//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Wild Winter Wrap-Up (revised 11-30-2014) // Story: Winter Disaster // by JusSonic //------------------------------// Chapter 3: Wild Winter Wrap-Up Ben groans as he arrives at the castle. The Earth Pony cannot believe what just happened. Twilight was accusing him of breaking a promise and using magic! Doesn't she even know what has happened?! Unbelievable! Ben wonders how he would explain what truly happened to his love once she gets back. As Ben enters he castle, the prince is startled as a familiar pony is at a table, sitting as if waiting for him. Ben ask, "Wild Maniac?! What are you doing here?!" Wild smirked while saying, "What does it look like; just waiting for you, buddy. So what's next?" "What's next?! Didn't you see what happened?! I blew it! I freaking blew it! Let's face it. I won't get another chance of going to the Winter Wrap Up again after what happened..." "So you failed once, you do it again." "Didn't you hear a word I said?!" Ben exclaims to Wild Maniac in disbelief; how can he even do the Winter Wrap-Up after what happened?! "That doesn't stop you from doing it." Wild Maniac points out to Ben with a smirk. It seems that this Mystic Pony got some sort of weird idea. "What are you trying to say, Wild Maniac?" "I'm saying... Who cares what the princess thinks of you? Besides, I knew it wasn't you who start the mess..." "Say what?" Ben asks Wild Maniac in surprise. This pony knew that he was innocent? Why the hay didn't he say something before? "Someone was messing with ya. If someone mess with ya, then..." Wild Maniac begins to point out. It didn't take long for Ben to put two and two together. Yes, it makes sense now! "Someone wanted to get close to her; But who and why?" Wild snorted a bit as he remarks, "If you can't figure it out now, then I'd say we do it on our work first." "What do you mean?" Ben asks Wild Maniac puzzled. Wild Maniac rolls his eyes while looking at the ceiling. This Earth Pony is Celestia's son and the Prince of Friendship? "Boy... You sure got some thick skull, kid. What I meant is... if Princess banished you from doing the work, then we just do our own Winter Wrap Up and never care of what she said." Ben gulped in concern, "I don't know. Backstabbing my girlfriend is a bad idea. The last time I did something like that, she went berserk on me." The Earth Pony was recalling the last time he did something behind his girlfriend's back which involves him hiding the truth about Spike giving Inspiration Manifestation Book in helping Rarity to get more inspiration ideas. Not a pretty sight. "So what; A friend of mine dealt with girls before but never stop of what he's gonna do." Wild Maniac remarks with a grunt, recalling a pal who went through the same thing. "Besides, kid; Winter Wrap Up isn't over." Ben hummed as he had thoughts. Wild Maniac is right. Winter Wrap-Up isn't done yet. The Earth Pony spoke, "I guess you're right about it." "Good thinking, kid. Just follow me and let's do our stuffs. The Wild Winter Wrap Up!" "Wild Winter Wrap Up; What's that?" Wild smirks as he gave a wink to Ben, saying, "You're gonna love it, man. Matsuki loved the riding part too." As Wild heads off, Ben follows him, looking concerned as he ask himself, "Why do I get the bad feeling about it?" ------------- It took a while but Applejack's group cleaned up the mess that was made thanks to the madness involving Ben. They went back to what they were doing as Twilight and Applejack watches on. "There, that should fix the mess Ben has done." Twilight said with a sigh. She looks at Applejack who looks concerned, "Applejack?" "Shucks, Ah don't done...Ah was thinking 'dat maybe we were done harsh wit' Ben." Applejack said in concern, "Ah recall when Ah mahself accused ya o' using magic on 'dat Winter Disaster not too long ago." "I got no idea what you're talking about. This is different." "No it ain't. Look, Ah think maybe yew should talk wit' Ben, sort 'dis out. Ah hate fer yew two 'ta git into a bad situation over a misunderstanding." Applejack heads off, making Twilight looks annoyed. Who is she to say what was right? There were eye witnesses to the 'crime' in general! Ben broke his promise, that's that! The Alicorn looks ticked off as she trots off, trying her best to cool down. It doesn't appear to be doing well at first. Meanwhile, Chase is nearby, breathing deeply before punching on a tree hard. For the moment that had passed, snow dropped onto a wagon nearby. He charged in as he gave kicks and punches on the