(The Spire Citadel, main courtyard)
Unlike yesterday, the Spire Citadel was silent in the morning, with only a few Changeling guards and staff roaming its halls. It seemed even the biggest Hive in the world had its quiet moments, likely brought upon by the Council of Seven and the trepidation of having Thorax among them.
Last night had been rough for everyone in the guest chambers. Thorax had tossed and turned in his bed, unable to catch a single wink of sleep. Rarity had found herself pacing across the room late at night, trying to think of any possible way to occupy her mind without worrying too much about the upcoming trial. Only Twilight and Spike seemed to be getting the sleep they needed, but even then, the conversation with the Emperor the day before continued to trouble them.
Applejack, as it happened, was in no better condition than Thorax, and after several hours of failing to sleep (as well as a sudden onset of a headache), she roused herself and decided to go for a walk around the Citadel, for no real reason other than to stretch her legs and to think. Torque, being one of the two Tribunes on duty at the door, accompanied her but said nothing, which was just fine in the farmer’s eyes.
Eventually the two of them found themselves inside the main courtyard, and once there, Applejack found herself a small bench and sat down, looking up at the cavernous ceiling high above her head and the many green, glowing pods that hung from it. At 5 AM, most of the Hive was still asleep, she assumed. There were so many of them, with the pods alone numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Who knew just how many more were sleeping in homes below the Citadel?
In the quiet of the early morning, and for the first time since she had come here with her friends, Applejack felt rather small in the presence of such a vast yet humble display of the Changelings’ prosperity. Plucking the stetson off her head and pressing it against her chest, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, savoring the moment even though she knew her heart was burdened.
“What am Ah doin’ here?” she muttered to herself, not caring if Torque was listening in. “Defendin’ a friend is one thing, but this here’s work for one of them ambassadors or lawyers. Heck, Rarity could make a better defense for Thorax with her fancy-speak than Ah ever could. Me? Ah’m just an apple farmer.”
She re-opened her eyes and stared up at the cavernous ceiling once more with a deep, thoughtful frown adorning her face. She was so far out of her element out here, and so very far away from home. She didn’t even know why she volunteered in the first place.
Another stab of pain entered her head, and she grimaced, rubbing her left temple until it subsided. As a farmer who often worked early in the morning all the way into the still hours of the evening, she had endured headaches and migraines before, but this one felt different somehow; more painful, at least.
“Lousy, stinkin’ head...too much thinkin’, not enough action,” she grumbled. “Gah...lousy, stinkin’ Hive too. Air’s too musty, light’s too dim, an’ the bed’s too lumpy.”
“A bit for your thoughts, AJ?”
Applejack and Torque turned to see Twilight and Crinkle walking up to them. Neither Tribune said anything, merely greeting each other with a nod. Twilight, meanwhile, sat down next to Applejack on the bench.
Applejack put the hat back on her head and straightened it. “Just...tired is all, Twi. Ah don’t know why Ah’m still here. Spike, Rarity, an’ ya got this in a bag. Ah barely know Thorax, Ah just know he can be trusted an’ that he means what he says, that’s it.” She winced and rubbed her head in agitation. “An’ this ain’t helpin’ either.”
“Applejack...” Twilight started, glancing at her. “You’re here because you wanted to help a friend in any way you can. Do you need any other reason?”
“Ah suppose not, no,” Applejack replied. “But Ah still feel like Ah’m not doin’ much here. Spike an’ Thorax go way back, Rarity’s got her manners and negotiatin’ skills, an’ you’re a Princess. Ah bring nothin’ to this table.”
“Well, that’s just not true,” Twilight argued. “Your honesty and integrity is valued by all of us, and even if you barely know Thorax, he still thinks of you as a friend, and he’s beyond happy that you chose to help defend him. Everypony has something they’re good at and, well...don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re stubborn.”
Applejack raised an eyebrow.
Twilight rubbed the back of her head and gave a sheepish grin. “Er, well, that stubbornness is good in this case! I know you, AJ, and I know that when it comes to keeping your friends safe, you’ll do anything in your power, and often even go beyond, to do just that. You might not feel like you bring a whole lot here, but between you and me, if I ever needed somepony in my corner to help me, you’d be the first I’d go to.”
“...Not Rarity or Rainbow?” Applejack wondered aloud.
Twilight shrugged. “Rarity has trouble with holding back sometimes, and Rainbow’s too reckless despite her bravery. You, on the other hoof, can keep calm under pressure, can plan ahead when it’s required, and can walk up to somepony and tell them to their face that they’re making a mistake.” She put a hoof on Applejack’s side and smiled. “Nopony’s perfect, Applejack, but none of us have to be. We just have to be the best Pony we can be in life. And right now, for you that means to keep being the honest and stubborn friend we know and love; the one who doesn’t give up on anyone, least of all herself, no matter what.”
Applejack let out a small snort and smirked. “How do ya keep just comin’ up with these pep talks? Ya just walked up here, sat down, an’ started to preach.”
Twilight paused and blinked several times. “I...you know, now that you mention it, I don’t really know. It just comes to me in the moment, you know?”
“Well, Ah suppose Ah don’t need another reason other than that, huh?”
Twilight giggled. “I guess not.”
Applejack leaned back against the bench. “Good. Thanks Twilight.”
Twilight gave her a quick hug. “Just let me or anypony else know whenever you’re feeling this way again. That’ll be thanks enough.”
The farmer nodded. “Ah will, no worries there.” Her eyes narrowed and she rubbed her head again. “Speakin’ of worries, Ah hope this goes away before the trial starts.”
“Headache?”
“Yup,” Applejack answered. “Started last night, just keeps gettin’ worse.”
“Do you think it was that Changeling food we were served? It didn’t sit well with everyone else, except Thorax.” Twilight froze and glanced behind them. “No offence.”
“None taken,” Crinkle said with a shrug.
“Nah, Ah actually didn’t mind that stuff,” Applejack replied. “In fact, them vittles were good, Ah’d say. Y’all just got weak taste buds.”
Twilight stuck out her tongue off to the side. “Remind me to have Spike cook you a proper meal once we get back to Ponyville.”
“Like Ah said, Ah liked the food we got. Nah, Ah think it’s just a bit of stress, an’ the air in this place. Ah’m not used to bein’ underground.”
“Well, I hope it goes away soon,” Twilight remarked, watching as Crinkle tilted her head to the side and looked away. “I think I have a spell that can help.”
“Ah think Ah’ll be fine, Twilight. But thanks.”
Twilight nodded, just as Crinkle stepped forward. “My apologies, Princess Twilight, but I have just received a message over the Hivemind from Major Lurk,” the Tribune said. “We are to take you back to your quarters, by order of the Council of Seven.”
“They’re up early,” Applejack noted as she and Twilight hopped off the bench.
“To be fair, so are we,” Torque muttered with a yawn. “Besides, this is their usual time to start the day. Royal Changelings don’t need as much sleep as we drones do.”
“Why do they want us back in our quarters?” Twilight asked the two Tribunes.
“The major didn’t say,” Crinkle replied as the two mares joined up with them. “But if it’s from Council, then it’s important. Come on, back to the room.”
Rolling their eyes, Twilight and Applejack followed the two Tribunes back to their quarters. As they walked, something seemed to change in the Citadel around them. More Changelings were awake now, mostly maids and servants, but there was something else --- something in the air around them. None of the Changelings would meet their gaze, not even in curiosity, and all of them had cold and emotionless expressions adorned on their faces. When Twilight looked back to Crinkle and Torque to ask about it, even the normally cordial Tribunes seemed to have taken on a more guarded stance as they walked.
Twilight and Applejack glanced at each other, both shrugging in befuddlement. Neither of them knew what was going on, or why the Changelings were suddenly acting very different. Still, they didn’t seem to be any danger, from what Twilight could tell, so they didn’t worry.
Much.
The four of them soon made their way back to the guest room, and the two mares were ushered in without a word. Once inside, Spike, who was sitting on the couch, waved at them. “Hi girls,” he greeted.
“Good morning, Spike,” Twilight replied with a smile as she looked around the room. “Is Thorax up?”
“Yeah, he and Rarity are around here somewhere,” Spike answered. He craned his neck behind him and called out, “They’re back!”
“Finally!” Rarity’s voice answered from her room, before she appeared at the door. “Do you two have any idea how worried we were when the good major woke us up and we couldn’t find either of you?”
“Sorry ‘bout that, we were havin’ a talk in the courtyard,” Applejack answered. “Speakin’ of Major Lurk, where is he?”
“He left a few minutes ago,” Thorax informed her as he walked out of his own room. “Said something about an important meeting with the Council of Seven.”
“Yeah, the Council’s been busy this morning; they sent us back here,” Twilight remarked as she sat down next to Spike. “Anyone have any idea why?”
Thorax shrugged. “No clue, although it might be for that trial they mentioned they were setting up.”
“Maybe they just want us all in the same room so they know where we all are?” Applejack suggested.
“Perhaps, darling,” Rarity said. “Either way, it’s out of our hooves. All we can do now is wait.”
“In the mean time,” Spike began, hopping off the couch. “I think I’ve still got some fruit from Farasi. Anyone want some?”
“Beats the heck out of the Changeling’s food,” Twilight said, before slapping a hoof against her face. “Gah, I did it again. No offence, Thorax.”
“It’s an acquired taste,” Thorax replied with a wave of his hoof.
“Ah still think y’all are just way too picky,” Applejack said with a chuckle as Spike returned, bearing a small pile of fruit in his arms. “Ah’ll take that apple on top, thank ya very much.”
