//------------------------------// // Chapter 21 Attack On Ponyville // Story: Luster Dawn: New Days of the Magic of Friendship // by SamSwordsman123 //------------------------------// Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow all arrived back at Grogar’s lair once again. The clouds carrying them dropped to the ground and dissipated. Grogar stood in the mouth of the lair which resembled his own head. Sombra and Sharp Eye watched from behind. Beneath them, Grogar addressed a gathering of monsters, assembled like an army. “My children, the time is upon us!” Grogar’s voice struck their ears. “Equestria will soon cower before its rightful Emperor!” He turned to the trio. “Bring the Bewitching Bell forward!” Chrysalis took the bell in her magic and walked towards him. As she drew near, Grogar’s horns glowed with his yellow magic and he took it from her. “Finally, I have my Bewitching Bell back!” Grogar gave a wicked grin as he levitated the bell above his head. “Twilight was wise to try to keep this out of hoof. She stripped you three of the great power I once held. But it had to go somewhere. Magic does not just disappear after all! No, it traveled with the rainbow laser she used on all of you. That went into the bell! Suffice to say… I shall have my old power as well as Twilight Sparkle’s!” “You mean… you can use the Magic of Friendship?” Cozy Glow asked. “Ah, no fair. I wanted to be able to do that!” “Oh, I can’t use it,” Grogar said. “To use the Magic of Friendship requires… friends. I do not use friendship. Only darkness!” The Bewitching Bell began to shake in his grasp. The magic suddenly sprung forth out of it, but not in the same manner as when the trio used the bell. The magic inside simply emerged and hung there, swirling. A rainbow laser shot into the sky, visible for only a split second before Grogar pulled it into his horns like magnets. His body began glowing then as if some spectacle of colors from the rainbow was inside of him, desperately trying to break out. He gritted his teeth as though in pain. For a moment, it was a battle of wills between the rainbow and the ram. The light expanded, blinding the other villains. They guarded their eyes. Then after just a moment, the light faded and Grogar stood there panting. Then he smiled, as dark energy began to emanate from him, his body barely able to contain his newfound power. Evil laughter filled the area. “The power, this is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before!” He looked at Chrysalis, who was now wondering if her poison was going to take effect. Had he become too powerful for it to work? “Come forward, Chrysalis! You two as well!” he said, pointing to Tirek and Cozy Glow. The trio did so. Grogar grinned, his horns glowed with dark magic, and Chrysalis was certain for a moment that it was over, that Grogar had known about the poison, and the overwhelming power he now wielded made him immune to it. He was now going to destroy them for their betrayal! But as Grogar’s magic hit them… they did not feel pain. Chrysalis felt something familiar happening to her body. Then as the magic cleared, she saw her hooves were now armored like they were after she’d taken the magic from the bell the first time. Looking around, she saw Cozy Glow returned to her child form, but was also an alicorn again. Tirek had grown to five times his previous form like when he’d first fought Twilight for all the alicorn magic. The centaur grinned as he beheld his massive form, stomping his hooves and causing the earth to tremor. “I am BACK!” Cozy likewise cackled. “I missed my horn!” she said, petting it with her hoof. Chrysalis grinned as she admired her restored armor form. Grogar meanwhile turned to Sombra, he levitated the now empty Bewitching Bell toward the former king. “You can borrow that for a time,” Grogar said. “It should prove useful to you.” Sombra’s eyes widened. If he were to use the Bewitching Bell to drain creatures of their power, he could increase his own exponentially. By himself, he’d managed to nearly conquer Equestria singlehandedly, now he could acquire even more power. “The time has come!” Grogar proclaimed, looking again at his monsters. “Go forth, my children! Destroy all in your path! Bring me back ponies to enslave!” The monsters roared and immediately began to move to do their master’s bidding. Grogar watched until they were all gone from his sight. He then turned back to the trio as well as Sombra and Sharp Eye. “Now… while they are conquering Equestria, the rest of you shall-“ He suddenly stopped talking and began to gag. The ram vomited, causing the other villains to form disgusted faces. He looked at them in suspicion. “What…what have you done?” Chrysalis smiled. “Seems my poison is working after all!” Grogar’s face twisted into a look of fury. He lit up his horns, but Tirek was ready for him. The centaur fired orange energy from his own horns. The dark and orange energy collided, with the dark quickly beginning to push back the orange. But then, Grogar faltered, groaning in pain. His magic ceased, and Tirek sent him flying inside the