The two gods looked at each one another as they were ready to fight seriously. Destruction spoke in a deep demonic tone that vibrated the ground. “I'm going to enjoy this. You have caused the other gods and I far to many problems.”
Still flapping above them all he pointed his claw at Chaos. “You couldn't just be happy with your genesis rejects, you had to go clone your own avatar, twice. I will make sure you stay locked up forever.”
“Sounds boring.” Chaos mocked. “I agree though, it is time to finish this. Not sure how you plan on killing me though, we are even in power. But...” Chaos put out his bare right hand, pointing it at the dragon.
Chaos shot out a magical green beam that spiraled continuously towards the dragon. The dragon returned the blast with his own fire breath. This fire was glowing like the red aura around the dragons body. It smashed against the beam and the reaction from it was devastating. Flaming particles from the beam were flying away from the impact and caught fire to everything they landed on. The grass on the ground and the surrounding forest were set ablaze. The two magical forces were in deadlock and evenly tied as fire and beam still connected.
Chaos grinned, “But one more power can tip the balance!”
The zebra's watching, not at all worried about the fires, threw the multicolored water balloons they had brought at the dragon in unison. Destruction sighed and flew sideways to dodge both beam and balloon barrage, ending the deadlock. But the zebra's took out the blow pipes and took shots at the flying balloons with deadly accuracy. Popping them all released the liquid in a wide area that managed to hit the moving dragon.
Destruction felt his strength fading and started falling. He moved his claw in a circular motion and the ground below the zebra's caved in turning the clearing into a huge hole that revealed a underground chasm. Every zebra was lost to the fall and the dragon caught the edge of the surface, holding on for dear life. He was grounded but he wouldn't be for long. Chaos shot another beam effectively hitting him in the chest causing the dragon to cry out in pain. Chaos didn't let up, he laughed maniacally until the screams from the beast ceased. The dragon let go and fell into the grave he himself made. Chaos looked on at the corpse of his former foe as it disappeared into the darkness of the Earth. Chaos heard it, not to far from where he stood, the door to his prison opened and he felt all his power return to him. The seal of destruction was removed from the door, weakening the other seals and allowing it to open. Chaos laughed in triumph at his plans success.
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The ponies fighting the dragons within the city held their ground and their magic and craftiness kept them alive. Only a handful had actually been killed. Most of the citizens had been evacuated safely but the dragons were far from defeated. Canterlot's damage was only in specific area's, namely the main road that went straight from the city gate all the way to the castles doorstep and the places where the leaders had landed. The princesses were still fighting Huxio in a losing battle. Smoke from the city could be seen from miles and the Elements of Harmony were likely on the way.
Luna and Celestia were still doing the same thing. They were attempting to wear him down using hit and run tactics. It started getting more predictable because Huxio managed to swat Luna out of the sky and back into the castle.
“Luna!” Celestia yelled after her sister. Huxio used that distraction to smash his hand into her too. She went down into the same floor as Luna. Huxio reached down at them to finish the job. He was going to try squeezing them again but he would get it right this time.
Suddenly and without warning, he stopped and turned his head towards the other dragons who were looking in the distance. All of them had stopped what they were doing. Every dragon in the city took to the sky and left. The dragons outside the city followed suit and this left Celestia mystified. She got up and slumped to her sisters place. Luna didn't look alive lying on the ground motionless.
There was a loud fluttering in the skies above the castle. “It must be the rest of the pegasi force.” she said. Looking outside, she saw what was coming. Her eyes closed and her body fell to the castle floor. Fhillip who was hiding in the corner trying to protect his wife from falling rubble, left his place to see what Celestia saw. The sky was filled with darkness, darkness with eyes.
Chrysalis and her minions swarmed the battle weary city and she went straight for the broken throne room. She saw Celestia and Luna on the ground beaten badly. She trotted gingerly over to Celestia giggling. Chrysalis saw Fhil and the unfamiliar mare looking terrified.
“Well well well... looks like you were right my little pony. The city is mine and the smoke was a clear enough signal to let me know that.” she sang happily.
Fhillip walked toward her. “I don't think it's over. There is one last part of his plan and I think it involves us all perishing.”
Chrysalis laughed a little. “Perish? No. Every battle able changeling is here. Your friend will have to pry this place from my cold dead hooves.”
