Chapter 22: Attack of the Clones
"You want her to what!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. The rest of her friends shared in the shock, at least two them dipping their ears down in anxiousness.
"Twilight Sparkle, though you do have your...moments of...brilliance...we do think it would be best if you left Ponyville," Mayor Mayer told the unicorn. Twilight's brows bent upwards.
"Now why in Celestia's name should she do that?" Applejack dared to challenge the figure of authority. Unfortunately for her the mayor had quite a bit more of the community on her side behind her. But she was her friend, as were the others.
"Yeah! What about how she helped organize Winter Wrap Up?" Rainbow Dash reminded.
"Or when she stopped the Ursa Minor?" Rarity added.
"Oh, and when she helped wake up all the critters on Winter Wrap Up?" Fluttershy asked.
"I got sprayed by a skunk when I tried..."
"You still looked cute doing it though," the pegasus tried to compliment her.
"Yes, this is good and all, but everypony also has their faults. She is no exception," the mayor rebutted.
"But why kick her out?" Applejack stamped her hoof.
"She got the entire town obsessed over a little doll!" Bon Bon yelled from the crowd.
"She was afraid of-"
"She created a monster of books and even nearly killed the Princesses!" another pony yelled.
"Well, you know how she is with book-"
"And don't forget the time that she turned her mom and dad into plants!"
"How would you even know about-"
"What about how she ruined the earth ponies' harvesting methods during Winter Wrap Up?" a male one suggested.
"Oh come on! We just went over how she-"
"ENOUGH!" Twilight yelled. All fell silent allowing the mayor to sigh and step forward.
"Twilight...I really am sorry," she told her, "But ever since you've come to Ponyville, no matter how fun you've made things, your presence here has caused mishap after mishap. And now our town being ruined like this...we just think it might be for the best if you leave." Twilight looked at the congregation that had formed to greet them from the burning town below. Their faces certainly weren't welcoming. Twilight could feel a lump forming in her throat.
"Now you listen here!" Applejack again took the lead, "We-"
"It's alright Applejack," Twilight told her. Her friends turned to her stunned. Certainly they hadn't heard her correctly.
"Woah now, you aren't just giving up are you?" Rainbow Dash hopped down in front of her and peered the unicorn in the face, "We're your friends dude! We aren't gonna let them-"
"It's alright," Twilight repeated, a bit more somber in tone this time, "It...might be for the best...I dunno...all I do know right now is they don't want me. And if I do bring about bad luck well...you all should probably find the last piece on your own just to be safe. I mean there are five of you right? Just get it and get back to the princesses. Mission accomplished..."
"Twilight...where else you go?...our home's down there..." Spike stretched an arm out towards his friend. Her head had dipped quite a bit.
"I dunno..." she muttered, "just...stay with the others, you'll probably be safer..." No matter her friend's protests and assurances, Twilight trotted off over the hill they'd approached Ponyville from. All that lay beyond was the train station that'd brought them to the outskirts and a mountain. The dragon stared after her until she vanished over the top of the hill. Seemingly satisfied, the villagers departed back to town to attempt to reclaim their land from the monsters that were tearing it apart.
"Well this is just bullshit!" Rainbow Dash yelled angrily, "We get back and everypony's been forced up here where they greet us with this? Oh I'm gonna give those little Spike things a beating alright!...no offense of course." She grinned as innocently as she could at the young dragon.
"I best check up on the farm! Let's all meet back up at the center of town once this is all sorted out!" Applejack declared. Eager to exact revenge, the two most take-charge ponies of the group sped into Ponyville leaving the white unicorn and yellowish pegasus with the dragon. The purple creature was still staring at the hill trying to process just what all had happened. He could understand that some of the things Twilight caused...were a bit extreme at times...but...he never would have thought she'd be kicked out. Especially not with being Celestia's star pupil. Spike's train of thought was derailed from a bonk to the back of the head. He was surprised to see that it was Rarity who'd delivered it.
"Well," she nudged her head towards the hill, "shouldn't you get going?..." Spike gave her a confused look.
"But Rarity...if she's gone wouldn't you like me and you to...you know..." The unicorn bent down and narrowed her eyes at his. He looked down. "Yeah..."
"Spike...no matter what we feel like we have roles in this story, and your's is with her. Even without the author forcing this pairing on it, you'd still go after her. You two love each other and nothing will ever change that..." Rarity reluctantly confessed. Her eyes jolted open as Spike's lips met her's.
"Just didn't want you to feel bad if I chose her over you..." he explained quietly. Rarity's lips curved into a doubtful smile and she returned the affectionate gesture with a rub on the head.
"You'd do anything for her. You're her number one assistant after all. And you are her first and best friend are you not?" With one last smile between the two, Spike bounded off over the hill to search for his friend.
---
Shakily three fillies shuddered through the metallic corridors of Pinkie Pie's underground laboratory. They'd long since mapped the entire place out via numerous visits. But now...with those monsters on the loose they couldn't be any more cautious in each step they took.
"I done knew we shouldn't a fooled round with this here place. Science is evil, 'specially Pinkie science..." Apple Bloom voiced her opinion.
"So much for saving the world..." Sweetie Belle sighed, "Where do you think all the Spikes went?" The group jerked to a stop. They could've sworn they'd heard something pitter patter near them. Hesitantly the Cutie Mark Crusaders looked around. They couldn't see anything other than each other. Figuring that it was just fear working into them, the fillies continued their journey towards the exit. They may have come down to the facility for help, but they certainly weren't going to stay if they couldn't control such monstrosities.
"What we gotta focus on now is just telling everpony about what's going to be happening," Scootaloo muttered. She wasn't used to giving up. But with the overwhelming odds what other option was there? The pegasus was going to be useful, that much she was determined to be whether or not she had an actual acting part in the grand scheme.
"Girls! Stop!" Apple Bloom hissed. The two others did as suggested and glanced over to her. Apple Bloom's ears were fidgeting every which way. Soon enough their's were doing the same. They definitely could detect some sort of noise but were having trouble weeding it out. It was the same old pitter patter they'd heard before only now it was closer and more active. The more time passed the louder the noises got. Every now and then one of the fillies thought they saw something moving further down the hall, slithering almost. They rounded a nearby corner and Sweetie Belle's ears perked.
"RUN!" she yelled. Neither Apple Bloom or Scootaloo wasted any time in arguing. Had they the ceiling above would've collapsed on them from the creature that'd been lurking around on top. All three lost their breath at the sight of it. Like Spike the creature was dragonish and about their size but with some very important details. First and foremost, most of the skin and scales had fallen off the right part of the chest allowing a bit of a gory display to the muscle beneath. Parts of the tail looked almost like they'd been chewed up. But the feature that bore into their minds the most were the eyes. The crimson glowing eyes, like small flashlights in the darkened corridor paving its path.
Letting out an ungodly cry, the abomination leapt at them. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo managed to dodge, but due to Sweetie Belle's more sheltered lifestyle it easily grabbed her.
"GET OFF!" she screamed pushing back against it as hard as possible. Viciously the creature snapped its jaws at her, each bite closing just inches from her face with sickening hollow clacks. But its strength was too great. It was going closer bit by bit. Just as it was about to bear its fangs into her though, it was flung into the opposite wall from two well placed kicks by her friends.
