Scene Twelve: Canterlot Under Siege
The collective sound of cheers, laughter, and joy engulfed the streets of Canterlot. Creatures from far and wide Equestria were celebrating a day of uniting against three of their vilest and representing everything their beloved ruler herself was best known for. The last thing on any of their minds was the possibility of them under a tyrant’s iron hoof and fear taking over their hope.
A possibility that was now coming true.
Before anybody could even register what happened, a sudden shockwave broke the festivities. Everybody looked towards the castle and found it somehow covered in cracks glowing in black and yellow. The next thing anyone noticed, the entire castle then collapsed. Everything was but crumbling down, from its highest towers to lowest fields, the shining beacon of Equestria breaking apart before everybody’s very eyes, even when the storm of smoke came rushing down and engulfing the city in dust.
Soon, the dust settled, and Canterlot Castle was reduced to rubble.
The crowd outside, pony and creatures alike, were shocked and horrified to see the whole palace destroyed yet again. Everypony, the Mane 6 among them, was left in horror, thinking the worst to have happen to everybody inside. Nopony, not even any far from Canterlot, could not miss it. That is, until they saw a figure emerging from the ruins. And they all didn’t like it.
Emerging from the rubble, Grogar trotted his way to the highest point to address the citizens.
“Attention, Equestria and Beyond,” announced the ram. “some of you should be familiar with me. I am… Grogar. For centuries, you have heard tales of my tyranny, you have quaked at the mention of my name, and you have so grievously blown me off as a mere ghost story. No more, for I have returned. And I speak before you with a choice to carefully consider: all magical creatures are to surrender their magic straight to me immediately and summit to my will, an example to be followed by the rest of you. Failure to do so will only result in forceful removal of your powers and either enslavement or your worthless end. Any who dare challenge sign their death warrants. Make. Your. Decision.”
Seeing “a ghost story” threaten the masses, the Monster King waited in earnest for his will to be obeyed. He looked over the crowd and managed a glimpse at everybody in attendance. He even caught a glimpse of the Humane 6 divided, multiple of Equestria’s heroes, and especially his former son, the Lord of Chaos himself. Just seeing one of his own fraternizing with ponies sickened him to the point of throwing up. More moments passed and no one had yet obeyed him. He’d squinted at the crowd’s faces and he saw nothing but stone-cold defiance.
The tyrant simply chuckled at the resistance before proclaiming: “Fine, if you won’t bow,…then you will cower.”
With that and a clap of his hooves came a rumble from the castle walls. From the walls burst through the emerging Sirens with the recently born Elite of Monsters and a legion of creatures from Tartarus and across Equestria under their harmonizing control: Cerberus, Hydra, Bugbear, Cockatrice, Manticore, Chimera, Tatzlwurm, name it, ready to take over Canterlot and wreak havoc in his horrible name.
He then roared the word and his followers charged with ferocious savagery.
*
The Day of Unity has erupted into chaos all so easily. Princess Twilight’s friends and subjects were against an ancient threat and were severely outmatched and outnumbered. Erebus quickly dispatched the Wonderbolts, Catrina countered and cancelled out all magic from every Unicorn, Kirin, and Changeling guard, Lavan and Queen Bumble rounded up every Earth Pony, and the Tartarus monsters captured every pony in their sight, with only a few brave ponies still holding the line, despite the bleakness.
Flores had encircled a crowd of creatures and ready to feast when, out of the blue, Twilight, Flurry, and Sunset blasted at its tendrils, saving the citizens. As the princess drove the plant away, Sunset turned to the crowd.
“Don’t panic!” she commanded, “Head for shelter and don’t let any monster in!”
As the crowd scattered, she returned to her friends, who were quickly dealing with the Hydra. Flurry and Twilight each had a head on them, avoiding the snapping teeth, but they used it advantageously, as they led their heads around the creature’s mass, over, under, and around the other necks. The princesses had come out after leaving the four-headed beast in a dizzy knot, impressing Sunset, …
…which was interrupted by a Maulwurf striking a claw against her. Crashing against a wall, she quickly got back up to find the Maulwurf charging right into her, claws outstretched, only to evade them quickly. She unleashed a beam of magic right into the beast’s face, only eliciting an angered roar from it. As the beast swiped it claws at the evading mare, the ex-student thought for a way against the beast to no avail. The earth beast soon caught her under its claw and was ready to strike the killing blow. Thinking quick, she teleported herself away from the beast in time as the claw crashed on its other, causing a pained roar and giving Sunset her edge. Teleporting herself right on the Maulwurf’s face, she smiled cockily as she saw the beast raising claws to her, taking the bait. Claws coming in, Sunset teleported again as the beast smacked itself right in the face hard and down for the fight.
Walking in victory, Sunset was quick to catch Flurry in her magic after the Crystal Princess was swatted by Queen Bumble, who was, alongside the Bugbear, fighting Twilight in the sky. They rushed to help her when Catrina intercepted them, paws emitting magic, ready to attack. Readying their horns, both mares charged.
Twilight’s battle with the bees was tough enough, but now she had to battle the bees and the Raptorians and Erebus as well. The demon’s aerokinesis disabled Twilight’s flight while she struggled to avoid the bird-dogs’ beaks and talons. Soon enough, one landed a blow on her torso, allowing them to hold Twilight in their talons and hold her for Queen Bumble to impale with her stinger. As she charged for the Princess, Twilight quickly teleported out of the Raptorians’ grasp and watched as the Queen crashed into the trio and down into Rarity’s Canterlot Carousel. Looking down, she saw the four monsters struggling in Rarity’s fabrics.
Talk about the birds and the bees, the princess mentally quipped before swatting the Bugbear with a magic uppercut from her horn.
