Kaiba silently lands himself on the ground, slowing his feet as his controlled running soon comes to a halt. Spike and William still clutch onto him, as the three heroic intruders find an abandoned building near the middle of the Crystal Empire square. Kaiba trots quietly, and slows down in the alleyways. Spike and William then hop to the ground as they resume walking through the well-hidden paths. Kaiba then looks out through the square to make sure the coast is clear.
“Over there! RUN QUICKLY!” Kaiba said.
They dashed through the crystal square, now darkened like coal replaced the road. The building they’re entering is all crumbled up, like the apocalypse bullied it. They were lucky no other changelings noticed them, otherwise, Kaiba’s plan would completely backfire. Kaiba hopes his plan will work.
They then rush through the doorway and crouch behind the walls.
“All right, I’ll disguise myself as a darkened pony that’s been volunteered to join the dark side. Plenty more of them have gone through that.” Kaiba summarizes, “If I’m lucky, I’ll morph into a fake Twilight and have the other changelings unlock your friends by mistake.”
“And as soon as we free them, I’ll distract…” William offers.
“No, I’LL distract the other changelings.” Kaiba insists, “I want revenge on them personally after they enslaved me.”
“But they’ll kill you.” Spike stammers.
“Listen, I know the risks.” Kaiba says, “But rest assured, your friends are the only hope to make not only my life easier, but your other pony friends. Chances are, something like this has to be done, or else your friends will be the ones that are killed.”
Spike and William sigh, and nod in understanding.
“Thanks SO much for doing this again…” William said.
“It’s like… you’re now our friend too.” Spike says in relief.
“For the very first time, I know what that feels like… having a friend.” Kaiba sighed.
He looks out the window, and observes the design of the place. His green and blue eyes zoom in at every room in each floor.
“I’ll blend in with my kind as soon as I sneak you into a sewer line that leads to the dungeon.” he finally concludes, “When I knock those other ruffians out, I’ll help unlock the other prisoners. All right, RUN FOR IT!”
They dash out the building through the empty streets, feeling lucky they’re still safe. It wasn’t until Kaiba notice his race is near the next turn, and that Spike and William are now on top of the sewer entrance.
“As if Rarity would have a bad time with this” William shudders as he lifts the sewer entrance lid.
Finally, Kaiba prepares himself as he enters the group, just as Spike and William drop softly into the calm level of the sewer tunnel.
“How will we know where the dungeon is?” William asks.
“We were just heading toward the north, the direction where the palace is.” Spike assures, when pointing north, “It’s this way genius.”
“Oh, right, I knew that.” William said sarcastically, as they head down the tunnel to rescue their friends.
Back in the big, single cell, Discord struggles to free his hands while comforting Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. Tails thinks hard of an escape plan with TJ, while Ian comforts Shining Armor. Leo looks up at the ceiling, twirling his hands in his shackles.
“Have you come up with anything yet?” Leo asks Tails.
Tails eventually sulks his head down, sinking back against the wall.
“No…” he shamefully admits.
“This is not good…” Discord stutters, “At this point, all of Equestria’s love will be at collapse, and every pony might… I… I don’t even want to say it.”
“It’s very obvious to me that we’re weak.” Shining Armor moans, “Volucris planned this all out real well.”
“I don’t want to give in yet.” Tails whimpers in defiance, “Not without a fight…”
Everyone in the room is now silent. Fear surround them, and abuses them until they have less confidence.
Then, a voice gently calls to them in the room.
“Hello there.” the voice said.
Everyone looks up, curious where that voice is coming from.
“Who is that?” Tails asks.
When that question is asked, a aura filled the room. A magical being then appears in cloud form, meaning it could be a spirit. Maybe even a ghost. The being is not a pony, but a red dragon, wearing a white cloth shirt, and wearing a metal Viking helmet. He even has a brown beard dangling down from his chin. The being looked like a projection as it floated in the middle of the room. But it’s such a spirit, it’s one that came to help them.
“Hey, I recognize you, from books and legends.” Discord softly says, “And I heard every history about Fireblaze… You’re not Fireblaze’s father, are you?”
The red dragon spirit nods.
“I am Thanor, and Fireblaze is my son.” the dragon ghost replies.
“Wow! I didn’t know that!” Apple Bloom said in awe.
The spirit then makes a movement with his hands, and in an instant, the heroes’ bindings came off. Ropes and chains disappear, giving everyone in the room the freedom they need for now.
