//------------------------------//
// Episode 20: "The Return of Queen Opaline, Part 3" 
// Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Season 14 
// by twilightsparkle3562 
//------------------------------//

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PREVIOUSLY ON "MY LITTLE PONY"

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Starswirl: He's trying to silence Persus' spirit, but I won't let that happen! Perseus is strong willed…if he was able to survive all this time."

Luna: "It might be Calibos. I knew it, it was a trick!"

Starswirl: "We must stop Calibos at all costs!"

Mayor Candy: "Queen Opaline is only fifty miles away from here according to intelligence. I can assure you that Maretime Bay is safe and secure, at least for the time being."

Applejack: "This isn't our first rodeo, Mr. Mayor."

Starlight Glimmer: "Who and what are they?!"

Tenga: "Nice to meet you! We're the Tengas!"

Lord Zedd: "I hope this plan of yours works, Vile."

Master Vile: "Much more than you realize."

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At the Treehouse of Friendship, Starswirl, Starlight and the ex-royal sisters fought valiantly against the Tengas, firing blasts of magic at the humanoid birds and trying to beat them back.

Using their hind legs, Celestia and Luna managed to beat a few back against the ground.

"These creatures don't know when to quit!" Luna snapped as she shook a Tenga off of her back, knocking it to the ground.

"Back! Back you foul beasts!" Celestia shouted before swatting a Tenga away with her horn. "I warn you! You will not stop us!"

Using her wits, Starlight managed to lead several Tengas away from the treehouse, right to the edge of a cliff overlooking a neighboring valley.

"Oh boy, this oughta be fun!" The Tengas cried as they flew towards her. But then, using a teleportation spell, Starlight disappeared from view of the Tengas, and before they could stop themselves they plunged over the cliff, into the gorge below.

"You guys are so stupid! I can't believe that actually worked!" Starlight laughed only to hear the sounds of growling coming from behind the bushes. "Who's there?" Firing several beams of magic, Starlight attempted to find the source of the disturbance. Then, without warning suddenly, a rope emerged from the bush and was tied around her neck!

"What the…?" Starlight groaned as she tried to pull against whoever or whatever was in the bush, the noose tightening as she struggled in vain! "Let go of me!"

"You cannot escape me!" The voice cried out in a menacing tone. And then, emerging from the bushes stood a half-pony/half-monster like creature covered in brown fur. Starlight felt her heart sink upon seeing the creature's ugly nature. "I am Calibos…and I have come for my revenge."

Just then, several more Tengas emerged from the forest and threw a net over Starlight! As she tried to light up her horn, Starlight found herself being more and more restrained by the Tengas as they screeched and kicked her multiple times, breaking her concentration as pain surged through her body.

Just then, Starlight watched Calibos take out a horn and blew on it loudly enough for it to be heard all the way from the Treehouse of Friendship.

"What's that?!" Luna cried as she kicked away another Tenga. "Who's out there?!"

"For that matter, where's Starlight?" Celestia asked her younger sister, but she didn't have time to process as several Tengas kicked her to the ground. "You birds sicken me, you know that?!"

But up in the treehouse, Starswirl recognized the sound of the horn as he blew the Tengas restraining him back with an explosive spell! As the crows screeched, Starswirl teleported out of the treehouse and rejoined his students.

"It's him," Starswirl whispered, helping Celestia up to her feet. "It's Calibos. He's finally shown up!"

Just then, the horn sounded again and the Tengas stopped fighting.

"What's going on?" Luna questioned as she noticed the Tengas pulling back. "What's happening?"

Just then, they noticed the Tengas getting down on their knees and bowing to Calibos as he emerged from the forest. "Hail Prince Calibos, son of Sombra and Opaline, whoever they are!" The Tengas all chanted.

"They are my parents," Calibos roared in a loud voice, taking a whip and cracking it loudly. "The true rulers of the Crystal Empire and for that matter…Equestria! All will bow to me, to my family!" He then cracked the whip again and the Tengas all flew away.

"Calibos," Starswirl snarled, advancing towards the cursed creature "Where is Perseus?! What have you done with him?!"

But Calibos found Starswirl's pleas somewhat amusing. "Must you make demands to me…a prince?" He snickered and snarled. "I expect more out of you Starswirl, as a pillar and sorcerer. Surely, in your old age, you have not gone senile."

"Answer his questions!" Celestia sternly snapped as she stood up, horn charged and at the ready. "What did you do to Perseus?! For your sake, you best not have done anything to his spirit! Or you won't have to worry about waiting for your parents, because you'll suffer what they suffered!"

"Nothing for the moment," Calibos taunted. "But you'll soon see what I have planned for him, for you will all be joining him soon in my shadow dungeon. I will have my revenge for what you did to my family!"

He then turned around and the Tengas carrying Starlight emerged from the forest, the captured unicorn struggling in the net. "And I trust this pony is with you?" He remarked and pointed at Starlight, much to Celestia and Luna's irritation. "It would be most unfortunate if she were to suffer my wrath! As Perseus can attest, I can be quite unforgiving in such circumstances."

