//------------------------------// // Act 2 Chapter 3 - End of Act 2 // Story: All the Trolls. ALL OF THEM. // by Alex Prior //------------------------------// Begin Chapter Three *SLAM!* Without warning, Pinkie slammed into the concerned form of High Lord Makara. He quickly wrapped the pink pony into a hug. “What’s happened, sis? Where’s the rush at? Did some mothefuckin’ blasphemer... hurt you?” Pinkie nodded so fast Makara thought for a moment her head would fall off. “Yes! No! Maybe! They hurt the others -- I’m in danger -- you have to help me!” Makara frowned. “Well then. If my good sis says so, then I really oughta motherfuckin’ help her, don’t I?” With a thought, he captchalogued the party pony -“to keep you safe, sis”-, ingored a floating hand, and jogged off towards Ponyville. He had a sister in miracles to help. ----- Serket and Nitram materialized in mid-air, blazing forth in their rocketshoes, and took in the situation from above. “Cr8p, we can’t t8ke all of them. Tore8dor? You deal with the 8east. I’ll stop that cart!” Nitram saluted and veered off towards the forest, hands already flying to his temples. He furrowed his brow when the attempted communion didn’t work. “Th1s 1s go1ng to get compl1c8ted,” he muttered, equipping his lance. ----- Fluttershy shrieked as, without warning, the Controller fell out of the sky. “Aww shut 1t, 1’m here to help,” the troll groaned, placing himself between the pony and pegasus. Despite the sudden appearance of a mortal enemy, Fluttershy was perhaps a bit more scared of becoming manticore food, so she cowered behind Nitram like he were a shield, poking her head out from behind. “Wha- get 8ack!” he shouted at her. “1 can’t commune w1th 1t - this 8east has been t8mpered w1th - run!” With that, he readied his - lance? - and faced the frothing manticore. “1 don’t know who has done th1s to you,” he snarled, “8ut 1 w1ll put you out of your m1sery.” That shook Fluttershy out of her trance. “Waiiit!” she shrieked. “You said it yourself - he’s not in his right mind - please don’t kill him!” She couldn’t see the Controller’s face, but she felt his body tense. Without warning, he blasted off the ground, throwing his lance at the manticore. Fluttershy gasped, until she saw the lance land just in front of the manticore, scaring it into leaping back. She gasped again, however, when Nitram turned and zoomed back down to the ground and quite literally swept her off her hooves. The pegasus felt her face heat up; such a thing had never happened to her before! She quickly shook herself out of it - what would her friends say? Her friends! With horror, she glanced around and looked upon Rainbow Dash falling, unconscious; Twilight about to run off a cliff; and Rarity about to be run over by a carriage. Moments later, however, she breathed a sigh of relief. ----- “HEEEELP!!!!” screeched Rarity again, but the streets seemed to be abandoned. Was this really how she was going to die? How undignified... Without warning, a Troll teleported in the way of the carriage. He appeared to have blue wings and pajamas -horrid fashion choice, in Rarity’s opinion- and he wore a very long hood. Without speaking a word, he stood quite still, and Rarity had just enough time to wonder if the Troll was stupid or suicidal. Suddenly, the carriage collided with the Heir of Void, and shattered to pieces around his bulky, well muscled body. The sight left Rarity in shock, so much so that she was staring with her mouth left open as the Troll turned back. Without saying a word, the Troll took careful, measured steps towards her and crouched. “D --> I mean you no harm. Unlike most of my companions, I admit to feeling a certain fondness towards you ponies.” With a practiced eye, he tapped a few spots on the green goo and it disappeared, freeing her leg. The troll bowed. “D --> Until we meet again.” He vanished in a flash of blue. ----- “Wait a minute- when did Zahhak go God Tier?” Well, he’s been God Tier for quite a while now actually. It’ll probably be explained more in his Interlude chapter. “Wha- but- why didn’t we know?” The audience doesn’t need to know everything. It’s entirely plausible that this could happen again. In any sense, Zahhak’s godhood hasn’t exactly been relevant until now, has it? And how do you think he had such a good grasp of his Void powers? “D --> I’m not a fan of pajamas. I prefer my standard attire.” “Wait- he can get in here now?” How do you think we’re communicating, Pinkie? Messages, crossing different dimentions, miles of nothing, miles of Void. Besides, weren’t you still supposed to be mad at me for the whole act with your friends? “... >:(” There we go… Back to the story, folks. ----- Twilight, shuddering as the cart bounced and jostled her on its bumpy ride to oblivion, was caught completely off guard as a Troll, dressed in bright orange pajamas, landed in the cart with her. “Y-you!” Twilight cried. “Me,” Serket responded. “8e glad I’m actually on your side this time. Serket is here- your ass is saved.” Serket grabbed Twilight and pushed off the cart, taking the unicorn with her as she flew away. Serket hovered in midair,searching for a place to drop her cargo, before setting her down again on