“Thank you.” Shining Armor said, “What else do you know about Fireblaze?”
Thanor sighs in sadness.
“I feel and fear that he has now fallen into darkness since Rainbow Dash forced him.” Thanor stutters.
Shining Armor’s jaw dropped when he heard that.
“What happened to Scootaloo?” Apple Bloom asks.
“Like my son, she also joined the darkness too. So you may be facing her also.” Thanor said with much more sadness.
“WHAT? NO!” Sweetie Belle cries.
“Well we got to break out now, and FAST!” TJ said in determination.
“I know, but also in little future, I see that only five of you will make it out, and Twivine, Queen Volucris, and Chrysalis’ Minions will stop the other three.” Thanor sadly announces.
“Who are the other three?” Tails asks.
“Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Shining Armor.”
Discord shakes his head in bewilderment.
“BUT WHY?” Shining Armor asks.
“Well Shining, I just found out that they plan to turn Cadence into Dark Vine Cadenza, and she will face you.” Thanor breathes out.
“WHAT? NO!” Shining Armor cries, “Can’t you stop it?”
“Alas, I am already dead and unable to.” Thanor said slowly, “But I can give you advice how to beat Volucris, because the rest of you five will have to find a legendary weapon that can beat Volucris and Chrysalis. It will also bring everyone back to normal, but I can’t tell you the weapon name right now, because they may hear it. Only you must come to the select location once you out of this prison. William and Spike are on their way right now to get you out. A good changeling named Kaiba is also helping them, distracting his race. You will then leave, then I will meet with you in Vanhover. Get to that city, and I will appear there.”
“But why should I, Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom get captured?” Shining Armor asks.
“Because you’ll be sacrificing yourselves to keep them busy. This way, they won’t know about the power or location too. It will give the other five big head starts get to the city.” Thanor explains.
“NO! That’s stupid! I don’t want them to give up their lives! They’re special!” Discord protests.
“Yes… but…” Apple Bloom considers, “You’re special too. And so is Spike, William, Ian, and Leo.”
“Tails, you and TJ also have a destiny to save us.” Sweetie Belle encourages, “You came THIS far with us.”
“Yeah, but… you’re still the good guys…” Tails said in depression.
Shining Armor breathes heavily, but strongly agrees with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle’s point. Plus, the dragon spirit sounds wise enough to guide them through this tough path to victory.
“It may be the only way.” Shining Armor finally said.
Tails and TJ nod slowly, along with Discord.
Just then, the cell door bursts open, and William topples in. Outside the dungeon corridor, Kaiba is knocking out the rest of the changeling enemies while holding the jail keys. Spike also fights the last of the changelings in the hall, while breathing his green fire. Eventually, their destination came to a success. The three rescuers are also surprised to see the dragon spirit, who is now disappearing.
“Who was THAT?” William asked.
“We’ll explain on the way.” Tails said, “We’d better move now.”
“Right” everyone agreed.
The ponies with Cadence have been captured and brought along with her as they come through the hellish entrance of the Crystal Empire. The changeling guards force the victimized ponies to line up to their prisons, while Volucris and Chrysalis trot to Cadence slowly. She’s tied down to the ground with the black weeds, holding her hooves still.
“I never thought I see YOU again…” Cadence sneers when she sees Chrysalis.
“Now don’t take this personally.” Chrysalis chuckles, “This is just a simple mind exercise.”
“Uhn… No…” Cadence winces as she struggles.
The brainwashing procedure was the usual. Horn touching horn, the green aura transferred, and the brain waves shaking with confusion and amnesia. A feeling of a transferred soul also is made, like the true soul of a good pony is being sealed away.
Then, once the spell is complete, Cadence became Dark Vine Cadenza as her eyes were slit. She then wears armor and steel hoof shoes, and has a Steel crown on her head too.
“I am in your power, Queen Volucris and Chrysalis.” Dark Vine Cadenza finally said.
“Good” Queen Volucris purred.
BANG!
An explosion suddenly sounds loud and clear, somewhere in the Crystal Palace.
“WHAT WAS THAT?” Queen Chrysalis asked.
Then, a changeling minion trotted to the entrance zone, to meet face to face with the changeling queens.
“Queen Volucris and Chrysalis, the prisoners are escaping.” the changeling told them, “That creature Discord has made that explosion to help them run off.”
“WHAT? YOU IDIOT!” Volucris snaps.
“Why don’t you send Flutterbrute, Darkness Scootaloo, Appleplant and Rarivine also Dark Vine Cadenza to stop the intruders?” Chrysalis suggests.
