//------------------------------// // Chapter XXIII - The Elements of Harmony // Story: Repercussions // by GaryOak //------------------------------// Chapter XXIII The Elements of Harmony =============== Canterlot Tower's doors swung open, exposing the room to the five ponies who they stood in the doorway. It was just as they remembered it, as if it had somehow escaped the ravages of the King's influence. Even the statues of Celestia and Luna by the Tower's door remained intact. The only sign of King Cosmo was the wall at the opposite end. The door that protected the Elements of Harmony was in pristine condition, but the frame and the wall around it was blackened and marred. “I was right,” said Luna, breathing a sigh of relief. “Right? Right about what?” said Pinkie as she merrily bounced alongside her, the spring in her step restored at last. “Cosmo could never break the seal. Look.” Luna indicated the door. “Only Celestia and myself can open it. We can finally obtain the Elements! We just might have a chance!” They glanced from side to side at the stained glass windows lining the walls as they crossed the long hallway. As they approached the door, a faint sound of grim laughter reached their ears. Luna froze and unfurled her wings. Her narrowed eyes darted around the room. The laughter faded as abruptly as it had begun. “Stand back,” said Luna as they neared the door. She lowered her horn and prepared to open the seal. Before she could begin the spell, a voice came from near the entrance. “It's good to see you, Luna!” Everypony leapt in surprise and stared at its source. It came from the statue of Princess Luna, whose eyes now possessed a sort of ethereal fire. The statue began to move of its own accord. “What – what do you want?” said Luna, gawking at the statue. “Come now, Luna,” said her statue, its voice conveying none of the fire in its eyes. “You know as well as I that any attack made against the King is futile.” It began to circle around Luna as it spoke. “Look at these loyal ponies around you. Much like your army, they are willing to fight and die for you. By continuing this mad quest, you are leading them to their doom.” “It's – it's not true!” said Luna, recoiling. “A world crushed beneath Cosmo's hoof is a world not worth living in!” We are fighting for the liberty of not only ourselves, but all of Equestria!” She bared her teeth at her simulacrum. “Now stand aside! I did not come here to give an audience to your lies!” “Then do not listen to her,” said another familiar voice. The startled ponies spun around and looked to where it had come from. With a similar fire burning from its eyes, the statue of Princess Celestia advanced on them, offering them a stony sneer. Flaring its wings, the statue circled around them as Luna's did, like two predators, waiting for a lapse in their prey's defenses. “Luna, what has become of you?” said Celestia's statue in harsh, mocking tones. “You have become weak and powerless! Only a coward would surrender to the King like my sister counsels. No, power is the answer here.” Luna gritted her teeth. “Let me pass.” “The Elements of Harmony are worthless against Cosmo,” said Celestia's statue. “Magic and Loyalty obey no mistress, and will never answer to one who betrayed their trust so long ago.” The flames in the statue's eyes continued to rise as it spoke. “The only way to defeat Cosmo is to give in to your desires. Remember the envy, the thirst for power, the anger!” Luna blanched. “The ways of which you speak are those of Nightmare Moon! I swore I would never succumb to those desires again.” “It is your only choice!” said Celestia's statue. “The Elements were the only thing capable of defeating you once you became the dark harbinger of eternal night. The same rule of the Elements applies to Cosmo as well! Should you reacquire your lost powers, he will be able to do nothing but fall at your hooves. You could rule Equestria forever!” “If I do as you suggest,” said Luna, trembling, “then I will be no better than King Cosmo. It will merely replace one tyrant with another. I would sooner die than see Nightmare Moon return. I lost myself to that madness once. I will not do so again.” “Then surrender yourself to the King!” said Luna's statue. “Surely the two of you can reach an agreement. Who knows, Cosmo might even offer you a share of the land if you are peaceable enough. Think of the countless lives you will save. As we speak, those loyal to you are being slaughtered by the King's legions. You claim to have a sense of mercy, but your actions are responsible for more deaths than bowing to Cosmo ever would have been!” “I have known my brother for far too long,” said Luna with finality. “Long enough to know that the word 'clemency' is not in his vocabulary.” “Pathetic,” said Celestia's statue. “You would willingly choose certain death.” “I... am not the Luna I once was,” said Luna with resignation. “I used to want – no – demand to be adored by my subjects. I wanted absolute power. I allowed myself to be consumed by my thirst for it. I trotted down the same path my brother did, and for what?” She hung her head low. “Cosmo was sentenced to death for his crimes – a fitting punishment. I cannot believe that he escaped justice. And myself? I had a thousand years to contemplate the error of my ways.” A newfound surge of resolve coursed through her body. She held her head high and gestured to her companions. “These very ponies gave me the most precious gift of all: a second chance. How dare you insult them by suggesting that I squander it?” Her hoof struck with a loud crack as it splintered the tile beneath. “The Elements of Harmony will see us through in our time of greatest need. They exist to keep Equestria in balance. First Discord, and then Nightmare Moon, saw their evil and impure ambitions quashed by them. They will not allow Cosmo's wicked deeds to go unpunished!” “Do you honestly believe that?” said Luna's statue, its blazing eyes glaring at her. “You are putting