The door was breached and a group led by Rainbow Dash made sure that the room was clear of enemy forces. Shadows formed in front of them and the shadow troopers began to fire at the group. Rainbow flew to one of them and grabbed its blaster and shot it. The others grabbed the other blasters and took cover behind some rocks. Charming Thunder observed as more shadow troopers arrived. Twilight shot the others with her magic as the last of the troops faded away. "Extraordinary performance," Charming Thunder laughed.
"Last chance, Nightmare," Celestia said. "Release my nephew or there will be serious consequences." Everyone in the room stood on top of the trap door as Charming Thunder laughed.
"You have no idea what you have gotten yourselves into. Even you, Spike." Spike growled as Charming Thunder walked up to the controls. "Thanks to your empire, they have found a monster that was not from around here. There are more of them out there you know. And I hope that they are..." He then turned to Fluttershy as he finished. "...eating cute and cuddly animals." Fluttershy then gasped and got angry.
"Now you listen here, buster," Fluttershy said angrily. "If you ever EVER send that pet of yours out there, I am going to give you the stare."
"Oh no. Not the stare," he said sarcastically. "Oh please what exactly is that going to do? I am going to enjoy watching you all die." As he began to laugh Fluttershy grabbed the blaster out of Rainbow's hooves and aimed at him. He noticed and pressed the button to open the trap door. Twilight, the princesses, her friends, and one pony fell down into a dungeon like room. Charming Thunder laughed as he pressed another button on the panel as he said, "Lets see if you can handle a beast like this." Twilight glanced calmly around, taking in her surroundings. As the large door slid open, a massive fanged beast rushed into the room, the pony ran for his life trying to climb out of the pit. The massive rancor noticed the pony and grabbed him. He screamed as he was being lifted off of the ground. In one quick gulp, the beast swallowed him whole, then turned to find its next prey. Applejack galloped away and grabbed a bone from a rancor's victim and swung it around like a sword.
"What are you doing, Applejack?" Twilight shouted.
"Luring it away," Applejack said. "All of you hide." Everyone in the room except for Applejack hid in a pile of bones. The monster reached down and grabbed Applejack in its hand, bringing her closer and closer to its gaping maw. Fluttershy covered her eyes to not look at what is going to happen next. Applejack quickly wedged her makeshift weapon into the roof of the creature's mouth, and it dropped her as it howled in pain, smashing into the side of the cave. The beast then broke the bone and sniffed to look around for its prey. "Everypony, run towards that gate. I'll meet you over there." The group then started to gallop to the gate in the back of the den as Applejack threw a rock at the beast as a distraction. She then slid under the beast and galloped to the others. She began to pull on the bars of the door as the rancor roared and Charming Thunder laughed as the beast came closer and closer. Applejack then noticed a control panel to the gate over the rancor and hatched an idea. She crouched against the wall as the monster approached, then reached down and picked up a nearby skull. She hurled it at the gate's control panel, and the heavy iron gate came crashing down right on the head of the beast. They looked up to see that Charming Thunder was not at the control panel.
"Nice job, Applejack," Pinkie Pie said. "Now there's pressing matters to attend to with the main villain."
"But the question is: who will face him alone?" Twilight asked.
"I'll do it," Trixie said.
"You can't be serious," Rainbow said.
"I know that it was my fault that I lured him here but it is my responsibility to get him back."
"I'll go too," Celestia said. "You may need alicorn magic to bring him back to the light."
"And what of the rest of us?" Spike asked.
"All of you will get to safety."
"Be careful, you two." Luna blasted the bared door with her magic and the others ran out of the room.
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Two guards stood at both sides of the door as Charming Thunder glanced at the window seeing everyone leaving. Trixie stepped in the room and levitated the two guards and bashed them to the wall next to the door. He then turned his attention to her and walked to the edge of the ramp. "Trixie, you survived," he said.
"Surprised?" Trixie said.