trees one-by-one, causing more snow to drop and land on the wagons a for few times. After knocking the trees in dropping the snows to the wagons, Chase took a deep breathe. He looked up and spotted an angry Twilight heading straight to check on Rarity while she mumbled in upset. Chase decided to take a break, trotting after Twilight as he spoke, "Princess Twilight Sparkle? Is something wrong?" Twilight sighed, shaking her head as she said, "Its Ben. I just can't believe he did something stupid like now! What was he thinking?!" "I... I... I don't understand." The disguised Dark Mystic Pony said seriously. Twilight explained to Chase about what had happened before. "That's... that's really bad." Twilight sighed in annoyance, "What has gotten into Ben lately? I thought he promised me not to use the magic during the Winter Wrap up. I can't believe he lied to me." "Really; lying to you? You do realize of whom you're talking about?" "Of course, I do! I'm talking about Ben! I can't believe he broke a promise! He promised me!" Chase frowns a bit. While Ben tends to lie, it is never on purpose. Even the Dark Mystic Pony felt that something is off. He continues, "Well... Throughout long years of your relationship with him, don't you truly think Ben would dare to break his promise to you?" Twilight hesitates for a moment then spoke, "Well... Well...Um... No... He wouldn't." Chase had his eyes rolled up while continuing, "And some ponies claimed that you and Ben are a perfect couple. Yes, it is true that couples argue over silly stuffs but at the very end, they knew that their loved one never meant to do such a thing. And besides, Ben is an honorable pony. He would never go back on his own word and never betrayed his own family or loved ones." "Hmm...Maybe you're right. What was I thinking? I can't believe that I actually accuse Ben for being a liar and breaking the promise. What have I done?!" "I suggest you go find and apologize to him." "Yeah. You're right about that. I'd better find him. And thanks for helping me, Chase. You know... For a mysterious warrior, you're quite a wise and honest warrior." Twilight said to Chase kindly. Perhaps...she was wrong about being suspicious of him. No villain would recommend that advice that he just gave. "Don't, Twilight. You flattered me." Chase said with a slight chuckle. "Anyway, I'd better find Ben. I hope he's not angry with me." Twilight trots off, leaving Chase to nod in approval. Perhaps now the Mystic Pony is finally winning Twilight over. If he could do that, then that's enough for his cover to remain unblown. It was almost close to doing so thanks to Sunset but was saved thanks to Grimmore threatening the Human Realm. Unknown to Twilight and Chase, three familiar figures are watching from nearby. They have overheard the whole conversion that Chase gave with Twilight. Boxco yelps, "Oh man! If those two start talking, it's over!" "Yeah, we're going to be found out and blown!" Dum-Dum whines a bit in worry and fear. "Oh, calm down, you dopes." Boris remarks to his minions, rolling his eyes while showing them the necklace. "I got a spell that can resolve this, something I called 'Mystic Puppetmaster'. It will allow me to control a pony from afar, making them say what I want them to say." "You're going to use it on Twilight? I thought Azure is training her to be immune to that." "Well, she isn't halfway there just yet, Dum-Dum. Yes, Twilight managed to resist the Dazzlings' spell...but even I can make her mine if need be." "Boss, you're number two!" Boxco exclaims happily to Boris, getting the idea. "Number one, you nitwit," Dum-Dum exclaims, hitting Boxco for using the wrong words again. "Didn't I just say that???" ----------------- Meanwhile, back with Ben Mare and Wild Maniac, the latter was showing the former the ropes on his own way of Winter Wrap-Up, hoping it'd show Twilight and everypony else a thing or two. First off, there's Dragon Flying, in which one can used the Dragons to fly and beat the clouds as fast as you can. Wild Maniac rode Matsuki, calling to Ben, "How you holding up?" "Doing fine," Ben replied, struggling in controlling the Dragon that Wild Maniac loaned him: a Blackish Fury Dragon. "Though I think this one is wild." "It's a Dragon, why couldn't it be wild?" Wild Maniac pointed out to Ben with a laugh. "Yeah, but I need to control, WHOA!" Ben exclaimed as he tried to fly his dragon...but yelped as he hit a branch, sending him to the ground. "Needs work," Wild Maniac remarked, rolling his eyes at this. -------------- For the next part, Wild Maniac laughed as he and Ben rode warthogs, charging, ramming and knocking the trees down to drop the snow right onto the wagons. "One of my favorite games: bowling for trees!" Wild Maniac exclaimed to Ben eagerly. The Prince wished that he could share his friend's eagerness. He was struggling in controlling his own crazy and wild warthogs. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," Ben exclaimed while struggling like mad. "I don't know why you called this a game!" "You obviously need experience, because..." Wild Maniac cringed as Ben was thrown off his warthog, sending him right into a hole in a tree. "...that would happen." "I'm okay." Ben is heard mumbling while struggling to get out. ----------------- The third part involved smashing/burning the ice to pieces. Wild Maniac demonstrated by slamming his body onto the ice to break it into pieces. Of course, Ben was struggling to punch the ice without his power. And also, Wild Maniac had Matsuki fire his Flamethrower onto the scene. Ben and his Fury Dragon...isn't doing much. The Dragon refused to listen to the Earth Pony, ordering him to fire. "Look, pal, when I say 'fire', you fire! Now fire!" Ben shouted to the stubborn Fury Dragon. So the flaming lizard did: he sent a Flamethrower onto the Prince of Friendship, almost turning him into ashes. "Not me!" Wild Maniac did a facehoof at watching this. ------------- The fourth part was Wild Maniac showing Ben his version of what Fluttershy does of getting animals out of the caves. It involved screaming wildly and loudly or making some noises as loud as possible to get them out of there. Wild Maniac appeared to be doing fine, as for Ben, he had some voice problems in screaming wildly and crazily to scare the animals off. The worst thing that the pony does was angering snakes and bears. Still, Ben managed to get the hang of it for a while. He spoke, "Wow! This is amazing! I almost got all the animals out! I'm almost done with it! " Wild smirked as he said, "Nice one, kiddo; Keep it going! But watch out for the Hydragoon." "What's a Hydragoon?" Ben asked, puzzled. "Half-Dragon and Half-Hydra; they're very nasty, dangerous and tough Hydra-like creatures that you ever see." Wild Maniac explained, giving a serious look to Ben. "Those guys are not easy to deal with. So whatever you do, keep on running away from it and don't fight with it. The last thing you want is to make it mad and get eaten up." "Got it," Ben said, getting the idea. Stay away from the Hydragoon; got it. The Earth Pony reaches one more cave in the area. "That must be the last cave." Ben made some crazy noises near the large cave. The Earth Pony grinned as he spoke, "This is the last one." Suddenly, some stomping noises were heard, much to the Prince's concern. "What is that?" Ben yelped as something came out of the cave, looking ticked off. It's a long neck of a black Demonic serpent with a black body, with a spiky-like mane and a long tail. It was known as Dragoking. "A Hydra; what's a Hydra doing here?!" Ben asked in alarm. There shouldn't be any Hydras except in the swamp and the one that he, Twilight and the others defeated back at the End of Equestria! Dragoking roared in anger at his face making him gulp. "Bad day!" Dragoking roared in anger as he launched his neck right at Ben. He quickly hovered back as he held his Master Sword tight. It swung its tail right on his head very hard to the tree. Its tail was about to slam onto him, but the Prince dodged to the front. Ben struck his Master Sword on its tail hard. Dragoking roared in pain. It growled before roaring in anger, that Hydra didn't like that! It struck its head on Ben's chest, sending him straight to a tree very hard. It was about to strike at him. Ben quickly rolled to the front. It turned and glared at him. Ben charged in while he swung his sword at Dragoking. It dodged the attacks as quick as it ould while the Hydra punched and attacked at Ben hard and quick. Ben breathed heavily, "Darn it. This Hydra is tougher than it looks. Speaking of looks, why does this one looked different? Like his mouth and teeth? And it has some horns?! Since when did it start dodging and fighting back?! I thought Hydras charged and took a whole on a prey. What kind of Hydra is that?!" Dragoking growled in anger, then roared viciously. Ben swung his sword again at it, but the Hydra continued dodging again for a few times. It swung its tail right on his body, sending Ben to the ground. It launched its head right on him, sending the Earth Pony to the large