Catrina had both her opponents outmatched. Whatever offensive spell the two throw at her, she counters and throws at them harder. If Flurry were to fire and teleport at multiple angles, Catrina would only open a small portal that leads the blast to Flurry’s next spot, nearly singeing her wings. Should Sunset have unleashed her most powerful magic blast onto her, she would’ve only catch it and throw it back towards the unicorn, even more lethal. A combined shield from both ponies would take the blast. Shaking it off, they stood, contemplating their next move as the witch cat laughed.
“You fillies have no chance against me.” Catrina taunted in a thick accent before renewing her assault with one paw, forcing both mares to conjure another shield to defend themselves. Bringing in her other paw, the Witch’s assault was twice as powerful.
Then, Flurry finally had an idea. Thinking quickly, she teleported both herself and Sunset out of the blast and behind the feline, whose blast went through to the building, making her believe she just killed the two, only to start falling through a portal into a huge body of water Flurry created.
“And you have no chance against water.” Flurry quipped as he closed off the portal.
“Wow, “Sunset commented, “you’re really something, Your Highness.”
“We’re friends, Sunset; call me Flurry.” the princess assured.
BOOM!!! The ground suddenly bursted open in front of them and a geyser of lava came high in the air before heading right towards the mares. Jumping for cover, the mares watched as the lava hit the ground and morph into Lavan, followed shortly by the Tatzlwurm, and Flores. Out of the blue, Twilight came crashing down, promoting the knight Sunset to save her princess with levitation.
“Twilight!” Sunset worried.
“I’m okay,” Twilight quickly assured.
Following her were Queen Bumble and Erebus leading the Bugbear, Manticore, and the Raptorians.
Sunset and the two alicorns were surrounded by the monsters with no means of escaping. Should they fly, they’d be cut off. Teleporting will only delay the inevitable for them. No other choice, the three braced themselves for another fight as Erebus and Lavan prepared their attacks…
…only to be quickly incapacitated by obsidian orbs from behind.
Turning left, the three found Tempest, Starlight, Spike, Trixie, and Discord charging to the rescue.
The band of secondary characters made quick work of the monsters. Making the next move, Starlight teleported herself right to Flores, blocking its attacks and severing limbs. Spike and Tempest weren’t far behind, the two charging for the bird-dogs. The Royal Advisor burnt the bird-dogs’ wing feathers as they charged him squawking angrily, allowing the Crystal Captain to deliver a spinning kick as they approached the ground. Face-to-face with the Tatzlwurm and Manticore respectively, Discord and Trixie followed. As the Wurm tunneled its way beneath for him, a simple snap opened a sky-high portal that brought it crashing down head-first in front of Discord. As it squirmed, the Chaos God had a feather up his nostril and delivered a small sneeze onto its jaw.
“That is for getting me sick,” he smugly stated before snapping corks onto its nostrils and mouth to keep it from sneezing back.
Meanwhile, the Great and Powerful Trixie was flat-out screwing with the Manticore. Wherever the boasting unicorn appeared, the Manticore tried and failed to catch her as she disappeared in a smoke puff. It was only luck when the scorpion tail swept Lulamoon off her hooves. Seeing her quarry, the beast bared its teeth to eat, only to get a mouthful of smoke. Queen Bumble and the Bugbear growling broke the magician out of her confident trance, throwing another disappearing act as they charged for her, only to crash into the Manticore.
Starlight continued her bout with Flores. As if from the Everfree Forest, that creature was unrelenting, thorny tendrils and snapping mouths ever coming at Starlight, no matter how much she cuts down. Only when the rest of the backup chipped in to take on the creature did she gain an advantage. With Spike burning the tendrils, Starlight, Trixie, and Tempest blasting the heads, and Discord mowering the roots with tweezers, the creature was finally brought down with a combined magic blast from the princesses. As it crashed down, everypony took a chance for a breather, trying to catch up with the excitement.
“Good…timing, you two,” she managed to Starlight and Spike between breaths. “Where’ve you been?”
“Case you…missed it…Sunset,” retorted the dragon, equally short of breath, “the weatherponies didn’t account…for a chance…of monsters invading.”
“Nor for revenge?” A voice called.
Sunset instantly recognized that voice. It belonged to someone she hadn’t heard in years, a fellow alien to the human world like herself and a vengeful one at that. But before she could identify the voice, an instant singing shockwave came at the group from above and knocked them all backwards. When the smoke cleared, the coughing heroes found themselves at the tails of the Dazzlings as Sirens, laughing sinisterly. Sunlight was horrified. They thought to have never see them again after the showcase.
“What’s the matter, Sunset,” Adagio mocked, “lost for words? I’m hurt you didn’t think of me after all these years.”
“How could you three be here?” Sunset inquired fearfully. “You lost your voices; how could you-?”
“Our pendants,” Aria interrupted, “were destroyed, yes, but our voices were a gift…from him.” She then pointed a hoof behind the group. Walking towards them, Grogar bounded the heroes’ hooves and wings in his magic. Chuckling evilly, he stood before Princess Twilight, lifted her head with a hoof, and brought her close to his face.
“When I left Equestria,” the ram began, “it was nothing but farmland and ponies against ponies. Millenniums later, and I return to find ponies and creatures in harmony and you, Twilight Sparkle, at the top of it all.”
“Leave her alone!” Sunset demanded.
Ignoring her, Grogar continued: “Sounds quite the happily ever after. Too bad I have to ruin it.”
“LEAVE HER ALONE!!”
Breaking out of her binds, Sunset placed her hoof on his foreleg. Eyes glowing white, the Equestria Girl lasted a few seconds holding on. Turning his attention towards the defiant mare, the ram simply shook her off and gave a scowl. Breaking out of her trance, Sunset breathed hard and shakily, clearly disturbed by the bestiality she felt browsing through the King’s memories, somethings she wished she’d never seen. But it was worth the knowledge.