the lives of everypony in danger, on nothing more than a foal's hope. But, if you refuse to see sense –” Luna's eyes sparked bright white. “SILENCE! I now see through your guile, and I will not be manipulated by you, Cosmo! If we both die, Equestria can elect its leaders as the towns do mayors for all I care! I swear that I will fight you as long as I still draw breath!” “If you will not join me...” said the statues in tandem, their voices transforming into King Cosmo's. “Then your life is forfeit!” “Princess, look out!” Pinkie lunged at Luna and tackled her as hard as she could, bringing her crashing to the tile. The statues' horns crossed together, impaling thin air from either side where Luna had been a split second earlier. Luna got back to her hooves, her eyes blazing as raw magic surged around her. She unleashed it toward the statues. The stone turned bright white for a moment, before it disintegrated into two heaps of smoldering dust. “Pinkie Pie... you – you saved me,” said Luna. She closed her eyes and exhaled. “I cannot thank you enough.” Pinkie hugged her. “After what you said... I think the Elements would be more than happy to let you use them again.” Luna blinked away unbidden tears as she smiled and returned Pinkie's embrace. “Let us not tarry any longer.” She fixed her gaze upon the keyhole. “As soon as we get what we have come for, we make for the east tower. Cosmo has sat upon the throne for far too long.” Luna resolutely approached the door and inserted her horn into the keyhole. A short burst of icy blue energy emanated from her horn for a second before the door was aglow with it, exactly as it had been when Celestia had opened it not long ago. The magic bathed everypony in its light. Once the glow began to fade, those present saw the jewel-encrusted chest containing the Elements of Harmony sitting upon its pedestal. Luna gulped, plucked it from its seat, and rested it on the ground beside them. With a deep, tentative breath, she opened it. Fluttershy gasped and flared her wings. “The Elements! They're all here!” “We did it!” said Applejack as she grabbed the necklace of Honesty and put it on. “Cosmo, we're comin' for ya!” The others followed suit, with Luna wearing the necklace of Loyalty and the tiara of Magic. The ponies paused for a moment and looked at each other. Luna almost felt giddy with relief. She could scarcely believe they had successfully obtained all six Elements of Harmony, despite the King's best efforts. Slowly approaching one of the stained glass windows, she peered out and stared at the east tower. There was not a shadow of doubt in her mind that King Cosmo was aware of what had just transpired. “We have overcome everything Cosmo has sent at us,” said Luna, briskly trotting toward the exit. “I can only hope that he did not anticipate us making it this far.” The others followed in her wake, passing through room after room, hallway after hallway. The castle seemed just as deserted as when they had entered. A strong sense of monotony set in as, apart from shapes, each room looked identical to the next. Despite their lack of inhabitants, every room in the castle was rife with Cosmo's influence. “It feels like we're bein' watched,” said Applejack as she looked uneasily at yet another portrait of the King, its watercolour eyes glaring down at her. She reached for where her hat had been, but her face fell and her ears drooped when her hoof found only thin air. “I don't like it.” “We are almost there,” said Luna as she opened the door in front of them. “One or two more rooms, and we will have reached the staircase leading to Cosmo's tower!” When they stepped into the room, they froze in place. In its centre stood four cloaked and hooded ponies, their pale yellow eyes glittering from beneath their cowls. Their coats were barely discernible under their black cloaks. “It would seem that we've got company,” said the green unicorn. “You should've turned back when you had the chance,” said the red unicorn. “But, instead, you have found your way here,” said the black unicorn, the only mare of the group. “And now that you have...” said the white unicorn, lifting his cowl with magic. It fell away, revealing Shining Armour's haunted face. He wore an expression of pure hatred. “We shall grind your bones to dust...” * * * The Desert Fox squinted at the air battle above him through his goggles and smiled. The Comets were making short work of the rabble led by the Wonderbolts, as was expected of the King's air force. His smile broadened as he scanned the battlefield as a whole. The enemy lines were gradually crumbling before the might of Cosmo's legions. Everything seemed so much simpler to him. Not a few days ago, his mind had been filled with personal ambitions of conquest – the desire to have a slice of Equestria to call his own. But no more. Now, his sole desire was to fight, kill, and die for his King. The opportunity for revenge on the Appleloosans and the buffalo was merely a bonus for services rendered. The King would most certainly be pleased with his efforts. The Desert Fox had done what he was best suited for: leading his army around the battle like a band of marauders, weaving through the Canterlot lines and conducting a series of surgical strikes upon Luna's army to deadly effect. Thanks their exploits, total victory in the name of the King was all but assured. As he set his sights on what may have been the final key point of strength in the enemy's line, the Desert Fox felt a sudden surge of adrenaline. It was the buffalo. They wrought havoc on the King's armies by flattening scores of soldiers and snapping their spears like twigs. The Desert Fox's blood boiled when he spotted a buffalo amongst the stampeding herd. “Chief Thunderhooves!” spat the Desert Fox. “I promise you will not walk away from this battle!” Viciously grinning from ear to ear, he charged forward with his army at his back, directly into the gap in the Canterlot lines that the buffalo had created. The