//------------------------------// // Part 1 - Chapter 3: Horses of the Apocalypse // Story: The End of an Era (Series Finale Rewritten) // by StacheHand //------------------------------// The Canterlot Royal Guard watched over the area around the city. Unicorn Guardsstallions and Guardsmares around the walls set up a magical barrier, and others patrolled the borders, keeping a constant vigil in every direction. Citizens were being escorted out at the train station. No activity took place, until a yellow and black portal opened over the path leading to the raised drawbridge. Out of it came a bunch of the infamous, savage monsters and a crowd of pony zombies. The time for battle had arrived. The unicorn guards outside immediately attacked by firing magical beams from their horns at a rapid rate, and utilizing telekinesis to throw stones. The pegasi guards used an array of sharp and blunt weapons, likes swords and maces. One monster, the one-third tiger, one-third goat, one-third snake creature known as the Chimera, breathed a powerful stream of fire that pushed back guards holding up small shields, and the bird-like Roc blew mighty gusts of wind to send them tumbling down the mountain. The Royal Guard did their best to fight off the invasion by jumping on the monsters' backs and trying to make them hit each other. Reacting fast, the unicorn zombies threw the guards around like ragdolls with their telekinetic spells, the pegasus zombies pinned them to the ground by their hairs by shooting out their needle-like feathers, and the earth pony zombies used their hoof claws to shred their weapons and tear off their armor, piece by piece. In the middle of the confusion, the barrier surrounding Canterlot was being pelted by unicorn zombie heat beams and pegasus zombie needles, and the earth pony zombies were trying, and failing, to dig tunnels into the city, as the barrier also reached underground. The defensive guards then heard a high-pitched, feminine cry for help. It was Cozy Glow going "HELP!". The guards were able to make out her tiny form outside the barrier, and she was apparently in trouble. "Cozy Glow?!" one of the Guardsstallions said apprehensively. "LET ME IN! LET ME IN, PLEASE!" she screamed pleadingly. "I DON'T WANNA-" She was interrupted by a flock of zombies, and monsters like Manticores, Ursa Majors, Timberwolves and Twittermites, all threatening to rip her apart. All she could do in this predicament was scream and struggle to escape their grasp. "Don't open the barrier, it's a trick." a high-ranking unicorn guard captain commanded. "I BEG YOU! PLEASE, DON'T LET THEM EAT ME!" Cozy continued, tears running out of her eyes as the zombie and monster army ganged up on her. "I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE TO TURN TO!" "You should be in Tartarus!" the captain yelled. "Why should we let you in here?!" "BECAUSE GROGAR TOOK ME SOMEWHERE EVEN WORSE! HE TORMENTED ME!" Cozy hollered. "I CAN'T GO BACK! HELP ME, AND I'LL DO ANYTHING FOR YOU! FOR PRINCESS TWILIGHT!" Some unicorn guards blasted the zombies and monsters attacking her with an explosive blast, saving her life. She was clearly grateful for their actions, but they gripped her like a pair of cuffs, putting her back into a shrieking panic. "Sir, she seems to be in real trouble." said a lower-ranking pegasus private. "Stick to your post, private." the captain ordered. "She's just a kid!" the private argued, aware that this filly was a criminal mastermind despite that, but was still unable to feel no pity. "She's also a liar and a traitor!" the captain remarked harshly. Then the private sneered at him, saying "Oh, I see, it's because she's a pegasus, right?" 'What's that supposed to mean?" the captain growled. "You know what she has committed!" "Even so, Princess Twilight would want us to make no exceptions when protecting terrified creatures in peril." the private stated. "Princess Twilight knows where wrongdoers belong!" the captain retorted. "Then why did she let Tempest off the hook?" the private raised in rebuttal. "She left Equestria alone!" the captain reminded him. "After handing it and the princess to the Storm King!?" the private returned. "Well, perhaps unicorns are favoured!" the captain lashed out, prodding the private's head. "Frankly, my kind does the bulk of the work!" "Okay, I see you have it all figured out." the private hissed. He couldn't wait to tell his fellow pegasi of the captain's condescension. "Tell her majesty we non-spellcasters are off the payroll." "Alright, then!" the captain barked. The threat struck a nerve, enough so to persuade him to reluctantly give another unicorn the order. "Let her through." He signaled to the guards outside, a hole was opened in the barrier, Cozy was released, and the drawbridge was lowered, allowing her full access. She flew into the city, ducking into the shadows of the archway while passing through. Some guards surrounded her with spears and horn-generated magical blades. Instead of feeling like she was in danger, she yelled "THANK YOU! THAT WAS TOO CLOSE!" while wiping her tears away. "We know you're here on business, child." the captain