“You’re familiar with what I do to those…who dare challenge me, do you not?” As he spoke, he readied his horns to blast Sunset to dust. All eyes upon them, she could see Twilight’s horrified face, the Dazzlings’ sadistic grins, and Grogar’s angered expression. She braced herself for the end. But nothing happened when he simply laughed. “But you deserve my thank-yous, Miss Shimmer, for if not bringing magic into the human world, this’d never happen. Once upon a time, you were as power-hungry as myself and my allies,” the cruel ram continued as he gestured to the Sirens, enjoying Sunset’s growing anger towards him, “until you let ‘the Magic of Friendship’ turn you into the weakling you are today.”
“Say what you want,” Tempest suddenly barked, “but we’ll never summit to you!”
Looking towards the Crystal Captain herself, Grogar simply smirked as he looked at the rest of the group, seeing how most are “weak villains.”
“You’re all no better.” mocked the emperor as he walked towards all reformed baddies, belittling them one by one. “A filly who quickly saw the real world only to accept a pathetic idealism after being betrayed by an equally pathetic king. Born from a father who was equally boastful as you and yet desire more than street magic, until ruined by a Headmare who, probably more powerful than Starswirl himself, came so close to destroying the future all because of cutie marks. And then there’s you, Discord,” he looked at the draconequus with utter bile, “one of my greatest prides alongside Cosmos turned into the spineless, weak-willed, dimwitted dog of a PEGASUS WHO BARELY SCREAMS ABOVE A WHISPER!!!”
Grogar was not known for his rage, but when he unleashed, he was but horrifyingly unstoppable. His piercing jabs at past sins left them shaken and him smiling. Seeing their scared faces only fueled his power. Everypony at his mercy was fueling his strength, except for the unbreakable Twilight.
“If you’re gonna kill us,” she stated, “just do it. There’ll still be others to resist you, and I’d rather face death than live under your rule.”
“My dear,” the Monster King chuckled. “I will oblige,” he lifted his self-made bell, “after I take what is mine.”
And without further ado, Grogar activated the bell’s power and was ready to feast on the magic within his prisoners. Looking at the fate soon to approach them, Twilight simply looked at it with no fear, an example soon followed by the rest minus Sunset, who was frantically searching through her satchel. Soon enough, she found what she wanted: Sci-Twi’s I.D.O.B. Seeing this, Spike quickly spoke up.
“What is that?” he hastily asked before the power drain.
“My way in,” spelled out Sunset hastily, “and our way out!”
Wasting zero time, she quickly focused on the box and soon the same vortex engulfed them all just as Grogar’s bell clanged and created the vortex ready to drain the magic within them. In a flash of light, the magic collided and blinded the Sirens and Grogar. After the brightness died down, the villains regained their sight to find a smoking crater where their prisoners should be. The Sirens were left struck.
“What did you do!?!” Adagio vehemently demanded. “What happened to them?!”
“Do not roar so quick, my dear,” Grogar calmly stated. “Everything is transpiring as I anticipated. For now, round up the remaining fighters and bring them to the castle with the two sisters.”
“But Grogar- “
“Patience, my dear. All will reveal. But for now,…”
And with that, Grogar lifted his hooves and turned to the wreckage of Canterlot Castle. Magically lifting the remains, the Father of Monsters laughed in sadistic glee as the remains reformed into the castle, only dark and malformed into his image. The Sirens and monsters present could only watch.
“Let the Second Reign of Grogar begin.”
Scene Thirteen: The Quest for the Bell
Flurry was feeling something different after that quick teleportation. While Sunset told the four princesses of Sci-Twi’s I.D.O.B. and its function, they preferred magical travel means. Interdimensional travel via a magic spell is nothing, through an alchemist’s device is something else. While relieved to not be drained of magic, her feeling was something different, something weird, something…nonpony.
Letting out a moan, Flurry opened her eyes to find a ladybug scurrying along on concrete. The smell was revolting and unpleasant. Turning towards the smell, the Crystal Princess saw that it was originating from a couple of trash cans, flies buzzing, from her right, making a disgusted sound.
“Twilight, are you okay?”
Her attention was snapped towards Sunset calling out her gasping aunt.
“Aunt Twilight, are you- “Flurry spoke until she saw Sunset helping Aunt Twilight off her knees, both of them an unknown creature with two arms and two legs.
Their muzzles were the size of an ant, their manes had lost their glow, and they were without wings and horns. Even though it wasn’t of importance, they both were dressed in attire. Twilight’s consisted of a light-blue long-sleeve coat with a pink undershirt, midnight-blue jeans, her cutie mark embedded on them, and matching heels, while Sunset wore her teacher outfit, satchel hanging on shoulder. Twilight was looking with a mix of panic and anger towards her crush when Flurry worked the nerve to ask her aunt a confused question.
“Uh, Aunt Twilight,” began the Princess before trailing off until she found her voice again, “what are you?” The two gave each other awkward looks when Flurry questioned what they were. Sunset answered Flurry since she had more experience.
“Well, Flurry, you see, - “
But before she could get far, Flurry turned her head upon hearing groans. Knowing their surroundings to be an alleyway of some sorts did nothing as she saw what looked to be Spike, Tempest, Starlight, Trixie, and Discord rising from the ground and shaking off the aftereffects of their travel, no different than Aunt Twilight and Sunset. Her heartbeat quickening, the fear of it being too much to bear, the young princess slowly turned her gaze down and realized the crushing truth.
Unable to take it, Flurry let out a high-pitched scream in horror…
…only for Sunset to place a hand over her mouth and drag her behind the side of a dumpster, the rest following suit.
Peering her head out, Sunset sighed in relief, knowing that nobody heard Flurry before turning attention toward the pack of freedom fighters she had saved. Excluding Twilight and Discord, they were bewildered as they looked over their human forms.
