Chapter 7: Purity and Insanity
Celestia and Luna stood ready for Pinkamena's first move, as they wanted to hopefully get a good read on the levels of her strength from themselves.
"Hmmm." Pinkamena said. "Alright Discord, You take care of Luna, I can handle Celestia by myself."
"She'll be defeated before you know it." Discord said confidently, then dashing towards Luna at full speed.
"Oh no you don't!" Celestia said, charging in front of Discord to cut him off from Luna.
"I don't think so..." Pinkamena said, warping in front of Celestia to stop her.
"Your fighting me princess, and I won't have you running off." Pinkamena said, putting her hoof in front of Celestia's face and forcing her back towards the other side of the room with a blast of sonic energy.
"This is were we'll fight." Pinkamena said. "That alright with you my dear? Hehehehe... I'm sorry, as if you had a choi-"
Pinkamena was interrupted by a blast of Celestia's magic, which was a dead shot in her face and sent her flying into the wall. Pinkamena regained her balance as she pried herself off the wall, surprised at the strength Celestia displayed.
"Heh, a cheap shot attacking me in the middle of my sentence don't you think?" Pinkamena said. "But that was actually a good shot, and it hurt quite a bit speaking honestly."
"After the incident with Queen Chrysalis, I realized how disgraceful it was of me to be defeated to easily, when I am the one who should be protecting my fellow subjects." Celestia said. "So ever since that day I've been honing my skills to make sure that I am ready to overcome whatever evil may befall us."
"Oh I see..." Pinkamena said. "Hehehehe..."
"What's so funny?" Celestia said.
"Oh, I'm just absolutely thrilled that this will actually be a challenge for me!" Pinkamena said. "Now we can have some fun!"
Pinkamena dashed towards Celestia, waves of darkness emitting from her body. Celestia's horn started to glow brighter and brighter until she let out a wave of holy light, it's blinding aura caused the darkness from Pinkamena's body to evaporate instantly.
"What the!" Pinkamena said, now being pulled in by the holy light emanating from Celestia.
Pinkamena was being sucked in by it's power, even with all her strength she couldn't withstand such power. Celestia moved towards her and touched Pinkamena with her horn. Light started to shine through Pinkamena's eyes and mouth as she was burning from the inside out. The pain was immense and she tried to control her screams as hard as she could, she didn't want Celestia to hear her in pain. Pinkamena lifted her hoof up and blasted a wave of sonic energy, not to push Celestia back, but to push herself back away from the light.
"W-What was that!?" Pinkamena said, breathing heavily on the floor and coughing up blood.
"I told you, I've been honing my skills to make sure I'll be able to stop whatever evil may befall us." Celestia said.
"B-But I've never seen you use such a power before... not through Pinkie's eyes..." Pinkamena said.
"I've actually just finished mastering it not to long ago, it exorcises evil and demonic energy from the individual, purifying it from the inside out." Celestia explained.
"Then that means... you're not trying to..." Pinkamena said.
"I have no intention of killing you if that's what your thinking." Celestia said. "How could I do such a thing when your using one of Twilight's best friends as a mere vessel... my only goal is return Pinkie Pie to her former self."
"Tch, You stubborn alicorn you.. you won't be rid of me so easily..." Pinkamena said.
Pinkamena got up and summoned a veil of darkness to surround her, encasing her of what seemed to be a floating ball.
"So you're going to hide now? Is that what your doing?" Celestia said.
"Oh no, of course not, just give me a few seconds..." Pinkamena said.
Pinkamena dissipated the veil and was coated in her dark energy.
"That's better, all that light inside me was revolting." Pinkamena said. "But now I'm ready for you Celestia."
"If that's what you believe then come on, let's end this already!" Celestia said.
"End it? But it's just started to get interesting..." Pinkamena said.
Pinkamena's eye glowed red, and she charged towards Celestia with darkness surrounding her.
"That won't work." Celestia said.
Celesita repeated what she did before, but this time the light wasn't as effective, it was reinforced to act like a shield. Celestia jumped back and fly upwards to avoid the collision and started to shoot blasts of light at Pinkamena. Pinkamena turned around and jumped up towards Celestia and encased herself in a dark ball again, only this time when she got close enough, spikes emerged from the surface, lunging in all different directions. Celestia was able to avoid any fatal hits but was cut in a few places, a slight black flame eating at each of her wounds. Pinkamena dissipated the ball and returned to normal, turning around and facing Celestia.
"Not so easy this time is it Celestia." Pinkamena said.