“Naturally,” Spike snarked, tossing it her way and distributing the rest amongst the group.
The five of them ate in silence, listening to the subtle thrumming of Changeling wings through the walls as the Citadel woke up around them. Even after they were finished they said nothing, for there was nothing much else to say. They all knew what was coming, and they had prepared for it the best they could.
They hoped.
After a few more moments, they received a knock on the door, with all of them turning to face it. From beyond the door a voice called out, “Your Majesty, Your Highness, this is Major Lurk. May I come in?”
“Yes, please,” Thorax called.
The door opened and Lurk stepped through, bowing to both royals. “Good morning, I trust all of you had an adequate rest?”
“Adequate...sort of,” Thorax replied with a sheepish grimace. “Good, probably not.”
“Unfortunate. Still, the morning waits for no one, least of all this morning,” Lurk responded, holding out a scroll in one of his hooves. “An official written dispatch from the Council of Seven. The scroll is largely a formality in this case, but you’re all being summoned at once to the throne room for an urgent meeting regarding the methods they’re using for your trial, King Thorax.”
Twilight took the scroll in her magic and broke the seal, glancing over the words. “Well, there’s not much else here, although...” She looked closer. “What’s a ’Conjuration Pool’?”
Lurk raised an eyebrow. “Interesting...they haven’t used that in a long time. I’m afraid I can’t explain what it is in great detail, Your Highness. You’ll have to speak with the Council about that.”
“Well, there’s no point in keeping them waiting, then,” Thorax declared. “I’m...we’re ready for this. Take us to the Council, Major Lurk.”
Lurk bowed again and motioned with a hoof to the door, allowing the five of them to leave the room. Once more they were met with distant and cold expressions from the Changelings around them, and not even Thorax’s presence changed their moods. In response, Rarity let out an indignant huff and raised her chin at them as she walked.
Without stopping or saying a word, Lurk led the group through the Citadel and into the main hall just outside the throne room doors, whereupon he alone entered to announce the group’s arrival to the Council of Seven. The five visitors didn’t have to wait long, and were soon ushered into the throne room without delay. Once again darkness overcame them, only this time it felt less oppressive than before. Perhaps it was because they knew what was coming.
Once more seven cones of light shone down on the seven recesses in the ornate floor. However, no one stepped into the circles, unlike before. Instead, a voice rang out, clear as day, but sounding like it came from all around them.
“Greetings once again, King Thorax. Please, step into the light.”
The eighth light shone down, and Thorax did as he was told, raising his head up proudly and standing tall amid the lights. Out from the darkness strode Emperor Tarsus, stepping into his circle at the head. He looked Thorax over once and then nodded, before speaking: “I suppose you believe you are ready for what’s in store for you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Thorax answered in a strong voice (as best as he could make it, anyway).
“Hmm...we’ll see,” Tarsus said. “For now, we talk.” He looked past Thorax and waved the mares and Spike forward with a hoof. “Ladies, master Dragon, step forward. This concerns you as well.”
Once everyone was gathered around Thorax, Tarsus continued, “It has been determined that your trial shall commence immediately, and that the tests you shall partake in will be designed to suit your unique circumstances. There will be no tests of diplomacy, wartime tactics, or foreign policy. Instead, you will undergo rigorous examination not just by the Council of Seven, but also by the Primordial Hive as a whole. To do this, you will be lowered into the Conjuration Pool.”
“There it is again,” Twilight noted, stepping forward. “Pardon me, Your Majesty, but what is that?”
“The Conjuration Pool is a specially-designed goo pod, enchanted with a complex combination of illusion spells, scrying spells, and other such mental magic,” Tarsus answered with an even smile. “It is a perfect blending of biological, magical, and technological mastery to enable outsiders and un-linked Changelings to link with the Hivemind and share knowledge without harming the mind.”
“An artificial Hivemind?” Twilight gasped, her jaw dropping. “Such a thing is possible?!”
Tarsus nodded. “Yes, but it is rather...slow. The normal brain and mind of a non-Changeling is not suited to effectively communicate within a Hivemind. It is simply too much information and too many thoughts to comprehend, so the process is nowhere near as efficient. However, it is enough for our purposes.”
“So what do we need to do?” Thorax asked.
“Once lowered into the Conjuration Pool, you will be given an apparatus to put around your face. It will keep you breathing and alive while in stasis, and will connect you to the neural network on which our Hivemind exists. From there, your consciousness will link to our Hivemind, and you will effectively share one conjoined mind.”
“Oh heck...” Applejack muttered.
“That sounds rather ghastly,” Rarity agreed. “And there’s no other way?”
Tarsus shook his head. “I’m afraid not, Lady Rarity. As I said, a non-Changeling mind is not designed for this amount of mental stress. Anything else leads to rather...gruesome results, ones I’m sure you don’t wish to hear about.”
“How long will we be in stasis?” Twilight asked.
“To your minds, it will feel like a mere few hours. That would be the spells working,” Tarsus replied. “But to the outside world, your bodies will be in stasis for up to several days, or even a week. This is to ensure the absolute safety of the Pool’s occupants.”
“A WEEK?!” Rarity shrieked. “Me, spending a week floating about in some horrid goo? Do you have any idea what that would do to my fur?!”
“If you want, we can scent the goo, and make it look like a mud bath,” Tarsus muttered with a roll of his eyes. “You’ll come out smelling like roses.”
“And feeling like I had just been swallowed and regurgitated by an Ursa Major!” Rarity cried, waving her forehooves in front of her and shaking her head.
“Rarity...” Twilight sighed.
“I’m sorry darling, but I can’t!”
“Of course, any of you are free to opt out of helping King Thorax, or even leaving him to fight this battle alone,” Tarsus offered. He leaned his head forward towards them and smirked, his eyes twinkling. “However, I think we all know you won’t do that.”
Twilight raised her head and took another step forward, even stamping her hoof down on the floor to emphasize it. “I volunteer to help Thorax. We’ve come this far, and I’m not gonna let a bit of goo stop me from helping a friend.” She looked back at Rarity and Applejack, giving them a stink-eye. “Right girls?”
Applejack sighed and nodded, stepping forward. “Ah’ll admit, this whole thing makes me a mite nervous, and Ah don’t like the idea of so many folks sharin’ my thoughts and mah head, but Ah ain’t gonna back down from it either. ‘Sides, we faced much worse than a little bit of slime.”
Rarity looked between the two of them and groaned. “Gah! It took me days to get my mane cleaned from Chrysalis’s pods!” she wailed, bouncing the end of her finely-combed and curled mane at the end of a hoof.
“Rarity,” Spike spoke softly, walking up to her. “It’s just hair.”
“Just hair?!” she echoed. “Spike, the mane is a mare’s pride and joy! It’s as important to maintain as any wing, hoof, or horn, and it’s--”
Spike leaned up and pressed a talon against her snout, interrupting her mid-sentence. “I know it’s important to you, Rarity,” he said. “But Thorax needs you now more than ever. I promise, once this is over, I’ll personally help you get it back to the way it was before. Please?”
Rarity’s gaze fell as Spike lowered his talon, and upon seeing the looks everyone was sending her, she sighed and let go of her mane. “I...I’m being selfish again, aren’t I? Some Element of Generosity I am.”
“Everyone needs to be a little bit selfish sometimes, Rarity,” Thorax said, giving her a smile. “It doesn’t make you a bad Pony.”
“Exactly,” Twilight agreed, matching his smile. “You’re still our friend, Rarity, and still the most generous Pony I’ve ever met. You once gave away your tail so that one sea serpent would feel happier, and worked yourself to the bone so that you could try to make all of us happy with our dresses. It’s not selfish to want something for yourself in return.”
Rarity nodded slowly. “I suppose you’re right. Still, I feel like a complete poltroon.” She looked up at Thorax and frowned. “Will you forgive me, darling, and let me stand by your side?”
Thorax beamed at her and nodded. “Of course, Rarity.”
Spike gave her a hug. “Thanks Rarity. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” He then turned to Tarsus. “I’d like to join too.”
“Actually Spike,” Twilight spoke up, putting a hoof on his shoulder. “I think that you should sit this one out.”
Spike’s eyes widened. “W-What?”
“Think about it, Spike. Once we go into the Conjuration Pool, we’ll have no way of knowing what’s happening in the outside world,” Twilight explained. “But you’ve got your Dragonfyre breath. You’ll be able to receive word from Celestia if there’s something urgent that needs the Elements of Harmony immediately, and you’ll also be able to pull us out at a moments notice if something goes wrong.”
“But...” Spike start to object.
“She’s right, Spike,” Thorax said, stopping him. “I appreciate it, I really do, but this is an important duty that only you can do. You helped me once before, and the best way of helping me again this time would be to keep us all safe and to listen for any news. I trust you with this.”
Spike’s shoulders sagged and he nodded. “Alright Thorax. I don’t like it, but I’ll do it.”
Twilight bent down and gave Spike a large, warm hug. “I’m so proud of you, Spike. I know you don’t like doing stuff like this, and I promise, next time you won’t have to.”
Spike caved and accepted the hug, rubbing the back of his head. “You’re welcome...”
Tarsus cleared his throat, bringing their attention back to him. “If you’re all finished, we do have a schedule to keep. The rest of the Council is waiting at the Conjuration Pool even as we speak.”
“Yes, right, we better get going,” Thorax replied, coughing into a hoof.
Tarsus turned around and walked back into the darkness, which seemed to part like a scroll as he walked through it. “Follow me, and stay close.”
