//------------------------------// // Turning Point (Outcome B) // Story: My Little Pony Rangers: Morphin' is Magic // by Lance Skyes //------------------------------// Everypony in the room, as well as the two princesses on the screen, stared expectantly at Twilight, who was looking down at the Alicorn Amulet in her hoof. The unicorn was faced with the most difficult decision in her life, and it took what felt like hours before she had the nerve to even consider her answer, and it took that much more time to do said consideration. The atmosphere was so intense, nopony even dared to breathe for fear of breaking Twilight’s train of thought. ”I need to do this,” Twilight thought to herself. ”It might be the only way to save Spike.” ”But it isn’t the right thing to do,” the other half of Twilight’s consciousness argued. ”You’re a Pony Ranger, and it’s your duty to keep Equestria safe.” ”But that’s exactly what I would be doing. I’d be using this power to remove the threat Spike poses to Equestria.” ”But at what cost? Think of how much danger he’d be in--how much danger you’d be in--if you did this.” ”I’ve made sacrifices to save Equestria in the past. This can’t be any different, can it?” ”You’ve never had to put any of your friends on the line like this in the past. It’s very different.” ”They’ve all known what they were getting into from the day they agreed to be a part of this team. That includes Spike.” ”But that doesn’t mean you can make these kinds of decisions for any of your friends. That also includes Spike.” ”The safety of Equestria is my responsibility!” ”It’s the responsibility of you and your friends!” “AAAAHHHHH!!!” Twilight screamed as she threw the amulet into the air and grabbed it with her magic. She was about to slam it to the ground but soon stopped midway. She brought it to her face one last time and then…. she placed it around her neck. The effect was instantaneous as red lightning burst from all around her and accidentally struck Pinkie in the chest, sending the party pony flying. Twilight, who had her eyes closed the whole time, then opened them and soon revelled in the power she now wielded. She wanted to save Spike but why stop with just him? Make sure that not only he doesn’t harm Equestria but Derpy, The Chaos Rangers, and even make Discord pay for turning her friends and killing Zecora. As she basked in her power Rainbow noticed a dark flash in her eyes. “Um… Twi you okay?” The Red Ranger asked her friend to which she only got a dark chuckle in response. “Never been better Dashie. I think you and the others can sit this one out.” She said as she summoned up her element as she shouted out her morphing line. “HENSHIN!” The moment the line finished she was wearing what appeared to be her signature armor but now it also had a darker vibe to it as well as additional things added on. Such as the spikes on her shoulders and something that appeared to be artificial bat wings on her back but the creepiest thing was that it appeared that her mask also transformed. Rainbow noticed that, along with the spikes on it, the helmet also appeared to have transformed into something akin to a monster. Moments later she teleported away from the spot she was at and left the team wondering if what they did was a wise choice. Meanwhile on the moon base, Spike watched Ponyville slowly become bathed in night. He noticed that the full moon cast a rather relaxing glow upon the land as the ponies retreated to their homes and slumbered, blissfully unaware of what he had planned for that night. “Those Harmony Rangers aren’t gonna know what hit them,” Spike said to himself as an evil smile crossed his lips. He then turned away from the monitor and retreated to his quarters to get a little bit of rest before his attack. On his way, however, he passed by Button Mash, who Spike had assumed was already asleep. “Spike!?” Button Mash shouted. He then quickly placed his hoof on his mouth and looked around to make sure he hadn’t accidentally woken anypony. Then, quietly, the colt asked, “What are you doing awake? I thought everypony was already asleep.” “I was going to ask you the same thing,” Spike replied. “Of course, seeing as I’m one of the four creatures on this base who isn’t a pony, I believe my question is a little more justified. You and the others are supposed to be resting for my attack later tonight.” “I was, uh...” Button Mash started. “Getting water. Any creature could get thirsty in the middle of the night.” “Then where’s your glass with water in it?” Spike asked. “I left it by the sink,” Button Mash quickly replied. “What? Did you expect me to walk back to my room on three legs trying to carry a glass in my other hoof?” “I suppose that’s plausible,” Spike said. “But there are two things you’ve forgotten about. One: you’re talking to one of the smarter creatures on this base. As horrible of a friend as Twilight Sparkle was, I did learn a lot from being her