Celestia was already breathing heavily and Pinkamena looked unscathed, even from the damage she took earlier it looked like she was showing no signs of exhaustion or pain.
"Come on Celestia, let's have some fun." Pinkamena said.
Pinkamena lunged towards Celestia again. Celestia dodged her attacks and continued to fight with Pinkamena.
"Sister! Are you alrigh-" Luna said.
"Don't take your eyes off the opponent in front of you!" Discord said, hitting Luna with his tail and causing her to fall back.
(Luna and Discord have been fighting this whole time in case you didn't realize.)
"Now I see why Celestia saw it imperative that you do not escape, you certainly have gotten stronger since the last time we faced you." Luna said.
"That was a long time ago my dear, and I've had plenty of time to think of new ways to spread chaos while being a statue." Discord said. "You on the other hand Luna, you seem to have gotten weaker since the last time we met..."
"Enough of your talk, We are going to stop you right here and now." Luna said, as she charged towards Discord.
"Yea of course you will, Hahaha!" Discord said, mirroring Luna and continuing to fight.
Celestia and Luna... Pinkamena and Discord... Both sides clashed with each other for quite some time, but only one side will emerge victorious.
At Twilight's Perspective...
"Is this the place?" Fluttershy said.
"This is it alright, just being here gives me the chills." Twilight said.
"Well come on! Let's go see the Queen and get this over with!" Rainbow Dash said.
The five friends walked through The Badlands until they reached Queen Chrysalis's Domain.
"You sure she's gonna help us Twilight?" Applejack said.
"What other choice do we have, besides we won't know until we try right?" Twilight said.
"Ugh it's absolutely horrid here! Have these changelings never heard of the word Sanitation!" Rarity said.
Twilight ignored Rarity's comment and they proceeded inside her domain. It wasn't long until they reached her Throne Room.
"Well well well, What do we have here? If it isn't Twilight Sparkle and her friends, have you all come to pay me a visit?" Chrysalis said.
"Queen Chrysalis, we're here because... we need your help." Twilight said, worriedly.
"My help? You foiled my plans in Canterlot and forced me to find an alternative to feed my precious changelings and now you have the nerve to come here! To my own domain and ask for my help?" Chrysalis said. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't have you skinned alive right here and now."
Twilight's friends didn't know what to say, they were absolutely dumbfounded, but Twilight had one thing to say that might change the Queen's mind.
"Queen Chrysalis, please listen to me." Twilight said. "One of our best friends has been taken over by her own split personality."
"Yes, I noticed the pink one wasn't with you." Chrysalis said. "And I should care why?"
"Because that side of her has immeasurable strength, and only wants to wreak havoc and chaos upon the world!" Twilight said.
"Really now? That's quite interesting if I do say so myself." Chrysalis said. "But that still doesn't provide me with a reason to help you."
"But it does." Twilight said. "If she succeeds in causing mass hysteria across the world, how will you feed your precious subjects? Your changelings love to feed on the love and positive energy from those around, but if she, Pinkamena, succeeds then all that there would be is sadness, anger, insanity... need I go on?"
Queen Chrysalis sat there for a moment pondering, thinking about Twilight's explanation.
"We don't have to friends, we don't have to like each other, but right now we need to set aside our differences and help each other out." Twilight said.
"You... You raise a valid point Twilight Sparkle, finding food for my changelings isn't hard at the moment. But if what you say is true, than that last thing I would want to do is doom my entire race." Chrysalis said.
"So does that mean you're gonna help us?" Rainbow Dash said.
"Yes, I will assist you in stopping your friend, but this doesn't mean were friends now." Chrysalis said.
"I understand." Twilight said. "I appreciate you putting aside your hate to help us."
"Yes, I don't seem to have another choice for my changelings now do I?" Chrysalis said. "So where exactly are we going now?"
"Come on everyone, we have no time to lose! Full speed to Canterlot!" Twilight said.
"To save Pinkie Pie!" Applejack said.
"And to stop Pinkamena." Twilight said.
At Pinkamena's Perspective...
Luna laid on the ground, defeated and exhausted by Discord, both covered in cuts and bruises. The same for Celestia, whose injuries were more severe. Pinkamena's darkness was simply too much for Celestia to handle.
"Well then, that was actually a very entertaining battle." Pinkamena said.
"It almost looks like you didn't get a scratch on you." Discord said, breathing heavily. "Or that your even tired."
"I have much more stamina than that of a normal pony, and my healing capabilities are much quicker." Pinkamena said. "Now before I continue on... there is something I need to see."
