//------------------------------//
// Lahsel at Hahia 
// Story: My Little Mages: The Shadows' Revenge 
// by Foxhelm 
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Sunset pulled the gem away before anymore could be shown. "I am-" Sunset started.

"Oh piss off," Adagio cut her off before she coughed up blood. "I wasn't going to let him touch my sisters." She hacked again. She turned her gaze to Twilight, "Do you know why we joined him, why we had no qualms about getting justice on your friends?" She asked. Before Twilight could answer, "Because despite all your talk about friendship being magic and crap, you and your friends all suck at empathy." She took a deep breath, "Even that tucker who stabbed us in the back actually understood us and our grievances."

Twilight nodded, "You're right, I do suck at empathy." Adagio was caught off guard at this administration, as if she expected Twilight to deny it. She turned to Lightning Dust as the elementalist and the others had regained consciousness. She walked up to her, and sat to be able to look Lightning in the eye, "I am sorry that my friends and I didn't follow visiting protocol when we went to visit Rainbow, but you have to admit that with your attitude, sooner or later you would have forced out, but we denied you the chance to actually learn that and grow because we gave you someone else to blame." Lightning gritted her teeth but she could deny that Twilight was right. 

Starlight pulled Twilight to the side as they let Lightning stew in what Twilight said. "Not that I am one to judge, but you and the others are only responsible for at most…" Starlight paused for some quick mental math, "thirty percent of how the" she nodded to the ten cohorts. "...relationship turned out. They likely only joined Sombra because he promised to help them get..." Starlight trailed off.

Twilight nodded, before she spoke. "I know, and I know that they are the ones that need to change. But if my friends and I don't accept our thirty percent, they'll never be open to taking their seventy percent.” She said as she looked from Starlight to the remnants of Twilight’s foes. She then turned back to Starlight, “I needed you to show me your past to me before I could talk you into stopping your plan for revenge, and we needed to get Stygian to talk to resolve his conflict with the Pillars, and if I didn’t try to reach out to Tempest, I don’t know if she would have reached out to help me after The Storm King betrayed her.” Twilight informed pointing out the incidents that reaching out to her foes had helped her out. She then dipped her head in shame, “And if the rest of my friends and I were more empathic to Discord, he might not have betrayed us to Tirek.” she acknowledged. Twilight then turned and spoke softly, "Zona Vero." Neither Starlight nor anyone else heard what Twilight said but the spell was casted all the same.

Starlight was about to counter but Twilight was right. The two turned back to the rest as Adagio had been healed, save for their drained power. Twilight however had her focus on Lightning. Lightning was clearly trying to not speak, but it was a fruitless effort. “Growing up, my mother told me I was destined for greatness because of who my father was.” She admitted before she looked to Wind Ryder. 

Everyone else looked to Wind, after a few seconds of looking at him the former Wonderbolt soon recognized Lightning or rather her mother, “You’re Pixie’s girl…” he muttered before he looked to the group as what he said sank in.

“Yeah, she never got you to look back at her after you both…” Lightning paused. She wasn’t sure what she could say or how to say it. After a few seconds, “...had fun.” Lightning  stopped for a second. She was fighting herself from saying something, but in the end what wanted to be said made it through, “I JUST WANTED MY DAD TO NOTICE ME AND SAID HE WAS PROUD OF ME!!!” she shouted. It wasn’t meant for anyone other than to be a release of what tension resided in her psyche between setting the truth free and keeping herself protected from what she feared would come next.

Everyone was silent for almost a minute before Wind spoke, “I am an old man,” he started. “I spent most of my youth and life making my name known because growing up my name was all I had.” He sighed, “I know that someday I will be replaced from the top… but…” he trailed off as he struggled with his own words. “With Rainbow being so close when she was a reservist, it was clear my days to engrain my name were at best few…” He dipped his head in shame. After he sighed, “I just wanted to be remembered.” He looked back up and turned to face Lightning, “For what it’s worth, making your own stunt team and doing things the Wonderbolts wouldn’t dare is a really awesome idea.” Lightning snorted at first, but somehow, she didn’t know why, but she smiled like a child that got pat on their head.

“Well, that was easier than I thought.” Starlight commented upon Wind’s divergence of his motives for why he was bent on getting Rainbow banned from becoming a Wonderbolt, without any prompting or anyone taking their thirty percent. “So what about the rest?” she asked Twilight as they looked to the other eight.

Twilight’s focus was actually on Suri, but before the princess could speak, Flim spoke up, “Our father, Enterprise Skim was a man of dreams. Yet they never worked out.” The younger of the two brothers informed. He stopped not wanting to continue but the twitching of his face betrayed his need to say more.

Flam came to his younger brother’s relief, “Father would come up with these otherwise marvelous ideas.” He paused as he thought back to their younger days, when he and then they would watch their father draw machines, “The very idea of the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy was his, and he came up with the designs for five thousand ninety nine versions.” He stopped and the two brothers shared a soft smile and light laugh as if they strolled down memory lane.

Flim then took over, “But he could never get the funds he needed to make any of them.” he sighed in sadness. He looked to the sky as if he wanted to curse some being that resided in the clouds but couldn’t get the words out. He looked back down, “He was written off as a quack, even by his extended family,” He nodded to his Aura Mark. It was fairly self evidence that the brothers were part of the greater Apple Clan. “He died when a branch fell and crushed his lungs working in the field. Flam wasn’t yet a man and we had nothing to our name.” 