two forces met in a violent clash of horns and claws. The buffalo were unable to adequately charge the foxes due to the dense fighting conditions, which allowed the foxes to take full advantage of their smaller, more nimble bodies. All the buffalo could do to combat the foxes was gore them upon their horns or crush them beneath their hooves. Every time a buffalo would commit to attacking a fox, his target would nimbly evade the assault and strike back, biting or scratching any exposed limb before backing off to a safe distance. The Desert Fox began laughing madly as the line of buffalo quickly fell into disarray. Those unfortunate enough to get isolated from the herd were swarmed and cut down by the swift foxes. Sensing the weakness in his foes, he gave the order to push forward. His foxes drove the buffalo farther and father back until the two forces became separated from the greater battle. “It ends here, fox!” said Thunderhooves, his fur stained with his enemies' blood. The Desert Fox laughed. “I concur! It's high time you and your filth met the judgment of the King!” “Listen to yourself,” said Thunderhooves with a note of pity in his voice. “When you sought to slaughter my tribe and conquer Appleloosa, you were independent and free. Look at you now. Your free will is gone, and you bow to a false King. Is this really what you desire?” “Bah!” said the Desert Fox with a predatory grin. “Everything will be taken care of by my lord. Those who do not obey face certain death – starting with you!” “We'll see about that,” said Thunderhooves, his eyes narrowing. “Buffalo! At last, we find ourselves in an open field! CHARGE!” The Desert Fox's eyes widened as the realization of his grievous error hit home. He had lost track of how far forward his troops had pushed. Left with no other choice, he retreated as quickly as he could to the relative safety of the clashing armies' lines. The rest of his densely grouped army attempted to join him when they saw their leader flee, but the buffalo were upon them before they could move far enough. A solid wall of buffalo hurtled toward them at frightening speed. The fox army crumpled like tin soldiers beneath a steamroller as the buffalo trampled them mercilessly. Bones crunched like twigs under hooves. Gritting his teeth, the Desert Fox leapt at Thunderhooves, and clawed at him in a wild frenzy. Thunderhooves stumbled backward, his face bleeding from numerous gashes. He shook himself, rushed toward the Desert Fox, and aimed a headbutt at him. His foe rolled to the side and began to attack anew by swiping at his foe's forelegs. Thunderhooves cried out and fell on his belly as he felt his legs give way beneath him. A manic grin spread across the Desert Fox's muzzle as he slashed Thunderhooves across the forehead. His vision blurred as blood trickled into his eyes. Everything began to fade as he felt his foe clambering onto his neck, preparing to deliver the finishing blow. A surge of desperate adrenaline shot through him. He bellowed with rage and forced himself to stand once again, then flung his assailant across the battlefield. He lowered his head and charged full-bore, toward where the Desert Fox had fallen. The Desert Fox scurried back to his paws and leapt above the charging Thunderhooves. He landed on the buffalo's face and began swiping and biting madly at anything he could reach. Weathering the storm from his assailant and shaking him off, Thunderhooves directed a forehoof into his enemy's skull. The blow sent the Desert Fox sprawling. He shook himself and tried to stand back up, but Thunderhooves brought his head down upon him. The Desert Fox found himself powerless against Thunderhooves, whose horn had impaled his chest. He looked down and spluttered in disbelief when he saw his blood run down Thunderhooves's head. In a last-ditch attempt to conquer his foe, he raised a paw and swiped. Thunderhooves lowered his head and allowed his enemy to hit the ground instead. The Desert Fox's eyes widened in horror when he saw Thunderhooves bearing down on him without a hint of mercy in his eyes. He bellowed and brought his forehooves down on the Desert Fox's skull. * * * Scootaloo's eyes cracked open. Every inch of her body throbbed. She looked down. A score of red gashes crisscrossed her coat where Bastion had tortured her. The two guards outside her cell stood unmoving, and stared blankly at the wall. A chill swept through the cell, and made her curl into a ball and shiver. She did not cry. The squeal of the door's hinges reached her ears. She stood up and looked out to see Bastion approaching. “So, have you reconsidered your position?” he said as he reached the cell and glared at her through the bars. Scootaloo pawed at the ground and flared her wings. “What do you think, you big bully?” Bastion sighed and looked away. “I was afraid of that. You could have made this considerably easier on the both of us.” Scootaloo narrowed her eyes. “Do your worst.” “As you wish,” said Bastion as magic surged from his horn. Fetters identical to the ones he had used earlier latched onto Scootaloo's legs and spreadeagled her against the wall. “I went too easy on you last time – a mistake I will not make again.” Scootaloo gazed into Bastion's eyes and clenched her teeth as he fired a small beam of magic into her chest. She barely restrained herself from crying out as pain surged through her. The impact left a smoking black mark. Bastion pawed the ground as he unleashed another beam at her right shoulder. She blinked tears of pain from her eyes, but continued to stare doggedly into his. He shuddered as he shot her again and again, until her eyes began to swim out of focus and her head lolled to the side. “Why... why do you continue this madness?” he said as he released her. Scootaloo lay in a crumpled heap on the stone floor. Her breathing was shallow, almost to the point where she looked dead. “I should be asking you the same question.” Her voice was a barely audible mumble. Bastion's