//------------------------------//
// Chapter 10: Refugees in Crisis 
// Story: The Ending of the End Revised, or Be Careful with what you wish for. 
// by SaburoDaimando 
//------------------------------//


Refugees in Crisis



“What were you thinking in trusting them?  Especially after what Cozy Glow did at the School of Friendship?”
Those words came out of one Sandbar, who stood by his fellow classmates.  The friendship students looked at Princess Celestia in the throne room, who had Chrysalis, Tirek, Midnight Sparkle and Cozy Glow right behind her, while Starswirl, Sunset Shimmer, Luna, Starlight Glimmer and Queen Novo were on her left side.  Next to Princess Celestia was the Bewitching Bell which levitated in the air.
“Yeah,” Smolder said.  “After all that happened when she drained the magic of Equestria for her own selfish goals, you’re taking her side?”
“Unfortunately yes,” Princess Celestia said.  “It’s a situation that’s far dire than any of us can realize.”
“BIg Pony talking about protesters across Equestria, right?” Yona asked.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Starswirl said.  “Neigh Nanners has acquired an artifact known as the Emotion Amplifier.  He has placed a number of Equestrians under his control, and now I fear they will march towards Canterlot with the goal of overthrowing all of us.”
“I still can’t believe all of this,” Gallus said as he looked at Midnight Sparkle.  “It’s one thing for Twilight to turn evil.  But for this Neigh Nanners guy to come in and do what he wants?”
“I don’t feel safe in Equestria anymore,” Silverstream said.  She ran up to Queen Novo and said “Aunt Novo. Is there a way I can return back to Mount Aris?”
Queen Novo turned her head away as she said “I’m afraid not.  I just got a report that a number of hippogriffs are protesting my decision to forgive Twilight for her crimes long ago, calling for me to step down. A civil war is about to break loose there and my daughter Princess Skystar had to flee the kingdom.  I cannot put you at risk by coming back home.”
“WHAT?” Silverstream yelled before she fainted.
Gallus quickly ran up to Silverstream and fanned her face with his claw.  He looked up at Queen Novo and said “If that’s the case, does that mean the same is happening to the other kingdoms?”
Princess Luna was quick to walk up to Gallus as she said “Unfortunately, yes.  Besides Seaquestria and Mount Aris, there have been reports of protests happening across the other kingdoms.  Griffinstone, the Changeling Hive, Yakyakistan and the Dragon lands were recently spotted with a number of protests, be it pony, griffin, hippogriff, dragon, changeling or yak.  Even the Peaks of Peril and Kludgetown are filled with the stench of mob mentality.”
“Well what are we supposed to do when even Yak turn on Yak?” Yona asked in anxiety.  “Yona not like this kind of mindless violence.”
“I…I don’t know,” Ocellus said.  “I’m hoping that King Thorax or his brother Pharynx would have the answers to this Emotion Amplifier.”
“Listen kid,” Queen Chrysalis said.  “Even if I was still your queen, I wouldn’t have the answers either on how to beat back that magic.  All I knew was that I hid it away because it would poison us all.”
Ocellus could barely look up at Queen Chrysalis as she said “But why?  Why did he get his hooves on the stone?”
Starlight Glimmer walked up to Ocellus and said “You have every right to hate me, Thorax, Trixie and Discord.  But it was all of us who broke the Emotion Amplifier loose and released it into the world.  Something I wish we never did.”
As Starlight Glimmer turned her back on Ocellus, the little changeling filly placed her hoof on the lilac unicorn’s shoulder, stopping her in place.  Starlight turned to face Ocellus, who looked stern, but not upset.
“Starlight,” Ocellus said.  “It’s not your fault.  You didn’t know that there was an emotion amplifier.  I don’t think I did either.”  Those words did cause Chrysalis to pause for a moment.
“But,” Starlight said, only for Ocellus to stop her.
“No butts,” Ocellus said.  “We all make mistakes from time to time.  We learn to live with them or correct what we did.  What matters is that we find a way to counter that magic and save all of us.”
As Ocellus continued to speak to Starlight, Queen Chrysalis reflected on Ocellus’ words and went into a deep thought.
“Is it true?” Chrysalis said to herself.  “By not telling my subjects where the amplifier was prior to the throne’s destruction, I put them in more danger?  Maybe I should have hid the artifact at the ends of the planet to ensure no fool would have obtained it.  I don’t know what to think now.”
