"Woah!" Spike gasped as he looked down at the village some way below him. It swayed in and out of focus as he adjusted to his sudden growth spurt. Was this how a full grown dragon saw the world?
"That's a long way down," he gulped.
"What is this madness?" Dark Claw growled, voice laced with fury, breaking Spike from his stupor as the rogue Changeling spotted him. "How are you so large?"
"Well, I ate a glowing gemstone..." Spike said. "And then, I got really big! I have no idea what just happened."
Dark Claw snorted derisively, the dragon must have eaten a love-infused gemstone!
"It doesn't matter, because you won't be big for much longer!"
As he spoke, Dark Claw swung a sharp claw with lethal-looking spikes on it in a deadly arc towards the newly-enlarged dragon.
"Hey!" Spike yelled as he stepped back, feeling a whoosh of displaced air as the dangerous weapon cleaved the air in front of him.
Twilight gasped, heart twisting in worry. Spike was going to be killed! She wouldn't see it happen, by Celestia!
Quickly she teleported onto his ear, where she could talk to him relatively safely.
"Spike!" Twilight said.
"Twilight?" Spike asked, looking from side to side. "Where are you?"
"I'm on your ear. You've got to beat that giant Changeling! He's the evil one who's been going against their leader's orders!"
"Okay!" Spike said, determined. His green eyes blazed with determination "You can count on me, Twilight!"
Gathering up his strength and a big gulp of air, Spike let out a gout of green fire, the super-heated flames scorching Dark Claw.
"Raaagh- Why you little-! I'll rip you apart!" Dark Claw snarled, seething silently, even as he recovered swiftly.
Okay Spike, you can do this! The dragon reassured himself, tensed for the counter attack, which gave no delay in coming.
Blood roiling in anger, Dark Claw slashed at Spike, only for Spike to quickly dodge and reply with an attack of his own. Twilight felt a surge of pride for her little assistant, even if he wasn't so little right now!
Spikes claws flashed like knives as he lunged at his opponents face. Forced to drop his attack and quickly retreat backwards, Dark Claw fumed. NO measly dragon would make HIM fall! Not now!
-------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, Twilight's friends, Star Watcher and Bugze, fought from below, injuring Dark Claw's legs and slowing him down as much as they could. Hearts and minds united in one goal; defeat this crazed changeling!
"Impossible!" Dark Claw roared. "I cannot be beaten by a meagre assortment of ponies and Changelings!"
He stomped down, only missing Applejack because Twilight teleported her to safety. A huge cloud of dirt arose from the impact so strong it left a crater in the ground.
"Hooee, thanks Sugarcube!" Applejack hollared, resuming her efforts with gusto!
Suddenly, Rainbow Dash flew out from the cloud and smashed her front hooves into Dark Claw's face, richoeting off and out of reach in a perfect arc, creating a Sonic Rainboom in the process. The blazing light made Dark Claw recoil in agony, the searing kaleidoscope of colours blurring his sight!
As he gave a guttural roar of anger, several diamonds sliced through the air, their razor-sharp facets gleaming, directed by Rarity at Dark Claw's legs.
Applejack bucked at his foot, using bone-breaking force, putting every ounce of strength her hard working life had given her into each kick.
Pinkie and Bugze had teamed up to piece together a Party Cannon filled with shrapnel, fire, and other dangerous materials for devastating effect! The words 'Master Blaster' had been daubed on the cannon's side in pink paint!
Together they slung a new round into the cannon, hitting the firing pedal, shooting another blazing round into Dark Claw. The air around them was heavy with acidic smoke, but they'd planned for this. Nodding at one another, Bugze and Pinkie tied handkerchiefs over their faces, the material scented with some perfume from Rarity's collection!
Twilight shot beams of magic from her place on Spike's ear. However, it all seemed no use. Dark Claw was simply too big.
With a roar of laughter, he kicked out at the ponies below, too fast for Twilight to step in and help.
"EVERYPONY!!" She cried, her heart pounding in fear. She took a shaky, hiccupy breath, pleading wordlessly with them to be alright...
She and Spike stopped and looked at the cloud of dust the attack produced in horror, watching as their friends bounced out, defeated. Twilight felt a tear of relief plop down her face, followed by a few more before she steeled herself, this fight wasn't over!
Dismissing the uncrushed ponies below, Dark Claw turned his attention back to the Dragon and his little pony rider.