Pinkamena walked towards Luna and looked at her.
"You... Princess Luna..." Pinkamena said. "You have more power than what you're showing us."
"Wh-What are you talking about?" Luna said.
"Ah yes, I can sense it inside of you, immense power that you once had but now lies dormant." Pinkamena said. "You would make a great addition to my forces..."
"W-What!?" Luna said. "No! Whatever it is your planning don't do it!"
"Oh Luna, you make it sounds like I'm actually going to listen to you." Pinkamena said gleefully. "Now hold still, you won't feel a thing..."
"Luna! My sister! No!" Celestia cried.
Pinkamena touched Luna's head with her hoof and poured in some her dark energy. Luna convulsed a little, her body growing larger in size as her eyes glowed a bright white, and slowly turning to a deep red. Luna has been transformed into her past self, Nightmare Moon, only this time with Pinkamena's power imbued with her, making her that much more deadly.
"Heh, there we go. The brand new you." Pinkamena said. "You will be my personal guard, is that alright with you?"
Nightmare Moon bowed her head at Pinkamena.
"Ha! As if there was any other answer, you're my puppet now anyway." Pinkamena said. "Nightmare Moon is too wordy, so I'll just keep calling you Luna."
Luna walked and took a stance near the throne.
"I'll be there in a minute, just one more thing I need to take care of..." Pinkamena said.
"Y-You monster... how could you do such a thing to my sister... how could you!" Celestia said.
Pinkamena slapped Celestia across the face.
"Shut your mouth, be grateful I haven't killed you already." Pinkamena said. "Should I do that now? What do you think Discord?"
"I think you should keep her imprisoned for a bit, have her watch as her entire world burns before her, Hahahaha!" Discord said, gleefully.
"Ohhh good idea Discord, I like that. It'll be more entertaining for me as well." Pinkamena said.
Pinkamena threw Celestia to the other side of the throne and summoned wraps of darkness to constrict her movements.
"Be glad I took away the burning effect from those, that would have been a terrible time for you, Hehehehe!" Pinkamena said.
"Y-You... you won't get away with this!" Celestia said.
"Oh really? I won't get away with this? Who could possibly stop me now Celestia, please do tell me." Pinkamena said.
"Twilight... Twilight and her friends... I know for a fact they'll stop you..." Celestia said.
"Really? You really think those idiots have any chance of stopping me? I mean sure they've pulled through in past but come on now Celestia... really? I don't think the entire land of Equestria can stop me now! Let alone five confused ponies..." Pinkamena said.
"But! I guess we'll see when that time comes won't we?" Pinkamena said. "Until then, Discord you are free to go out and cause whatever mischief you'd like."
"Finally! Hahahaha! Some real fun!" Discord said.
"I only ask that you throw in some real destruction from town to town, not just your little environment changes." Pinkamena said.
"If that's what you want!" Discord said.
Discord flew out of the Throne Room and fly high above. With a snap of his fingers, the desired town bursted into flames. Town after town, they all collapsed and disasters overtook the lands. Ponies from all over were either fleeing to whatever safety they could find, or frozen by the events that occurred, too terrified to comprehend what was happening. It wasn't long before everything was burning.
"Hehehe..." Pinkamena said. " It's really just beautiful... just beautiful."
At Twilight's Perspective...
"We're almost there guys! Come on just a little farther!" Twilight said.
"Um Twi..." Applejack said. "You might wanna stop to look at this..."
Twilight turned around and saw everything... everything was burning... Manehatten, Las Pegasus, Ponyville... all of it.
"I-I don't..." Rainbow Dash said.
"It's just..." Rarity said.
"Come on let's hurry up, we're almost there." Twilight said.
"Twilight!? Don't you even care that everything is burning!? Everything is dying!?" Rainbow Dash said.
"I do care, but do you think that stopping here to stare at it is going to stop it? No it won't" Twilight said. "That's why we have to head over to Canterlot right now and stop Pinkamena!"
Everyone else agreed with Twilight and sprinted towards Canterlot.
"Well everyone..." Twilight said. "We're here."
Canterlot was covered in dark clouds and the sky was red, Pinkamena had already succeeded in taking it over.
"Are you ready guys?" Twilight said.
"Yea! Let's do this!" All of her friends said.
"And you Queen Chrysalis?" Twilight said.
"As ready as I'll ever be I suppose." Chrysalis said.
"Alright then, come on guys we have a friend to save!" Twilight said.