the doorstep of the hospital. “Wha- what’s going on?” Twilight asked. “We’re saving you and your friends,” Serket said, blasting back into the sky. “8e a 8it more gr8teful.” ----- The wind whistled through Rainbow Dash’s mane, and tickled at her wings, both feelings she would’ve enjoyed had she not been completely unconscious. As such, she dropped like a stone through water, her limbs flailing in the breeze as the ground rushed up to meet her. A flash of red, though, and her acceleration stopped, as she found herself caught in the arms of one Maid of Time. “There we g0, I’ve g0t y0u, “Megido whispered, clutching the pegasus tightly, hoping not to drop her. She glanced up at the approaching storm cloud, before snapping her fingers, freezing the thunder cloud in a field of red. “Alright, n0w wake up,” the troll told Rainbow Dash. “... Seri0usly, wake up. Y0u’re actually pretty heavy… N0? N0thing? Ah well, I supp0se y0u did get electr0cuted. Let’s see what we can d0 ab0ut that.” With a wave of her arm, Megido encased Rainbow in a sphere of red. Her wounds started fading away, her eyelids sliding open. “!ereh fo tuo em tel ,yeH ?tahW” “00ps. Left the field 0n for t00 l0ng. Here we g0.” As the field dissipated, Rainbow Dash glanced around, before her eyes settled on Megido. “You,” she growled. “Are you the one behind this?” “Um, n0, I’m the 0ne wh0 just saved y0ur unc0nsci0us ass. Y0u’re welc0me,” Megido snarked, before turning away and gliding off. “Wait, don’t leave me with that! Come back here!” Rainbow called, flying after the Maid. ----- Applejack cringed a little as her faux family came nearer. “Somepony help?” One of the doppelgangers grinned. “So sorry, my dear. No ponies here!” “A fucking good thing I’m not a pony, then, eh?” A Troll stepped into view. His horns were but nubs, but he certainly made up for it with his two black sickles. The doppelgangers recoiled. “Threshecutioner!” The Troll blinked. “Well that’s a fucking interesting title. One I haven’t really used much. Specifically, one I only told to the Princesses and Jack... sorry, Hive Lord Noir. You know, the changeling.” He grinned at their suddenly concerned faces. “Thought so. So it is Jack behind this after all. Didn’t realize the grouch was still alive. I mean, it’s been what, twelve hundred years? You lot sure are resilient.” The newly-revealed changelings blinked, before they engulfed themselves in green flames. Applejack gave a yelp of surprise as they returned to their insectile selves. “What makes you so sure it’s The Hive Lord? Surely it could be one from another hive...?” The troll shrugged. “You just told me. Now,” he added through the indignant protests of the Changelings, “It’s time for me to lop off some heads. Just like the old times.” With that last remark, he pounced. Applejack shielded her face once the green ichor started raining down. ----- “Oh. Hey, Zahhak,” Ampora muttered as the Heir of Void materialized in the moon lab. He lay next to Peixes on a couch someone had alchemized, idly watching as Captor worked furiously on the Computer screen, sending updates to the trolls. “I don’t suppose you’d like to tell me wwhy you suddenly decided to go God Tier on everybody’s-” He couldn’t finish his droll sentence before Zahhak grabbed him by the throat, lifting him into the air. “Ampora!” Peixes cried, leaping from her seat to assist her friend- Zahhak grabbed her with his other arm, and then hurled her through the lab wall. “Peixes!” Ampora screamed, his arms flailing as he reached for his wand, in hopes of escaping the mad troll and helping his friend. His struggle was futile- a quick squeeze to the throat left Ampora gasping for air before Zahhak dropped him to the floor. “Hey, keep iit down back there,” Captor called. “II’m tryiing to work here.” Ampora had barely regained his breath when Zahhak grabbed him again, this time by the scruff of his shirt, and forcefully pulled him back to his feet. “D --> Now listen to me, Ampora, for I will say this but once,” Zahhak whispered. “D --> You’re going to come with me and we’re going to go back down to Equestria, find the group responsible for this mess, and kill them. Do I make myself e%ceptionally clear?” “I-I don’t think you understand,” Ampora stuttered, trying to look as confident as he could having been lifted five inches off the ground. “This isn’t some game wwe can all play heroes in. The Princesses want us petrified, AKA pretty much dead, and I’m not going back into stone anytime soon. Eliminating the Elements of Harmony is the only surefire wway to ensure that wwe stay free.” “D --> You are a disgusting little eel, Ampora,” Zahhak growled. “H-hey! Wwhat are you ragging on me for? Pyrope didn’t go along wwith you either,” Ampora cried, gesturing at the troll sitting in the back, silently observing the events take place. “D --> You’re the one that might actually be useful, (H3y!) provided you clean up your sorry e%cuse of a villain act and just come with me,” Zahhak growled. “D --> Or are you actually so depraved as to let the injury of children and cold blooded murder of women play out?” A fierce yell came from behind the two as Peixes charged Zahhak from behind. The enormous troll didn’t even