M̸y̶ ̸L̴i̶t̸t̶l̴e̶ C̵o̸r̷r̴u̶p̶t̶e̷d̸-P̵o̴n̴y̷

by ScorchingFlamesInc


Chapter 16: Resistance

Before long the group of dragons found the way out, and the journey went onwards.

"We wanna check on the others before we go and fill them in on our plan," Smolder said. “I thought about it, and I think half of you dragons should go on the ship to give Tempest the go-ahead to follow us, and then you could all stay there in case things go wrong.”

"Alright fine, but we should hurry," a dragon warned.

Both Smolder and Spike nodded and they went on a search for the airship, the group of dragons following. At first finding the airship was tough, but in a conveniently short amount of time, they were able to track it down. It still stood where it was, engines no longer running, but nothing seemed to be wrong, and the biggest factor alluding to that was Pinkie Pie standing outside the ship, staring at the lava pit.

Spike called out her name. "Pinkie!"

Pinkie perked up. "OOOOHHHHH! So there was another way for you all to get out!"

“Were you… waiting for us?” asked Smolder.

“Yepperoony!” Pinkie nodded. “Whatcha’ all doing now?”

“We’re checking on you all before we go look for Ember,” Spike explained. “And we’re just giving you all the heads-up to follow us on the ship.”

"Ooh! Can I come with you?"

"You'll technically already be coming with us, though-" said Smolder.

"Not on the airship, sillies, on the ground!" Pinkie replied.

"Why, though?"

"Just because!" Pinkie shrugged with a smile.

"Well, we would have the argument that the others might need you, but we did on our way here plan for half of the dragons to board the ship to help the others," Spike said. "So... really our only concern is your injuries, but you had that covered long ago."

"Mhm!"

"Alright gang, let's move forward!" the gray dragon proclaimed. Then he, and half of the dragons in the decently sized group, flew up to the airship to stick with the others and give Tempest the go-ahead to leave.

They all waited until they heard the ship start before they all went on with the quest.

"So where are we going?" Pinkie inquired, hopping alongside Spike.

“Uh, I think we agreed on our first stop being… the largest and tallest volcano that’s here,” said Spike.

“How far is it?”

“We keep going and if we go by flight, we’ll be at the top in fifteen minutes,” Smolder said. “It’s gonna be a while.”

“Ooh! Should we play games? Twenty questions? I spy? Maybe-“

Spike quickly stopped Pinkie. “No! No, we’re good! It’ll… uh… distract us and we probably won’t be as focused.”

“Aw. Okay! In that case…” Pinkie happily continued hopping, getting ahead of the group. “La la la la la!

Pinkie’s quickened pace forced the others to pick up the pace a little too, but most of them didn’t really mind.

The sky got even smokier and the smoke got even thicker as they got further into the belly of the dragon lands.

Anxiety and stress increased throughout the group, but the most affected were Spike and Smolder. They’ve seen and been through so much. They refused to believe that this was going to be easy. Something was hiding, and it was waiting. They didn’t know how Pinkie felt, but whether she hid her own tension or was legit not worrying was something that would make sense either way.

From out of nowhere, a faint sound was heard, and Pinkie stopped where she was, and then Spike and Smolder followed suit. Everyone else did too, most of them not by the sound but out of curiosity over the main three stopping.

The sound was heard again, and they all followed it, getting closer. It was the sound of bongos, slowly being tapped.

̵“̴F̴r̸e̶s̴h̶ ̸b̶a̸i̴t̶.̷ ̵C̴o̴m̸e̵ ̷t̵o̷ ̷p̶l̴a̶y̵.̶ ̶J̷o̶i̶n̷ ̸m̶e̷ ̴n̶o̵w̶,̴ ̷b̵e̷f̴o̷r̴e̴ ̸t̵h̸e̵ ̸s̴t̸a̴r̸t̸ ̴o̵f̷ ̵d̵a̵y̴.̶”̷

Smolder whispered. “Garble…”

The scratchy voice was a clear indicator that Smolder’s own brother was corrupted but those at the front of the group couldn’t help but be drawn. The dragons at the back tried to stop them from going onwards but then another bongo sound echoed and another piece of poetry.

