Chapter 3: The Eternal Night Fight
Twilight's eyes open as every pony in Ponyville find themselves in some sort of secret hiding place somewhere in the Everfree Forest. The unicorn asks in sadness to no one, "Nyx?"
"Celestia, where are we?" Megan asks Celestia in concern as she got off of the alicorn. "What is this place?"
"This place has been used against a battle not so long ago." Celestia said seriously to Megan. "It will serve our purpose once more...but we don't know how long."
"Well, while we're done doing 'dat, Nyx is being possessed by a monster fro' generations ago, Changelings are out looking fer us...dang nab it!" Applejack groans as she stomps the ground in frustration. "'Dis is turning out 'ta be one crazy Nightmare Night."
"You know, this comes to show that the princess is also a coward." Another pony remarks while some of the ponies mumble in agreement. "She chose to flee instead of letting that creep ruin our night and take control of a former evil!"
"My little ponies! It is not my sister's fault!" Luna insists to the critics in concern. "We are caught off guarded and are outmatched against the Changelings. It would be foalish to fight them without a plan."
"Celestia would've deal with them, but noooooo!"
"Okay, that's enough, ponies!" Megan exclaims to the critics sternly. "Celestia is not a weakling or a bad princess. Yes, she has some problems like falling to an enemy or not confronting, but Celestia is doing her best! She cares for her subjects and is willing to fall just to keep you all safe!"
"That's right and one thing you also must remember." Ben said as one of his hooves glow, making the critics yelp a bit. "She's my mother! Mess with her and you get the butt kick!"
"Besides...don't we got another problem right now?" Sweetie calls out to the ponies in sadness. "Nyx is being possessed by that monster Tirek! We got to find a way to get that creep out of her!"
"Please? Put 'dis aside fer now? Fer Nyx's sake; Ah know she was once Nightmare Moon...but Nyx once saved us, remember?" Apple Bloom pleads to the critics.
The critics of Celestia sighs but reluctantly leaves for now, deciding to not bother criticizing the princess for now. Megan looks concerned as she asks Luna, "'Once Nightmare Moon'?"
"She was once the chains that bind me...but my sister and Twilight will tell you more." Luna said to Megan in concern. "Right now, we got more pressing business."
"We need an old priest and a young priest!" Pinkie exclaims frantically while galloping around in a circle. "Are there any priests here?!"
"Knowing Tirek, he would go after the princesses, me...and the Mane Six since they are the holders of the Elements of Harmony." Megan said seriously.
"As well as descendants of some of your closest friends," Celestia said with a sigh while glancing to the Mane Six. "You know that Twilight is the descendant of the original Twilight, Rainbow is Firefly's descendant, and Applejack is the descendant of the original Applejack. Fluttershy is the descendant of Posey, Rarity is descended from Sparkler and Pinkie Pie herself is descended from Surprise."
"Huh, weird," Spike said puzzled by the facts being revealed. "I'm surprised that they are descended from different types of ponies."
"Come on! Different pony genetic patterns were past on or taken over when new blood relatives were born." Phobos exclaims mischievously to Spike. "kinda like how the Cakes for Pound and Pumpkin Cake when the parents are two Earth ponies and their kids are an unicorn and a Pegasus pony."
"Going back to Ponyville is not safe. We need the Elements to stop Tirek." Celestia said in concern. "But we may need more than just that. We need to get stuff from The Armory."
"Armory," Some of the ponies ask a bit puzzled.
"Yes. To those that may not know, that is where the machines of war from Lorcan's Brotherhood mechanics, Flim & Flam, made were stored away in case of another war emergency."
"Yes, of course, I just got a plan!" Rarity exclaims with a grin on her face, "As in an idea! Some ponies will have to distract the Changelings while others head to Canterlot, find the Armory to bring forth the mechanical creations to help save Equestria once again!"
"Nice idea, Rarity!" Sweetie exclaims happily. "I want to go to the Armory!"
"Yeah, we want to play with that Gazookis again!" Dinky exclaims happily, the Cutie Mark Crusaders look so eager to use the Gazookis once more.
"As long as a grown-up pony is with you that is." Megan said to the little foals with a giggle. "But can the Changelings take the forms of only ponies?"
"That is yet to be determined at this point." Ben answers Megan with a concerned look on his face. "We don't know how powerful these guys are. And where are King Spykoran and the Dragon Army?"
