Chapter Five
…
Deep within the Shadowy Caverns, Tirek stood before a massive pair of sealed gates. After countless hours of digging, his gargoyles were ordered to force them open, but couldn’t. Tirek could only guess what was hiding a few steps away on the other side…
He handed over the Scepter of Darkness to Draggle, still under his black spell. Draggle raised the scepter as a shining light glowed from its orb, magically breaking the seal. The gates opened at their own will, revealing the tremendous army of Sentinels. Untouched, undamaged, dormant yet completely functional, they were filed neatly in straight rows stretching beyond the darkness from where the eyes could see.
Tirek was astonished beyond measure by the hundreds of thousands of killing machines lined before him. A single one was arranged in the lead. And in front of it, sitting there on a stone table was the Crown of Darkness itself.
Tirek claimed the crown and placed it over Draggle’s head. Its black jewel illuminated, transmitting its ultimate and indomitable power to Draggle. The feeling to her was liberating… sensational, and soon an eerie and unnaturally yellow glow emanated from the Sentinels’ eyes as Draggle activated them with a single gesture.
“Lead them for me, Draggle.” Tirek grinned. “Wipe out Ponyland and leave no survivors!”
“Yes, master.” Draggle replied coldly.
…
Dawn was breaking. The sun was rising. The end of Ponyland was fast approaching…
After bidding goodbye to the Moochick and thanking him for his kindly assistance, Megan led the ponies out of the mushroom village hastily. She was determined to save Ponyland at last. She knew she had to pursue Tirek and destroy the Crown of Darkness now before he’d reach the ponies.
“Tirek must have activated the Sentinels by now!” Megan announced. “But we haven’t lost yet! If we can snatch the Crown of Darkness and get rid of it for good, then Ponyland will be saved!”
“So where do you suppose Tirek is now?” asked Spike.
“On his way to Paradise Estate, I’d believe.” answered Megan. “The first thing he’d want to do is eliminate the ponies. If we hurry, we might be able to reach him before he gets to them first!”
Everyone followed Megan as they headed in the direction towards Paradise Estate, but Twilight for her own reasons, stopped dead in her tracks. Glory was the first one to notice this, then it was Surprise, then Posey, then Applejack, then Spike, then Firefly and lastly Megan. Something was troubling Twilight emotionally.
“Twilight, what’s the matter?” Megan kindly asked.
“Listen…” she said. “… I don’t mean to scare you, but when this day is done, after this ordeal is finished, I may not see you guys for a while… in fact, for a VERY long time. So just in case, I want to say something… that we’ve made one great team together. Granted, I’ve only known you guys since yesterday, but nonetheless, I must thank you for all for believing in me. If none of you had, we wouldn’t have made it this far. We seized that chance to stop Tirek… and even if we failed, we put up a terrific fight.”
Megan and the ponies were moved profoundly by Twilight’s words. Twilight then continued, addressing each of her friends.
“Applejack… honestly, you’ll have one AMAZING family of whom you’ll love and be proud of. Keep them close to your heart always.”
“Oh, shucks.” Applejack looked away, a little embarrassed as she scratched her hoof.
“Posey, your kindness and motherly compassion towards others is incomparable to anyone’s and will never cease to be. Don’t you dare abandon those feelings.”
“Gosh, thanks.” Posey replied, blushing slightly. “I’m not sure what to say to that.”
“Surprise, even if your mischief may get out of hand sometimes, your happiness and laughter are what will help us stay positive when faced against the odds. Remember that.”
“Hee-hee! I’m glad to hear that!” chuckled Surprise.
“Glory, you’ll be one of the most generous ponies I’ll ever meet... and one who much values her beauty, might I add. And I’d like to mention but probably shouldn’t, but Spike… well, you two will get along great together in the future.”
“Are you implying that we’ll be… in love?” Glory dared to ask. She glanced over at Spike who heard everything. Both of them exchanged looks at each other briefly and groaned in minor disgust. “Nah!”
“No offense, Glory… but I don’t think you’re really my type.” remarked Spike.
Twilight laughed. “That’s okay, Spike. You and I are going to be best buddies, kind of like brother and sister, but you just don’t know it yet.” she winked at him trustfully.
“Um, Twilight?” asked Firefly. “I don’t mean to butt in, but there’s been something I’ve been meaning to ask for a while. Do I ever make it in the future… you know, in Equestria?”
“Um… no, I’m afraid.” Twilight replied reluctantly yet bluntly. She could already see Firefly’s jaw dropping, eyes widening with dread. “But hey, not to worry, we can change that for sure. As long as you stick close and stay loyal to your friends, you’ll be just fine.”
Firefly considered her advice for a moment and then calmed herself, nodding confidently. Twilight turned to Megan, who was curious to know what she had to say to her. Both were well aware that this might be the last time they would speak to each other.
“Megan…” said Twilight sincerely. “… from the day I first met you, I knew in the back of my mind, that you were destined to become someone greater. Princess Celestia… you saw her, and she must have seen herself in you… she was right in telling me you might have been reckless and stubborn. But through all that, I see a born leader in your eyes. Now I understand why so many ponies adore you… respect you… I know that you’ll be the best mentor they‘ll ever have. And my friends… you’ll be seeing us together again some day. But promise me that you’ll always watch over us… and that you’ll take extra special care of Luna.”