“We managed to bring to life a few of his other inventions and once we discovered that we could make people to take a real look at them,” Flam took over but trailed off again, “We became salesmen nonpareil and after a few years came AJ’s request for help for the Sweet Apple Temple Cider season that we…” he trailed off.

“We got so wrapped up in our ability to sell…” Flim took over but he too trailed off as the brothers didn’t want to finish the statements. 

After a few seconds, “We just didn’t want to go back to those years!” the two confessed together.

Twilight looked to Starlight for a second, it was clear she too was surprised that the brothers came clean on their own. Before she returned her attention to Suri, “I wasn’t always a manager and agent.” Svengali started with a sigh. “I was once a singer myself,” He looked to Twilight, “Back then I didn’t go by my surname but my given name…” he paused as he took a breath and let out a sigh, “Knightshade.”

This reveal shocked all but the Dazzlings, “As in Knightshade and the Shadowettes?” Sunburst asked for everyone to make sure the dots being connected were correctly being connected.

Svengali snorted, “I hated that name,” he almost growled, before he sighed as if in defeat, “but such were things back then.” he bemoaned. “But then…”

“Came the diagnosis of throat cancer when everyone thought it was just a mild case of laryngitis.” Sunset stated. Everyone turned to her, “My foster parents were music lovers and the songs that the band originally made and their covers of other songs were their favorites.”

A tear formed in the corner of Svengali’s left eye, “I could never sing again. But as I recovered from the surgery and learned how to speak again I discovered how to be the voice of singers so that couldn’t be screwed over by venues and commissioners. And…” he stopped. He clearly didn’t want to continue, but he showed that if he did he might have a weight taken off him, “over time the power ended up going to my head and…” he gritted his teeth as he was trying to fight back from saying what wanted to be said. “I became addicted to demonstrating and enforcing it.” With that off his chest and shoulder Svengali couldn’t help but sigh in relief as if freed from something that was drowning him.

Before anyone could say anything, but after giving some time for what Svengali said to take in, Gladmage cleared his throat, “Before I took over Las Magus, I too was a singer.” Everyone turned to the elder songman. “When I started out I was the lead of a band and touring act called The Imperial Million Dollar Blue Moon Jordanaires. Things started well but after every gig and tour the takeaway just was not what we expected. I spent  most of every tour skipping meals and had to crash in public housing after each tour. To keep my energy up, I had to take uppers to get going and stay going and downers to get to sleep for the few chances I could sleep.” Gladmage stopped, “Until we got to Las Magus for our seventh tour. We arrived a couple days early and while the rest were sound asleep, I sat down and looked at all the take in from the last stop and the numbers weren’t right. Then it hit me, everyone was embezzling from the band. So I decided to tanked the show by singing the shanty ‘The Curse’ and walked off the stage. We were then sued but since we never incorporated and I had not even two pennies to rub together they were left footing the bills and ruined.” He stopped his story.

“I remember that tour, I actually saw that show, I still got the ticket for it.” Wind commented as if he was reflecting on knowing the event. “It was actually your best performance.”

Gladmage smiled at the complement and the knowledge of meeting someone that actually saw that show. However that smile faded. “I spent seven years with them and they left me with nothing. To make ends meet I had to do shows, and over time, I ended up becoming a resort manager, and given how I was conned, I elected to make sure none could ever be in a place were they could con me.” Gladmage turned to FlimFlam Brothers, “Guess I should start with you two. You guys are a great team and I was threatened by you and that was wrong.”     

With all the others, save the Dazzlings, done, Twilight turned her focus to Suri. “After I moved to Manahattan I was quickly hired by one of the city’s top designers.” She stopped as she looked at everyone else, as they were all shocked at Suri’s statement. “Not Prim Hemline, I was too inexperienced to be anywhere near her radar then.” She explained which seemed to give them some ease. She stopped and took a breath, “Within months my employer saw my talents and he began increasing my responsibilities and every time I showed I could handle more I was promoted. This went on for almost a year all the while my colleagues resented that I could do what they couldn’t. But they knew something I didn’t, in fashion if you are not cutting throats, your’s will be.” She stopped as she looked back. “During one of the shows the dresses I was responsible for, which was the centerpiece of the line, fell apart along the runway. I was canned on the spot. About a week later I was visited by Coco Pommel, she had told my old boss how I was sabotaged. She managed to set up a means that I could become a designer in my own right, supplant my old boss in the industry and she quit to join me as my assi...” Suri trailed off as she recalled how her relationship with Coco started. “Oh god, I am a real bitch.” she realized. 

As Suri was silently coming to terms to the kind of person she had become and how much it disgusted her, finally the focus fell upon the Dazzlings. Twilight had held off on them. Given what Adagio had been through before their arrival, it seemed to be the just thing to do. “Is it wrong for the wolven to kill the ewe?” Aria asked as she pointed out the relationship between sirens and humans.

Everyone was to one extent or another without a retort, save one. “Is it wrong for the shepherd to deliver their sheep from the wolf’s mouth?” Tempest asked in response. This left the sirens equally dumbfounded. After a few seconds she spoke again. “We’re both sapient and sentient species, and given that you three have been transmuted into humans once your rubies were destroyed. If you ask me, that means that you weren’t sirens before those rubies.” the forsaker declared.