said darkly to the filly prodigy. "Princess Twilight told us." "She misunderstands! I've been held up in Grogar's lair for moons, and he sent all his monsters through that portal, which I used to escape!" Cozy explained. "Oh yeah? How did you get away?" a pegasus soldier queried coldly. "LOOK OUT!" Cozy yelped while pointing a hoof. A mass of debris came flying towards the guards, slamming into the ground like a meteor. Cozy flew around to dodge. "What's going on?!" a unicorn soldier hollered in bewilderment. "I've got to get to Princess Twilight!" Cozy exclaimed to the pegasus private. "I know how she can beat Grogar!" "You do?" the pegasus private said. "It's urgent! I know what i've done to Equestria, but you have to trust me!" Cozy stressed. The private put a wing on her assuredly. "Stay close." he suggested. Together, the two pegasi flew through the chaos of more debris falling, including the giant fans that were placed on the rooftops to fend off flying intruders. Everytime something hit the ground, the other pegasi weren't far behind. The guards holding up the barrier had their focus broken by fallen fans still blowing. Soon, the magical sphere protecting the city vanished, allowing the zombies and the monsters to fully invade. Up on the rooftops, Cozy's amorphous form of shadows creeped around and took out what remained of the fans. Earth pony zombies jumped ferociously out of holes, Slingtails in the distance launched rocks into the city, the Roc and pegasus zombies caused some mayhem from above, the Chimera and unicorn zombies lit the streets ablaze no problem, Twittermites and Parasprites went for the openings that the fans blocked off, and Ursa Majors, like monster movie beasts, picked up buildings and threw them like buckballs. The pegasus private and Cozy were separated by a Timberwolf pack. She screamed as the canine wood golems dragged her out of his sight. Before he could give chase, he was blown away and slammed into a wall by the Roc's hurricane winds. Back on the rooftops, rocks from Slingtails busted holes through them, good for slinking into by the shadow-y Cozy. Inside the castle, Twilight, her friends, the Royal Sisters and the rest of the Royal Guard were contending with Twittermites and Parasprites. "Please, Parasprites! Don't be so mean!" Fluttershy pleaded. Her words fell on deaf ears, for all the Parasprites wanted to do was munch away at the floors, walls and ceilings, the latter of which lead to tiles dropping on the ponies and dragon. Twilight did her best to teleport each of the Parasprites and Twittermites away, and Pinkie Pie was distracting them with sprinkles and confetti from her new handheld Party Bazooka, but there seemed to be no end to them. The Twittermites' electrical properties were wearing everyone down, especially. Things quickly escalated as zombie ponies, Timberwolves and Manticores entered the hallway, the former leading the charge and roaring like primal ghosts. "I always knew this day would come." Spike muttered at the equine undead, eyes bugging out. "HELP ME!" Cozy screamed at the top of her lungs, trapped in the jaws of one of the lion-like creatures. Twilight noticed and recognized the filly and her voice immediately. She joined her magic with Celestia and Luna, and they unleashed an amplified magical beam that blew away the deadly creatures in front of them and freed Cozy. She was grabbed by Applejack's lasso and tugged over to the group. After calming down, she gazed at them in surprise. "You rescued me. After all I-" Cozy started. "Save it, kid!" Rainbow Dash snapped. Everyone was giving Cozy a cold, accusing look. "Brought a bunch a friends to the party, did ya?" Pinkie Pie snarked. "Well, it's cancelled." "Twilight, please listen to me!" Cozy begged. "You joined up with Grogar, Chrysalis, Tirek and some alicorn to take over Equestria." said Twilight, having none of it. "Celestia and Luna saw you coming." "No, you've got it all wrong! I was their prisoner!" Cozy attempted to explain. "The monsters, the destruction, the takeover, it was their idea! They're the enemies! They did awful things to me, and I only just escaped by dumb luck!" "Dumb luck? Sure." Applejack muttered. "Why should we believe you? Everything you ever told us was a lie." Twilight scolded. "It turns out that your magic extraction scheme is why Grogar returned in the first place." Luna asserted. "It was? Oh no, what was I thinking?!" Cozy squealed. She wrapped her small fore hooves around Twilight's and desperately implored "Things have changed. You have to believe me this time, because it's crucial." "What if she really means it?" Fluttershy whispered worriedly. "Don't you know any spells that read minds or memories, Twilight?" Rarity asked the young princess. "No. That type of magic is taboo." Twilight replied. "But I won't need it to be ready for any tricks. Got it?" She gave Cozy a cold, hard stare for emphasis. "I have fire breath, and I will use it." Spike threatened, giving Cozy the "I am watching you" finger gesture. "Just hear me out. I've learned the secret to beating Grogar." Cozy affirmed. "Stripping him of his Bell? Already got