Trixie and Starlight were dressed in a wardrobe uncommon for the two of them: the magician and her assistant. Trixie had her trademark hat and cape, accompanied by a dark-blue cotton dress and skirt with high boots, while Starlight was fancied in a similar outfit with a purple dress and boots matching her mane with Trixie’s star hair piece. Rarity’d have a fashion meltdown if she saw Discord’s ensemble, which comprised of an average business suit with one short sleeve and long sleeve and wearing one flipflop and shoe. Tempest still had her scar and was dressed in a leather army captain uniform colored in very dark blue with shoulder, knee, and elbow pads. On her knees, Flurry, dressed in a cyan skirt, pink button-up shirt with matching shoes school-girl outfit, similar to Twilight’s first human ensemble, was still startled by her new appearance, gasping madly as she looked herself over, coming so close to a heart attack. And out of the group, Spike was the most shocking: he was instead a grown man with a light purple jacket and pants over a cotton light green shirt and his hair all spiked up.
Turning towards her niece, Twilight kneeled and grabbed Flurry’s frantic hands.
“Flurry,” Twilight assuringly blurted, “It’s okay, sweetie! This is just how the natives of this world look.”
Taking in Twilight’s assurance, Flurry deeply inhaled and exhaled. Finally regaining composure, Flurry then shakily return to her voice.
“Thanks, Aunt Twilight. Now I’m not gonna hammer you with questions, but where are we, what happened to Canterlot, why do we look like this, how do we go home, and what do the rest of us look like?!” Flurry asked at such hysteric speed that she must have inherited from Twilight by some chance.
“Well, we’re in an alternate version of Equestria which is where Sunset lives, we got here via Sci-Twi’s box, Canterlot is still where it is, and we’re like this so we don’t cause a ruckus of sorts or something cuz I haven’t given that much thought, and the rest of us are still the same.” answered Twilight as best as possible. While promised no hammered questions, Twilight knew from experience for this to be too much to deal with instantly.
“Thanks again, but I think I meant where in this alternate world are we?”
“Chicoltgo,” answered Tempest immediately.
“How do you know?”
“Whinny Tower.” replied her captain as she pointed at the aforementioned infrastructure overtopping most buildings.
“Oh, never mind then.”
“Like it matters where we are,” announced Trixie, struggling on her human legs. “We just witness an old mare’s tale take over Canterlot and we need to go back and fight!”
“Oh, please,” rebuffed Discord, “even if we do go back, we’re simply outnumbered. Grogar is not stupid! For all we know, he is watching us now, calculating his next move.”
“I hate to admit it,” backed up Starlight, “but Discord’s right, Trix.” She then turned accusingly at the Lord of Chaos as Trix’s eyes shot with surprise. “Plus, how did he find his Bell? You and Spike left it somewhere nopony would ever find it.”
“And we saw to it while you were oofing with your counselor here!” countered the offended draconequus as he thrusted towards Trixie. The boastful mare didn’t take it well as she grabbed Discord by his beard with angry strength.
“You ill-mannered deformity,” barked Trixie, “the Great and Powerful Trixie is not treated such a way by Starlight!” She then let go of his beard, as he formed an apologetic look.
“You are right, that was uncalled for.” As soon as him and Trixie exhaled deeply, his apologetic look turned into cunning glee “She saves those for Sunburst.”
Both Starlight and Trixie gave off hot blushes and turned towards the snickering Discord, fury sizzling out of them. He’d’ve expect the street magician to make a move and he would-
Starlight, however, did the honors and strangled him with her absolute might for his low-blow remark about her love-life.
“Why, you pompous, mix-matched, safety-disregarding, blowharded sunova-!!!”
Tempest and Flurry (still on knees) rushed in to remove Starlight from Discord before she could finish. Shaking out of their grasp, Starlight huffed at him.
“The bad magicians are both right for different reasons,” the captain simply stated, earning surprised looks from all four. “I know, I thought I’d never hear myself say Discord’s right, but he is. We need to go back and fight, but we can’t just go back without more firepower. Judge your enemy not just by numbers and intellect, but also by sheer might.”
While the rest were arguing it out, Sunset and Twilight were alone with Spike, who was looking confusedly distraught.
“I just don’t understand.” poured out the Royal Advisor. “How could he have? Discord and me, we made sure that Bell was unfindable. Grogar could never have done such a feat with the spell placed on it!”
“Spike,” assured the Princess of Friendship, placing a hand on her little brother, “I don’t know how either, but what’s done’s done.” she continued as the two hugged before turning to Sunset with a stern expression and voice. “And what matters now is that we go back home and regroup with Celestia, Luna, and whatever other allies they’ve save, just like we planned.”
“Oh, what, it’s my fault I just saved our rumps from Equestria’s vilest villain!?!” countered an annoyed Sunset who’s been fuming over recent events. Today was a roller-coaster of a day. She’d been crying over a missed friend, snapped out the human half of said friend, was told belatedly of her crush’s ascension to the throne, went back home to confront her crush, ended up fighting an invasion from an ancient evil, and now she’s in Chicoltgo with other ex-villains and her crush, wondering as to what’s become of her friends back in Equestria and how to fight back while dealing with a bunch of bickering fillies and colts. “I figured you’d be grateful for allowing us to fight another day.”
“I am grateful; I just didn’t think you get us away from Canterlot.”
“An instinctive act, okay?! We’ll go back when we have a plan.”
“By then, we’d be too late!
“Easy, ladies,” Spike interjected, coming in between the two bickering women, “Let’s not get so worked up so soon. In case you two weren’t listening, I was wondering as to how Grogar got his hooves on his Bell from the Everfree Forest!”
Sunset’s eyes lit up upon hearing his confession.