Led by Tarsus, the group walked to the back of the room behind the Emperor’s throne, where a hidden spiral staircase wound downwards. Grabbing an unlit glimmerstone torch from the wall, Tarsus began the long descent down the staircase, whispering a few words under his breath and causing the glimmerstone at the end of the torch to light up in a resplendent blue glow.
They continued in silence for what felt like hours, and the stairs didn’t seem to have an end. At one point, Applejack had opened her mouth to ask how much longer the stairs would last, only for Tarsus to stop, turn around, and stare at her with a gaze that could have melted the entirety of the Frozen North before she could utter a word. She made sure to not even think about saying anything after that.
Finally, to everyone’s relief, the stairs opened up to a large, dark chamber that had an eerie green glow to it. The walls were simple and unadorned, and on the floor lay a long red carpet stretching to the back of the room. On either side of the room were three ornate marble pillars holding up a rounded ceiling, and at their bases were small statues. The species represented on each of them were unknown to the Ponies and Spike, but Thorax recognized them in an instant: they were Fauns, not quite of the same make and design as the statue in the garden, indicating that these were made more recently, but they were Fauns nonetheless. As the group passed each statue, Thorax eyed each one with reverence and awe, while Spike and the mares watched his reaction with curious glances.
But without a doubt the most eye-catching aspect of the room was the door at the very end. Unlike the other doors of the Citadel, this one wasn’t reinforced, nor was it built with defense in mind. This one was carefully carved and painted by the hooves of masters, exhibiting a beautiful artistic display of Changelings lifting up their arms and wings in jubilation not only to the sun and moon above them, but also to an open silver book from which a light shone. Within the light was a symbol unlike any of them had ever seen: a Changeling face with two blue wings on either side of it, with a cracked, crooked horn above.
Twilight raised an eyebrow when she saw the horn. It reminded her of Chrysalis, in a way. As far as she could tell, there were no other Changelings who had a horn with that style. Maybe there was a connection?
“The Spiral of Fate,” Tarsus whispered, raising the glimmerstone torch to illuminate the book on the door. “The most sacred text of our race’s culture. The original has never been seen before with mortal eyes, for it now forever resides within the hooves of the Maker, and yet its teachings have been passed down from generation to generation, starting with the very first of our race. Regardless of how long any of us have been away from the Primordial Hive, it is impossible to forget those teachings, for they are ingrained within us all.”
Thorax guessed that Tarsus’s last remark was directed at him, and as he looked up at the book and the symbol above it, he did feel something within him --- like some lost, long-forgotten memory that he never really experienced, and yet knew he was a part of. It sent an involuntary shiver down his spine, but he didn’t feel cold like he expected. Instead, just for a brief moment, he felt a slight warmth like nothing he had felt before, before it vanished.
Twilight pointed up at the symbol. “And that?” she asked.
Tarsus followed her hoof and gaze. “That is the symbol of the Maker. The Spiral of Fate represents our unity, and that symbol represents our pride as a people.”
“But why the crooked horn?” Rarity wondered aloud. “It reminds me of--”
“Chrysalis,” Tarsus finished with a somber nod. “We saw the similarity too when she became a Queen. We thought it was a sign...instead it was a curse. But enough of that, come; the others are waiting.” Without another word, he thrust a hoof forward and pushed open the door, revealing an even larger chamber beyond.
Leaving the statues and baroque door behind, the group wandered into the next chamber, and were pleased to see that they weren’t alone this time. The remaining Council members were present, waiting for them with patient expressions on their faces. Besides them there were several more Changelings of various tribes buzzing around, almost all of them centered on the sole defining feature of the room: a large, wide, bowl-shaped purple pod, filled almost to the brim with an oddly translucent yet still viscous goo. All along the sides of the pod were a variety of thick tubes, steel frames, and even the occasional cable, all connecting to various outlets on the walls. Lights shone down upon the pool, illuminating it in an alluring rainbow of colors.
“Welcome, my friends, to the Conjuration Pool,” Tarsus announced as he extinguished the glimmerstone. “It is from here that King Thorax’s trial shall commence.”
“And not a moment too soon,” said King Cocoon, stepping forward and bowing his head towards them. “Good day, King Thorax, Princess Twilight.”
“What are we, chopped liver?” Applejack grumbled under her breath, only to receive a slight flick of Rarity’s tail on her shoulder.
Thorax bowed out of respect for the other Kings and Queens, and then looked up at the Conjuration Pool. “So, do we just...hop in?” he asked with a tilt of his head.
Queen Titania chuckled. “No, King Thorax, you do not just ‘hop in’, you are lowered in gently. Disturbing the Pool too much is quite unwise.”
“What, does it fry our brains or somethin’?” Applejack asked.
“No, it just makes a disgusting mess on the floor,” King Venom deadpanned. “Do you know how hard it is to clean that slime off of anything other than the insides of a pod?”
“Yes,” Rarity answered instantly, matching his impassive stare with one of her own.
“Regardless,” Tarsus interrupted with an impatient grunt. “We best get underway; the rest of the Hivemind is waiting.” He pointed towards one side of the pod, where a set of stairs lay leading up to the rim of the pod. “Take those stairs up, and the Pool’s keepers will instruct you on what to do next.”
Seeing no other choice, Thorax, Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity trudged up the stairs. Spike went to follow them, only for Tarsus to stop him. “Sorry, young Dragon, but only the volunteers may go up with Thorax. You must stay down here,” he said.
Spike groaned and flopped to a sitting position on the floor, looking dejected and annoyed. Tarsus shot him an apologetic glance, but didn’t say anything else as Thorax and the mares reached the top of the stairs.
Once at the top, two female Moth Changelings approached them from the air and held up four strange masks with straps on the sides. The face shield was blue with rubber all around the edges, and just below it was a round metallic valve. On either side of the valve was a strange, pulsating, webbed membrane that reminded them of a frog’s vocal sacs.
“Put these on your faces, tighten the straps around your head to ensure the seal is good, and then press the blue button on the left side,” one of the Changelings instructed, showing the button to the four of them. “When you’re done, give us a wave and we’ll lower you into the Pool.”
“That’s it?” Rarity asked, reaching for one of the masks and examining it in her hooves. “Sounds easy enough.”
The two Moths glanced at each other and let out several mischievous giggles before hovering away from them. The suddenly very nervous mares all quickly attached their masks and pressed the blue buttons on their sides. Instantly fresh, cool air flooded into their masks, and the rhythmic beating of the membranous filters of the masks increased in pace.
“Ugh, this is gonna do wonders for mah headache, Ah can already tell...” Applejack muttered sarcastically, poking at the filters with a hoof and setting her hat off to the side.
Once everyone had donned their masks, the Moths carefully lowered each one of them into the Pool one at a time, taking care not to sink them too deeply past their heads. Despite now being fully immersed in the goo, none of them seemed to lack any air within their masks. In fact, the whole experience was nothing like they were expecting. Unlike the cold and slimy texture of the goo used in their capture by Chrysalis and her followers, this version of it seemed more akin to comfortably warm oil, and as they floated around in it, they could almost feel like they were just floating in space. Even Rarity, as stiff as she was when she was first lowered in, seemed to relax in place and simply let the goo hold her in place.
The only one who seemed unable to relax fully was Applejack, who jerked and shivered at random intervals. Twilight sent her a concerned glance, only for Applejack to wave her off with a muffled grunt of reassurance under her mask. Eventually she settled down, although unlike the others, she felt oddly cold along her spine and head, as if someone with a cruel sense of humor drilled into her head and stuck an icicle in the hole.
Still, despite initial misgivings and stiff postures, time seemed to slow for each of them, as one by one their eyelids started to droop, and their breathing slowed. They could hear soft, muffled voices above them, but it was soon drowned out by the stillness around them. Slowly, and without a sound, they drifted off to a deep sleep, their bodies going limp as they floated in a circle around each other.
Down below, Spike watched the whole ordeal in silence, watching as four long tendrils mixed with electric wiring snaked up from the bottom of the pool and attached themselves to the valves on each of the masks, locking Thorax, Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity in place. Their eyes opened briefly and they blinked several times before falling limp once more.
Tarsus nodded with a solemn look on his face. “And with that, they are ready,” he said. Without another word, he spun away from the Conjuration Pool and followed his fellow Council members out of the door, which then closed with a low thud, leaving Spike and the Pool’s keepers alone to watch its occupants.
(The Hivemind)
When Twilight opened her eyes again, she quickly had to shut them again. The light was simply too bright to bear, and she hissed in pain and curled her body into a ball. Shielding them with a wing, she slowly cracked her eyelids open once more, squinting as more light flooded into them. This time, however, she was ready for it, and soon her eyes adjusted enough for her to realize it wasn’t really light at all. Rather, she was lying down in an endless white space.
“Whoa...” she murmured, wobbling onto her hooves as she gazed out over the expanse before her. “Hello?!” she called out, spreading her wings to make herself look larger. “Anyone out there?!”
“Keep that there voice of yours down, Twi!” Applejack seethed from behind her. “Mah headache’s bad enough as it is!”
“Sorry Applejack,” Twilight apologized, before doing a double-take and spinning around to face the farm mare. “Applejack?!”
“Gah, did Ah stutter?”
“What are you doing here?” Twilight asked as she helped Applejack to her hooves.
“More like, what are you three doing here?” came Rarity’s voice from Twilight’s left.
“Three?” Twilight mouthed, before gazing to her right, where Thorax sat groaning and holding his head in his hooves. “Ooooh...this is new.”