“̸W̵h̴y̷ ̷g̸o̵ ̸a̶n̵d̵ ̵h̵i̸d̷e̶?̴ ̷D̸o̵n̵’̵t̴ ̵y̵o̴u̸ ̵k̴n̴o̶w̸?̸ ̴T̸h̸a̶t̵ ̵i̴f̶ ̶y̶o̷u̸ ̵j̵o̷i̶n̵ ̸u̸s̸,̴ ̷w̸e̶ ̵h̴a̵v̷e̴ ̷m̴u̵c̵h̵ ̴t̴o̸ ̵s̶h̴o̷w̷…̷”̴

Those that weren’t drawn to Garble before were drawn now. Eyes were beginning to dilate as everyone turned a corner while falling into a deep state of hypnosis. Sinisterly Garble sat there. He wasn’t wearing his poetry outfit, but the bongos were rested nicely at his lap, covered in drops of dark matter that was leaking out of his gaping mouth.

He tapped the bongos once more.

“̵C̴o̷m̵e̶ ̶o̴n̷e̷ ̷a̸n̵d̵ ̶a̸l̶l̴.̸ ̸C̸o̸m̵e̴ ̴t̶o̸ ̷m̸e̶.̸ ̴A̴n̶d̴ ̶I̶ ̴p̸r̵o̸m̴i̶s̵e̸ ̸I̵ ̶w̷i̴l̸l̴ ̸m̵a̶k̷e̶ ̶y̴o̶u̵ ̵s̸e̴e̴.̴”̶

They all drew closer. Their minds were no longer in their grasps. Their eyes were dilated completely as everyone was trapped in a trance, in danger of falling victim to Garble. The dragons at the back were far enough to attempt resistance only for Garble to pull them in with one final beat from his bongos and a final line of poetry.

“̶Y̵o̶u̸ ̷c̶a̵n̴’̸t̸ ̵b̴r̷e̵a̶k̸ ̵f̷r̵e̵e̵.̷ ̷Y̵o̴u̴ ̶c̶a̸n̸’̷t̶ ̵r̷e̵s̵i̸s̷t̷.̴ ̷I̵f̵ ̴y̴o̷u̷ ̵d̷o̷,̶ ̴t̷h̸e̵n̸ ̷w̴e̵ ̷p̸e̶r̷s̴i̷s̵t̸.̶”̸

That final line and the bongo beat before it felt far more aggressive and was much louder, an effort needed to fully bring the last of the group into hypnosis. Garble tapped the bongos continuously, no more lines of poetry spoken, and the whole group approached him slowly and mindlessly.

Garble’s already unhinged jaw extended even more as the top of his head bent back. Claws extended out from his mouth, reaching to Spike, ready to grab him and pull him in.

And then green blistering magic rained down on him from above.

He shrieked a fierce and distorted roar as Chrysalis again attacked. It was all it took for him to flee, and Chrysalis annihilated the drops of dark matter left behind.

The whole group immediately snapped out of it.

“Yet again I had to save your behinds…” said Chrysalis. “You’re welcome!”

“You could be a little nicer about it at least…” Smolder grumbled.

Chrysalis ignored what she said and looked around. “So I take it this is the volcano, or…”

“Uh, yep!” the maroon dragon said. “This is the place.”

“Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said it was the tallest!” exclaimed Pinkie.

“Yeah we got a long flight up…” Smolder mumbled.

A dragon pointed at Pinkie. “What about-“

“Don’t finish that question.”

“I’m kinda the only one that needs help…” Spike said. He then gave Chrysalis a pleading look.

“… Listen here, I said- You know that- Ugh! Fine, get on!”

Spike got on Chrysalis’ back and Pinkie already took off using her tail. Everyone else flew, the journey up to the volcano long and eventually tiring, as it was expected. There were small pools and pours of magma and the smog got even foggier and far more irritating for Chrysalis the farther they all got up. Meanwhile, the airship followed suit and ascended upwards as the group did, quickly and already making it to the top.