Twilight seen a blur of movement and cried out, but too late. With one kick to the gut, Spike vomited, spitting up the partially digested gemstone. Cut off from the source of energy, he began to shrink to normal size, Twilight falling from his ear. They hit the cracked and broken ground, sending up a puff of dirt.
Twilight groaned groggily, reaching a hoof out to a shivering Spike, drawing him towards her soundlessly. The small dragon held onto her, coughing painfully..
Above them Dark Claw was revelling in his perceived victory "I have won!" he roared. "Nothing can stop me now!"
Unseen by Dark Claw, a seal was broken, a message writ, and the special scroll evaporated into green smoke, taking a message to the source of the only possible salvation for the battle!
Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and their troops, all fully armed and armored, flew in the vague direction of the battleground. They didn't have the precise location of the battlefield, but they knew it was close.
Green smoke approached the party, and Princess Celestia called a halt. After reading for a moment, she looked up with a burning fire in her eyes. A new determination filled them, and Luna felt it surge through their bond.
"This way," she called out, directing the army in the direction the smoke had come from. "We must hurry, it may already be too late!"
Oh Twilight, please don't be hurt, The Alicorn sun Princess prayed, feeling a worried throb in her heart for her always-prized student, even if Twilight had long surpassed any class she could ever teach!
Only a few minutes later, Dark Claw was in sight, still roaring in manic laughter. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sent their troops to flank him, while flying into battle at top speed, hearts steeled for what lay ahead!
"HALT!" Luna cried. "THOU CANNOT HOPE TO WIN! SURRENDER NOW AND WE MAY YET SHOW MERCY!"
Celestia flew along side her, a fierce glare upon her face.
"AS IF!" was Dark Claw's reply. "I SHALL DESTROY YOU AND ALL YOU HOLD DEAR! WATCH NOW, CELESTIA, AS YOUR WORTHLESS STUDENT IS CRUSHED!!"
Time slowed down for Celestia as Dark Claw raised one foot and, with a grin wrought of nothing but hatred and sickening delight, stepped down on Twilight.
Not Twilight! Celestia thought. You will not take one of my dearest friends from me!!
Even as this thought tore through her mind, Celestia rocketed forward, eyes and trajectory set on her student.
"Sister!" Luna cried, already knowing what was going to happen, but helpless to stop it..
Celestia created a Sonic Skyboom as she flew, the speed and power of the Princesses flight breaking the sound barrier! With an ear shattering blast, a brilliant disk of light exploded behind her, but she pushed herself still faster. A palpable golden contrail followed her as she pushed the very limits of her abilities as an Alicorn, enhancing her movement through the air not only with Pegasus magic, but with Unicorn magic and Earth Pony magic as well.
All she could see was Twilight below, her wide purple eyes filled with a mix of pain and fear, but as they focused onto Celestia, they gained a measure of hope and love too..
Celestia's wings beat stronger, the air shaped itself before her, bending to her sheer speed and force of will. She pulled herself forward with levitation, and time itself felt as if it had slowed down, as Celestia's speed approached that of light, until she reached Twilight. Landing on the crumbled earth, she quickly reached out to shove Twilight out from under the falling foot. A nanosecond was spared to lovingly brush twilights bangs from her face, then she was pushing her beloved student away, out of the range of the attack.
With a painful sound, the foot landed on Celestia, just barely missing Twilight. All was quiet.
"PRINCESS CELESTIA!" Twilight screamed, cutting through the terrible silence. Tears began to flow unashamedly from her eyes. This couldnít be real...
"I cannot be stopped. Even your beloved Princess was powerless against me," Dark Claw claimed calmly. "There is no hope for you pathetic wretches!"
He reached down and picked Star Watcher from the ground.
"You, Changeling, have caused me quite a bit of trouble. It is time for your punishment!"
Dark Claw began to squeeze Star Watcher, watching him gasp for breath as he slowly choked to death, a perverse smile on his face at the Changeling's suffering. He could feel the Changeling's heartbeat slowing, like a butterfly battering against a paper shade. But his crowing over Star watchers end was cut short, as suddenly Star Watcher's horn began to glow! In a flash of burning green fire, Star Watcher appeared on Dark Claw's head, doubled over, forcing air back into his lungs.
"I cannot let you win! I WILL NOT LET YOU!" Star Watcher wheezed. "I cannot allow you to destroy both of my species. No matter what it takes, I will NOT let you win this fight!!"
