Chapter 8: No Turning Back
Twilight and her friends have arrived on the outskirts of Canterlot, along with Queen Chrysalis and her changeling army.
"Alright Twilight, now that we're here what should we do?" Applejack said.
Twilight turned and looked around Canterlot. Pinkamena's Chaos Guardians we're posted all around the perimeter and there were more probably stationed inside the city itself.
"There's too much security, we can't just walk in the front entrance or else they'll spot us immediately." Twilight said.
"Twilight have you forgotten?" Rarity said. "We asked Queen Chrysalis to help us for a reason remember?"
"Yea! Let's just charge right through them and head straight to the castle!" Rainbow Dash said.
"You guys really think that's a good idea?" Twilight said.
"Not to be impatient Twilight, but we really just can't stand here and think of a more subtle approach!" Rarity said. "Pinkamena has already taken over most of Canterlot, it won't be much longer until the rest of Equestria falls under her control."
Twilight knew that Rarity was right, waiting any longer would only create more problems in the future.
"Alright." Twilight said. "Queen Chrysalis, You and your changelings need to hold off Pinkamena's Chaos Guardians so we can make a run for the castle!"
"Alright, but what do you plan to do exactly once you reach her? Do you have some sort of plan for defeating her?" Chrysalis said.
"Yes, that's why you need to hold back her guardians for as long as possible." Twilight said. "We're not going to the Throne Room just yet."
"Then where are we going?" Fluttershy said.
"We have to get to the Elements of Harmony! It's the only way we'll be able to save Pinkie Pie!" Twilight said.
"But will they work?" Applejack said. "I mean, there's only the five of us right now, will it really work without Pinkie?"
"That's the tricky part, we have to find a way to get Pinkie's amulet on Pinkamena's neck." Twilight said. "I'm not sure exactly what will happen, but it's just gotta do something to help defeat Pinkamena!"
"I guess we don't really have any other choice right?" Rarity said.
"Well then what are we waiting for!? Let's hurry up and go get them!" Rainbow Dash said.
"Alright Queen Chrysalis, we're counting on you!" Twilight said. "Let's go everyone!"
Queen Chrysalis's army charged on through and flew all over the city, guardians mindlessly attacking whatever they saw was a threat, bodies dropping from both sides as the battle continued.Twilight and her friends sprinted as fast as they could to the vault which contained the Elements of Harmony.
"Look! We're almost there guys, just a little bit farther!" Twilight exclaimed.
The building that contained the vault was in sight and as they were about to get inside, a very familiar face had been waiting to greet them at the door.
"Well well well, If it isn't Twilight Sparkle and her little friends, trying to stop Pinkamena with the Elements of Harmony, you guys are really way too predictable." Discord said.
"Discord!" Twilight said. "How did you know we were coming!?"
"It's really quite hard to miss an army of changelings walking down the street towards the city." Discord said. "Not to mention the fact that it was really quite predictable that you would show up here in a feeble attempt to save your precious friend."
"We're getting through you and we're getting into that chamber!" Rainbow Dash said. "If you think you can corrupt us again you've gotta another thing co-"
"Yea yea yea, hold on I'm stop you right there." Discord said. "As much as I'd like to toy with you guys and have some fun with this, Pinkamena has told me that if you guys came, I'd have to deal with you asap. So yea that's the sad truth, but it was nice seeing you girls again." Discord said gleefully.
Discord raised his claw and lifted all five of them into the air using his magic, crushing and suffocating them. Before they're vision blurred and started to lose consciousness, the magic was broken and they fell to the ground, gasping for air.
"That was way too close!" Applejack said.
"You ain't kiddin! But what saved us?" Rainbow Dash said.
They all turned to see a swarm of changelings attacking Discord, making him lose his focus on his attack.
"Go!" Chrysalis said. "I'll hold him off here, you get the elements and head to the Throne Room!"
"But Chrysalis! We can't just leave yo-" Fluttershy said.
"Just go now!" Chrysalis said.
All five of them realized they had to go, there wasn't anymore time to think.
"Good luck Chrysalis." Twilight said. "I know you can do it!"
With that comment, Twilight and her friends rushed inside the Vault Chamber.
"Now Chryssie that was not a very smart idea..." Discord said, pushing her changelings away.
"Heh, since when do I have good ideas?" Chrysalis said.
Queen Chrysalis then battled with Discord outside the chamber, sounds of their punches and blows making contact could be heard from the five friends inside the chamber.
"I hope she'll be alright." Applejack said.
