As the group sneaks up to the meeting point, slipping past the many defenses assigned to the area, they get more and more nervous about the difficult battle ahead of them. Out of Midnight’s entire army, despite them being so powerful, she was the strongest and could easily turn the battle in her favor if she felt the need not to hold back. Plus she had an army and three Alicorns on her side and not to mention a fully grown dragon with numerous powerful abilities. More than a normal dragon.
But they’ve all learned a lot too. They know all their strengths, weaknesses, numbers, and they have a plan to counter each and every one of them. But their main weakness? The elements of harmony. With those, they could most certainly win. When they make it to the meeting point, they’re surprised to find that the others aren’t there. They start to get worried until they see Somnambula wave them over and they quickly follow her into a cave that was well-hidden. “Alright, we’re all here, so let’s go over the plan again.” Flash Magnus says and everyone looks to Twilight and Spike.
“Ok.. so while I was looking over the information, I gained knowledge of Midnight and her army’s strengths and weaknesses. Midnight apparently gets stronger the more chaos and destruction there is.” She says and that makes everyone realize something.
“Just like Discord..” Fluttershy says and Twilight nods.
“Exactly. And with Celestia.. gone.. Astelle pretty much can draw power from the sun and the alicorn amulet wherever it is since.. she’s the one who created it.” She says and she notices Trixie cringe and look away slightly but Starlight nuzzles her to assure her that she’s forgiven for the mistake of wearing that monstrous thing.
“If we cut off her connection to it or distract her from it long enough, her power will decrease and she gets weaker at night.” Twilight says and Luna goes wide-eyed.
“That explains why she was still so powerful when fighting against me and my sister.. she was drawing power from the amulet the whole time.. if only we had realized it sooner.” Luna says with a frown before she looks at Spike and Twilight. “Isn’t there some way to find the amulet? We can destroy it if we just knew where it was.” She asks and Trixie scoffs.
“You can’t destroy that thing without a huge amount of magic or force. Believe me.. I’ve tried..” Trixie says and everyone looks at each other then at her.
“Didn’t you have it mailed to me at some point?” Twilight asks and Trixie nods. “That’s it! I remember! She mailed it to me before..” Twilight says only to stop and frown.
“Before Tirek destroyed your house?” Starlight asks and Twilight facepalms and sighs.
“Before Tirek destroyed my house, yes..” Twilight says before shaking her head and trying to get back to explaining everyone’s weakness instead of just focusing on one. Once she’s done, she lets Spike explain the rest.
“While everyone else is distracted, one group should go in and steal that giant airship that they have.” He says and everyone looks at him like he has three heads.. before considering the plan.
“Hm.. it’s a risky plan.. and clever.. which one of you lot thought of this?” Rockhoof asks and Twilight smiles and nudges Rainbow Dash with a wing.
“That part was Rainbow Dash’s idea.” Twilight says and Rainbow blushes and scratches the back of her head nervously.
“Well it’s brilliant. If they don’t make you captain of the Wonderbolts after a plan like this, you’d always be welcome to join the royal guard.” Flash Magnus says and Twilight agrees.
“We’ll see how things turn out first..” Rainbow says and Twilight giggles.
“Well just know that the offer will still stand if we all make it past this.” Twilight says before winking at Rainbow Dash, causing her to freeze up and she just nods in response. “Ok.. is everyone ready?” Twilight asks and everyone nods in response and she turns to Canterlot. “Alright.. let’s go.”
As Midnight sat on her throne, she couldn’t help but feel like something was wrong. She’s been feeling that way since earlier this morning. She had even checked around her kingdom and everything seemed fine but the feeling would not stop. If anything, it had gotten worse as time went by. Astelle walks in along with Frostbite and they stop right in front of Midnight’s throne and slightly bow. “Well? Anything?” She asks and they shake their heads.
“No sign of anypony.. just like I said. I really think you’re just stressed out Midnight.” Astelle says and Midnight suddenly slams her fists down, startling them both.
“Of course I’m stressed out! When Twilight left, she stole vital information that could be used against everyone!! Against ME!!!” Midnight says as she stands up and walks past them both. “I should’ve just killed her the first chance I got!” Midnight growls, walking to one of the windows in the throne room. She sighs and holds her head in her hands. As she does this.. she notices that the feeling has gotten much much worse, causing her to have a migraine and she realizes.. it was alicorn empathy! She tries to focus on what’s causing it and she senses multiple presences, one stronger than the others.
She opens her eyes and growls in anger. “Twilight is nearby.. find her! And be careful, she’s not alone.” Midnight says and right after Astelle and Frostbite leave, the entire kingdom shakes and she immediately realizes why. “Those crazy bastards.. they’re stealing my ship!” Midnight says and she’s about to fly out there herself until a wave of magic suddenly bursts through the window in front of her, causing some shards to fly towards her and leave a few cuts. She opens her eyes fast enough to see Luna fly at her before receiving a kick to the face which knocks her to the other side of the throne room. She growls and gets up only to see Twilight and her friends standing beside Luna.
