Previously on My Little Pony: Sangokuden - Legends of The Three Kingdom
After gained a new power from the sacred Tree of Harmony, Ryubi now transformed into his 'Rainbow Dragon Emperor' form and stop the Giga Kingdom who want to take the Tree of Harmony and use the Gyokuji to restore Mirishitia and rule it and Equestria as their new empire. With the Giga Kingdom now retreat, for the time being, Ryubi and the Shou kingdom now formed together with Princesses and their peoples.
Giga
In a campsite near to Hayseed Swamps, guards of the Giga kingdom were patrolling or guard on the campsite while some of them rested on their own tent and bringing rations from their ships since it's close by to the campsite. Inside of the middle tent, indicated by their language that said 'strategist' and decorated in a crimson phoenix color, Shiba - I, the crimson armored pony was with a deep cobalt blue armored pony with a half of his armored cover in deep reddish like robe decorated with gold trims around it including his helmet with a golden yellow v -fin and similar to Shiba - I is he holds a golden fan. Another side to him is another armored clan pony with light blue armors with his shoulder raised up for bulk and a dark blue scarf around his neck and just like the robe armored pony, he had golden trims around his armor and a golden phoenix shaped mouth was attached to his helmet. The last armored pony was with crimson armor though not too shiny as indicated with battle scars by his shoulders, only white armor was the legs and had a golden v -fin like all others. His armor bears somewhat design of a hybrid of demon and dragon indicated with a golden dragon head shaped piece. But what's unique is in the back had clear red wings armor embed into it.
Each of them gathers around as Soushi place around the table in the middle a map of Equestria with the only difference is that in the upper right, Ponyville and Canterlot were embedded with the Shou Kingdom.
"Now, we come to confirm that the Shou Kingdom now made a home with the people of Ponyville and Canterlot. The Royal Princesses now have one of the powerful bodyguards that will stop at nothing to prevent us from getting the Tree of Harmony." Soushi explained with pointed the newly formed kingdom.
"However, it also concerns me that the Tree of Harmony chosen Ryubi. As a result......." Soushi remembered of the fight against him and the Tree of Harmony bestowed a new power. "a new power has revealed that wasn't written in the PON scroll."
"Right Milord." Shiba-I agree as he pulled a scroll and unroll to revealed ancient Mirishitia writings "I personally to believe that when the Sovereigns created the PON scroll, it never mention of the new power that the Tree of Harmony bestowed on but what we gather, the Tree of Harmony gave this new power known as Rainbow Power to the six ponies, and we all known who those six wielders are."
He shows them another scroll revealing six colored equines unleashing that power on what to appear to be a beast with horns that long of a demon with arms and four legs that shaped like horses.
The others look in intrigued at this as Shiba - I continue, "I think they're the same ponies from before when Ryubi halted our objective. "
"Rainbow Power....." Shoushi muttered and glanced at him "Do you think there's a connection between this power and the Celestial Armor, Shiba- I?"
"I'm afraid I do not know that it's possible that both the Celestial Armor and the Rainbow Power may be born from the same three Sovereigns. We need to look further into this investigation with your permission." Shiba -I explained.
"All right, I trust you, Shiba - I. I need you to gather every information you can find about the Rainbow Power and the relationship between the Celestial Armor," Soushi ordered which he nodded.
"Of course, Milord." With that, Shiba - I and the deep red/cobalt blue armored pony turned and leave. The others take the glance as Soushi now rests on his throne.
"Milord, Shiba - I can't be trusted." the crimson gold pony exclaimed as Soushi take a glance at his subjects "His plans involved of the slaughtered of the villagers in the Giga Kingdom years ago. Your father had to keep an eye on him, so why do you trusted him so greatly?"
"Because he's the only one who still searches for him, Kyou-I," Soushi replied, looking up as if he was gazing through the tent and into the stars. "Remember, Shiba - I trained me after the Battle of the Red Cliff so he's the only family I had now."
The others still felt uneasy as knew what Shiba - I had plans. Whatever that pony is planning, it might bring a ruined future and their emperor still very trusted to him. Never the less, they just walked out of the tent, leaving the blazing peacock alone to rest.