The trio were silent, Aria and Adagio were both clearly fighting back from saying something. Sonata however seemed saddened about what had to be said, “We didn’t want to be made slaves.” the often considered airhead of the three answered. Everyone turned to her. “You don’t understand what it was like for girls like us back then.” She compounded. “If we’re not owned by our father before we were married, then we’d be either owned by the high priest of the temple we’d be made temple prostitutes for or we’d be owned by our husbands should we be married. It was either those fates or death on our own or…” She trailed off not wanting to say more.

Aria was the one that took over after about a couple seconds of silence were given to let what was said and implied to sink in, “When we were little, our father heard us sing with our mothers, He said our voices were like honey. He then had us trained and coached and all that stuff, I guess he figured he could get a very high price for us from whatever fucker he married us off to or whatever temple could use songstresses. Given that he could barely put food on the table more than three days out of seven, our voices were his only asset.”

Adagio then finally spoke, “With his asking price, which I got admit was more than what we would have been worth, only some wrinkles, each with at least three other wives and an army of sons, could afford us. At best we would have been just trophy wives called out to sing comedies at feasts, at worst we would have been used by him to make that army of sons and be used to turn his older sons into men, even if we gave birth to a few of them.” She stopped and sighed. “Before I was old enough for when our father had to finish the arrangements for my ‘marriage’.” She gagged after she said ‘marriage’ as did her sisters. “I prayed that the three of us could escape that life and then I found those rubies.” She turned to face Twilight directly, her face fighting back the tears betraying what façade confidence her grin was trying to establish, "We first sang with those rubies at the feast my would-be-husband threw to celebrate his purchase. And… well doesn't take much to imagine what happened next. Or for the rest of our lives since.” 

Aria then spoke up, “Hey! It wasn’t like we wanted to be come monsters that everyone thinks we are,”

Sonata continued the explanation, “Do any of you guys know what it's like to be normal one minute and then suddenly craving human flesh the next?" she asked rhetorically. "Let me tell you, it was the scariest thing any of us had ever gone through.  After a while, we started having the cravings ALL the time, and eventually, we completely got used to it. We got so used to it that when they stopped after the rubies were destroyed, we got so sick that we thought we were going to die, which, weirdly enough, was even scarier than turning into monsters in the first place.” Sonata then broke into tears. Aria and Adagio were also both guilt ridden, but less inclined to shed tears. 

Everyone was left silent. What was there for them to say? Twilight knew what the trio said was true. Finally Adagio spoke, “So what are going to do with us? I doubt you’ll want us out and about. And given your fixation on redeeming and reforming your foes, killing us is off the table.” 

After a minute of silence as everyone was not sure what to do with the ten. Tempest then spoke up, “They could go to Stonlingrad Penitentiary.” Everyone turned to face her, “Spend a few months in there, it’s the closest thing to Hell in this world and they’ll ask for forgiveness faster than you think.”

Trixie snickered, “You never worked under Limestone Pie.” the illusionist commented. Everyone but Tempest turned to her, “Well, she pays well.” Trixie added in an attempt to soften what she said.

While the rest tried to process what Trixie said, “What do you think they had Grubber and me do while we served our sentence after we got back from informing those The Storm King conquered that he was no more?” Tempest asked in retort.

Wind was the first of the lot to speak after a minute to let what Tempest said sink in “So we apologize and we serve time in prison doing hard labor?” he asked, trying to understand what was going on.

Twilight was the one to answer, “In your case, it’s up to Rainbow to accept your apology, but to make it simple, yes.” She then placed her hand on his shoulder, “Or we could put you all on trial for treason and…” She trailed off as the ten began to shake in terror at the possible consequences should they be found guilty, which they would be.

“You are too merciful, my princess.” Gladmage spoke up first as if to accept Twilight’s offer.

“Do we have to do it in that order? Or can we send out our apologies while we serve our sentences?” Adagio asked.

Twilight thought for a second before she looked to the rest, “That seems responsible.” Sunburst commented. “You can’t force someone to give a sincere apology when you want it.” the wizard pointed out.

Twilight took the words to heart as she contemplated on her response. She then nodded, “Alright, not in that order.” She then looked to the ten, “So do we have an understanding?” she asked. The nine that had not expressed agreement gave various expressions of agreement.

With all that resolved, “I think we should split up.” Trixie suggested. Everyone turned to face her, “Well, we can't all go to face Sombra, some of us have to watch the…'' she trailed off as she tried to find the best word. Just then Sunburst’s, Starlight’s, Tempest’s and her Aura Marks started to glow. “Looks like we’re done.” Trixie commented. Everyone rolled their eyes.

“So what does that mean for the rest of us?” SciTwi asked.

“We have to resolve the matter of Sombra.” Flash answered as he drew his sword. “So let go find him.” He then looked around. “So which way should we go?” he asked as he tried to scan the horizon.

Timber took his bow and an arrow out of his quiver. He shut his eyes as he knocked the arrow. He took a breath and the tip of the arrow started to glow. He drew the string back and after he took a breath let loose the arrow. The arrow flew for a few kilometers over the ridge of the mountain just off to their right, leaving a trail behind it as it conjured a path that looked like golden bricks on the ground. “Follow the yellow brick road.” Timber said as he started after it. “It’s a tracking spell.” he explained “Once I know what I am looking for, all it shows the way.”