eyes widened. “What?” Scootaloo tried to struggle back to her hooves, but her legs gave out beneath her. “You were the headmaster of Princess Celestia's unicorn school, right?” “What of it?” She dragged herself toward the wall and used it to prop herself on her back. Each movement of her hooves was a struggle. “That sounds like a really good job, doesn't it? Helping unicorns learn about magic and being a very important pony. It's a big job, so Princess Celestia must've really trusted you.” Bastion stared at her and stood stock still, as if his limbs had seized up. “She had absolute trust in me. I was one of Twilight Sparkle's instructors. I even oversaw her examination on the day she hatched that dragon egg.” He took a deep, rattling breath. “I am more than a simple school teacher now. Now, I am one of the greatest servants of Equestria's true King. I have wrought weapons that the King will use to obliterate Luna and her ilk.” Scootaloo rubbed her chest gingerly. “What weapons?” “They were once three of my brightest pupils,” said Bastion as he observed her movements. “They have been reshaped into perfect weapons for the King.” She tested her right forehoof and winced. “What do you mean, 'reshaped'?” Bastion failed to suppress a shiver. “They were... inadequate to perform the desired task as they were. I had to wipe the slate clean and begin anew. It took quite some time, but my efforts bore fruit.” “When you say that... you mean you did to them what you're doing to me, don't you?” She rose unsteadily to her hooves and took a few wobbly steps toward him, trying to stare him down despite their considerable size difference. “When me and my friends did well in school, Miss Cheerilee would just give us sugar lumps or extra recess... but you – you did this to them? Princess Celestia trusted you. They trusted you!” Bastion's ears drooped. “What's done is done. The time of Celestia has passed. King Cosmo will rule Equestria until the end of time. Resisting will only end your life prematurely, as you shall soon discover firsthoof.” Scootaloo wrapped her hooves around the bars and brought her muzzle within inches of Bastion's. “You're wrong. I don't even think you're truly evil, like he is. You're just scared. Scared of what might happen if you stand up to him. I know what he can do.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “Rainbow Dash was the closest thing to family I had. She – she was like my big sister. And he made Pinkie Pie – her best friend – kill her. She was supposed to give me another flying lesson.” She shook, and would have fallen over if not for her grip on the bars. “Instead, I found her dead in the basement of the bakery. Her body was still a bit warm. I thought... that somehow, she would get up and laugh at the awesome joke she pulled... but she never moved again. All this because of Cosmo. I knew I couldn't just let him win. So what if he's super powerful? “I have something worth fighting for. Rainbow Dash's memory, her friends, my friends, and Princess Luna. So what if Cosmo's almost invincible? We still have to fight! To him, you're just the same as those ponies you tortured. You don't mean anything to him. Didn't you like your life before?” Bastion gulped as beads of cold sweat glistened on his face. “I did... but nothing can bring that back now. Like your friend, it is forever lost. We must adapt to the change and accept our fate, lest we be consumed by it.” Scootaloo shook her head emphatically. “No! It can go back to the way it was! I'll never forget Rainbow Dash as long as I live and fight for what's right. Wasn't Princess Celestia a great ruler? Everypony lived in peace and happiness under her. All Cosmo's brought is death and sadness. Don't give up. Even if you do die, you died fighting for something. Princess Luna wants to set things right, back to the way they were before Cosmo came back.” “What would you have me do? Storm into his throne room and attempt to assassinate him with Miasma standing right there?” Bastion said in a shrill voice as he mopped his brow. “No. Let me go. I'll fight him myself.” Bastion nearly fell backward. “That's suicide!” “No... somehow, I know it's what I need to do,” said Scootaloo staring into space. “You're mad.” “I'm fighting for what's right,” said Scootaloo in adamant tones. “Everypony's gotta stay true to others and themselves. Stick by those you care about through anything. That's why I've gotta fight him, even if it's both him and Miasma against me!” Bastion took a few steps back and sighed with resignation. “You leave me with no choice.” Power surged from his horn, casting the dungeon into a deadly glow. Scootaloo did not flinch; she stared intently at him as he prepared to unleash his attack. There was a blinding flash... She blinked in surprise as she found herself unharmed. Both guards fell to the ground, dead, their corpses blackened and smoking. Bastion fired another burst, destroying the lock. Scootaloo leapt and punched the air triumphantly. “You – you –!” “Save your breath,” said Bastion as his snout wrinkled from death's pungent smell. “Although I have just sealed my own fate by doing this, I do not think I can live with myself after what I've done under the King's rule. His throne room lies at the top of the east tower of Canterlot Castle. There are virtually no guards present, but you must exercise caution; The Four roam the castle in search of Luna. Your life will be forfeit should you run afoul of them. Now go.” Scootaloo gave Bastion a quick hug before trotting toward the dungeon door. “Thanks! I won't forget this. When this is all over, I'll tell Princess Luna what you did. I'm sure she'll be thankful.” Bastion blinked back tears. “Even after all I've done?” Scootaloo paused and turned around. “Don't you remember who she was? I think Princess Luna believes in second chances more than anypony else.” * * * Luna staggered backward. “Impossible!” “Shining Armour?” said Fluttershy, cowering. Luna shuddered as she felt a