“Camp Everfree?” she inquired.
“Hey, leave him out of this.” defended Twilight before turning towards her brother skeptically. “Speaking of which, how are you a man now?”
Spike, after giving it some thought, had simply given this:
“Beats me. Could be I’m a bigger dragon than I was our first trips here.”
“Or maybe you are finally getting a break from your abuse.” Discord snidely cut in earning a sarcastic laugh from the Advisor.
“Jokes aside,” cut in Sunset, “you two left the Bell at Camp Everfree and placed a spell that kept him from finding it?”
“By Twilight’s orders,” added Spike quickly.
“Then let’s go.” And with that, Sunset swiftly turned to leave the alleyway.
“Whoa, wait!” called out Twilight as she followed.
“Yeah, where you off to?” demanded Flurry as she moved towards Sunset on all fours. The Crystal Princess stopped when she was given quizzical looks. Flurry realized that something was bugging everypon- er everybody else on two legs. Getting the message entirely, she sheepishly smiled as she pushed herself up from the concrete and nearly fell backwards when getting accustomed to her human legs only for her Captain to help steady her. After finding her balance, she repeated her question.
“I’m going to Everfree to get the Bell to use against Grogar’s crude copy,” answered Sunset. “When I grabbed his leg, I saw his memories that he only made his bell and hasn’t gotten the actual thing.” Knowing that Twilight was for going home than her mission, the older mare reached in her satchel and brought out the box. She looked down on it for a few moments more with a regretting look barely visible before she handed it to her crush. “You know what to do with it if you’re going home. I’ll write you when I have it… if your journal hadn’t been destroyed yet.” As she reached and put her geode around neck, she watched Twilight looking down on the box, possibly considering home. While aware of the situation’s severity, Sunset was hoping that Twilight came along so she could confess on the way, but she respected Twilight’s duties.
After a seemingly eternity of Twilight contemplating, Sunset sighed in reluctant acceptance, thinking Twilight’s answer. She turned from the others and moved forward to her mission. She stopped only thirty-eight inches from the way out and turned toward Spike with her face visibly asking if he was coming. Looking around at his cohorts, he gave one final glance at Twilight before he moved to join her.
With Spike by her side, Sunset turned to get out of the alley…
…when Twilight dashed towards, grabbed her arm and pulled her around.
“Sunset, your courage is commendable,” began Twilight with a bright smile, causing the teacher’s eyes to twinkle. The former wanted to say something but couldn’t when the latter continued as she handed back Sci-Twi’s device to her: “But you’re not going alone.”
Twilight’s response was too much for Sunset to believe, tears threatening to slip through. She smiled in response as she replaced her friend’s device back in her satchel, silently thanking Celestia for that chance. She was interrupted when the rest vouched to come as well.
“Her Highness’ right,” admitted Tempest as she walked up. “You’re going to need all of the hooves or…claws or whatever you call these.” She finished as she looked over her hands.
“You’ll have my full support to the end,” offered Flurry.
“I’m tagging,” announced Starlight.
“The Great and Honest Trixie wouldn’t miss this,” boasted Trixie.
“It will be a snap,” added Discord.
Sunset looked around at her allies and saw just how much Twilight’s lessons in friendship have influenced all of those ex-villains. Smiling confidently, she breathed deep and declared: “Alright, let’s go.”
“Whoo!” cheered Flurry as she exited the alley and dashed to the left. After a few seconds, a confused Flurry returned.
“Uh, how do we get to the Everfree Forest?” inquired the Crystal Princess.
“Well, this is Chicoltgo,” stated Sunset, “and there’s not much magic or wings in this dimension, so we’ll have to do air travel.”
“No magic?” asked the Lord of Chaos in horror. “You mean we have to go on…foot?” The idea brought back painful memories from the last time he had to go on foot.
“You mean, take a zeppelin?” inquired Trixie.
“Uh, you can say that.” Sunset answered before walking in Flurry’s direction as the rest followed and continuing, “Anyway, the city’s airport should be only a couple of blocks this way. I came here once for a class trip so I sorta know my way around.”
Scene Fourteen: Team Rari-Rainbow-Pie
Grogar could not contain sadistic glee as he watched the heroes begin their mission through the Eye of Arimaspi, the same crystal orb from his lair. Before they arrived at Canterlot, he demanded the Sirens to go to his former lair and retrieve the eye so he could keep tabs on his enemies regardless of they lie. The Sirens were presented as they watched through the orb. Closing the eye, Grogar uttered a small cackle at he moved onto the castle balcony, the Sirens following behind.
Aria was the first to speak.
“So that why you wanted that thief’s eye.” The violet Siren managed nervously.
“Precisely,” confirmed the Monster King.
“So what’s next, My Lord?” inquired the lead Siren giddily, her hatred unwaning. “Do we go after them, pry the location of your Bell from their minds?!” So wrapped in vendetta against Shimmer the lead Siren was, that she didn’t notice her sisters rolling their eyes in exasperation of hearing this song again.
“We wait.” The King of Monsters simply put.
Adagio was speechless.
“What!?!? But- “
Before the lead Siren could speak her piece, her master quickly blasted her to the wall with his magic by the doorway, an angered expression plastered onto his face. Aria and Sonata backed from what they witnessed. Levitating Adagio towards him, Grogar cemented his decision to the terrified Siren.
“Do not question me, Adagio, or you will know my complete cruelty. UNDERSTOOD?” threatened the ram.
Looking in fear, She gave a quick nod in acceptance. Anger unwavering, he tossed the lead Siren down and faced all three as the other two rushed towards her.
“Lest any of you two wish to speak,” he addressed the trio, “round up all resistance and bring them to me. I wish to make examples.”
The Sirens bowed and turned to grab everypony against them. However, that didn’t quell Adagio’s rage as she only gave off a silent growl.