Soon, a faint orange glow could be seen from above, and they knew that they had just about arrived. They all landed on the volcano's top, and with not a word spoken, the search immediately began. Some looked out past the volcano at the distance, others (carefully) peeked into the volcano, and a few others looked above, only seeing the airship as it circled.

The search didn't last long. Within' minutes everyone was already wanting to go somewhere else.

"Yep, can't find her here," Smolder said. "Should we all go?"

"Hey!" a dragon called out, pointing to the sky. "I see something flying down!"

Everyone looked. They saw faint figures flying down from the ship at a quickening rate, and they got far more recognizable as it drew closer.

"Fluttershy?!" Spike exclaimed.

"What are they doing!?" Chrysalis shrieked.

As they got closer, they clearly seemed panicked, especially Fluttershy, seeming incredibly shaken up. Pinkie and Spike immediately rushed to her aid.

“Fluttershy! What happened?” Pinkie asked.

Fluttershy’s chest heaved as her heavy breathing continued.

“T-Tempest… s-something took her and w-we had to escape. We barely escaped, and s-some stayed behind and others d-didn't make it-“

“Who did it?” Smolder asked.

“I don’t k-know-“ Fluttershy continued to stutter. “I-I thought the ship was c-clear.”

“We all did.” One of the dragons that returned said.

“I assumed the same thing,” Chrysalis muttered. “Something was up there…”

“And it went right under my muzzle…” Chrysalis thought to herself.

The dragon that originally saw Fluttershy and the others once again pointed upwards. “Hey, I see something else coming down too!”

They all looked. It was one figure this time, but this one felt different.

Especially to Chrysalis. She started to sense that this was a threat. And she wasted no time to give that message.

“Out of the way!” she barked. “Get out of its way!

Some dragons listened, along with Chrysalis’ main allies, but a few dragons didn’t get the message right away, all of them just looking at her, especially the dragon the was spotting everything in the sky. He spoke up.

“Huh? Wh-“

The dragon never got to finish his sentence. The thing rammed right into the dragon, knocking him into the volcano. His screaming was cut short as he splashed in the lava, only leaving behind the tiniest speck of black matter.

“Sometimes I question your kinds intelligence…” Chrysalis grumbled.

“Shut it, and focus on the thing that just landed in front of us!” Smolder hissed.

What landed was nothing like what anyone else has seen previously. It was a pony, but no one could tell who it was… it was completely covered head-to-flank in dark matter. It had pony ears and legs, along with beady blue eyes and a wicked toothy smile.

The dragons close to it backed away. It’s head tilted to glance at them before shooting it’s twisted glare at its main enemies.

What took them all by surprise was that it spoke, it’s voice scratchy and deep, with a slight tinge of femininity. It was far more distorted than the average corrupted pony or creature, and impossible to understand. The figure immediately got the message, cleared its throat, and spoke again. “̷F̸i̷n̷a̷l̵l̷y̸…̸ ̶I̸ ̴a̸m̸ ̵h̵e̸r̷e̷…̶ ̴a̶t̴ ̷t̴h̷i̴s̴ ̵v̶e̸r̸y̶ ̷p̴o̶i̵n̸t̴,̸ ̶f̷a̸c̵i̶n̴g̶ ̴o̵f̶f̸ ̸a̸g̵a̴i̶n̵s̴t̸ ̸t̶h̵e̷ ̸e̸n̶e̴m̶i̵e̵s̶ ̵I̵ ̴h̸a̷v̵e̴ ̷f̵o̵l̸l̷o̵w̷e̵d̵ ̵s̸i̴n̵c̷e̶_I̶-w̴a̶s̷-j̴u̶s̴t̸~a̸ ̵l̷i̶t̵t̵l̴e̸ ̴b̸l̷o̸b̶…̴”̷

“Huh?” Pinkie’s head tilted.

In response the monster chuckled.

