going to be calling the shots around here soon so you'll have to know what to do."  "Perhaps," Twilight replied. "But in the meantime we need to figure out how to help Squeaky Clean." "Yes, so I brought all those together that know about his secret so we can figure out how to clear up this problem." "Well then perhaps you'll need the complete set for that." Discord then snapped his fingers and Swift Sweep, Sapphire Shores, Star Swirl, and Spike appeared in the room.  "Oh hi Luna, and everypony else and whatever Discord is," Swift Sweep said unfazed at all that he was teleported in the room.  “Whatever this is, I can’t stay,” Star Swirl said. “I’m rather busy with something.” Star Swirl then teleported away and Discord decided not to bring him back. "Uh what the heck is going on?!" Sapphire Shores asked rather shocked. "Why am I here?! Did we all get captured or something?!" Sapphire then saw Stone Wall and calmed down. "Well hello there." "Why is Sapphire Shores here? Discord don't tell me-" "Yes Spike she and Swift Sweep also know Squeaky Clean and Super Stallion are 1 and the same," Discord interrupted.  "Wait what? You all knew and I had to figure it out on my own," Swift Sweep asked. "Well Swift Sweep please understand," Luna said. "The secret identity of a superhero can't exactly be treated as idol gossip even between loved ones."  "Oh that I understand, I just don't get why so many already know about your secret. I mean it's kind of a lot." "Yeah Swift Sweep has a point," Stone Wall added. "And why is one of them a pop star of all ponies?" "Oh, are you a fan of my work?" Sapphire asked and then fluttered her eyes repetitively at Stone Wall who was rather confused by the gesture. Princess Celestia then informed the ones Discord brought in about the current problem facing Super Stallion. "Well it's not like you're actually dead you just can't be Squeaky Clean anymore," Swift Sweep said. "But I am Squeaky Clean. I need to be Squeaky Clean. I'd go nuts if I was Super Stallion all the time."  "Go nuts," Discord said. "See what wonders it does for you, of course that's me."  "Does anypony have an actual solution?" Super Stallion asked. "Well can't you just say you found him, yourself when you went to get the part of the castle Storm King threw?" Stone Wall suggested. "I thought of that but the tower was flung into the water," Super Stallion answered. "Normally I wouldn't encourage this but you could just lie," Princess Celestia.  "I tried that but there were several boats nearby that had been there for a while." "Hmm well now that is a problem," Luna said. "Yeah I hate to say it but I'm falling back on Swift Sweep's idea," Spike said.  "Maybe we just need time to think on this," Twilight said. "If we do that we might figure something out." "I know what you mean Twilight," Swift Sweep said. "Sometimes when I try to think, it takes me quite a while before I actually get an idea." "What a surprise," Stone Wall said sarcastically. "But Twilight maybe on to something, sometimes you need to get away from a problem to learn how to fix it. Besides, we still need to find Storm King, wherever he ran off to."  "Yes I suppose we'll have to focus on that," Princess Celestia.  "Yes I'll go see how the guards are doing," Stone Wall said.  "And I guess I'll take a nice stroll back to my house," Sapphire Shores said as she walked over to Stone Wall and wrapped one of her forelegs around one of his. "And you come with me handsome. I saw the attack and might need a big strong stallion to make sure I get there safely." "I'll think you'll be fine on your own," Stone Wall said as he tried to pull his leg free and Sapphire just held on to it a little tighter.  "Maybe, but I let 1 super hunk get away from me. I'm not going to let another get away that easily."  "Uh just what is she talking about Squeaky?" Princess Celestia asked as she approached her husband with a rather suspicious look.  "What nothing! And please call me Super Stallion when I'm..well Super Stallion." "Well Super Stallion, what do you think my husband was doing when Sapphire Shores found out his secret." "Celestia nothing happened well she kissed me a couple times-" "I beg your pardon!" Celestia interrupted with an almost dangerous look in her eyes. "She kissed me because I saved her from Dr. Arachnid and one other time but she kissed me! You're the only mare for me you've only been, you'll always be!" Celestia then calmed down after hearing the romantic sincerity from her husband.  "Well okay then but how exactly did she figure out your secret?"  "I don't know it was such a long time ago I don't even remember." "Some of the readers probably forgot as well," Discord added in. *** After his defeat Storm King brought his group all the way to the Undiscovered West where the rogues told him was a hiding spot once while they were talking in Tartarus. But he knew he had to act fast as he figured it wouldn't be long before ponies came around here looking for him since the rogues hid there before.  "All right, listen up my staff was strong but it wasn't enough to defeat Super Stallion so we need to get going and find other power sources for the staff to take and I can take him down once and for all. So any ideas?" "Yes actually," Clover said. "When I was imprisoned I had a pony cellmate that told me everything about the Tree of Harmony." "The Tree of Harmony?" Storm King asked. "Hey this guy explained to me it was an object of great power that helped Princess Twilight defeat this centaur that can absorb the magic of others."  "Did he tell you where to find it?" Storm King asked. "Yes in fact he was locked up for trying to steal the tree, knowledgeable as he was he wasn't exactly intelligent."  "All right then let's move out everyone!" "Uh actually sir shouldn't we wait a while?" Diamond asked. "Yes, even the greatest of warriors need to rest," Spade commented.  "We can rest when I steal the tree's magic and then use it to defeat Super Stallion." "Just Super Stallion?" Spade asked. "What's wrong with that?" "It's just that there's other ponies we'll have to defeat in order to take over." "But if we take him down first, their hope will go with him and without hope they'll be all the more easier to defeat. Their hope will be replaced with fear, and fear is power." Storm King then ordered his followers to move out and had Clover guided him to where he could find the Tree of Harmony and his next power boost.  While he did that Super Stallion set out to find Storm King while thinking what to do about his apparent death.  "There has to be some way. If I can't find a way, well I imagine it's gonna be difficult to get some privacy if I go to a restaurant or decide to go for a mind clearing walk." Before long Celestia lowered the sun and Luna raised the moon, something they would be training Twilight to do soon.  The next day Twilight returned to Ponyville and Stone Wall came with her as he would soon be her captain of the guard and wanted to make sure nothing happened to her before that. "Are you sure this is necessary Stone Wall?" Twilight asked as she was walking with him as well as a few other guards. "Yes it is Princess Twilight, you're going to be calling the shots around her soon and some ponies might like that. Others however might just like to grab you and lock you up in their basement. I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen. Plus we don't want Storm King to show up and take you away." "Actually I've run the statistics and it's very low that after the fight in Canterlot he'd attack again so soon." Suddenly a tower of magical light shot out of the Everfree Forest and both Twilight and Stone Wall figured out what was the source behind all that. "Then again there's always room for error," Twilight said with a rather sheepish smile. *** "Wow, it's actually kind of beautiful, like an eternal force of peace and virtue that will always guide those in need of it." Storm King then impaled the Tree of Harmony with his staff and not only drained its magic but broke it into pieces. "Well so much for that." Storm King then fired the magic from the staff straight up to the surprise of those that followed him. "I'm guessing there's a reason why you did that," Spade said. "Yeah to let Super Stallion know where I am so I can settle the score with him once and for all!" "As much as I admire your want to get right back in the fight, shouldn't you have tested its power to see if it'll match his?" Spade asked. "Relax if I still can't beat him I'll just retreat again."  "I think you should have planned a little better," Super Stallion said, who saw Storm King's magic and flew over there right away.  "Wow, that was fast," Diamond said.  "And he's not alone," Stone Wall said. When Twilight saw Storm King's magic she used her magic to bring herself there and Stone Wall insisted on coming with the guards. Suddenly Twilight turned and gasped when she recognized where they were.  "Princess what's the matter?" Stone Wall asked. "The Tree of Harmony, it's been destroyed along with the elements."  "What but how can that be?" Super Stallion asked. "Perhaps we can beat some information out of him," Stone Wall suggested. "Because we're going to defeat this guy either way, after everything this guy's done he's more than earned a beating." "Well then don't hog all the fun for yourself," Discord said as he appeared out of thin air as he usually did. "Discord, what are you doing here?" Super Stallion asked.  "I'm sick of being put on the sidelines. I'm going to be in this story more if it kills me."  "This isn't good," Clover said as he started to shake a bit since the odds of success quickly went lower than his former cellmate's IQ.  "Well then I guess we'll just have to fallback," Storm King said. But as he used the staff to teleport himself and his group away Discord brought them all back with the snap of his fingers. "Sorry not sorry you lot aren't getting away this time," Discord said. "Oh yeah!" Storm King said as he aimed his staff at Discord and fired who countered by snapping his fingers once again and turning the blast into bubbles.  "Yeah," Discord replied with a smug smile. Storm King then focused the staff with the magic he got from the tree and fired his magic again at Discord who thought he could snap away again was blasted into the fragments of what remained of the tree and put 2 and 2 together. "Even when this infernal tree is gone it still finds a way to get in my way."  "Oh my gosh the Storm King took down the spirit of chaos and disharmony with one attack!" Diamond said.  "You see," the Storm King said as he turned to his followers. "Follow me and serve under me and no creature will stop me. Perhaps they'll get close and knock me down for a while but in the end nothing can stop the Storm-" Storm King was then blasted in the back that knocked his face into a small pile of mud. "Forgot about me did you?" Super Stallion asked who was the one that blasted him. "Why you worthless pony, it's time to bring you into the eye of the storm!" Storm King said as he got back up ready to fight. "The eye of the storm is the calmest part," Stone Wall said.  Super Stallion then flew at Storm King who blasted at the ground to launch himself in the air. Super Stallion flew after him and Storm King made the magic from the staff surround him so he could stay in the air. "When did you learn how to do that?" Super Stallion asked.  "Just now," Storm King answered. "I'm a fast learner."  "Then maybe it's time you learn how to take a beating!" As Super Stallion fought Storm King the royal guards got to attacking his army. Twilight was about to join in the fight but Stone Wall got in the way. "Stone Wall, what are you doing?"  "If I'm going to be your captain soon then I can't have you literally flying into danger." "I can take care of myself and you might need my help." "I can handle these guys, maybe you should see if Discord needs some healing spells." "I'm not just going to stand around, I'll be fine, I've mastered chaos magic after all." "So has Discord and look what happened there." "Fight later, fight now, you know what I mean," Super Stallion said as he was still fighting the Storm King. Twilight and Stone Wall looked at each other for a minute.  "If we're going to be working together we're gonna have to trust each other so how about we both fight and stay close," Twilight suggested. "That way we can watch each other's backs." "Fine, but don't blame me if you get hurt." Stone Wall and Twilight then got into the battle and right away hit hard. Stone Wall struck down a dozen storm creatures with some of his best stun spells while Twilight meanwhile used her recently mastered chaos magic to launch pies in the face of about half the army.  "Pies?" Diamond said after taking the pie off his face. "Seriously that the best you can-" Diamond was cut off when suddenly all of the pies exploded knocking out most of the storm creatures that were hit by them.  "Ha bomb pies," Discord said, still hurt and on the ground but chuckled a little more. "I've taught you well." With Stone Wall and Twilight's help the army's numbers quickly dwindled.  "It's actually amazing how strong you ponies are," Spade said as he was fighting a certain female unicorn guard. "We have to in order to take down all those that keep invading and attacking," she replied.  "Yes it is rather impressive how many threats your kind has managed to defeat."  "Well you aren't bad yourself," she complemented Spade as the 2 continued to fight. "Yes I actually care very little for the Storm King's desire to control. I simply want to fight strong opponents and find ways for me to get stronger." Suddenly Spade got the drop on her and forced her to the ground. "Why don't you join the guard?" She asked which stopped Spade right in his tracks. "What?"  "If you joined the guards you could fight and not get in trouble as long as you're taking down bad guys. And in the meantime you could spare with other guards and teach us a thing or 2. Who knows, maybe we'll teach a thing or 2 to you as well." "Fight to protect and serve, actually it's rather tempting." "So join us!"  "I don't think I'd get accepted considering my background and what I've been doing as of late." "Well there may be something you can do to make up for that," she replied and after thinking about it for a minute Spade helped her up and turned on the army, taking a few down almost right away.  "What are you doing?" Clover asked and he grabbed Spade's hands with his.  "I've decided to change sides, perhaps Heart was on to more than I gave him credit for." Clover was then knocked back when the female guard blasted him with a spell. "Nice shot," Spade said. Before long the army was defeated and the Storm King wasn't having any better luck taking down Super Stallion. "This can't be, what happened?" "Well looks like that army of yours is going to get defeated, something you and them have in common." "Don't you dare talk down to me. I was born into a small worthless village but I rose up and became something that mattered. I took over everything I could get my hands on and destroyed what I couldn't! I made something of myself." "Yeah too bad it was something awful." "I am the Storm King and I will not lose to a cute little pony of all things." "And I'm not going to lose to an albino monkey." Super Stallion and Storm King then exchanged several attacks then clashed magic beams. It seemed like a stalemate but Storm King's was able to push through and force Super Stallion to the ground rather hard.  "HA! See I took all you've got and I gave it back and when I'm done with you I'll finish off your friends down there because I can take all you have and more." Suddenly a swirl of magical energy briefly swirled around where Super Stallion landed who flew up looking rather different. "In that case let's see how you handle Hyper Mode," Super Stallion replied as he flew at Storm King and gave him the beating of a lifetime. As he was doing that the Twilight and the royal guards along with Spade defeated his army and restrained thanks to Twilight making chains for them to use. "You see that Storm King, your army is defeated, you've failed so give up before I break something important." "No I haven't lost if you're going all out then so will I," Storm King then held the staff by its top and poured all of the magic it took into himself.  "What are you doing!?" Super Stallion asked.  "I've leveled the playing field and now that I got a boost as well-" suddenly the magic Storm King absorbed broke through a little and leaked out making a cut in his body. He tried to heal it but more and more appeared and suddenly to Super Stallion shock, Storm King exploded showing off a flash of magic like an enormous firework. "Geez how many characters die in this E rated story?" Discord asked as he managed to get back up. With Storm King gone for good his army was taken away except for Spade who was on the verge of being taken away but asked Stone Wall to join the guard. "You have got to be kidding me?" Stone Wall said after hearing his request. "Ah come on captain, give him a chance," the female guard said. "He did help fight the others and could make a great addition to the guard, maybe even show you a few things."  "Oh really?" Stone Wall replied deadpanned. Spade then walked in front of Princess Twilight and kneeled while holding his sword.  "I swear to you that I will serve you and your captain and do all I can to make up for what I have done." "He does seem sincere," Twilight said to Stone Wall. "Maybe let him in on a probation period." "Fine but first you're going back to prison to serve the rest of your sentence," Stone Wall said. "Fair enough," Spade replied.  ***  With the Storm King gone for good and his army defeated the guards brought Twilight and Discord back to Canterlot Castle but not before Twilight stopped at Ponyville to deliver the bad news of what happened to the tree to her friends who didn't take it very well. Before leaving Twilight tried to restore the tree with her chaos magic but as Discord explained chaos magic and that tree never mixed.  Back at Canterlot Twilight explained what happened to Celestia and Luna as well.  "Yes and now that annoying tree won't get in the way of my chaos anymore," Discord said, which got him hard stares from the others in the room. "What, too soon?"  "His defeat aside I'm still puzzled how Storm King managed to escape," Stone Wall said. "Yes, that is puzzling," Twilight said. "But I'm sure that whatever is coming we'll all be able to handle it." "I got to say Twilight you've been handling this a lot better than I think you would," Luna said. "I mean no offense but you kind of tend to well-" "Yeah I know Pinkie calls it Twilighting but I think Discord helped with that." "Well of course I did Twilight, how did I do that?" "I think learning chaos magic sort of helped me realize so many things are out of our control and we just have to deal with them."  "Well it's nice to know he's good for something," Super Stallion said. "I don't suppose he can help with the whole me being dead thing." "Actually I think I have an idea on that," Twilight said. *** The next day Sapphire Shores came to the castle bringing a recovered Squeaky Clean. Twilight looked into the various boats at the waterfall during Storm King's attack. As it turned out only 1 pony owed them all who had very blurred vision. That's why he didn't see Prince Squeaky swim to land. Where a certain Pony of Pop found him while on a morning jog.  She then brought him to her house and after he recovered returned to Canterlot. Afterwards Sapphire Shores was brought to the castle to be congratulated by Princess Celestia herself. As she got to the castle the guards nearly mobbed her for photos and autographs. That is until Stone Wall saw their rather unprofessional behavior. "GET BACK TO YOUR POSITIONS OR YOU'RE ALL GOING TO RUN EXTRA LAPS!" With that all of the guards backed off.  "What a stallion," Sapphire said, admiring Stone Wall once again. "Such a commanding personality."  "Right this way Ms. Shores." "Oh please, call me Sapphire." As Stone Wall led Sapphire into the throne room the guards talked among themselves.  "Can you believe Sapphire Shores found Prince Squeaky of all ponies she's probably going to get a medal of honor or something." "Hey but what I don't get is why didn't she get him here earlier?" "I asked about that. Turns out when the tower fell he got bounced all over the place causing him to lose his memory and getting his face messed up something fierce. He barely got out of the water when Sapphire found him. She took him to her house to recover and she thought he was a crazy homeless pony or something."  "Wow, Prince Squeaky really got lucky." "Why didn't she take him to a hospital though?" "I guess she figured she could take care of him." "I wish she could take care of me if you know what I mean," A male guard said that other males agreed but the mares groaned in annoyance. As they were talking Discord who was hovering above the guards teleported into the throne room. "Well?" Twilight asked. "They're buying it," Discord answered. "And if somepony finds holes in the story to ask you, you can just plead amnesia."  "Fine with me I'm just glad to be myself again." "Yes," Discord said, rather cocky. "Something else you can thank me for since I was the one that brought in Sapphire Shores and she was the only one that could have been there." "Yes thank you very much for your help Sapphire," Princess Celestia said as she gave her a Medal of Honor. "Wow, is this a real metal?" "Yes it is, I just wish there was something more I could do for you for helping with Twilight's plans." "Oh I think I may have an idea of what," Sapphire said as she approached Stone Wall. "Tell me by any chance, do you have a favorite restaurant somewhere?" "I stick to my workout diet," Stone Wall answered.  "I bet," she said, admiring his muscles. "I actually know a thing or 2 about that, maybe I can help make a little something for you?" She asked while batting her eyes once again. "I suppose I do owe you for helping my friend."  *** Back at Grogar's lair the rogues had actually made themselves comfortable but were getting rather bored. "Has anypony heard back from that albino monkey?" Scar Flank asked and then suddenly as if right on cue Grogar came right out of the shadows and got the attention of all of the rogues. "The Storm King is no more," Grogar replied.  "What? You mean Super Stallion killed him?" Weather Warper replied. "No," Grogar answered. "He did it to himself." Grogar then walked over to the table with his crystal ball on it then used it to show the others Storm King's defeat. "He refused to give up until the very end, reckless as he was. I admire him for that. He did make quite some damage along the way and served his purpose as a warning to the rest of you on what will happen if you don't follow along with my plans. Or do the rest of you have doubts as well?" "Not I," Tirek said. "No, Weather Warper said. "I'm good," Cozy Glow answered.  "I'm with you," Payback said.  "Allies until the end," Scar Flank added. "Whatever you think is best," Mad Alicorn said and like all the other rogues answered with a not so subtle linger of fear. "Then the 7 of us will join forces and work together to bring Equestria to its knees. And perhaps more than that. Much more," Grogar said as he began to laugh an evil laugh. The other rogues joined in rather reluctantly. But regardless would continue to follow the ancient and powerful ram who in time would present Super Stallion with his greatest and perhaps final challenge.