 The rest were silent as Timber went on ahead, “Say if he could cast that spell, why didn’t he use it back then?” SciTwi asked. Before anyone would answer they saw shadows beginning to gather in the area Timber’s arrow led. 

“Perhaps another time.” Sunset replied as she dashed ahead, followed by Twilight, SciTwi and Flash.





Almost an hour later, and looking over the ridge, Twilight, Sunset, SciTwi, Timber and Flash watched as a being that seemed to match what Adagio's memories revealed to be Sombra seated upon a throne fashioned from darkness, with its eyes shut and resting with it's right check on the knuckles of it's right hand. But the figure was different in appearance. It now stood a towering five meters, its cobra hood was extended and what looked like three faces with crowns on each side in the frills. On the right frill the closest face to Sombra's head was that of a lion with leopards' as the other two faces. On the left frill the closest faces to Sombra's was that of a bear with matching leopard faces to the right frill. The last thing that stood out was Sombra's horn like focus gem, which had seemed to become embedded into the being's skull and had morphed into what looked like a merger of a collection of ten horns and a crown around the base of the collection of horns.



"Is it just me or has Sombra been so bored from waiting for us he fell asleep?" SciTwi asked as they heard a loud snore come from the giant as they all ducked back behind the ridge.

While the ladies talked among themselves, both Timber and Flash however were still transfixed on Sombra's appearance. Eventually the two snapped out, "So we're just going to ignore that Sombra has taken that form?" Timber asked as he pointed in the direction of their foe. "Its like he has some sort of god complex."

The three turned their attention to the two men, each of the ladies with a slight frown on their face. "You have heard of a rebellious ciref, right?" SciTwi asked. 

The two gave a nervous teehee as they rubbed the back of their heads, “I have heard of kirobim,” Flash informed after he finished, “Aren’t they the same thing?” he asked.

The girls sighed in slight frustration. SciTwi then answered, “Yes and no,” she started, “you see the words ‘kirobim’ and it’s single form ‘kirob’ are job titles for throne guardians and their imaginary is known for their zoomorphic fluidity save for their locations, always surrounding thrones and with wings.” she explained. “‘Ciref’ and it’s plural form ‘cirefim’ are also titles but the focus was on their serpentine form. However cirefim, like kirobim, are almost always shown surrounding thrones and they are depicted much like Sombra appeared in Adagio’s memory save for Sombra’s height as he is too tall and that cirefim are depicted to be more like clear diamonds.”

Flash thought on what he was told, after a couple of seconds, “So ‘cirefim’ are like squares and ‘kirobim’ are rectangles.”

“I would argue that the analogy would be more accurate by saying kirobim are at least parallelograms or at most quadrilaterals,” Timber countered, these actually impressed Twilight and SciTwi that someone actually know what a parallelogram and a quadrilateral were and the relationship between the two and their respective relationship to square. "But you’re on the right track over all." he granted. “But there's still the matter of taking Sombra on.” he called back to the larger matter at hand.

As everyone thought about the matter, Sunset recalled what Sombra said to the others. “Didn’t Sombra claim that Flash would be enough to take them all on even with all the power they would have should they use the bell?” she asked, calling everyone’s attention back to what they were shown from Adagio's memory.

“How do we know he wasn’t bluffing?” SciTwi asked. “None of us know this guy. He did backstab his allies. He could have been lying to them.” she pointed out. 

This gave them all pause, save Flash. He had his sword ready as he turned in the direction of Sombra. “One way to find out,” the sentinel said as he took a breath before he whispered. “Star Burst, Star Sabre.” Flash then charged in the direction of the sleeping Sombra.

Timber looked from the spot Flash was to the three ladies, “Is he always...” he trailed off not trying to find the best way to phrase his question. 

“A meathead?” Sunset finished the question for Timber, “In a way, yes.” she answered somewhat reluctantly but it was something that she couldn’t deny. The four followed Flash more cautiously then Flash. They arrived just within seconds to witness Sombra stand up  and from his throne and swat at Flash, narrowly hitting him. But the difference in might was something Flash could barely endure and was sent flying back a few meters before he could correct himself. “Going big as always.” Sunset added with a slight blush. Timber rolled his eyes as he readied another arrow to let loose and separated from the ladies.

As soon as Flash had corrected himself he saw Sombra coming at him with a red crystalline blade proportional to the one that Sombra used against him when the two fought in Krystalopolies. “Skyboom Shield.” Flash shouted as he lifted his left hand with his buckler on. Sombra brought his sword down only for it to shatter and all the force of the impact had no effect on Flash. “I learned a few tricks since we last fought.” he smirked as he grabbed his hand crossbow and pointed it right at Sombra’s chest, “Requiem Blaster!” he shouted as he pulled the trigger launching the bolt of pure power upon the tyrant’s chest. Sombra was forced back almost three meters.

