//------------------------------//
// Success 
// Story: A world away 
// by Meilha 
//------------------------------//

	Damien paced back and forth. He didn't know what he would do next. Still three remained, and not only did he not have a single clue as to their whereabouts, but Trixie had been gone for days now. Then he thought of something. 

"Ken," He said to the leader of his second best group of men. They were also the ones that had gotten the only three ponies he had so far. 
"When you found the ponies near those Canadian woods, exactly how many were there?"

Ken was embarrassed that he hadn't gotten all four of them, so he tried to avoid telling Damien. But he thought now was as good a time as any.

"There were four, sir."

Damien wasn't happy, but relieved to finally have some sort of plan. 

"Why didn't you tell me you didn't get them all? I need you to go back to that location and search for the one you didn't get. It couldn't have gotten far on foot."

"Yes sir," Ken said as he gestured for his group to follow.

Well, Damien thought, at least I know where one of them is. But I just wish Trixie would show up.

A few moments later Damien's lead scientist walked in and spoke, "It's ready sir, come with me."

Damien smiled, it was time.

__        __       __

Spike ran the whole way to Zecora's house, and by the time he made it he was out of breath. Celestia was already there waiting for him. After waiting for Spike to recover so he could breathe again, they opened Zecora's door and went inside.

"Celestia, what are you doing here?" Zecora asked.

Celestia was confused; she had thought Zecora rhymed everything she said. And she couldn't help notice her eyes were glowing a bright red orange.

"Zecora, do you know the whearabouts of Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Apple Jack, or Pinkie Pie? Celestia asked. "They were last seen leaving my castle with you, and now they are nowhere to be found."

"No, of course not, I have no clue where any of them are," Zecora said as she slowly made her way to the doorway.
Celestia wasn't buying it.

"Not so fast," She said as she stepped in her path. She noticed the strange cloak she was wearing.

"What are you hiding Zecora," She said as she used her magic to pull the cloth off Zecora. Then she could see a rather large circular device on the back of Zecora's neck. 

"What is that?" Spike asked as he pointed to it.

Celestia pulled it off and Zecora's eyes went to their normal color. 

"Now can you tell us something?" Celestia asked.

Zecora blinked and nodded. She walked over and picked up her device given to her by Trixie.

"Please forgive me princess-" Zecora started but Celestia said, "Don't worry about it, now let's go get them back." At the sight of the device her suspicions were confirmed.

Zecora pushed a button and enlarged the hole Trixie had made a few days ago. Celestia entered through it, and Spike warily followed.

__         __        __

Damien's head was in a lot of pain. His head ache at first made him faint in pain. It hurt a little less now, but he was still very much in pain. But it was all worth it, he thought as he stroked his new horn. He had Twilight's DNA, and it had been beyond painful. But he felt all the more powerful as he practiced levitating objects around him. Now he could power his machines with his own magic, without Trixie's help. No, he wouldn't need Trixie's help anymore. He wouldn't need anyone's help now. He was all powerful, and he was going to rule the world by himself. No one could stop him now.

In the heat of the moment he let his magic run wild and several windows and computer screens near him broke to millions of pieces. He thought even harder, and crushed a computer, then threw it to the other side of the room. Anyone brave enough to stay in there with him now was heading for the door.

Damien's mind was clouded with pain and he was blinded by his lust for power. There would be no reasoning with him now. He wouldn't stop until every man, woman, and pony bowed at his feet.