You don’t know my thirst, she thought, not at all, you old goat.
Once again alone, Grogar turned to face the ruins of Canterlot.
“Once Sunset Shimmer unearths my real Bell, I will rule all.”
The First Scourge of Equestria cackled madly as monsters roared in the distance,… scouring the abandoned and plundered streets, ordered by their master to search for anypony and creature out to oppose him. And they were hot on two ponies.
A Unicorn and a Pegasus, both cloaked, were caught by a pack of Timberwolves at Canterlot Carousel after retrieving fabrics wrapped around the Pegasus’ injured wing, and they’ve been on the run from the wooden dogs before long. The duo were passing the Tasty Treat on Restaurant Row when Queen Bumble, Lavan, and the Raptorians joined the hunt. Despite the unicorn’s attempt to slow them down by throwing a couple of stones, the wolves just reassembled, and the bird-dogs quickly recovered. They knew that they had to lose the monsters somehow before they tire out or they’re food. Soon enough, the duo ran into a dead-end alley and were soon to be faced with the pack. Luckily, the Pegasus produced a plan. Dragging the Unicorn with her behind a dumpster, they waited for their pursuers to enter the alley. As they searched every inch of the area, the Unicorn threw a can almost out of the alley, catching attention as it clattered. Thinking their prey to have escaped, the beasts exited the alley and turned left, away from the relived duo.
Safe from danger for the time being, they made way for the School for Gifted Unicorns, acting a safe haven for anypony. Initially, Grogar checked it, along with other obvious locations, for resistance after Canterlot was taken over, but found nothing. A smart move to leave it vacant until he’d crossed it off his list. Jumping through hoops to avoid getting caught, the cloaked ponies finally reached the School and clopped on the doors. Opening the door was a grown-up Yona and Captain Gallus.
“Identify yourselves.” The captain demanded.
Removing their cloaks revealed the faces of humans Rainbow Dash and Rarity.
“Ex-professors Dash and Rarity?” spoke a surprised Yona. “Why look young again?”
“We’re not your Rainbow and Rarity.” simplified Rarity quickly. “It might seem strange, but we’re really here to help.”
“We’re just looking for shelter, please.” pleaded Rainbow.
Taking their words to heart, the two ex-students allowed the troubled aliens into the School before any monster could stumble onto them.
Once inside, Rainbow Dash and Rarity were escorted and downhearted to see everypony else’s plight. There were no more than twenty guards counting Gallus, young ones were scared and tired, provisions were critically low, and the overall atmosphere was unbearable for the iron-hearted Rainbow Dash and the diamond-sparkling Rarity. And they were downhearted enough. They found each other only in the midst of chaos, a hydra attack injuring Rainbow’s wing. Once the initial attack died, the two searched for the rest, finding no trace, and they were forced to abandon the search when they were spotted. While escaping from the enemy was essential enough, it couldn’t bury the fear of their best friends injured… or worse.
They were brought back to reality by Gallus.
“There’s only so little to go around.” The captain told the duo. “If you want to try and fight, you’ll have little to no army. Medical attention is nonstop, but resources are drying up fast. We’re holding up, yet unless something’s done soon, we’ll be dead before Grogar even gets us.”
Taking the severity of Gallus’ words, Rarity and RD exchanged worried looks. Turning towards Gallus, Rarity spoke.
“Captain,” she hoped, “did you, by chance, see any sign of our friends?”
“If by ‘our friends,’” clarified Smolder coming from above, “you mean the rest of our Mane 6? They got ‘em. All of them except Twilight, all petrified stone. The same for the Pillars, our leaders, basically almost everyone he deems a major threat makes up his collection!”
“You guys are still here,” stated Rainbow. “Why didn’t you think to fight?”
“Maybe because we’d been getting every creature away from the firefight!”
“So you could leave us to die?! Why you-!”
Before any punches flew, Rarity stepped on Rainbow’s tail.
“OW!!” exclaimed the Wonderbolt. “That’s the second time today! Anymore tugs and Imma lose this tail!”
“Your frustration I understand, Rainbow,” sympathized Rarity, “but it’s not going to find the rest of our friends!”
CLANG!!! went the doors and from it came human Pinkie Pie, mane frizzed, covered in dirt and bruises, and panting quite madly. “Never… fear,” she wheezed as she trotted forward slowly, “Pinkie Pie… is here.” Finally she collapsed face first on the hard ground.
“Pinkie!” Rarity cried as she lifted and bearhugged her exhausted friend.
“You’re alive!” Rainbow added, joining the hug.
“Barely!” complained their party friend as she normalized her breath. “Ya’ve any idea how much trouble bouncing outta rubble, running like crazy, and avoiding monsters with confetti cannons and throwing cupcakes just to get to somewhere safe is?!”
“Yeah, we do,” a deadpan Rainbow Dash chimed, gesturing to her bandaged wing. “Party’s the last thing to cry about. Did you see the others?” She returned her attention back to Pinkie, who shook her head. Her answer only provoked frustrated moans from her friends.
“This is terrible!” bemoaned Rarity. “This is absolutely terrible!”
“You doubt it!?!” Rainbow agreed with. “Whoever that Grofar is, that ram is WAY worse than Cinch! Whatever was he?”
“His name… is Grogar,” Gallus grimly corrected before explaining, “He was- I mean, is a plague. He created the first monsters to attack the land before Equestria from what I heard in school. And now, he’s back and is clearly wanting to continue to that work.”
“Oh great,” Rainbow whined as she threw her hooves up in annoyance. “Not only do we have to deal with an evil, living relic from the past, but we also have to find our friends, who are out, probably in danger or-!”
“Don’t you dare say it!!” Rarity demanded from her hotheaded friend. “Our friends are anything but glass and you should know it.”