rock very hard. The Hydra launched its tongue right at Ben's Master Sword and threw it aside. The monster then growled at Ben before it stuck its tongue at him. Ben gulped, "Bad day... Here we go again..." Dragoking roared in anger as it launched its head right on Ben, who quickly grabbed its mouth tightly. Both of them wrestled and battled with each other hard and quick as they tried to push each other aside. Dragoking continued pushing straight at Ben's body as he struggled in holding and pushing it aside. One of them will have to give. Upon reaching to the ground from his back, Ben quickly slammed Dragoking's head onto the ground very hard. He breathed heavily as Ben quickly headed straight for his Master Sword. As he was about to grab it, his back leg felt a sticky yet slimy and wet. "Oh no... Please, don't tell me..." Ben said nervously. But it's true: the Hydra has grabbed him again. With the strength of pulling Ben's leg, he screamed in fear as the Hydra pulls him back. Reaching to the top, Dragoking's threw Ben up to the sky as he continued falling. Ben gasped as he was falling straight to Dragoking's widen open-mouth. "I really hate HYDRAS NOW! TWILIGHT! HELP," Ben exclaimed as he fell right in. Entering the darkness of Dragoking's mouth, Ben took a last glance on the daylight. Dragoking closed its mouth, swallowing Ben into its long throat. It burped out loud before licked its mouth in satisfaction. "Hey, crazy Hydragoon; Let that kid go," A familiar voice yelled out in annoyance. While riding his Matsuki, Wild threw Ben's Master Sword right at Dragoking's back neck before slamming his pike on its neck very hard and then grabbing the sword out. It hiccupped painfully before the Hydra spitted Ben out. The hero screamed in fear as he head to the front. Wild grabbed Ben and place him down in the nick of time. "Kid, you okay?" Wild Maniac asked Ben in concern. "Yeah... What was that thing?!" Ben asked, glancing at the Hydra who ws spitting a bit. "There is no way that thing can be a Hydra!" "That's because it's Hydragoon, dummy!" Wild Maniac scowled as he hit Ben on the back of his head. "Didn't your folks tell you about those rare creatures?!" "Nope," Ben answered sheepishly to Wild Maniac. Wild groaned in annoyance as Dragoking took its leave, "Unbelievable. That thing is a toughest and smartest Serpent monster that you're dealing with. And it's the Leader Class. That thing doesn't get killed easily, unless you had some tricks in beating it. But it's impossible! Be glad that I came in time to save your flank, otherwise you'd be eaten inside his stomach!" "Yeah. Thanks." Ben said with a sigh of relief, calming down. If Twilight or Tao were to see this, they would never let him live it down. "When I said run from Hydragoon, I really mean it! Geez! Why are kids so hard to deal with?" Wild Maniac groaned, feeling like he's dealing with little foals. "I did say I'm sorry." Ben said as he followed Wild Maniac, wanting to get away from the monster that almost ate him. Speaking of which, Dragoking groaned angrily before roaring in anger, stomping off. It hated being interrupted while the Hydragoon was looking for food. ------------------- Wild Maniac took Ben to the last part of the Wild Winter Wrap-Up. It involved making all the bulls and bows ram and charge the snow off while throwing and spreading seeds across the farmland. "Yep; this oughta be good." Wild Maniac said with a smile while throwing and spreading seeds on the farm land, due to the path being made. "Ben, how are you holding up?" "Do you need to ask?!" Ben yelled out frantically. He is having trouble handling the bulls and cows while losing most of his seeds as a result. Ben had gone through the wrap-up stuff repeatedly a few more times. But after some training and continued work, Ben had gotten better in using the methods. Wild Maniac grinned a bit. His 'student' was getting the hang of this whole thing. ------------------- Dragoking mumbled and muttered wildly and angrily as it looked around for its food. A familiar voice spoke up, getting its attention, "Still having trouble of finding food?" Dragoking looked up at the small hill's peak. It saw a familiar Earth Pony. It lowered its head down as if bowing to an owner or something.. Shadow Dragon sighed while shaking his head, "I told you to stay home but wild instinct kicked in for every spring to find and seek the best and fresh food out." Dragoking growled in upset while nodding its head. The Hydragoon has to agree with Shadow Dragon on that one. "So, how did you lose