Fhil frowned and looked at his wife. She looked more upset at hearing all this. Her husband had put her through a lot today and she learned much about what he had been up to. It was a far cry from her usual life of peace and quiet when he had brought back hell with him.
“I think it is time to finally claim my birth right as true ruler of this land, after I dispose of these pretenders.” Chrysalis kicked Celestia's body and started conjuring a deadly spell with her horn. She aimed it at the white alicorn. “Good riddance.”
Before she could act on it, a bright light filled the room and it knocked Chrysalis backwards a few feet. She looked up and saw another white alicorn mare with a red mane and a quill as a cutie mark looking back at her with golden light glowing from her eyes.
“Stop this at once Chrysalis!” the mysterious new alicorn yelled at the queen.
“Wha..?” Chrysalis was speechless as her own eyes tried to adjust to what she was seeing and her mind to what just occurred.
“Go home.” the white alicorn said sternly at the changeling queen.
Chrysalis's face reddened but she did as commanded and flew out of the castle, her swarm following at their queens command. The white alicorn walked over to Celestia and healed her using her horns magic. Celestia opened her eyes and saw the figure standing over her. The sun princess had a look of surprise but got to her hooves all the same. The new alicorn hurried over to Luna and repeated her spell. Luna opened her eyes to see the mare standing over her.
“Hello mother.” Luna said.
“Hello sweetie, looks like I got here in time huh?” she said to her with a small smile.
“Look at the city mom.” Celestia told her frowning walking over to the two.
“I only just realized this was happening.” the mother admitted.
Luna got to her hooves too, “I haven't seen you since we inherited the Elements. It's been a long time mom!” Luna nuzzled her moms neck. The mother alicorn returned the affection. “Well I came and saw Celestia several times after that but you weren't around.”
Luna and Celestia knew why and they shared a frown.
The godly alicorn knew why but comforted her youngest, “There will be more time for us.”
Luna smiled at this news. “I hope you will be around more.” to which the mother nodded.
Fhil came forward to introduce himself. “Hello miss. I'm Fhillip and this beautiful mare is my wife Lillian.” Lillian had since calmed down after seeing things get better. “I didn't know you had a mother, Celestia!" he told her excitedly.
The mother smiled at Fhil. “Call me Lauren.”
Remembering the darker details of recent events, Celestia approached Fhil. “Fhillip, I heard Chrysalis talking to you. Did you have anything to do with today?” the look on Celestia's face begged for innocence. Lillian looked down at her hooves in shame. Luna however was amused, she really had no idea about Fhil's treachery.
They all heard clapping coming from the room outside the throne room entrance. That was the main hall inside the castle and walking up the stairs leading to the throne room was none other than Chaos.
A toothy grin hidden in the shadow of his mask, he slowly walked to them. “Fhil did help me and I owe all this success to him.”
Every eye was on the Fhil as his own green eyes shifted between his peers. They looked at him with disgust and mistrust, even Lauren. He didn't say a word to dispute Chaos' claim.
The chaotic god stepped through the doorway and made his way closer to the group stopping a dozen feet from them. “Actually we are even, my freedom for his.” he nodded to Fhil. “You made it home and you have done what I have asked to the letter. I knew you could do it.”
His last statement made Celestia's eye twitch. She didn't know this creature but it deepened her dislike for it. His voice also sounded similar to another creature she wasn't to fond of.
Fhillips eyes watered. “But you made me.”
The mares in the room looked disappointed in him but listened as the god and unicorn conversed.
“You had a choice although it would have hurt you more to decide against me.” Chaos turned to look at Lauren, “Anyways, Creation, or is it Lauren now? I've killed Destruction's avatar and he won't revive anytime soon.” Chaos nodded.
“You despicable..” Lauren started.
“NO! YOU DESERVE THIS! THEY ALL DESERVED TO DIE. YOUR DAUGHTERS TOO!” Chaos yelled at her. This surprised the others so much, they all took a step back.
The shaman god flew up out of the giant hole in the ceiling and shouted at them again.
“In the coming days, everything you know will be wrong!”
“You won't get away with this Chaos!” Lauren screamed at him her voice echoing off the throne room walls.