Dark Claw chuckled. "Fool! As if you could even stand a chance against me!"
"HE DOTH NOT FIGHT ALONE!" Luna roared, the mace she wielded clanging against Dark Claw's face as the princess of the night, heart aching for her sister, turned this emotion into a strength that dealt a painful blow. "ATTACK, MY GUARD! FOR EQUESTRIA!"
The Royal Guard roared together, and Dark Claw took a step forward. Twilight immediately levitated Celestia away from the danger of battle, now that she was no longer under Dark Claw's foot.
"T-t-twilight!" gasped Celestia. "I-I-I'll be alright. I've had worse-," she tried to flex one wing and felt a pain that made her eyes prickle with tears, and her heart catch in her throat, "Okay, m-maybe not, but still. I'll be f-fine."
"Princess!" Twilight sobbed, pressing her cheek to Celestia's, wishing only to heal her teachers pain... Please...
"T-Twilight." Celestia's voice grew stronger. "You must tell Star Watcher... Tell him to remember the class I taught in... Tell him to remember the lesson on parasitism... He'll know what to do."
"I... I'll do it, Princess. For you." Twilight replied, tears dripping down her cheeks. Celestia raised one hoof shakily, patting Twilights forehead again, mustering a fond smile.
"Good," Celestia replied with a sigh, closing her eyes. "Now, I don't think I can stay awake for much longer. However, after resting for a few hours, I'll be able to go back to Canterlot on my own, and after a few weeks of good sleep I believe I will make a full recovery. Do NOT worry about me Twilight! You're strong, you're brave, and right now Star Watcher needs your help!"
Twilight nodded once more, stowing her fear away.
"Don't forget! Tell Star Watcher. He is the only one who can save us now..."
With that, Celestia dropped into a deep slumber from magical and physical exhaustion, her first since the fight with Nightmare Moon over a thousand years prior. Twilight teleported away to rejoin the battle, but not before transmuting Celestia a bed to rest on, far away from the dangers of battle. She didn't even have to call out, as one of the guards banked mid-flight, settling beside the injured princess. He saluted Twilight, who gave a teary eyed smile in return before vanishing in a flash of purple!
Star Watcher pounded away at Dark Claw's head, knowing that he could only serve as a nuisance to the giant Changeling, but still trying all the same. Hope and sheer determination went into every blow he struck, the images of Twilight and the others serving as his strength. Love for your friends could be just as powerful as what they gave you, he realised..
Princess Luna, fully garbed in her war armor, swung repeatedly at Dark Claw, engaging in a desperate battle from which there could only be one conclusion.
With a clang, Luna failed to dodge one of Dark Claw's powerful swipes and fell from the sky, impacting the ground at high speeds. The guards had been long since defeated, their valiant efforts come to a halt.
Only the one guarding Celestia, hidden from Dark Claw's peripheral vision, was left awake. When he seen Luna felled, he felt a surge of anger. He served the Princesses until his last breathand he had to save Luna!
With a deep breath he kicked off from the ground, streamlining his body as best he could, eyes fixed on Luna. He glanced up, seeing Dark claw was preoccupied by the one stomping on his head, and swiftly gathered up Luna, holding her with his hooves as best he could. With her armor on, she was heavy, but he put every bit of energy he had into his wings, beating the smoke-filled air and using momentum to fling them both across the ground, the smoke blurring his eyes and tearing at his throat.
They hit the floor by Celestia's bed, and he used the little strength he had left to nudge the Princess of the Moon onto the bed beside her sister. Then he crumpled to the floor, watching the battle hazily, praying Twilight Sparkle and the others could save everypony..
It's over...
Star Watcher could feel his, and the rest of the world's, inevitable doom coming. It was almost palpable; the taste unlike anything he'd ever known. It was a sicking sensation. And yet, he soldiered on. Blow after blow, harder and harder on Dark Claw's head.
A sickening crack filled the air, and pain coursed through Star Watcher's hoof. He cried out in desperate pain, stumbled, and fell forward as one of his limbs refused to hold his weight. He began to roll off of Dark Claw's head, but another thud was heard, and his ribs flared in agony as he crashed into Dark Claw's horn near the edge, keeping him from falling but adding further injury.
Still, he refused to give up. With his still functional hooves, he kicked at the horn, giving Dark Claw a light itching sensation. Suddenly, a flash of purple made Star Watcher look back to the top of Dark Claw's head.