“̶N̸o̶ ̶s̴u̷r̵p̵r̶i̴s̷e̷ ̵t̶h̸a̶t̸-y̴o̷u̸-a̵r̶e̷ ̴c̵o̵n̶f̶u̵s̶e̶d̵.̴ ̴N̷o̸n̷e̶ ̴o̸f̶ ̵y̸o̴u̶ ̵h̴a̷v̷e̸-a̷c̸t̷u̸a̶l̸l̸y̷ ̷c̵o̶n̷f̷r̵o̸n̴t̴e̵d̵ ̷m̷e̶.̴ ̸A̸t̴ ̷l̷e̷a̷s̷t̸…̷”̸ the dark-matter pony glanced at Chrysalis, it’s blue beady eyes appearing to stare into her soul, creating an unsettling feeling. “̸A̵t̷ ̷l̴e̸a̵s̵t̷,̷ ̶n̶o̵t̸~d̸i̷r̵e̶c̷t̵l̶y̴…̴”̶

“What are you?…” Spike inquired.

“̵I̴~a̶m̸ ̴t̴h̷e̴ ̷r̶e̸s̸u̶l̵t̴ ̷o̵f̶ ̷w̷h̶a̶t̷ ̶h̷a̴p̶p̶e̸n̴s̴ ̶w̶h̵e̸n̶ ̷a̴ ̴m̶i̵n̵d̷l̵e̷s̸s̶ ̵b̴e̴a̶s̴t̵ ̶o̷f̸ ̷c̷o̶r̶r̴u̸p̸t̸i̶v̸e̵ ̷d̵a̴r̸k̴ ̴m̷a̸t̴t̴e̷r̶ ̸c̵o̵m̵b̵i̸n̷e̵s̶ ̵w̸i̴t̶h̴ ̷t̷h̶e̴ ̴s̶e̷v̷e̷r̷e̷d̷ ̷f̷l̴e̷s̸h̵ ̴a̴n̸d̸ ̶b̷l̶o̶o̷d̵_o̶f̷-a̸ ̴p̶o̷n̷y̵…̸”̸

“Care to elaborate more?…” Chrysalis requested, appearing unimpressed even though it didn’t seem that way moments ago. “Your vagueness makes your appearance more annoying than frightening…”

Again, the pony chuckled, but this was more of a childish giggle. “̸O̶h̵,̶ ̸C̶h̶r̸y̵s̸s̶i̸…̸ ̷a̶l̶w̶a̵y̸s̷ ̸l̴o̵v̶i̵n̸g̵ ̴t̴o̶ ̷c̷h̶a̵l̷l̴e̷n̷g̶e̷ ̷t̴h̵o̶s̸e̸ ̶t̸h̵a̴t̷ ̵s̸h̶e̸~s̸e̵e̸s̵-a̴s̵ ̷a̶n̸ ̴o̷b̷s̷t̶a̶c̸l̴e̸…̴”̷

“Just tell us what you are, why you’re following us, and just- just give us answers!” Smolder demanded.

“Are you the darkness itself?…” inquired Chrysalis

“̸N̵o̴.̴ ̴T̴h̸e̵ ̴d̸a̴r̶k̸n̴e̶s̶s̸-i̷s̵n̴’̶t̷_r̴e̶s̵t̶r̷i̵c̵t̸e̵d̸ ̵t̷o̷ ̵h̶e̵r̸e̷.̸ ̴I̵t̴ ̴e̵x̵t̶e̷n̴d̵s̴ ̴t̶o̶ ̴m̴a̴n̶y̶ ̵o̶t̵h̵e̴r̸ ̶t̴i̶m̵e̴l̴i̴n̵e̴s̴,̶ ̶m̵a̸n̷y̴ ̷o̶t̷h̶e̵r̵ ̸w̶o̷r̵l̷d̵s̶,̸ ̵m̸a̸n̶y̵ ̴o̶t̶h̴e̸r̷ ̶u̵n̶i̷v̵e̴r̴s̶e̴s̶.̷~I̵ ̸a̴m̵ ̵m̴e̷r̵e̶l̵y̸ ̵a̶ ̴r̶e̷s̸u̴l̶t̷ ̶o̸f̷ ̵a̵ ̸c̶o̷m̸b̵i̷n̵a̵t̷i̶o̴n̷ ̶o̴f̷ ̸a̷ ̴s̶m̷a̵l̸l̸ ̴g̴l̴o̷b̷ ̶o̸f̷ ̵d̸a̴r̷k̸n̴e̵s̵s̸,̸ ̸w̶i̴t̵h̴ ̴a̶ ̶t̷i̸n̴y̷~b̴i̷t̵ ̶o̴f̵-f̷l̷e̶s̵h̵ ̶a̴n̶d̸ ̶b̵l̸o̴o̵d̸…̸”̴ ̷ The pony raised a hoof, pointing it at Pinkie. “̸…̴f̶r̸o̵m̶ ̴h̸e̵r̷!̷”̷