The creature dressed in robes took off his mask revealing an older man with white hair and a beard. “Call me John.” He bowed and smiled at them, then teleported away.
“What in the hoof was that?” Luna asked the others. “I've never seen a creature like that before.”
“He calls it a human. He is the only one of their kind but his power allowed for the creation of the most chaotic being.” Lauren explained. “He never had clothes on when I knew him.”
Celestia remembered what she was getting to earlier and decided to pursue it for a punishment.
“Speaking of chaotic creature, Fhillip, you assisted in the potential and confirmed deaths of so many of my little ponies. You have tried to destroy my city and caused us to go to war with two races. You were the reason of an attempted assassination on the royal family and you have freed a great evil from its prison. All because of your actions!” Celestia told Fhil.
Depressed at his crimes, Fhillip nodded in admittance. “I wanted to make things right but I failed. As I went about my task, I had hoped that I would fail trying my best so that the creature would let me off easy. My failure never came..”
“I'm going to assess the situation here. We will have a formal punishment for you later.” she continued. Celestia flew off into the city to search for survivors.
Luna looked at Lauren, “What will you do now?” she asked her mother.
“I'm staying here because there is much to discuss with you two. But right now, I will assist in helping the wounded.” Lauren said. She took flight and was off to some distant neighborhood.
Luna, Fhil and Lillian were left in the throne room. “I need to rest, Fhil. I'm sorry to hear you are involved in a lot of stuff, so please don't leave town.” She fell on her side and passed out. Fhil assumed it was from both being tired from battle and that it was day, when she usually slept.
Lillian let out a sigh. She started trotting out the door and motioned for Fhil to follow her. They went home to spend the next few days together until the fated day when he would be gone from her life forever.
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The next several days were spent treating the injured, repairing the city and preparing funeral services. Neighboring ponies came to the city to help rebuild and recover. Some parts of Canterlot was in ruins but it was a simple task to fix. Celestia focused on making sure everypony knew about the impending war and how it was going to effect them. A lot of military might was lost during the attack but the Crystal Empire would donate soldiers to the cause. Both Luna and Celestia wanted to delay going to war until the city was back to normal. Lauren assured her that the dragons and Chrysalis would not return in a long time.
Twilight and her friends still had not made it to the city. Celestia sent letters trying to find out where she was through Spike the dragon only to receive replies stating that they were delayed because the train station was busy. Twilight desperately wanted to be there by Celestia's side but the war being over, she wasn't needed as badly as Ponyville needed her. Ponies were pouring in through the city trying to get to Canterlot to help with the rebuilding so the railways were busy.
Celestia assumed Twilight would not come without her friends knowing that she would need them to use their magic against the invading forces so she wouldn't fly or teleport here alone. In Twilight's first letter, she said that the trains were to stay put because of the smoke plumes coming from Canterlot and the over-all dragon presence so her friends couldn't get there in time.
Six days after the attack, Celestia summoned witnesses and a small audience gathered at the palace courtyard for the sentencing of Fhillip Buster. Celestia and Luna both stood next to each other at the podium. Lauren was not in attendance but looked out a castle window at the proceedings. Fhillip was brought before the two in cuffs by the royal guard and Shining Armor. Shining was in town for clean up and decided to help with the trial.
“Fhillip Buster”, Celestia started, “for all the devastation brought on us earlier this week, I, Princess Celestia.” she looked at her sister, “and I, Princess Luna”, “hereby find you guilty of all charges relating to it and have come to agree on a punishment.” Celestia finished.
“We sentence you to banishment and confinement in the place you are banished to. It would have been death but seeing personally that you can not die, we decided another option.” Luna announced.
She and Luna let the guards escort Fhil away. She wouldn't say where he was going to keep people from knowing but the guards knew where to take him. Lillian was in the crowd of people, sobbing uncontrollably. Her sister from Manehattan was there comforting her.
Fhillip was taken deep into the Everfree forest to the abandoned fortress where he was put into a prison cell located in a tower overlooking the gorge.
“You will stay here until the Princesses say otherwise and that may take lifetimes, not that you have better things to do.” a white Pegasus guard said on the other side of my cell bars.
The forest had monstrosities that would keep away those who would come save me. But there, in that castle they left me all alone, my shadow the only company I kept.