Suddenly, everyone heard the voice of Discord yelling out “Will you all keep it down already?  I have a splitting headache from what that Neigh Nanners guy said to me.”  They all turned their heads towards a nearby doorway, where Discord walks in holding an ice pack on his head.
Discord looked up and saw the faces of Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow.  His eyes burned like fire, he snarled like an angry dragon as  he threw the ice pack down on the group.
“YOU!” Discord yelled as Tirek and Cozy Glow ran up to Queen Chrysalis.  “So you think taking my magic away was humiliating enough?  I bet you three came here to turn me to stone ,didn’t ya?”
Immediately, Princess Celestia ran up in between Discord and the three villains as she held the bell by her side.
“Discord, stop,” Celestia said.  “Right now, we have no choice, but to trust Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow.”
“Are you insane?” Discord yelled. “You chewed me out for uniting these three together, and now you want to play nice-nice with them?  What were you thinking?”
“Oh I don’t know,” Celestia said with a smirk.  “I felt like that stunt of yours wasn’t enough.  And so I figured ‘Why not one-up Discord and forge a truce with three of the most dangerous foes in Equestria?’  Bright idea, wasn’t it?”
Everyone in the room stared at Princess Celestia like she had gone mad, including Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow, who were disturbed by the Alicorn’s own words.
“Honestly,” Cozy Glow said.  “You’re really making me nostalgic for Tartarus.”
Celestia looked at Cozy Glow and said in a snarky tone “Well excuse me for wanting to have a bit of fun in my life.”
Princess Celestia levitated the bell next to her and walked up to Discord.  The spirit of chaos took notice in the bell and looked excited.
“Discord,” Celestia said.  “I’ll give you back your magic under one condition.”
“Name it,” Discord said.
“Until this matter of Neigh Nanners is resolved,” Princess Celestia said.  “You are not to go after Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow.  Understand?”
Discord slumped down.  He looked at the three villains, who turned their heads away.  Then back to the bell.  Discord then looked up at the Princess.
“You’re kidding, right?” Discord asked.  “Even after the criticism I got for releasing those three in the first place?”
“Yes,” Celestia said with a smile.  “I learned from you very well.”
“Uggh,” Discord said in a grumpy tone.  “Fine.”
Princess Celestia pointed the bewitching bell at Discord and rang it with her magic, causing Discord’s magic to shoot back into the draconequus, who flashed brightly and became excited.  The moment Discord returned to normal, he flew up in the air, laughing with a jolly tone.
“YESSSS!”  Discord yelled.  “The Spirit of Chaos is back baby.”
With a snap of his fingers, Discord was dressed in a sombrero and poncho and held a trumpet in his left hand.  He played a catchy, festive tune on the trumpet.  Below, a couple of guards are playing on guitars, matching Discord’s trumpet playing, while Yona and Silverstream danced together.
“I’d say, a little fiesta is needed to brighten up the mood,” Discord said.
Discord looked down and saw Celestia giggling to herself with Luna playfully rolling her eyes.  But he took a notice at Midnight Sparkle, causing him to pause.
“Hold it,” Discord said, causing the mariachi guards to pause.
Discord flew over to Midnight Sparkle, who tried to cover her face.  
“The last time I saw you,” Discord said.  “You whacked me around with a vengeance.  Now, you look pitiful.”
Midnight Sparkle held her hoof in front of Discord as she covered her face with her other arm, confusing the Spirit of Chaos
“Was it because I put you on the track to becoming a villain?” Discord asked.
“It’s worse than you realize,” Princess Celestia said as she walked through the crowd and up to Discord.  “Neigh Nanners has been preying on Twilight ever since that incident at the failed Summer Sun Celebration.  When she had Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow by her side, Twilight tried to take his Emotion Amplifier.”
“And the only problem was,” Queen Chrysalis said.  “Neigh Nanners was onto her.  He spied on her from the very beginning, and used us for his own agenda.”
“And not just that,” Cozy Glow said. “When Chrysalis said that Neigh Nanners spied on her, she wasn’t kidding.  He placed a spark of magic on the back of her head just to do that with that gemstone of his .”
“Wait,” Discord said in confusion.  “Is this true? Using this so-called Emotion Amplifier?”