Pinkie pointed at herself. “Me?”

“̷D̸o̴n̸’̶t̷~y̸o̸u̴ ̸r̴e̵m̶e̴m̶b̸e̶r̷?̷…̴ ̵W̷h̴e̷n̴ ̶y̸o̸u̶ ̷l̴o̵s̶t̵ ̶t̴h̶e̵ ̸e̸n̷d̵ ̶o̵f̶ ̷y̵o̷u̶r̷ ̷t̶a̷i̶l̴?̴ ̸D̸i̸d̵ ̸y̶o̸u̸ ̵n̴o̸t̸ ̶n̵o̵t̷i̸c̷e̸ ̷t̵h̴a̶t̷ ̶y̴o̶u̶ ̴l̷o̵s̷t̴ ̷t̸h̵e̸ ̵v̸e̶r̸y̸ ̴t̸i̵p̸ ̶o̴f̸ ̵w̷h̷e̸r̸e̶ ̶i̶t̴~w̷a̶s̶ ̴b̶l̴o̷o̵d̵-a̴n̷d̷~f̸l̶e̶s̷h̴?̶ ̵D̵i̶d̶ ̴y̸o̴u̶ ̴a̷s̷s̵u̷m̶e̴ ̸i̴t̵ ̴w̷a̶s̷ ̸o̴n̴l̴y̸ ̶a̷ ̶b̶u̸r̷n̶?̸ ̷N̵o̷.̸ ̷I̶t̵ ̵w̸a̴s̴-c̴u̶t̷ ̷r̷i̴g̶h̴t̷ ̵o̴f̴f̵.̸ ̷I̴t̶ ̶a̶b̴s̵o̶r̸b̸e̸d̵~i̸n̴t̸o̵ ̴m̷y̸s̵e̴l̴f̶.̷ ̸A̶n̴d̷ ̸n̸o̸w̴…̴ ̴I̷ ̵a̶m̴ ̸b̴e̷c̶o̴m̸i̴n̴g̸ ̶o̶n̶e̴ ̷o̷f̸ ̸y̸o̶u̵.̶ ̸I̵ ̷a̸m̶ ̴b̷e̵c̶o̶m̶i̸n̷g̵ ̴h̶e̴r̸.̴”̴

“Well, um… you don’t… act like her,” Fluttershy spoke, her stuttering having calmed down.