“Luna?” Megan asked clueless.
“Yes, Princess Luna… she’ll be your younger sister, like how Molly was, and you’ll love each other just the same. Promise that you two will NEVER separate, and you will work hard to resolve your differences, no matter what.”
“Well… all right… I’ll do my best.” Megan said, looking away in thought, acknowledging her words. She knelt down to Twilight, offering her a kiss on the forehead and the warmest of hugs. “Thank you, Twilight. Thank you for everything you’ve done.”
Twilight looked back at Megan with innocent eyes and smiled happily in return… until she felt a sharp pain snap in her brain, which forced her rolling onto her back, moaning in severe agony. Her friends recoiled in shock while Megan tried to restrain her. Nobody knew what had happened.
“Twilight! What’s wrong?!” Megan shouted. “Hang in there!”
Twilight couldn’t respond as her mind rocked back and forth between Ponyland and Equestria. And then… she found herself in the center of the blazing ruins of Ponyville. Sentinels marched in a circle, entrapping her. Her heart pounded faster as they closed in. There was no escape for her.
Then from out of nowhere, she heard the faint but comforting voice of Megan. She called out her name, assuring her that everything was going to be okay. She asked her to come back… back to her and her friends waiting… back to reality. Twilight shut her eyes and bit her lip, telling herself that this only a hellish nightmare, nothing more… and within moments… she regained consciousness…
Twilight awoke from her dream, staring straight into Megan’s eyes.
“Twilight, are you okay?!” Megan asked concerned as she saw the pony’s eyes focusing back to normal. “What happened to you?”
“I… I don’t know.” Twilight said, rubbing her head. “But something tells me that we have to move fast. There’s isn’t much time left!”
…
After a small slip-up, Princess Cadance struggled greatly to hold onto Twilight with her spell. Her powers were gradually dwindling as her energy was slowly draining. Princess Luna looked at her distressfully, as did Spike and the other ponies. Nobody knew how much longer she could keep this up.
Princess Celestia continued to observe the slumbering Twilight, worrying exceedingly about her and Megan, wondering whatever events were unraveling. Twilight’s friends prayed harder for her with each hour’s passing. Who knew how much longer they could stay hiding in the shadows from imminent death?
“I can’t take it anymore!” Tirek complained impatiently, pounding his fist in frustration. “This is getting us nowhere… we’re nothing but sitting ducks here! Somebody wake her up already!”
“NO! We mustn’t!” Princess Celestia strongly insisted, and then revealed: “I… had a glimpse into the past. There’s a very special friend with Twilight right now, helping her all she can. They still have a fighting chance, I know it, I feel it. But we just need to give them a little more time.”
Gasps escaped.
“Jumpin’ jelly beans!” exclaimed Applejack to Tirek. “You WERE tellin’ the truth!”
“It was about time you realized.” he grumbled back.
All continued to stand and wait in suspense.
A sudden question arose from Rarity, which broke the silence. “It just occurred to me,” she said, “but what will happen to us once this is over, what will come to pass after Twilight succeeds in ending the Sentinels’ existence?”
Eyes stared at each other in confusion and doubt. The truth was that no one was certain.
“I can only predict,” said Princess Luna, “that everything that we’ve lived for until this incident will be erased and become nothing but forgotten history. Time will amend itself and take a different course, and we shall retain no memory, no recollection of any events that have transpired before, including this world, this war. None of us will remember… except maybe, just maybe, Twilight herself.”
The room returned to silence once more. Pinkie Pie raised her cup cake and softly blew out the candle in sad disappointment. She saw now that they wouldn’t be eating it after all.
…
It started as a normal day in Dream Valley. Ponies were out and about, gathered in their own social groups and activities. Joining them were friendly woodland creatures, the Bushwoolies, and the Furbobs.
Earth pony Ember took a dive and belly flopped into a river, playing with Skydancer, Medley, Cotton Candy and the Sea Ponies. As it was warm, the ponies needed to cool down from the heat. However, little did they know that the water wouldn’t be their sanctuary for too long.
They were scared unexpectedly when Hydia and Reeka emerged from atop a hill, running for their very lives in panic, ignoring the ponies as they passed. Reeka stumbled over a rock and rolled downhill, but picked herself up quickly. Hydia shrieked at the top of her voice:
“RUN! THEY’RE HERE! THE SENTINELS ARE COMING!”
The looming shadow of a tall dark figure overwhelmed the baffled ponies. Rolling their eyes up, they were in deep shock when they came face to face with a Sentinel, peering down and scrutinizing them. On its shoulder stood Draggle, the Scepter of Darkness in one hand and the Crown of Darkness on her head. Her malicious eyes lusted for the sight of bloodshed. She pointed her scepter menacingly at the small life forms below her, yelling at her robotic slave:
“ANNIHILATE THEM!”
The Sentinel raised its hand, opening it. An ominous bright light radiated from its palm, prompting the ponies and their friends to immediately scatter. An enormous energy blast burst open, causing a heavy explosion that rocked the valley.
