//------------------------------// // Day 12 (2 posts) // Story: Birthday Wish // by Midnight Spawn //------------------------------// Well, there's still no sign of James... and we've thrown in the towel. Only temporarily. Right now, we have to plan for tonight. We have the meeting with Queen Chrysalis at the Crystal Empire and Stormcloud moving the princesses to the bog at the same time. Which means I can only attend one situation. But Rarity can go to the other and communicate with you, right? That's correct. So we need backup plans, and to decide which I will be attending. Post #2 Rarity, you're in place? Almost, darling. I do hope they know never to keep a lady waiting. Okay, they should be passing overhead soon. Sapphire, you're ready? Good. Here they come! Into the trenches! That's... a big castle. Did Stormcloud make it even bigger? First he steals it, then he changes it? Now, if that don't beat all, him walking in like he owns the place. If I ever get tah meet the fiend who burned down mah orchard, I caint be held responsible for what I'll do! That's princess Celestia! Sapphire, you're up! ----- There you are, your highness. I should have never thought a queen would be late for anything as important as this. After all, this is the opportunity of a lifetime! Ah, the white one. I was hoping for somepony else. What? I beg your pardon, what's wrong with--nevermind. This plan of yours is brilliant I must say. If we worked together, we could kick Stormcloud out of Equestria for good and you would never have to work for that bad man ever again. You designed the gown. Oh, did you like it? I'll admit it was one of my better pieces, but you, you beautiful creature, you made it better than good! Let's not beat around the bush. You want our help defeating Stormcloud. Well, actually, you contacted us and asked if you could--I mean, yes, no other being could help as much as you, being so powerful and-- What's in it for me. I must say, you are being quite calm about all this. Used to be you were always laughing and plotting, trying to be higher than everypony else. I was kept from my only wish to feed my subjects for many years. Many of them lost their faith in me. Then Stormcloud attacks me! I'm not in a laughing mood. ----------- Where's Princess Luna? All I see is Celestia up there. Ah don't see her either. Maybe somethin' happened. Look! Sapphire's waking up the Hydra! Boy, it looks mad... it's chasing him! Sapphire's leading it to the castle. All's going well... ------------- Well, then why don't we get ourselves some old-fashion revenge? It's the only kind of old-fashion I approve of. And between you and me, nopony is as good at revenge as I am. Yes. Let's. H-hey there, there's no need for a fight! Call off your men, and let's talk about this. We're both civilized beings, right? We will fight Stormcloud whether with you or not! But we require something first. Oh? What is it you want? When Stormcloud is no more... we will need food. We want a way into James' world. ------------ There! The soldier are in a panic! That hydra is reaching all the way up to the castle! Yeehaw! He'll do all the fightin' for us, now we send our troops in and snag the princess lickity-split! Hold on... it's coming off the ground. Stormcloud. What a mighty beast! I do believe it will serve my plans just fine. Ack! Hmm... maybe a bit too feisty, though. What's he doin' now? He just... shrank it. Just like that. Here it comes... and there it goes. That huge beast, defeated in mere seconds! Somepony woke that thing up! And now it can't eat her highness... I suppose I'll just have to drown her instead. ?! And search the area! They're here, I know it. ------------ That's absurd! Even if you could go there, what do you think you'd find? Stormcloud has drained this world, but in the other, the people still stand together. That's the deal, take it or leave it! Oh dear... ------------ There's some ditches dug down there, sir! Then check them. What, you waiting for permission? They're right above the trenches! ----------- Wouldn't you like a lovely new crown? It would make you seem so superior and elegant! Why, with a crown like that-- I have told you my price, now accept my offer! (Sarah... we may need that escape balloon...) -------------- Hhun, ah! There's nothing in them... nothing but these blue flowers. Why? Why must my soldiers be such idiots? Get out of those! That's poison joke! Hmm... they're here... somewhere. Ponies! I have your princess! Will you hide and do nothing? Hmm... lower her. You got it boss. Oh no! The princess! She's being lowered toward the murky water! If you do nothing now, you'll remember this moment always as the time you let the princess-- Let go of her! Got ya! Ahhh! Twilight! Get Applejack! Ya'll come get some! --------------- Maybe if you tried fitting in, you wouldn't have to-- Impossible! Who would want to stay here? It's so clean and pink! Well, I'm afraid I'm just going to have to decline your offer. We will not be teamed with such a creature who would devour us when it was over! We're going home. And now you'll never get your revenge. Ha! No! We must have it! We'll agree to anything, just let us have the kill... let us find what Stormcloud loves so we can feed off it in front of him! You fool! You never agree to their terms! We make the terms! What? You're not the... now there's two of you? Oh, this is so much stress! I was going to let my subject do the talking in case it were a trap, but I see you were too dimwitted to truly take advantage of this as I have. ...My head hurts... are we still talking about the treaty? Yes... let's talk. Oh! Have you never heard of personal space?! ------------------ Stormcloud, stop! The princess is who raises the sun each morning! Without her, Equestria will die! You won't even have anything to rule! Hahaha! My magic has kept this place running just fine in her absence, and so shall it be when she's gone for good. You underestimate me, Twilight. But this isn't balance. No pony will talk with each other. Everypony is bitter and hateful. Shops aren't being run, seasons aren't changing, how can you think doing all this is possibly good for Equestria?! Frankly, I don't care. Ha! I thought you'd have figured that out by now. Twilight! Now say goodbye to the princess. Shame you didn't get to send her one last letter explaining how you failed her. I would have liked to read that one. Stormcloud!! What the-- Rarity, you did it! Twilight, get the princess! Wah! Uff! blblb, Happy to see me? How many times does it take to kill you?! We got her, go! Applejack, hop in! Good thing Pinkie had this balloon! I caint believe it's carryin' the weight of us and the princess. I think... we're safe. Rarity, you did it! How'd you convince them? What did you say? Oh, Twilight, forgive me! I made a terrible mistake! What? What happened? I told them they could go to James' world when the war was over! Of course not right away, but that Queen Chrysalis has quite the silver tongue. You told them what, now?! We caint let that happen! And we won't. I just need some time to think... did all the ponies fit in one balloon? Naw, it took two. What're you thinkin'? I may have a plan to make them change their mind about going to James' world. Sarah, you doing okay? Uh... yea... hhhh. I'm good. Don't you be yawning, Sarah! It's just a yawn. It doesn't mean anything. Are we going to free the princess tonight? As much as I'd like to, we'd better wait until tomorrow.