that." Celestia stated. "Well, what if I told you it isn't going to be that simple this time?" Cozy implied. Meanwhile, in a room nearby, the shadow-y Cozy was taking apart one of the magic-sensing security devices in the wall, some knocked out guards behind her. Afterwards, her form changed back into a regular shadow, revealing the true Cozy. She rubbed her fore hooves together and smiled wickedly while peaking at her magical duplicate and Twilight's group from the corner of the doorway. "I love being cute." she quietly giggled. Three of the Pillars of Ancient Equestria, and the former Pony of Shadows Stygian, gathered near the Castle of the Two Sisters. The unicorn sorcerer Star Swirl the Bearded, strong earth pony Rockhoof and brave pegasus Flash Magnus made their way towards where the Treehouse of Harmony rested, expecting combat. When they got a look at the tree, they were in astonishment at the sheer, glimmering majesty of it. "Our beautiful seed, how you've grown." said Star Swirl, shedding a tear at the sight of the magnificent tree made from the Pillars' magic. "For ages you have protected this land and blessed righteous creatures with your gifts. Now it's about time we returned the favor." "As long as we stand, Grogar's Malice Magic will never taint your roots." Rockhoof proclaimed, wielding his trademark shovel like a weapon. "The heart of the world couldn't be in better hooves." "Stay ready and memorize the battle plan." Stygian instructed. "Distract, surprise and trap." "I hope the girls won't mind missing out on the action." Flash Magnus joked. "They'll have their hooves full helping the pegasi." With Somnambula, Mage Meadowbrook and Mistmane tending to Cloudsdale's evacuation, the Pillars were split in half for their part in defending Equestria, but it wouldn't matter when the Tree's line of defense had great strength, combat experience and magical skill beyond most others. Then the ground began to shake. A massive force was heard jumping around with incredible intensity, like a giant kangaroo. In the distance, the towering, musclar, red and black form of Tirek could be seen in the Everfree Forest. "Cloudsdale and the Tree depend on us." Star Swirl stated. "Spread out." Over in the trees of the forest, Tirek stopped jumping and turned over to his army of zombies and monsters. Two of the monsters following him were the Hydra and the Sphinx. "You guys go and have some fun over at Cloudsdale, give the ladies a good time." Tirek ordered his squad. "I'll handle Mr. Legendary." They all nodded and went off to the city of pegasi, leaving the magic-eating centaur alone. With one more leap, he landed right in front of Star Swirl with a grandiose landing. The wizard stood alone, the others hiding from the centaur. "Lord Tirek!" Star Swirl called out. "That's right, Star Swirl; the conqueror of ponies, heir to the Midnight Kingdom throne, until you and the Equestrian ways brainwashed my brother, Scorpan!" Tirek snarled, cracking his knuckles. "Ah, I remember him. Between the two of you, he was the smart one." Star Swirl recalled. "Not a glutton for power and punishment." "So, where is he these days, old stallion?" Tirek sarcastically asked. "Living it up in Silver Shoals? Having dinners with the princesses? Or just plain lost and forgotten to the memory of time, while I, the mightier brother, have made my mark in Equestrian history and achieved awesome power? That'll teach him to have a heart!" He wished Scorpan was in front of him right now, so he could laugh and dance all over him. Then he levitated Star Swirl up to his face, preparing to do something to him. "While nopony knows what became of Scorpan, we do know that in the end, he walked away with dignity and satisfaction in the better life he decided for himself, thanks to us ponies." Star Swirl clarified. "You may be remembered well, but for what? Taking what doesn't belong to you by force for the sake of making yourself stronger, terrifying and subjugating lands you have no royal right to, and now soon, for borrowing the power and army of somecreature who's more powerful than you'll ever be, because you know deep down you'll otherwise never live up to the expectations of your father... King Vorak?" These words set Tirek off. "LEAVE MY FATHER OUT OF-" the centaur roared. His sentence and his magical blast preparation were interrupted by Rockhoof stomping his back, bringing him to his knees. He yelled in pain as his grip on Star Swirl was loosened. Star Swirl got to his hooves and stood his ground. He used a telekinetic spell to lift Tirek up by the horns, forcing him to spin around in a circle, making him dizzy. After his spinning began to slow down, Flash Magnus came in with a sword in his hooves, using it to slash at the centaur's eyes. Tirek growled in pain as his vision was violently taken away from him, his hands cupping his face on instinct. Despite these conditions, Tirek tried to fight, firing a continuous energy beam. It came at Star Swirl, whom deflected it using a mirror-like shield spell, causing it to hit Tirek's legs and trip him. The beam's potency sent the wizard flying back at the Tree. For the