"They are in hidden places in Equestria. We don't know if they are in the force field or out at this time." Luna said in concern to the ponies. "We can only hope some are inside as we need the help we can get."
"Wait, hang on!" Scootaloo exclaims in realization. "The Armory is in Canterlot...which is outside the force field!"
"Scoots is right!" Apple Bloom exclaims, realizing what her friend is pointing out. "How are we going 'ta git 'de Elements an' 'de machines wit' us in here?"
The ponies look down. With the force field over Ponyville and the forest, it's impossible for a win. Celestia pauses then smiles while saying, "I think I got an idea; Golden Heart!"
Suddenly a familiar voice is heard telepathically, "Princess Celestia. I heard you."
"Yes, you saw what happened from where you're at, correct?"
"I saw the force field from here in Canterlot. What's going on?"
"Who is that?" Bon-Bon asks a bit alarmed at the voice that appeared to have come from out of nowhere.
"Who's talking?" Soarin' ask in alarm and worry.
"That's Golden Heart; he's talking to me telepathically and is outside the force field." Celestia explains to the surprised ponies before continue speaking to Golden Heart, "Golden Heart, I got bad news. The evil known as Tirek has returned....and is possessing Twilight's daughter Nyx right now."
"What? How is that possible? Tirek has been dead for centuries." Golden Heart's voice asks in surprise and disbelief.
"His spirit lives on...and he has allied himself with the Changelings. Listen, we need you to bring the Elements and the machines from the Armory to the edge of the force field. I will send someone there to help."
"Right, will do so."
Eventually, Golden Heart broke contact. Fluttershy looks puzzled as she ask, "'Someone'? You mean one of us, right? But how can we get by..."
"It won't be one of you." Luna said to the ponies much to their surprise. "We can't tell you, trust me. You aren't ready to know."
"Well, I want to know." Megan said sternly to the Royal Sisters, making them a bit nervous. "You aren't keeping secrets from me...I want to meet your new friend."
"Fine...but try to brace yourself."
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The door to the library is knocked down as the Changelings came in. Chrysalis trots in while snapping, "This is where Twilight Sparkle and Ben Mare lives. Ransack the place, find them!"
The Changelings quickly begin search the place, tearing the place apart. Seto approaches Chrysalis while saying, "No doing, Queen Chrysalis. No one is here."
"Blast it, where can they be? Tirek is getting impatient."
"Queen, we found something." A Changeling hiss as he brings out some sort of black and spiky book labeled 'Book of Forbidden Spells'. "I recognize this..."
"Yes, so did I," Chrysalis said with an evil grin as she glances at the book. "Tirek will be pleased..."
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Megan and her 'daughters' reach a part of the Everfree Forest where they will be safe to speak to the figure alone. The human sighs while saying, "All right, who is this figure who is going to meet Golden Heart at the force field?"
"Celly? Luna?" A figure in the shadows spoke upon seeing them. He notices Megan and frowns. "I thought you were going to meet me alone."
"Yes, I apologize for this but she insisted. This is our friend and the one who taughts us everything we know...Megan." Celestia said to the figure with a smile.
"So, you are the 'Mag'ne', eh? You are prettier and nicer than the legends describe you to be."
"Yes, thank you." Megan said, flattered while giving a curtsy to the guest. "Listen, we need your help..."
"If it involves Tirek, I am willing to do what it takes, as long as no one else sees me. I can't let my presence be known yet." The figure said in concern and worry.
"You won't be seen just yet. This task will acquire secrecy and trickery." Luna explains to the figure, making him smile.
"'Trickery', eh; Now that I can do; Tell me what I must do."
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"Where are they?! Why are you wasting my time by not bringing what I ask for," Tirek demands to Chrysalis as she came over to bow to him.
"Please forgive me, but we got a solution to your body problem, along with that of the Rainbow of Darkness." Chrysalis said while motioning to the book that Fred and Ed are carrying, "Seto?"
"Ugh, I hate this book." Fred groans under the weight of the book itself.
"Yeah, it's so...heavy." Ed cringes a bit, keeping himself from collapsing.
Seto clears his throat and begins to read from the book, "'The Body Rejuvenation Spell. This spell which involves carving a stone of one's likeness, followed by an unknown incantation (which allows the soul to enter the body), and while the body is in a large crystalloid from lava which courses it's hot magna in the stone like veins of life. Then when all is done, the crystal will shatter, along with the stone body of the figure in question, and be replace, fresh living once again and all traces of magic return."