In an instant, more Sentinels appeared, hovering across the sky like bombers. Programmed to terminate the ponies, let alone Hydia, they laid waste upon the grassy fields and green forests, spreading immense chaos and ruin. Animals fled in terror back to their homes, the Sea Ponies dived back underwater for shelter, while the Furbobs followed the Bushwoolies hopping back into their holes underground beyond horrified.
The Sentinels landed, relentlessly hunting the ponies that cowered away. Nature was trampled as they marched fearlessly across Dream Valley. Draggle fired beam after beam randomly from the Scepter of Darkness. Tirek, riding on his Chariot of Darkness, monitored the whole crisis from above while his general led the Sentinels onwards, scouring the land.
He couldn’t help but laugh.
Ember ran as far away as she could from the titanic behemoths, avoiding their blasts in hysteria. A tentacle reached for her rear leg and entangled itself around it. Ember tripped as she was dragged along the grass towards the Sentinel that had seized her. She fought, she wrestled and she squealed, but with everyone’s life in danger, help seemed fruitless.
That was until she spotted a baby dragon dashing towards her, along with two Earth ponies.
“SPIKE!” she cried out in sheer desperation. “HELP ME!”
“Hang on, Ember!” shouted Spike under his breath. “We’ll save you!”
Applejack and Posey helped pull the young pony away from the Sentinel’s hold. They tugged on her arms with all their might, but it proved nothing to overpower the strong will of their enemy. They clearly underestimated its unknown strength.
Spike deeply inhaled, gathering as much air as possible… and released a flaming fireball, directly hitting the enemy’s chest. It did little damage. The Sentinel hardly flinched as it prepared to lock its target on the small dragon for counter-attack. It had become a pest to its objective.
“Terminate insolent reptile!” it spoke in its inhuman voice.
It raised its hand, ready to execute an exhausted Spike with a blast powerful enough to incinerate him in one go. Spike didn’t know what to do next, for he had used a large portion of his strength on that one attack. Just then, however…
“BOO!”
Surprise made her entrance and struck the Sentinel behind the head as she swooped down upon it. Glory then magically appeared on its shoulder and smashed its eyes before it even sighted her. The Sentinel tumbled and collapsed, setting Ember free.
“Thank you!” Ember said in gratitude.
“Run, Ember!” ordered Applejack.
Ember obeyed and departed as her friends tried to stall the Sentinels’ progress.
…
Megan rode steadily on Firefly through the clouds, watching Draggle pursue the ponies ruthlessly. The view was terrible. The Sentinels continued to advance towards Paradise Estate, where the ponies were fleeing inside.
“OH, NO!” Firefly cried. She wasn’t so worried about Paradise Estate, but more so… “Megan, over there! Look who it is!”
Megan gazed down upon the mad witch on the Sentinel’s shoulder, and gasped in utter dismay. “DRAGGLE!” she cried out.
“But… how could this be?!” Firefly wondered.
Megan shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t know… but I think I know why she’s doing this. And I’m certain Tirek’s behind this. I hate to say it, but I fear now that our future has turned much for the worst.”
Firefly knew what had to be done and was not willing to let Draggle get her way. She would gladly risk life and limb from hereon, for the sake of pony-kind and for ensuring that the future would be safe. Thus she was bold and said:
“Megan… it’s been wonderful knowing you. Whether or not we’ll live through this day, I want you to know that you’ve always been my best companion.”
“That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said, Firefly, thank you. I’ve cared about all of you ponies, always.” Megan said, hugging her friend dearly and kissing her mane. “Now let’s stop Draggle and save Ponyland!”
“All right, just hang on tight for the ride of your life!” Firefly swooped down fearlessly, narrowly avoiding fire from the Sentinels.
…
“Yes, drive them back!” Draggle cackled. “Leave no escape for them!”
It seemed too easy as her invincible army treaded further. However, she nearly jumped out of her skin when Twilight magically appeared before her via teleportation. Twilight was stunned to see the young witch commanding the Sentinels.
“DRAGGLE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” she exclaimed. “Listen to me, you can’t do this! Too many lives are at stake! Not just in the present, but in the future as well!”
“I DON’T CARE!” answered back Draggle. “You’re all worthless little insects that deserve to be squashed! Soon you will all be history and nothing will remain!”
“That’s what YOU think!” Twilight huffed.
Without warning, she charged and rammed into Draggle’s stomach. Draggle bore the impact of Twilight’s horn, which lucky for her, wasn’t sharp enough to penetrate into her. She kicked Twilight in the face, pushing her back and aimed the Scepter of Darkness at her, ready to fire a fully charged beam.
Using with her wits, Twilight narrowly avoided it and the beam struck a neighboring Sentinel in the head, killing it instantly as it fell. Draggle growled at her blunder. She fired more beams at Twilight, who continued to avoid them, sometimes using her teleportation to help.
When she was close enough to Draggle, Twilight kicked her with her hind legs. Draggle lost her balance and almost toppled backwards, still with the scepter in hand. The Unicorn pony was proving to be quite the nuisance.