final stage of the attack, Flash Magnus tied up Tirek's arms in chains as he swatted at the air, attempting to hit somebody, Star Swirl opened up a portal that led to the bottom of the chasm near the Castle of the Two Sisters, and Rockhoof ran there to dig through the dirt, setting a trap up in almost no time at all. The unicorn wizard called to his giant nemesis from behind the portal, and the sound of his voice was followed. Tirek soon fell through the portal and straight into the great hole Rockhoof dug, hitting the bottom with a massive thud. The four ponies gathered there and saw he was no longer moving. "We did it!" Star Swirl declared. "A perfect performance!" His fellow Pillars cheered with him. "I can't believe we already beat him." said Stygian. But before the celebration could go on for long, a light glared inside the hole, to the shock of everyone. Tirek wasn't done. He healed himself back to full health, his vision returning like it was no big deal. He jumped out of the hole and slammed the ground, unleashing a barrage of stalagmites on the stallions with a burning hot rage. The geokinetic assault was quickly dodged with shielding, kicking and magical teleportation with a bit of levitation, some stones grazing their coats but doing little to no damage. The Pillars faced him again, teeth gritted and hooves planted firmly in the dirt. They and the centaur sharply stared each other down. "Why won't you yield?!" Star Swirl growled in confusion. Tirek let out a low laugh before slashing his chest, then magically replenishing the wound and answering "Centaur healing, old stallion. A gift from Grogar for undoing physical trauma." His smirk then turned into an expression of disbelief when he noticed how energetic his opponents remained. "You still stand. My absorption power created a field that covers this whole area! Why does your magic not drain?!" "You thought I wouldn't prepare for that two-bit tactic?" Star Swirl snorted. He and his fellow stallions could feel Tirek's magic surrounding them, but a spell protected them from it. "I'm a legend in this time for a reason!" Agitated by his confidence, Tirek levitated chunks of the nearby wall to throw. The hopeful pegasus Somnambula, earth pony healer Mage Meadowbrook and beautiful unicorn Mistmane arrived in Cloudsdale, one by wings and the other two by a soldified magical projection of a dragon. The latter two had cloud-walking spells cast on them to make sure they didn't fall through the clouds. The pegasi were humbled to be in the presence of legendary heroines, but tributes would have to wait. Lines were made and escorted out of the city. "Everypony, hold on to hope and we'll make it!" Somnambula called out. "But without Cloudsdale, where will we go?" asked a random pegasus citizen. "I don't want to live with the grounded ponies calling us blunderers!" "Nopony is calling anypony "blunderers", you are afraid." Somnambula reasoned. "Cloudsdale will survive. It is not merely a place, but it's pony population. As long as you are together, there will always be a foundation upon which a glorious civilization can be built." After her speech, many pegasi took off from their home. "Whatever did the earth ponies and unicorns do?" Mage Meadowbrook wondered. "Come after our jobs, fearing we aren't up to the task! And just when pegasi go missing without a trace, too! Coincidence? I don't think so!" a pegasus stallion described. "There has to be another explanation for this." Mistmane proposed. "All I see is that it's a pony-eat-pony world down there." the stallion assessed. Just then, a zombie pegasus appeared in front of him, along with a bunch of others, all with zombie unicorns and earth ponies riding them. Monsters came in from the other side. The wingless zombies and monsters apparently had the cloud-walking spell used on them. Mage Meadowbrook threw some smoke bombs to throw their deadly enemies off and help the pegasi escape faster. Somnambula dodged heat beams, needles, Whirling Mungtooth cyclones and the lightning birds' electricity, but only for some time. She was knocked on to a cloud, and before her stood the massive, grinning Sphinx, whom she defeated generations ago. "My ancient foe." Somnambula groaned, looking up at the riddle-spouting beast. "No riddles today." the Sphinx hissed as she grabbed the pegasus pillar with her massive paw. Just then, a smoke bomb hit her in the face. She lost her grip and Mistmane caught her falling pony ally with telekinesis. They made a break for it, but the Sphinx and the monstrous army closed in quickly. A thick, smelly gas surrounded the mares, and before their eyes the Hydra's heads emerged from the clouds, surrounding them and diving down to take some big bites. Somnambula and Mage Meadowbrook ducked under Mistmane's shield for cover. In Ponyville, Sunburst was lining up the citizens and directing them towards the train station. The pace had to be picked up when the zombies and monsters approached the outskirts. "There's plenty of room, everypony!" Sunburst called out. "Stay in single file and wait your turn! It won't be long before the next train!" "Get more of us unicorns