Meanwhile, Shiba - I and the deep red/cobalt blue armored pony now looking at the city of Balitmare. Each of the ponies was giving them odd looks, some even commented on their design while others wonder if those were just ponies wearing a costume. Unknown to them, a pony has his eyes glow green. After a few walk, they made to a library as they enter, they saw each of those strange papers now covered in materials as while taking a look at the selections of the library, they finally stumble upon the history section as one by one, they pick up the books and headed towards an empty table on the upper level. As they studied each of the historical books, flipping one page to the other while recording in their scroll, the deep red/cobalt blue armored pony raise his eyebrow, founding something important from the book 'Equestria's history - Sage of the Magic'.
"Master, I think I found something you should see," he said as he places the book to his side as the crimson pony begin reading the first page of the book:
'As Star-Swirl the Bearded along with his pupil, Clover the Clever, travel across Equestria to find an unknown origin of a powerful magic that said that crashes to the heaven of Equestria, they discover 9 mystical energies. One is the those that created harmony from the form of Magic, Kindness, Honesty, Loyalty, Laughter, and Generosity while the other three, possess something far beyond that what two unicorns saw. Just as they about to examine it, all of them shot out of the skies and each, scattered through different paths leaving two trails on them - one of which follows the path of a rainbow of harmony while the other three follows a golden light through the overseas of the unknown.'
"I do believe that the Elements of Harmony is considered be a part of the Three Sovereigns." he added.
"Oh really, then do ask me, my pupil" he looks around to see that nopony is here " We're alone in this so don't hesitate to speak your mind."
"Of course, from what we gather, this 'Star-Swirl' character along with his pupil discover the nine mystical energies and it said that it came from the heaven of Equestria. My guess is that The Three Sovereigns once ruled this place over a thousand years ago. So maybe it possible that they crashed here and separate their energies into those that Equestria knows and what we knew." he explained.
"That may not be the case, Kakuka." he said, closing the book.
"What?"
"You believe that the Elements of Harmony is a part of The Three Sovereigns given what the book says, but I question of this resumption. I do believe that this book had some part missing from it." Shiba-I replied.
"Please enlightenment me, master," Kakuka said
"All right, describe me, what the Elements of Harmony came from?"
"They usually came from the Tree of Harmony, the one that near to the Everfree Forest," Kakuka replied
"So where did the Tree of Harmony really come from? If you remember from before, the Tree of Harmony heard Ryubi's called and bestow a new power unlike the Celestial Armor did. The Tree of Harmony wasn't mentioned in any books so it possible that the clues that we can find........."
".......is from either the Canterlot or the Crystal Empire." Kakuka understand of his master
"Right, but how we going to get there is a difficult task. Judging by Canterlot and Ponyville now have Shou as their new bodyguards, it'll be likely that the Crystal Empire might affect it too."
"Why's that, master -?" Kakuka asked as a hoof raised to him as Shiba-I glance behind and suddenly, he rushed out of the bookcase and prepared his fan weapon.
"Who's there?!" but what he found is nopony as other ponies glance at him oddly. Ignoring them, he rushed out of the library while Kakuka following him as he pushed the door out and glance the street left to right.
"This is not good......" he muttered.
"What is wrong master?" Kakuka asked.
"It seems that we been followed. We must return to base." Shiba- I respond as they hurried back to the campsite but not when a shadowy figure glance at their departure.
As the sun setting down, the two almost reach to the campsite but with a glance from Shiba-I, he raised his hoof as Kakuka stops in the middle of the forest.
"Stop, it seems that we got uninvited visitors surrounding us," Shiba-I respond as the moon begin to rise up, both of them take their battle stance as they narrow their eyes at the quiet forest. So far crickets were heard as a single rustle from a bush, Shiba-I immediately block an incoming green magic beam using his fan as Kakuka did the same on the left. Then they unleash flames from the tip of their fans and send them which multiple beings jump out of the way as the flames caught the bushes on fire.
At the campsites, front soldiers saw smoke coming from the forest as one of them rush to the 'strategist' camp as Soushi and the others take the glance at the solider.
"Milord, a wildfire is breaking near to the forest of the campsite!"
All of them widened in surprise as all of them rushed out and follow the smoke that they saw in the forest as they glance at the wildfire spreading. Then without hesitation, Soushi rushed to the bonfire with few soldiers and Kyou-I as they stop in the middle of the ring of fire, they saw two figures jump out, and revealed to be Shiba-I and Kakuka, having scratches from their armors.
"Shiba-I, what's going on?!" Soushi helped him get up along with Kyou-I helping Kakuka.