mouth of the cave. The ram fell back into his lair, which began to crumble. Tirek leaped from the mouth, Chrysalis and Cozy flew off, while Sombra and Sharp Eye teleported to the ground safely. A cloud of dust formed as Grogar’s lair collapsed upon him. The villains watched. “And so, ends the Father of Monsters,” Sombra stated. “You really think he’s gone?” Cozy asked. “There’s no way he could have survived,” Chrysalis said. “Even if the rocks didn’t end him, my poison will.” “So, what do we do now?” Tirek asked. “What do you think?” Chrysalis scoffed. “Take over Equestria. We’re going to Ponyville!” “I’ll follow you for a while!” Sombra said as he levitated the Bewitching Bell. “I have something that needs to be done.” … Flashback: Chrysalis looked at Grogar.“If I may, Emperor Grogar? I have a spell that allows me to create an evil clone of a pony,” she suggested. “I only need a piece of her and a log or something to give it form.” Grogar shook his head. “No. I may have lost the Ruby of Reign, but I have many other ways to make a pony do as I please.” He took Luster in his magic, bringing her face directly in front of his. She gave him a look of fear. “Inside the heart of everypony there is a darkness that can create a monster!” Grogar said. “I now give that darkness… life!” His magic seemed to be crushing Luster; she let out a loud scream. Then a black form of energy leaped out of her body from her chest. She looked at it in horror as it flew into her mouth and down her throat. She gagged for a moment, then looked at Grogar with a submissive set of eyes. “What is your command?” … Starlight woke to what started out as a beautiful day. The clock read 6 AM, and across from her, Sunburst lay in bed, snoring gently. She got on her hooves and looked out the window of Twilight’s old castle just in time to see the sun popping above the horizon. A sudden feeling of déjà vu filled Starlight and made her smile. She remembered how Luster was born at the same time when the sun rose just like this. How she’d endured hours of childbirth painful as Tartarus and greeted a new day with absolute joy. Starlight’s bliss was short-lived as she remembered the awful events of the last couple of days. Her worst nightmare that haunted her since Luster’s birth finally came true. Chrysalis came back and took her daughter, but they’d gotten Luster back. Unfortunately, Chrysalis and her teammates were still on the loose… and they were now working with the real Grogar who had the Bewitching Bell. Soon… very soon, Starlight had a feeling that everything was about to fall apart. Boom! A loud explosion sounded in the distance. Starlight looked out again, and her eyes widened. One of the far-away houses was ablaze! “Sunburst, wake up!” she called. Her husband opened his eyes. “What is it?” “We got trouble!” Boom! Another explosion sounded outside. They galloped to Trixie’s room and found the blue pony sleeping in her bed. “Trixie, we need a great and powerful helper!” Starlight said. “Ponyville is in trouble!” Trixie rubbed her sleepy eyes. “Five more minutes, Ponyville can last-” Boom! Trixie jumped up in bed, her bloodshot eyes suddenly wide and alert. “… or not!” She joined them as they ran outside, finding ponies out on the streets as several houses burned. Starlight put a hoof over her mouth in shock as she recognized the homes. “It’s all the houses of Twilight’s friends!” Sunburst exclaimed. "They’re burning!” “They’re all alright, though!” Trixie pointed. All of the Mane 5 and their families or fellow residents such as Big Mac, Cheese Sandwich, Big Sugar, and Lil Cheese, and Fluttershy’s animals, were standing safely in the streets of Ponyville while their houses burned. “Oh, thank goodness Twilight put those emergency teleportation spells on our homes,” Fluttershy said. “They sent us all away before the explosions hit!” “But my dresses are in there!” Rarity exclaimed as she tried to run to her Boutique while Applejack and Rainbow Dash held her back. “Forget them, Rare!” Applejack said. “You can make new ones!” “But... all the orders I had to fill!” “Rare, no pony would want you to lose your life over a few dresses!” Rainbow Dash said. Rarity stopped struggling, crying as she watched her home burn. All those years she had spent there, starting her fashion empire, the time she’d shared with her beloved cat Opalescence, who had long passed. It was like the very trunk of her tree of dreams burned away. “Oh, I’ll miss you, Boutique!” she cried. Pinkie Pie looked at the burning Sugarcube Corner with the Cake Twins, who huddled close to their elderly parents. “Oh, my beloved bakery!” Mrs. Cake exclaimed. “Who could have done this?” Sunburst asked. “You don’t think Grogar could have-” “I don’t think there’s anything the Father of Monsters wouldn’t be willing to do,” a familiar voice said from above. A figure in a blood-red cloak with flame designs hovered over Ponyville. The figure removed their cover and revealed the face of Luster Dawn. “Luster?” Trixie questioned. “What are you doing in that getup?” Luster smirked. “Oh, don’t think I’m starting to take after