wave of cold pass through her body. “Where is Princess Cadence?” Shining Armour's expression remained unchanged. “I have pierced her heart. It is the fate that is in store for you, in accordance with the King's decree.” Pinkie's lip quivered and she sank a few inches, as if Shining Armour's statement had tied an anvil around her neck. “You... you murdered your own wife?” “It is of no consequence,” said Shining Armour, without looking at her. “I exist only to exterminate you, and to bring the Elements of Harmony to King Cosmo.” “He's done to him what he's done to Twi!” said Applejack, snorting aggressively. “We've gotta free him!” Luna slowly shook her head. “I am afraid not. I witnessed this phenomenon long ago. Shining Armour as we know him has perished. My brother's twisted magic is all that inhabits the empty shell that was once his body.” She glared at him. “What kind of abominations are you?” “We are The Four,” said the red unicorn, discarding his cloak to reveal a bright orange mane. “We are the chosen ones!” said the pale green, incinerating his cloak to display his mane of stringy black hair. “Hoof-picked by King Cosmo himself!” said the black mare, her dull brown mane appearing from beneath her cloak as she disintegrated it. Shining Armour expelled a puff of smoke from his flared nostrils. “We will now collect the Elements from your corpses. It is pointless to resist us.” “I do not care who you are or who you once were,” said Luna, pawing the ground. “I will not allow you or anypony else to come between me and bringing my brother to justice!” “Such courageous words,” said the red unicorn mirthlessly. “But futile.” “The King has bestowed great power upon us!” said the green unicorn. A wicked grin appeared upon the black unicorn's muzzle. “Allow me to demonstrate!” “Fluttershy, watch out!” said Pinkie, jumping in front of her. A black blast of smog-like magic hit Pinkie squarely in the chest, and she collapsed on the floor, twitching in pain. “Pinkie!” squeaked Fluttershy, hugging her tightly. She shook her and tried to prop her back up. “Fluttershy...” said Pinkie in a barely audible whisper. “I – I took Dashie's life... but at least... I could save yours...” “Pinkie, don't talk like that!” Fluttershy cradled Pinkie's head in her forehooves. “Everything will be fine! Everything will be fine!” Pinkie smiled at her. “It's... too late, Fluttershy...” Her eyelids slowly fluttered shut. “Please... don't let... Cosmo win...” “PINKIE!” screamed Fluttershy as tears streamed down her face. “She was but the first to fall before us,” said Shining Armour. “All those who do not submit to the will of the King shall be conquered by our insurmountable might.” “You'll pay for that...” said Fluttershy through clenched teeth. “YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!” Luna raised a hoof in warning. “Fluttershy, no! Stay back!” Giving Luna no regard, Fluttershy charged headlong toward the black unicorn with no care for her own safety. The green unicorn narrowed his eyes and laughed as he rushed toward her. Dark purple magic shimmered from his horn. As the two ponies drew near, the green unicorn stabbed at Fluttershy with his horn, aiming directly at her heart. The blow came within mere inches of her, but Rarity's horn narrowly parried it. “Get back, you ruffian!” said Rarity. Sparks of stray magic flew from where their horns met. “Hah!” said her opponent. “You have no idea who you're dealing with!” He withdrew his horn and slashed at Rarity, who barely parried his attack. “Oh, I'm gonna enjoy this!” he said as he stabbed at her again. Fluttershy, having recovered from her shock, charged toward the green unicorn at a full gallop. Shining Armour loosed a surge of magic toward her, but Luna swooped in and deflected it with her horn before it could connect. The red unicorn's eyes flashed and he used his magic to lift Fluttershy into the air then slam her into the wall with enough force to create a spiderweb of cracks. She fell unconscious to the floor next to Pinkie. “You'll pay for what y'all did to Pinkie!” said Applejack, as she pawed at the ground. “How... quaint...” said the black unicorn. “What could a pathetic mud pony like yourself hope to accomplish against us?” “I may be no unicorn,” said Applejack as she galloped toward her foe, “but I'll show ya what happens when you mess with my friends, the good old earth pony way!” The black unicorn fired magic bursts at her, similar to those used against Pinkie, but Applejack nimbly weaved through them. The unicorn's eyes widened as Applejack drew closer in spite of the deadly magic. She ignited her horn and sliced downward where she anticipated her foe would be. But Applejack darted to her opponent's side and wrapped her tail around the black unicorn's forelegs like a lasso. She pulled, and sent her foe crashing down on her side. As her enemy clambered back to her hooves, she lashed out at Applejack with a series of horn swipes, which Applejack evaded. As their duel continued, Rarity continued to hold her own against her green opponent, their horns locked in deadly combat. The red unicorn and Shining Armour set their sights on Luna. Their horns crackled with power as they readied themselves for battle. “It is hopeless,” said Shining Armour. “Give up.” “I will not kowtow to Cosmo's pawns!” said Luna as she summoned her magic. “Not even you, Shining Armour.” “Very well,” said Shining Armour. “You will find no peace in death...” Both unicorns rushed toward her, their horns blazing. They aimed one slash at her neck, and another at her side. She parried the upward slash and dodged the other. Carried by their momentum, the two unicorns surged forward with unnatural speed and aimed more joint attacks at her, which she only narrowly avoided each time. Forced farther and father back under her opponents' tireless frenzy, Luna's heart sank as she felt herself bump into the wall behind her. She stole a glance around the room. Her eyes widened as she saw the green