"Might wanna listen to what a lady has to say," Scootaloo quipped. Apple Bloom meanwhile was helping their fallen member back up.
"Come on! We can't stick around here!" the earth pony started a run through the hall. And indeed they couldn't. In practically no time at all, the Spike clone had shaken off the attacks and was hot on their hooves. Scootaloo spared a glance back at it to see if she had time to spout out another one-liner. She didn't. With surprising accuracy, the clone jumped forward and slashed at her, just missing her tail by a few hairs!
"Double time it Crusaders!" Scootaloo ordered as her wings began to flap. She may not have been able to fly maturely yet, but every little bit to speed along helped.
"This is for earlier!" Sweetie Belle called. To Scootaloo and Applebloom's amazement she produced a large wrench from the bag she'd brought down with them and tossed it straight at the creature's head. And just as incredulously it hopped out of the way and began crawling on the wall at the same speed it'd been chasing them! Sweetie Belle's jaw dropped at the sight. Forcefully her friends grabbed her and dragged her into a nearby room.
"How do you shut the damn door!" Scootaloo spat as she fiddled with the controls on the panel next it. None of it made sense to her.
"That's one of them voice activated locks I reckon!" Apple Bloom announced. Scootaloo bit her lip.
"Um...Cupcakes?..." she told it doubtfully. A red X appeared over the lock symbol.
"Pumpkin' Cake!" Apple Bloom exclaimed. Again a red X was displayed.
"Make it stop!" Scootaloo pleaded. Another red X.
"Lauren Faust!" Apple Bloom desperately searched for the correct password.
"Hasbro!" Scootaloo yelled at it. A message displayed on it saying 'Try Again Later'. "Oh come the fuck on!"she cursed smashing her hoof against the top of the console. The message switched to 'Fuck you.'. "Classy."
"Oh fiddlesticks this is Pinkie Pie! She's so simple minded it could be anything!" Apple Bloom cried.
"Password," Sweetie Belle said still in a bit of shock. Instantly the monitor displayed a green check-mark and the door sealed shut behind them. The creature's unsatisfied screeches could be heard muffled on the other side. With a huff of exhaustion, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom slumped down next to each other.
"So...we're trapped here now..." the pegasus murmured.
"And in Pinkie's room it looks like," Apple Bloom added, "...well...we can at least look through her stuff before we die right?..."
---
A shadow trotted across the land. It'd already passed the train station that it'd arrived from and was heading up a nearby mountain. The sun was setting. Night would soon claim the land and the figure needed to find someplace safe to settle down. The area around Ponyville that wasn't the Everfree Forest might be more managed than it, but it was still proper to have somewhere to hole up in the event of an emergency.
"Twilight! Wait up!" a familiar voice called. The unicorn's head lifted and she turned around. She was shocked to see that the smaller figure had actually come after her. Spike soon slowed to a stop in front of her panting and huffing with his hands on his knees. "Oi...you sure can cover some ground quick..." Twilight allowed a small smile to appear.
"And why are you here?" she inquired, "I told you to stay safe with the others. Besides, you'd have alone time with Rarity..." Spike peered upwards and readjusted his hands so that they were on his hips.
"I'm your number one assistant, YOUR'S," he reminded, "And no amount of you feeling sorry is gonna change that. I belong with you; got that?" Twilight's smile grew. She knelt down and nuzzled her snout against Spike's cheek. Determined to keep some shred of dignity, the dragon pushed the head away, his cheeks crimson from the affection. "Yeah yeah, I love you too..." he murmured. Twilight giggled and bent lower to let her partner on. For a while they just strolled along the mountain in silence. Neither really knew what all to say. None of the group could've predicted that Ponyville would've been caught in such chaos upon their return.
"...so...where's our new pad?" Spike eventually asked as he wrapped his arms around Twilight's throat. Her pace slowed a bit.
"No idea..." she replied slowly. Knowing that his question had soured the atmosphere a bit, Spike nuzzled his face into her mane and tightened the embrace around her throat.
"Well don't you worry, I'm here to take care of ya. We'll find some hole and I get it all decorated. Probably can scrounge up a few books that people have tossed away along the path or something. Whole new home sweet home eh?" Twilight had to chuckle a bit at the visuals that his voice painted. With the enthusiasms their trip picked up a bit of speed. She had to admit that from where they were Ponyville looked rather lovely against the setting sun. And Spike's physical closeness was helping quite a bit. "What would you do without me?" he boasted.
"Probably have a lot less headaches to deal with," she mused. Spike popped open an eye.
"Sarcasm's returning. That's a good sign..." he muttered. Twilight shot a sly smile back at him. "Maybe I should pay you to get you to cheer up more though. Be less effort on my part and money works on girls a lot is what I hear..."
"Act now and get the special elephant edition absolutely free," Twilight quipped. Now it was Spike's turn to grin.
"Only if you call now even though the commercial's been shown for like five years and has the same offer every time," Spike added. The duo burst out in laughter once their parody ended. Had any pony been camping out below they might have looked up due to the joyful noises. It wasn't too long before the humor died back to a manageable level. "Ah...I love you Twi..." Spike laughed lightly into her mane. Twilight herself would probably be a bit embarrassed if he could see how big her smile had gotten in the stint of laughter they'd partaken in.
"...thanks for coming after me," she said slightly out of breath.
"Someone's gotta keep you at least somewhat sane," he told her. His only response was a nod. She certainly couldn't deny how...crazy she could get something. Spike let out a long stream of air from his nostrils. The unicorn at least made a comfy pillow. When he turned to the other side of the neck though he noticed something. It was as though his mind snapped back to a more primitive time upon spotting the dent in the mountainside. The hole on it...he'd made it.
"I know where we are!" he exclaimed. Twilight winced at the sudden loudness of his voice. "This is where I trapped the Wonderbolts when I was big!...ya know those guys really ain't all that special, especially compared to their "fangirl"." Twilight was in complete agreement with that claim. She just figured it was only a matter of time before Rainbow Dash slowed up on her praise for the fliers. Just a phase she was going through. She'd helped in saving Equestria quite a few times even for Celestia's sake! Why she still clung to such celebrities, no matter how talented, was a bit beyond her understanding. They all had their heroes though she guessed.
"Well, this is a good sign," Spike commented. Twilight gave him a confused look. "Don't you remember? I horded everything up here! It's the perfect spot for a new hangout!" Twilight's eyes lit up. He was right. It may not have been much, but a large cave certainly beat camping out under some rocks. Eagerly she charged higher up the mountain.
---
"Um...Winona?..." a timid voice quivered. There was nothing to be seen. Of course that was normal whenever Fluttershy had visited the site prior. But now...an uneasiness hung in the air. A sense of dread and disharmony billowing forth from the chamber below even moreso than Ponyville's current destructive state. It had taken quite some maneuvering to keep from being detected by the mangled Spike look-a-likes while cutting across town to her cottage. But once she'd gotten there and made sure every creature was safe and alright she'd bolted towards the hole that the kind Spike creature had helped her escape from. "Winona Jr.?... are you down there?..." There was still no response.