your food?" Shadow Dragon ask his pet curiously. Dragoking growled softly, explaining. What he said made the Dark Mystic Pony a bit upset. "You ate what?! You tried to eat Benjamin Mare?!" The villain groaned angrily before he had his own forehead slapped with a hoof. "Unbelievable. I told you before not to eat him." Dragoking roared in anger, explaining what happened. Shadow Dragon snaps, "I don't care if he made that noise to scare your prey off. Just don't try to eat him. The Dark Mystic Ponies needs him. Understand?" Dragoking huffed angrily while nodded its head. "Go find your prey and eat him, but not Ben Mare. Understand?!" Dragoking nodded its head before stomped off. Shadow Dragon sighs while shaking his head. It's amazing that he kept his pet after so many years. ---------------------- After Ben was done helping Wild Maniac with his own version of Winter Wrap Up, he head back to the castle. His beloved is not yet home so he has time to kill until Twilight does arrive. Hopefully the Alicorn has cool down enough that the two can talk this misunderstanding out. Ben sat on the couch, waiting patiently while watching a bit of TV. Just then, a familiar unicorn came into the room. It's Shining Armor who has decided to stop by the Rainbow Friendship Kingdom and sees Ben, after he was done working with Wild Maniac. "Hey Ben," Shining calls out to Ben who turns and spots him arriving. Ben surprised respond, "Shining Armor!" The stallion got up and hugs his cousin in law like brothers. "What are you doing here?" "I just decided to drop by and see how Winter Wrap-Up was going." Ben sighs, shaking his head in sadness while sitting back down, "Well, it's not going great." Shining was confused. What does he mean? The unicorn then ask, "Why?" What happened that made Winter Wrap Up terrible for him. Ben groaned in annoyance, "It's Twilight! She accused me of using magic." "What exactly happened?" Ben explained to Shining as to what happened at Sweet Apple Acres and how Twilight banished him from Winter Wrap-Up after a misunderstanding (even though he didn't realize it was Boris yet.) Shining frowned in disappointment. What did his sister do now? "However, I did the rest of the Winter Wrap-Up with this one Pegasus named Wild Maniac." Ben said to Shining. "Really? Sounds interesting." Shining said to Ben in interest. "Yeah, but now once it's over, I'll be moving back to Canterlot with mom." Ben responded off to say this with a frown. "Do you really wanna do that Ben? Think about all the friends you leave behind, all the memories?" Shining Armor asked off in questioning Ben's choice and all he's giving up. "But what about Twilight? She & I...I feel like we're off balance?" Ben asked in feeling like the two just aren't getting along as they use to; there's so much distrust between them. "Then you have to talk with her before you really feel set on leaving? Do you wanna just up and leave like that without a word. Imagine how that would make her feel?" Shiny stated in what will happen if Ben doesn't try to do something at least. "Well, Twilight is gonna be heading back any moment now. Maybe then we can talk this out." Ben slightly shrug off his shoulders Shining Armor lightly nods his head in seeing the guy make a good call, who knows, maybe the two can patch up. During this time, Twilight has finally returned home with Nyx, Spike and Phobos. She has to talk to her love and talk this misunderstanding out! Maybe then, Ben will realize that she doesn't hate him...and then the family could figure out who was responsible for trying to frame him in the first place. Unknown to the group who went into the castle, a familiar group of bad guys are peeking from the bushes. Boris smirks as he got his necklace on; Time to put his plan into action. The villain flew to a window that is for the living room and peeks in to see Shining talking with Ben. Just then, Twilight's group came into the living room, much to Shining's notice. The brother sighs, "Twiley..." "Shining. As much as I'm glad to see you, I want a moment alone with Ben." Twilight said to her brother seriously. Shining nods as he leaves the room with Nyx, Spike and Phobos, knowing that the two wish to talk with each other alone. But the four wait outside the living room, wanting to listen in the conversion. Hopefully it will turn out well. Boris smirks wickedly as he begins using his necklace to perform his Mystic Puppetmaster on Twilight...but also on Ben just to make this conversion "interesting". And sure enough, before both lovers could talk, the