"You see? You don't have to be in Nyx's body, Tirek." Chrysalis explains to Tirek with an evil grin.
Tirek pauses then gave a smile on Nyx's face, saying, "Perfect...and the Rainbow of Darkness?"
Seto continues reading, "There is also a spell that brings forth lost items of long forgotten passing of time, to which it's a vile potion where the owner of something lost declares what must be before him, then smashes the vile on the ground. It will release sparkly smoke screen that blinds view. Then hovering from the potion will be the return item in question."
"How pray tell did you find this book?"
"We found it from Twilight's library." Chrysalis explains with an evil chuckle. "Apparently, Celestia must've sent it to her to study or something...or the unicorn has taken the book. Either way, mistake on both of their parts."
"Chrysalis, I am giving you the task of making the spells possible. Once I get my body, then we shall get the Rainbow of Darkness from a sack." Tirek exclaims eagerly. Yes, soon he will have a new body and the Rainbow of Darkness will be here again. "Seto, the rest of you; continue the search!"
The Changelings bow as they trot off. Tirek smiles then frown a bit. Nyx is still trying to fight his control. His body must be made if he is to begin his rule a-new.
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The ponies get ready to gear up for a distraction so that Golden Heart and whoever their friend is can get the Elements and machines in to help deal with Tirek and the Changelings. Ben notices Twilight sitting on the ground, looking down in sadness.
"Twilight, honey; what's wrong?" Ben asks Twilight in concern. He saw that she's holding Nyx's glasses, which the mare hasn't given back to Nyx yet when she was changing costumes earlier. "It's about Nyx, is it?"
"I...I fear that I'm losing her, Ben." Twilight sobs sadly as she looks at Ben. "I remembered when I lost her to darkness before and now...I fear that I lost her again, maybe forever."
"Oh, Twilight..." Ben said in sympathy as he comforted his mare-friend.
"I should've done something...I should've taken Nyx to the princesses before...now Tirek has possessed her and..." Twilight sobs while hugging Ben. "Our little filly is gone...I stood there and didn't do a thing! What kind of mother am I to let that happen?!"
"Its okay, Twilight; we will save her. After all, do you still care for our daughter?" Ben asks Twilight gently.
"Of course I care for her." Twilight sniffled.
"Then I promise, I won't rest until Tirek is out of Nyx's body and our little filly is back in our arms again." Ben said to Twilight in determination. The mare sniffs and smiles while nuzzling her.
"Ben, you always know how to cheer me up." Twilight said with a sigh.
"Come on, you two! We got a distraction to make!" Rainbow exclaims to Ben and Twilight as she flew on past. "Hopefully some of us will do the distraction right."
"And maybe, we can find a way to get Tirek out of Nyx's body." Ben said with a smirk, "You ready, Twilight?'
"You bet I'm ready!" Twilight replied with a determined nod.
Pinkie Pie pops out, exclaiming, "Let's go save Nyxie and beat that meanie Tirek for this story's sake!"
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King Spykoran lands in Canterlot to catch his breath before heading off to Ponyville for the celebration. As he does, the dragon notices that Golden Heart and his troops are getting stuff out of the Armory.
"Golden Heart," King Spykoran the Old spoke, getting Golden Heart's attention.
"King Spykoran the Old, what an honor to see you again." Golden Heart said while bowing to the king of the Dragon Clans. "Are you on your way to the festivities?"
"Yes, but I stop to take a rest. It's a long flight from the lands to the west. Tell me, why are you getting weapons from the Armory?" King Spykoran asks Golden Heart puzzled. Isn't tonight the last night of the 31 Nights of Nightmare Moon?
"An old enemy from your past has returned, Spykoran." Golden Heart said to King Spykoran seriously. "He has trapped Ponyville and its citizens, along with the princesses in a force field; We are bringing the machines and meet up with someone who could help get us in."
"Old enemy from my past? Who is it?" King Spykoran asks Golden Heart in concern. What enemy could be returning after all these years that the dragon knows of?
"You remember him: Tirek the Abomination." Golden Heart said to King Spykoran seriously.