“Ah seem to recall us goin’ into Luna’s shared dream thingy a while back,” Applejack noted, blinking rapidly as her eyes adjusted to the bright white landscape.
“Yeah, but this is different,” Twilight remarked as she looked around in curiosity. “Everything feels so...empty.”
“It’s the Hivemind,” Thorax supplied, still squinting and rubbing his eyes. “Although, it feels different than what I’m used to. Probably as a result of the Conjuration Pool. I wonder if this is what the ‘conjuration’ part is about? A shared mind?”
That is exactly correct, King Thorax.
Everyone’s ears twitched and swiveled around as they searched for the source of the voice. “Who’s there?” Rarity called out. “Show yourself!”
That would be difficult to do, Lady Rarity, the voice replied. You see, as Thorax has said, we are in the Hivemind. The four of you are currently sharing a mind, and thus sharing a space. You cannot see us, nor can we see you, but we can sense each other.
“Emperor Tarsus, is that you?” Twilight asked.
Indeed, Your Highness. In fact, the whole of the Primordial Hive is here, listening in.
Rarity’s face turned red. “A-All of them?” she stammered. “Oh my...that is a lot.”
“Ah don’t know about y’all, but this feels unnatural,” Applejack muttered, rubbing her head once more. “Ergh...and mah head feels like a bag of hammers is bein’ tossed around inside it. Can’t ya Changelings turn down the mental magic thingamajiggers on the dang Pool?”
Hmmm...that’s odd. We’ve designed the Conjuration Pool to be as painless as possible for outsiders.
“It might be because she’s an Earth Pony,” Twilight postulated, putting a hoof under her chin. “Earth Pony magic is linked to the ground and environment, while a Unicorn’s or Alicorn’s is more linked to the mind. I feel fine.”
“So do I,” Rarity agreed with a nod.
“Well, she’s not alone,” Thorax spoke up, cringing slightly at the volume of his own voice and rubbing his temples. “I thought it was just the brightness around us, but I’m getting a headache too.”
Tarsus sighed in annoyance. This is aggravating; I had thought we had gotten rid of these...glitches. I shall have the artificers check the Pool once we are done. For now, try to live with it. Remember, due to the unique connection between the Pool and the Hivemind, you’ll only feel this pain for a short time.
“How are you even speaking to us with the time dilation in effect?” Twilight wondered. “Aren’t you still in real time?”
So many questions, Your Highness, Tarsus chuckled. I’m afraid I don’t know all the answers, but I believe it’s a result of the combination of technology and the mental enchantments the Conjuration Pool is imbued with, as well as its connection to the Hivemind. When we’re done, I might permit you to take a closer look at it, but for now, we must concentrate on the task at hoof. With every minute we spend here, far more time passes on the outside.
“Right, of course, sorry,” Twilight replied with a blush.
“What happens now?” Thorax asked.
You have met the Council of Seven, now we introduce you to the hearts and minds of the six tribes represented by us: the Mantises, the Scorpions, the Moths, the Hornets, the Ants, and the Scarabs, Tarsus answered. Each King and Queen will act as the voice for their respective tribe, myself included. The many voices that speak through us will be the voices of our respective tribe.
Applejack raised an eyebrow. “How will we know which tribe is speakin’?”
A fair question. What color is your mindscape right now?
“White,” all four of them said at once.
Perfect --- that is how it should be. When each tribe is speaking as one, the color of your mindscape will change to match their shapeshifting flames. The Hornets will be yellow, the Mantises will be black, the Ants will be silver, the Scarabs will be cyan, the Moths will be violet, and the Scorpions will be dark green.
“Ah, matching those lovely robes the Council was wearing,” Rarity remarked with a smile. “That makes it a cinch.”
Indeed. Now, are you all ready to begin? Once we start, we cannot stop, and the Primordial Hive will not be as easy on you as we have been.
The four of them looked at each other, and aside from a pained grimace from Applejack, they all held determination in their gazes, and they nodded as one. They were ready.
Thorax cleared his throat and spoke up: “You may begin, Your Majesty.”
Very well. Prepare yourself --- the sensation of hearing so many voices at once for the first time will be...unpleasant.
And so it was. Almost as soon as the Emperor had stopped talking, the white space around them flashed into a golden yellow, and millions of voices suddenly swarmed them from all directions. All three mares collapsed almost instantly, clutching their heads in immense pain as their bodies shook violently. They couldn’t even scream, the pain and the pressure was so much.
Thorax looked on in pity and guilt. He had known before what they were feeling now, as all young Changelings first introduced to the Hivemind did, and he knew that none of them were in any danger, but it still didn’t make seeing them experience it first-hoof any easier. He was used to it by now, but even he frowned as the pressure against his mind started to increase.
Then he realized it --- the pressure and pain were deliberate. The Hornets were doing it on purpose!
“Too much...” Applejack whimpered, curling into a ball on the ground as the voices grew louder. “Make it stop, make it stop, make it stop!”
“Please...!” Rarity gasped. Twilight could only nod and shiver, her pupils contracted to pinpricks.
Thorax’s frown curled into a snarl, and he stamped his hoof against the ground. “BACK OFF!” he roared at the voices. “They aren’t Changelings, and they’re not used to this. You’re overwhelming them!”
But the voices didn’t stop. Instead, the pressure they exerted on the four of them increased, until even Thorax was sent reeling from it. All four of them suddenly felt a tidal wave of emotions wash over them: grief, fury, distrust, fear, curiosity, regret, and hope.
Then, moments later, everything stopped. The voices ceased, all four of their minds were released, and all was still.
The three mares let out large gasps for air as they struggled to compose themselves. Their minds were freed once again, but the lingering effects of their instant connection to the Hivemind left them shaken and feeling like a million spiders were crawling over their skin. Their gazes were distant and terrified, and their hooves shook in front of them.
Thorax knelt down in front of them, using his magic to enlarge his wings and gather all three of them up into a close embrace. He couldn’t help them in their recovery, but he could at least reassure them that they weren’t alone.
Are they alright, King Thorax? Tarsus asked.
“No...” Thorax spat. “No, they are not alright. Your Hornets nearly killed them! What even was that, it even made me feel uncomfortable towards the end.”
Tarsus sighed, and Thorax could hear the regret in his voice. It was a necessary evil. The Conjuration Pool can act as an artificial conduit to the Hivemind, yes, but without the right brain functions to make the connection more stable, a brute force method is needed. It is only needed once. Now that they are attuned to the Hivemind, all of us can speak freely.
“Then do so already,” Thorax said, speaking not only to the Emperor but also to the golden mindscape around him. “Stop stalling and get on with it.” The mares slowly began to stand up as he said this, not fully recovered still but determined to help.
The mindscape changed to black. The Mantis tribe has only three questions for the accused King, said the voices of millions. Who are you? What are you? What do you want?
Thorax blinked. They certainly weren’t wasting time with asking those. “My name is Thorax, and I am a Changeling. I want peace between Changelings and the world, and I want--”
We’ve heard enough. The King has failed to answer the Questions Three, just as we predicted. This trial is a farce; no further questions from us, the Mantises hissed as one.
“Now wait just a minute!” Twilight cried. “That’s not fair! You can’t just judge him right off the bat like that. The Questions Three require time and patience to--”
Cyan. The Questions Three must be answered truthfully and with heart. If the King of the Equines cannot do so, then he is being dishonest to himself, and is thus sabotaging his own defense. We do not agree with the Mantises’ decision to cast their vote so early, but on this one thing we Scarabs DO agree.
Silver. Enough. Asking the Questions Three this early is a waste of time. The Ants move to questioning the accused directly.
Yellow. The Hornets second the motion.
Green. As do the Scorpions.
There was a sigh as the world turned to black once more. So be it. King Thorax, tell us about yourself. What was life like for you before you ascended to the throne?
“My life?” Thorax echoed with a grimace. “Well, I...I was a simple drone, really. Nobody remarkable or special, just someone for Chrysalis--”
Violet. QUEEN Chrysalis. She may be deposed, but she is still a Queen. Address her as such.
Thorax gulped and nodded, despite knowing that nobody but his friends could see him. “R-Right, Queen Chrysalis. Anyway, I was just someone she could use as cannon fodder for her invasion plans for Equestria. The only thing that seemed to set me apart from the others was my lack of aggression. Most Changelings in our Hive under Queen Chrysalis’s rule were born with an insatiable desire to feed and to steal love from anyone possessing it, although mostly Ponies.”
Silver. And why weren’t you?
“I don’t know, but I do know that my...my brother got most of the aggression genes.” Thorax let out a soft snort of amusement as memories flooded back into his mind. “Pharynx was always very protective of me when we were nymphs...”
Violet. Where is this brother of yours? The Council of Seven does not recall you mentioning him before.
Thorax wilted slightly. “He...wasn’t in the Hive when Queen Chrysalis was overthrown. I don’t know where he is.”
Yellow. Let’s move on. You said you weren’t aggressive --- how did that make Queen Chrysalis feel?
“She felt that I was weak and useless, so she didn’t care what happened to me,” Thorax replied, his voice trailing off at the end. “I’d...rather not talk about that, please.”
Green. Very well. What did Queen Chrysalis think of the Ponies of Equestria?
Thorax stamped a hoof. “She thought of them as nothing but food, never once thinking to solve our hunger problem with a diplomatic solution. She even forbade us from ever talking to one of them face to face, unless we were disguised and already infiltrating them.”
“Great, power-hungry an’ a racist...” Applejack snarked.