Sombra chuckled once he stopped. “You have improved, boy.” he complimented as he conjured another sword, “But much like before, you have bitten off far more than you can chew.” But before he took a step forward to attack Flash he was stuck by an arrow in his left shoulder. The arrow didn’t do much damage by itself but it started to grow into a tree that trapped him within it’s trunk. Sombra looked around to see Timber knock another arrow. “Looks like you got competent help this time.” the shadow king commented before his eyes started to glow and he obliterated the tree within seconds. “But that won’t be enough.” Sombra added before he caught the second arrow Timber fired at him and cast it aside as he turned to face Timber as the later readied another arrow. But before he could be within striking distance, Sombra was blasted by a torrent of flame, then by pure concussive force from his side. Sombra turned to see Sunset with Twilight and SciTwi flanking her. Sombra turned his attention to the three. “My my, Princess Twilight, I am surprised you didn’t fire first.” He then took a good look at SciTwi, “And it seems you have a doppelganger.” He then shifted his gaze to Sunset. He squinted his eyes at her before he started to laugh, “And it looks like you brought a second demigod to help. Smart move.” Everyone was caught off guard at that. Sombra had a deep chuckle, “This is rich.” He then sent a blast at Sunset, but it didn’t strike her but the band she had on her right wrist. The band was destroyed and Sunset transformed into her state of Daydream. “Lo and behold Daydream Shimmer.” Sombra greeted in mock.

“You’re a demigod too, but AJ and the others saw that…” Twilight tried to understand.

Daydream gave a weak guilt ridden laugh, “Yeah, I never actually said ‘no’ or gave it back, I just accepted it but given that there are so many now, I thought I’d use a glamour to make me still look normal.”

“Oh come now, Daydream.” Sombra mocked. “You hid it because you didn’t want that power dynamic to compromise your relationship with the doppelganger.” Sombra said as he pointed to SciTwi. “But you need now worry about that,” as he spoke his magic pooled into his hand and then he blasted her. SciTwi tried to shield herself, but Sombra’s attack forced her back but she was unharmed but she no longer resembled herself but her body was that of Midnight Sparkle, save for her wings which matched Twilight’s.

“How?” SciTwi/Midnight asked as she looked over herself. “This body died…” she trailed off in confusion. She was not the only one flabbergasted, as only Sombra was not phased.

Sombra snickered at first, “Dear child, you think that the power you processed as Midnight Sparkle would be so easily lost upon the destruction of your body. Look at me, for my power returned to me when my body reformed.” He pointed out his own returns. While Sombra was focused on SciTwi, Flash once again charged Sombra. However, Sombra sensed it and with one swift slash of his own sword sliced Flash’s sword arm off at the shoulder. As Flash screamed in pain as he grasped his side were his arm was cut. “Bold and commendable,” Sombra complimented as he looked at the flailing sentinel. “But wasted.” he said as he prepared to smite Flash only for pause as he heard Timber let loose another arrow. Sombra smirked as he turned to cut the arrow, only for him to be caught in a field of utterly blinding light. “AHHHH!” he cried as he was trapped and left blinded.

Timber rushed past Sombra, grabbed Flash, Flash’s sword arm and sword and tackled Twilight, Daydream and Midnight getting them to hide. Once they were all hidden. “Okay, we need a new plan.” Timber said as he took out one of his arrows, took off a leaf from the fletching and applied it to Flash’s wound trying to heal Flash as best he could.

Everyone was at a loss of what to do. Fortunately Sombra was still very much blinded and was not an immediate threat, save for the occasional blast and spells that overshot where they were hiding. Daydream had a thought, “What if we triggered Flash’s boon?”

“Excuse me?” Midnight asked in confusion.

“Flash is a sentinel, his power manifests itself via boons from who he’s devoted to. Now that Flash is married to Twilight, he should have received a new boon.” Daydream pointed out.

“Okay so why don’t I get a new one?” Flash asked as Timber managed to finally seal the wound and dull the pain all the while he tried to keep his eyes away from looking at his  removed limb.

“But aren’t you engaged to Sunset and…” Timber trailed as he looked at Midnight. “So I take it your name isn’t actually Radiance.” Midnight nodded to confirm that ‘Radiance’ was not her real name. “Well you three are also engaged, maybe Flash needs to actually marry you two as well.” Timber suggested.

The four looked amongst each other then back to Timber, “NOW?” they all asked in unison.

Timber rolled his eyes, “Think about it,” he added. “If Flash is also engaged to you two, perhaps it is because he has not sealed his commitment to you and that’s what damming the flow.” he suggested.

Twilight thought about it, maybe Timber was right. They needed all the aid they could, Sombra did have integrated into his own power that of Discord’s, Celestia’s and Luna’s at the least. “Flash Sentry,” she said to her husband, “Do you take Sunset Shimmer as your lawfully wedded wife?” Twilight asked.

“What?” Flash and Sunset asked together in confusion.

“Do you, Flash Sentry, take Sunset Shimmer as your lawfully wedded wife?” Twilight repeated the question. “I know it’s a long shot, but what if Timber is right?” She asked. “We’re off the map, there is no point of reference.” she pointed out. “Also I am a princess of Mystica, as long as we are in Mystica I can officiate a marriage." Twilight added before she stopped as it set in that her husband was about to marry two other women and she was about to be the officiate of those unions. She could not be anything but plussed over it. However, there is a time and place for things and now wasn't the time for this particular thing. "Just to be clear, I am still Flash's first wife; therefore, I set the schedule.” She points out as her stop-gap for the matter. “Any questions?" she asked to make sure her point was made. All she got were shaken heads from Flash, Daydream and even Midnight. Twilight took a breath, "So I repeat, do you, Flash Sentry, take Sunset Shimmer as your lawfully wedded wife?”