slave for my entire life. Second, if you did get water, there would still be some on your lips. Except there isn’t any. Care to explain?” Spike stared Button Mash down for the longest time before Button Mash responded. “I’m... the Element of Deception?” the colt tried to defend. “So then explain your deception,” Spike said. Button Mash gave a defeated sigh before saying, “Alright, I’ll tell you why I was up. But please, please, please don’t tell Sweetie Belle or any of the others.” “I’m only working for Discord, not standing by him,” Spike said. “I guess I could keep a secret.” “Thanks,” Button Mash said. “I can’t tell you how long I’ve been waiting to get this off my chest.” Button Mash then looked around to make sure everypony else was still asleep. “Could you come with me to my room first, though? I really don’t want anypony to know this.” Spike raised a nervous eyebrow in response. “I’m not about to confess any latent homosexual feelings for you if that’s what that eyebrow raise is for,” Button Mash said with an unamused tone. Spike snorted in amusement. He followed the young colt to his room. They soon walked in and sat down on opposite chairs. “Okay here it goes…. I don’t want to be a Chaos Ranger dude.” Button said and nearly winced when he saw Spike’s eyes widen. “Ooookay…. why don’t you want that? I mean yeah we’ve done horrible things but it’s for the better in the end right?” Spike asked him. “Yeah but that’s just it I don’t think it is. I only joined because Sweetie mentioned me as a perfect candidate to Discord and I only stayed on for her. I’m…. I’m really not sure if I ever wanted to be one in the first place dude.” Button finished making Spike relax a little but also contemplate his own reasons for joining. He never really joined them out of loyalty to Discord after all. He only joined them so he could make Twilight Sparkle hurt but even that was starting to lose it’s taste to him. Before he could contemplate this even further he and Button heard Sweetie run up. “You two better get ready. We just got a transmission from Twilight.” This caused Spike to smile as he exited the room. They met up with the other two Chaos Rangers and arrived where the transmission originated. Curiously to them it landed them right near Town Hall. “Okay Twilight! You can come out of hiding coward!” Spike called out but was surprised when he got a near insane cackle in response. “Oh my dear Spikey-Wikey. Who ever said I was hiding?” Twilight called back but Spike noticed that something about her voice seemed…. off. He looked up and saw a flash of silver and then, right before his and the other Chaos Rangers eyes, Twilight slammed down to the ground on all four hooves before them but everything about her seemed malformed and mutated. For one thing her armor was now black and silver spikes adorned them as well as her belt now having a strangely twisted “N” on it. She didn’t even give them time to ask about her new look before she blasted them backwards. ”TWILIGHT WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Spike shouted as he and the other four Chaos Rangers backed away from the advancing Silver Ranger. “I’m getting rid of that dark presence inside of you Spike. You should be happy,” Twilight said, emotionless as she drew her sword. The light of the moon glistened off the amulet around her neck. Chaos Red was the first to regain her nerve as she charged Twilight. The effort was commendable but pointless as a mere flick of her hooves later and the pegasus filly was tossed against the wall and was knocked out. Seeing what happened to their friend both Chaos Blue and Yellow charged the Silver Ranger. They lasted a little longer but one flick of Twilight’s sword and they both were flung against separate walls and de-morphed. She then turned her attention back to the two Rangers in front of her. Both of whom got their nerve back and charged her. Finally a real challenge, Twilight thought to herself. Both Chaos Green and the Gold Ranger put up a fight but it didn’t matter as Twilight soon beat both of them. She blasted both of them back but soon pulled them back in, holding them in place as she removed the Dragon Coin forcefully from Derpy’s belt. “TWILIGHT NO!” Spike yelled as he broke free of the unicorn’s spell. He charged her again and managed to get one punch that connected with her helmet. All the punch did was annoy her as the Ranger turned towards him and growled an un-equine growl at him. Then she summoned up an orb of energy and blasted him back. “Sorry about that. Now where was I?” Twilight mockingly asked Derpy. Moments later she used a spell and the coin sent off a blast so strong it blasted her and Spike, who got back on his feet, away from the epicenter. When Twilight opened her eyes she saw that the Alicorn Amulet was destroyed along with the coin. She smiled a little before she saw Spike’s crumpled form. He hadn’t de-morphed. “S-Spike? SPIKE?! SPIKE!”