"We have been followed and ambushed, milord," Shiba-I replied.
"By who?"
"By them!" Kakuka pointed as the flames die down, a green barrier dissipates, revealing the assailants: black ponies like creatures with holes on each hoof, blue buggy eyes, crooked horns, and bug-like wings.
"What in Mirishita are those things?" Kyou-I pulled his staff and his shield.
"Changelings. A monstrous demon like creatures that feed on pony's emotions." Shiba-I prepared in his battle stance.
"What do they want from us?" Soushi pulled his swords from his back.
"I don't know, but what they want from us is something important."
"Whatever the case, they're making a huge mistake," Soushi said as multiple soldiers came to their leaders' side and prepare their crossbows. The Changelings gave a smirked as to the Giga's horror, each of them shape-shift into copies of themselves with evil eyes.
"What the-?!" Kyou-I shocked at this as they imitate the same thing.
"What kind of arcane did they performed?" Kakuka takes a little step back.
"Those demons have the ability to changed shapes, disguising as anypony they see," Shiba-I said.
"Then how we know from which is which?" Soushi asked.
"I got an idea. Stand back." Shiba-I prepares his fan as the others stand on his side as flames engulfed around him as it dissipates into crimson aura as waved at his comrades as they were outlined with it as it disappeared.
"What did you do, Shiba-I?" Soushi asked.
"I conjure my powers and gave a homing beacon to you and the others." Shiba-I explained, "That way we can tell from the aura that we're outlined is which is which."
Every Giga nodded as they prepare their weapons along with the Changelings' copies prepare theirs as all of them charging at them. Soushi takes lead as he blocked his doppelganger as while both blocked with their swords, Soushi pushes back and slash at it, reverting back to its Changeling's form. Then another copy of Shiba-I and Kyou-I charging at him as his shoulder armor detached and created a double bladed weapon and channel his energies.
"GREAT AZURE PEACOCK SLASH!!!!!!" he arc and charges at them with azure flames surrounded the blades and blasted the doppelgangers away.
As Shiba-I blocked off the Giga's doppelgangers soldiers, he jumps out of the way as his fan conjure a flame sword from the tip as he slammed on the ground "CRIMSON PHOENIX WAVE!!!!!"
The Changelings caught onto the torrent of fire as each of them rolled on the ground. Then more of them coming this way as he blocked their attacks as another attacking from behind until Kakuka pushed the assailant away. Then icicle powers begin to surge around Kakuka's fan as he waved at them "FROZEN SPEAR FANG!!!!"
The Changelings were impaled by not only the sheer force but being frozen by the icy fangs as half of them sent flying to the ground. For Kyou-I, he thrust his spear at one as three more in forms of Giga Soldiers about to pounce on him until he jumps out of the way and twirls his spear with flame engulfing the tip "BURNING TYPHOON MAELSTROM!!!!!!"
With pillars of fires surrounding the Changelings, all of them were engulfed by it as all of them were burned and scorch until dead. After all of them were pushed back, the Changelings grunted in pain as all of them flying away from them; some of them have to gallop away due to their bug-like wings been broken or burned leaving only one to be surrounded by them. Unlike all Changelings, this one has a scar traveled through the right eye and a helmet with dark green coloring on it, indicated that of a captain.
The Giga troopers tied the captain Changeling's arms and legs, as well as Shiba-I, use his power to shut down its magic. Soushi walks towards the creature and points his sword at it.
"Identify yourself, demon!"
The captain changelings grunted, "I'm Scarface, the captain of the Changelings."
"Why did you attack the campsite?!"
"What do you expect from a pony like you and your comrades?" Scarface spat out.
"So you were after pony's emotion after all? Figures." Kyou-i muttered.
"Sorry but our emotion is not on the menu for your demon," Soushi said.
The captain changelings growled in defeat "Well fine, go ahead, end my life. I just don't want to bring back with anything for the Queen and the hives. It would bring shame upon them."
Soushi begins thinking about something. Consider that Shou got allies from the Elements and the Princess, we do need allies if we want to take the Tree of Harmony. But what we got from the records of the scroll, their Queen almost took over the Castle of Canterlot by disguising as one of the other princesses. It might be risky but in order to fulfill it, we got no other choice.
After some careful considerations, he said to his comrades,"I want you to bring that captain to our campsite and put him into the dungeon. I got some question we need to ask him."