“It’s true,” Princess Celestia said.  “Stygian discovered this while scanning Grogar’s lair on Twilight’s mane.  I was more appalled by this compared to what you did, Discord.”
Discord looked like he was about to pop a blood vessel.  He shook violently as he reached and grabbed onto a nearby pillar, only for him to dig right into the base, tearing it off.  Everyone else backed off sans Celestia, who only approached him.
“Discord,” Celestia said.  “I know what you’re thinking.  You want to go all out with your magic after what he did.”
“That’s an understatement,” Discord said as he struggled to contain himself.  
“Then you should know this,” Celestia said.  “Twilight tried to use your magic to control his mob.  But it had no effect.”
Discord calmed down a bit.  He looked down at Midnight Sparkle, who only turned her head away.  Discord then turned towards Celestia.
“You’re kidding, right?”  Discord asked.
“It is true,” Midnight Sparkle said.  “I actually wanted to control Neigh Nanner’s mob with your magic just as payback.  But to my surprise, it was worthless.  That’s part of the reason I now question my status as a villain or a hero.”
“Well I’m not surprised that you would use my magic,” Discord said.  “But the fact that my magic had no effect on them does disturb me.”
“This isn’t just pure chaos magic, Discord,” Tirek said.  “This is worse than any of us can imagine.  I don’t know where that magic comes from, but it’s too dangerous, even for me.”
“So what are we supposed to do?” Discord asked.  “Stand here and let ourselves get buried by these mad ponies?”
“No,” Starswirl said.  “We’re going to evacuate the ponies from Canterlot to the Crystal Empire.”
“Luckily,” Princess Celestia said “I know a good place where we can get everyone out.”
Princess Celestia was about to walk up to her throne when Luna placed her hoof on her shoulder, stopping the alicorn in place.  Celestia was quick to turn towards her sister.
“Sister,” Luna said.  “I want to apologize for my outburst early ago.  I did question why you brought them here.  But after hearing about Neigh Nanners, I’m beginning to understand the dire situation we’re all in.”
“It’s okay,” Celestia said as she turned around and hugged Luna.  “I would have done the same thing had our roles been reversed.  This crisis is putting all of us at edge.”
As Celestia and Luna hugged each other, Tirek turned around and walked out towards the entrance.  This caught Novo’s attention.
“And where are you going?” Novo said in a suggestive tone.
Tirek just blew some steam from his nose with his head turned away as he said “I’m going to stand guard while you all prepare the evacuations.  If those fools are marching towards Canterlot, I’ll sound the alarm.”
With that, Tirek walked out the doorway with the others looking at him to make his exit before turning towards each other, though Chrysalis turned towards Queen Novo with her fangs bare.  Midnight Sparkle let out nothing but a depressed sigh.
“Okay okay,” Novo said in a nervous tone all while looking at Chrysalis’ teeth.  “I’ll tone it down on flirting with him.”
“Well,” Midnight Sparkle said.  “Here’s hoping the others are convincing the refugees that it’s time to evacuate.”
Sunset looked out and said “If this happened in the human world, some may not like that idea.  But then again, I think humans and ponies may have more in coming.”
Celestia turned to Sunset and said “Don’t worry.  I don’t think anything like that would happen.  That being said, I have sent Flash Magnus and Somnambula out on scout patrol.  Once they know that they’re coming, we’ll commence the evacuations.” 
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna walked up to the wall behind the throne.  With their magic, they opened a secret compartment, to the surprise of everyone.
“Follow me,” Celestia said.  “We have work to do.”

“We have to do what?”
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Diamond Tiara stood in total shock as Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and Spike stood at the doorway of a guest bedroom.  The four fillies looked like they were about to collapse on the bed from the revelation.
“I wish Canterlot was safe for the four of you,” Fluttershy said.  “But with Neigh Nanners most likely on his way with a horde of ponies under his control, well….”
“IT’S GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST PARTY CRASH IN EQUESTRIAN HISTORY!” Pinkie Pie yelled.
“So first we had to make a run for it from Ponyville to Canterlot,” Sweetie Belle said.  “And now we have to evacuate to the Crystal Empire?”
“Woah woah woah,” Scootaloo said.  “Unlike last time, there’s going to be some protesters blocking the train from escaping.”
“Scootaloo’s right,” Diamond Tiara said.  “How the hay are we going to get out when they will have the escape routes blocked?”