The old dragon's eyes widen in shock. Tirek has returned? The old Spike's memory goes back to his past with the monster, who tries to harm and punish him if it weren't for Scorpan. Now that evil centaur has returned to attack Equestria a new.
"Golden Heart, I shall help you all out. This is personal." King Spykoran said, clutching a fist. He shall help the ponies fight off Tirek, just to get back at the monster for all the years of what the old dragon has gone through centuries ago.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Golden Heart said as he bowed to King Spykoran, glad that he's going to help the ponies against Tirek.
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The Changelings are in troops, looking for their enemies. Unknown to them, a small group of them is watching right now.
"All right, we got to distract these guys so that Golden Heart can get in here somehow with the Elements and the machines." Big Macintosh said with a nod. "Not sure about how he will get by the force field though."
"We will try to distract some other way while Celestia's friend, whoever he is, can get him in." Cheerilee said with a nod, before turning to her group of ponies. "You ponies ready?"
"Ready!" The group of ponies nodded in reply, ready to distract the Changelings.
Pinkie smiles as she got her party cannon out then say quietly, "Ready, aim...FIRE!"
The Earth pony opens fire on the Changelings, sending out decorations and stuff onto the bad guys. They yelp as the ponies rush in, fighting them off.
"Go to red alert!" Ed exclaims to his fellow Changelings in alarm.
Fred looks confused as he ask Ed, "What are you doing?"
"My squad, my rules," Ed said to Fred with a shrug.
Fred frowns as he snaps, "I thought it was our squad. Go to magenta alert."
"There's no such thing as magenta alert." Seto said, a bit annoyed by the Changeling's stupidity as usual.
"Yes there is. It's like red alert, but softer!" Fred insists to Seto, making the consort of the queen slap himself on the forehead.
"Is there an alert for annoying bug whose won't shut the buck up alert?" Seto ask the Changelings dryly.
"Yeah, it's called a 'your face' alert!" Ed exclaims stupidly. Seto slaps him. Fred spits in Seto's eye, making him yelp. Eventually, all three Changelings end up in a sissy fight, slaps, spits, etc. The squadron members shook their heads in disgust.
"Nah, nah," Pinkie exclaims while waving her tail at the Changelings. "You guys can't hit the broad side of a barn!"
"Get them!" Seto orders his troops as they begin their assault on the ponies whose quickly fight them off. The Changelings were a bit startled as this is different than the Canterlot invasion.
During the distraction, Twilight, Ben, Spike, Phobos, Megan and the princesses watch on. Celestia whispers, "Perfect, these ponies will keep them busy until Golden Heart arrives with the Elements and the machines."
"Meanwhile, we must try to get to Nyx." Megan whispers hopefully. "Maybe if we're lucky, Tirek didn't destroy her yet."
"You believe that Nyx is still in there?" Twilight ask Megan hopefully. The mother hopes that her daughter is fighting Tirek's control. "What if..."
"Don't lose faith, my little pony. Your daughter wouldn't give up without a fight and neither should you." Megan said gently while petting Twilight. "She would want you to save her somehow."
"Oh, I hope you're right, Megan." Twilight said as she nuzzled her human friend.
Rainbow flies to the group while saying, "All right, no sign of Tirek in Nyx's body yet, but he should be in town somewhere."
"We must keep searching then. Come on." Luna said as her group heads off to look for Tirek/Nyx.
The ponies kept on with their distraction while Seto and the two idiots try operating a weapon system, but struggle a little. They decided on the tutorial...which is in French along with a French instructor, who teaches them on the instructions while speaking French, confusing the Changelings.
"I hate French!" Seto complains angrily and in frustration.
Pinkie, meanwhile, bounces all over, dodging the Changelings happily. The pink pony teases, "Come on, you slowpokes! Is this how you play tag? Don't you know how to play?"
The Changelings growl as they chase her but the pink pony kept bouncing around, while sticking her tongue out, exclaiming, "Nah nah!"
In a hidden spot, Fluttershy find herself surrounded by Changelings, the Pegasus pony is too scared to use her Stare at the moment. They growl, preparing to suck the fear and misery out of her.
"Please, don't hurt me, please?" Fluttershy ask nervously but scream as they attack...
But then, a shadowy figure jumps in and blasts the Changelings away, his hood fell as he yells, "Fluttershy, run!"
"What?! It's you?!" Fluttershy gasps in shock as she saw the figure's head. "But...but how?"