The others were confused at first but nodded as they carried him to the campsite. Soushi came to Shiba-I and said "Shiba-I, I need to talk to you about this. Bring the others as well."
"Sir." With that, the crimson pony hurried back to the others as the other Giga ponies return too.
After gathering the other Giga warriors ponies to the campsite, Soushi discussed of them about the idea. After a few minute, the others were shocked about this.
"Milord, this is madness!" Kyou-I exclaimed. "We can't just make a deal with the changelings to sided with us in return to give some emotion as food!"
"I know, it's sounded insane, Kyou-I but, from the PON Records, those Changelings might know a few way for us to have a fighting chance against the Shou and their allies," Soushi explained.
"But milord, how we know that the Changelings wouldn't hurt our men when they drained their emotion?" Kyou-I asked.
"They won't because, from the record I gathered, the effect of ponies being drained were only dizziness aliment," Shiba-I explained.
"But still-" Kyou-I's sentence was interrupted as he slammed his sword on the ground, silencing him.
"I understand your concern for our men, but unless we need addition allies to take the Tree of Harmony, then we got no other choice!"
Kyou-I grunted then nodded "Yes, milord."
"Now, Shiba-I, you and Kakuka come with me. I got some word to talk with the captain."
Both of them nodded as they followed him out of the tent.
At the dungeon, Scarface lowers his head while glancing back at the cell. Two guards with swords were standing with their weapons on hoof. Then Soushi enters in as Scarface glanced at him.
"I wish to speak with the prisoner." he commanded as the guard open the door.
Soushi enter the cell as the injured captain glare at him "So you come to end my life?"
"No, we're not monsters, unlike your kind." Soushi said, "After talking with my comrades, we would like you to take to your hive."
"And why would I take to my base?" Scarface asked, "It would dishonor them if I lead you to the kingdom."
"I wish to speak with your queen, I want to form an alliance with my kingdom with hers."
The captain of the Changelings furrowed his eyebrow "You must be insane of doing that. Why would we form an alliance with you ponies of Equestria?"
"We're not from Equestria. We came from a far away land in search of an ancient item that can restore our dying homeland. We have once tried to take it but because of the Shou Kingdom now taken resident in Ponyville and form an alliance with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, it would state that we need the likes of you to help claim the ancient item."
"And what item would that be?"
"The Tree of Harmony." Soushi said, earning Scarface widened his eyes but laughed at his idea, getting glares from Soushi's soliders.
"You ponies are crazy to get your hooves on the Tree of Harmony, nopony even thinks about getting that tree out!! Why would on Equestria would you want it?"
"We believe that the Tree of Harmony has the power to restore our homeland but requires one item that was lost in space," Soushi replied, "But we can't worried about that, not until we get our hooves on it."
"And what's it for us and the queen?"
"You Changelings thrived on feeding emotions, correct? With our combined forces, we will restore our homeland and in turn, allow your kind to thrive in it and have the unlimited supplies of the emotions."
"And how I know it's not kind of trick?" Scarface asked and Soushi came towards him, then unlocked the chains from the shackled Changeling Captain.
"Lord Soushi!"
"You must be hungry from your fight," he replied then placed his hoof in his chest. "In that case, eat my emotions. All of it."
"What?!" all of them surprised at this.
"It's all right, I'll be fine." Soushi turned to the Changeling "I know it's not much but I'm offering you and your kind a place you can call it home and the food you need."
"Are you sure?" Scarface asked, "What if I decided to drink it all of it then come for your comrades and retreat to my home?"
"That's for you to decided. Do as you must."
He lowers his head and a few silence passed, then Scarface opens his mouth and absorbing the emotions from Soushi. While some of Soushi's comrades begin to raise their weapons to free their lord, Soushi halts them, despite feeling a bit headache.
Surprised from the others, Scarface stops his feeding, having second thoughts.
"If what you're saying is true, then I will listen."
Soushi gave a nodded before got to his four hooves.
"Still, you need to discuss with Queen Chrysalis. If what your offer is true, then I will support it."
"Very well then," Soushi turned to his comrades "All officers, bring the news to the Giga Soldiers!! We will be heading to the Badlands at dawn!!"
All of them nodded and they rushed out of the prison tent to deliver the news to all Giga Soldiers.
With the offer set, the Giga Kingdom set on course to the Badlands to make negotiations with the Changeling Kingdom.