Cyan. If that is so, what led you down your path to seek out the Ponies?
It was Twilight who stepped forward and spoke next: “Thorax approached us in the Crystal Empire, seeking only to know what the magic of friendship felt like. As a Changeling, he had seen Ponies and their friends live in happiness, and so he sought that same happiness.”
“And he has done a marvellous job in getting it,” Rarity added.
Silver. So you’re saying that he openly defied his rightful Queen at the time, and not for any other reason than his own selfish desire?
Applejack was taken aback. “What?!”
“No!” Twilight cried. “That’s not--!”
Black. You said it yourself: he desired personal happiness, personal gain in other words, so he defied his Queen’s orders. The Mantises seemed almost smug when they spoke.
“I wanted to return to the Hive!” Thorax declared with a loud voice. “I wanted to go back, b-but Queen Chrysalis would’ve killed me if I did! I...I thought that if I could prove that Ponies and Changelings could live in friendship and peace, we could find an alternative way to provide love for our Hive.”
Yellow. Then, after you proved your theory correct, why did you not return to them? While you sat in the Crystal Empire, well-fed and happy, your brothers and sisters in the Hive suffered under Queen Chrysalis’s cruel reign, never knowing what they were missing. It was only when they invaded that you sprung into action.
Black. Dishonesty, disobedience, selfishness, and now slothfulness. Is this truly the King of the Equines?
Applejack threw her hat on the ground and stamped a hoof next to it. “Now wait just an apple-buckin’ minute here!” she bellowed. “Y’all can’t just condemn him like that! He was one Changeling against a whole Hive, what could he possibly have done alone?”
Violet. He was not alone; he had his friends, and the allies who helped him overthrow Queen Chrysalis.
“Yeah, he sure had friends alright,” Applejack growled. “Friends who were in trouble, an’ who he had gone to rescue. Ah was one of them. Sure, he may have disobeyed Chrysalis, but all y’all have been tellin’ us that she straight-up deserved it! Y’all keep tellin’ us that she was this witch who did some darn disgustin’ things, but the moment one of her drones decides that he actually has a heart, y’all call foul an’ say that he’s the one who’s wrong? Ah ain’t no genius like Twilight here, but Ah sure as hay can call out hypocrisy when Ah see it.”
The world flashed a mixture of black, yellow, and cyan, as all three tribes roared back at her, It is the natural order of things!! It is the way of the drone to obey a King or Queen!
“But is it the way of a King to obey a fellow royal?” Rarity challenged as she narrowed her eyes. “Thorax wasn’t just some drone as he had thought. He had royal blood in his veins, though he and Chrysalis didn’t know it until later. This throws into question all his actions, but not in the way you think. Rather, it presents an alternative: what if he was meant to rebel and to seek out allies and friends? Because deep down, even though he didn’t know it, instinct was driving him to create a better life for his Hive.”
“And that’s why Chrysalis wanted to kill him after he left,” Twilight finished, flashing a triumphant grin to the winking Rarity. “It’s because she knew that the royalty instinct within him had awoken, and she now had a rival royal on the field.”
The mindscape turned white, and they heard the sigh of the Emperor’s voice once more. Princess Twilight speaks the truth, my Hive. When Queen Chrysalis defected, she...altered the Equine tribe, morphing them into a shell of their former selves and nearly destroying any hope of another royal Changeling being born.
Black. Regardless of this revelation, it changes nothing. It was because of Queen Chrysalis that Changelings are so feared and hated, and King Thorax now stands before us as one of her children while she is still out there, scheming. We will concede the point about royal blood, but unless the King can prove to us that he is not just the unholy spawn of the betrayer, our vote will remain against him. Nothing he has said or done has proved to us that he can be trusted. In fact, his first official act as King was to bring OUTSIDERS to the Primordial Hive, breaking our shield of secrecy!
Cyan. The Scarabs agree completely.
Yellow. The Hornets agree.
Green. The Scorpions agree.
Silver. The Ants agree.
Violet. The Moths... There was a pause. The Moths agree. Proceed.
Rarity uttered a rather unladylike curse under her breath, annoyed that her seemingly flawless defense had failed. Applejack picked her hat up and stuck it back on her head with a grumble, while Twilight put a hoof on Thorax’s side and gave him a sad smile in attempt to comfort him.
Thorax let out a long, low sigh as the mindscape flashed yellow. The Hornets began the next round of interrogations, and although Thorax was listening, his heart wasn’t in it anymore. They would never accept him. The Mantises were right, the whole trial was just a farce and a show.
His shoulders slumped and he laid down on the floor, feeling miserable. He was nothing to them, just a glorified drone with antlers. It didn’t matter if he wanted peace, because they wanted a scapegoat. It didn’t matter that he wanted to share the magic of friendship, because they only wanted revenge.
He didn’t know how long they had been inside their shared mind or how much longer it would take, but he knew one thing for sure: this was going to be a long week.
(Warfang Temple, Council Chambers)
Celestia’s sun was shining as the city of Warfang woke up, and its citizens took it as a sign that things were looking up for everyone. The nearly disastrous events of the day before were still fresh in their minds, but they were determined not to let it bring down their mood now that it had been resolved.
The night before, once they were certain the Hussars wouldn’t return, the two Griffon airships that had accompanied the Grimoire landed in clearings near the city to conserve fuel, and their Griffon crew members had ventured into the city to celebrate their victory. Now they were awake and squawking as their commanders dragged them back to their ships by their tails and ears, much to the amusement of Warfang’s people.
For the Guardians, delegates, and national heroes residing within the Temple, however, the morning was far more subdued and less joyful, despite the cheerful warmth of the sun (which Celestia had raised for all to see, astonishing Volteer into silence and baffling Cyril into a fainting spell). They all knew what was to come today: the fallout of yesterday’s events, and the reactions of the Frontier Colonies.
With the Griffons, Abyssinians, and Kirins now protecting Warfang, the Colonies would be much more willing to talk, but Celestia knew it was all bluster from both sides. Despite her hopes, she knew that the Colonies would never budge on their position, and neither would the Dragons. Ambassador Gregory’s offer of being a neutral party was appreciated, but it was also only a stop-gap measure for what she prayed would never come.
So it was that she found herself standing in the Temple’s Council Chambers, looking down at a pool as still as the air and as clear as glass as she pondered what to do next to avoid worldwide catastrophe, even as the Guardians and other delegates and representatives of Warfang and Equestria prepared themselves for their trip to the Grimoire.
“Ah, I see you’ve found the Pool of Visions.”
Startled out of her thoughts, Celestia looked up and saw Terrador looking down at her, and then turning his gaze to the pool before her. After regaining her composure and clearing her throat, she asked, “Is that what it is? Some sort of scrying pool?”
Terrador sat down next to her. “Very similar, but not quite. It allows specific individuals attuned to its natural magic to see visions of the near future, or see events currently happening throughout the world. It can be...finicky, as Volteer would say, but it has done wonders for us in the past. It’s how we discovered Spyro and Cynder in your town of Ponyville.”
Celestia hummed as she stared into the Pool of Visions, but nothing seemed to change about it. A single ripple appeared in the middle and moved to the far edges, but that was all. “That’s unfortunate...” she murmured.
“I wouldn’t be disappointed, only Dragons with the proper training can access it,” Terrador said with a small shrug. “Allow me to demonstrate.” He closed his eyes and suddenly froze, holding his breath. His wings and talons twitched, and then he lifted up his right foreclaw and raised it above the Pool of Visions with his talons pointing down. Green flecks of earth magic appeared at the tips of his talons, drifting down until they touched the surface of the pool and vanished within it. He then retracted his claw and waited.
At first, nothing happened, and Celestia wondered if perhaps there was simply nothing for the pool to show, only for Terrador to open his eyes and look down. Following his gaze, she stared once more at the pool and was shocked to see many more ripples appear on its surface. The ripples and the rainbow of reflections from the light that were formed on them then transformed into a scene of white. The ripples subsided, but the vision remained. She saw ice and snow, and a crystalline city encased in a shield.
“The Crystal Empire,” she whispered in wonder. “You can see that far?”
“Indeed,” Terrador replied with a proud smile. “It seems to be a lovely city. I wouldn’t mind vis--”
“Wait,” she said, pointing. “There’s something else.”
As they watched, the vision showed something that neither of them expected: two blurs of purple and black, rocketing across the sky as if their lives depended on it. A third shadow was following them, a Pegasus it seemed, but the vision then ended before they could see their identity.
Both leaders glanced at each other in bewilderment. “That was Spyro and Cynder,” Celestia remarked.
They then turned to the two young heroes standing near the Door of Ice, talking amicably with Flashwing, Sprocket, Starlight, and Pinkie, with Sparx hovering above them all. Both of them were oblivious to the vision and the stares they were receiving.
“A vision of the near future, perhaps?” Celestia asked after a moment of contemplation.
“Possibly, although how near is a mystery,” Terrador admitted. “I’m more curious as to what would cause them to head to the Crystal Empire in the first place.”
As the spoke, two more Dragons entered the chamber through the Door of Fire behind them, both having soured looks on their faces. For Blackout, it was nothing unusual, but for Spotlight next to him it was almost unheard of, giving their fellow Rangers pause when the two of them entered the room. Something was clearly bothering their captain.
Flashwing waved them over to their little group with a smile. “Captain Blackout, good to see you up and about. Why the long face?”
Blackout and Spotlight joined them and glanced at Spyro and Cynder briefly before Blackout announced in a grave voice, “We all may be in great danger.”