"Never mind, please don't tell anyone else that you saw my face! I am not ready for the other ponies to know just yet!" The shadowy figure insists while blasting at a Changeling. "Just go, go!"
Taking no second thoughts, Fluttershy nodded and flew off, escaping from the Changelings.
The figure smirks as his claws sparkle, turning to the Changelings while saying, "All right, boys, come to papa..."
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While the Changelings are spread throughout Ponyville, looking for their targets or trying to fight them off, their leaders are oddly enough at the Ponyville school where Chrysalis was preparing for some sort of spell.
Tirek was watching, unaware of a familiar group hiding from nearby. Rainbow mumbles, "Weird, why the hay would Tirek be holding out here?"
"I think I know. This is one of Nyx's favorite places." Twilight said with a smile. Nyx loves to hang out at school, despite Diamond Tiara's bullying and the events from before. "Tirek must've taken it without a choice.
"What is Chrysalis doing, sister?" Luna ask, noticing that Chrysalis is preparing a spell in front of a cauldron.
"I don't know...but I think I recognize the book that she has." Celestia said with a frown as Chrysalis is reading through a familiar book. "It's the Book of Forbidden Spells which my Royal Guards had confiscated from Boris home which I send Twilight to study."
"Oh, I'm sorry! Chrysalis and her troops must've stolen it from my library!" Twilight exclaims to Celestia in worry. "Not good, who knows what they could read from in there? Oh! I should've send it back to you when I had the chance!"
"No worries, Twilight. As long as Tirek doesn't find out anything to use, everything shall be fine." Ben said to Twilight with a smile.
"We must wait until Chrysalis is away then somehow strike at Tirek. You think, Twilight, Ben, you could reach to your daughter?" Megan asks the couple hopefully.
"Our daughter appears to be fighting so far, so maybe."
Just then, one Changeling appears, hissing to his leaders, "Masters, the ponies are fighting us off, we're having trouble. We need reinforcements."
"Oh you will, eventually." Tirek said to the Changeling with a chuckle. "Once I get my body back and the Rainbow of Darkness."
"Also, we got reports that someone is going to the force field, some sort of figure in a cloak and hood..."
"Hmm, this requires an investigation. Chrysalis; Keep the first spell going!"
"Yes, master." Chrysalis said as Tirek begins to fly off with the Changelings continuing what they're doing.
"'Body'? 'Rainbow of Darkness'," Phobos asks in concern and confusion. "Okay, I know about the Rainbow of Darkness part but what body?"
"I just remember something: there are two spells in that books, one that can make a new body...and the other that brings forth lost items of long forgotten passing of time, to which it's a vile potion where the owner of something lost declares what must be before him, then smashes the vile on the ground." Twilight said as she recalls what the unicorn herself has read from the book. Then she gasps in horror, "No! Tirek is planning on getting himself a new body!"
"And regaining the Rainbow of Darkness," Luna exclaims in alarm and worry. "We cannot allow this to happen!"
"And that we won't." Celestia said sternly as she trots right out of the hiding. "It's time that Chrysalis and I have our rematch once and for all..."
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The guest has taken out the Changelings then heads for the force field. He looks at it carefully then remarks, "Well, if I can take down Shining Armor's force field before..."
"Then you won't again." A familiar voice remarks as Tirek in Nyx's body lands nearby. He glances at the figure up and down, recognizing his face. "Hmm, so you're still alive?"
"Yep. Like you."
"Only Grimmore doesn't know. Why are you not dead?"
"Unlike you, Tirek, I don't act like a coward and uses a filly's body like a puppet." The guest said as he puts his hood back up. "Question is, why did you use Nyx of all ponies?"
"It was Chrysalis's idea. While Nyx's powers were gone, she can access to them without a choice. And as she was once Nightmare Moon, the former evil of Luna, that made her a perfect candidate." Tirek explains to the figure. "Nyx is trying to regain control, but once I kill her mother right in front of her..."
"Oh, I get it. You get control fully...but not on my watch."
"Right, not on yours..."
Tirek fires a blast at the guest who dodges it. The opponent slashes at Tirek but was careful not to go lethally. Nyx is still in that body and Twilight won't be happy if her daughter is killed in the conflict.
The guest knew that he has to take the force field in hopes to get Golden Heart into Ponyville with the Elements and the machines...not so easy, is it?