“Well that’s easy,” Pinkie Pie said.  She took a deep breath in and added in a real fast tone “Princess Celestia has an underground railroad that she built between Canterlot and The Crystal Empire some time after Cadance and Shining Armor became rulers just in case something like this would happen.  Unlike the railway that goes to the Crystal Empire, this one goes underneath the ground like a subway of some sort.  This way, those meanies won’t be able to notice that we slipped away and we can go ‘HAH HAH HAH’ right in their imaginary faces, all while we remain safe at the Crystal Empire and figure a way to reverse the Emotion Amplifier.”
With that, Pinkie Pie fell back and collapsed, with Rarity grabbing her from behind.  The fillies just looked at each other with total confusion on their faces.
“Long story short,” Rarity said.  “It’s an alternative route that’s safe from those mad mobs.”
“But what would happen if they found out?” Apple Bloom asked.  “And what will be of the rest of the Apple Family?”
“Don’t you worry,” Spike said.  “I bet the rest of the Apple Family outside of Ponyville have already escaped from the mob and went into hiding.”
Apple Bloom did nothing but give a cold look at Spike, who only grinned.
“Okay,” Spike said to himself.  “Bad idea to reassure the fillies.”
“I know you were trying hard to do that,” Diamond Tiara said.  “But I’m still worried about my parents, and Silver Spoon.  What if they became a part of the mob?  What if they reject me?”
“Tiara,” Rainbow Dash said.  “We’ll get them back, we all promise.  Just like we did with another filly.”
“Another filly?” Apple Bloom asked.  “What do you mean by that?”
“Well,” Rainbow Dash said.  “I was gonna bring her here, but Applejack insisted on getting her to the surviving Apple Family members before coming here.”
The moment Rainbow Dash finished speaking, Applejack popped in outside the doorway to wave to Apple Bloom, catching the filly’s attention.
“Apple Bloom,” Applejack yelled.  “Someone’s here to see you.  And I think you know who it is.”
Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy moved out of the way as Babs Seed walked through the mares.  Apple Bloom took a hard look at Babs Seed and her face popped with excitement.  She jumped into the air and screamed with joy.
“BABS!”  Apple Bloom yelled as she ran up and gave Babs Seed a hug.
“How’s it, cous?”  Babs Seed said as she held onto her cousin.  
Apple Bloom’s eyes watered and ran down her cheeks as she and Babs Seed held onto each other.  
“So what happened?” Apple Bloom asked.  “How were you able to get here?”
“You will not believe the story that came out of me,” Babs said.  “It’s a doozy.”
Babs opened her eyes to see Diamond Tiara on a nearby bed with her head turned away, catching the tomboy’s attention.
“I know you,” Babs Seed said as she released her arms from Apple Bloom and walked up to Diamond Tiara, surprising the rough apple’s cousin.  “Long ago, you convinced me to take your side and bully my own cousin and her friends.”
“That was long ago,” Diamond Tiara said.  “But since then, I continued to do that until I realized that I was in the wrong, not just from losing my only friend, but also from how cruel my own mother was.”
“And believe it or not,” Apple Bloom said.  “Helping out Diamond Tiara recognize the purpose of her cutie mark got me and the other crusaders to win ours.”
“Because of that,” Diamond Tiara said.  “I’ve given more respect to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, not only for helping me out, but also because I ironically helped them out in return.”  
Diamond Tiara got on her four hooves and jumped off the bed.  She looked Babs Seed square in the eye and said “But that doesn’t excuse what Silver Spoon and I did to you long ago.  Back when I was a prime grade bully.  I was a horrible child then, who was willing to emotionally hurt the Cutie Mark Crusaders for my own amusement.  IF you don’t wish to accept my apology for what I did, you have every right not to.”
Diamond Tiara turned back around and jumped back on the bed before lying down on it.  Babs Seed, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo just looked at her with pity.
“Hey Diamond,” Babs said as she walked up to Diamond Tiara.  “What you did was wrong, as what I did.  I was harsh on you after I realized that I was in the wrong.  But the fact that you chose to atone for what you did says a whole lot.  I’d say you’re okay in my book.”
Diamond Tiara turned towards Babs Seed and cracked a faint smile as a tear fell from her eye.  She let out a silent “Thanks” before turning her head away.