Twilight scraped her hooves and prepared to charge again. But Draggle wouldn’t let her opponent gain the advantage. With her Crown of Darkness, she commanded the Sentinel she was riding on to seize Twilight off its shoulder.
Twilight didn’t see what was coming when a mighty hand grabbed her with ease. She tried running away but felt the cold fingers wrap around her delicate body and hold her in its tight firm grip. The Sentinel stared at her with intimidating eyes. Draggle smirked and stuck her tongue out, happy she outsmarted the Unicorn pony.
Escape seemed futile.
“SQUEEZE HER!” Draggle ordered. “Squeeze her until her head pops off!”
Twilight gasped in fright. But just as luck would have it, Megan descended down behind Draggle on Firefly, after having withstood a sharp dive of endless attacks.
“DRAGGLE, STOP!” Megan called out to her. “Killing Twilight… killing Hydia won’t solve anything! You’ll only continue to kill many others more!”
She knew well of the cycle of violence that would befall the poor, inexperienced and confused witch. But Draggle wasn’t willing to listen, let alone to a pathetic girl who lacked magic powers. Rage swept her over again, thanks to Tirek’s spell. It consumed her and clouded her mind of any soft feelings.
“Shut your trap!” snapped Draggle, pointing her scepter at her and Firefly. “Nobody gets in my way!”
She fired a beam at them without warning. Firefly swerved but accidentally threw Megan off her ride. She was about to call her name until Megan grappled onto the shoulder of the Sentinel and carefully climbed up.
She grabbed Draggle by the ankle, making her slip, and dragged her down with her. Draggle growled and kicked Megan in the face. The girls rose and scuffled with each other. Megan tried ever so hard to disarm her adversary and extract the Crown of Darkness from her head, but Draggle obviously wasn’t going to let her to do that.
Meanwhile, Tirek calmly continued to watch the events unfurl…
…
Shining Armor scanned far away from the watchtower. He swore he heard strange sounds in the wind, coming from the distance ahead. His claims were confirmed when he saw within the mists of the mountains, a disturbing pair of yellow lights, heading towards their direction. He knew what was coming.
“SENTINELS!” he shouted.
The royal guards took their defensive positions around Canterlot. Shining Armor barked out his orders, preparing for the very worst. They were not going to allow their enemies to destroy their most precious home, let alone the Royalty.
Inside the castle, the heroes heard their cries…
“They’ve found us!” Princess Celestia announced timorously.
Tirek cracked his knuckles, gung-ho for battle… possibly his last. “Don’t lose heart just yet. No one’s getting in here when you still have Tirek on your side. But I’ll be needing all the magic I can get.”
There was no need for quarrel. It was far beyond convincing by now that Tirek wasn’t going to betray them during this dire hour. He was simply planning to buy more time for the Alicorns.
So without hesitation, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna nodded together in agreement. Their horns emitted angelic beams of light as they transferred all of their power and energy to Tirek. Tirek roared as his muscular body increased heavily in size and grew stronger.
“Groovy.” he said, pounding a fist to his palm and flexing his muscles. “I’m off to clean some clocks…. I started this whole mess, and I’m going to finish it… who’s with me?”
Applejack stepped forward, unafraid.
“Come on, fellas!” Applejack said to the other ponies. “Twilight needs all the help and time we can give her. Now we may not be able to stop every single one of ‘em screwheads, but we can sure well slow ‘em down! It’s now or never!”
The ponies clamored in agreement.
“YES!” shouted Rarity assuredly. “Let’s show those robotic ruffians who’s REALLY in charge!”
“FOR RAINBOW DASH!” cried Pinkie Pie.
“FOR EQUESTRIA!” cried Fluttershy.
“Lead the way, Tirek!” Applejack insisted.
Without another word, Tirek burst through the doors into the hallway and stormed out of the castle with the ponies by his side, while Spike and the Alicorns remained in the throne room. Now powerless, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna could only sit and pray. Princess Cadance continued focusing on what magic she had left to keep Twilight present in the past.
“Hang in there, Twilight.” she said under her breath. “Stay with us.”
“Come on, Twilight.” Spike whispered in her ear. “I know you can do it.”
Time was running out…
…
Megan continued to contend with Draggle. The Scepter of Darkness began to charge up again for another shot. Megan thrust it aside. The beam struck another neighboring Sentinel through the chest, deactivating it instantly.
Meanwhile, Firefly was trying to set Twilight free from the Sentinel’s grasp. She tugged fiercely on its fingers, but it proved hopeless. Her helpless friend remained stuck.
Twilight tried to pull herself out, but with every movement she made, it triggered the Sentinel to squeeze her harder. She couldn’t help but holler in pain. Firefly paused, seeing that any further attempt would only bring Twilight closer to death.
Spike and the other ponies distracted the Sentinels, in efforts to lure them away from the defenseless Paradise Estate. Even if they couldn’t beat them, they could hold them long enough until Megan finally got her hands on the Crown of Darkness. Pure bedlam ran rampantly across the valley…
Draggle charged another beam on her scepter. Megan was too weak in fighting her any longer.
“Look at yourself, Draggle!” she pleaded. “Is that what you want? Is this how you really want to end Dream Valley, Ponyland… in shambles and shame? Don’t do this!”