unicorn towering over a fallen Rarity, preparing to deliver the coup de grace. “You put up a good fight!” said the green unicorn with a wicked grin. “But now you must join your friends in death!” Luna felt adrenaline surge through her at the prospect of watching everypony succumb to The Four. In a burst of pure white light, she surged toward the green unicorn, weaving between her other foes. Luna's horn lanced through his neck before anypony else realized what had happened. “What – a – waste – this – is...” spluttered her fallen adversary as he collapsed and the glow faded from his eyes. “You will regret that!” said Shining Armour as he turned to face her. “Bow to the might of the King!” Shining Armour and his comrade stopped and brought their horns together. As one, they shot a torrent of raw magic toward Luna. She returned fire, and her eyes widened in surprise. The two beams collided in the centre of the room, in a crescendo of lethal light. As the three ponies unleashed their magic, Applejack found herself locked n hoof-to-hoof combat with the black unicorn. Despite the disadvantage presented by her foe's horn, Applejack held her own. As she began to charge, Applejack's forehooves snagged on a broken piece of tile. She tumbled forward, and barely rolled out of the way of a horn slash, which splintered the floor instead of her head. Her enemy stood over her and grinned, her teeth flashing from her horn's emanating light. “Your life is mine!” said the black unicorn as she prepared to eviscerate Applejack. “It ain't over yet,” said Applejack with grim determination. Her hind legs shot up with blinding speed, and caught her foe squarely in the jaw. The blow sent her sprawling. She spat out broken teeth and blood, and attempted to get back up, but Applejack brought her hoof down on her face. Once. Twice. Three times. Applejack relentlessly bludgeoned her enemy until she stopped twitching. Applejack looked at the bloody mess on the tile floor and grimaced. “I – I never want to have to do that again,” she said, her voice heavy with regret. Luna began to sweat as she felt her magic weakening before her foes'. She knew she was more adept in the art than either of them, but could not overpower both as long as their assault remained united. She caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye, then gasped as she saw Pinkie strike the red unicorn hard enough to send him crashing into Shining Armour. Both unicorns collapsed, and their attack broke. Luna's jaw fell open. “Pinkie... how did you?” “There's no time right now, Princess!” said Pinkie. “We've got a job to do!” “I'm with ya too, yer highness!” said Applejack with narrowed eyes, as their enemies stood back up. Shining Armour and the red unicorn began to muster their energy for another attack, but Luna's body glowed bright white as she absorbed the room's light. Then, her glow faded. Everypony except Luna frantically looked around in the sudden blackness. Luna rushed forward and impaled the red unicorn in the chest. Light returned to the room in a bright explosion when her horn made contact. The glow faded from her enemy's eyes as he bled out on the floor. Shining Armour bared his teeth at Luna and lunged forward as his vision cleared. “I will not fail my King!” “You have already failed yourself,” said Luna as she parried a sideways horn slash. With her opponent's horn out of position, she unleashed a burst of white lightning. The blast sent Shining Armour crashing into the wall. Before he could recover, Luna surged forward and pierced his heart with her horn. She looked down on him with pity as he sank to the floor. Shining Armour gave a few feeble twitches as he craned his neck to meet Luna's gaze. “I – I am... released!” he said, wearing a weak, blissful smile. “Thank you... Princess Luna. Please... please save Twily and everypony else... Cosmo... warped me. I couldn't stop myself... Forgive... me...” He slumped against the wall. Luna bowed her head as the last vestiges of life faded from Shining Armour's eyes. Blinking back tears, she gently closed his eyes as he lay on the floor, looking almost peaceful. “Is – is everypony alright?” said Luna, slowly turning to the others. “I think so,” said a shaken Rarity, as she looked at the broken bodies of their adversaries. “Pinkie... how in tarnation?” said Applejack as she hugged Pinkie tightly. “I don't know!” said Pinkie as she ruffled Applejack's mane. “One minute, I blacked out, like my strength and will to live had been sucked right out of me. And the next, I was okay again!” “That attack the unicorn hit you with must have been some sort of draining magic,” said Luna as her gaze fell upon the door leading onward. “It would have been fatal if it held sway over you for too long. Fortunately, the spell's caster perished, and your strength returned upon her death.” Fluttershy opened her eyes and blinked as she staggered to her hooves. “Girls... what happened?” Rarity rushed over and hugged her fiercely. “We won, that's what!” “Fluttershy!” said Pinkie. “You're okay!” Luna allowed herself a smile as the four ponies hugged each other and rejoiced in their victory. While they had triumphed here, she knew their greatest ordeal still lay ahead. Their faces fell when they regrouped and looked at Shining Armour's broken corpse. “We... we couldn't save him...” said Fluttershy, kneeling beside him. Pinkie clutched her heart. “Was there... nothing?” Luna solemnly shook her head. “King Cosmo broke his very soul. That kind of magic is only broken upon the death of the pony that it afflicts. I am... sorry. He is yet another among the countless victims of Cosmo's cruelty.” Applejack nodded at Shining Armour. “When this is over... I'm gonna give ya a good and proper funeral at Sweet Apple Acres. I think that's what Twi would want.” “This has to end,” said Luna, gesturing at the door at the room's opposite end. “As soon as you are fit to continue, we must press on. King Cosmo resides at the top of this tower. Let