Hesitantly Fluttershy looked around. There didn't seem to be anything that might endanger her if she needed to escape...nor any pony around that could help her. The pegasus gulped and looked back down into the darkness below. She couldn't hear or see anything. But she still knew the path. And if those monsters weren't scurrying about...well... it wouldn't hurt to go down and check would it? Fluttershy's mind was in a constant spat with itself over what course of action should be taken. And neither side would be the victor. Even as she finally hopped in her mind was at war. And now her most prominent mentality took part in the debate. Fear. That's all she felt upon landing. Any of the warmth and kindness of the world above was sucked away in the desolate land she had delved into.
Fluttershy didn't know how long she stood there at the site that she'd impacted. For all she knew it could have been days that she was petrified in fright. But in time her joints began to move, somewhat on autopilot. Her friend was at stake, and for that she had to be brave. The ponies above no doubt had more to worry about than she. She just had to find Winona Jr. and make sure he was okay. And for that she needed to make herself known.
"Winona..." she rasped. Fluttershy was a bit surprised at how tight her throat was. The pegasus squinted and took a deep breath. "Winona!..." she managed to squeak. As expected there was nothing in response. Not even her own echo. Fluttershy's cheeks reddened. She was just thankful no pony else was around to hear the pitiful display. For this kind of alerting she'd need to muster up all that she'd learned from Iron Will. The beast within that stayed cooped up until provoked. That which the animals at the Grand Galloping Gala had to lay witness to. Fluttershy squeezed her eyes shut and reeled back.
"WINONA!" the scream sounded throughout the underground. The chamber shook and a few rocks fell from above. Fluttershy had to take a step back afterwards from the echo. She'd managed to even scare herself! But there was an echo that wasn't her's that returned. She didn't have time to continue reacting to her own voice! Lingering not a moment longer, the scared, yet determined, pegasus sped through the cavern towards the area where she'd patched the creature up. Be it luck or some other coincidence, there weren't any of the monsters that had chased them last time.
It took a few minutes but eventually she came to a stop at the dimly lit treasure horde. The greeting she got caused her to scream again, this time in sheer terror. Fluttershy was sure she'd be ripped limb from limb right then and there. But all the physical sensations she felt slowly registered as nothing more than squeezing. Though terrified to, she looked down and sighed with relief.
"Fluttershy!" the hugging pink eyed baby dragon laughed. Simply glad to still be in one piece the pegasus hugged him back.
---
"Hello...um...is this thing on?...oh it's rolli-oh hello every pony! Medley here! I'm just being the news reporter today because Spike, the usual assistant for any big event, has not been able to be found since we kicked Twilight out of town. So if you'll just follow me I'll take you around Ponyville!" the greenish bluish pegasus chimed. Shakily the camera pony nodded and followed her through the burning town. Around them buildings collapsed in on themselves and ponies were flung out of windows covered in scrapes and cuts from their assailants. Medley just watched giddy with excitement to be noticed as a more main pony for once.
"Hello sir!" she greeted a brown earth pony that'd toppled out of his front door, "What is happening to you on this dismal and horrible day? Please fill our viewers in on all the details!" Doctor Hooves stared blankly at the mic that'd been shoved in his face. It wasn't until one of the baby dragons leapt on him and drove his fangs into his neck that he finally emitted a sound and galloped off. "Oh this is so awesome! Fans are sure to love me with this big of an event! Hey hey! Zoom in on that burning pony over there!...why are you backing up?..."
"Um...behind you..." the camera pony's voice quivered. Curiously Medley twirled around and looked down. A huge grin spread across her face upon viewing the reptile behind her. There stood one of the mangled Spike clones, its arms quivering uncontrollably. In fact none of its body seemed to have the ability to stay still. Its head continually twitched yet its eyes remained focused on her. Part of its jaw seemed to be missing and some damage had clearly been done to its bleeding stomach. But that wasn't the only bleeding part. Quite a bit drizzled down its vicious maw.
"W-we should b-be r-run-ning now!" the camera pony informed. Medley just pursed her lips and blew air out of them.
"Oh puhlease! This thing can't hurt me! I'm a main pony now!" she giggled, "Isn't dat right you wittle baby dwagon? Now, pwease tell us your name and what all you've done to-" SNAP! It took a few seconds for the pegasus to register just what exactly had happened. When she did she just smiled and turned back to the horrified camera pony with the dragon's jaws firmly gripped on her head. "See? It doesn't even hurt. I'm a main charac-OH CELESTIA! I CAN FEEL IT IN MY BRAIN!"
Somehow the camera pony broke out of his frozen state and bolted off leaving the camera to drop to the ground. All it could record now was the seizuring struggle the pegasus attempted to free herself with in front of it.
---
"I think...I...got it!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed. The other two lounging Crusaders bolted up and appeared next to her. It'd taken quite some time, but she'd finally unlocked the video log that'd been in Pinkie Pie's room! Sweetie Belle glanced at the others. They were just as excited and worried as her. Sure it'd be quite an earfull to hear just what all the party animal had recorded, but at the same time it'd been a complete descent into madness considering who they'd be listening to. "Maybe we shouldn't-"
"Do it!" Scootaloo yelled slamming her hoof on the start button. The unicorn hid behind the earth pony in case it'd been booby trapped. Instead something even scarier came out of the device. A calm voice. Pinkie Pie's voice. Pinkie Pie...with a calm voice...
"Recording log...how many times have I done this now?...what day is it even anymore?...I dunno...I really don't...nor do I really give much of a damn at this point...this project was a complete failure from the get-go. None of the equipment wanted to work and everything just constantly fell apart...I'm thankful that Applejack lent me the barn and all but...god damnit why the hell did this crap happen? I just wanted to bring happiness and laughter to every pony! That dragon the Cutie Mark Crusaders let me use was able to be cloned much more easily than Gummy ever was and it still doesn't work!...
"...maybe it's just this power source...Back at the rock farm it always felt like it belonged cause of all the power I felt it give off. Helped me trudge through each of those miserable days. Never felt good...but it did the trick. Figured that if I just used it on other things it might make them powerful and make them...no...that's the thing talking...that damn diamond shaped M...its red glow...its pulsing energy...its intoxicating...no! This thing is evil! Pure unsaturated malevolent diabolic maniacal evil! If anyone ever finds this do not, and I mean DO NOT, under any circumstances activate the things down here!
"The thing uses you! Makes you do what it wants! Twists you until you're no longer yourself! All it wants is manipulation! It won't stop until the world is its own! Its new private domain to warp to its design!...that's why...I'm stopping it...I can't destroy it...I'm sorry but I can't...I've found things that can damage the structure but I just...can't...it's too much a part of me now...the most I can do is just leave the thing. I'll return down here periodically to dispose of the bodies one by one...but that's all I can do...I can't get rid of them all at once, the power would overwhelm me again...it's probably even used you without you realizing it if you're listening to this...