your old fashion sense, Aunt Trixie! I just wanted something flashy that was suited to a destroyer!” The word hung in the air as everypony took it in. “Luster, what have you done?” Starlight asked, horror-struck. “Only what Grogar commands!” Luster said with an evil grin. “What has that monster done to you?” Rarity asked. “Only gave me a chance to get what I really wanted deep down!" Luster declared. Then her fiery eyes made their way towards a frightened Starlight. “To make the mother who threw me aside pay!” “Luster!” On the path to the Castle of Friendship, Luster’s friends tried to run to her. But her horn lit up, and she put up a shield that stopped them in their tracks. Turning back toward her mother, Luster teleported directly behind Starlight; she took everypony else in her magic and pushed them all back at once. She then put up another shield that kept her mother and herself inside. Starlight teleported, trying to get out. Instead, she simply appeared in the same place she was. “No getting out of here, Mom!” Luster said. With her friends and all the others out of the way, Luster began her assault upon her mother with an evil grin. Her gold magic shot into the sky above her horn, creating a miniature sun above them. The sun then split into smaller balls of magic that all shot at Starlight who put up a shield of her own blue magic to block her daughter’s attack. “No pony is in the way now!” Luster said with a cackle. “I’m about to take you down and become known as the most powerful unicorn in Equestria! “Luster, please! Snap out of it!” Starlight begged. “You know I didn’t want to send you away, but it was to protect you!” “Protect me?!” Luster threw Starlight against the shield. “Sending me away got me captured the second time!” Before the dazed Starlight could respond, Luster grabbed her and threw her again. “You never loved me! You were never proud of me! You just wanted to send me away! And for that... I will destroy you!” Luster shot spell after spell at her mother. Starlight immediately went on the defensive. Her daughter’s rage fueled attacks were brutal, similar to Starlight’s own ones when she had fought Chrysalis not too long ago. Had this been anycreature else, Starlight would have gladly attacked back to save her own life, but this was her daughter. She could not harm her own child! ... Sunburst and the others watched helplessly as Luster attacked Starlight within the sphere that encased them. As the onslaught continued, Starlight’s shield began to fade, crack, then it shattered completely, sending her tumbling down. Then, Luster shot her mother again, not hard enough to kill, but enough to leave a painful scorch mark. Her mother's scream made Luster smile. “Are you finally proud of me, Mom? Of my power?! Tell me how proud you are!” Her magic fired again, turning Starlight's yell into a holler. “TELL ME!” “Starlight! No!” Sunburst yelled in fear for his wife. “Luster, stop!” Trixie shouted. “I know you are great and powerful, more than I could ever be! But you’ve got to fight back!” “You don't know anything!” Luster said, glaring at her Godmare. “You were never abandoned, never chased out! You don't know what it's like!” “But I do! Do you remember the story of when I used the Alicorn Amulet? I was so angry back then I swore revenge on Twilight, her friends, and everypony in Ponyville. And I got it too!” Luster cocked her head listening. Her eyes darting from left to right and her face twitching. How could she forget about that? Seeing she had her attention, Trixie continued. “Later, I realized it was all a mistake that only made me feel worse afterward. If Twilight didn't stop me back then, I... I don't know what would have happened...” For the first time, Luster remembered, Trixie's eyes filled with tears. “Please, don't make the same mistakes I did-stop this before it's too late!” “What if I don't want to stop?” Luster asked. “I don't believe that! It's Grogar talking, not you! Fight him! Because if you do this... you'll never be able to forgive yourself.” Trixie's words planted a seed of doubt in Luster's mind. Even though her horn still glowed with power, her expression seemed to soften. “Aunt Trixie... I…” But then, it all went to Tartarus. Darkness began swirling around Luster's head, and a moment later she fell to the ground clenching her head and screaming madly. The moment of distraction gave Starlight enough time to get back on her hooves. “Luster! What's wrong? Talk to me!” Then it all died down as suddenly as it started, and Luster's narrowed eyes locked onto her mother again. “Nice try, Auntie, but it won't work!” Hissing and growling, Luster shot another spell at Starlight, blasting her against the shield like a rag-doll. Then she leapt at her, hitting Starlight with her hooves in a mad fury, delivering punch after punch, harder and harder, only to finish it with another discharge that sent Starlight rolling across the ground. When her limp body stopped, she was a battered and bruised mess with a tangled, dirty mane. Seeing her grinning daughter advancing on her again, she squeezed some tears of