“It’s over Midnight. Give up while you still can and maybe we’ll think about going easy on you!” Rainbow Dash yells and Midnight just stares blankly before giggling then just flat out laughing.
“You.. you seriously think that you stand a chance.. against me?” Midnight asks before laughing maniacally, genuinely amused. “I should put that on your tombstone: killed by overconfidence and foolishness.” Midnight says and Pinkie gets really aggressive as her mane starts to deflate as her pupils dilate, her irises turning red a bit.
“We’ll put the same thing on your tombstone!” She yells, shocking her friends until she turns back to normal and looks a bit scared. “I-I.. I wasn’t trying to say that..” She says and Twilight quickly reassures her.
“It’s ok Pinkie.. she needs to hear it.” Twilight says as she glares at Midnight. Midnight just yawns and stretches her wings.
“Are you finished?” She asks and Luna’s eye twitches.
“Oh I’m sorry.. are we boring you? Then by all means.. girls?” Luna says and they all split up and start attacking Midnight from all sides and Luna charges straight at her. Midnight takes out her weapon and charges right back.
As Flash Magnus and Tempest tried their best to control the ship, everyone else was either out distracting the villains or keeping them away from it. “Anytime you two wanna get this thing off the ground, that’d be great, but while we’re still alive?!” Trixie urges, already so nervous while aiming a spell at the entrance to the control room, preparing for if the villains get past Starlight and the others. She had been tasked with that along with Spike and the Crusaders but it was nerve-wracking. Soon they manage to get the ship off the ground just as everyone gets back on it, keeping the villains out until the entrance is closed, the Wonderbolts staying out to defend it from Deathbolts and any other flying enemy.
“Ok, it’s up in the air.. now what?” Meadowbrook asks and Starlight looks like she’s about to say something until she pauses and thinks about it.
“Ummm.. wait! We can use this to make them surrender and give up Canterlot.” Starlight says and everyone agrees and they wait until they’re facing right towards Canterlot before they try to find either the weapons or a loudspeaker. Sunset sees the Dazzlings coming at them in their siren forms and she growls in annoyance before finding a button to open a hatch that’s apparently in that room.
“Screw this, I’ll buy you some time.” She says before pressing the button, opening the hatch in the floor before dropping out and everyone looks either shocked or concerned. She continues falling until she blasts fire from her hands and feet to stop and pretty much fly towards the sirens before sending a massive wave of fire at them, knocking them back. They quickly recover and start chasing her around.
She falls under a charge from Aria, causing her to crash into a building, and flips over one from Sonata, letting her slide along the ground, before Adagio is suddenly in front of her and tail whips her into the roof of a building. Adagio flys to it, flying straight up right before she rams into it. She then transforms back into her pony form and tries to drop down right onto Sunset but she dodges out of the way just in time, the landing badly damaging the roof, before they both start fighting, using different fighting styles and landing good hits on the other.
Eventually Sonata and Aria join in, but Sunset is able to hold her own against them for a bit before eventually their skill and enhanced strength get the better of her and she’s held down by Aria and Sonata as Adagio stands over her, all of them panting from how much of a fight Sunset put up.
“Huh.. not bad Shimmer.. color us impressed.” Aria says and Sunset can’t help but chuckle.
“Well what can I say? I aim to please.” Sunset says and Adagio rolls her eyes before her eyes and gem glow and she prepares to do a sonic scream along with her sisters. “Oh no..” Sunset says as she struggles to get free.
“Sorry Sunny.. it’s nothing personal.” Sonata says and both Aria and Adagio pause to look at her. She notices and looks confused. “What?”
“One? It kinda is personal.” Aria says with a rather aggressive tone, tightening her grip on Sunset to an almost painful level.
“And two.. 'Sunny'? Did you just come up with that?” Adagio asks, and Sonata hesitates before answering.
“It was either that or.. don’t laugh.. 'Shim Shim'.. or y’know.. just 'Shim.'” Sonata says and Sunset drops her head and shakes it slowly, letting out a groan that pretty much says “Just kill me already.”
“We. Are Not. Giving her. A nickname. We’re NOT. Friends!” Adagio says angrily and Sonata frowns.
“But it’s not her fault we ended up in that other world, now is it?” She asks and they think about it until Aria pushes Sonata harshly.
“Don’t you remember that it’s her fault we lost our magic and our immortality?!” She asks and Sonata huffs.
“Of course I remember! But we have it all back now, so it shouldn’t matter! Only pony we should be after is Starswirl! ..Can’t we just-“ Sonata tries to ask before they’re all hit by ice and snow and Sunset is grabbed by Trixie who’s making an ice path to slide on. They both slide on it and start making their way back to the ship.
“While the Great and Powerful Trixie does enjoy being able to protect others, I think she’d prefer it if you don’t ever do that again!” Trixie yells angrily. Sunset gives a sheepish laugh.