Draggled looked around at the destruction she had caused, casting a short moment of doubt. But then bitterness swept in again, as a nefarious expression crossed her face. Her heart was being overpowered by Tirek’s spell once again.
“Why should I listen to some annoying mangy twerp like YOU?!”
She pointed the scepter at Megan, who thrust it aside again. This time, it struck the face of the Sentinel they were riding. Knowing well what this meant for them, they didn’t have time to clasp onto anything, as the Sentinel broke apart.
Megan and Draggle took a dive and went for a hard landing. Both were left with several bones fractured from the high plummet. Twilight, miraculously unhurt, crawled out of the wreckage with Firefly.
“MEGAN!” Twilight shouted as she and Firefly sprinted over to her care. “Megan, please stay awake!”
“T… Twilight.” a half-conscious Megan spoke softly, reaching a tender hand out for Twilight’s mane.
She was in critical condition. Her clothes were ripped and shredded from her severe injuries. Draggle was in as bad shape as her, already passed out. Yet just several feet away from her sat the Crown of Darkness.
Without another moment to waste, Twilight galloped to retrieve the accursed artifact before somebody else would. And just when she thought she would succeed, the hoof of Tirek kicked her viciously aside. He picked up the crown for himself and placed it on his head, grinning satanically.
“How unlucky.” He smirked, crossing his arms, now in proud ownership of the Sentinels. “You may have taken out my general, but that gives me all the power I’ll need to finish you ponies off myself!”
Sentinels assembled around Tirek, who pointed a claw at Firefly.
“FIREFLY, WATCH OUT!” Twilight warned her.
A shower of blasts rained down on the Pegasus pony as she immediately took flight to save herself. The Sentinels fired repeatedly at their moving mark. But something broke off their concentration…
Twilight, using teleportation once again, jumped on the Sentinels, knocking their heads one by one with her hind legs. The Sentinels couldn’t keep track of her nor could they land a hit… with some killing one another by accident. This helped Firefly survive through the pandemonium.
“STOP!” the voice of Megan summoned Tirek. “I won’t let you do this!”
Careless but out of ideas, she dashed defenselessly towards Tirek, Tirek was not blind to see his wounded attacker approaching. He casually slapped the girl across the face leaving a red mark, sending her flying across the field, already knocked out before she even hit the ground.
“Foolish child.” he snorted.
Firefly, fatigued at this point, let her guard down for one second. A Sentinel took this chance and fired. The blast partially missed her but scathed her wings badly, rendering her flightless. Firefly dropped to the ground in defeat.
Spike and the other ponies saw Tirek with the crown and in instinct, raced to stop him. A Sentinel detecting them picked up an entire log of a tree from its roots and hurled it in the air directly at Surprise. Surprise ironically got the surprise of her life when she was struck and fell. Spike, Glory, Applejack and Posey were caught in the fall with her. Buried under the heavy weight of the tree, they became immobile.
Twilight saw her friends beaten. It was up to her now. She scraped her hooves once more, making for a desperate charge against Tirek.
Tirek spotted Twilight. He ordered the Sentinels to blast her, stomp her or flatten her. Twilight magically disappeared and reappeared, shifting locations, misleading the Sentinels and avoiding each attempted attack. Twilight was merely an inch away from her foe…
She was knocked aside harshly when a Sentinel kicked her like a football. Twilight flew and slammed her head smack against a boulder, causing a serious concussion. She sank to the ground barely still awake. She had fought bravely, but alas, her bravest wasn’t enough to prevent the supposedly inevitable.
Tirek strode arrogantly towards the vulnerable Twilight. With a flick of his wrist, the Sentinels locked their sights onto her, ready to eradicate her without any trace. However, the execution was disrupted when Tirek heard the faint cries of ponies in the far distance… coming from the direction of Paradise Estate.
He glanced over his shoulder, and then glanced back at Twilight.
“I’ll dispose of you and your bumbling oafs later.” he grunted, inspecting Twilight’s allies then Megan and finally Draggle. “Farewell, Draggle. You have served and outlived your purpose. You are no longer of use to me.”
Twilight passed out after Tirek left, with the Sentinels following him silently. She had failed. Her friends had failed. Megan had failed. It was a pity for Tirek though, that he failed himself to notice the Scepter of Darkness, sticking out of a bush next to Draggle.
…
An ostensibly infinite swarm of Sentinels headed towards Canterlot. Through the bitter nightly cold they came, sighting the ponies dead ahead, targeting them. They were to leave none alive.
“Terminate ponies.” announced its leader.
Tirek stood intrepidly on the castle grounds, waving his arms and beckoning the Sentinels eagerly. Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were at his side, proud to be ponies that would willingly die to defend their land and protect their dearest friend in need. Shining Armor and his thousands of royal guards remained in their positions, watching their enemies draw near.
“BRING IT ON, YOU PIECES OF TRASH!” Tirek shouted aggressively. “SHOW ME WHAT YOU’RE MADE OF!”
As the Sentinels closed in, Shining Armor fixed on his helmet, tightened his armor and let out a pony war cry for Equestria. The royal guards did the same and were followed by Twilight’s friends. Tirek participated also, letting out a monstrous roar. They knew more than well that this was their final stand.
