CHAPTER 8: JOURNEY TO TAMBELON
Twilight and her friends were in the halls of Canterlot Castle, preparing for their journey to Tambelon. Most of them were wearing backpacks or satchels containing necessary equipment. “Alright, everyone,” Twilight said. “Do we have everything we need?”
Applejack opened a basket strapped to her waist. “I have some of Granny’s baked apple goods in case we get hungry. I never go on a trip without ‘em.”
Twilight smiled. “Good. We can use magic to keep them nice and warm.” She turned to Starlight. “Starlight, do you have the books on Grogar?”
Starlight pulled books from her bag. “Does this answer your question?”
Twilight nodded, then turned to Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, do you have the—”
Fluttershy interrupted her. “Map?” She pulled out a map of Equestria from her satchel. “That would be a yes.”
“Perfect!”
Before Twilight could even react, Pinkie jumped in front of her. “And I packed cupcakes!” she exclaimed. “Every cupcake is decorated in a unique way to represent each of us!”
Twilight smiled. “Wow, Pinkie. That’s great!”
“You’re welcome! I’m happy to see you smile, especially with all that’s going on.” Pinkie looked at what seemed to be a stained-glass window. “AlphaWerePlayer sure does have a twisted story here, huh?”
Trixie raised an eyebrow. “Uh… who are you talking to?”
Pinkie smiled nervously and walked to another part of the hallway.
Discord was staring at the site where the Bewitching Bell went missing. Fluttershy walked beside him and put a hoof on his eagle claw. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Just seeing this… it reminds me that I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my past.”
Fluttershy smiled. “You’ve changed, Discord. You’re not the villain you once were.”
“I know, but I still can’t help but feel as though Twilight will never forgive me.” He shed a tear and looked down at Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, if this is our last time together, there’s something I need to tell you… I lo—”
Discord was cut off by Sunset, who was standing in the doorway. “Hey. I just wanted to tell you two that we’re about to go.”
“Just a minute, Sunset,” Fluttershy said. She turned back to Discord. “What were you going to tell me?”
Discord sighed before shaking his head. “Nothing. Just that you’re my best friend.”
Fluttershy smiled and hugged Discord. “You’re mine too!”
The two shared a hug before exiting the room.
Twilight was standing in front of her friends. “Alright, is everypony ready?”
“Yep!” Spike replied.
“I’m always ready!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” Flash said.
“Wait,” Rarity said. She placed a few gems in her satchel. “Okay. Now I’m ready, darling.”
Twilight smiled. “Good. Then let’s go to Tambelon!”
The Legion of Doom were gathered around the large courtyard of Tambelon. Grogar smiled menacingly. “My loyal followers! With the magic I have gained from the Crystal Heart and the pieces of Queen Chrysalis’ throne, I finally have enough power to resurrect my army! But first, I must revive someone who served me during the wars.”
“Who?” Cozy asked.
“The very general who helped me lead the Troggles to begin with—General Bray!”
Grogar charged his Bewitching Bell. Black and yellow magic emerged from it and created what seemed to be a donkey skeleton. In mere seconds, skin formed around it, and it opened its green eyes. Around the donkey’s head was a medieval-style orange hood. The donkey smiled.
“Where am I?” he asked. Looking around him, he saw the Legion of Doom and heard Grogar chuckling. “Master? You have returned!” Bray kneeled before Grogar.
“Yes, my old friend. Indeed, I have.”
Bray looked around at the ruins of Tambelon. “What has happened to our home?”
“My trusted ally, we have been gone for over a millennium!”
“Over 1,000 years?” Bray looked around at the villains, who remained silent so as to not invoke Grogar’s wrath. “Who are these creatures?”
“My legion. Villains who have one thing in common: they desire vengeance against a common foe.”
“And who is that foe, master?”
“A young princess by the name of Twilight Sparkle. She has taken the role of leader of this land.”
“So, Ponyland is still ruled by alicorns?”
“Indeed, my friend. The daughters of King Cosmos and Queen Galaxia have only recently stepped down from their throne.”
Bray’s eyes opened wide. “Those young mares who were barely able to walk when you were banished have ruled this land for a millennium?”
“Yes, and the three pony tribes have formed Ponyland into Equestria, a place of ‘friendship and harmony.’ But now that I have you by my side, and once I revive our army, it shall become the Empire of Tambelon once more!”
The heroes were at Canterlot’s train station waiting for the Friendship Express. “I still don’t see why we can’t just use magic to get there,” Rainbow Dash groaned.
