"Give it up Celestia! We're too strong for you."
Celestia kept the barrier against the Changeling swarm, "Never. I will protect everypony in Ponyville."
"How cute." Chrysalis laughed.
Princess Celestia looked over to her right and saw the mane six, André and Babe sneaking out of the barrier with the hot air balloon. Twilight and Rarity were carrying the balloon using their magic, began to lower the barrier but it wasn't from weakness. She absorbed it to form a pink sphere that covered her body. She launched herself up into the air and tackled the changelings in the magical barrier.
More Changelings gathered around Chrysalis, "How long can you hold on?" the queen asked.
"As long as I have to!" Celestia was going to make sure things were different this time, her Canterlot loss was her last.
Chrysalis loved Celestia's claim for protection of all those who lived in Ponyville, "Fine. Let's see how long you can protect those you care so much for!"
Chrysalis laughed maniacally as a horde of changelings charged straight for Princess Celestia. Farther away from Ponyville Twilight and the others continued their race against time. They were moving as quickly as possible.
"Twilight, Rarity. The balloon isn't too heavy is it?" André asked as he looked back.
"No. It's not heavy at all." Twilight claimed.
Fluttershy looked ahead but didn't see any tower, "How much farther is it?" she asked in doubt.
"Not too far Fluttershy." Babe assured, "We'll get there and be back in no time."
Applejack looked back in the direction of Ponyville, "Ah hope so." Thoughts of the princess filled her head, "We don't want to keep Princess Celestia on hold."
"Are all the changelings back in Ponyville helping their queen?" Pinkie asked Babe while running alongside him.
"Should be, it was a whole army of those things. I doubt they'll be any at the tower."
"I hope not anyway." André hoped.
After a good session of running the group dashed through the forest of dead trees and the sight of the tower could be seen from the branches, "What's that?" Twilight asked upon seeing it.
"That's the tower!" Babe said aloud to the group, "Wow, we actually made it in good time. Nice!"
In the distance the large black tower stood in the desolate location. Twilight sped up and took the lead, "Alright everypony, let's hurry!" they continued running ahead, not looking back.
Back at Twilight's house the CMC's were safely hiding inside the house along with Spike thanks to Twilight's barrier.
Apple Bloom was starting to worry, "Ah hope Applejack and the others make it back soon…"
Scootaloo nodded, "I wish they had let us come with them. It's not fair, they think just because we're little we'll get in the way." She sulked to her friend.
Spike approached the two, "They're just worried about your safety. I'm sure they didn't do it on purpose."
"Still…" Scootaloo continued to sulk.
While Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Spike were together Sweetie Belle was over by the window looking at the events from out, "Guys, Princess Celestia's in trouble!" what she saw wasn't good…
Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Spike ran to the window. The changelings were outnumbering Princess Celestia. They surrounded her magical sphere and rapidly tackled into it with great force. Cracks began to appear around the sphere.
Chrysalis smiled upon Celestia as she continued to fight back, "Futile, you cannot defeat us." She claimed boastfully.
The massive number's was the thing that was wearing Celestia down, she strained as she tried keeping her barrier together. She looked up at Chrysalis with a weak, yet, determined stare, "Every ounce of my power will be spent trying…"
Everything in Equestria began to go dark. Princess Celestia's sun began setting, "The sun's going down already?" Chrysalis asked before laughing, "What's the matter Princess? Growing weak?" she teased on.
The changelings took one final step back. Princess Celestia braced for impact as the changelings made a head on charge into the sphere. The sphere is destroyed and caused a small explosion. All the ponies who were watching eyes widened. Their jaws dropped in disbelief. After the explosion Princess Celestia slowly floats down to the ground. She weakly stood her ground. More changelings surrounded her. Their queen stood before Celestia.
Celestia was panting, trying to catch her breath.
"How does it feel to be helpless against us?" Chrysalis lowered her head to the weak princess.
Celestia continued to pant with fierceness on her face.
"Changeling got your tongue?" Chrysalis asked, Celestia didn't answer, "I think it's time for me to rightfully rule over this land, don't you?"
A dark purple beam of light struck the ground between Princess Celestia and Queen Chrysalis. Chrysalis jumped back from the beam.
"What? Who dares intervenes!?" she looked around for the one responsible but it didn't take long for that Pony to show herself, the princess of the night, Luna.
"I do." She stood at her sister's side, "I won't let you get away with it."
Celestia looked up, "Luna…" she was quite relieved to see her little sister.
"I'm sorry I'm late." Luna looked down at Celestia, she wasn't used to seeing her quite like this, "Let's handle this, together." Her voice was soft and calming.