"Me to, but I think she's strong enough to hold her own against Discord." Twilight said. "Come on! Let's hurry up and get to the vault!"
They rushed up to the vault which held the elements.
"Uh Twi, how exactly do we open it now?" Applejack said.
"Yes, doesn't Celestia have a powerful magic that only she can break casted on the vault to protect it?" Rarity said.
"She does, but seeing as how most of Canterlot is under Pinkamena's control, I assume that Princess Celestia has been... defeated." Twilight said. "So the protection spell would have gradually weakened because of that."
Twilight walked up to the vault door and kicked it open with little effort. Rainbow Dash flew in and took the chest that contained the elements.
"I hope they're in here this time." Rainbow Dash said.
Rainbow Dash opened the box and thankfully, all six of the amulets were inside.
"I'm surprised Discord didn't try to hide them again." Applejack said.
"Let's be glad he didn't." Twilight said. "Now come on let's head to the Throne Room!"
They all put their amulets on, while Twilight held onto Pinkie's.
"How do we get there though?" Fluttershy said. "I'm sure that if we were to go back the way we came, Discord would definitely capture us!"
"Fluttershy is right, isn't there another way we can take?" Rarity said.
"No, not that I know of at least." Twilight said.
Twilight knew they were right, they couldn't possibly leave the way they came. They had to get out using other means.
"Alright, everyone get close to me." Twilight said. I'm going to try to teleport us directly into the Throne Room."
"Are you sure you can do that Twilight? I don't think you've ever teleported that far of a distance." Applejack said.
"I have to try, we need to get there now!" Twilight said.
All of them huddled closely together, Twilight's horn glowed at unprecedented brightness. Struggling to focus on her spell, her horn reached it's peak of power and with a flash they we're gone.
At Pinkamena's Perspective...
Pinkamena sat there in her throne, Celestia bounded to the ground by chain and Nightmare Moon, under Pinkamena's control, standing next to her.
"I wonder if Discord has taken care of those little annoyances yet." Pinkamena said. "Knowing him though he's probably fooling around with them... he really needs to start taking this serious."
Then in the middle of the Throne Room, a bright light started to form in the center.
"...!?" Pinkamena said.
The bright light got bigger and bigger until it flashed, leaving the five friends in it's place.
"Oh, so you actually made it here." Pinkamena said. "And you brought the Elements of Harmony, what could you possibly hope to achieve with those relics?"
Pinkamena got up from her throne and faced them.
"Twilight!" Celestia said.
Twilight looked over to see Princess Celestia imprisoned.
"Princess Celestia!" Twilight said. "Don't worry! I'll get you out of there!"
Twilight teleported next to Celestia and used her magic to destroy the chains constricting her.
"I knew you would make it." Celestia said. "I've always believed in you Twilight."
"I won't fail you Princess! I will defeat Pinkamena and save Pinkie from her control!" Twilight said.
Twilight ran back to her friends, Celestia now joining them as well.
"Alright Pinkamena, this is where is all ends! We're not letting you do anything else!" Rainbow Dash said.
Pinkamena didn't respond.
"Hey!" Rainbow Dash said. "Are you even listening to me!?"
No response.
"PINKAMENA!" Rainbow Dash yelled.
"Huh? Wha?" Pinkamena said. "Oh sorry, That heartfelt reunion of yours with Celestia was just so boring... couldn't help myself but take a quick snooze."
"Why you!" Rainbow Dash said, about to charge towards here but is stopped by Applejack biting her tail.
"Calm down there Rainbow, that's just what she wants you to do, don't give into her taunting." Applejack said.
"I think I'll let Luna handle you guys, I don't really feel like fighting at the moment." Pinkamena said, sitting back down in her throne.
Nightmare Moon sprinted forward to the group, but was tackled by Celestia, forcing her to the opposite side of the room.
"You five handle Pinkamena, I will hold off my sister!" Celestia said. "I know you can do it!"
Celestia and Luna fight with horns and magic clashing with one another.
"Well Pinkamena, there goes your fabulous plan of letting Luna take care of us." Rarity said.
Pinkamena stood back from her throne and moved towards the group, only this time with a different attitude.
"Alright then fine." Pinkamena said. "If you really think you five have a chance against me this time, then come on! Show me just how much you are willing to save your friend!"
At Pinkie Pie's Perspective...
Pinkie Pie levitated there in her prison, as she as been for the entire time being.
"How long have I been here?... A few days?... Heh... It feels like it's been a few years already..." Pinkie said emotionless. "How anyone could stay sane here is just impossible..."