"My only consolation is that I've designed a failsafe. One that might finally free me from this poison should I ever fall to its infection again...I've managed to stave it off for this long probably due to the Element of Harmony I possess. I theorize that if I didn't have that I'd have turned into a zombie for it long ago...that's why I've placed a bit of it in Spike 0-C. It completely counteracts the effects of that damn...thing... I tried it once before but the subject never seemed to respond. Got rid of that one.
"Either way...this is Pinkie Pie...I'm...really sorry..." A click sounded and the device turned off. The Cutie Mark Crusaders remained staring at it wide-eyed.
---
The dragon clapped his hands together to puff some clouds of dust off them. Being the number one assistant wasn't always the easiest job but it sure left a sense of satisfaction once a task had been completed. And said task had been rearranging quite a few rocks around as furniture to get the place started with while Twilight had been busy performing other tasks outside. More out of boredom than curiosity, Spike dropped one of the rocks where he'd been asked to place it and slipped out into the open. If nothing else the fresh air would be a good change. Spike stretched and looked around. The sight of the unicorn on the edge of the mountain dropped them back to his sides. He had to admit that she certainly looked lovely in the evening settings.
"Yo, Twi...what's up?..." he chipped. Twilight's form jolted up. She certainly hadn't expected the voice. She looked back at her assistant for a second before returning her attention to Ponyville below. Seeing that she hadn't given him any hostility, the dragon walked over and took a seat next to her. The community below was still burning brightly from the chaos that'd erupted prior to their return. He heard a sigh quietly lapse through her lips.
"It's not your fault ya know..." Twilight peered down at the smaller being. He seemed to be inspecting his hand.
"Spike, it may not be my fault this time, but think of all the other times I'v-"
"We've all made mistakes Twilight," he told her. It was his turn to sigh. Firmly he flexed his hand and closed his eyes. That's when it hit her. The place they were at. "...none of us are completely innocent...I still hate that I ever turned into...that...thing..." Before Twilight could say anything he pulled an object out from behind his back. It was the hat that Cheerilee had given him on his birthday. "Wondered where this went until we got up here." Spike flipped it up and down a few times invoking a smile from the unicorn.
"...you know what...you're right..." Twilight gave in. Spike was about to flip the hat again but was instead squeezed against the pony's chest. He could feel his face heating up within a few seconds. "And come to think of it...the residents weren't really acting all that...normal themselves. I mean yeah they can harsh due to their stupidity sometimes but nothing like this."
"...you're right..." Spike murmured, the realization overriding the loving tensions that'd been seeping through him, "They were acting as unreasonable as..."
"...our..."
"...devils..." the unicorn and dragon finished together. A new fear washing over them they stared into each other's eyes. A cloud of dirt was left in their trail as they sped down the mountainside.
---
"Pumpkin Cake!...Pound Cake!...Ya in here? Please Celestia cry or giggle or something!" the red and black Spike recolor called through the smoldering house. Flames licked at his suit anywhere he walked. He could feel the intense heat smothering the outside of his form. But he was prepared. He'd been designed to deal with far worse than any pony could handle. He just hoped it wasn't enough for the twins to.
"PUMPKIN! POUND! You in here?!" he hacked. Even with his gas-mask the fumes were getting through a bit. Noticing a moving pile of rubble he approached it. Only at the last moment did he notice the size of it. Far too big to be a filly or foal. The instant the feral Spike clone shot out he dropped to his back and put his legs in the air. The clone couldn't do anything as it fell into his feet and was levered out a nearby window from them. OC shook his head and got back up. He'd already had to deal with five of the abominations before that one. Something had certainly gone wrong down in the lab and he had no idea where Pinkie Pie was. But he had his orders. And that was to protect the twins in her absence.
The baby dragon was about to move onto the highest floor when he heard something. It was faint, but he'd definitely noticed the noise. It was crying. Both of them! Being sure never to become too panicked, the dragon rushed over to a nearby doorway. It'd collapsed when the house had originally come under attack. But the twins were behind the rubble. He could see them! As fast as he could OC cleared what he could from his mind and focused on his hands. The twins' crying stopped momentarily in astonishment. His hands had morphed into shovel-like structures!
"Hold on," he told them. Without a moment more the dragon got to digging through the wood and pipes and other such debris that'd collapsed. He was just thankful that the Cakes had finally allowed only him to go in to get the twins. It took quite a lot of assurance and reminders that Pinkie Pie, their babysitter, had designed him of course. If there was one thing he didn't need right now it was more ponies in danger. Finally the last of the planks gave way and he morphed his hands back to normal.
"Now let's get you out of-yah!" The second that OC set foot into the room beyond he'd been flung into a nearby wall, fire engulfing him from the burning plaster. "Alright...that hurt..." he grumbled flailing about to extinguish his body. He was about to leap at the attacker but couldn't bring himself to. Standing across from him was his creator, Pinkie Pie.
"Oh thank Celestia," he sighed, "Look, it's me, OC. Not one of the others. Now let's get the twins and...Pinkie?..." OC took a few steps towards her. There was something wrong. Her eyes...they were...distant... "...Pinkie?...are you okay?..."
"Tell me mortal, why do you side with such pathetic beings?" a dark voice asked from her mouth. Naturally the smaller figure was startled. It may have been her body, but Pinkie Pie sure hadn't talked to him. "As with the others you have my influence, yet you do not aide in the destruction of this realm...why is that?..." it continued. Behind his visor OC narrowed his eyes. He wasn't entirely sure what all was going on, but he had a vague understanding of what was being talked about. Ever since the other Spike clones had started attacking he'd felt it too. The urges. The dark force at work. That which drove the others to eradicate all else. Spread chaos. But he was different. Something was preventing him from falling to such temptations.
"Step away from the babies," he ordered. Pinkie Pie's head dipped a bit.
"You dare to order me?" the voice spat.
"It's my duty to protect them. Now get out of the way or I'll make you!" OC yelled. Pinkie cocked a brow.
"Your duty is to do as you're told. And what I tell you is to help your brethren in the annihilation of this realm. You are my herald. Now do as I command!" With the last word Pinkie's eyes glowed a deathly shade of red. OC recognized it. Reluctantly he morphed his hands again, this time into blades.
"...Pinkie Pie...I don't want to hurt you..."
"You speak as though she's still here..."
---
"Big Mac! Where's Granny?!" Applejack yelled. Not daring to leave his position, the large red colt just glanced back over his shoulder directing his sister's eyes to do the same. What she saw made her jaw drop. There was her grandmother beating back about a dozen or so baby dragons with nothing but her will and walking supports!
"You want some o' this!?" she hollered. A dragon that'd attempted to slash let out a shriek as the one of the walker's legs smashed into the side of its head. "This is how we brought the pain back in mah day! Now come on! That the best you rascals' got?! Come get some!" Applejack continued to view the scene in shock as the elderly pony battled her way across the field of demons.
"...shouldn't we..."
"Be my guest," Big Macintosh offered, "I personally ain't looking kindly towards the bruises I might get in the process though. 'Specially when this side of the farm needs defending." Applejack stole another look at her grandmother. There seemed to be no end to her stamina.
"...and what about Apple Bloom and her buds?..."
"...um...well I saw em go into the barn earlier..." her brother strained to think in the midst of the beatings he was giving. In the blink of an eye Applejack was off into the still damaged structure next to their house. The place was obviously still under renovations after P.A.R.M. had wrecked it, but for some reason those fillies would wander out there on occasion.