Cries did not intimidate the Sentinels however. They initiated an all out aerial attack, blasting royal guards with extreme prejudice. Tirek returned the favor by gathering enough magic between his horns and exerting an enormous fire beam, eliminating dozens of Sentinels in one go.
Shining Armor and the remaining royal guards attacked the Sentinels as they landed, wasting no time to strike and clashing against them in a wave of fury. Pinkie Pie climbed and leaped onto a Sentinel, beating the living stuffing out of it and kicking its head continuously, decapitating it from its body. Applejack tossed her lasso around another Sentinel, tying it firmly and yanking it back with all her vigor, forcing it to topple and knock over a row of other Sentinels in a domino effect. Fluttershy, with her quickest speed, flew in all directions like an aggravating housefly, giving intense chase to the Sentinels and confusing them as they haphazardly blasted away one another. Rarity, using her telekinesis, raised heavy rocks and boulders, hurling them ferociously at the Sentinels, and at the same time, let loose her martial arts in close combat.
Tirek fired several more fire beams, even spinning whilst doing so at one point, when Sentinels encircled him. They ended up exploding in a huge ring of fire. When low on his magic, Tirek resorted to his fists. He pounded Sentinel after Sentinel… smashing them, crushing them, tossing them, breaking them, stomping them, disassembling them and shattering them with ease. Swallowing in a lot of pain but hardly hindered, it was all pleasant fun for him.
The battle in Canterlot raged on…
…
“HURRY, GET INSIDE!” Magic Star called out as she watched the last group of baby ponies retreat into Paradise Estate. “Is that everyone?!”
Heart Throb and her daughter, Baby Heart Throb, were seen in the distance as the last two ponies. Magic Star waved to get their attention and they rushed inside urgently… but not without the company of Sentinels following behind their tail. Magic Star gasped and slammed the doors shut, locking them with haste.
All the ponies were assembled in the main hall. Scared and dubious of what was to become of them, they now realized they should have listened to Twilight and felt ashamed. Hydia and Reeka were the unlucky ones to be standing in the front and nearest to the entrance doors. The ponies were not concerned of their presence, as there were worse problems waiting outside.
“Mama, please don’t let them find me!” a shivering Reeka clung to her mother. “I DON’T WANNA DIE!”
Hydia, despite being in a most life-threatening situation, turned red at her daughter and screeched: “WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?!”
Something then shook Paradise Estate. Before anyone knew, a Sentinel destroyed the front exterior of the mansion, demolishing the entrance completely and exposing the main hall to the open air. Behind it, thousands more stood; their hands glowing with fully charged energy, ready to blast anything that moved. And before the lines of these mean mechanical monsters posed Tirek.
His unnerving shadow made the ponies and witches shudder, as he frowned at them humorlessly and made his grand speech:
“Look at you… all of you. You hide from these weapons that my forefathers built to destroy you… why? Because you are afraid…”
…
“… afraid to embrace the true essence of darkness."
The everlasting battle in Canterlot would not cease. The ponies by this time were growing weary. The number of surviving royal guards declined rapidly, heavily outnumbered by the increasing Sentinels.
Shining Armor fought hardheartedly to still hold them back. But the opposition refused to surrender. He couldn’t keep up with their numbers much longer. One of them crept up from behind and blasted directly into his back, hurling him to the ground with excruciating pain as the heat chewed through his armor. Four more joined in and blasted away, disintegrating the royal guard captain into lifeless dust.
"Ponies have always feared everything that is darkness."
With her lasso torn, Applejack became cornered by two Sentinels. One grabbed her by the tail with ease. Hung upside-down, Applejack was brought to the other Sentinel as it exposed a radiating blast from its hand below her head. She shrieked, kicking her legs and writhing for freedom as she was slowly raised down… feeling the intensity of the blast’s heat as it touched her mane… then the tip of her head… and then her face, which gradually melted away.
Fluttershy tried to shake off a stubborn Sentinel behind her tail who wouldn’t lose sight of her. It expelled a tentacle from its wrist, which fastened around the neck of the Pegasus pony, stopping her in mid-air and strangling her cruelly. She began to lose breath…
"Well, I’m here to tell you, to tell the world, that you’re right to fear it!"
Rarity sped to Fluttershy’s aid. Sentinels blocked her path but she dodged them or whacked them aside without difficulty. Yet one that tracked her managed to calculate her every movement, and trapped her in its hands like a runaway lab rat.
Rarity was held securely within the robot’s grasp. She wrestled dearly to break free as it paced. Pinkie Pie, who was in its way, didn’t run away fast enough and was consequently crushed to death when the Sentinel trampled on her.
"For too long, you have lived in harmony and flourished in peace…"
Rarity struggled so desperately to break free and save Flutttershy. But then the Sentinel squeezed her within its cold hard fingers. Rarity heard the sound of her bones crunch as she tried to scream for help but couldn’t… for her voice box was crushed. The Sentinel casually discarded her once she was dead.
Fluttershy felt her windpipe sealed, still under the hold of the Sentinel, staring at her with its unsympathetic eyes. Her face turned blue as she choked, drained of her supply of last oxygen as her eyes shed tears. And within seconds of her dying breath, she went limp. The Sentinel released its victim as her body fell to the ground lifeless.
