Jinx surveyed the room of ponies and humans respectively and sighed sadly as he paced, “Children, the universe has indeed changed since your uncle Jinx has been away. New life forms and civilizations have blossomed.”
He stopped and stared into space, “Oh how time has gone by…,” the saddened look then vanished completely replaced with a maniacal grin, “But I’m rested, I’m nourished and I’m ready to take the universes reigns anew ONCE MORE BABY!!!”
Discord cleared his throat, “I don’t mean to interrupt but we have business.”
Jinx blinked once, “Oh yeah. Well you all are probably wondering why we are all here.”
Pinkie Pie bounced above the crowd, “Yeah we are!”
Jinx smiled, “I’m so glad you feel that way. To put it simply, we are here to take over the kingdom,” everypony gasped as Jinx waved his hand; “It’s really no big deal.”
Princess Celestia narrowed her eyes, “You will not take my kingdom Jinx.”
Jinx straightened slightly as he turned to Chrysalis, “Chrysalis did you suddenly feel a blast of hot air?”
Queen Chrysalis laughed, “Indeed. It seemed to be EXCEPTIONALLY loud to.”
Discord chuckled, “And a redundant voice seemed to be lingering with it.”
All three villains began to laugh in mirth much the chagrin of the Princess in question who’s right eye twitched in anger. Jinx snapped his fingers as he continued to laugh causing several drones to seize the six and the humans. Jinx began to approach them only for a solar flare blast to streak past his head causing him turn around.\
Discord and Chrysalis made moves to intercept Celestia only for Jinx to raise his hand, “I’ll take care of her.”
Jinx sneered at her, “I must say that you have grown into quite the attractive mare. Is there a “Prince” at your beck and call?”
Celestia stared with boiling anger at him, “You’re an insufferable tyrant!”
Jinx smiled in response, “Takes one to know one.”
Celestia placed a defiant hoof forward, “I will stop you as I have stopped all other beings like you!”
Jinx gave a cocky grin as he turned his back to her, “Sounds like a gas baby, bring it on.”
Celestia responded with a concentrated burst of pure solar energy which Jinx turned to meet. The energy lit the room up like a miniature sun had gone off as Jinx vanished from view in the ensuing blast. Everypony had to shield their eyes as the energy flared bright and hot only to dim and vanish to reveal Jinx who was closing his outstretched right hand into a fist as the light seemed to vanish and extinguish within it. Jinx wagged a finger at Celestia as he quickly raised his left hand and sent the exact same attack at both Princesses who gasped in surprise as it hit them both.
All present cried out as they collapsed and lost their crowns on the ground. Jinx walked up to the down Princesses and shook his head in pity.
Jinx then bent down to be eye level with the downed Alicorn’s, “When will you both learn that fighting back is futile,” he walked over to the crowns and crushed them both under his boot heel, “Fragile signs of authority owned by fragile rulers, how fitting.”
He then approached Martin, “I assume you’re the one who has been killing my family?”
Martin didn’t even have to think, “Sortitus told me he had a fifth sibling. I mean no offense but you have one messed up family.”
Jinx chuckled and then punched Martin square in the gut getting chuckles from the drones holding him.
Discord then approached Martin and gestured to his face as Martin looked at him, “I’m waiting.”
Martin glared at the draconequus who laughed, “Such anger.”
Queen Chrysalis was looking at Alan up and down, “How exotic these “humans” are. I must say you are one strapping specimen unlike the other one.”
Alan cringed away from the queen, “If you think that then you’re in for a shocker.”
Alan then grabbed one of the drones legs and discharged as much electricity as he could into it causing it’s carapace to smoke as it dropped. With Alan’s free hand he flung a volley of electricity at the drones holding Martin who fell like stunned flies.
Martin landed as he began to fight of a tide of drones and brainwashed guards yelling, “ALAN FREE THE OTHERS AND GET EVERPONY OUT OF HERE!!”
Alan nodded as he hurled more volleys of electricity at the drones and the occasional guards freeing the captured six and Lupe who all began to scatter and fight off the oncoming hoard as best as they could. Jinx, Discord and Chrysalis merely watched the proceedings with straight faces. Martin was soon escorting as many ponies as he could out of the building with the army following close behind.
Alan desperately brought his hand back as he stood outside and yelled out, “GET BACK YOU INSECTOID FREAKS!!!”
Alan was ready to shoot a bolt of electricity as he usually did but something else occurred instead of the norm. The electricity seemed to become solid and stretch out into a whip like shape which slashed across half of the army in front of him.
Alan regained himself for a second, “Energy constructs?! NICE!!”
Martin yelled after his friend as Lupe pushed a section of guards into a wall, “MARVEL LATER! RUN NOW!”
Lupe shut the door with her powers and made sure to bend the hinges to prevent them from opening as she rushed down, “That will keep them busy.”
They all looked at the ponies assembled before them. The small party that was with them consisted of Fleur De Lis, The Six, The CMC, Lyra Heartstrings and Bon bon.
Martin sighed as he looked at Lupe, “How many got out?”
Lupe nodded, “I’ll check.” she then removed her necklace and shut her eyes.
Lupe had been practicing and honing her empathy to the point where she could sort of create a mental window and observe ponies that she sensed. There was an unfortunate side effect of her now honed skill, since she was connected to several ponies at once she would feel everything that happened to them mentally and emotionally.