us not keep him waiting any longer.” * * * “Trixie, are you okay?” “Trixie is fine!” Trixie gave the concerned unicorn a reproachful look. She staggered back to her hooves. The battle had been a rude awakening for her. She had been given command of a small battalion of a few dozen of her kin. During their march to Canterlot, Luna had charged her with the task of remaining near the back rank – an order she was only too happy to follow – and to provide magical support for the main army. It was a job easier said than done, thanks to the Canterlot unicorns. Trixie cursed herself for overlooking the fact Canterlot had by far the highest unicorn population in Equestria, and that the King had wasted no time in mobilizing them. Although she had avoided direct confrontation with the Canterlot unicorns all day, she knew the time drew close. Every time she led her unicorns into battle, the superior numbers and skills of their enemies drove them back. Trixie shielded her eyes from a nearby explosion that made her cape flap violently. The left flank of Luna's army began to disintegrate rapidly. “Come on, everypony!” said a blue unicorn with a dark blue mane, pointing at the flank. “It's Cosmo's unicorns again! We've got to do something!” Trixie cringed. She knew what her course of action had to be. Gulping, she nodded slowly and raised a trembling hoof into the air. She paused for a moment before she signaled the attack. Trixie saw her unicorns charge toward the explosion's source, firing bursts of energy to cover their advance. Gritting her teeth, she unleashed an enormous cloud of smoke that rolled in front of her unicorns like a fog bank. When they neared the front lines, she turned to address them while the smoke still held thick. “Everypony!” she said with as much gusto as she could muster. “Follow the Great and Powerful Trixie's lead as she invokes magic the likes of which you have never seen before!” Her horn sparked with magic – her hat had long been forgotten somewhere on the battlefield. “Remember, all of us must attack as one. Soon, everypony will know the name of Trixie!” Trixie turned to face the enemy lines, which became more visible as the smoke dissipated. The moment she could see the Canterlot unicorns, she fired a beam into the air. Dozens of similar attacks from her unicorns joined it, creating a rapidly expanding concentration of raw, untamed magic. As it intensified, Trixie tilted her horn forward and unleashed it at her foes. “Hah!” said Trixie as she watched the effects of their joint effort. “Nothing can stop the Great and Powerful Trixie!” The enemy unicorns retaliated with a vengeance. They shot a multitude of similar energy beams into Trixie's assault. At first, they only slowed the attack slightly, but as more of Cosmo's unicorns contributed their energies, the attack lost more and more momentum. Trixie's jaw dropped when she saw the collective efforts of herself and Luna's unicorns explode in a shower of multicoloured fireworks that she wished she could have conjured during one of her magic shows. Trixie stood, completely out of breath, as the Canterlot unicorns charged forward, smashing into Luna's army like a tsunami into a beleaguered ship's hull. She barely managed to raise her horn in time to parry the blow from an oncoming unicorn as the others rushed past her, firing deadly magical strikes while they galloped forward. Trixie and her opponent exchanged a flurry of blows until Trixie leapt into the air and fired a blast of lighting. The attacking unicorn took the full force of it, allowing Trixie to decapitate her. With her deed done, Trixie surveyed the battlefield and failed to suppress a shudder. The entire left flank of Luna's army had collapsed, and the Canterlot unicorns there mercilessly exterminated their disorganized opponents. She fled back to the relative safety of the army's centre, knowing full well the implications of her failure. With the removal of her unicorns, the entire ground force of Luna's army was left unprotected against Cosmo's. “Please, Luna...” said Trixie, staring at the ground in shame. “Whatever you're doing in there, please, do it quickly. We can't last much longer...” * * * Soarin averted his eyes from the sudden explosion a few hundred feet away. Even at such a distance, its force was incredible. He gaped as he saw the Canterlot unicorns spill through the enormous gap in Luna's lines. Panic struck as he saw the events on the ground continue to unfold. “They're gonna get routed at any moment... and I can't help them! I can't just stay here...” He punched at the air. “Horseapples! I'm not gonna let them win!” He clenched his teeth and began to speed toward the advancing brigade of enemy unicorns, but before he made it far, a foe he had not thought he would see again blocked his path. “Going somewhere, Wonderbolt?” said Captain Comet. “How did you...?” “The King didn't give me the rank of Captain for nothing, you know! I'm sure somepony like Spitfire would understand what that rank means.” Captain Comet wore a malicious grin. “Why don't we ask her?” Soarin howled with rage as he sped toward the Captain, who juked his attack effortlessly. “Now now, Soarin, play nice,” he said in a tone normally reserved for curbing a filly's tantrum. “I'll tell you what. You stay here, and I'll introduce you to some of my friends. Nopony strikes the Captain of his majesty's air force and lives to tell about it!” Captain Comet banked off and flew toward a large group of his comrades before Soarin could react. Soarin punched at the air in anger and frustration. Left with no options, he spotted Iniquitus and flew toward him. Iniquitus was beset with Comets, who threw themselves at him with reckless abandon. Soarin banked in from their blind side and smashed into one, sending him crashing to earth. Iniquitus turned the rest aside with a jet of flame and a swing of his tail. “Iniquitus! The ground battle is lost. We have to help them!” said Soarin, his voice rife with