//------------------------------// // The Goat of Doom // Story: Descendants Of The Isle 3: Rise of the Royal Villain // by Melody Song //------------------------------// “Alright, is everyone ready?” Tempest asked, watching the four chosen kids being seen off by their parents. They were standing in the street, waiting for the kids so they could drive back to the barrier and lower it to cross the magic bridge. “You two have everything?” Garnet, Smolder and Garble’s mother, asked as Gabby placed her things in the storage compartment of the carriage. “Yes mom.” Garble said, before going to step into the carriage. “Smolder?” “Yeah, I’ve got everything.” Smolder said. “Are you sure?” Garnet raised a brow, pulling a purple glue gun out from behind her back. “My glue gun!” Smolder took it gratefully, hugging her mother before entering the carriage. Discord tossed his bag into the storage compartment, then walked into the carriage. Tempest and Pharynx got into the front of the carriage, waving at the crowd that had come to see the four kids off. “Alright, let’s do this.” Sandbar said, helping Gallus into the carriage. They then started off towards the barrier, not noticing a hooded figure following their carriage. Luna was eagerly chatting with Gabby and Smolder. “So, as soon as we get to Equus, you have to try ice cream!” “And go swimming?” Smolder asked “I can take you to the Enchanted Lake near the school.” Luna said instantly, and Gabby squealed. “I can’t believe we get to stay with you in your very own castle!” “Oh, it’s just a little starter castle for mom and I. Can’t live at Auntie Rising Dawn’s castle forever. I’m mainly using it for my fashion business so I can jump start it.” Luna shrugged. “Oh, and of course you two can put your own designs into the new line I’m designing!” “Seriously?! Yes!” Smolder pumped a fist, and Gabby squealed again. “Here, try it.” Gallus tossed a chocolate over to Garble. “Trust me on this.” Garble shrugged and bit into it, then his eyes widened and he grabbed for more. Gallus chuckled, then turned his attention back to Sandbar, who was watching Discord shuffle a deck of Tarot cards. He smiled and slid them all up one arm, flipped them over with a whisk of his eagle talon, before gathering them all again and plucking the first card off the top of the deck. “Ah, you are going to be a wise and brave king.” Discord said, holding it up to Sandbar to reveal a crown with prongs strangely resembling his own antler and goat horn. “Heh, he already is.” Gallus said, and Sandbar blushed, nuzzling up to him. “The cards don’t lie.” Discord chuckled, placing the cards back in his bag, then holding out his lion's paw. Sandbar chuckled and set a couple bits in his paw, then continued snuggling up to Gallus. Discord grinned and stuffed the bits in his bag. ----------------------------------------- The crowd back at Equus watched through a screen that had been set up to play a spell Rising Dawn was casting. Prince Rutherford nudged Yona gently as the car passed through the barrier and onto the bridge the magic began to create. “The only reason they should be opening that barrier is to put Spitfire back in, not let more villains out.” he uttered. Then, a yellow bolt of energy fired at the carriage as a hoof covered in shaggy blue fur reached through the barrier. The watching crowd screamed in terror as the hooded figure forced a familiar looking bell through the barrier. The hood fell, revealing a ram with twisted horns. The carriage stopped and the four VCs, along with Sandbar, jumped out. ------------------------------------------- “It’s Grogar!” Luna exclaimed “He must be trying to escape-no, stay there!” Pharynx commanded as the four new kids tried to join them. The group obeyed, even Garble and Discord. Pharynx shut the door to keep them inside and safe. “I am a god! I don’t belong here, I created this world!” Grogar bellowed, as his bell began to glow and vibrate. Gallus, Sandbar, and Pharynx rushed forwards, but three bolts of magic from the bell knocked them down. “No!” Tempest shot a blast of lightning into the clouds. “Everyone stay back!” With that, a bolt of lightning shot down from the clouds, sending Tempest into her Storm-Breaker form. Tempest leapt at Grogar, her electricity made wings spreading and horn sparking as she gathered lightning into the broken stub, preparing to blast the father of monsters. But Grogar aimed his bell at her, and suddenly she was enveloped in it’s yellow glow. Tempest howled in pain and struggled, electric blue light being forced out of her chest and heading for the bell. Grogar laughed in triumph. Pharynx and Gallus flew to Tempest, who transformed back into her normal form, collapsing into Pharynx’s hooves. Sandbar rushed up and pulled Gallus back as Grogar laughed. ------------------------------------- “It’s the kids!” Shell Scallop exclaimed as they saw Gallus and Pharynx rushing to help Tempest. “Nocreature panic!” Rising Dawn called, waving her wings for silence. Yona burst forward, pointing at the image as Tempest collapsed. “There are your precious heroes! They can’t even protect us!” “Okay, everycreature panic!” Celestia exclaimed, and her mother did her best to calm everyone, but they were already all running. “Alright, alright, run! In an orderly fashion!” Rising Dawn commanded --------------------------------------- “Come on Temp, please…” Pharynx said, clutching her. She struggled up slightly, igniting her horn. “Everyone get back!” Tempest shouted, and they all scrambled away from her. Tempest gritted her teeth and channeled a strong surge of energy into her horn. A large bolt of energy shot out of her horn and blasted Grogar’s hoof, causing him and the bell to tumble back through the barrier, allowing it to close. Tempest then staggered, getting onto all fours again. “Temp!” Luna raced over, Pharynx behind her. “Are you okay?” “N-No…” Tempest sucked in a breath, wincing. “H-He was trying t-to drain my magic, with the Bell… I-I could feel my powers slipping away…” “You’re safe Temp. He’s back where he belongs.” Pharynx reassured her, kissing her cheek. “Yeah, for now.” Tempest said, looking at the barrier. “We should go.” Luna advised. “Yeah, okay.” Tempest sighed, and they got back into the carriage, checking on the others before continuing along the magical bridge, back to Equus.