Flash groaned at the first, “I was hoping to actually have a honeymoon with my first marriage,” he took a breath and looked squarely at Daydream, “but yes. Yes, I Flash Sentry, do take Sunset Shimmer as my lawfully wedded wife.”  Flash answered Twilight.

Twilight turned to Daydream, “Do you, Sunset Shimmer, take Flash Sentry, do be your lawfully wedded husband?” the princess asked the other demigod.

Daydream looked to Flash, then to Midnight, then back to Twilight and finally again to Flash, “Never thought this is how we’d end up. But yes, I do take Flash Sentry, as my lawfully wedded husband.”

Twilight turned to Timber, “Will you, Timber Spruce, bear truthful witness that this union was made by the choice of the two to be joined?” Twilight asked the only witness.

As everyone turned to him, Timber had a slight panic. But he steeled himself after taking a breath, “Yes, I will bear truthful witness that this union was made by the choice of the two to be joined.” he stated.

Twilight turned back to Daydream and Flash, “By the power invested in me, as a princess of the Everfree Principality of Mystica in Dream Valley, I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, pronounce you, Flash Sentry and Sunset Shimmer, husband and wife.” She announced. “You may consummate the union with a kiss.” she declared as the means to seal the marriage. "And just that." she compounded. Flash and Daydream then kissed each other. Once the kiss broke there was Flash’s body glowed purple for a second before it returned to normal… well as close to it with his missing arm. The princess spoke again, “Do you, Flash Sentry, take…” she trailed off as she was at a loss of what to say.

“Twilight ‘SciTwi’ Sparkle.” Midnight stated. Before Timber could ask, “Yes, my real name is Twilight Sparkle too, long story short Sombra was not wrong when he called me a doppelganger.” She turned her attention back to Twilight, “Please carry on.”

“Twilight ‘SciTwi’ Sparkle as your lawfully wedded wife?” Twilight finished the question as she focused on Flash.

Flash looked from Twilight to Midnight. He shut his eyes for a second and took a breath, “Yes, I Flash Sentry, do take Twilight ‘SciTwi’ Sparkle as my lawfully wedded wife.” the sentinel answered..

Twilight turned her attention to Midnight, “Do you, Twilight ‘SciTwi’ Sparkle, take Flash Sentry, do be your lawfully wedded husband?” the princess asked her doppelganger.

Midnight looked to Flash, then to Daydream. Daydream nodded. Midnight then turned back to Twilight and finally again to Flash. She took a breath as she shut her eyes for a second as if to think. Once the second passed her eyes opened with resolve, “Yes, I do take Flash Sentry, as my lawfully wedded husband.” she declared.

Twilight turned to Timber, “Will you, Timber Spruce, bear truthful witness that this union was made by the choice of the two to be joined?” Twilight asked the only witness present again.

This time Timber was much more confident in his answer, “Yes, I will bear truthful witness that this union was made by the choice of the two to be joined.” he declared.

Twilight turned her attention back to Flash and Midnight, “By the power invested in me, as a princess of the Everfree Principality of Mystica in Dream Valley, I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, pronounce you, Flash Sentry and Twilight ‘SciTwi’ Sparkle, husband and wife.” She announced. “You may consummate the union with a kiss.” she declared as the means to seal the marriage. 

Flash and Midnight were a little hesitant, Flash because he had just kissed Daydream, Midnight because she had never been anywhere near this intimate with a man. “Oh for the love of all…” Daydream groaned before she pushed Midnight into Flash in such a way that Flash could only catch her with a kiss. Or so she thought,, but Flash was able to catch Midnight  with his arm and without a kiss. Twilight scowled at Daydream. “What? If you haven’t noticed, we got…” she trailed off, “Well I don’t know what to call him, but there’s still Sombra to deal with.” Twilight sighed.

Midnight looked in Flash’s eye and was transfixed by their calm blue for a second before she leaned forward to kiss Flash. Flash shut his eyes as he leaned in and the two sealed their marriage.

Once Flash’s and Midnight’s kiss sealed their marriage, Flash’s eyes glowed white. “Ani kerubh.” Flash whispered after he broke the kiss while he spoke as if he had relinquished all his metaphysical self to something else, putting his faith into another utterly. Flash’s body then started to morph. His height didn’t change, but much like Sombra, from his back grew six wings and a tail thrice his height, his head became like a cobra with his fills extended. His body was also ablaze and  his body shone. However, unlike Sombra, Flash shone like a clear diamond and his frill had two faces on each side. The faces closest to the head were his normal face on his right and an auroch's face on the left. The farther face on his right was that of a lion and the farther face on his left was that of a vulture. Around Flash two wheels, one inside the other, manifested and Flash’s body and the two wheels that spun around him seemed to be covered all over with eyes. 



Flash also gained a new arm. It was a metal arm that was lighter than a feather but was stronger than any normal metal or alloy that could be known. However the arm had three slots that would house an item each. A buckler, a sword and a hand crossbow. Flash took off his buckler on his left hand and placed it in the slot on his new right arm. He picked up his hand crossbow and did likewise into its own slot. He looked over to his lost arm, with a sigh he reclaimed his sword and placed it in it’s slot. The arm then glowed purple for a second before it matched the rest of his new form. Flash took a breath and a confident grin formed on his face. He turned to the other four. “Okay, I’ll keep him busy, you guys get the bell.” Flash then launched into the sky as his sword slid into his right hand.