His words, spoken loudly enough for all to hear, silenced all conversation in the room and brought everyone’s eyes to him and Spotlight. Blackout stole a glance at Celestia and the rest of the Ponies in the room and beckoned them forward with a wing. “Listen closely, everyone. Last night, while I was Dreamwalking, I stumbled across a nightmarish vision being fought by two more Alicorns: Princess Cadance and Princess Luna.”
“You met my sister?” Celestia asked with a raised eyebrow. “And by Dreamwalking?”
“I’ll explain that part later,” Blackout said with a dismissive wave of his claw. “We have bigger issues to deal with. Anyway, as I helped the two Alicorns against the nightmare, I sensed a presence inside it that I had not felt in a long time, but one I will never forget. Once the nightmare was banished, I spoke with the Princesses. It was through them that I learned of something in the Frozen North, a cold and desolate land above Equestria: a possibility that...” He paused, glancing at Spyro and Cynder before continuing, “That Malefor may still be alive.”
The announcement was so sudden and so strong that all the Warfang Dragons in the room were stunned into even more silence. The Equestrian delegates merely glanced amongst themselves, puzzled by Blackout’s message, only for a low growl and a sudden temperature spike in the room to distract them.
“Spyro...?” Cynder asked in a hesitant voice as she slowly turned her head to face him.
“Oh boy, he’s doing that thing again...” Sparx muttered, hiding behind Cynder’s horns.
Spyro’s countenance had changed into one of fury, and his eyes had gone white. His scales still retained their bright violet color, but very slight shadowy black tendrils now swirled around his claws and horns, and his teeth were gritted in a snarl as he advanced towards Blackout. “You better start explaining things now, captain,” he spat. “If this is a joke, it’s in poor taste.”
Blackout, to his credit, stood his ground against the Purple Dragon. If anything, he didn’t even seem bothered by the sudden change, merely annoyed. “It isn’t a joke, Spyro. Princess Cadance, the ruler of the Crystal Empire, told me while I was in her dream that the night before Warfang arrived in this world that a mysterious object landed near the Empire. Based on the description she gave me, and the reports from her husband, Prince Shining Armor, I am certain it is a Dark Crystal, and Dark Crystals can only be controlled by Malefor. With this one, however, there was a presence or soul inside: one of malice and evil. I am almost certain it’s the soul of Malefor himself, still alive and still spreading chaos.”
“Almost certain?” Spyro hissed. “You’ll need to do better than that.”
“Spyro!” Cynder rebuked, placing herself between the two males and glaring at the Purple Dragon. “Calm down, now.”
“I am calm!”
“Spyro, dude, bro, buddy, pal,” Sparx said, holding up his hands. “Listen to yourself. Like, your voice is changing again, and that’s never good. That’s only a good thing when it happens to me, it means I’m getting funnier. When it happens to you, people tend to get blasted into next year.”
Spyro’s eyes narrowed at Sparx. “I am calm, Sparx,” he growled.
“No you’re not. You’re acting irrational, and you need to stop before it gets out of hand,” Cynder replied, holding out a claw and pressing it against his chest. “Don’t let it consume you again. Please.”
Spyro looked down at her claw, then back up at her now-pleading gaze. With a sigh, his body relaxed, his eyes returned to normal, and the black energy around his horns and claws faded into nothingness. Bowing his head low in shame, he whispered to her, “You know more than anyone how hard it was to kill him, Cynder. We nearly died ourselves, and Ignitus did.” He raised his head again, his eyes starting to glisten. “Was it really all for nothing? All the pain, all the death, all the--”
In one swift motion, Cynder planted her lips on his, silencing his tirade before he could finish. Spyro’s eyes widened and his wings flared out in surprise, and he remained in that position even as Cynder pulled back, smiling sadly at him. She reached a claw up and held it against his cheek.
“It doesn’t matter, Spyro,” she said in a gentle tone. “Nothing was in vain. We’re alive, Warfang is safe, and our race is thriving once more. Even if Malefor is still alive, we’re now in a much stronger position to finish the job. He doesn’t have his armies, and we have friends on our side. We’re not going it alone this time.”
“But--”
“Not buts,” she interrupted. “Don’t keep doing this to yourself, Spyro. We’ll prevail, just like last time, you hear me?”
Spyro closed his mouth and nodded slowly. “Yeah...yeah, I hear you.”
Sparx stuck a finger in his mouth and let out a gagging noise as he flew off. “Yeesh, get a room you too. Honestly, it’s like mom and dad on Valentine’s Day...”
Ignoring Sparx completely, Cynder let out a satisfied chirp and looked back at Blackout, who was smirking. Behind him, Spotlight was looking like she was about ready to explode in joy at the sight she and everyone else had just seen. Before she could, Cynder asked, “Now, you were saying, Blackout?”
Blackout bowed his head to her. “Thank you, Cynder. Now, regarding the location of this Dark Crystal, Princess Cadance told me that her husband had thrown it high into the mountains, specifically Mount Everhoof, thinking that that would be enough to shatter it. Of course, it wasn’t, but it means we now have a lead to follow. I don’t think I have to tell anyone here how important it is that we follow that lead straight to its very satisfying conclusion.”
“As a matter of fact, my friend, you do,” Blueblood said, speaking for the first time as he stepped forward. “Just who is this ‘Malefor’ person, and why did Spyro here have such a fit over the mention of him possibly being alive that Cynder had to, ahem, resort to drastic measures to snap him out of it?”
Cynder blushed and stepped back, away from everyone’s bemused gazes. Fluttershy sent her a sympathetic look, knowing exactly how she felt.
“Malefor,” Cyril answered, choosing his words carefully. “Was a brutal cad of unmatched power and arrogance, believing himself to be a god among Dragons, and as such, their ‘savior’. He sought to end the world in a cataclysmic fashion in order to bring about a new world, one that he would create in his own image and rule with fear.”
“Moreover, he was the first Purple Dragon in recorded history, destined for greatness, trained by the brightest minds, and tested by masters of the Elements to become the greatest of all Dragons,” Terrador continued. “Although there have been...theories that he might not have been the first.” He glanced Volteer’s way when he finished.
“There is evidence to suggest it, my friend,” Volteer supplied. “Circumstantial, possibly fabricated and forged evidence, but it is there nonetheless if you know where to investigate.”
“So, by my reckoning, this punk’s bad news and he’s gotta get offed as soon as possible?” Captain Stargazer asked while standing next to Blueblood.
“Got it in one,” Blades said with a grin as he inspected his wingblades. “So what are we waitin’ for? Let’s go break his spirit again.”
“Wait a second Blades, we can’t all go,” Flashwing reminded him. “We still have these negotiations to consider, and some of us have to stay here for extra security, especially with those Hussars about.”
“Query: Griffons are here, are they not?” Sprocket droned.
“Yes, but they’re not always the brightest hens in the roost, if you catch my drift,” Stargazer replied with a nod. “I agree with Flashwing, if we’re going to go after this ‘Malefor’ freak, we’re going to need a plan and a team.”
“Well, Cynder and I are definitely going to this Crystal Empire, no questions about it,” Spyro declared. “Alone, if we must, although...I’d rather not do that again.”
“You’re not gonna be alone, fatso,” Sparx called, floating back down to Spyro and settling on his head. “You’re not leaving me behind this time. There’s no Belt of Fire this time, and if I can handle a little bit of snow in Dante’s Freezer, I can sure handle this Frozen North place.”
“Wouldn’t dream of leaving you behind again anyway, Sparx,” Spyro countered with a thankful smile. “Besides, it’d be nice if all three of us were there when this finally ended; it’ll be more fitting that way.”
“Hell yeah, brother,” Sparx said, high-fiving his brother.
“Count me in too!” Spotlight cheered.
“Just a moment there, lieutenant,” Terrador rumbled. “The Rangers must stay here.”
Blackout raised an eyebrow. “I beg your pardon, Grandmaster?”
“Flashwing is right, with the Hussars here the situation is far too delicate. You and your team are a military unit, and we can’t send them into Equestria if we have not yet signed the alliance treaty with them.”
“For this, Princess Cadance, my sister, and I will gladly give special dispensation for your troops to move in,” Celestia offered.
“The offer is gracious, Celestia, but we cannot accept,” Terrador replied with a glum frown. “Whether we have your permission or not, sending them into your borders armed for a battle of potentially catastrophic means will attract the wrath of the Frontier Colonies, since they have strong ties with you and, from what I gather, see any act of Dragon aggression on Pony land, whether it be theirs or yours, as an act of war. No, we need another way to get Spyro and Cynder into the Crystal Empire.”
“I wouldn’t call them strong ties,” Blueblood sighed. “But yes, he’s correct, auntie. The Colonies wouldn’t hesitate to attack the city, this time in full force, despite the Griffon presence. Although, wouldn’t they react the same way towards Spyro and Cynder?”
“They aren’t military,” Terrador answered. “Well, Spyro isn’t, anyway. Cynder used to be, but that was a long time ago, as well as a long, rather complicated and unfortunate story. At the moment, they’re both civilians being taken under the wings of the Guardians. Well-trained and battle-hardened, to be sure, but civilians nonetheless. They’re free to go as they wish.”
“Counterpoint: the Rangers crossed into Equestrian borders,” Sprocket objected. “To rescue Spyro and Cynder. You pointed, we flew.”
Cyril groaned, rubbing his temples with a talon. “That was different, dear boy. Nobody knew who we were back then, which gave us the element of secrecy that we don’t have anymore, and we had to get Spyro and Cynder back from what we had assumed was a hostile kidnapping.” He glanced down at the four Ponyville mares in the room. “Er, no offense, ladies.”
