//------------------------------// // Chapter 25: Bridlewood Strong // Story: My Little Pony: Make Your Mark In Love // by SamSwordsman123 //------------------------------// They arrived in Bridlewood at nightfall, Spike landed in front of the Crystal Tearoom, causing a tremor and several branches to fall from the trees they’d gone through. Alphabittle emerged as he heard the tremor. His mouth fell open as he saw a living dragon in Bridlewood. Many other unicorns came out and saw Spike as well with similar expressions. “Sunny! Misty!” the teamaking chief exclaimed. “Dad!” Misty cried as she ran toward her father and embraced him. “Opaline took Zephyr Heights!” “Oh, this is terrible!” Alphabittle said. “Now we’re the only community that hasn’t fallen!” “We should have been there to help!” Onyx shouted. “Why didn’t we go as soon as we heard Maretime Bay had fallen?” Many of the unicorns looked down somberly. They’d been afraid to take action and merely hope the enemy would be defeated. That was apparently not the case. “Everypony listen to me!” Alphabittle said stomping his hoof and walking to the center. “We cannot stand idly by any longer!” He turned to Sunny. “You waited for Opaline to come to you both times correct?” “Yes,” Sunny admitted reluctantly. Alphabittle shook his head. “We cannot make the same move again. We must attack first this time! Its our only chance to save our friends and family that have moved to other lands! If we had all united together we might have won!” Sunny recalled the recent battles. “We were so close the last couple times! But the unity crystals got separated by Right Light and Opaline used that victory to grow stronger! We almost beat her forces in Zephyr Heights but she was just too powerful!” Not to mention, I was too conflicted about fighting Fireforge. She thought. I hoped to be able to turn him back to our side. Alphabittle sighed. “We’ve been defeated by a number of things so far. But we’ve been separated those times. We can only hope that we will be strong enough this time and ready for whatever Opaline sends our way.” “She’ll be stronger though!” Misty said. “Once she drains everypony in Zephyr Heights! She might be too powerful for us!” Alphabittle grimaced. “We have no choice. We have to try. Its our only chance. Haven is there, and her daughters and the rest of your friends.” Sunny nodded. She looked up back in the direction of Zephyr Heights which appeared as a mountain in the distance now. They could only hope everypony was alright. … Back in the Pegasus Homeland, things were not looking good as Opaline had taken over the castle and brainwashed many of the guards. Right Light stood by her along with General Bloodheart and Dirty Fighter. She sat on Queen Haven’s throne as the aging Pegasus watched in dismay. Haven was to be public stripped of her crown on live camera. Fireforge Destiny meanwhile, sat on Zipp’s throne to Opaline’s right. “It is a dark day for Zephyr Heights and all of Equestria,” the two news ponies, Skye and Dazzle, announced. “We now have a new ruler in Queen Opaline!” “That’s right!” Opaline declared. “Now you have a true Queen, and not some mere pretender who couldn’t even fly for most of her reign!” She then turned to Queen Haven. “Kneel before Opaline!” Haven hesitated, and Opaline lit up her horn and spread her wings. The Queen of the Pegasi bowed her head low and removed her crown with her hooves as Opaline smirked. The crown was tossed before the throne and Haven looked up sadly, her pride gone. Her flank was blank as well since she’d taken her cutie mark during the fight earlier. Then she noticed Zipp looking defiantly at her while Pipp gazed at her in fright. “You have some courage… princess,” Opaline said as she walked over and took Zipp’s chin. “And your sister has her confidence. But I’ll see both of those break!” She turned her horn to the now former queen Haven who was lifted into the air by a blue purple aura. It caused the former queen to scream. “Mom!” Pipp exclaimed in fright. “Let her go!” Zipp demanded. Opaline looked at her for a moment then smirked. “Careful what you wish for!” She opened a nearby window in the throne room and levitated Haven out over a several hundred feet drop. “Bow to me, or your mother shall fly for the last time,” Opaline said. “Straight down!” Zipp’s courage melted as she saw her mother suspended above the city with no ability to fly. She clenched her teeth and bowed reluctantly. Pipp followed suit and Opaline grinned before returning their mother to the floor of the throne room safely. She motioned to the guards she’d brainwashed. “Take this false queen to the dungeon!” Opaline commanded them and gestured to Haven. “And remove any luxuries in the cells! Prisoners do not get luxuries!” She’d inspected the cells before hand and seen the fair treatment they offered such as fruit bowls and massage chairs. “Oh no! Not my luxury cells!” Haven exclaimed. “Mom!” Zipp tried to get to her mother but was blocked by Thunder who’s eyes glowed purple. Opaline then approached her. “You will do as I say! Whether you like it or not!” She looked straight into Zipp’s sapphire eyes and those eyes glowed purple as well. “Zipp!” Pipp screamed. Opaline turned to her as well and hypnotized the younger sister as well. She then looked at the camera. “Your royals have fallen,” Opaline said. “No Princess Pipp!” Seashell screamed from where she stood in the throne room with her adoptive sisters. “The only thing she shall be a princess of now is entertaining me!” Opaline said. “Sing!” Pipp broke into song and danced. Unable to fly but still a good dancer. “Oh Opaline, Oh Opaline, You are so cruel, a terror to behold! A power so great no pony can hope To stand against you! You will have all the magic! We were fools to stand against you. Us pathetic little ponies Oh Opaline, Oh Opaline. You are superior!” “Bravo! Bravo!” Opaline said clapping her hooves. “Dismissed!” The brainwashed royals were escorted away by the brainwashed guards, leaving Opaline with her son and other commanders. Opaline walked back up to the throne she’d claimed and looked at her son. “I believe I should probably share some of the power with you!” she said. “Can’t have you be nothing compared to me now, can I? You are an alicorn and my son after all! And one who understands the way the world works! That we are superior!” She lit up her horn and transferred a fair amount of the magic power she’d drained from ponies in Zephyr Heights and Maretime Bay. It flowed into Fire’s horn which lit up brighter and he felt the power coursing through his veins, but it didn’t thrill him as it would have before his memory loss and meeting Sunny. He just felt… empty. What was power… without ponies that genuinely cared for you? “How does that feel, my son?” Opaline asked as she took her seat on the throne next to him. “P-powerful,” Fireforge said turning away. “Good!” Opaline said also turning away, failing to notice her sons lack of enthusiasm. “Now, I may have come up with a new plan. Right Light, the crystals?” The traitor Pegasus walked forward and presented the Unity Crystals from his saddle bag. Opaline levitated them out and looked at them then back at Fireforge. “I had thought that perhaps taking Sunny’s magic would be the final step but she is only one alicorn, and you are the same!” Opaline said. “Together, I’m sure we can drain the magic ourselves right now!” Her evil laughter filled the room.