When they got back to the throne room, a giant Plague was sitting on a throne made from shadow, with about ten smaller Plagues around it.
"That must be the lord." Sundown said, staring the biggest up and down. "It must be the original and the most well-fed."
"Fed by eating ponies." Hummingbird whimpered. The group murmured in a huddle before standing together.
"Hello, Shadow Plague. I am Prince Sundown Sparkle of Equestria. You have taken over the land, threatened its survival, and eaten its inhabitants. I suggest you bring the residents out and leave forever, or there will be serious consequences, fighting my laws." Sundown snickered a little bit after giving that message. He wasn't really the ruler of Equestria, (even though his parents were.) and he didn't consider himself royal. The group had decided to leave the Plague with a warning, and if it refused it, they'd unleash the power.
The Plague then huddled up with its peers, probably discussing whether they'd back away or not. The leader turned around and growled. It shook its ink black head and ate a grape.
"Well, if you won't negotiate, then how about a challenge? We bring in our peers, and battle. The winning team takes control of the land and the losers are banished forever. In our case, my team would go beyond the borders and yours would cough up the residents, soak up your peers, and go back to Equestria Border Jail, or Tarturus, if you prefer. Hmm?" Sundown asked, having a Plan B in case Plan A didn't work. (Which, as you see, did not.)
The Plague thought about this for a minute, then nodded. It told the others, which screamed in approval. Sundown signaled to the Plague that the battle would commence in one hour, and weapons (magical artifacts included.) were allowed.
An hour later, the ponies were ready. They had researched in the Canterlot Library how to harness the Elements. Sundown had focused enough that he was sure he knew everything, even how to harness the seventh Element Of Harmony.
So they charged. They charged at the Plagues. Zach took two, Hum took two, Pizza took two, the twins took three, and Sundown and Ruby were left with the lord.
They fought for hours. Sundown dodged some of the lord's attacks, and taking hits of his own. Zach used his new Phoenix friend to help him get the eyes of his foe, and he threw defense concoctions at the shadow. The twins helped each other, bucking the three Plagues whenever and wherever possible. Pizza, being more like her mom than ever, surprised her two Plagues by giving them cupcakes, pizzas, and, of course, pies to the face.
After the Plagues were tired and beat, the ponies lined up in a specific formation. They thought "happy and friendship" thoughts, while clutching the Sun Stick Potion, and it worked. They were lifted into the air, their eyes white, glowing, and pupil-less. Sundown was struggling most of all, trying to reach the Element of Motivation.
"Go, guys! Beat up those shadows! Kick their butts!" Ruby cheered, the seventh Element totally forgotten by her. But then, her neck and upper chest began to glow, and the glow shaped into a necklace. Then, there it was, the Element of Motivation. Shaped like a dragon's wing, and it lifted Ruby into the air.
A sudden burst of rainbows shined, burning the Plagues' eyes. It arched up and went down to the Plagues, burning them from existence forever.
The residents of Equestria were confused about their consumer and covered in inky goo, but they were happy to get out of the monster's belly. Solana and Lunar Eclipse walked away from the crowd, stood beside Sundown, and cleared their throats.
"Dear residents of Equestria," Solana's voice thundered in the room, reaching the ears of every pony in Equestria. "We faced dark times the last few weeks, having been consumed by a monstrous plague that almost took the light out of our world. But our seven saviors proved that anything, even defeating our captor, is possible. It is very short notice, but I grant these five ponies, one zebra, and one dragon the medallions my mother and aunt had made moons ago, the 'Medals Of Savior'." Solana levitated seven medallions and placed them around the groups' necks.
"With gratitude, I think these heroes deserve cheers. Right, everypony?" boomed Lunar. "Ready? Hip, hip!"
"Hooray!" cheered everypony.
"Hip, hip!"
"Hooray!"
"Hip, hip, hip!"
"Hooray!!"
The crowds burst in applause, grateful for their saviors. The heroes basked in the glory, hoping it would never end.