panic. “It cannot be done,” said Iniquitus flatly. “Enough of my kin have perished in the skies today. I will not allow more to die as a result of my absence.” “Then let's end this quickly!” said Soarin, indicating the thickest part of the air battle. “Now!” “Very well, little pegasus,” said Iniquitus. He snorted a small plume of flame in amusement. “It is a good day to die.” They flew side by side, dragon and pegasus, headlong into a dogfight which saw their forces outnumbered by about five to one. Years ago, when he had first joined the Wonderbolts, Soarin never imagined his career being cut short like this. If he could not spend the rest of his days performing legendary aerial tricks, he had anticipated forced early retirement due to some sort of injury. But nothing like this. Here he was, heading recklessly into impossible odds. Soarin saw something in his peripheral vision that made his heart stop. Captain Comet had returned with dozens of reinforcements, hotly pursing him and Iniquitus. Paying the Captain no heed, Soarin dove into the thick of the dogfight, swinging at every target of opportunity, his earlier fatigue forgotten. Even with his and Iniquitus's aid, the battle looked grim. With Captain Comet leading them, the Comets picked apart Luna's forces with horrifying efficiency. “I... don't know how much longer we can keep this up,” Iniquitus said finally. His statement hit Soarin like a sledgehammer. He had not expected the great dragon to utter those words. In one last, desperate effort, Soarin flew toward Captain Comet at full speed. “If I can kill him... maybe, just maybe, it'll disorganize the Comets long enough for us to gain an advantage!” Soarin muttered to himself as he closed the distance. A loud screech pealed across the battlefield. He gasped as his path was blocked yet again – this time, not by a pegasus, or even a dragon. “Stay back, pony!” It was a great griffon wearing a purple cape and gold, gem-encrusted battle armour. “You are in no condition to fight.” Soarin stopped dead in the air. He watched in astonishment as hundreds of griffons entered the fray and began to tear into the Comets with remarkable fervour. Captain Comet and the regal griffon squared off in the air and dueled, as if they were a pair of age-old foes meeting on the battlefield once more. He gasped as he witnessed Captain Comet swing at the griffon, miss, and leave himself open. The griffon took advantage of the gap and swiped his opponent across the chest with his claws. For a second, the Captain gawked at his bloody chest and tattered flight suit, before the griffon tore into him without hesitation. In a flash, he flung the Captain's broken body to the ground. Looking around, Soarin found the Comets being shredded to pieces by their griffon adversaries. “King Thorondor!” bellowed Iniquitus with delight as he joined Soarin and the griffon. “I see that you can still rend your foes as proficiently as ever.” The griffon blinked. “Thorondor? He was my forefather. I am Gwaihir, king of the griffons. I am honoured to draw such a comparison. Even today, his strength is legend.” “King Gwaihir!” said Soarin with relief. “Fluttershy told us that you refused to aid us. Why the change of heart?” “We witnessed the destruction of your Weather Factory, even from our lands,” squawked Gwaihir. “It was then clear that the repercussions of this war would reach my kingdom, with or without my intervention. After your ambassador's warning proved true, I thought it prudent to dispatch scouts to keep an eye on the situation. They informed me that it was the work of King Cosmo. He must be brought down.” Soarin grinned at him. “Well, you're just in time. I don't know how much longer we'd have been able to last without you!” “Come,” said Gwaihir, waving a taloned hand. “It would seem your ground army is overtaxed. It is time that we tip the scales.” Soarin and Iniquitus nodded. Following Gwaihir's lead, they began doing what they had longed to do all day: relentlessly dive-bomb the enemy lines. The results were devastating. Beset from the air and ground, the legions of the King could not continue their advance. With the griffons' aid, Luna's army tore massive holes in the King's lines. Before long, the legions of King Cosmo began to disintegrate. Soarin allowed himself a grim smile. “Maybe... just maybe... we'll make it out alive after all...” * * * The long spiral staircase of Canterlot Castle's east tower echoed with the sound of five sets of hooves clopping up them as Luna and the others ascended. A blood red sunset seeped through the windows. Before long, they stood before a pair of large gold and obsidian-plated doors. Rarity's eyes widened. “Are those...?” “Indeed,” said Luna. “Then what are we waitin' for?” said Applejack as she kicked them with full force. She cried out in surprise as the doors absorbed her attack and zapped her with a burst of lightning, knocking her flat on her belly. “An odd countermeasure,” said Luna, arching an eyebrow. “This sealing spell is hardly advanced magic.” Luna closed her eyes and focused a bright white beam on the doors. It completely enveloped them. As they glowed brighter and brighter, the others understood why Luna had shut her eyes. They shielded their own as the light's intensity grew. A few moments later, the doors emitted a series of loud cracks. When the light faded, the doors crumbled to the ground. When the dust settled, the five stood in the frame of the doorway as the room came into view. A massive statue of King Cosmo faced the large window, and the elabourate throne of the King sat beside it. Miasma, and King Cosmo himself, stood by the window. “Ah, Luna,” said Cosmo as he turned his baleful glare on them. “I had secretly hoped that my servants would fail in their mission, so I could have the pleasure of separating your head from your body myself.” The King laughed. “Just as the setting sun heralds the end of this day, so too does it mark the end of your feeble insurrection!”