on, we're indisposable!" a proud unicorn stallion yelled. "You unicorns can just magic yourselves away!" snarled an earth pony mare with a filly on her back. "Like you and the pegasi did to my husband!" "You still on about that?" the unicorn stallion scoffed. "Any accusations can wait until after the ride!" Sunburst hollered impatiently, shutting the two grown ponies up. Somewhere, further back in the line, the earth pony teacher Cheerilee was keeping school colts and fillies in line. Among them were the Cutie Mark Crusaders. "Stick together, boys and girls, and stay calm. This crisis will blow over before you know it." she assured them, though not with full certainty. "Everypony's acting so crazy today. Where did this come from?" Sweetie Belle fretted. "I think it's pretty convenient that the changelings' original leader plans a visit around the same time the ponies erupted into discordance." Scootaloo suggested. "Yeah. It might just be a gossip conspiracy!" Apple Bloom mused. "By villains!" "But who'd believe the word of kids like us, when they're paranoid beyond reason?" Scootaloo worried. "We'll follow the trail to the root of the problem, Crusaders." Apple Bloom recommended. "Find the ponies who first spread the word, we find the answers." "Then we better start searching when we get the chance." said Sweetie Belle. Meanwhile, within the emptied town, Chrysalis faced her share of the dark army, pointing a hoof at a picture of Starlight Glimmer she was levitating. The Maulwurf and the Ophiotaurus stood respectfully at the sound of her venomous voice. "Remember, none of you are to interfere with my grudge match! Take the rest of the ponies, burn that School of Friendship to the ground, but Starlight Glimmer is mine!" The former queen commanded with a demonic echo. Every zombie and monster in her presence nodded without complaining and went on their way. The whole student body was directed to the safest way out that Headmare Starlight Glimmer and Guidance Counselor Trixie could think of, the grille leading down to the Tree of Harmony caverns below the School of Friendship. The yak Yona, the dragon Smolder, the griffin Gallus, the changeling Ocellus, the hippogriff Silverstream and the earth pony Sandbar stayed together and helped Trixie with the evacuation. "Just follow Counselor Trixie, stay in single file, don't move too fast and keep your buddies close!" Starlight ordered to the frightened children. "Yes, Headmare Starlight." said all of the children in unison. The horrifying sounds of zombie ponies and massive monsters outside pierced through the building's walls, sending a chill down their spines. The ground shook and rocked every nearby piece of furniture. "Better move fast enough, kids!" Trixie exclaimed, prompting the last of the students to hastily run down the grille. Then another terrible sound was heard, which Starlight investigated through the nearest window. "Starlight, star bright. Where's the pony I want to fight?!" Chrysalis sang sadistically, right outside. "I have a date with destiny, Trix." said Starlight to the magician. "Can you do this alone?" "Fear not, Star. Nopony does a great and powerful escape like Trixie." the proud magician confirmed. Starlight lunged at her to give a hug, which was immediately returned with an added kiss on the cheek for good luck. With all of the students in the caverns, Trixie went down with them and closed the grille. Starlight powered up her horn to teleport outside as Chrysalis was heard singing "Wish I may, wish I might. Exact revenge on you tonight!" Outside the School, the monsters and zombie ponies were tearing it apart. The unicorn zombies blasted their heat beams through the walls, sea serpents made their shrill noises as they emerged from the pond and blasted water through the windows, the Maulwurf climbed on the right side of the roof and slashed at it viciously, and Twittermites surrounded the building like fog. On the left side of the roof, Chrysalis waited for her opponent, and she popped up behind her, ready for a duel. "Ah, finally. Just the Headmare I wanted to see." said Chrysalis gleefully, her eyes bulging with bloodlust. "We have much to catch up on." "Sorry, but you didn't make an APPOINTMENT!" Starlight shot back. She took the rogue changeling by surprise with a pounce as the last word of her sentence was angrily screamed. Then, with another spark of magic, she teleported the both of them out of the area. In the underground caverns, Trixie and the students hurried along when a wide, fast stream of water approached. She used a magician's trick to conjure up umbrellas for protection. Starlight and Chrysalis rematerialized, sliding along the ground, in a mountainous place with stone plateaus standing tall everywhere. The wind was very strong, no living things were present, but there was plenty of space for combatants. The two separated and faced each other. "Where did you take us?" Chrysalis growled, baffled by Starlight's actions. "Somewhere you can't hurt anypony, or anything." Starlight answered, preparing her horn for another spell. "Wrong!" Chrysalis spat. "I can hurt..." she prepped up her own