“You’re right.” Volucris nods.
She then makes a mind link signal to the two ponies, and filly. She even looks at Dark Vine Cadenza to share the order.
“GET THOSE FOOLS!” Volucris demands with her voice and mind.
“YES MASTER!” they all respond with their thoughts and voices.
With that, they rush to their evil work.
It’s in the entering chamber of the dungeon that William and Spike are helping Kaiba fight against his enemies. This also gives Tails, TJ, Discord, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom to go up the stairs step by step while they fight against the other changelings. Shining Armor also makes a break ahead to the top, when fighting the black weeds alongside Ian and Leo. Soon, all the other changelings are knocked down by Discord’s magic and Tails’ Kamehameha wave. The gang than comes together, and rushes down the royal kitchen. Kaiba who knows the palace well based on the sketched maps the changelings use, points to a secret entrance that leads the way out to Tails.
“Come on, the exit is over there!” Tails shouts.
The secret entrance was at the dining room. The table that’s bolted down to the floor, is really a rounded seal door, that leads to underground stairs that will take anypony near the town of Vanhover, from what Kaiba has heard.
“It seems I have no choice but to guide you simpletons there!” Kaiba tells Shining Armor, “My kind won’t trust me any longer.”
“Uh… thanks…” Shining Armor says in surprise.
However, before any of them can go further, dark weeds tear out of the floor, and block Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle’s path.
“WHAT THE…” Sweetie Belle gasps.
“GUYS!” TJ screams.
The gang tries to go back, but more weeds block their path too. Discord attempts to use his magic, but Apple Bloom yells at him to wait.
“GUYS! This is what Thanor was talking about!” Apple Bloom reminds them.
“YOU MUST GO!” Sweetie Belle shouts.
“NO! WE CAN’T!” Discord sobs.
“YOU MUST, BEFORE THEY CATCH YOU!” Apple Bloom warns.
Tails puts his hand on Discord.
“They’re right.” Tails advised, “We can only hope those fillies will catch up with us on the way.”
Discord nods slowly while crying, and agrees.
“Be safe girls!” TJ calls out.
Then, the gang opens up the seal, and heads down through the entrance that leads to the underground trail. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle now stand side-by-side, ready to fend for each other.
“Well, you tried escaping my masters. But it’s too late for that now.” a voice calls out to them.
The weeds open up to let an enemy into the room. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle hold back their tears when they see who it is. IT’S SCOOTALOO, except she’s now Darkness Scootaloo.
“Did you miss me?” Darkness Scootaloo snickers.
“Scootaloo? What happened to you?” Apple Bloom asks in horror.
“IT’S DARKNESS SCOOTALOO! Rainbow Briar and Fireburn are my mentors now. THEY made it happen!” the brainwashed filly scoffs.
“NO! It can’t be…” Sweetie Belle shakes.
“Oh, but IT IS true. And also, your sisters want to talk to you.” Darkness Scootaloo added.
The weeds stay open, as Applejack (APPLEPLANT) and Rarity (RARIVINE) came in.
“Well sis, we’re giving you two a choice.” Appleplant scowls.
“Yes, either join us, or we’ll order the changelings to KILL Big Mac, Granny Smith, and also, my parents Sweetie Belle, which is also yours…” Rarivine sneers.
“You WOULDN’T!” Apple Bloom squeals.
“NO! NOT THEM!” Sweetie Belle sniffs.
“EITHER JOIN US OR THEY DIE!” Appleplant said once again, “And you don’t want to see anything bad happen to them…”
Apple Bloom then starts to feel strange all of a sudden. Appleplant is transferring her dark energy into her own sister!
“Yes, you don’t want anything to happen to our parents, right Sweetie Belle?” Rarivine adds.
Then, Sweetie Belle staggers, as Rarivine transfers dark energy into her own sister as well. Then Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle’s eyes glow green.
“Yes. We can’t let anything bad happen to them!” the two fillies finally said.
“GOOD!” Appleplant and Rarivine coos.
The tunnel was about sixty feet wide in width and height. The dirt rumbles in a dancing beat as the gang rushes down the underground trail. Discord fights his tears while Shining Armor comforts him. Kaiba keeps at leading the way, as Leo and Ian run by him. Spike also clings onto Discord’s back, while William rushes by Tails and TJ. Tails can also see the pain in Discord’s eyes, and stops for second while slowing his pace.
“Tails?” TJ said.