anguish out of her swollen eyes. She resigned herself to her fate, waiting for the final blow. “A pity Starswirl is no longer alive! Perhaps he could provide me with a greater challenge!” Luster said. “Goodnight, mother-” “Luster, no!” River Song shouted. All of her friends, as well as Trixie and Sunburst wore expressions of horror as Luster placed her hoof upon her mother, pinning her to the ground. She directed her horn towards Starlight’s throat. The horror on Starlight’s face was evident. “Luster!” Georgia cried. “Come on! I know you’re in there! I know how your mother hurt you and you have every right to be angry! But this is going too far, and you know it! This isn’t you! It’s Grogar giving the anger in your heart life. It’s him! Fight him!” “Georgia's right, Luster! Come on, shake it off!” Gallop shouted. “I love you!” “Luster strong, Luster have to fight!” Yelena said. “We know Luster in there! Hearing the voices of all of her friends awakened Luster. No, I can’t hurt my mother! Sure, I was angry, but I would never want to do this! Her mind now felt as if it was on fire and she struggled to regain control of herself. Luster gritted her teeth and slowly managed to get off of her mother. Then her horn lit up and the shield keeping her friends and family out was lowered. They and the Mane Five rushed toward her. Luster grunted, dark energy pulsing from her again, her horn sparkling. “We got to do something, y’all!” Applejack said. “She could turn on us any second!” “I got this!” Rainbow Dash said. And with a swift hoof strike, she knocked Luster out. The Unicorn fell to the ground. “Rainbow!” Applejack scorned. “What? It’s the only way to make sure she wouldn’t harm us!” Rainbow Dash said. “Now we can just take her to Canterlot, and Twilight can fix her up!” “Um… I think we have another problem!” Fluttershy said, pointing her hoof. They all glanced in the direction of Everfree Forest and froze. An army of monsters was approaching, and with every second, more and more emerged from the depths of the woods. “Oh no! Grogar must have sent monsters to attack Equestria!” Rarity said. Rainbow Dash shook her head in disbelief. "Darn, there are too many... there were only a couple of them last time, and we still barely managed to kick their flank, and only thanks to Twilight's help. How the heck are we supposed to deal with an entire army?!" "I don't know, but we better think of something before they attack!" Pinkie said, and as if on cue, the beasts charged at the houses, trampling them and shaking the ground. "Scratch that, we need a plan… And I mean RIGHT NOW!" Starlight groaned. As Stewardess of the Castle of Friendship, it was up to her to lead the defense of Ponyville. But she hadn’t had time to even think of a plan in case of an attack. If they’d had time to prepare, she might have been able to organize her students from the School of Friendship into teams. Maybe they could have used the Magic of Friendship… but for now… they were caught off guard and unprepared. Luster couldn’t help being unconscious… and even though most of the Young Six were here, Gallus was in Canterlot. They wouldn’t be able to perform any Rainbow Lasers right now. They had only one choice… “Fluttershy, where’s Discord?” Starlight asked. “He slept in the chaos realm last night,” Fluttershy said. “He said he needed some time alone after we gave the Bell away.” “Well… call him! We need his help!” Starlight said. “Oh, alright! Discord!” Fluttershy screamed at the top of her lungs, just like when her husband had been injured by Sombra. The Spirit of Chaos appeared in a flash. He wore a pair of matching blue pajamas and a hat. He rubbed his eyes and sat up with a smile. “Morning, my dear Fluttershy!” he said, trying to hug her, but she shook her head. “No time for that! We need your help!" Fluttershy pointed her hoof at the beasts. “Monsters are attacking!” “Again?” Discord pouted before looking up. “Oh, well that is certainly a lot of monsters!” “Discord, quit gawking and do something!” Applejack ordered. “Right!” Discord said. “You want me to cage the monsters or snap ponies to safety?” “Cage the monsters!” Rainbow Dash said. “No! Keeping ponies safe is our top priority right now!” Starlight said. “Don’t suppose I can do both at once?” Discord wondered aloud. “Oh, wait!” He snapped his fingers, and another Discord appeared wearing a knight’s helmet, holding a lance and riding a flying pig in armor. “I’ll handle the monsters!” Knight Discord said before charging out with a war cry. “And I’ll snap ponies to safety! Where do you want me to send them?” pajama-wearing Discord asked Starlight. “The Castle of the Two Sisters!” Starlight said. “Righto!” Discord snapped his fingers, and a group of ponies in Ponyville were sent there. “I can only send ten ponies somewhere at once!” he said. “Just keep snapping!” Starlight ordered. “Okay, okay!” … Knight Discord flew on his mighty swine stead, his lance skewering the monsters and turning them into harmless animals like mice or rabbits, things his beloved Fluttershy would love. Within seconds, the number of monsters attacking