two felt odd as if something was...using them as puppets on strings. Sure enough, whatever Twilight and Ben wanted to say is missing in action, replaced by a command by Boris's mind. Ben frowns, shaking his head as he remarks bitterly, ""Twilight, you just turned on me..." Twilight, upset, explains, "You used magic, Ben. You know-" "I already told you, I didn't!" Ben objected to that claim. "Then why was there an eye witness to-" Twilight began to say this... Ben interrupts Twilight, getting more upset that his love would listen to somepony that she never knew over him, "Has it ever occurred to you that he's lying? You took the word of a complete stranger over your coltfriend....do you even know how ridiculous that sounds?" "Ridiculous?! Everypony saw what you did!" Twilight exclaims angrily to Ben. The ones watching outside look concerned and upset. This conversion isn't going well at all! "Well, how did you feel when Shining Armor, your friends, and even my mom turned on you when you accused the fake Cadance of being evil without any proof?" Ben rolled his eyes off to remind Twilight of the Canterlot Wedding Event. Twilight couldn't believe it. It was just like the Changeling invasion all over again, only this time in reverse! "I was upset! I didn't know what I was thinking." Twilight tries to explain to Ben who doesn't seem to wanna hear it. "Yes, but unlike you, I wasn't upset because I had nothing to be upset about. You didn't bother to hear me out." Ben points out to Twilight coldly. It's true. The Earth Pony wasn't upset during the false accusation...and Twilight has no reason not to hear him out. "But that was...I was only just so..." Twilight was trying to say something in the conversation until she snapped to finish it with this. "I was angry. Alright?" "Yeah, sure. My mom and Shining won't be happy when they hear about you casting me aside, like how they did. Oh wait, your brother already is!" Ben scoffs sarcastically in saying these things about the issue. "Don't ever talk to me about that incident!" Twilight exclaims furiously to Ben, getting intense by the moment. "Well, how about that one Demon Pony incident, huh; you couldn't stop Boris the Animal from shooting me!" At this point, Boris was peeking through the window, spying on the argument. He mutters angrily, "It's just Boris!" "You also broke my heart when I saw you hugging the human version of Flash Sentry!" Ben exclaims, reminding Twilight of what happened during the first trip to the Human Realm. He hasn't forgotten that since! "It was a misunderstanding! We already took care of it." Twilight reminds Ben in concern, feeling like breaking out at an given moment. "What about Nyx? She stood by you when you found the real Cadance! But you didn't stand by me when you took that one pony and his workers' side and turned against me!" Ben argued forth in bringing up another subject to the argument. "Well, I know that, but you broke your promise, and that's that!" Twilight snapped off to say this in closing the issue. "Really? Is following one's duty more important then the heart?" Ben sarcastically asked the question. "If we don't close off our emotions, they get in the way of our royal duties." Twilight protest to say in what a royal ruler has to do in these times. "Well maybe if you weren't promoted to princess and I still live life as a normal pony, we wouldn't BE in this state." Ben remarked off to mention this matter over the option of choice. That's when the mare got so angry, Twilight knocks down a table with her magic in anger. "If you had just said you were a prince, then you would not have been bullied as a colt and I never would have helped you out!" Twilight was snapping about issues from the past of long ago. "Enough!" Ben snaps off to stop this in having enough of this. "Look, I have a duty to do, and I can't let you have me staying behind! "Well, you always spend time training with Chase, and not with me!" Twilight rolled her eyes in making this issue remark. "He's helping me to protect this kingdom?" Ben explained the case. "Then do you trust him fully, or may I remind you, that several others have felt there's something not RIGHT about him?" Twilight remarked off the fact if Ben really trusts Chase at all. "Oh great, now as if trusting me wasn't the issue, now it's trusting the guy that hasn't done nothing to us." Ben rolled his eyes in seeing where this was getting to. "How many ponies have said they don't feel something right about him? What if they are right and you're wrong?" Twilight protest to