“If you want to know what happened,” Sweetie Belle said.  “Silver Spoon was forced to move away with her parents a few days ago.  And just recently, Diamond Tiara was separated from hers before we all had to escape Ponyville because of those crazed protesters.”
“She what?” Babs Seed said.  “You’re kidding me, right?”
“That’s the reason why she’s depressed,” Scootaloo said.  “We’ve felt sorry for her before.  But not like this.  On the one hoof, we’ve been trying to cheer her up to at least give her some happiness.  But on the other hoof, we’ve been all going through this wild ride, and we kept getting constant reminders on why we’re in this situation.”
“Wow, now that you think about it,” Babs Seed said as she turned towards Diamond Tiara and placed her hoof on her shoulder  “I too feel sorry for her after hearing what happened.”
“That reminds me,” Apple Bloom said.  “How did you escape?”
Babs Seed kept her hoof on Diamond’s shoulder as she turned to face her cousin.  She blew the tip of her mane in the air and said “Believe it or not, I was under Neigh Nanners’ control.”   Those words caused Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Diamond Tiara to jump up, with Diamond’s actions causing Babs to lose her grip on the filly’s shoulder.
“That meanie did that to you?” Diamond Tiara yelled.
“I can’t seem to recall what I did when I was under control,” Babs Seed said.  “But it felt like I was some kind of mindless zombie, spewing propaganda from my mouth that even I didn’t understand.  And even worse, I felt like I lost my freedom when I was under his spell.  I tried to break free, but it was hopeless.”
“If that was the case,” Apple Bloom said.  “How did you break free?”
Babs Seed scratched the back of her head and said “Well a centaur of some sort grabbed me and sucked the cursed magic right out of me before belching it into the sky.”
“Centaur?” Diamond Tiara said.  “The only one I can recall was Tirek, who destroyed our playground when he first invaded.”
“Even if it is him,” Babs Seed said.  “It did feel weird to be saved by one of Equestria’s greatest villains ever.  And despite that, I feel like I owe him a lot for snapping me out of my trance.”
Apple Bloom quickly turned around and darted out the door, catching the Mane Five and Spike off guard.  Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Diamond Tiara and Babs Seed watched as the apple bumpkin ran towards the window.
“Apple Bloom,” Applejack said.  “What are you doing?”
“Checking to see in case Tirek decided to take a hike,” Apple Bloom said as she got up on a nearby table just to look outside the window.
“Woah woah woah,” Rainbow Dash said.  “Trusting Tirek of all creatures?  What are you thinking?”
Rarity walked up to Apple Bloom and said “You are making a terrible mistake young lady.  Though I’d say the same thing about Princess Celestia and…”
“Found him,” Apple Bloom said as she jumped off the stand and ran down the hallway, leaving almost everyone caught off guard.
“Let her go,” Spike said. 
“Spike,” Fluttershy said.  “What are you thinking?”
“Well considering that Tirek is in no mood to betray us,” Pinkie Pie said before Rarity covered the pink pony’s mouth with her hoof.
 “Now is not a good time to lead us into a false sense of security.”   Rarity said nervously.   “You don’t want to jinx us, do you?”
Pinkie Pie took Rarity’s hoof off her mouth and said “Jinx?  Me?  If you wanted to jinx me with Tirek, good luck with that.”
Suddenly, Diamond Tiara ran out of the room and down the hallway, following Apple Bloom from behind.
“Diamond,” Applejack yelled.  “Where on earth are you going?”
“To meet this Tirek,” Diamond Tiara yelled.  “Don’t worry.  I’ll be alright.”
The whole group stood still as they watched Diamond Tiara run down the hallway.  Babs Seed barely emerged with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo right behind her.
“If you wanna ask why she ran off,” Babs Seed said.  “She said something about helping Apple Bloom thank Tirek for freeing me.”
Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy all fainted in unison.  Pinkie Pie and Spike stood there, looking down at their fallen comrades.
“Did you ever have one of those days?” Spike asked.
“Been there, done that,” Pinkie Pie said.

Outside in the vicinity of Canterlot City, Lord Tirek stood facing the east as the sun began to set in the west.  He let out a big sigh before he wiped the sweat from his forehead.  
“Never thought I would live to see this day,” Tirek said.  “First I emerged as a big shot villain after double crossing the one foe who turned out to be Discord, and now a new villain emerged and knocked me off my pedestal.  To top it all off, I’ve forged a truce with the ponies of Equestria.”