“None taken,” Starlight assured him with a smile. “I would’ve done the same if any of my friends were in danger.”
“Okay, okay, so we don’t send the Rangers,” Rainbow interjected, flying into the midst of them. “But Spyro and Cynder will still need all the help they can get, and I think I can get it for them.”
“How Rainbow?” Fluttershy asked in a timid voice, feeling rather small in the middle of so many large Dragons and regal figures.
“Simple: I go with them,” Rainbow suggested, putting her hooves on her hips proudly. “They’ll need a guide to get to the Crystal Empire, I can handle myself in a fight, and I can use my status as a Wonderbolt to make it an ‘official escort mission’, or something like that.”
“Rainbow, are you sure about this?” Starlight asked, sending a worried look to Celestia. “From what they’ve told us, Malefor’s a pretty powerful villain, one unlike anything we’ve faced before. This isn’t some bully or misbegotten mare who can be reformed through the power of friendship, this is a warlord bent on destroying the entire world.”
“Your confidence in me is inspiring, truly,” Rainbow deadpanned. “Look, I’m useless here! Pinkie can entertain, and Fluttershy can empathize and act as a voice of reason, and you can help Princess Celestia negotiate, Starlight.” She pointed to herself. “Me? I’m a Wonderbolt, a weather manager, and a daredevil. I’ve seen the city, it’s great. I’ve seen the people here, and they’re great too. But right now I can’t do anything else, especially now that Princess Celestia is here with the Solar Guard. But if I go with Spyro and Cynder, I can get them safely into the Crystal Empire without making the Colonies suspicious, and I can kick a little butt in the end to round off the trip. What’s not to like about that plan?”
“The fact that you could die, for one?” Starlight answered. At this, Pinkie’s face fell and her mane deflated, which made Fluttershy give her a hug in comfort.
Rainbow sighed and floated down, landing in front of Starlight. “Starlight, you do know who the Wonderbolts are, do you?” she asked in an oddly soft tone. “They’re not just some flying stunt jockeys, although that’s a major part of their peacetime duties for morale. They’re also soldiers, the best of the best in the Equestrian Air Force. I knew that the moment I signed up to be one of them.”
“You’re also our friend,” Pinkie said through her sniffles. “We...I don’t want to see you get hurt, Dashie...”
“Hey,” Rainbow turned to Pinkie and gathered her up in a hug. “It’s not going to come to that, Pinks. I’ll be careful, and I’ll have Spyro and Cynder there with me.” She winked. “Besides, I’m waaaay too fast for any of these old geezer Dragons anyway.”
Volteer let out a snort of laughter as Cyril’s jaw dropped.
Pinkie’s hooves flew around Rainbow’s neck. “Please come back, Dashie,” she cried. “I’ll throw you the biggest, most awesome-est ‘Welcome-Home-Happy-You’re-Still-Alive-And-That-You-Kicked-Evil’s-Butt-Again’ party ever.”
Rainbow smirked. “Bigger than my birth-iversary?”
“Twenty-three-and-a-half times bigger!”
“Now just how can I possibly miss that for the world?” Rainbow asked, tussling Pinkie’s mane, causing it to fluff back up to its normal size. “Now you just keep smiling, because the next time you see a Rainboom, it’ll be me coming back to Ponyville in style, dragging those two idiots behind me.”
Spyro leaned in towards Cynder and whispered, “She knows we can hear her, right?” Cynder giggled and shushed him.
Celestia dipped her head towards Rainbow out of respect. “Truly, the Element of Loyalty shines through you, Rainbow Dash,” she said with a smile. “Plus, I believe this will be an excellent opportunity for us all. Having you help Spyro and Cynder defeat Warfang’s long-time foe will certainly help Pony-Dragon relations.”
Rainbow blinked. “Uuuuh, yeah, just as I planned it! Totally didn’t just suggest it to kick some flank, no ma’am.”
“Yes, we can tell,” Cyril jabbed.
“Oh, go freeze yourself in a block of ice,” Rainbow muttered.
Cyril raised an eyebrow. “I do, every night just before I go to sleep. It provides cooling, and also an excellent shield in case of assassins.”
“Uh...right,” Rainbow said, shaking her head. “So, when do we leave?”
“Preferably sooner rather than later,” Terrador answered. “The rest of us will be meeting with the other delegates on the Grimoire soon, so it would be best if the three of you --- ah, four of you, sorry Sparx --- sneaked out while Captain Rippler is distracted.”
“We’ll leave in half an hour, then,” Spyro announced, already moving to the Door of Fire to leave. “If anyone has anything they need to get before we go, get it now. I’ll meet you at the western gate.”
Cynder bounded off after him, with Sparx following close behind. Rainbow stayed behind for a moment longer to hug her friends one last time and assure them that she wasn’t, in fact, insane. Fluttershy looked like she was on the verge of tears, but it wasn’t out of sadness; rather, it was out of pride.
After Rainbow had left to gather what few belongings she had brought with her, Celestia, the Guardians, and the rest of the delegates continued with their preparations and speeches for their arrival on the Grimoire. The recent revelations had shaken them, but they still had their own duties to perform. Slaying ancient, bloodthirsty Dragons was the work of heroes and not politicians, after all.
(The Grimoire, cargo deck)
For centuries, after the advent of the steam engine and the subsequent creation of the diesel engine, the Griffon Empire had claimed the skies as their domain. Few Ponies, not even the Wonderbolts of Canterlot or the magitek airships of the Royal Equestrian Legion, could ever hope to achieve or surpass the amount of air superiority the Griffons possessed, and none ever dared try. To do so would be to be to invite the prying eyes of the Emperor squarely on one’s back, and once there, those eyes would deem them as unworthy as a mouse.
Dreadnoughts, such as the Grimoire, were some of the more aging ships in the Griffon Aero-Fleet, but what they lacked in the grace and finesse of their newer, faster cousins, the Skybreakers, they made up for in sheer imposing size. This was both a blessing and a curse, for it made them bigger and slower targets, but it allowed for more firepower and crew compliments.
And, for the purposes of today, it also provided a sizable neutral space for negotiating an alliance between Equestria and Warfang.
The cargo and crew in the main cargo deck had been cleared away the night before in preparation for the delegates’ arrival. Tables and chairs had been set up and strategically placed so as to not insult any of the guests and ambassadors, and even some entertainment and food had been prepared for any breaks in-between sessions. Ambassador Gregory saw to it all, and made sure that everything was not only to his own satisfaction, but also to the satisfaction of his guests. Any requests that he received were immediately taken into consideration and put into effect to the best of his ability, and by the time the first envoys had started to arrive, he prayed to Galahad the Chivalrous that it would be enough.
Celestia and Blueblood were the first to arrive, led by Stargazer and flanked on either side by four Solar Guards, the rest having remained in the city. They greeted him with amicable smiles and hoofshakes, taking their seats with little complaint.
The Guardians were next, coming in right on Celestia and Blueblood’s heels. It had taken some doing to create an opening big enough in the Grimoire’s hull to allow them entry, but to his eternal pride, his Griffons had done it without much trouble. All three Dragons greeted him in much the same manner as Celestia and Blueblood, minus the shakes, and like their Equestrian counterparts, took their seats and stayed silent.
Prince Calm Breeze and Queen Cynthia arrived moments later, followed shortly afterwards by one of the Cheetahs he had seen on the walls (clearly one of high rank, judging by the flowing red cape and runed leather armor he wore), and one of the Moles --- Chief Prowlus and General Mason respectively, as he recalled. Both of them were military leaders from Warfang, and as such were privy to such negotiations.
Finally, there came Dragon Lord Ember herself, bringing with her one stout white-scaled Dragon he had not seen before. He seemed like an older specimen garbed in plate mail and bearing a scowl as he stood next to the Dragon Lord. Ember nodded to Gregory but didn’t bother with a greeting, instead choosing to head towards her seat without delay (thankfully, as she had noted the day before, as far away from a certain Hussar’s seat as possible). The white Dragon stood off to the side with Stargazer and the other Pony and Griffon guards in the room, keeping careful watch over everyone in the room with a sharp eye and a crooked, toothy sneer.
That left just one person on the list who had not yet arrived, which Gregory had been expecting from the start. As the other delegates and rulers spoke amongst themselves in whispered tones, Gregory discreetly glanced outside the designated boarding area towards the forest beyond the city.
There had been little word from Captain Rippler or the Hussars ever since Gregory’s invitation had been sent out, and Gregory’s scouts had not been able to locate their base of operations. They were either hidden too well, or had somehow returned home. Either way, Rippler was nowhere to be seen, which worried Gregory to no end.
As if on cue, a spark of flames appeared in the air atop the boarding ramp, forming a perfect circle in the air just inches off the deck. Out from the circle stepped four Winged Hussars, with swords sheathed at their waists and spears held in their hooves. They encircled the portal without a word and waited until their captain appeared, wearing freshly-polished armor and a ceremonial winged helmet on his head.
Rippler glared down at Gregory in front of him, and nodded his head in greeting. “Ambassador,” he muttered.
Gregory raised an eyebrow at the cold tone. “Captain.”
That was enough for Rippler, and he led his guards into the cargo deck, directing them to the side with the other guards while he approached the central table. He removed his helmet and placed it on the table, bowing in respect towards all the assembled leaders, including Dragon Lord Ember, which surprised her.