As she looked into the room she saw that the rest of the army had left whereas a sizable amount of Ponyville inhabitants and citizens of Canterlot were still inside the main hall with the royals still present. Jinx was the only one in the room out of the army of evil; he glanced at the frightened faces of the ponies and then looked directly at Lupe. Lupe noticed that among the various ponies were a few she came to know, Derpy hooves, The Doctor, Colgate, Rose, Lilly, Aloe, A griffin known as Gilda, Fancy Pants, The Wonderbolts core members, Granny Smith, Big Mac and Mayor Mare with several others.
Jinx smiled at Lupe, “I know you can see this girl. Please tell mister Fairbridges that this is one of many things he shall come to expect if he keeps up his heroics.”
Jinx looked at the assembled mass once more and raised his hand toward them and then took on an emotionless look. His hand began to glow a bright white from the palm and began to get brighter as a rumbling was heard. Soon the light became so bright and intense that Lupe couldn’t even see any more of the assembled beings inside…then the screaming started. Lupe felt all of the screams, agony, and pain from every single being for a very long and powerful second before it ceased. All of this cumulated in her grabbing her head and letting loose a blood curdling scream as ghost like flames ignited on her body.
Martin ran to her, “LUPE!!”
Lupe turned to reveal her eyes that were glowing with a mixture of fiery red and orange. She soon convulsed sharply and collapsed in a heap in Martin’s arms with the flames extinguishing soon after.
Everypony looked at the castle as a white light surged from every crack and crease as Rainbow Dash jumped, “What in the hay was that?!”
Rarity then gestured toward Ponyville, “I suggest we get as far away from here as possible lest those ruffians return.”
Alan gently took Lupe from Martin as they all made for the train station which already had rescued ceremony attendees hurriedly boarding it. They all boarded the train as it pulled away from the station. When the train passed through the mountain that acted as a direct tunnel to Canterlot a loud explosion decimated the track behind the now moving train.
*
Discord and Chrysalis stared after the departing train as Jinx walked to the balcony they currently were using with an unusual spring in his step.
Chrysalis looked to Jinx, “Don’t worry about those worthless heroes. I shall send a contingent to retrieve them.”
Jinx raised a hand, “don’t bother. I think they will get the message soon enough.”
Discord raised an eyebrow, “How so bro?”
Jinx pointed to three bolts of electricity streaking toward Ponyville with the same grin he had worn in the main hall.
*
When the train pulled into the station all ponies and others alike were greeted by Phobos, Aequivalere, and Sortitus but they all wore grim expression. Sweetie Belle and Rarity met up in the crowd as did Martin, Applebloom and Applejack. Alan approached the aspects with a smile and struck up a conversation to figure out why they arrived. The aspects spoke to Alan whose determined and hopeful smile immediately vanished and replaced with a shocked and devastated one.
Sweetie Belle and Rarity weaved through the crowds in an effort to find their parents who were also in attendance at the ceremony.
Sweetie yelled out, “MOM! DAD! Where are they?”
Rarity gave a comforting smile, “They probably fell asleep in their seats.”
Sortitus approached the dress maker, “I require you and the survivors you came with to come with me to the library.”
*
Soon all the six, the humans, and the six survivors that were with them were in attendance as Phobos tended to the unconscious Lupe.
Sortitus was silent for ten minutes before speaking, “I feared this day would come. Now I’m afraid my fears have become reality.”
Twilight stared at the aspect with hope, “But now that you’re here you can help to stop Jinx.”
Sortitus shook his head, “Unfortunately I can’t.”
Martin looked at him, “Why not?!”
Sortitus sighed, “It’s because he is my eldest brother…and he is stronger than even I.”
Alan had been silent the entire time which caused Rainbow Dash to fly over to him, “You alright?”
Before he could respond however, Lupe awoke and yelled out in anguish. Martin ran to her with everypony else behind him.
Lupe grabbed Martin with tears in her eyes, “the rest of the guests…”
Martin looked at her, “Lupe what happened?”
Lupe quietly said, “Dead…”
Martin looked at her with growing concern, “What?”
Lupe then screamed, “THEY’RE ALL DEAD!! I FELT IT ALL!! OH GOD I FELT IT!!!”
Lupe broke down into tears as everypony looked to the aspects with tears.
Sortitus approached Applejack and Rarity and spoke to grave words, “I’m sorry…”
Both mares and their sisters went limp as they broke down into utter sadness.
Martin however erupted into pure rage, “that bastard I’LL KILL HIM!”
He made for the door only to be stopped by Sortitus, “It will be suicide to fight him alone. Applejack and Applebloom need you more than ever Martin.”
Martin’s fists unclenched and spoke calmly, “What do we do...”
Sortitus rubbed his chin, “Staying here will put everypony at risk. Plus you must protect your friends and the princesses.”
Martin turned his head at this as the door to Twilights lab opened to reveal the injured but alive royal sisters. Martin nodded as he looked at the fearful and broken friends around him and sighed.
He looked at Sortitus, “Will Jinx pursue us?”
Sortitus slowly nodded, “Eventually he will. But for the time being he shall establish his hold here and allow his actions to destroy all hope and freedom.”
Alan stood, “But why do we have to take Bon bon, Lyra, and Fleur with us?”
Sortitus grinned, “The more ponies and people who live free from Jinx, the more hope ponies and all other beings will have when the final battle is joined. Trust me.”
Martin gripped Sortitus’s hand firmly, “I trust you, even if it seems I haven’t I always have.”
Martin opened the bridge using Twilight’s lab door, but before they left Sortitus said one more thing, “Freedom is the right possessed by all sentient beings and it’s their duty to defend it.”
Martin and the survivors left through the bridge solemnly.
*
Martin and the survivors all sat in silence in his living room on Earth as Pinkie Pie looked up, “What now Martin?”
Martin smiled, “We live.”