“We’ve already been over this, Rainbow,” Twilight responded, “Tambelon is too far to teleport to. Discord can’t even do it.”
Discord frowned. “Actually, I can, but Grogar can detect magic from miles away. It would be too much of a risk, so we have to plan ahead.”
“Since when does the all-powerful Discord ever plan?” Trixie mocked.
Discord frowned. “That was one time. I’ve learned my lesson since then.”
Starlight smiled. “We’ve all learned something since that day.”
Flash walked over to Twilight. “Is everything okay with you, Princess? You seem… worried.”
“I suppose I’m just scared about all of this. Grogar stole my niece, attacked the Crystal Empire, and practically ran the changelings out of their own hive!” Twilight frowned. “I’m just worried that I’m not enough.”
Flash put a hoof on Twilight’s foreleg. “You are enough. I mean, you and your friends have been saving Equestria for longer than I’ve served in the Crystal Guard. So if anyone can do this, it’s you, Princess.”
Twilight blushed and smiled. “Please, Flash, call me Twilight.”
“Okay, Twilight.”
As Flash walked away, Sunset approached Twilight. “Twilight,” she said, “if you like Flash, you need to tell him how you feel.”
“I don’t know. What if he doesn’t like me back?”
“You’ll never know until you try. He might be like Flash in my world.”
“I’ll think about it, Sunset. Thanks for trying to help though.”
“Anytime.”
Fluttershy approached the two. “Are you two about ready? It’s almost time for the train to arrive.”
“Just a moment, Fluttershy,” Twilight replied.
“Alright, I’ll talk to you on the train.”
Just then, the Friendship Express arrived at the station. “All aboard!” yelled the conductor.
The heroes entered the train and sat down. Sunset, Starlight, and Trixie were sitting together. “So,” Trixie said, “what do you think Tambelon will be like?”
Starlight frowned. “If it’s anything like how Discord described it, I’d say it’ll be pretty bad. Especially with Grogar around.”
“Well, we have something that Grogar doesn’t,” Sunset replied.
“And what’s that?” Trixie asked.
“Each other. I know that together, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.”
Starlight smiled. “You’re right, Sunset. Grogar may be strong, but we’re stronger.”
Suddenly, the three saw a familiar face enter the train car—it was a yellow and white unicorn with a messy orange mane and blue robe that matched his eyes. He walked over to the three mares. “Hello, everypony.”
“Sunburst!” Starlight exclaimed. “What are you doing here? And if you’re here, then who’s in charge of the School of Friendship?”
“I was actually able to get Chancellor Neighsay to take over while I came here to help all of you. And I promise, he is actually going to run the school fairly this time. He’s learned his lesson.”
“Well, that’s good.” Starlight smiled. “Sit with us, we’re on our way to Tambelon.”
“As in the Tambelon? The city where Emperor Grogar came from?”
“Yep, and now you’re coming with us!” Trixie exclaimed.
“Well, I guess I am.” Sunburst sat down beside Sunset.
“Hello. You’re Sunburst?” Sunset asked.
“Yes. And you are?”
“Sunset Shimmer. I came from the Human World.”
“Fascinating. What’s it like?”
Sunset smiled. “Prepare yourself, because what I’m about to tell you will blow your mind.”
In Grogar's throne room, Grogar and Bray were looking into the former’s Crystal Ball, which brought up an image of Twilight and her friends. “So these are the ponies who pose a threat to you? They seem so harmless.”
“Do not underestimate them, Bray. They have succeeded time and time again against the villains whom I have brought together.”
“Pardon my curiosity, master, but what use are these villains to your master plan?”
“They are nothing but mere tools to get what I want. In time, they shall become useless to our cause.”
Bray raised an eyebrow. “And what of them then? Do you plan to kill them? Imprison them?”
Grogar smiled. “I have a much… worse fate in mind. I plan to absorb their very energy, which shall make me the most powerful being in Equestria once again. That, and the power of the Blood Torch, shall give me enough power to open a portal to the Dark Netherworld.”
“The Dark Netherworld? So, you plan to—”
“Yes, my friend. I shall use my power to banish those ponies to it, and they shall take the Fallen One’s place. He shall return, and once he does, all of Equestria shall be ours for the taking!”
Bray frowned. “Master, that is devious!” His frown quickly turned into a grin. “I love it!”
Grogar and Bray both began laughing maniacally; the Fallen One would be pleased.