Once everyone had settled into their seats, Gregory lifted up a claw and said, “Welcome aboard the Grimoire, my friends. Today we are gathered together in this extraordinary event to welcome to our world our new friends, the people of Warfang, and to hopefully bring about a new era of peace and prosperity for all.” He placed his claw against his chest. “For those of you who don’t know me, I am Ambassador Gregory of the Griffon Empire. I have offered my ship as neutral ground for these proceedings, and as such, there are a few regulations that must be observed.” He glanced at Captain Rippler and Ember for a moment before continuing. “One: there is to be no shouting matches on this ship. I understand that tensions are high and tempers can flare, but we are all civilized beings here. Conduct yourselves according to your stations. Two: whatever prejudices you have against each other, you have now left them outside of this ship. You will address each other with respect.”
Rippler rolled his eyes skyward.
Gregory scowled. “And finally, three: my patience is vast, but not unlimited. I am the mediator for these proceedings, but I have my limits. If I see any of you, and I mean any of you, acting in any way unbecoming of yourselves, I will not hesitate to have you hauled by the ears to the upper deck and roundhouse-kicked off my ship. In other words, don’t screw up.”
With that, he settled into his own seat and donned a cordial smile, steepling his talons on top of the table. “Now then...shall we begin?”
As the envoys from various nations gathered in the Grimoire, Spyro, Cynder, Sparx, and Rainbow had discreetly left Warfang behind long before, and with Cynder’s Wind Elemental abilities they were able to make great progress towards the Equestrian mainland.
Like the Rangers before them, it had only taken a few hours for the four of them to cross the Celestial Sea, with Sparx hiding in one of Rainbow’s saddlebags out of fear of being swept away by the winds whipping past them. In fact, the four of them were moving so fast, that when Rainbow asked if all Dragons in Warfang could fly this fast, Cynder had to reassure her that it was only Wind Dragons who could, as they had greater wind manipulation and flight speed than most Dragons.
Secure in the thought that her air speed record was safe for the time being, Rainbow continued to lead Spyro and Cynder to the mainland. However, once they were within sight of it, Rainbow made a sharp turn north, instead of continuing west to Ponyville like Spyro and Cynder had intended. When asked, Rainbow had explained that she knew a much faster way of getting to the Frozen North.
After another hour or so of flying, Rainbow angled downwards and pointed ahead of her, revealing a large port city near a horseshoe-shaped bay. Passing overhead, Spyro spotted several signs and billboards on buildings, revealing the city’s name: Baltimare, a bustling Pegasus city by the looks of it, with a smattering of Earth Ponies working at the dockyards.
At any other time, Spyro and Cynder would have wanted to see more of it. It was a far cry from Ponyville’s quaint and homely design, with towering spires and a small collection of taller rectangular buildings (which Rainbow called “high-rises”), and fewer parks and trees. However, time was of the essence, and any ideas of exploration the two Dragons had would have to wait for another day.
The Ponies of Baltimare paid the two Dragons little heed and simply went about their daily business, merely eyeing the newcomers with a short glance of mild curiosity before moving on. They paid them even less heed once they saw where Rainbow was leading them: a warp gate, situated in the city square in front of the town hall.
Rainbow quickly landed in front of the warp gate and pulled out a blue disc from her saddlebags, stylized with a winged, white lightning bolt. She held it up to the two Dragons and grinned. “Being a Wonderbolt has its perks besides the awesome suit and goggles,” she declared. “This pass gives me unlimited access to any and all warp gates throughout Equestria, except the more sensitive ones. We should be able to teleport straight from here to the Crystal Empire in less than ten seconds flat!”
Spryo raised an eyebrow. “Warp gate?”
Rainbow snickered as she inserted the disc into the warp gate’s central pylon. “You’ll see.”
Sparx poked his head out of her saddlebags, eyeing the pylon with wide eyes as it lit up with a holographic display in front of Rainbow. “...What the heck is that?” he asked in disbelief.
“Our ride,” Rainbow said simply, tapping the Crystal Empire’s name on the screen and stepping back. “Four, Mid Por Bog.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, the crystal on top of the pylon started to spin, and in moments all four of Baltimare’s newest visitors had vanished.
Then, a few seconds later, Spyro felt his claws touch solid ground once again, as well as a cold wind slap against his face, making him shiver. He opened his eyes and saw Cynder and Rainbow standing in front of him in the middle of another city square, only this one was surrounded with smaller houses built at odd angles and with a bright material that seemed to reflect the sunlight in a cascade of colors.
Everything around him almost seemed like it was frozen in time. There were no plants, or at least, none of the natural variety. The general air of the city was serene and quiet, and even the Ponies that wandered around the square had an odd, translucent quality to them.
And then, with a start, Spyro realized what the Ponies here were made of, and what the housing material was: crystals. The houses, the plants, even the Ponies --- they were all made out of crystals and gemstones of all kinds.
“Welcome to the Crystal Empire, and the Frozen North,” Rainbow announced, pulling a red scarf out from her saddlebags and wrapping it around her neck. “You can come out now, Sparx.”
Sparx once again poked his head out of her bags, looking as if he had just ate five butterflies and drank three times his weight in alcohol. His antennae were wilted and his gaze was haunted. “Th-th-th-that...was nuts. You Ponies are nuts...”
“Nah, I’m awesome,” Rainbow corrected. “Everypony else though? Fair game.” She faced the east and pointed ahead of her. “That big tower is where we need to go, come on.”
Cynder let out a shiver and shrugged at Spyro and Sparx. “Well, beats the hell out of being in this wind,” she said.
“Ahhh, reptiles and your cold blood,” Rainbow laughed, galloping ahead. “It’s just a gentle spring zephyr, barely a draft really. Don’t worry, we’ll be out of it soon.”
The two Dragons and still-queasy Sparx followed Rainbow down the streets of the Crystal Empire until they arrived at the base of an enormous, towering palace carved from the whitest, purest crystal Spyro had ever seen. From the very top of the palace’s central tower a beam of light emerged before spreading out in a bright blue dome over the entire city.
“Is that a shield?” Cynder asked, looking up.
“Yup, created by Princess Cadance and the Crystal Heart,” Rainbow replied, slowing down to a trot. “Speaking of which, looks like the welcoming committee is here.”
“Huh?” Spyro grunted, turning his gaze form the shield to the courtyard under the palace in front of him. Several platoons of armored Crystal Ponies had been formed up in ranks, while a tall white Unicorn with a blue mane paced in front of them. An orange Pegasus in Solar Guard plate armor hovered nearby, shouting off names from a clipboard in his hooves.
Rainbow lifted a hoof to her mouth and let out a quick, sharp whistle. The Pegasus and Unicorn turned to face her, and the Unicorn’s face lit up immediately.
“Rainbow Dash!” Shining called out to her, waving a hoof. “Long time no see. What are you...doing...” His voice trailed off as he noticed the two Dragons standing next to her. “...Here?” he finished. “What’s going on?”
“I’ll let them explain,” Rainbow said. “But first, Spyro, Cynder, meet Prince Shining Armor, Princess Cadance’s husband and co-ruler of the Empire. He’s also Twilight’s big brother. The orange Pegasus over there is Flash Sentry, captain of the Crystal Praetorians.” She motioned to Spyro and Cynder. “Shining, Flash, these are Spyro and Cynder, from Warfang.”
“Ahem.”
“Oh, and Sparx too. He’s a Dragonfly.”
“Warfang, huh?” Shining echoed. “That new Dragon city to the southeast, I guess. Well, it’s nice to meet you, but we’re kind of in the middle of something right now.”
“What’s going on?” Rainbow asked.
“We’re about to go monster hunting,” Flash replied, landing in front of them. “Some soul thing stuck in a crystal.”
Spyro and Cynder glanced at each other, and Sparx punched his right fist into his left palm. Rainbow chuckled. “What a coincidence,” she said. “So are we.”
Shining raised an eyebrow. “Come again?”
“You’re looking for a Dark Crystal, specifically one that holds the soul of monstrous Dragon known as Malefor,” Spyro explained. “You won’t be able to destroy it; only Cynder and I can. That’s why we’re here, so that we can help you. All we need to do is find it.”
“Wait a second,” Flash interrupted, turning to Shining. “Perhaps you should, you know...” He tapped his forehead twice.
Shining raised a hoof in remembrance. “Ah, right, good thought.”
Rainbow’s eyes did a very slow lap in their sockets. “We’re not Changelings, guys.”
“You can’t be too careful these days, what with Chrysalis and her cronies still being out and about,” Shining replied as his horn lit up in a light pink glow.
As before, Rainbow relaxed as the scan spell passed over her. For Spyro and Cynder, however, the sensation was an odd one. There was a tingling at the base of their claws and at their wings, and for a moment they both could swear that their throats felt a little sore. Then, moments later, the spell ended, and Shining let out a satisfied grunt. “They’re clean,” he said simply.
“That tickled,” Sparx remarked, padding himself down. “Aaaand, all of me is still here. Okay, we’re good.”
“Satisfied now?” Spyro asked.
“Yeah, I suppose you can come with. Although...” Shining glanced between the two of them, and then up at the mountains beyond the city. “It’s a big mountain range, and there’s been a lot of storms lately, not to mention all the rogue Changelings that may still be up there. This could take weeks.”
“Oh, trust me,” Cynder said, holding up a claw and closing it into a fist. Before Shining and Flash’s very eyes, the claw turned into a shadowy mist that snaked around Cynder’s head. She smirked, revealing sharp, silvery fangs. “This won’t take long at all.”