//------------------------------// // Confrontation // Story: Soren the Alicorn Part 3: A True Hero? // by KingNyroc15 //------------------------------// Soren teleported inside the ballroom and saw the sight he was expecting. He saw Chrysalis with his friends, but he also saw Princess Celestia and Octavia there. Although slightly confused, Soren confronted Chrysalis nonetheless. "Chrysalis!" Soren shouted. The changeling queen grinned then turned to look at Soren. "Hello again, alicorn. I see you broke out." "Easily. I'm going to give you one last chance, Chrysalis. Leave or get thrown out by force." "Petty threats from a petty pony." "That's a pretty ironic thing to say considering you need me." Chrysalis arched an eyebrow. "What makes you think I need you?" "It's simple really. Let me begin by saying that almost all of your changelings populate this very room." Soren's friends gasped. "So we could've defeated her this entire time?!" Rainbow Dash groaned. "Princess, now's the time to stop her." Princess Celestia remained still. "Princess, come on. Kick her sorry flank back to her home!" Queen Chrysalis chuckled. "The princess knows I'm more powerful than her, especially since the Gala is a time for romance." Chrysalis deeply inhaled the air. "I can even taste the love coming from Soren and Rainbow Dash, although it isn't as strong as–" "As Cadence and Shining Armor's love?" Soren interrupted confidently. "The very love that defeated you?" "Shut up! Not this time. Those two haven't even shown up yet." "So you expected them? This just keeps getting more and more ironic, doesn't it? I ran into two ponies on the way here, Chrysalis. Do you want to know who they are?" "It can't be." "Oh yes!" On cue, the fire blocking the main entrance dissipated, and Shining Armor and Princess Cadence walked into the ballroom. As soon as those two entered the room, Soren created a wall around only him and Chrysalis that extended from the ground to the ceiling. "Are you choosing to fight me?" Chrysalis smirked. "I'm choosing to give you one last chance, albeit it's probably going to fall on deaf ears. Leave now and we won't have to do this the hard way." Cadence and Shining Armor began to combine their magic as Soren spoke to Chrysalis. The changelings in the room were smart enough to know they have been beaten, so why was their queen continuing to look confident? Why not leave without harm? "You weren't planning on giving me mercy," Chrysalis stated. "Why else would this wall be up?" Soren chuckled a little. "Very true. It's really funny how far I've come. I used to give mercy in a past life, and now I rarely have the need for it. It's because of ponies and beings like you that I stopped believing mercy is an option! Now disasters are solved with simple, quick solutions. This solution involves blasting you back to the wasteland from whence you came!" After expressing his anger, Soren gritted his teeth and stared at Chrysalis. The queen just stared back. "You may think you have defeated me, alicorn," she said, "but I was never here with the intent to win. I am simply here to be a messenger for a mare even stronger than I. You will have to face this pony, and I can guarantee that she will not hold back like you. She will annihilate you with raw power. Listen to my words, alicorn, for this is your premonition that I promised. I also came here, not only to warn you, but to see if you were ready. To see if you were ready to fight without mercy." "Just shut up, Chrysalis," Soren retorted. "You lost, it's as simple as that. Nothing you can say will make me feel pity for you." "Pity? You think I want your pathetic pity? Hahahaha! You don't deserve to pity me. Instead I shall pity you, for soon the day will come when you meet you match, alicorn. On that day, you will die." Soren walked closer to Chrysalis and stared at her with more seriousness than their first encounter tonight. "I welcome that day, Chrysalis." Soren dropped the wall, and Shining Armor and Cadence casted their spell at the changeling queen. The spell was an ever-expanding shield that started to carry every changeling away from the ballroom and the palace. Soren looked out of a nearby window and saw Chrysalis flying through the sky. He huffed. 'Good riddance.' Soren noticed everypony walking over to him. Rainbow Dash walked ahead of everyone else to get to her coltfriend first. Soren and Rainbow looked at each other for a few seconds before Rainbow flinched back a bit. "Umm, Twilight?" she called. "Come here." The purple unicorn obliged and stood next to her friend. "What is it?" she asked. "Look at Soren's eyes." Twilight stood before Soren and did what Rainbow asked her to do. Twilight gasped as she saw something very familiar in Soren's burning green eyes. She saw many emotions and feelings, like fear, anger, sorrow, exhaustion, and now...age. "Are you feeling alright, Soren?" Twilight asked. "You have the Doctor's eyes." "I'm fine," he replied evenly. "I'm just...tired. I really...really want to go home and escape reality." Princess Celestia walked up to Soren. She sat in front of him while maintaining eye contact. She then extended her fore legs and pulled Soren into her. Soren could feel the sadness slowly surface, and he quickly broke down. Soren wept on the princess as she softly spoke to him, like a mother to a child. "Soren," she began, "you've been through so much, you've seen so much. I have seen the ponies I love grow old and pass away. I know loss, and I know emotional pain. I can't heal you, but I can comfort you to the best of my abilities. I am so sorry for everything you have had to go through up to this point, but you must persevere...for your friends, for your family, for your home. Even through the hardships you have to endure, you will find solace and love. Please be strong. If Chrysalis spoke the truth earlier, we will need you more than ever." "But what if I fail all of you?" Soren sniffed. "Even if you are somehow taken away from us, we will never forget you and the things you have done for us." Celestia gave Soren a slightly tighter hug before letting go. The princess and her subject faced each other and smiled. While Soren wiped away his tears, Celestia faced Twilight and her friends. "Twilight, I must ask that you and your friends return to Ponyville tomorrow and leave Soren here." "What?!" the six mares exclaimed in unison. "I'm truly sorry, but Soren needs time to relax, yet I need to be close by in case this new threat shows herself. Also, Rainbow Dash..." Rainbow locked eyes with Celestia. "...I want you to remain in Canterlot as well. Soren needs you to be there for him. His mind is slowly coming apart from his experiences. He cannot handle much more stress." "I'll do anything for him," the pegasus said, standing tall. "I know you will. I am also sorry that things have to be this way. Until this 'threat' passes over, Soren and Rainbow Dash will need to remain here in Canterlot under our watch. I am very sorry." "We understand, princess," Twilight said with a tinge of sadness. All of the ponies in the room began to leave the ballroom to head to different bedrooms in the palace for the night. As she walked upstairs, Twilight reflected on what Celestia said. Soren's mind is slowly coming apart. He can't handle much more stress. 'Oh, Soren, why you?' (End of arc) (One remaining)