“̵M̷a̵y̵b̵e̵ ̴n̸o̸t̶ ̸n̷o̷w̵.̵ ̶A̷n̵d̶ ̸o̷b̷v̴i̷o̶u̴s̷l̸y̴ ̷I̴ ̶d̶o̴n̷’̶t̷ ̷l̵o̸o̴k̶ ̷l̶i̶k̴e̸ ̵h̸e̵r̶ ̷a̷s̷~w̶e̸l̴l̵.̷ ̴I̶ ̴l̶a̷c̵k̸ ̴h̴e̴r̶ ̵h̶a̷i̵r̴.̷ ̷H̶e̷r̷ ̶f̸l̸e̴s̶h̵.̴ ̴H̴e̷r̵ ̶s̶m̷i̶l̵e̴.̷ ̸W̴h̵i̶c̷h̶ ̷b̷r̶i̷n̷g̵s̵ ̴m̸e̸ ̸t̴o̷ ̷t̸h̷e̵ ̷m̷o̶t̷i̴v̸a̸t̶i̵o̸n̷,̴ ̸t̴h̴e̴ ̴p̶a̴r̷t̶ ̷t̴h̶a̶t̵ ̴c̸h̷a̸r̵a̷c̴t̵e̵r̸s̵ ̷l̴i̷k̸e̵ ̵y̸o̶u̸ ̶a̴l̷w̷a̸y̵s̸ ̵w̵a̶n̵t̸ ̴f̵r̷o̵m̶ ̴a̵n̴ ̵a̸n̷t̶a̸g̷o̵n̶i̸s̷t̶ ̶l̶i̷k̴e̴ ̵m̸e̸.̴
̸
̶͉́“̴I̶ ̸w̸a̷n̸t̸ ̷t̴h̶e̵ ̷d̸a̸r̵k̵n̷e̷s̷s̴ ̴t̸o̶ ̷l̴i̵v̶e̸.̴ ̸W̵h̷e̵t̶h̶e̷r̶ ̴y̴o̷u̵ ̸w̶i̸n̷-o̵r̸~l̴o̴s̷e̵,̷ ̵i̶t̷ ̵m̶u̴s̵t̵ ̶p̴r̸o̶s̵p̶e̴r̵ ̵a̷n̶d̷ ̴s̷u̷r̸v̶i̶v̶e̵,̷ ̴a̸n̴d̷~h̶i̷d̵e̷_s̶o̷-i̵t̷’̵s̸~l̴e̷g̵a̷c̸y̸ ̶c̷a̷n̶ ̴c̷o̶n̶t̶i̷n̸u̸e̴.̶ ̷I̶ ̴m̶u̴s̷t̶ ̶t̶a̵k̷e̵ ̷i̷t̴ ̵u̸p̴o̶n̸ ̵m̴y̴s̵e̴l̵f̷ ̴t̶h̸a̸t̴,̵ ̴i̴f̶ ̸b̶y̷ ̶c̶h̶a̵n̸c̴e̷ ̷y̸o̸u̴ ̵d̵o̷ ̵s̷u̷c̴c̸e̴e̵d̶,̸ ̷I̴ ̶t̸a̶k̵e̴ ̵t̶h̷e̷ ̴p̵l̶a̵c̶e̶ ̶o̶f̴ ̶s̴o̷m̸e̵o̸n̷e̶-e̸l̸s̸e̷ ̴a̸n̴d̴-t̷a̵k̷e̶~t̶h̷e̸i̵r̵ ̵l̴i̷f̵e̷.̶ ̵N̵o̷ ̶o̸n̴e̷ ̶w̴o̸u̴l̴d̵ ̸e̶v̸e̷r̶~s̸u̸s̵p̴e̴c̶t̶-a̷ ̶t̴h̴i̷n̷g̸.̶ ̶I̶ ̷w̴o̶u̷l̸d̵ ̸b̶e̸ ̶a̸-p̷e̶r̴f̴e̶c̸t̶ ̸r̴e̶p̸l̵i̴c̴a̶,̵ ̵w̶h̸i̶l̷e̵ ̵t̷h̴e̷ ̵o̸r̵i̸g̸i̶n̴a̸l̵ ̷w̸o̴u̷l̶d̸_b̴e̶~c̴o̷r̴r̵u̴p̶t̴e̶d̴_a̵n̶d̴-f̴o̴r̶c̴e̵d̸ ̵t̴o̶ ̷b̴e̷ ̴l̴e̷f̸t̶ ̸t̴o̴ ̵r̵o̴t̸ ̶w̷i̷t̵h̵ ̸t̷h̵e̷ ̶d̷a̷r̵k̶n̶e̵s̶s̸ ̵w̶h̴i̴l̷e̷ ̴a̸l̸l̶ ̵t̶h̴e̶ ̵o̷t̸h̴e̴r̴ ̶c̸o̴r̴r̷u̸p̷t̶e̵d̸ ̷o̵n̵e̴s̵ ̸a̵r̸e̴ ̵s̸e̶t̶ ̸f̷r̴e̷e̸.̶ ̵A̸n̶d̸ ̸o̴f̵ ̶c̴o̸u̸r̴s̶e̶…̵ ̴t̷h̴e̷ ̷o̷n̵e̷ ̷I̴ ̵m̵u̴s̸t̸ ̷r̴e̴p̷l̷a̷c̸e̶…̷ ̴i̵s̸ ̸P̸i̴n̵k̸i̷e̸ ̵P̴i̴e̸ ̴h̶e̷r̶s̵e̸l̴f̷.̶”̸