was down by half. “For My Sins! For Ponyville! For Fluttershy!” he yelled. A nearby scream caught his attention. He saw a giant purple humanoid monster with large horns grabbing a young filly. “Cherry Velvet!” the filly's mother cried out in desperation. Knight Discord charged in and with great accuracy caught the monster with his lance, turning it into a rabbit. The filly it had grabbed dropped to the ground, but Discord reached out with his free hand and caught her before she hit. He then handed her to her mother. “Do stay close to your family!” he said. “Thank you, Discord!” The ponies glanced at him with a look of admiration and hope as they watched the Spirit of Chaos protect them. Discord grinned. He now had a chance to become known as an actual hero. “Alright, which of you monsters wishes to be next?” he asked. The scary creatures were now also scared as they stood before the Lord of Chaos. But then they saw something else that caught their attention, and they grinned at a black mist looming over Knight Discord. An object traveled with the mist, the Bewitching Bell came directly above Knight Discord and the mist cast the spell that made it absorb magic. Knight Discord screamed and vanished, being a duplicate made of magic, he was absorbed completely by the bell. The black mist assumed its true form, King Sombra appeared, grinning as he held the Bell in his magic. “This should be enough!” Sombra said. … On the other side of Ponyville, the real Discord suddenly screamed in pain and collapsed. “Discord? What’s wrong?” Fluttershy asked. “My duplicate was just absorbed by the Bewitching Bell!” Discord said. “What?” Starlight exclaimed. “Does that mean… Grogar is here?” “Can you still help?” Sunburst asked. “Half of my chaos magic is gone now!” Discord said. “I’ll only end up sending ponies halfway to the castle!” All around them, the monsters were snatching up ponies, tearing down houses, reaching inside and picking up foals. It looked hopeless. There was only one thing to do right now. “Everycreature, retreat!” Starlight ordered. “To the Castle of the Two Sisters!” The ponies that were still and a select few other creatures began to run. Starlight managed to lead them to the path going to the castle despite her injuries. Rainbow Dash carried Luster as they went into the trees. The trail soon became too narrow for the monsters to follow, and most of the citizens managed to escape. But unfortunately, not all of them did. … As Starlight ordered a retreat, Chrysalis and the others watched from atop a hill as Sombra rejoined them. “I have Discord’s chaos magic, at least half of it!” Sombra said. “With him weakened, that should give us a fighting chance to take him in battle!” Tirek said. “I’ve been waiting for the chance to do that!” “Yes, after Twilight he is the greatest threat! But with him like this, we should be able to take him!” Chrysalis said. “You do that!” Sombra said as he levitated the Bewitching Bell with Discord’s chaos magic inside. “I’m going to the Crystal Empire, this time, it will be mine! With half of Discord’s chaos magic, I shall not be stopped. Come, Sharp Eye!” “Yes, your Highness,” the other black unicorn said as he followed his King and teacher. … Back at the ruins of his lair, Grogar groaned as he managed to pull himself free of the rubble at last. Chrysalis’s poison was taking its toll on him. He had all the power from the Bewitching Bell, though. That was what mattered. Chrysalis thought she was so smart, but Grogar had watched every moment of their plot. He’d known what they were going to do from the start and devised a plan to counter it. Soon, some of the monsters he’d sent to Ponyville returned. They had several caged ponies in their clutches. “Father!” the nearest monster said as he approached Grogar’s weakened form. “We have ponies as you commanded!” “Excellent! Bring me…. a foal!” Grogar commanded. Another monster holding a cage came forward with a young pony inside. Grogar smiled as he managed to get up just enough to look at the foal who was only a few feet away. The filly shivered as she looked into the face of the Father of Monsters who opened his mouth. He then did what he had for the last several millennia to stay alive. He devoured the life of the filly, her colorful red mane grew white, her skin aged in moments and her very breath left her, a white light flew from her body into Grogar’s mouth, and her lifeless form lay limp in the cage as her time was cut far too short. Grogar smiled and pulled himself up, the filly’s lifeforce curing the poison in his body as well as restoring his youth. His white beard, hair, and tail became black, his wrinkles vanished. The first Emperor of Equestria was in his prime again! He’d done this for so long, draining the life of ponies to stay alive. Now his traitorous minions were about to do his bidding even after they attempted to assassinate him. They would weaken Equestria’s forces, and then he would take on the winner. Twilight Sparkle, Queen Chrysalis, or King Sombra, he would defeat whichever of them triumphed. Equestria would be his again at last!