horn and surrounded herself in the changeling flames, transforming into a giant spider. Four giant spiders. Having caught her foe in a state of surprise, the changeling's four forms shot web from their abdomens and shouted "YOU!" Starlight was trapped in the strings of webbing. The giant spiders pulled with much force, threatening to tear her apart, but she managed to teleport to safety. Chrysalis rejoined her forms, changed back and searched for Starlight in every direction. She caught the unicorn in her line of sight again just as a turquoise beam was headed her way. In another flash of fire, Chrysalis turned into a swarm of bats, dodging it completely. The swarm charged Starlight, but she used her horn to change the changeling's trajectory, sending her flying into a nearby boulder. She only stopped just in time to change back and plant her hooves on it. She swiftly tilted her head back to fire a surprise energy beam, but Starlight teleported again to avoid it. "ARGH!" Chrysalis groaned with frustration. "Stay still so I can break you!" Then she caught the unicorn again, this time seeing her teleport into her next position. "Oh yeah, real motiva-" Starlight snarked at the changeling's futile use of words. Her last syllable was turned into a high-pitched shriek as Chrysalis flew at and her transformed into four iron balls, covered in spikes. Starlight jumped to avoid the iron balls, but one sent her flying into a nearby wall, and one more barely missed her, but one of the spikes grazed her cheek. The balls then tried to roll into Starlight, until Starlight used telekinesis to throw them back together, reverting them to normal. She stood up and rubbed her damaged cheek with a fore hoof, staring coldly. "Feels good to let all this rage out." Chrysalis laughed. "You had an opportunity to be free of rage." Starlight mentioned. 'When I stretched my hoof out to you that day, it was a chance for a healthy new start. To be happy. To be a better leader for your clan, and you deliberately wasted it!" "Well, friend, maybe you should've thought about that before you RUINED MY LIFE!" Chrysalis replied with a demonic screech. She spewed a gooey stream of acid at the rock formation that Starlight stood on, cutting through it like a hot blade through butter. "And gave my throne to that softie!" Starlight dodged the acid with teleportation, but the damage to the stone made it unstable for the massive boulder to stand on much longer. Starlight looked up and gasped. Chrysalis took advantage of this precious moment and locked her in place with changeling telekinesis. The boulder fell, Starlight howling in despair beneath. It hit the ground and split into fragments, leaving a cover of dust clouds. It looked like there was no way Starlight could escape, not even at the last second. "I wonder what pony pancakes taste like?" Chrysalis pondered. She flew down to the remains of the boulder to check for the unicorn's body. Underneath the gravel, in the crater made from the impact, Starlight remained in one piece, covered in a powerful blue shield summoned by her heightened emotions. It was glowing brighter as her eyes opened. Eventually, Chrysalis noticed and gazed upon the light confused, until it exploded in a circular white burst, blowing the stones away and sending the former queen flying into a rock face, cracking it slightly. Starlight walked out of the crater and stared at her enemy, who managed to get back up, despite her damages. "Too bad your rage just blinds you, sweetheart." Starlight taunted with a chuckle. Chrysalis roared with animalistic fury and transformed into four Crackle Cosettes, firing energy beams from each of their horns, and it was like looking at a violent, concussive version of a concert's laser light show. The Crystal Ponies were boarding the train, while their co-rulers and the Royal Guard stayed behind to hold the fort. It was the most glum they had been since the Crystal Empire re-emerged from the millennium-long disappearance it suffered thanks to Sombra's curse, back when he was fully alive. There was no telling if they were ever going to see it again, or if Princess Cadance or Shining Armor would make it out of this conflict alive. They at least hoped that the baby princess Flurry Heart would be okay. "Castle guarded, Crystal Heart protected, borders covered, Flurry Heart safe." Shining Armor listed off, having assigned all of his Guardsstallions and Guardsmares. "If we fall here, our daughter may be the final hope for Equestria." said Cadance. "And i'm not letting any monster touch her again!" Then the zombie ponies and the monsters came, led by Eclipse, the Bugbear and the Tatzlwurm. A war broke out. The enormous, atrocious worm creature coiled around a group of guards, each herded by the flying bear and bug hybrid, and crushed them. The guards had strong crystal weapons perfect for taking out ferocious beasts, but their numbers were evened out by the amount of enemies they had to deal with. During the chaotic battle, Eclipse flew up to the castle, cloaked in a spell of invisibility. Using it concurrently with an intangibility spell, she easily snuck into the