"GIRLS!" Applejack yelled. She twirled around. They were nowhere in sight! "GIRLS! Come on out and stop foolin'! We gotta get yous somewheres safe!...girls?..." Seeing that her voice wouldn't do her any good, Applejack trotted around hoping to find some clue as to their location. She was about to give up when suddenly she spotted something behind Pinkie Pie's computer. A gigantic hole...with a Spike clone climbing out of it!
"What in tarnation?" she muttered. Before the clone had time to react, Applejack's hoof slammed into its head and sent it toppling back down into the depths below. There was a soft thud after a few seconds. It wasn't too deep, but still, if she wasn't careful she could end up just as badly as the dragon probably had. Applejack had no idea how, but obviously Pinkie Pie had installed the shaft. And with her design its walls were probably not that smooth. That's why Applejack was able to climb down the side of it much easier than she'd have expected otherwise.
Upon reaching the bottom she cringed. The Spike clone she'd knocked down certainly wouldn't be getting up again seeing how its body was literally twisted into a complete 180. The spinal cord had to have snapped. Yet it still twitched. The sight would have probably made her vomit had she stayed any longer. Fortunately for her she had a sister to find. With such a goal it was hard not to see why she stole herself so fast through the underground maze of corridors. Every room she came to seemed devoid of any sign of life save for a few Spike clones here and there that lay deceased in their cryogenic sleeping pods.
Applejack did eventually come to a stop though. There was one last clone remaining down in the facility blocking her path...and constantly assaulting a metal door with all forms of hisses and slashes. Her eyelids came closer together. That had to be where her sister was holed up.
"Hey scale breath!" she barked. The dragon paused for a second and looked at her. After giving a hesitant glance towards its previous target the dragon eagerly leapt at its newly exposed prey. This pony wasn't like the ones that it had been after however. She knew how to fight back. That's how it came to be flung into a nearby broken pipe where it hung squirming about, its innards decorating the area where it's torso had landed. Satisfied with her victory, the pony walked over to the door and tapped her hoof against it a few times.
"Girls?" Her brows fidgeted a bit hearing some struggling sounds from the other side. Applejack crouched and prepared to pounce as the door slid open.
"I said I done got it!" Apple Bloom yelled.
"And I said I opened the door first!" Scootaloo argued. Applejack's expression drooped. She was surprised that the idea of the Cutie Mark Crusaders arguing hadn't crossed her mind. She was just glad that she'd found them.
"Now what in sam hill are you three fillies doin' down here?" Applejack stamped her hoof to get their attention. The younger ponies looked between each other sheepishly. Seeing as how they didn't respond she decided to say something else. "I take it you lot know how to use the elevator?" They nodded their heads. "Good, let's get back topside to help defend the-"
"Actually...we think maybe you could help in some other way..." Sweetie Belle proposed. Applejack lifted a brow. "...follow us."
---
"Oh...oh my...this architecture is incredible..." Fluttershy awed at yet another of the magnificent feats they'd come across. Like the many others that Winona Jr. had lead her past this decorative pillar stretched to the ceiling of the cavern. She didn't know just how long they'd been walking but the signs of an old civilization certainly weren't that far off from the area in which the baby dragon dwelled. Fluttershy'd only needed to ask about the creatures that had tried to stop her from escaping last time for him to start leading her off. Under any other circumstance she'd have protested, but the complete lack of life in the cavern other than him was unnerving to say the least.
Again they passed by one of the pillars. This time Fluttershy could make out the details more clearly. What she had thought had been just primitive scribbles she could now verify were symbols and pictures. Quite a few pictures in particular caught her eye actually. Namely the ones of ponies. They weren't like the ponies on the surface. These ones seemed to have fish tail fins replacing their back legs.
"They near...me feel..." Winona Jr. shuddered. Fluttershy swiveled her head around quickly but didn't see or hear anything. They were the only ones there save for the pillars around them. But Winona Jr.s quivering said otherwise.
"Where are they?" Fluttershy asked, even if she didn't want to know the answer.
"We close...their home up ahead, through next archway," the baby dragon replied. More cautiously now he stepped. Fluttershy made sure to do the same. Though she herself didn't notice anyone else, she certainly could feel tension in the air. Looking to the right though she could have sworn she saw something move. Crawl actually. A shadow had skittered along a pillar. But it could have just been her eyes.
"Here..." Fluttershy came to a stop with Winona Jr. In front of them was a splendid archway of designs that Rarity would envy. It was undeniably ancient as were the pillars they'd passed. But what drifted out from the opening was nowhere near worthy of such praise. It wasn't a smell or a gas or even anything that could be tasted in the air. It was just a feel. Like that when goosebumps crawl across your body. Only this was permanent. As long as they stood there the sheer evil engulfed them.
"...you wish to see?..." Winona Jr. asked. Fluttershy actually thought. She'd been acting rather impulsively until this point. Something had been drawing her here. But with how far they'd gone...she needed to see. What was it that provoked such malice in these underground pathways? Uneasily she nodded and Winona Jr.s head dipped a bit. The two slowly entered the archway. It didn't take long to find their way through the corridor beyond, but it felt like trudging through tar. The atmosphere alone would have been enough to paralyze even the bravest pony if they tried to fight it.
When they did get to the end though they stopped again. Fluttershy could now see just what the source of the evil was. Glowing red atop a pedestal in the center of the chamber was a large diamond shaped structure. It was hypnotizing. The intoxication could be felt more fluidly than any alcohol she'd ever had in her life. She had to literally tear her eyes away from the object to notice that her companion had wandered over to a nearby window. To get her mind off the object more than anything else, Fluttershy stuck her head out and her eyes widened. Below were swarms of Spike look-a-likes, just as warped looking as Winona Jr. had been before Fluttershy patched him up. Except for one difference. Instead of pink, their eyes were red.
Just then Fluttershy heard something. A hiss. The two turned around and froze. Crouched where they had entered were two of the clones. Winona Jr. dared a hiss back. But they didn't attack. Despite any motions they made the two clones just stood guard at the doorway eyeing their captives warily and occasionally drifted their gaze to the diamond. Eventually Fluttershy started towards it herself. She knew why it'd been calling her. She was the one that could remove it. It was trapped and only she had the power to free it. The clones watched eagerly as she brought her hooves up and grabbed it.
The moment she touched the object her vision blurred. She felt all of its dark evil presence filling her own. Red electrical arcs shot through her in every which direction. Fluttershy opened her mouth to scream but only the red sparks shot out. She could feel it destroying her. Corrupting her. Every atom of her being was being torn away at to be the new vessel for the object. But there was something about her that wouldn't give in. Deep down. Her kindness. The destructive power viciously scraped at the element but to no avail. Fluttershy was able to yank it off its stand, but it did not control her as it had been designed to.
The Spike clones eyed each other nervously. They certainly hadn't expected her to be able to resist its contagious nature. But it was free and that's what they had needed. Without a moment more of hesitation the clones leapt at them. Fluttershy clenched her eyes shut. Next she heard a light giggle and then two loud screams. Feeling that she wasn't dead, Fluttershy chanced a look back at the clones. They were now lying motionless on the floor. In her hooves were the charred remnants of the diamond with pink flames lifting off them.