Charming Thunder chuckled and said, "Your arrogance blinds you, Trixie. Now you will experience the full power of the dark side." He then fired lightning and knocked Trixie to the wall. He then walked down the stairs to confront her as he laughed. "I have waited a long time for this moment, my little blue pony." He then chuckled as Trixie slowly got up. "At last I will have revenge."
"Not if I have anything to say about it." Trixie then fired magic at Charming Thunder and knocked him back to the wall behind him. "Your reign of darkness ends here." Charming Thunder got up slowly as she continued. "And this fight will be quick." Charming Thunder then jumped to meet her face to face. Trixie then took a few steps back as she said, "Why leave if you are so powerful." She activated her lightsaber and readied herself for combat.
"You will not stop me. I will become more powerful than you." He activated his ligtsaber and pointed his crimson blade at her. The battle then became extremely fast and furious. They locked their blades as he used his strength to push Trixie back and walked towards the stairs and blocked her strikes as they go up. They then locked their blades at the edge of the ramp and Trixie broke the lock to make Charming Thunder drop his lightsaber. He then tried to kick her but she jumped away and landed below him. Charming Thunder uses his magic to levitate giant rocks and hurled one towards her. Trixie leaped away from the rock and deactivated her lightsaber and placed it on her belt. As Charming Thunder hurled another rock, she used her magic to hold it in the air. She then began to spin it and threw it back to him like a frisbee Charming Thunder leapt after the last moment and noticed that Trixie disappeared. A lightsaber was heard from behind him and began to fire lightning at the unicorn.
"You fight well," she said as she deflected the lightning. "But that was just the beginning." Celestia landed behind him out of nowhere and fired a beam of magic at him. The blast made him hit towards the edge of the window as he grasped on to the edge. Trixie rushed to help him up but when she arrived, the rock he was holding on to collapsed and he began to fall into midair. Luna suddenly flew out of nowhere and caught him. She then slowly landed on the ground next to the end of the bridge. Charming Thunder was knocked out cold as Twilight rushed to him. Celestia and Trixie arrived to the scene as the others arrived to see Charming Thunder lying on the ground with Luna.
"Is it over?" Twilight asked as she cradled Charming Thunder.
"I think so," Celestia said. Charming Thunder rolled his head a little as his eyes slowly opened. His eye color was back the way it was before as Twilight sighed in relief.
"What happened?" Charming Thunder said as he rubbed his head. "And what is this thing on my arm? And what am I wearing?"
"Its a long story," Applejack said as she helped him up and walked back to Ponyville.
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"So my aunt's vision was so close for coming true after all?" Charming Thunder asked while he was seated on his chair in the tower at the castle.
"Yes," Twilight said. "And thankfully you didn't hurt me."
"Twilight, I... I'm truly..." He then sighed as he continued. "Forgive me for all the trouble I caused you."
"I already have," Twilight then kissed Charming Thunder on the cheek. "Lets take care of the armor and the glove and--"
"Actually, dear. I already had an idea in mind for this years Nightmare Night since it is starting soon. Can you send a letter to Luna and tell her to come here while I get ready?"
"Of course." Charming Thunder then walked to the elevator with Twilight as they were going on separate tasks to prepare for an event that is starting soon.
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Charming Thunder began to put on the armor as he heard chatter outside of the castle. He then heard footsteps then turned to face the ghost of his father. "Hello, son," Sombra said happily.
"Father," Charming Thunder said. "I miss you so much."
"I know. You have done well with your life with Twilight Sparkle. Now listen to my words before I take my leave. My son...the day you were born, the very forests of the Empire whispered the name...Charming. My child...I watched with pride as you grew into a weapon...of righteousness. Remember, our line has always ruled with wisdom and strength, and I know you will show restraint when exercising your great power. But the truest victory, my son, is stirring the hearts of your people. I tell you this, for when my days have come to an end...you shall be King."
"I won't fail you. I'm not afraid."
"That's my boy. Good luck with Nightmare Night and your family." Sombra faded away as Charming Thunder smiled with tears falling down his face.
THE END