Crystal Heart's chamber, and she picked it up with telekinesis. "The Heart!" a crystal unicorn guard shouted as the prized relic of the Empire lifted off it's pedestal. They fired all over the area until one of the beams hit a forcefield. Eclipse's position was revealed. The same guard called out "The dark alicorn! Seize her!", switching to a mass telekinetic pull for his group's next attack. Eclipse easily teleported out of their grip and opened portals underneath their hooves, sending them away to the barren wastes of the frozen north. While she held on to the Crystal Heart, she raised her fore hooves. This motion grew giant crystalline vines out of the castle grounds, which wrapped around the beautiful structure and squeezed it like a tube of gel. Spikes grew out of the vines to secure their tight position. Eclipse took a few pieces to entangle the Crystal Heart, cracking it and dimming out it's light. At that moment, Shining Armor and Cadance had broken into the Heart's chamber, and confronted the wicked transcendent alicorn. "YOU!" Shining Armor yelled. "Why hello, Princess Twilight's big brother, the one left with the table scraps of royalty." Eclipse greeted darkly after turning around to notice the pair. "And Cadance, the Crystal Princess. Yet not the hero with a statue." She was then surrounded by more guards. She scanned the area and then gazed back at the Crystal Heart. "I don't think you have any plans to surrender, so let's go." said Cadance, igniting her horn and joining it with Shining Armor's. "You want the Heart? Fetch!" Eclipse taunted, teleporting the Crystal Heart away. Everyone else gasped. Without it's power, it was doomsday for the Empire. The evil alicorn bended backwards in the air and shot a beam at the guards. It wasn't a simple damaging blast, but a spell. One that stripped the guards of their Cutie Marks. The spots where their marks once were now filled by crossed out equals signs. The Guards stood still, caught in a trance, and saw things in their vision change. Eclipse had changed to Cadance, and Cadance and Shining Armor now looked like killer zombies. Their hearing was also altered to hear Cadance commanding her troops to protect her from the two undead equines. This illusion brainwashed them into striking their leaders, whom had to go on the defensive. The brainwashed guards pushed them back with energy beams and pointed weapons. The royal couple were surrounded by them, Eclipse, the zombies and the monsters. The Tatzlwurm caught them in it's multiple tongues and closed it enough for it's teeth to poke at the pair. A zombie earth ponies had some fun and clawed Shining Armor's armor off. "What did you do to them?!" Cadance asked angrily. "I just converted them to my new community of servitude, where they still get exactly what they want and need to see and hear." Eclipse explained. "I'm a very influential mare." "You may take my guard, villain. But one thing you'll never steal..." Shining Armor growled, sparkling with energy with his horn on Cadance's. "Is our love!" "Ooh, I love testing theories." Eclipse chirped, unfazed by the threat. At that moment, everyone felt the breeze of the snowstorm that was now enveloping the Empire. Eclipse ordered the Tatzlwurm to "Take them up!", and the great creature threw up it's head, releasing the royal couple from it's tongues with amazing force. Eclipse swiped her fore hooves down, and this time, a snowy cyclone formed in the sky overhead. It sucked in Cadance and Shining Armor, but before it could envelop them in it's freezing clutches, they began to glow with a mixture of blue and pink protective energy. Their expressions changed to ones of absolute determination. The alicorn bride grabbed her husband and dove back down to the ground with a powerful landing. The zombie ponies, monsters and brainwashed Guards backed off in shock, leaving only their dark mistress to face the royals. "You asked for this, witch." said Cadance. "It'd be boring otherwise." Eclipse said back. Shining Armor blasted a wall of solid energy at Eclipse, which knocked her back until she turned intangible to get through. Cadance blasted a beam at her, which the dark alicorn retaliated against with a triple beam, one to push back the princess' attack, and the other two to hit the couple, but their love's protection lessened the damage. Shining Armor used telekinesis to grab Eclipse, ignoring her intangibility with the increased power, which Cadance would capitalize on with her crystal materializing magic. Pieces of glittering crystals covered the villain's horn, wrapped around her neck and seized up her wings. But none of it was enough to stop her from breaking it with a simple magical burst. Eclipse completely froze Shining Armor by trapping him in a crystal cage. Cadance, too. But the Crystal alicorn easily destroyed the cages and weaponized them against the evil one. Eclipse deflected the pieces by generating a lightning-fast spinning blade from her horn. Shining Armor pounced her and levitated a bunch of Royal Guard weapons, pointed and blunt, over her. She teleported out of his grasp, and when she did, Cadance fired an energy