"Me do good," Winona Jr. laughed hugging Fluttershy. The pegasus looked back through the window. The ancient civilization that'd been lair to the clones was just as dead as the ones in their chamber. The source of the corruption had been disposed of, and with it all that it'd been influencing beneath Ponyville. Fluttershy breathed a sigh of relief but sucked it back in upon hearing a scraping sound. The stand that the diamond had rested on was moving sliding back. Once it had fully moved aside the dragon and pegasus could see what lay beneath. It was shining orange armor. The final piece that Fluttershy and her friends had been tasked with collecting.
"...oh my..."
---
The taste of blood filled the dragon's mouth from the impact the back of his head had against the wooden planks behind him. His vision swirled around. The entire world swam around him. He could see two Pinkie Pies trotting slowly towards him, her posture as relaxed and bold as it had been at the start of the duel. Sure he might have been able to kill her, but there was no way he was desiring to do that. With how things looked though...that might be the only option...if it was available. The sound of her hoof-falls thudded dully in the distance of his mentality. With how things looked...he was going to be the one to not be leaving the burning house alive.
"Tell me something mortal...how come it is that you fight..." the dark voice drolled. An agonized grunt shot out of OC as Pinkie's hoof hit his stomach. "How can you, a single being, hope to stand against this?" Whatever dark force had hold of Pinkie Pie observed the lowering eyelid behind the cracked visor.
"Who ever said I could?" OC spat, "I'm just doing what I know to be right!" Another pained noise choked out of his gas-mask. The entity was clearly not too amused with the answer.
"There is no such thing as right," it told him, the pressure ever increasing from the hoof pinning him into the burning wreckage. He could feel some of the suit melting. "Right and wrong...such concepts are only thought up to generalize beliefs based on one's own background. In the true nature of this realm there is no such concept. Just beings making excuses to do what they do. Now tell me again, why do you go against me?" OC couldn't take it anymore. The heat and hoof was too much. He let out a shriek from the pain and rolled deeper into the flames to escape Pinkie Pie's grip. Fortunately the rubble wasn't too big a pile and he'd rolled out the other side in no time. But he was damaged. It was an understatement to say that his opponent was wearing him down.
"...you...you have my answer..." he coughed, "It's what I believe to be right. And what I believe is that you don't belong in that body! Now give Pinkie Pie back!" Pinkie's face rocked a bit. She easily stepped through the flames and stood upright in front of him.
"Why would you wish to free her from the paradise I've given her?" it asked. OC's eye twitched.
"WHAT PARADISE?!" OC yelled furiously and waved his arms around, "This burning village crap? Gee, yeah, sounds like the perfect party for her!"
"On the contrary, she now resides within my mentality," the entity retorted, "A world that I have designed to fit her needs. All you need do is just give into the power I offer and you may join. Don't...and...well you'll suffer the fate of everything else in this realm that refuses the offer." OC forced his stance to be just as straight as his adversary's. He was sure he must have at least a bruised bone by this point.
"Then kill me," he told the dark spirit. For a second Pinkie Pie's eyes glowed red. OC would've said something else but the next moment he was curled on the ground writhing in pain. The spasms were just like the one's he'd been riddled with after looking into the Cutie Mark Crusader's telescope the day that the older ponies had gone up to check on the space station...only worse. The baby dragon could do nothing but look straight ahead as his body jerked. Even his visor shattered from the energy that the bond with the entity surged through him. He was dying.
That's when OC received quite a surprise. He never believed the notion before. The thought that one's life would flash before their eyes as they met their demise. But his did. Memories of his first birthday party. Meeting Gummy. Helping decorate cakes and other batter-baked goodies. Snuggling up with his creator during his early days when he napped. And memories that he'd long since lost access to. Those that Pinkie Pie had cut off when she'd put the finishing touches on him. He hadn't even had a clue there was anything before he was given his suit.
"H-hi there Clone Ze-ze-ze-zero C!" the static-filled flashback stuttered through his corroding memory banks. Her face jerked all over the place in his mind's eye. "G-gummy would like-like-to-would-like-Gummy-say hi too!" the pink pony chipped spastically. OC forgot the pain racing through him. The vision of the lab-coated mare had his full attention. "I-I'm sorry not have a party read-ready. We're just so used to...failures by this point th-that we-" the image flickered for a moment. Some time seemed to have passed before Pinkie Pie talked again. "I de-signed you with two goals in mind. The first of c-course being to enjoy life and h-help out wi-th parties and all that g-good stuff...the second...I've e-equipped you with the latest state-state-of-art tech-ology. Please...I know what I've done down here is-is-is-I-down here-done-wrong...that's why you are to do your best-best to pro-ect every pony you can...you are the end result of everything g-good that went into this pro-ject. If you're hearing this...please...don't give up...please..."
The memory didn't so much fade away as it stopped. Another surge of pain snapped it out of OC's grip. Unfortunately for his assailant however he'd gotten the message. Somewhere, deep inside of him, something was fighting back. Preventing him from fully succumbing to the effects of the vile infection. That's what'd kept him from joining the other clones in their rampage. And that's what now amplified to dissipate the searing force he was put under. Pinkie Pie's brows shot up upon feeling the effects lift.
"I said give her back..." OC hissed. Any time before, the possessed pony would have had no problem knocking the smaller being to the side. But now there was something behind his blows. A supernatural force. A familiar force.
"You can't...you have one of those six...powers?..." the voice drolled in shock. That's when OC realized. He knew what the energy was! Having to actually give effort now, Pinkie Pie's limb smacked OC back a bit only for him to skid to a halt a few feet from her and launch himself into her again. As violent as he needed to, the clone struggled to keep the pony pinned.
"No, that's her responsibility," he told it, "She just gave me some of it. Now give her back!" Pinkie's eyes glowed red again. It was in vain this time. OC's exposed eyes glowed back just as brightly and pink. He could feel the presence falter a bit at the giggling that seemed to be coming from his body. "GIVE HER BACK!" he ordered. The Cake Twins hugged each other tightly while a bright pink flash engulfed the room from the baby dragon. The next thing they knew they were sitting in the previously flame-ridden room, all the fires extinguished and with their babysitter laying limply on the ground. Exhausted, OC fell over next to her.
"...that's my clone," she laughed weakly. OC managed to give her a thumbs up before passing out.
---
"So you done tell me that all this crap is because of Pinkie Pie?" Applejack asked. The fillies nodded their heads in unison. The older pony muttered something under her breath. "And this here...hammer thingy can stop it?..." Again the Cutie Mark Crusaders nodded. It hadn't taken long for the fillies to locate the device that Pinkie Pie had told was designed to destroy the evil symbol in one of her logs. But none of them had the strength to hold it, let alone swing it. Applejack on the other hoof was a lot more physically adept. "Alright...let's see this thing."