“I wasn’t gonna think it; I was just stating facts!”
“Then you could, at least, be more positive about the situation!”
“Really!? Then how’s about you discuss plans to find them and beat Grogar!?”
“RAINBOW DASH AND RARITY,” screamed Pinkie, clearly annoyed from her friends’ derailment from topic, “WE CAN FIGURE THIS ALL OUT IN THE LONG RUN! JUST LET THE WRITER DO HIS STUFF!!”
The two bickering mares looked at their enraged friend with some confusion. Sensing what she just mentioned, Pinkie rubbed her head sheepishly before blushing red.
“Well, if you mares want to stop Grogar,” Captain Gallus stated as he approached them, “then you’re gonna need to get into the castle. And I can provide you with a map if you wish.”
Team Rari-Rainbow-Pie exchanged some looks, thinking that storming the castle would be as good a start as any, before shrugging and facing Gallus. Seeing their reactions, the griffon gladly led the way for the aliens from the human world to follow.
Everyone else only exchanged confused looks before shrugging it off, clearly used to such manure.
Scene Fifteen: Team Twi-Flutter-Jack
Guarded by the Chimera, the Manticore, and Cerberus was the Canterlot library.
Thinking his enemies to seek knowledge of how to counter him, Grogar sent Catrina and Erebus to find and destroy any knowledge with ANYTHING on him. After purging the castle library of said knowledge, they moved onto the public library. While Erebus searched every shelf for every book with everything on their Father, Catrina used her magic to erase any knowledge. After thirty-three books, they had completed their assignment and left the library, sending their guard creatures off to seek more resistance. However, while they seemed to have succeed, they didn’t account for one thing:
They were being observed.
Immediately entering the library after the monsters’ departure were Twilight, Fluttershy, and Applejack. Entering the deserted wreckage, the trio saw the mess Erebus and Catrina made. Twilight wasted no time in diving right into the pile. Applejack and Fluttershy’d spilt up to search the lower parts of the library. Ever the bookworm, Twilight levitated some from the upper levels to get a much further head-start, confident that they’ll find something. Despite her optimism, Fluttershy and AJ quickly realized the futility of their mission as they found nothing useful against that monster in two hours. But their luck hasn’t dried up yet.
After failing to initially convince Twilight of the absurdity, Applejack turned to Fluttershy for help, only to find the meek pony gone. Pulling her reluctant alchemist friend from her research, they both searched every aisle and called for their shy friend, only to get whispers within the maze of shelves stacked with books. They followed those whispers closely to the dang church mouse, as the farmer described her friend. Soon, they found her in front of the Restricted Section bookshelf.
The veterinarian gestured to a pair of books baring the Two Sisters’ cutie marks on one of the top shelves. Thinking them to be personal diaries, Sci-Twi instantly tried levitating them off to no avail. She soon began to struggle with her friends watching for a few moments. Wanting to help, Fluttershy flied up and, titling them forward, accidentally flipped the secret switches. Twilight finally stopped when she saw the shelf drift open to reveal the passageway down. All three mares were in shock at what they found.
“I found it, yay.” Fluttershy quietly squealed before going the stairs. Applejack chuckled as she joined the trek, while Twilight lagged behind, pouting over Fluttershy’s achievement.
“Yeah, she did,” she uttered, “the lucky wallflower.”
As the three descended further, Twilight took notice of AJ and Fluttershy’s plight, despite the pair’s attempts to mask the pain. She practically saw it after she found the two and saved them from an Ophiotaurus and the Maulwurf. After some pointers from Sunset about protective barriers, Twilight used one to defend herself from the beast. After escaping, Twilight took command and sought to find the rest while searching for a means of counterattack. And throughout the duration, Twilight had to keep Applejack and Fluttershy calm.
They finally reached the end of the stairs when they came face-to-face with a pair of golden double doors, which, unlike the shelf, was an easy feat for Twilight. And entering the room caused her to let out the biggest gasp that her vocals could possibly muster. She again wasted no time in dashing straight for the books, grabbing whatever books from every shelf, mouth agape and hyperventilating, AJ and Fluttershy looked with smirks and rolling eyes as they, too, joined the search.
The trio had gone over every book the Restricted Section could possibly hold for the next hour and still found nothing. Stacks after stacks have been piled up. Unlike the public books, the restricted ones had no blank spaces or cut-offed sentences, meaning that Erebus and Catrina hadn’t gotten to those. And yet, despite her hopes, Twilight was now realizing the only knowledge about Grogar was but erased for good, and the Restricted Section had nothing on him.
“Again: nothing.” stated Applejack after closing another book.
“I don’t know, Applejack,” groaned Twilight, rubbing her eyes. She then closed another and tossed it off the table before slamming her face onto the desk. “Maybe everything about this Grogar were upstairs and it’s all gone.”
“You’re absolutely right, Twilight,” admitted Fluttershy. “Maybe we should take a break.” Sighing in agreement, Twilight and Applejack’d put down the books they were working on, ready to rest when Fluttershy announced loudly (or loud enough by her standards): “Because Mama Fluttershy found something!”
“WHAT?!” Sci-Twi and AJ blurted simultaneously as Fluttershy placed a teal-covered and orange-spine book with a quintet of leaves on the cover entitled The Autobiography of Gusty the Great.
“Gusty the Great?” inquired Applejack. “Ain’t she that lady who climbed to the very top o’ Mount Everhoof?”
“She’s also the pony who defeated this Grogar long before the three pony tribes united,” Fluttershy added while turning the books’ pages to chapters 34-37. “Everything about him is right here.” Exchanging looks, Twilight and Applejack brushed off their surprise in Fluttershy’s accomplishment before turning to the book. If the book had anything on Grogar, they would use it to their advantage.