Pinkie's head drooped down, looking at what seemed to be the ground under her.
"I've seen... I've seen the resurrection of Discord... Canterlot being overrun... The fall of Princess Celestia... What else must I witness here!" Pinkie Pie said, crying.
Pinkie Pie started to have another vision of what Pinkamena is doing.
"...!?" Pinkie said. "No... No not my friends... Anything but my best friends! I can't bear to see them hurt! I can't... I just can't..."
Pinkie Pie closed her eyes, and refused to see the vision of her dear friends facing the demon that was once her...
At Pinkamena's Perspective...
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew towards Pinkamena, while Twilight and Rarity were firing at her from a distance and Applejack was sprinting towards her.
"You guys never learn! Do you!?" Pinkamena said.
Pinkamena dodged Twilight and Rarity's attacks and avoided Rainbow Dash's tackle. Using her dark magic to grab Rainbow's tail, she flings her around and throws her at Fluttershy, both pegasi fly back and fall on the ground, they're wings twisting and bones popping from the impact.
"My wings! I-I can't move them anymore!" Rainbow Dash cried, unable to hold back tears from the searing pain while Fluttershy was already sobbing heavily.
Pinkamena dodges Applejack's kicks and sweeps her off the ground, picking her up by her tail and punching her with great force in her chest. The sound of Applejack's ribs breaking and organs failing could be heard by everyone. Pinkamena then threw Applejack towards the two unicorns.
"Applejack! Are you okay!? Can you speak!?" Twilight said.
Applejack couldn't say a word, the pain that came with speaking at the moment was something that she just could not endure.
Distracted by Applejack, Pinkemena flashes in front of Rarity, not giving her a chance to react in time. Pinkamena grabs Rarity's horn and snaps it in half, kicking her on the ground and impaling her in the stomach with the broken piece. Rarity screamed at the top of her lungs and started to cry, trying to pull the severed horn out of her body.
"I truly expected more." Pinkamena said, grabbing Twilight by the neck and standing her up against the wall.
"Why do you resist?" Pinkamena said. "Is saving you friend really that important you?"
"Pinkie Pie is one of our best friends... and I'll fight for our friendship no matter what!" Twilight said.
"You can not save her though." Pinkamena said, delivering a blow to Twilight's stomach. "All of your actions up to this point have been for naught."
"No... they haven't, because we will... we will succeed in saving our friend! Your nothing Pinkamena..." Twilight said.
Pinkamena punched Twilight repeatedly all over her body, Twilight stood there bruised and bloody.
"No! You can't save her! You can't save this city! WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU HAVE ANY CHANCE OF BEATING ME!?" Pinkamena said.
Twilight looked up at Pinkamena's face.
"As long as there is even the smallest glimmer of hope... I will not stop until I defeat you and save everyone!" Twilight said.
Twilight grabbed Pinkamena's cloak, pulling her closer and shoving Pinkie's amulet on her neck. Pinkamena threw Twilight on the ground out of desperation. Pinkie's amulet started to glow it's vibrant pink color, as did everyone else's glow their color.
"Wh-What's happening!? What did you do!? Tell me!" Pinkamena said.
Twilight stood up, seeing Pinkamena trying to rip the amulet off, but to no avail.
"You see Pinkamena, defeating you is not the main thing going through our minds, nor do we have the desire to kill you either." Twilight said. "All we really want, is to just have our friend Pinkie back! And to restore order back to Equestria!"
The five friends' amulets all started to glow a bright, vibrant white light. The purity and clarity that emitted from the light also had that of a soothing feeling to it. The wounds that had been afflicted from before had completely healed and they had felt more powerful than they did before.
"Y-Your wounds! How could they have possibly healed that fast!?" Pinkamena said, trembling.
Pinkamena's amulet also started to glow, but it had a different effect on her. Her powers had been immensely weakened, though still powerful, she was weakened enough for the five friends to now have a fighting chance.
"M-My strength! What happened to all of my power!? This... This irritating light!... It makes my body feel so heavy and... blurs my vision!... Aughhh!" Pinkamena groaned.
Pinkamena backed up towards the throne, unbalanced and wobbly, she could not get a firm stance.
"Alright Pinkamena, this is where is all ends for you." Twilight said.
"N-No! Stay away from me! DON'T COME ANYWHERE NEAR ME!" Pinkamena cried.
Twilight and her friends all charged towards her.
"STAY AWAY!" Pinkamena screamed.
"Pinkamena!" Twilight said. "This ends NOW!"