The three of the four blinked in bewilderment for almost two seconds, save Midnight who was just frozen in awe with a blush on her face. “I can’t believe that actually worked.” Timber commented once his senses returned.
Daydream chuckled once her senses returned, “You’re not jealous of him are you?” she teased.

Timber turned back to her with a slight snort, “Ha!  For what?” he scoffed before he looked into his quiver and smiled at a particular arrow. “Besides, he might have more wives than I do, but I’m still better looking and more available.” he jested as he pulled out the arrow. The shaft, the tip and the fletching were black. He knocked the arrow and slipped out following Flash, leaving the three demigoddesses somewhat bewildered at how unphased Timber was to what he witnessed.

Meanwhile, Sombra’s vision recovered just as Flash slashed him across the chest and face, cutting his frill. Sombra cried in pain before his body began to heal. He turned to see hovering in front of him  and several meets above him, Flash in his new form. “So you’ve elected to be nothing more than a glorified body guard.” Sombra mocked, but his tone hinted to a fear hidden deep down. 

Flash smirked, “I’m not the one with the ego to be king when I barely have my life together as is.” he countered before his blade glowed blue.

Sombra chuckled as his six wings started to beat and lift him off the ground, “Flight offers you no advantage, boy.” He opened his mouth and blasted fire, acid, electricity, frost and pure concussive force at Flash. However, Flash was able to easily evade each of Sombra’s assaults  as his much smaller stature granted greater mobility. Flash also had the ability of flight via wings for pretty much all his life, while this was still fairly new to Sombra. 

Sombra growled, “STAY STILL!” he roared before letting out a torrent of flame and electricity as he spun around in a sphere while still in flight. After a near solid minute of this assault, Sombra stopped and looked around only to be blasted on from his left, right and back. He spun around  to see what barraged him only to see Twilight, Daydream and Midnight. He growled as he began to pool into his hands his own magic, only for him to be struck in the head from above. The force of which broke off three of his horns upon impact. Sombra roared as he folded his arms and wings to his torso and launched them out, sending a sphere of pure force from his chest. While this forced everyone back, Sombra was starting to realize that he was in danger. “No.” he whispered, “This can’t be.” He growled and grunted ‘YOU’RE NOTHING NEXT TO ME!!!” he roared before he started blasting from his hands, wings and let loss torrents of fire from his mouth in as many directions as he could. 

All the while Timber was watching and focusing preparing his arrow. He was keeping his eye on the part of Sombra’s belt that had the bell. He released a breath as he prepared to draw the string. “Arrow,” he said to the arrow, “Earth Arrow,” he gave it it’s full title. “ I’ve saved you for this.” He said as he started to actually draw. “You’ve never failed me and I always recovered you.” With the string drawn he started to fine tune his aim. “My sister made you and now she needs you. If ever you could fulfill a purpose, go now,” he said as he let loose the arrow, “and speed well!” he shouted as he followed through with the shot. The arrow flew and struck Sombra in his side at his belt. In the process of the arrow puncturing Sombra’s side into his gut, the sharpened edges of the tip cut the belt setting free the bell. Timber smirked as he rushed to get the bell.

Sombra cried in pain at the strike. He looked around, after a second he saw the arrow. He tried to pull it out, but given his size, it was like trying to pull out a splinter without tweezers. Yet he was not allowed to attempt it more than twice as Midnight and Daydream blasted him as Flash kept cutting him with his Star Saber, blasting him with his Requiem Blaster and ramming him while using his Skyboom Shield. After nearly a minute of this he was forced into the ground. He groaned as he started to get back to his feet. He was covered with cuts and bruises, the arrow still in him only to see Timber with the bell. Timber then threw the bell towards the landing Twilight. Sombra’s eyes widened in horror, but wounds inflicted upon him by Flash’s boons were not healing and thus stopped him in his tracks. Twilight received the bell and pointed it at Sombra and rang it. “NNNOOO!!!” Sombra screamed as the bell began to drain all the magic that he collected and took into himself, out of him. All the while his body began to shrink and change until it was once again human, in the form he was born as. He clutched at the Alicorn Amulet still on him and he realized that it had no more power. His eyes widened in horror. 

Twilight pointed the bell into the sky, “Return all that Sombra and his former allies took from their victims back to where it all rightfully belongs.” Twilight rang the bell and the power jettisoned out of the bell in many small beams and a large beam. Each beam flew towards their rightful host, some heading towards the ten that had helped Sombra, a fair amount towards Magiville where the most victims were and a surprising number of beams heading towards Chantalot, while the large one returned to the grounds of the Grandhendge. Twilight then threw the Bell back at Sombra. “NOW!” she shouted.

Sombra was confused when he caught the bell only to look up and see Flash aim his arm at Sombra. On Flash’s arm, the engraved sword, buckler and hand crossbow started to glow purple as the arm morphed into a cannon. “HYDRA CANNON!” Flash shouted as the cannon fired sending a blast that utterly destroyed Grogar’s Bewitching Bell, the Alicorn Amulet and pierced the center of Sombra’s chest forcing the tyrant onto his back fatally wounded, exposing his heart with his ribs open. However the attack drained Flash such that he reverted back to his human form and barely made it to the ground safely. 