beam at where she predicted she would pop up. Eclipse saw this coming and used a fore hoof to swat the beam away, causing it to hit the ground with an explosion that kicked up a dust cloud. While the dust cloud blinded the royals, the evil alicorn took the opportunity to grow vines, catching Shining Armor in a tight, strangling hold, and manipulate the oncoming snowy storm clouds to smother Cadance. It looked like Eclipse had won, but the couple just kept coming, their love was just that great of a power source. She had enough and used her brainwashing spell, but it was repelled. Cadance cancelled out her intangibility by using a telekinetic freeze, Shining Armor came from above with a magical shield and an axe, Eclipse blocked the assault with a magical horn blade while trying to break free. The couple's affection for each other was manifesting in it's strongest form, surrounding their opponent in a ball of light. As the battles raged on across the country, Grogar was busy with some destructive business elsewhere. He used his telekinesis to sabotage each of the train tracks between Canterlot, Ponyville and the Crystal Empire. He formed giant chasms, towering plants that would lead the trains into a roller coaster loop, and strong wind turbulences around them, just to hurt ponykind's unity even more. He had also collected 11 historical items, which he levitated for analysis. He held up Star Swirl the Bearded's Journal, Somnambula's Blindfold, Mistmane's Flower, Clover the Clever's Cloak, Private Pansy's Armor, Smart Cookie's Quill, The Amulet of Aurora, the Talisman of Mirage, the Helm of Yksler, the Crown of Grover and Knuckerbocker's Shell. He looked around, when he felt a familiar presence. "Once Tirek and his squadron have cleaned up, I will take the last three relics and have enough for the unsealing spell." Grogar softly said, as if talking to anyone. "And there's nothing stopping you from halting my plans right here and now, right?" He eyed a small blade of grass, out of which popped the head of Discord, smugly smiling as usual. "You're right, there isn't." Discord answered casually. He jumped out of the ground like a snake and landed like a giant, living accordion. "But i'm a draconequus with a plan, not a crime fighter." He glared at the ram sorcerer. "Oh, how you have become so much less than the sum of your parts." Grogar lamented with a sorrowful expression. "I must say..." Discord started, snapping his lion claws. "Your Bell's never looked b-" He stopped when noticed that the Bewitching Bell didn't go over to him. He snapped again. "Never looked-" and again. "Never looked-" and again, then with double the claws, but it didn't come off Grogar's collar, thanks to the Alicorn Amulet's enchantment. In frustration, he gave up. "Oh, this is embarrassing! You embarrass me... father." "Surprised, are you? Such is the reward of a disappointment... son." Grogar said with a venomous hint on the last word. He stared at the chaotic draconequus with a resentful look that could shatter glass. The spirit didn't ask how the Bell was strapped so tight, simply materializing a chair to continue the talk. "I remember when I embodied everything that Equestria stood against." said Discord. "Not proud of that stage of my existence." "You were my masterpiece, Discord. Your Chaos Magic was the happiest accident of my hybrid experiments." Grogar reminisced. "You loved having the ponies at your mercy, everything you saw was a thought away from disaster under your power, and you ruled with not only an iron claw, but with exceptional creativity." He sighed, turning his head in shame. "Truthfully, you were the last creature I expected to fall into Harmony's temptation." "Surprised, were you? Perhaps you shouldn't have given me too much free will, then I wouldn't have made a friend... one who showed me that great power without somepony to enjoy it with... is complete emptiness." Discord responded, starting sarcastically and then shifting to a tone of sincerity straight from his heart. "Yes, Fluttershy the Discord tamer." Grogar muttered. "Another keeper of the flimsy peace." "Hey, the ponies may fight a lot, but I think you underestimate how defended they really are." Discord retorted. "Regardless, their convenient safety net enjoys the show." Grogar responded with a smile. "You know, why are you still talking? Why don't you just take my power right here and now?" Discord grumbled in annoyance, painting a target marker on his chest. "I could, but these circumstances aren't favorable." Grogar said cryptically. "You're holding back, my boy." He added, sensing the chaotic spirit's core. "As are you, dear old dad." Discord returned, a bit of sweat running down his pony head. Then he popped out of the ram sorcerer's sight in a quick flash. Discord, the Lord of Chaos, a strange, imaginative, nigh-omnipotent being who had been of unknown origin, as far as any creature could tell, but was in fact something they never would've guessed in their lives: another of the fabled dark emperor's monstrous creations. However, unlike all the rest, this one would not follow his evil will. Not at this stage.