“And how do you even suppose this would succeed, hm?” Chrysalis questioned.

“̴I̸ c̵a̵n̸-o̸n̵l̴y~e̸v̴o̷l̶v̸e̶ ̵s̵o̵ ̷m̶u̷c̸h̸…̷ ̸s̸o̵ ̶f̸a̵r̴…̵ ̵h̶e̵r̶ ̷c̵o̴r̵r̷u̸p̴t̵i̶o̶n̸ ̴w̴o̶u̵l̷d̴ ̴b̷e̷ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̴f̷i̷n̴a̸l̷ ̸p̵i̴e̵c̸e̵.̷ ̸H̷e̵r̸ ̵j̸o̸i̴n̷i̷n̸g̷ ̷y̵o̴u̸r̷ ̴l̸o̷s̵t̸-f̷r̷i̴e̶n̸d̷s̵ ̷i̵s̷~a̶l̸l̵ ̶i̸t̸ ̵w̴o̶u̶l̷d̴ ̴t̵a̷k̵e̵.̶ ̸E̶v̵e̵r̵y̸ ̴c̷e̸l̷l̴ ̴w̵o̷u̶l̴d̴ ̷b̴e̶ ̵r̶e̸p̸l̶a̸c̷e̵d̴~w̴i̵t̸h̸ ̷d̷a̷r̶k̶-m̸a̷t̵t̴e̵r̸, ̷a̷n̶d̸ ̶m̶e̷... I̵ g̸e̷t̴ t̴o̸ k̴e̵e̵p̴ ̴a̷ r̶e̸c̸o̶l̴l̷e̸c̸t̴i̵o̸n̸ o̴f̵ ̷a̸l̴l̵ ̶m̷e̸m̴o̸r̵i̴e̴s̴ c̵o̶n̸c̴e̷r̶n̵i̸n̶g̷ w̴h̵o̵ ̴I̵ ̷w̴a̵s̷, t̸h̴e̷ ̶m̵o̵t̶i̸v̴e̴s̶ ̶I̸ ̸h̶a̸d̴, ̶a̴n̸d̴ t̶h̴e̸ d̸a̷r̵k̶n̸e̴s̸s i̵t̵s̴e̴l̴f̴.̸ ̵H̵o̶w̶ ̴e̴l̴s̶e̶ ̴w̸o̶u̸l̶d̴ I̵ h̶e̸l̶p i̶t t̵o̵ l̷i̷v̷e̸ ̵o̷n̶ e̸v̸e̶n i̵f̵ I̷ b̷e̸c̸a̷m̵e̸ f̴l̶e̷s̷h̶?̷?̷”̵

Pinkie got in a defensive stance but Spike, Smolder, and Chrysalis all got in front of her, and many other dragons did too.

“We’re not going to let you get our friend, pal!” Smolder snarled.

The pony only smiled, and the ground started to shake. Spike couldn’t help it. He peeked into the volcano.

The lava below was gone, now replaced with the dark matter which slowly crawled up the inner walls of the volcano. Floating in the darkness was the dragon that was previously knocked in, now fully corrupted.

But that wasn’t all. A massive gurgling roar bellowed from below, and the pool started to grow, as if something was rising and expanding from the inside.

“Oh no…” Smolder realized, eyes shrinking. “Please don’t tell me it’s…”

Another roar bellowed and the pressure inside the volcano only increased.

She gulped. Her fears were confirmed, and in a quick panic, she alerted everyone without hesitation.

”IT’S TORCH! EVERYONE RUN!!!”