"... but today instead, you cower before the devastation my army has unleashed."
Tirek was still keeping up his guard; slaying as many more Sentinels with what magic remained within his power and pummeling them with his bare hands. Having taken out several of hundreds within the hour, the same hundreds more simply took their places. And soon enough, the last surviving centaur took his fall.
"We shall ravage your precious lands in our wake, tearing them apart until nothing remains as we obliterate those who stand in our way…”
The Sentinels surrounded him. Despite Tirek’s best resistance, they restrained him and lifted him up off his feet. Four of them grabbed each of his hooves while another two grabbed each of his horns and another two his arms. And together as a heartless team, they pulled him, stretching his limbs and horns far beyond their normal reach. Yet Tirek wouldn’t yield, roaring madly in defiance and denying the Sentinels to get the better of him.
Then Tirek fell deathly quiet as he felt his horns detach, his arms fall out of place and his legs rip apart.
…
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were the first ones to hear the Sentinels banging on the castle doors. Princess Cadance’s heart raced as she looked over at the open door of the throne room apprehensively. Spike on the other hand, rose gallantly, willing to take on their uninvited guests alone.
Without a word of goodbye or turning his back, he sprinted out of the throne room and headed to the main hall. There, he saw the entrance doors already partially splintered, exposing the faces of the Sentinels staring back at him emotionlessly. Spike only scowled.
With deep inhaling, he ripped open a barrage of green flames, holding back his enemies a little while longer…
…
“… a new age starts today, the new age of your lord; Tirek! May the earth and heavens kneel and tremble before my godly presence!”
The ponies dropped speechless before Tirek. One pony, however, refused to submit so easily. Magic Star shifted from the crowd and stepped forwards. This unexpected act of heroism caught the mad centaur’s attention.
“We will NEVER let that happen, Tirek!” Magic Star snapped. “If you want to kill us so badly, then you’ll have to go through me first!”
The ponies gasped in fright.
Tirek only laughed with amusement, scoffing. “That’s incredibly brave of you, my dear. But very well, allow me to grant your wish and assist you in being the first to taste the utmost force of the almighty Sentinels!”
The Sentinels locked onto Magic Star and fixed aim at her. Magic Star stood unshaken. She was more than willing to sacrifice herself for the ponies.
However, Tirek heard a bizarre noise behind him, and it wasn’t from the Sentinels. Before he could turn around, he was violently struck on the back by a beam from the Scepter of Darkness, wielded in the hands of Draggle. Though in the most haggard appearance, she scored a direct hit as the Crown of Darkness fell off Tirek’s head.
“NOBODY LAYS A FINGER ON HYDIA EXCEPT ME!” she yelled.
Everyone froze as the Sentinels came to a temporary halt. Draggle reclaimed the Crown of Darkness for herself, wearing it. She then faced Hydia with utter despise and loathsomeness.
The Sentinels were reactivated and adjusted their targets, charging up again for full blast. At the same time, Draggle powered up her scepter and drew it at Hydia, ready for a double strike. Hydia was petrified beyond comprehension and for the first time in many years, feared for her own life. Magic Star retreated to the ponies, spreading her arms out to protect as many of her kind as she could as they gathered, cherishing their last moments together. Reeka was motionless, not even capable of defending her own mother from impending death.
Draggle clenched her teeth, the scepter glowing with pure malice as her body was fuelling with ferocity. The moment was here. All the years of torment and abuse from her mother was going to finally come to an abrupt end.
“DIE HYDIAAAAA!” Draggle shrieked at the top of her lungs, just as she was to command the Sentinels to open fire.
Suddenly, a cloud of sparkles startled the crowd. There in a flash, was Twilight and Megan, both still barely alive yet still in critical condition. They stood before Draggle, obstructing her from causing any further harm.
“MEGAN!” Fizzy shouted amongst the ponies… she was followed by a few others who shouted the same name, just in as much awe as her by her unexpected return.
Another cloud of sparkles appeared, revealing Glory with Surprise, Posey, Firefly, Applejack and Spike. Likewise, they were all in terrible shape. Courageously they took their stand with Twilight and Megan, resistant to budge.
Though hardly able to stand, Megan staggered forwards, clutching her left arm dripping with blood, making her last plea.
“DRAGGLE, THAT’S ENOUGH!” she cried out.
“MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!” Draggle warned her, her arms shaking nervously as adrenaline rushed through her veins. “THIS IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!”
“No, it isn’t.” Megan answered. “But this won’t undo the horrible things Hydia has done. I’ve said it to you before, but killing won’t solve anything. It will only lead you into an even darker path. Please do not make yourself the villain again.” she begged, struggling to keep her balance.
“What are you talking about?!” Draggle replied, shaking her head in denial. “I already am!”
“No, you’re not.” Megan said meekly. “Look around you. What you’ve done is save the lives of these innocent ponies.”
Draggle paused in doubt.
“It proves… that there’s still much good in you. You can show witches like yourself a better path, a better life, and that you can be a better person. Ever since you were born, your mother has been controlling you, feeding you with hatred, and look where that’s brought us, and for what reason…?”