“I know what Thanor told us, but…” Tails stammers.
“The changelings are coming for me too you know!” Shining Armor reminds the fox while slowing down as well, “I’ll be sacrificing my life too, so don’t think that they’re the only ones…”
“BUT THEY’RE JUST KIDS!” Tails points out, “Who knows what terrible things they’ll be forced to do!”
“Tails, we must do what Thanor told us.” Discord insists.
“I’M GOING BACK IN!” Tails decides.
“NOT SO FAST!” a voice yells out in the tunnel.
A punch suddenly erupts on Tails’ back, as Flutterbrute instantly appears, attacking him. Weeds then tear through the walls of the tunnel, coming in front of the rest of the heroes by alarm. Kaiba even growls at the evil Flutterthorn.
“YOU are TOO LATE, STUPID FOX!” Flutterbrute said in a condescending tone to Tails, “Those three fillies are joining their sisters right now! AND SHINING ARMOR…”
Flutterthorn then looks at him, with the unicorn prince looking back in terror.
“Your wife wants to see you NOW!” Flutterbrute finally snaps.
Then a Hole appears underneath Shining Armor as he falls in. The black magic consumes him, and transports him away from his friends, taking him away to meet his enemies.
“GUYS!” Shining Armor screamed. It was his last word before the hole disappears.
“SHINING ARMOR!” TJ screams.
“NO!” Discord cries.
The lord of chaos tries to dig, hoping that he will find the black hole. He even uses his magic to try and get his friend back, but that was no good either. He finally looks at Flutterthorn with his other friends in the tunnel.
“The eight of you will have to deal with ME AND THE CHANGELINGS!” Flutterbrute roared.
Then, a lot of changelings magically appeared in the tunnel.
“I’M GONNA BEAT YOU!” Tails yells.
“HA! I LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY!” Flutterbrute laughs.
Discord held himself, fighting his pain in the meantime. He doesn’t want to fight his best friend, and he knew that this manner is between her and Tails.
Tails then comes at Flutterbrute, with a punch being missed as she dodges. She then hits him with her front hoof, having one of Tails’ teeth knocked out. Tails than does an unknown back kick to her leg hooves, having her topple to the ground. She then jumps back up, but not before being sucker punched by her left side of the chest. She topples back a bit; curious to see were this is going.
"And now...THIS is for hurting my cousin on PURPOSE." Tails growled, "T.J., if you will?"
TJ then walks in, flexing his healed arm in preparation for the fight.
"Impossible...HOW can that healing be so fast? Your arm was broken hours ago!" Flutterbrute gaped.
"Oh, it was no sweat, thanks to my Senzi Beans; they'll heal any injury, and fill a hungry man up for 10 days." Tails grinned, popping the green bean into his mouth. He crunched it between his teeth, and gulped it down.
"Ahh.... I feel like a new fox." T.J. stood in front of Tails, his hands placed above his head, aimed at the target, facing-front. Tails stood behind, doing the same thing. The energy flowed into their palms.
Flutterbrute snarls.
“ENOUGH OF THIS STALLING!” she rages, “CHANGELINGS, ATTACK!”
The evil changelings charge toward the heroes with the darkest, sharpest weapons possible. They were getting close to the group, ready to kill them. Discord cowers and hugs Ian and Leo. Spike and William have the most nervous look on their faces at this moment. Just then, Kaiba rushes in to protect his new friends.
The good changeling with his backpack dodges and kicks enemies as they come at the group. He even steals one of their weapons to cut back at them. The swordplay was clinging and clashing at every changeling he met. When other changelings snuck in from behind, they prepare to attack Discord and his friends. Ian and Leo then protect Discord punching and kicking at them. Discord even uses a “THE MASK” reference to scare the changelings off.
Tails and TJ still stand in their positions with the aura in their hands.
“Ready?” TJ asks.
“Not yet. Just give it time.” Tails instructs.
William and Spike look at curiosity at the foxes. Are they waiting for the right moment?
Flutterbrute snarls at their close win.
“THAT IS IT! WEEDS! GROW BIGGER!” Flutterbrute shrieks.
The weeds that surrounded the group before then come by Flutterbrute, and grow fat. They even expand their thorny spikes to make their kill. At that moment, the changelings make space for the weeds, as the evil vines charge the group. Discord whimpers in fear, along with Spike and William. Kaiba observes the foxes. Then…
"OKAY, HERE WE GO!! DEMON FLASH: MASENKO--HA!!!" The two foxes screamed.