"Let her go, Calibos!" Luna shouted as she stomped a hoof! "Your battle is with us, not her! Starlight only came along to assist us. But we can defeat you with or without her! And if you hurt her, nothing will save you from destruction!"

"Oh, but this is her battle too," Calibos chuckled. "For too long, revenge has been on our minds. But that all ends! My family will be restored to power! Why waste my breath trying to fight you all when I can show you what fate awaits those who defy my family?!"

He then flung his whip and the Tengas threw ropes and nets on Celestia, Luna and Starswirl, quickly subduing them. "And there will be nothing you can do to stop us," Calibos added. "Come…Perseus is waiting for you all." And then tapping into his shadow powers, Calibos teleported away with the captured pillar, ex-princesses and school headmare, but not before blowing his horn once more in victory.

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Back in Maretime Bay, the barricade to keep Queen Opaline out was nearly completed.

"Looks good, Spike." Twilight said as she came out to inspect the barricade being put together at the town entrance. Even though it mostly consisted of boards and bricks, it looked to be quite sturdy.

"Thanks, let's just hope it holds," Spike replied, before he turned and spotted a large black structure on the edge of the bay's cliff. "By the way, what's that?"

"That's the Dark Castle," Twilight answered. "Sombra and Opaline's former home outside the Crystal Empire. There's no doubt in my mind, Opaline is coming to take the castle back." As she looked at the castle, Twilight began to get herself an idea on how to discourage Opaline and Misty from getting close.

Just then, a strong easterly gust blew off the water. "If that castle hasn't been occupied for so long," Twilight thought to herself. "Then it's unsafe for anypony to enter, even somepony like Opaline," She then turned back to Spike. "Spike, do you think we can destroy it?"

"Destroy what?" Spike questioned.

"The Dark Castle," Twilight explained. "As long as it stands, Equestria is at risk from Queen Opaline. If it's destroyed, then she has no reason to return to Maretime Bay! And she won't be able to get near the Crystal Empire, the harsh winds of the Frozen North will render her fire magic useless."

"Well, it's up to you, Twilight," Spike answered in an unsure tone. "Not sure what will come of it. Just be careful, that castle could be full of dark magic or something."

Slowly, Twilight proceeded towards the castle at the edge of the cliff. In her mind, the castle's destruction would enable Equestria to be safe…at least for the moment. "Girls, come out for a moment!" Twilight called out to her friends as they all came out of Mayor Candy's house. Quickly, they all came over to Twilight. "I have an idea on how to discourage Opaline from coming here. It's a bit risky, but if it works Opaline will have no reason to come to Maretime Bay."

So Twilight relayed her plan to her friends and they each had their own opinions on the matter.

"Look Twi, I'm all for tearin' down a castle," Applejack suggested, looking over the castle. "But don't you think we'd be addin' fuel to the fire by destroyin' it? Opaline's not anywhere near it, yet. Why destroy it and risk makin' her mad?"

"I agree with Applejack," Rarity added. "It's also such an exquisite work of art."

"So was the Castle of the Two Sisters until Luna all but destroyed it as Nightmare Moon," Twilight advised. "But this castle is different. It's a castle of evil. Nopony's lived in it since Opaline was imprisoned, it's far too dangerous to let it fall back into Opaline's hooves!"

"Okay then, let's get the dynamite and blow it up to smithereens!" Pinkie Pie added, clapping her hooves together. "I call laying the first stick!"

"No," Twilight advised before turning over to Rainbow Dash. "No dynamite. That will take too long. I think a good old fashioned Sonic Rainboom will be enough to keep Opaline away. I've seen what it can do to an old barn, it should be powerful enough to destroy the castle completely."

Rainbow then flew towards the castle and inspected the area. "I think it's possible, Twilight," She said afterward as she flew back, directing most of her attention towards the top of the center sphere. "Maybe if I strike right at the sphere, it will go down just like that, like a stack of cards."

"Then do it, Rainbow!" Twilight ordered. "Destroy the castle, and Maretime Bay will be safe from Opaline's clutches! We'll have her right where we want her!"

Taking to the air, Rainbow flew high over the castle and flexed her muscles, knowing that a strong blast of a Sonic Rainboom could stem the tide before it even arrived.

"Better take cover. This might get ugly." Twilight ordered and they all headed back into the mayor's house.

However, Mayor Candy wasn't so sure. "Your highness, with all due respect," He protested, grabbing Twilight by her side. "I must strongly advise against this stunt."

"Mayor Candy, I need you to trust us on this," Twilight replied, gesturing to him to get back inside his house. "If there is any collateral damage, I can assure you the taxes will cover it."

This made the mayor's eyes widen. "You'd tax your subjects, even out here?"

"Only for situations like this, Mr. Mayor," Twilight acknowledged. "Now come on! We must get to safety! We don't wanna be anywhere near the blast site when the Sonic Rainboom drops."