Apple Bloom walked over to the door and looked back at her sister. She didn't want her of all ponies getting warped by such evil. But she was the only one of them that could do it. Closing her eyes, she pressed the button on the door and it slid open. Instantly the air shifted. The unbelievable power swirled around the ponies, its dark nature in full swing with all that it now had control of. What had been the lonely power room beyond the clone chamber that the Cutie Mark Crusaders had stumbled upon all that time ago was now a mentally writhing pit of chaos and evil. Applejack nearly dropped the hammer out of her mouth in shock. She'd had had her doubts, but now there was no denying that the fillies knew what they'd been talking about.
It took a while for Applejack to step hoof into the room beyond. It grew easier as she progressed, but part of her constantly fought to just tear back out of the room and leave the facility all together. But she could end it. All she had to do was bring the hammer down on the diamond-shaped structure and it would all be fine. Applejack was about to do just that when she glanced down at it. Its glowing red temptation leaked into her visuals. It knew what was going on and how defenseless it was.
Applejack tried to bring the hammer down but stopped a few centimeters away from her target. She had to do this...but she didn't want to... Again she swung it and again she stopped. Sweat was forming along her brow. Such power...she craved it. With it she could ensure that Sweet Apple Acres would stay open forever. She could pave a new era for her family. She could use the power...keep all of Equestria safe from whatever threatened it...nothing would be a challenge for her... Her teeth gritted against the hilt of the hammer. No. She needed to destroy it. A third time she lifted the hammer, and this time she did hit something. But it wasn't the symbol. Instead the hammer had slammed into the ground next to its stand. Applejack panted. She couldn't believe how strong the presence it gave off was.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders meanwhile were watching in anticipation, each swing downing their spirits more. They knew none of them had the strength to deal with it, and if Applejack wasn't able to overcome its manipulation...
"Come on sis! Smash the thing!" Apple Bloom yelled. Before Scootaloo could grab her she'd shot into the room to try her hoof at the hammer. The intruder didn't go unnoticed. Time seemed to stop as her scream filled Applejack's ears. The evil energy ripped through her small body launching her back towards her friends who were in turn engulfed in the torturous pangs. They cried and wailed as their skin crawled. Scootaloo's mouth started to bleed while Sweetie Belle clamped her hooves over her ears. Apple Bloom just continued to shake on the ground joining her friends in their cries.
Applejack's eye twitched. Others could use her, work her to the bone, and kick her while she's down. But no one would hurt some pony she cared about while she had a say in it.
"Go to hell!" she yelled and picked up the hammer a final time. She brought it down and everything went quite. The girls still screamed as the energy vanished from their systems, but no sound came out. All noise just felt like it was sucked towards the symbol during the impact. And then it was thrown back full force rocketing Applejack a good ways out of the room as the diamond shattered and exploded, its evil nature extinguished. The ponies didn't need to go back to the surface to see if the clones had been stopped. The calmness of the atmosphere was answer enough to that curiosity. The ordeal was over.
---
Rarity waited for a few minutes once the clones had dropped dead around her. She'd been ready to continue bashing their heads in with her mannequins but there was no signs of life anywhere other than the ponies that were now cautiously emerging from their ruined dwellings. Across the street she could see the mayor in tears at the sight of her building. It was worse than when she'd had Derpy help Rainbow Dash with repairs.
"Looks like we got here a bit late..." the most intellectual of their group said. Rarity turned around, her eyes wide. Standing next to her boutique was Twilight with Spike on her back.
"I wanted to fry a few more of em," the baby dragon pouted earning him a bit of a disturbed look from the two ponies. "What?" he shrugged, "Never get criticized for killing dragons in any of our video games." Twilight just shook her head. Quite a few ponies that passed by gave her quite sorrowful glances. It was obvious they'd regretted how they'd treated her. Something had definitely been wrong with the whole incident. It seemed a lot more than just a coincidence that it'd happened when it did. But now that it was over they had work to do.
"Where are the others?" Twilight asked. Rarity blinked.
"Probably all off defending their homes like me. Why?"
"Armor."
"OH!" Rarity put her hoof to her mouth embarrassed that she'd forgotten their mission, "Right..." Rarity dug at the ground nervously. They really should have stuck more as a group. Without Twilight around things just fell to pieces. That's one thing that the townsfolk hadn't seemed to realize when they ridiculed her. Spike was about to walk over and pat her to comfort her when Twilight pulled him back. She knew what he was really up to from his dismayed reaction to her tug.
"Well, let's get searching for th-"
"Others?" Rainbow Dash cut Twilight off landing at her side. The others stared at her sudden arrival. "What? Just saw ya guys and decided to drop in. After all, the fanfic left me out of everything else where fans would get to see my awesomeness. Found Fluttershy by the way. Hey, ya wanna hear how I took on fifty three of thos-"
"We found it!" the quietest of the group managed to squeak excidedly scaring Spike as she appeared behind him. Twilight let out a chuckle and moved so that he landed on her back. After making sure he was safely seated she proceeded to join the others in gawking at what the shy pony had found.
"Fl-Fl-Fluttershy, however did you find..." Rarity trailed off.
"Oh Winona Jr. helped me. Had to leave him below though. Thought he'd be safer there. It was in this ancient civilization's catacombs beneath Ponyville," Fluttershy answered. Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped even further.
"A-A-Ancient?...you-go-you went to an ancient-that Daring Doo...how the hell did I miss out on this crap?!" the blue pegasus cried. All Fluttershy could do in response was blush proudly.
"Probably cause you were too busy showing off," the other athlete guessed. Rainbow Dash instinctively shot a nasty look at the cow pony before realizing that she'd appeared just as instantaneously as Fluttershy had.
"Was tryin' ter get to ya when I saw ya land. Tell ya that we took care of the Spike clones," Applejack informed. Now the stares of amazement were her's.
"You and who else?" Rarity asked. Applejack moved to the side and Rarity tackled the one of the fillies behind her. "Sweetie Belle! Where in Equestria were you? I was worried sick! If mother and father found out you'd been hurt or anything they'd have my head! My head I say!" Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes.
"Come on sis, not in front of the others..." she whispered desperately. It didn't stop the crushing embrace. The others smiled at the display of affection.
"What the hell happened to you squirt?" Rainbow Dash showed her own rare display of concern towards another filly. Blood still stained the younger pegasus' lip.
"We were trying to save the future," Scootaloo murmured. Applejack was just as surprised at the others from the response.
"...future?..." Twilight repeated, "...you two've been to the Starswhirl section of the Canterlot library?..." The Cutie Mark Crusaders glanced at each other.
"We done found a time machine," Apple Bloom told her.
"And we went to the future!" Sweetie Belle finally broke out of her sister's grasp, "But when we got there it was bad! Discord was free and things were on fire and a pony died!"
"So we came back here to wake up the Spike clones that we knew Pinkie Pie had created!" Scootaloo cheered enthusiastically. Then she remembered the results and slumped over, "Thought if we could get an army together it could help stop that...saw how great that turned out..." Rainbow Dash could hardly believe the story, but with all that'd happened that day she wasn't about to say that it didn't happen. Smiling, she ruffled the filly's hair.
"Don't sweat it kid...I'd of done the same thing had I been in your spot," she told her fangirl. Scootaloo almost fainted then and there from the attention she'd been given. "Kinda makes sense that Pinkie was behind it though..."