"Star Watcher!" Twilight called. Her mane was in disarray and tears still sparkled fresh on her cheeks, but her eyes were fill of a strength and determination that seemed to light them from within. With the suns light behind her she cut a strong figure in the midst of battle, "Princess Celestia has a message for you!"
A message? For me?
"She said, 'Remember the class I taught on parasitism!' Does that mean anything to you?"
A light went on in Star Watcher's brain, remembering a distant lesson at the Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns, a lesson on parasites, in which he asked an unusual question.
Why don't parasites feed off of each other? Because the parasite that feeds will take the other parasite's nutrients...
Celestia, you remembered! he silently thanked the Alicorn. His hope sparked afresh with this new idea, Star Watcher lit his horn and began to channel a spell he thought he would never use: the Changeling spell to drain all emotions from a target. Touching his horn to Dark Claw's, he began to steal back the love that belonged to the Changelings. It was like a flower blooming in a midnight field, petals like ivory, and glowing with the light of love and magic!
"WHAT?" Dark Claw growled, turning his head left to right. "NO! WHERE IS MY POWER GOING? WHAT WRETCH DARES-"
Even as he screamed out, Dark Claw closed his eyes, feeling for growing power with the emotion detecting spell. Noticing it's location, he quickly swiped at the location of its owner, hatred blinding him to all common sense.
Star Watcher, having healed his hoof from the absorption of energy, quickly dodged, eyes gleaming with renewed fervor. Dark Claw's slash missed him, crashing instead into his own head.
"Argh!" he snarled, vision blacking at the edges. The attack's purpose succeeded, however: Star Watcher's spell, now broken, ceased draining his power.
Star Watcher, realising the spell had broken off, immediately rushed back to Dark Claw's horn to drain more power. Dark Claw's next swing was towards Star Watcher came horizontally, so as to prevent Star Watcher from dodging. Twilight teleported to safety when it neared her, heart pounding as she watched her friend racing to resume the spell!
With a quick burst of energy, Star Watcher jumped over Dark Claw's leg, which came crashing down... onto Dark Claw's own horn. With a splintering crack, the great horn broke in two.
Dark Claw screamed in anguish, a spasm of pain ratcheting through his head down to his hooves. He began shrinking rapidly, as the stored emotional energy was released into the nearby area.
Twilight dove in and grabbed Star Watcher, transporting them both to the relative safety of the ground, where they watched in awe, the release so concentrated that the leak was visible to unaided eyes. It filled the air with a veritable spectrum of colours, all shimmering and swimming in and out of each other. The other ponies looked over, feeling their hearts lightening as they watched the display.
Finally, Dark Claw finished shrinking to the size of an ordinary Changeling, sobbing and pawing at his broken horn.
"I was right." Bugze said gravely, surprising Twilight and Star Watcher.
"About what?" Twilight asked curiously.
"He was a three-stage boss fight!"
Twilight and Star Watcher facehoofed simultaneously, accompanied by Bugze's whooping laughter.
"WE DID IT!" Pinkie whooped suddenly, a delighted laugh breaking through her tiredness, like sunshine through clouds!
"Awesome as we wanna be!î"Rainbow hugged Fluttershy as the shy Pegasus let out a slightly louder then normal "Yay!".
"Kickin'... flank, and takin'... names..." Applejack wheezed to Rarity, who nodded then flopped back onto the ground with a great big sigh of relief, declaring she was "Exhausted, darlings!".
Luna, her body seeming to be one giant ache, forced herself to open her eyes, the memory of the battle rushing back. Celestia-?
She realised she was lying on a bed, and somepony was there with her. It was Celestia, breathing steadily, in a deep magical sleep. Luna gave a great sob of relief and nuzzled her sisters nose, whispering that she was right here.
"The battle..." a weak voice spoke up. Lifting her head she seen a guard, wings hanging limply to the ground, their feathers clogged in dust, pulling himself to a sitting position by the end of the bed. She realised he must have saved her, as the last she recalled was falling towards the ground, then nothing.
"Is it over..?" Luna asked, he nodded.
"That thing...is gone..." he announced, gathering his strength to salute her, which meant he lost balance and toppled over.
"We will see to it you get the biggest promotion we can offer, for protecting us!" Luna declared, then blacked out once more. The guard nodded weakly, looking over at where Twilight and the others stood...