What they found was horrifying alone. They now knew the evils their new enemy was capable of. Grogar standing above a village of Earth Ponies, watching his abominations rip, claw, and kill all in sight, climbing a boney mountain of Pegasi wings, and using his Bell to drain every Unicorn magic before crushing every horn. Fur-crawling illustrations coupled with a frightening description:
“Nopony knows exactly where he came from or why he does such evil. But all can agree on that Grogar the Ram is the vilest creature of the land. Many like him are to come indefinitely, but none will come as monstrously evil as he is. With his ever-increasing army of beasts and his Bewitching Bell, there will seem to be no end to his personal war of replacing the heartbreaking-prejudice peace between Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies with his empowering fear. But his most powerful traits are his manipulation, his sadism, and, worst of all, his patience. I really wish the leaders of our tribes had come together to finally make peace and friends and unite as one to finally end this monster’s reign of fear over the land. But since that dream is but so, I must rely on the brave army of Unicorns I have assembled to find and forever defeat Grogar, for if he continues to run amok, it will undoubtingly spell the end of Ponykind.”
And all of that was the ending of chapter 35.
All three mares were left speechless by the descriptions. Throughout their career, all they fought were perfectionists, envious kids, and magic-crazed lunatics. But, other than the Sirens, they fought nothing like Grogar. Compared to him, they were all low-key enemies. Seeing an actual monster like him in action easily put every other baddie to permanent shame. They were clearly not ready prepared for this kind of mission.
“My gosh,” Applejack simply uttered.
“Oh, I don’t feel so proud in finding this book now,” shivered Fluttershy.
This ram makes Cinch look like an amateur, Twilight thought whose face was as equally scarred as well. Now knowing what’s at stake, now knowing the odds and evens, now knowing just how heavy the gravity of the situation is now, Twilight knew that until they found Sunset, she had to step up her game and take command. So, replacing her fear-ridden face with that of determination, Twilight’d gotten up out her chair and trotted up to a bookcase on the top of the stairs. Looking over her shoulder, she saw AJ and Fluttershy’s confused faces. Trotting back down with a blank-covered book in magic, she shared her plan to them.
“Every book on that shelf was blank.” explained the bespectacled Equestria Girl. “Sunset told me that these can send messages, which means if I can write what we learn from that autobiography, maybe the rest can get the message.”
While Flutters and AJ nodded at the cleared-up plan, Fluttershy spoke their doubts.
“Even if it were true, how can we be sure that they’ll get the message?” Fluttershy concerned.
Eyes shooting up immediately, Twilight looked at their friends with some uncertainty and fear. She had no idea how it might be possible, but she felt confident enough to just try for her friends’ sake. Applejack and Fluttershy waiting for an answer, Twilight finally answered:
“I…can only try. It’s all we can do for now.”
And with that, she began reading and writing.
*
The message came at the right time for Team Rari-Rainbow-Pie.
After Gallus directed the mares into a small map room, the three of them have been discussing ways to advance on the castle. But from where they were at the moment, the Father of Monsters had every loophole, way-in-way-out, and entrance possible covered by monsters and creatures. Tensions between them hadn’t been cooled, much to Pinkie’s frustrations, as she was playing the more focused-on-the-mission role. This crisis was really getting to them all.
“Right,” confirmed Rarity looking down on the castle schematic with red X’s over entrances and windows before making X-ing out the entrance on the map. “With that catacombs entrance, it’s official: Grogar seems to have the castle in his hooves tighter than a boa constrictor in leather.” Pinkie grimaced when she heard Rarity with her worst Southern drawl possible. Rarity did the same, her alabaster cheeks turning pink.
“As terrible as that accent was,” admitted Pinkie, “the skies are occupied, monsters are watching from the balconies and gates, and we’d not last long if we dug underneath the castle. If Rainbow’s wing weren’t busted, she could perform a sonic rainbow to get those beasts’ attention away from the castle.”
They turned to see Rainbow still trotting back and forth. “Even if I could do that-.” the athlete was about to mention until the three mares heard a buzzing noise nearby.
Coming from the far right back of the room, Rainbow advanced to the source until she reached the desk on that side. Opening a drawer, Rainbow pulled out a vibrating and glowing book with a golden alicorn figure on the brown cover with sapphire eyes and gold locks on the spine. Opening it to the first page, Rainbow’s eyes lit up as she saw the in-progress writing that soon engulfed over half of the page. She was quickly joined by Pinkie and Rarity as they eyed the message and shared her eye-lit expression. Their hearts raced evermore quickly as they read the message:
“To Sunset, Pinkie, Rarity, and Rainbow,
I only hope that everybody or everypony is holding up and being careful. Fluttershy and Applejack are safe with me and I think we’ve found something that could guide us against this Grogar guy. His magic is claimed to come from others’ fear and absorbing magic via the Bell around his neck. It might also be what gets all these monsters to attack us. If you girls get this, I’m certain we can produce a plan to break into the castle, find Grogar, and take his Bell from him. Let me know immediately please.
Twilight Spruce.”
Rainbow and Rarity were beginning to get teary-eyed after reading the message internally. Pinkie, on the other hoof, rushed and returned with a quill in her mane and wrote back in Pinkie-Speed.
“Twilight,
This is Pinkie! Rainbow Dash and Rarity are with me at the… uh… OH! School for Gifted Unicorns, and we’re just next-door to the castle. We’ve been looking out, doing some planning and we’ve been thinking that if we can get the guards’ attention, we could just waltz right and do just that!
Pinkie Pie!”
After a waiting for a few moments, Twilight quickly responded.
“Pinkie!
It’s so good to hear from you! What do you have to share about the castle?”
As Rainbow Dash and Rarity hugged each other in relief over knowing their friends are safe, Pinkie responded to Twilight’s request.