Draggle felt her vile inner feelings begin to slowly crumble and dissolve…
“Everything that happens now rests in your hands. I believe in you, Draggle.”
… into nothing but sorrow.
…
The bloodcurdling cries of Spike echoed in the main hall and through the hallway as he burned from the Sentinels’ fire. The Alicorns listened all too well. They were now helpless.
…
Draggle stared at Megan and Twilight falteringly. Applejack, Glory, Surprise, Posey, Firefly and Spike watched in suspense. Hydia, Reeka and the ponies did the same, awaiting her ultimate response.
…
The Sentinels entered the throne room one by one, enclosing the Alicorns, eyeing down at them emotionlessly. With no way out and all hope seemingly abandoned, there was nothing else the Alicorns could do except sit and watch in despair. The Sentinels raised their hands, their palms flaring with blinding solar light upon the last four surviving ponies.
Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and Princess Cadance shared their last moments together as they prepared to face their own fatal demise.
…
Heartfelt tears ran down Draggle’s face. Tirek’s spell on her slowly diminished as its aura faded. She had no words. Deep inside, she did the very thing that no other witch had ever done before; listen to what her heart was telling her and do what was right.
Hence, Draggle lowered the Scepter of Darkness, dropping it to the ground, cracking its orb as its energy evaporated. She removed the Crown of Darkness off her head, throwing it to the floor and stomping on it, shattering its jewel and destroying its power forever.
The Sentinels deactivated for the very last time… the eerie and unnaturally yellow glow emanating from their eyes was no more.
…
The Alicorns shut their eyes as the Sentinels blasted away. But just an inch away from being scorched, everything including them, vanished right out of thin air. All fell quiet in Canterlot.
…
“NOOOOOO!” Tirek howled after seeing what Draggle did. “YOU STUPID LITTLE GIRL! Do you have any idea what you have DONE?!”
Burned and weakened, he crawled to the broken Scepter and Crown of Darkness, reaching his hands for them both but realized it was pointless. His plot to rid the ponies had been foiled, against all the odds. It was disbelieving.
Tirek snarled obnoxiously as he rose, staring for a long silent period at Megan, Twilight, her friends, the ponies, the witches, and finally Draggle. The Sentinels were dead. The lifeless giants no longer posed any threat, switched off permanently and now forever useless.
It was an embarrassing enough defeat. Tirek saw no point in bringing this conflict any further. He let out a high whistle and within moments, his dragons arrived pulling his Chariot of Darkness, descending down upon him.
“You’ve saved this day, ponies! But don’t think this is over!” he hissed, shaking his fist vehemently as he embarked on his ride. “UNTIL NEXT TIME! YOU’VE HAVEN’T HEARD THE LAST FROM MEEEEE!”
The Chariot of Darkness left the scene and Tirek disappeared into the clouds.
With the malefactor gone, Draggle then did something that nobody ever expected from her, even Megan. She untied the bows binding her long and rumpled hair, casting them aside as they were whisked away by the summer’s breeze. Mouths dropped open at the sight of how truly elegant and naturally beautiful she was.
She glanced at Hydia sternly.
“So long, Mama.” she said, and then to Megan, faintly smiling. “Goodbye, Megan.”
And with a sigh of relief, she quietly turned her back and walked away, pass the Sentinels and down a steep hill, never to be seen or heard from again.
Hydia and Reeka were heartbroken; learning that they had lost a family member. The ponies eased from their clustered state and dispersed, cheering for Megan and welcoming her back to Ponyland. Applejack, Glory, Firefly, Posey, Surprise and Spike limped to Megan, congratulating her ever so gratefully.
“YAHOO!” Spike rejoiced, hugging her joyfully.
“I knew you could do it, Megan!” said Glory, springing with glee.
“Ponyland has been saved thanks to you!” Applejack laughed, licking her face.
“HOORAY! YIPEE-ouch! We won!” said an overexcited Surprise, trying not to exert herself too much due to her pains.
Posey searched around for her garden, hoping it hadn’t been damaged. “I wonder if my flowers are still standing after all this disaster.”
The ponies chuckled, as Megan patted them all on the head for their jobs well done.
“What about Draggle?” asked Firefly. “Should we really just let her go?”
“Yes.” Megan nodded. “It’s time she paved the way for herself, rather than live the rest of her life under wicked shadows. She’ll soon realize that ponies are magnificent, kind and tender loving creatures. I know there will come a day, Firefly, where we won’t have to fear from witches anymore, and we can finally live together in peace.”
It took a while for anyone to notice Twilight getting dizzy, for she was still worn from battle and losing much of her blood.
Megan hurriedly rushed to her aid. “TWILIGHT!” she uttered.
Twilight fainted, her consciousness fading fast. Megan and the ponies gathered around her in vital urgency. They held her, spoke to her, tried everything to keep her awake, but it didn’t help.
And soon enough… Twilight passed out… but not before hearing Megan’s last words:
“You’ll be okay now. It’s over.”
Twilight Sparkle’s mission was fulfilled. Her work in the World Beyond was done. It was time for her to rest at long last.