Tirek looked around him, watching as the ponies of Canterlot ran into their homes and shops in fear of the centaur’s presence.  One by one, the mares and stallions screamed at the sight of Tirek and took cover, all while the big guy just stood there, not minding them one bit.
“Maybe I should have stayed in Tartarus,” Tirek said.  “At least it’s better than having to put up with mind-controlled equines.”
As Tirek watched the citizens of Canterlot hide away in their houses, his ears perked up, as if someone was calling his name.  Tirek turned around to see Apple Bloom running towards him with Diamond Tiara right behind her.
“What are fillies lke you doing out here?” Tirek said as Apple BLoom and Diamond Tiara came to a stop.  “You know what kind of danger you’re all in.”
“I know, but I came out here to say this to you,” Apple Bloom said.  “Thanks for saving my cousin Babs Seed.”
“To…thank me?” Tirek said in a bit of shock.  “No one has ever thanked me before”
“Then consider me the first,” Apple Bloom said.  “I know back then what you were.  A big bully who wanted power for himself, even to take advantage of others.  But deep on the inside, you just have a heart of gold that you hide deep within you.”
Tirek was at a loss for words.  He turned his gaze towards Diamond Tiara, who looked up at the big guy.
“I may not have been as big and powerful as you,” Diamond Tiara said.  “But I also had the makings of a bully.  I wanted to feel powerful.  I wanted to feel respected.”
“I’m actually surprised,” Tirek said.  “Not just when it comes to Cozy Glow, but also you.  Never thought I’d say this, but there is a lot in common with all of us.  That being said, why’d you turn over a new leaf?”
“Because I saw how much of a monster I was,” Diamond Tiara said.  “I was no better than I realized, and it hurt the only friend I had.”
“Tirek,” Apple Bloom said.  “You see yourself as an irredeemable monster.  But because of what you did today, I’d say you’re not a monster.  Just a misguided soul.”
“You say this to me,” Tirek said.  “Even at the risk of losing your magic and your cutie marks.”
“Yes,” Apple Bloom said.  “Even if I become a blank flank once more, I’m saying this because you need a friend more than you realize.”
“And if Apple Bloom decides to become a blank flank just because she sympathizes with you,” Diamond Tiara said.  “Then I wish to join her as well.”
Tirek bent down and grabbed both Apple BLoom and Diamond Tiara.  The two just looked up at him not with fear in their eyes, but sympathy.  He picked them up and looked down at them for a moment.
“I….I can’t,” Tirek said.  “After the pain I went through draining that spell off of that filly, I’m not willing to risk it.”
Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara smiled as Tirek placed the two down.  The fillies ran up and hugged Tirek right on the legs as a smile barely cracked on the centaur’s face.
“Maybe I have a soft spot for younglings,” Tirek said to himself.  “First Cozy Glow, then this Babs Seed fellow, and now these two.  Why my life didn’t start like this is beyond me.”
Suddenly, Flash Magnus and Somnambula flew in from the southeast part of Equestria and hovered near Tirek.  The two pegasi looked like they were on high alarm.
“Tirek,” Apple Bloom said as she looked up.  “What’s going on?”
“I’ll tell you one thing,” Somnambula said. “They’re coming.”
“Neigh Nanners’ mob?” Diamond Tiara asked.
“Yes,” Flash Magnus said.  “We need to sound the alarm and prepare the evacuations.”
Without warning, Tirek grabbed Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara, placing both fillies on his shoulders as Flash Magnus and Somnambula flew towards the castle.  Tirek raised his front left leg into the air and smashed it down on the ground, attracting the attention of every citizen within the vicinity.
“Listen up,” Tirek yelled.  “This city is going to be invaded by the Cult of Neigh Nanners.  If you value your lives, you would flee towards the palace.  NOW!”
Without a second thought, the citizens of Canterlot grabbed what they could and ran out of their homes towards the palace.  Tirek stepped aside, watching everyone run as fast as possible while Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara held onto the centaur’s shoulder. 
“It’s a start,” Tirek said to the two fillies.
“Now come on,” Diamond Tiara said.  “We’ve got to get back to the others.”
As soon as the city was deserted of all citizens, who are now nearing the entrance of the castle, Tirek ran off towards the palace gates with Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara holding on tight.


	To Be Continued