"I know right?" the pink earth pony agreed. For her none of them had to be surprised that she'd come out of nowhere. "Sorry bout sorta damning all of Ponyville to this. Couldn't really help it though. Got infected. OC made me better though!" Pinkie Pie giggled and bounced around joyfully.
"Uhuh...and you're here because..." Applejack asked.
"The plot needed us all to get together," Pinkie Pie replied. Twilight grinned. For once the story was on their side.
"Alright girls! Let's go that last piece together with the others and-"
"Oh..." Pinkie Pie's mouth shrunk and her hops stopped. The others stared at her. "...about that...while I was um...possessed...I sorta had the other pieces taken away by some ponies..." Quite a few ponies smacked their foreheads while the others eyes grew.
"...and who would some of these ponies be?..." Twilight asked hoping that she wasn't tempting fate. She had.
"I believe she means me," a familiar sly voice declared. With an "eep" from Fluttershy the piece of armor was magicked off her and into Trixie's clutches, "And I'd just like to thank you all for your continued support."
"Oh you are so dea-" Rainbow Dash was cut off by a sudden burst of fire from Spike which produced a scroll.
"Oh looks like they've finally noticed," Trixie chuckled to herself. It was simply Spike nature to read what a letter from the Princess said.
"Twilight, get the pieces NOW! Get them somewhere safe! The body...of the...Alicorn has been...stolen..." his voice started to falter towards the end of the message. The group's expressions were just as disbelieving as Twilight's. They'd had their goal in reach and like always the story yanked any joy away. Spike let the scroll fall to the ground. Trixie was already off on the horizon.
"...get her." Twilight said.
---
The train billowed forth more steam than it ever had in all the ages it'd been in use. The group hadn't thought that Trixie would have a getaway ready. But lo and behold the Flim Flam brothers had been waiting for her with a newly designed traincar vehicle, the body of the Alicorn and the other parts of armory undoubtedly inside.
"Come on girls! Shovel that coal!" Rainbow Dash barked shoveling her own batch of it into the flames of the engine. Even Fluttershy, however little she could, was helping. Spike was busy adding his own fire to the machinery. Rarity however would obviously not be caught dead in the environment and as such joined Twilight at the front of the train.
"Seriously? She just comes out of nowhere and takes it?" Rarity scoffed, "This was such an ass pull!"
"You're surprised?" Twilight asked in a deadpan tone, "You ready with your horn?"
"Not as skilled as you, but of course. I wouldn't want those delightful scraps of clothing remaining in such devious hooves," Rarity replied. She crouched her knees a bit following Twilight's lead. They were almost at the unique car in front of them.
"Just a bit closer..." Twilight muttered. There were only a few yards between them. "Closer..." the end of the train progressed a bit further. Once they were within inches of the vehicle the sides flipped open revealing two large cannons. "NOW!" The unicorns clenched their teeth and focused all the energy they could on the weapons. It didn't take long for Twilight's magic to crush her side's one. Rarity though only managed to mislead the line of fire until Twilight had time to help her out.
With the firing devices out of the way they were free to ram the vehicle, furthering its speed while at the same time grinding the devices within that controlled its acceleration. Steam began whirring out from the wheels. They'd already passed through quite a few towns in the chase and were shooting through a somewhat desolate field on the outskirts of Fillydelphia.
"We got em now!" Rarity exclaimed. Almost as if karma itself had been listening, the vehicle in front did something neither pony expected. It literally hopped over the edge of the tracks at the next corner and fired two shots behind it from a pair of newly revealed cannons. The railroad tracks splintered to ribbons and left the train on top to careen helplessly into the field beyond with the Flim Flam brother's vehicle.
"Ugh...what the fuck just happened?..." Rainbow Dash moaned managing to pull herself out of the overturned train. She could see the smoking remains of the other vehicle just a bit ahead of them. After helping the others out she joined Rarity and Twilight at the smoldering invention.
"Hand them over..." Twilight ordered the smug unicorn standing in front of the makeshift train.
"They're all yours," Trixie confessed, "Flung them all up to that hill when you forced us off the tracks. But I suggest you hurry." Twilight cocked a brow. Before she could interrogate the showoff any further however, Trixie had leapt into the air and landed on a smaller train vehicle that launched out of the overturned one. The Flim Flam brothers could be heard laughing as they hit the tracks and retreated back the way they'd been chased. Twilight sighed. They could be dealt with later.
"Come on ponies...and dragon...let's get those items and-"
"Twilight...what is that?..." Spike's voice quivered a bit. Twilight saw just how reasonable his reaction was upon looking at where he was pointing. There was a red glow in the night sky...and it was growing.
"...move..." she ordered. The others watched the approaching object fearfully. "MOVE!" This time they did. The group raced faster than they ever had before. But they weren't quick enough. They couldn't be. They were competing with a rock that was falling from space. And it was gaining speed. Even Applejack and Rainbow Dash were panting with how fast they were having to go. They were almost at the pieces of armor and the coffin when it finally did hit. Twilight had Spike to shove her to the ground to avoid being flung back like the others. "NO!" she cried.
What Twilight witnessed next she would never forget. Before her and Spike's eyes a skeleton lifted out of the ruined coffin, its bones coursing with the red glow that had haunted everything having to do with their whole quest. Veins and muscle formed slinking over its figure while the pieces of armor congregated to where it was levitating snapping on individually. Where skin could be seen it was soon being patched up by even more armor that somehow grew over it. With one last swivel of the head the jaw snapped shut and pale skin slid over it followed after by the final piece to cover up any of its organic frame, a metal plate over its mouth. Finally a reddish flame plumed out of the piece where the tail should have been forming the body structure.
With a red glow pulsing from its eyes, the newly formed Alicorn descended to the ground and stood there. Spike gulped. The others were also watching in sheer horror. The shadowy nightmare that the princesses had shown them was now in full color, the orange pieces of the armor enhancing its bold form. The frames of the bat-like wings moved up and down in a passing wind. Slowly its devil-horned head turned to view the ponies. It looked them over one by one and turned to the community on the other side of the hill. A full minute passed before its eyes glowed again.
When they did the sky above lit up with an unholy shade of red. An enormous explosion could be seen over the hill that blocked the group's view ascending forth a cloud of its own high into the sky that filled out around the top like a mushroom. With not even any effort or care the creature had wiped out the city that their train had been headed towards before toppling over. The ponies felt an entirely new wave of fear flood through them. In the incredulous display none of them had given any recognition towards the other figure on the hill. A statue. Discord's. Calmly, the Alicorn walked over and tipped his horn to the stone. With a bright flash, the Draconequus emerged and stretched with a yawn.
"Oh, you're finally here," Discord commented realizing who'd freed him, "Took you long enough. How many chapters has it been since I made the call?..." Fluttershy almost fell over sideways.
"Who are you!" Twilight yelled. Spike clung for his life on top of her, "Why are you doing this!" The alicorn turned to the ponies again, this time his entire body and lifted his head as high it would go. Rarity could have sworn she'd just swallowed her heart.
"I...am Unicron..." the dark voice announced.