say this over what may happen if Ben is trusting the wrong pony. "Oh really, then if that was the case, then was your choice in helping Nyx change to be good a wrong choice too?" Ben asked off to rhetorically remind Twilight of how she meant with Nightmare Moon's reincarnation that time. "I Don't know! But she was a child, what was I suppose to do?" Twilight snapped off in almost about to lose her patients. "Sure, that's real useful." Ben laughed off remotely in seeing such a weak comeback. At this point, Nyx started to tear up. She couldn't believe it. Her own parents were having a fight for the first time in...well, forever. "Sometimes, I wish I never asked you to be my special somepony!" Ben snapped off to say this to the girl. "I WISH I NEVER AGREED TO BE YOUR SPECIAL SOMEPONY!!!" Twilight yelled off so loud, it felt like she was screaming. "STOP IT! Please! Both of you," Nyx cries out. Twilight and Ben turned around to see their daughter sobbing. They felt terrible especially when Spike and Phobos came over to comfort her. "Well, I guess if you won't believe me and we're both putting our duties first, maybe there's no room for our relationship!" Ben said in concern in seeing the last choices left here. Twilight, Nyx, Spike, Phobos and even Shining are shocked. Is he saying what the group fears that he's saying? Twilight calms down a bit, tears forming in her eyes in what was happening. "So, what? You're breaking up with me, aren't you?" "I am..." Ben said this as his final resolve of the matter.... "Goodbye Twilight Sparkle." Ben said sadly as he turns and walks out the door, but not before he turned back and added, "Oh, and by the way, Wild Maniac stood by me and I helped him with his version of Winter Wrap Up." Twilight was too upset to respond. Ben sighed as he headed upstairs to his own room. The Earth Pony is still the Prince of Friendship so he's still staying in the castle...just not with Twilight. Twilight looks concerned...then confused as Boris then let loose of his hold on her before departing. The Alicorn said, "Wait; hang on. Wasn't there something else I wanted to tell Ben?" "Why bother? You broke his heart and made him more miserable." Phobos said to Twilight bitterly. Shining shakes his head while turning to leave, saying, "Twilight, I thought you knew better than to do that." Twilight looks shocked and more confused as Nyx, not wanting to look her mother in the eye, leaves the room with Spike and Phobos. Now the mare remembers: she was going to tell Ben that she's sorry for falsely accusing him of lying and breaking a promise. And for the few minutes, Twilight's mind couldn't get the words...as if someone was taking control of her? What just happened? --------- "Boys, success," Boris said as he and his minions trots through the snow of Ponyville, keeping to the shadows. "Feel sorry for them though." Dum-Dum said with a sigh. "You kinda mess things up further for the lovers." "Well, it won't matter once Ponyville is knocked out." "So how will you do that, boss?" Boxco ask Dum-Dum curiously, "With magic?" "Oh yes...and I know just the one." Boris said with a smirk as he takes out a jar with holes in it, showing some sort of small octopus like creature inside. "Know what this is?" "Isn't that an Octorok?" Dum-Dum ask, scratching his mane a bit. "Isn't it a bit small to be a threat?" "It is...but the Growth spell will fix that." Boris then opens the jar to let the Octorok out then cast the Growth Spell on it. Soon the monster begins to grow, making Boris grins wickedly. Ponyville is going to be crushed soon...and their leaders are too depressed or upset with each other to do a thing about it! ------------------ At this time, Azure Phoenix arrives at the castle in seeing the mess that was made. Only Shining Armor, Spike, Phobos and Nyx were cleaning up, but Ben and Twilight were nowhere in sight. "What in the name of Tartarus happened here?" Azure asked off in seeing this mess. "Sigh...My sister and Ben broke up." Shining Armor sighs sadly to say this. "Hmph...They got off easy." Azure smirked off to say this which puzzled the others. "You should have seen the Mystic Realm after Celestia ended her relationship with me." He added off in what reaction he got when he and Celestia ended their relationship. Somehow picturing that seem almost too scary for the little ones to see how traumatize Celestia might have been when Azure ended their relationship. But in a little while, the guy would be filled in with more detail about the stuff of what was really happening here...