“Well I did say I was gonna buy you time and I did. Plus it worked out-“ Sunset says before she notices Astelle, Midnight’s dragon, and the Storm King fighting against Tempest, Starlight, and the pillars of old on top of the ship. “For the most part.” She continues and Trixie scoffs.
“Riiiight and picking a fight against three angry, skilled, powerful, thousand-year old sirens is definitely not a way to get slaughtered or brainwashed.” Trixie says and before Sunset can respond, an explosion knocks them both back down to Canterlot, shattering the ice path that Trixie had made. They quickly recover and are about to defend themselves from the rest of the villains.. until they hear a high-pitched humming sound coming from the ship and they see some of the weapons reveal themselves and start glowing. “Uhhh should we..?” Trixie starts to ask.
“Yep.. go!” Sunset yells before running for cover and Trixie quickly follows her JUST as the weapons start firing. The villains are all shocked and most of them get injured badly. Sunset and Trixie stay behind cover as dust slowly covers the city. “I really hope Twilight and the others are having better luck!”
Twilight flips between a few shadow tendrils from Midnight and destroys some more before she and her friends rush her at the same time and unleash a multitude of attacks on her that knock her back and send her straight through her throne. Just as she gets up, Luna forms magical glowing chains to hold her still but she starts breaking free and moving towards them anyway. Luna flys to her, grabs her and holds her still.
“I’ve got her! Use the elements!” Luna yells and they all hesitate, not knowing if it’ll affect Luna in any way.
“What if we hurt you?! Get clear first!” Rainbow Dash says and she tries to go and move Luna until Midnight screams and sends dark magic all throughout the room and they’re all just barely able to stay where they are. Luna flys back to Midnight and continues to keep her down as she continues unleashing dark magic while growling and screaming.
“Just DO IT!!! I’ll be fine, but you have to end this or none of us will make it out of here!!” Luna yells and they all realize that she’s right. They all get into position and try focusing their power and the elements start to glow.. until they stop and nothing happens.
“W-What’s going on?! Why won’t they work?!” Fluttershy asks, starting to panic and Twilight thinks about it before realizing something.
“Because.. because we’re not the same.. like.. our beliefs and faith in friendship have.. wavered a bit. Even with those years of peace.. we’ve been falling further apart and with everything that’s happened? It just tested our friendship even more until we were on the verge of breaking.. and we’re still on the edge.” Twilight explains and they all look a little guilty since they all feel like they have a part to play in it.
“Don’t say that.. it’s true that you have been tested to extremes! But look at you now! Despite it all you’re still making a stand for Equestria! And you’re still doing it together! So your friendship may never be the same but don’t start thinking that it may soon end.. if there’s one thing that you’ve taught me Twilight, it’s that friendship isn’t just magic!” Luna says and Twilight realizes that as Luna talked, the elements started glowing brighter and brighter. They all feel their friendship but it was different.. like it was a bit stronger.
Multicolored magic starts surrounding all of them and they start floating. The magic starts to grow and glow more and more until Twilight opens her eyes and glares at Midnight. “Friendship.. is.. Eternal.” Twilight says before they unleash the magic in Midnight’s direction and she screams even more as the magic starts to do it’s job. Midnight yells in anger before unleashing more dark magic which knocks Luna into the wall behind them and starts countering the magic from the elements. “Luna!!!” Twilight yells when she sees that Luna’s rendered unconscious, before she’s suddenly remembering when she saw what Midnight had done to Celestia.
Her eyes change into Twivine, her irises purple again instead of red. The magic gets stronger and reaches Midnight once again but this time it seems to be hurting her more than freeing Solaris. This is because when it hits her, she sounds like she and Solaris are screaming in pain at the same time. “Twilight! Stop!” Rainbow yells but Twilight doesn’t listen. “You don’t wanna do this.. it isn’t you! I know what she did was bad but we can’t blame Solaris for her mistakes.. we can’t give in to hate like they did.. remember?” She asks and Twilight slowly turns to her, remembering the same thing she told Rainbow last night.
“We.. must.. be.. better.” Twilight says as she struggles to go back to normal and when she closes her eyes, breathes in and out, then opens them, they’re back to normal. “And we will be!” She yells before the magic goes back to only freeing Solaris instead of hurting both her and Midnight. After a few seconds, they can see Solaris trying to break free but Midnight is trying to keep her trapped. Twilight throws a magical rope towards her and she grabs onto it as Twilight starts trying to pull her out with help from her friends.
“You.. will not.. escape me!!!” Midnight yells before blasting magic back at them to counter the magic of the elements and their clash stops in the middle, forming a ball of built up dark and light magic.
“You’re done tormenting her Midnight! You will never harm anypony in any way, EVER again!” Twilight yells and the magic continues to build up until finally.. it reaches its limit.. and explodes, causing a blinding light to cover the entirety of Canterlot until it stops and Luna wakes up and looks to see Midnight gone.. along with the Mane 6.