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Meanwhile, Starswirl opened his eyes and found himself in a cell along with Celestia, Luna and Starlight. "Where…where are we?" He groggily asked, moving slightly before realizing he had been chained to the wall of the cell by his neck. But even though he was imprisoned, Starswirl had only one thing on his mind. "Perseus, Perseus!" He cried out. "Perseus, where are you?!" But no one heard his cries, much to Starswirl's despondence.

"Calibos, where is Perseus?! Where are you keeping him?!" Starswirl further shouted, causing further echoes to ring out through the prison. "If I ever get out of this cell, I shall destroy you if it's the last thing I do!" Just then, he heard the sounds of hoofsteps coming down. And there, standing in front of him was Calibos, his beastly form towering over their cell.

"I trust you admire the accommodations, my friends?" Calibos cruelly taunted in a growling voice.

"Calibos, where is Perseus?!" Celestia demanded, knowing that she had also been chained to the wall. "Are you afraid of us even though you have us imprisoned?! Answer the question if you're not afraid!"

"Impatience will get you nowhere, Celestia," Calibos remarked as Celestia charged at him, only to be fallen by the chains holding her, causing her to fall flat on her face. "Honestly, you should have realized that there is no escape. Welcome to my dungeon of shadows. Yes, it's a cave, but it has a double purpose."

Calibos then turned to the wall at the end of the cave. A swirling motion appeared as both Rito and Goldar emerged, and behind them was Perseus.

"Perseus!" Starswirl gasped, seeing the shocking condition that his student was in. He was alive, but his body seemed to barely be holding itself together. It bore the brunt of several scorch marks and bruises that blackened his entire coat. "It's you!"

"Oh, you know this guy? Here I thought he was just an old fool who'd seen a ghost." Rito asked.

"Who are you two?!" Starswirl bitterly demanded. "Do you work for him? For Calibos"

"Uh, no," Rito remarked while shrugging his boney shoulders. "He actually came to us."

"To you?" Starswirl questioned as he then hissed. "What is the meaning of this, Calibos?!"

Calibos looked at Starswirl and grabbed at his beard sharply, pulling as close as he could. "Much, Starswirl," He whispered. "You see, when I was cursed to become a monster after my father was overthrown and my mother and sister imprisoned, I wanted revenge, to make you suffer just like I did. So what did I do? I turned to the ruler of the M51 Galaxy himself, Master Vile and his family."

Just then, the swirling motion happened again and out stepped Master Vile, joining Calibos' side. "You've done well, Calibos," Master Vile said while patting him on the back. "Your revenge will come in due time. You are a fine addition to my army."

"How long have you had him in your custody?" Celestia cried, trying to get back to her hooves. "Answer me or I will…" She tried to activate her horn, but found that all her magic was gone. She couldn't even spark. "NO!" She screamed in frustration. "What have you done with our magic?!"

"We couldn't just have you come in armed in case you decided to do something stupid." Rito taunted, as Master Vile's scepter glowed in Celestia, Luna and Starlight's respective magic aura.

"Yeah, what he said." Goldar added.

"I've come with a proposition," Master Vile proposed with a smile. "You can secure the release of your little friend here, completely free to go his own way. But, that only happens if you surrender all of your magic to me."

"What do you plan to do with our magic?!" Starlight Glimmer demanded.

"Well, I don't want to spoil the surprise, young mare," Master Vile chuckled. "Besides, if you really want it back, I'd be happy to return it to you. But if you do, Perseus here comes back to my galaxy with us, forever!"

To Celestia and Luna, it was a no brainer.

"Let him go," Celestia demanded, much to Starswirl's surprise. "You can go ahead and take our magic. We've been without it before and we'll manage without it again. We'll never let an innocent pony suffer just to save ourselves."

Amazed, Rito and Goldar looked at each other in a confusing manner.

Honoring his end of the bargain, Master Vile cut Perseus free from his chains and Calibos threw him in the cell.

"Sister, what were you thinking?!" Luna cried. "Do you even realize what you've…?"

"-Trust me, Luna," Celestia interrupted, trying to calm her sister down. "You have to trust me on this."

"Very well," Master Vile remarked as he prepared to turn to leave. "Although I expected more of a resistance. Stay tuned, my friends, for the real fun will soon begin!" Cackling with evil glee, Master Vile, his son and the mighty golden armored winged monkey went through the spiral portal, and Calibos was left alone.

"You see, Master Vile has a little something planned for all of Equestria," Calibos grinned. "But what that is is for me to know and for you to find out, when you're too late to stop me of course." Chuckling, he left the cell and the five ponies were alone to ponder what would be coming.

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Meanwhile, as Queen Opaline continued to get closer and closer to Maretime Bay, Rainbow Dash flew high above the Dark Castle. "Okay," She said to herself. "This is probably going to be the biggest Sonic Rainboom of all Sonic Rainbooms…so I gotta get it right!"

Positioning herself, the Princess of Loyalty flew high over the castle and with a loud yell, she flew down, flying fast with a rainbow forming behind her. "FOR EQUESTRIA!" Rainbow cried as she struck the castle, causing an explosion of rainbows that engulfed the entire town!

All the citizens of Maretime Bay could do, was prepare themselves for the blast and wait for what could happen next.

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