Suddenly, a yellow-white energy blast fired, concentrating into T.J.'s palms, and fired out of his palms, even bigger.
Flutterbrute could only watch in horror as the energy blast engulfed her. The energy also incinerates the weeds, making them bleed out ooze, and having it evaporate into non-existence instantly. The aura then dies down; having Flutterbrute, scorched and agonized, fall back. She looks back up, and hisses at the group, enraged at their victory. She even looks at Discord.
“I’m sure we’ll meet again, BEAST!” Flutterbrute scowls.
Discord sniffs. This still isn’t the Fluttershy he knew. He can only allow his friends, the worm, dragon, gnome, dog, changeling, and foxes to protect him. Tails also eyes at Flutterbrute to go back and leave them alone.
“THIS ISN’T OVER!” She roars, “CHANGELINGS! RETREAT!”
With that, they rush down the opposite direction of the tunnel, leaving the group to now fend for themselves once again. All is silent. The wind in this hall is low and eerie. Discord wants to show comic relief after this fight, but how. After all…
“They took Shining Armor…” Discord moans.
Spike and William sigh in depression in understanding. Kaiba shudders, angry at himself for doing nothing about it. The foxes also feel shame for their mentor; afraid of the tortures he’ll go through. Ian and Leo than put their hands on Discord’s back to comfort him.
“We WILL get him back.” Ian promises.
“As soon as we find that weapon Thanor is talking about, our friends will come back to normal.” Leo adds.
“E…Even Fluttershy?” Discord asks.
“Yeah, even her.” Leo nods.
“And Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash…” Ian starts to sniff.
The diamond dog than falls to the ground quite traumatized, as he knows it. It’s all too much to take in. He fears this responsibility won’t be good enough to save the main six. Tails then helps the dog up, and hugs Discord while he’s at it.
“It’s okay.” Tails comforts, “Me and my cousin will do anything we can to help Twilight and the others.”
“You don’t have a crush on her, do you?” William asks in curiosity.
Tails breathes heavily at that question. He knows it’s true, he does. However…
“We’ll talk about it later.” Discord finally said with bravery on his face, “We have to get to Vanhover just like Thanor said.”
The gang nods in agreement.
“Well, as usual, we better get going.” Spike admits.
Since the darkness is now around Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, their eyes have now gone slit like, while they wear armor and steel hoof shoes. They also wear black capes on their necks with the golden tag saying Dark Cutie Mark Crusaders. The three fillies now stand in the middle of the palace entrance with the manipulated ponies. The changelings also surround them as if a ceremony is there to congratulate them.
“Now Apple Bloom, you will now be called Apple Vine, my dearest sister.” Appleplant said, “And if you like, you can bring as much pain and misery to the other fillies as you wish.”
“And you.” Rarivine says to Sweetie Belle, “You are now Spice Belle, and you’ll be as evil like me as much as you want. Now if you two may, help Darkness Scootaloo kill Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. They’re still hiding somewhere in Vanhover.”
“Yes, our dear sisters.” Apple Vine soothes, “We will bring pain and misery.”
“Yes, sis.” Spice Belle chuckles, “It’s time we gave Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon what they deserve. HAHAHAHAHA!”
Applevine then sends a telepathic message to Queen Volucris.
“We turned our sisters, master.” Apple Vine announced to Volucris.
“Good.” Queen Volucris giggles, “Now let’s see if Dark Vine Cadenza will turn her husband dark, or not…”
After the message is sent, Chrysalis enters the room to stand by Appleplant, Rarivine, and Rainbow Briar as they introduce their manipulated sisters. More changelings then come in with Shining Armor pulled in chains. He grunts as they bolt his chains to the floor, having him struggle and trying to pull free.
Then, Shining Armor sweats faster as he looks at the pony trotting to him. His eyes fill up with fear. PRINCESS CADENCE, who’s now Dark Vine Cadenza, has her horn glowing green as she comes closer to him.
“I know you’re no longer my wife.” Shining Armor said in defiance, “And there’s no way you’ll come into match with Discord, Tails, TJ….”
“…And William, Spike, Kaiba, Leo, and Ian. I know, darling.” Dark Vine Cadenza chuckles, “But rest assured, I’m still your wife.”
Her horn then touches Shining Armor’s, as he shook like he’s having a seizure. Foam pours out his mouth as his mind becomes controlled. His eyes start to glow green.
“And you’re my husband.” Dark Vine Cadenza finally concluded.