glance at the incoming seadweller as he backhanded her away. “D --> Now let me ask one more time, before I truly become %. Are you coming with me or not?” Ampora, maybe at the sound of Zahhak’s words and maybe also because he’d just decked an incoming fighter like it was nothing, began vigorously nodding his head. “D --> Good,” Zahhak said, releasing his grip on the seadweller. “Hey, you two,” Captor called. “II ju2t zoomed iin on the dragon’2 room. You miight want two 2ee thii2.” ----- The nurse was emptying the contents of a large needle into Spike’s skinny arm when the whirring of a chainsaw announced Maryam’s arrival as she burst through the door, weapon at the ready. “If You Have Any Instinct Of Self-Preservation, You Will Back Away From The Dragon,” the Caretaker hissed. The nurse gave a devious smile. “You’re in no situation to give orders,” she replied, holding up the emptied syringe. Maryam’s eyes widened in concern. “What Foul Substance Did You Inject The Child With,” she snarled. “This? Nothing harmful,” the nurse revealed, “just something to keep our bargaining chip asleep for a while. Now this-” she said, removing a sharper needle full of wicked green liquid- “This is the stuff you’ve got to worry about. Lower your weapon.” Maryam’s look of hate intensified as she, reluctantly, lowered the chainsaw. “Good,” the nurse grinned. “Now, let’s have a chat about how you figured out that you should be here.” “I… Received A Call,” Maryam replied, tensely preparing to pounce at the first sign of opportunity. “As Did My Compatriots- They Will Arrive Shortly And It Will All Be Over For You When They Do.” “Don’t bet on it, lady,” the nurse replied. “My bugs can get here quicker than yours.” On cue, several ponies burst through the windows- four miscellaneous townsponies, a young foal and… Sapphire Shores. The disguises, though, quickly went up in smoke- or rather, green flames, as the changelings they hid dispelled their illusions. The nurse also went up in a burst of fire, revealing yet another changeling beneath, this one considerably bigger than the others, with four wings and green, slit-pupilled eyes, as opposed to the drones’ blue. “Kill the troll,” he ordered, a grin springing to his face. The first changeling caught Maryam off guard, springing at her as she was still raising her chainsaw, and thus tackling the troll out of Spike’s room. Maryam quickly threw the insect off of her, before leaping to her feet. The changeling snarled and leapt at her again, but this time Maryam was ready. A swift slice and the bug’s head rolled away, snagging on a hand for a moment. A scorching pain blasted Maryam in the back, sending her tumbling down the hospital hall. She rose to her feet and spotted another changeling charging its horn with green energy, preparing for another attack. Maryam dodged several more bolts of magic, taking cover behind a hallway wastebin. She gripped her chainsaw tightly, poised to leap out from behind her shield, when the double doors at the end of the hallway were encased in a purple glow and ripped off their hinges. “Where’s Spike?” Twilight Sparkle called as she barged into the room. The changeling fired another beam of green at the librarian, only for Twilight to respond with a beam of purple that quickly overwhelmed the insect and launched him across the hall. A third changeling emerged from Spike’s room, only for him to be encased in a blue aura as Rarity stepped out from behind Twilight. The seamstress flung the changeling through the corridor, where he crashed into his friend, the two out cold. Twilight and Rarity dashed through the hospital hall, soon joined by Maryam. The three slid to a stop in front of Spike’s room. “We’ll say it again,” Rarity growled, clearly at the end of her patience. “Where’s Spike?” “He’s right here,” the big changeling responded, gesturing at the unconscious dragon whose neck he held a syringe to. “Quite alright, for now, so long as you lot stay put. If not, well…” The changeling gripped the syringe a bit tighter. “I may have to harm this poor young fellow.” Suddenly, the needle shattered, the toxin spilling harmlessly on Spike’s scaled chest. The big changeling glanced at his hoof, which couldn’t possibly have been holding the syringe that hard, before spotting a message hanging beside his head: - ALL THE LUCK! He turned to glare out the window, where a flying troll in orange pajamas smirked back. “Dammit,” he hissed. “New plan,” he told the remaining three changelings. “Retreat and regroup with the main force. Go!” With that, the changelings fled through their windows of entry, barely avoiding magical blasts from Twilight. Their leader fired a series of laser blasts through his window at Serket (who gracefully swooped away, dodging the magic), before leaping out the window himself, and just before Maryam’s chainsaw swung through the space he’d occupied a second before. One changeling made it halfway to the ground before a blur of color tackled him the rest of the way. Rainbow Dash rammed the changeling into the stone road below, leaving behind a squished and icky mess. A second changeling actually landed on the ground before freezing, suddenly engulfed in a field of