Sombra laid on his back and wheezed as he clung to his chest with his left hand, desperate to cover his heart, but with each beat, his blood all but gusted forth from the massive wound. He opened eyes to see Twilight right next to him, with her left boot on the left side of his own head as she looked down at him. He struggled to get enough air so that he could speak for almost a minute. “No Rainbow of Mass Reformation for me, I take it?” he asked as he clung to his life. 

Twilight shook her head as she lifted her boot. Sombra’s eyes widened in horror as he concluded what would be his doom, “You will strike her heel, but she will crush your head.” Twilight declared before she took a breath. “Solea ferrea!” she shouted before she brought it down. The last thing Sombra saw was Twilight’s foot coming down onto his face. Everyone turned away as the sound of bone crushing among others that would make stomachs turn. Once Twilight had finished, she removed her boot and pointed her left hand at her foe. “Azarath Metrion Zinthos.” she whispered as magic pooled in her hand, “And you shall be cast into the pit, oh fallen star.” she muttered before unleashed the pooled magic in her hand utterly obliterating the tyrant, leaving only the arrow Timber shot into him. Twilight looked up, the sky for some reason seemed brighter in her eyes, in fact everything looked brighter. She turned back to face the others, “And I saw a new creation, as the old one had passed away and there were no more shadows.” She smiled. “Let’s go home and check on everyone.”

"Before we do," Daydream spoke up, "Could we keep this..." She pointed to herself and Midnight, "among us?" she asked.

"I don't know, SciTwi looks good as a bad girl." Timber jested before he reached into one of the small bags on his belt and took out two gems. "But if you ladies need to glamour," he said before he tossed them to Daydream and Midnight, "I won't tell any one I saw you without your make-up."





A few hours later In Gloriosa’s hospital room, Dr. Red Heart was helping Gloriosa to her feet, “Now take it easy, Ms. Daisy.” the doctor instructed.

Just then Timber arrived, “You’re up.” he said with a smile as he walked into the room to be a human crutch for his sister. Gloriosa smiled in turn, as she accepted her brother’s aid as they headed back to the party.

Back at the Castle of Friendship, while most of the guests had returned to the celebration, Twilight was seated with her friends, “You’re not seriously expecting us to accept their apologies?” Rainbow asked as she slammed her mug down on the table, “My daddy wasn’t there, I had only my name as a child, oh boo hoo.” she grunted.

Fluttershy patted her closest friend on the shoulder, “As much as I want to also withhold forgiveness, Adagio was right. We all have been very selective with who we emphasize with.” the druid pointed out. “It doesn’t mean Gladmage should be given a blank check.”

Applejack herself groaned into her mug, “Ah ain’t too keen on it mehself, but Flim and Flam are kin… distance kin.” she acknowledged. She let out a sigh, “Ah’ll ‘ave tah sleep on it.” she ultimately granted.

Twilight turned to Rarity and Pinkie. “Well, it wasn’t cool that Svegali’s career was cut so short so soon, nor what he did afterwards, but…” Pinkie trailed off. “Maybe I can come around. He is a great agent after all.” she added before she started to devour the food on her plate.

Finally Rarity gave a sigh before she took a drink and let out another sigh, “I do suppose that Suri is not outside the realm of pardoning, I mean how many times have we’ve forgiven Discord for his attempts at destroying us.”

“HEY!” shouted Discord from afar, clearly hearing the jab. 

Rarity smirked as she looked towards Discord, “At least Suri and the others were sincere with our end being their goal on the matter.” Discord was left without words and had turned back to what he was doing before. “Well hopefully the next wedding will have fewer…" she trailed off as she tried to find the right word. "crashers.” was the word she finally settled on after a few seconds of thought.

Rainbow took another drink, "So about your crashers, are you sure they’ll change their tone?” the elementalist asked.

Pinkie and Applejack broke out into laughter, “Ah worked with Limestone for three hours, Ah give them two months and we’ll be gettin’ heart felt apology letters in the post.” the paladin said in between laughs as Pinkie was left unable to speak.

Rainbow shrugged as the two continued to laugh at their in joke before she took another drink, “Fair enough, but speaking about Crashes.” She stopped as she looked to see Flash talking to his groom persons. “That boot you married could not have gotten that awesome of a new form.” She said as she turned back to Twilight. 

Twilight wasn’t sure what to say. However she did see Flash walk fairly close with a boot in his new metal hand. She squinted her eyes in confusion before Flash lightly tossed it to narrowly miss Rainbow’s head as the boot landed on the table. “A BOOT FOR THE BOOT OF A BLUNDERBOLT!” Flash shouted. 

Rainbow turned, “What did you call me!” Flash only stuck out his tongue childishly. “Okay, You’re on!” Rainbow declared as she got to her feet.

Flash snickered, “Catch me if you can.” he declared. “Ani kerubh.” he said before his form matched the one he had gain earlier, this time the hood was closed. He turned and started to run and fly away.

Rainbow growled as she started after him utiltamely causing a sonic rainboom in the hall leaving the whole place a greater wreck then when Sombra and et al left it. As Flash and Rainbow left, the room they exited the castle after Timber opened the door for him and Gloriosa to return to the party, leaving the two confused.

Back at the party, after she had looked around to see the 'damage', Twilight could only laugh. Sure this wasn’t the day she planned, but it was one she’ll never forget.