Chapter 13: Fighting Dirty (or, the Battle of the Crystal Heart)
After his small conversation with Discord, John looked around. He noticed the wide open fields of apple trees, and a farm in the distance. It didn’t take him long to figure out that he was in Sweet Apple Acres.
“Well John, I’ve got a lot to do today. Enjoy yourself.” Discord said and disappeared in a cloud of chocolate dust. In the distance, John heard a voice getting closer.
“John!” The voice repeated over and over, the southern drawl becoming more and more obvious.
As Applejack approached, John finally turned to her.
“Yes?” John asked, running up to meet Applejack.
“It’s Twilight’s brother, he was just teleported into town. C’mon we’ve got to get to the hospital!” Applejack said urgently as she turned back the other way and ran. John quickly got to his feet and followed the mare, a look of both surprise and concern etched on his face.
The two raced through Ponyville, as the citizens went about their daily lives, only a few stopped to look as John and Applejack ran through the streets.
Once John and AJ arrived at the hospital, they were escorted to the room Shining Armor was being treated in. Once they opened the door, they saw all of the other elements attempting to comfort a distraught Twilight. Shining Armor was unconscious on a bed in the middle of the room with a few bandages covering him.
“Twilight, what happened?” John asked curiously. The damp, matted fur under her eyes worried him.
Twilight looked up at him but didn’t seem to be in the right state to answer.
“Take a look, her brother’s hurt and nopony can tell why.” Rainbow Dash said.
“Where’s the princess?” John asked looking around for Celestia.
“She left just before he appeared in town square.” Rarity replied.
“Well shit.” John said scratching the back of his neck. A moment later, Shining Armor stirred causing everyone in the room to rush over to him.
“Cadence...the Heart...someone help.” Shining managed to say groggily as he lifted a trembling hoof to his sister.
“Shining! What happened?!” Twilight asked worriedly as she rushed to his side. Shining Armor seemed to come to when he saw her.
“Something is attacking the Crystal Empire. It wants the Crystal Heart.” Shining said, he grunted in pain as Twilight put her hoof around his.
“Was it Sombra?” Applejack asked.
“No...much worse.” Shining Armor said as his consciousness began to fade.
“Did he have a black and white mask?” John asked as he started to put two and two together.
“Yeah...he was really...creepy.” Shining said as he passed out again.
“Shining!” Twilight yelled trying to wake her brother up again, she still held his hoof and tears burst forth from her eyes.
“He’s alright. He just needs a bit of rest.” John said as he checked the unconscious stallion’s breathing. Twilight seemed to calm down after hearing that, though she still cried.
“How do you know?” Rainbow Dash asked suspiciously.
“Can't you hear his breathing? I mean, your hearing should be better than mine.Regardless, it sounds like he's just exhausted. Maybe a little battered.” John said after he thought about it for a moment.
“So, what would Dimentio want with the Crystal Heart?” Twilight asked after drying her tears on a tissue that Rarity magicked into the room.
“I’m not completely sure, is there anything special about it?” John asked.
“Besides containing and harnessing the powers of light and love within ponies, not much.” Twilight offered.
“Maybe he thinks it can stop him.” John said without any certainty.
“Why would that stop him?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Well, last time he tried to destroy everything, he was stopped by the power of love.” John held back a gag at the corniness of that statement inside his mind, Discord laughed at his suffering.
“Oh, well I guess that makes sense.” Twilight said honestly.
“Well, how are we going to help Princess Cadence?” John asked, ignoring the god of chaos in his mind. John made a mental note to confront Discord about this in the future.
“Wait..how do you know her name?” Rainbow Dash asked suspiciously. John suddenly tensed up, he had made it so far without revealing the fact that he had watched them on television...or for that matter, the fact that they WERE from a television show. Even though plenty of fan fictions he had read showed the ponies being completely fine with that fact.
“Shining just said it.” Twilight deadpanned. John sighed, relieved that he hadn't needed to reveal that potentially sensitive information.
“I’m watching you.” Rainbow said as she made the accompanying gesture.(which was a bit odd with a hoof.)
“Either way, how are we going to help?” John repeated nervously.
“We’re going.” Twilight said with determination as she trudged out the door.
“Alrighty then.” John said as he followed her. The rest of the mane six followed suit.
meanwhile...
Dimentio looked at the pink alicorn in front of him.
“You know, I think I may be able to use you.” Dimentio suggested as he effortlessly dodged a few projectiles.
“Not happening.” Cadence said through clenched teeth as she sent a few more magic blasts his way.
“Suit yourself.” Dimentio said as seemed to disappear, the blasts hitting and shattering the wall that was behind him. Princess Cadence looked around the room cautiously with clenched teeth, there was no sign of the evil being.
“Let’s see if you can pierce this illusion!” Dimentio yelled excitedly. Suddenly, Cadence was surrounded by illusory clones of Dimentio, each armed with a bolt of magic. The princess closed her eyes and generated a barrier to block each attack.
After the series of impacts, Cadence retaliated with an attack of her own. Once the attack made contact with the clones, they all dispersed...leaving no signs of the evil magician.
“Don’t worry, it’ll all be over soon.” the voice seemed to come from everywhere...suddenly, a strange bolt of magic hit Cadence in the back, causing flinch from the impact. Dimentio materialized and descended towards his prey. He didn't see the sly smirk forming on the mare’s face as he fell for her own trap.
As Dimentio neared the alicorn, she suddenly teleported herself above her foe and blasted him with a powerful attack of her own. Dimentio fell in a smoking heap onto the ground. The floor cracking from impact.
“Don’t mess with my family!” She yelled in triumph as she landed. She hazarded a look at her back to see that it was scorched pretty badly.
"This is fun." Dimentio said as he picked himself up off of the ground and dusted himself off.
“Give up! If you just leave peacefully now, I will allow that to be the end of it!” Cadence said in her best attempt at the Royal Canterlot Voice.
“I believe it is the end regardless.” The voice said ominously.
“What do you mean?” The princess said as fear began to overpower her adrenaline. The burned mass seemed to become ash and blow away with the gentle breeze coming from the hole in the wall. Leaving Cadence with one question.Where did Dimentio go?
“Checkmate.” Dimentio said as he snapped his fingers. Cadence looked around in a panic as her surroundings began to shift into a seemingly endless green landscape.
"Wha-where am I?" Cadence said as she prepared for another round of combat.
"I've realized that I cannot beat you conventionally...and from what I've heard of you Alicorns, you are the current deities in your plane." Dimentio said casually.
"Current?" Cadence asked, the statement throwing her off guard. "Which other deities could you be referring to? Discord?"
"Discord? A deity?" Dimentio scoffed. "He was barely worthy of being my lackey the last time I was here."
"Lackey? Wait, the last time you were here!?" Cadence asked, the jester's words making less and less sense.
"Oh, was it not in your history books? That is...disappointing, but I suppose much knowledge was lost when I was cast out." Dimentio said as he opened a small portal to leave. "I suppose I've entertained you long enough princess."
"Wait, no! Let me out of here!" Cadence yelled as she took flight in an attempt to escape.
"Ciao, Princess." Dimentio said Cadence was trapped in Dimension D.
Edited by- ChanglingLumin
preread by- Nightingalehound
Proofread by- A Renegade Time Lord