Celestia smiled warmly, "…I would love that." the sun and the moon were coming together, Chrysalis was starting to get uneasy.
The two sisters placed their horns together. Their combined power shocked the changelings and their queen. Princess Luna channeled some of her power with Princess Celestia and together the two were ready to fight.
Chrysalis eyes widened, "W-Where did you get such power?" their growing power was starting to surpass her own. The Changeling swarm would be rendered useless.
Luna's gaze intimidated the Changeling queen, "We're going to protect everypony and see this problem through."
"Together we stand, united we fall." Celestia added.
The Changelings started feeling the fear their queen felt, "No…no…" Chrysalis slowly started to back away.
As the two co-rulers of Equestria prepare to battle Queen Chrysalis and her army Twilight and the others were making their way up the incredibly huge changeling tower via the hot air balloon.
Babe looked up at the sky, "The sun was out just a second ago," he turned to his friend's confused on the sudden change of day, "how come its twilight?"
At first Twilight was just as lost as Babe but a feeling in her heart gave her a sudden realization, "Princess Luna and Celestia must be joining forces to put an end to Chrysalis!"
André placed a hand on his head, "Seriously, those two together in action? Awesome!" back at home André, Babe and a lot of other's haven't seen the two sisters in action together, hearing that made André excited but he wasn't in Ponyville to witness such an collaboration between the sun and the moon, "Wish I could've seen that."
Rainbow Dash peaked over the side of the balloon and saw they were making slow progress, "Twilight, can we speed this up a bit? I can't even see the top from here."
"Sure," Twilight prepared to adjust the balloon torch, "just let me ignite-"
Before Twilight could ignite the flame two Changelings appeared and began to attack the balloon. One of the changelings used its magic to blast the side of the basket. The left side of the basket was destroyed. All the Ponies moved to the right half but Applejack lost her footing and began dangerously balancing herself on the ruined side. The Changelings that caused the disaster laughed and disappeared.
Applejack started to lean over, André reached out his hand, "APPLEJACK!" he yelled out in panic, just as the two were inches away from grabbing one another Applejack fell off of the edge, the other's watched in horror as Applejack fell.
As she continued falling Applejack looked down toward her impending doom…"W-Well….looks like this is it!" she said with tears in her eyes, she closed them and the droplets flew in the air with her but she felt someone grabbing onto her.
"Gotcha!" Applejack opened her eyes and saw André holding her, both of them free falling together.
"I've got you Applejack!"
Despite their condition Applejack found herself in a state of calm, "You jumped after me? Why would you-"
André looked at her through the corner of his eye, "If you can't help a friend then you can't save any!" Applejack didn't know what to say. The two looked at each other before looking ahead of them, seeing the ground. They closed their eyes and embraced each other tightly.
Thanks to Twilight's quick thinking she used her magic and stopped both André and Applejack from falling. She also managed to create a purple barrier around the hot air balloon to protect herself and her friends from any further changeling attacks. Twilight safely put them on a nearby balcony on the changeling tower. The balcony led to the large spiral staircase inside the tower.
Feeling ground below him André opened his eyes, "We're alive? Twilight must've used her magic to save us!" he looked up and saw the balloon ascending, "But it looks like they're not stopping either. We're going to have to go the rest on foot and hoof."
André released Applejack from his protective hold.
"You actually jumped after me…"
André thought a lecture of his recklessness was about to come into play, "Of course. If a friend needs me to be there I'll be there." he was ready for whatever Applejack was about to throw at him.
Applejack was filled with extreme joy and threw herself into her friend's arms. He chuckled and hugged her back.
André gave Applejack's mane one good stroke, "Hey, I don't know about you…" the two let each other go, "but I think it's time we got a move on, we've gotta meet Twilight and the others at the top." He reminded.
"Of course!" Applejack replied, the two stood up and made their way inside the tower.
"They're safe!" Twilight exclaimed in joy, "Thank Celestia. That was a close one."
Fluttershy looked over the edge with Twilight, "Will they be ok?" she asked in concern, "What if there are more Changelings in there?"
"No need to worry about them," Rarity said in confidence, "they can handle themselves."
Babe looked out in the direction of Ponyville, "How do you guys think Princess Celestia and Luna are doing?"
"If they're together that must mean Chrysalis is getting what's coming to her!" Pinkie Pie was almost certain of that.
Babe chuckled, "Here's to wishful thinking."
Rainbow took another look over the basket's side to see how they were doing with progress, "Look! We're nearing the top!" she stated aloud to alert the others.
"Cool!" Babe tapped Twilight's back, "Let's get ready to land this thing."
Twilight nodded and was preparing the balloon to land, "Princess Celestia, please just hang in there. We're on our way."