//------------------------------// // Chapter 22- The Time Has Come (edited) // Story: Band of Five Attributes // by Dragonborne Fox //------------------------------// "The way things are now, I am sad to inform you that the Quartet cannot be beaten now, not in the current conditions present." Celestia said, shaking her head. "Why not? We kicked their flanks before!" Yuuki asked, bewildered by Celestia's statement. "It takes magic to fight magic. But their magic is much too strong for an ordinary unicorn, let alone the Special Task Force." Celestia answered, frowning. "So, we need alicorns?" Twilight said, frowning as well. "Yes, but not just any alicorns, Twilight." Celestia said with a nod. "Hold up! Before we continue, what on earth is an alicorn?" Rekka asked, crossing his forelegs. "You happen to be looking at one. But if you're still confused, put a Pegasus and a unicorn together, and throw immortality into the mix." Rainbow said, her hoof connecting with her face. "Yes, Rainbow Dash, but you must be either granted or born with immortality." Celestia remarked, turning to look at the earth ponies in the STF. "Why are you staring at us?" 01 asked, shifting his forelegs. "All members of the Special Task Force, Misaki. Stand before me, please." Celestia said, levitating a book before her. They did as they were told to, but not before Koto handed Applejack her filly. "Bring the foal here, Koto. This spell is for her as well, and it will not do any harm at all." Celestia said disapprovingly. Koto took the filly back before standing before Celestia with the rest of the group. "Ah get the feeling Koto's got some sorta third eye goin' on." Applejack whispered to Twilight. "You all will now become mortal alicorns. This spell may blind you all for a few moments, so close your eyes." Celestia said as her horn began to glow a brilliant teal. "Looks like my assumptions about Koto reading the future were right. I never doubted her for one second after Misaki walked into the Boutique." Rekka said, his body giving off a flaming red aura. "I do wonder if I have some sort of psychic powers going on. All I need to do is have more faith in myself, I guess." Koto sighed as a mist grey aura surrounded her form. "I'd never thought the Quartet would be this strong now. But then, some truths you learn too late, right?" Tenmei asked as a brown dust cloud embraced him in its swirling mass. "Hmph. I'd watch the jaws of the Quartet drop before our eyes and laugh. Wait till they get a load of this." Nagare chuckled as a bright green mini-hurricane emerged from a raging emerald aura. "The Quartet kept trying and failing to match our teamwork. Sure, they were strong then and are now, but they lack what we possess!" Yuuki chimed as purple sparks flew from a violet aura. "To think I've learned how to fly. A dream I had that was cancelled when I was confined. But alas, now it has been reborn." Misaki said as a metallic grey aura surrounded her, her wild blond mane and red-and-green wires flailing about as if in a breeze. "So be it." Mikarya murmured as a golden aura with ribbons of white and green encased her. "To be honest, I never imagined alicorns even existed. But then again, I think the Quartet could say the same before we showed up." 01 said as a red aura concealed his form in a brilliant scarlet, sparkling, metallic dust cloud. "Which came first: the chicken or the egg?" Mimi asked, giggling throughout the process as purple-and-green ribbons surrounded an aura of indigo which contained her body. "Pretty colors! I want to see more!" Miki said as a pink-and-teal aura held her form above the ground. Soon, all the colors stopped, as did Celestia's horn. The Elements of Harmony, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Big Mac, Nurse Redheart and the doctor all gaped, as did the hybrids present. Rekka had a horn the same color as his orange pelt, with wings much too large for a pony who was average size. However, his wings had ended in flame-like patterns. His feathers started at scarlet, then orange, and then a blazing gold. Koto's horn was as sky-blue as the rest of her body, with her wings of an oceanic blue. At her wingtips came a mist grey. Tenmei had a contorted horn that was as tan as his coat. His wings were a dull brown, but they had the muscles of a dragon. Nagare had a light green horn. His emerald wings looked as though they could slice the wind. Yuuki's horn was curved slightly. Her dark purple wings still crackled with electricity. Misaki's wings were as gold as her hair, ending in silver tips. She remained the same otherwise. Mikarya's wings were a brilliant white, and her horn was peachy in color. 01's grey horn ended a little on the short side. His wings were larger than they should be, however. Mimi's horn was very slim, as were her wings. Miki's horn was as small as Sweetie Belle's. Her wings, however, were the size of those Rainbow Dash had. Ocean Flame had little wing buds and a little horn on her head. She was still sound asleep. "Now, we must find the Quartet and take the battle to their turf!" Rainbow chimed, taking flight. "And this time, we're bringing in the big guns!"