pulsing red as Megido hovered above. He stayed immobile for roughly two seconds before Nitram impaled the bug on the point of his lance, a sight that made Fluttershy flinch from where she stood several feet away. And a third changeling landed next to his leader, surveying his opponents and growing more worried by the second. “Err- boss?” he asked, glancing in fright as Maryam, Twilight, and Rarity burst through the hospital doors and into the road with the rest of the ponies and trolls. “What do we do?” “Well, I’d start by looking behind you,” the leader advised, just before Applejack rushed up and gave the confused bug a ferocious kick, sending him flying away. The earth pony turned to the bigger changeling, planning to repeat the maneuver, but was quickly sent flying herself from a powerful blast of magic. Applejack slid several feet before returning to her hooves, alongside her group of battle-ready allies (and Fluttershy). Vantas quickly ran up as well, joining the fray at last. “Jack Noir,” he announced over the buzz of battle (which was probably what that noise was), pointing one of his sickles at the changeling. “I knew you’d be behind this.” “Twelve hundred years hasn’t been very good to your memory, has it, Threshecutioner?” Noir growled back, drawing one of his numerous knives. “It’s Hive Lord Noir- none of this Jack shit. Now, who wants to die first?” “*Snort* You’re going to fight all of us?” Vantas laughed, barely audible over the hum of his allies’ anticipation (he hoped that was where the noise was coming from). “No,” Hive Lord Noir replied as the buzzing reached its peak. “They are.” The sky suddenly swarmed with changelings, filling the skies with their beating wings. The ponies eyes shot wide open, while the trolls grimaced and clutched their respective weapons a little bit tighter. Hive Lord Noir gave a humorless laugh as he addressed his insect army. “Kill them. Kill all of them.” At their lord’s command, the changelings attacked. The trolls on the ground dashed towards the incoming enemy, meeting it head on. Vantas and Maryam sliced through a charge of insects, heads flying every which way. Applejack rushed up at their side, giving the bugs powerful kicks with her powerful legs, as Twilight and Rarity fired blasts of their own magic into the horde. A stray changeling broke from the group, zooming towards Rarity, but quickly found his head crushed into the ground beneath the black-belt’s hooves. Serket and Megido took to the skies, cutting through changelings with dice rolls and telekinetic chokeholds, and were soon joined by a multicolored pegasus. Together, the three flew through swaths of airborne enemy, like a knife through butter. “Hey, Nitram,” Vantas called as the troll in question stabbed an insect through its carapaced chest. “Why don’t you just take control of these suckers?” “There’s way too many of them,” Nitram replied as he drove his lance through another bug. “1 mean, unless you want me to try and t8ke control of one at a t1me…” “Then we just keep fighting,” Vantas growled, decapitating another changeling. The fight raged on. Makara and Pinkie had turned up at some point: the former nimbly wielded clubs, whacking the bugs away; the latter hurled frosted pastries at the hordes, which proved surprisingly effective. Vantas’ sickle had become green with ichor and Maryam was finding it slightly difficult to resist the appetizing liquid that coated the battlefield. Nitram speared through a great line of changelings, clearing a path for Applejack to follow, sending any nearby insects packing. But she was slowing down. Vantas found it more and more difficult to swing his sickle, and Maryam found it harder to heft her chainsaw. Twilight and Rarity, their magical reserves quickly emptying, fired their beams of magic with lesser and lesser frequency. In the air, the god tiered trolls showed little sign of slowing, but were finding themselves somewhat overwhelmed by an enemy that could absorb losses with little issue. The group’s initial rush seemed to be backfiring- the trolls and the ponies (the tronies? Nah…) were surrounded. A flash of blue and Zahhak appeared on scene, Ampora in tow. The Heir of Void promptly rushed into the swarming brawl, and found about twenty changelings rushing back at him. Ampora made to join Twilight and Rarity, but after several of his white magic attacks cut chunks from the enemy’s forces, a considerable portion detached to attack him as well. “So that’s howw you wwanna play it,” he grinned, twirling his glowing wand as the enemy approached. Vantas sliced down yet another of the endless insects as he found himself standing next to Zahhak, who punched his way through the hordes of insects without concern. “Hey. Nice of you to finally show up,” Vantas muttered as he struggled to hold off one bug’s attack. “Can we expect anyone else?” “D --> I don’t believe so,” Zahhak replied. “D --> Pei%es is currently, erm… out cold. Pyrope is being e%cruciatingly difficult. Captor is 100king in as we speak.” “Ah wonderful,” Vantas groaned. “The sweaty horse and the wizard douche. Excellent backup, great job.” “D --> Who would you have asked for?” Zahhak asked as he ripped open a portal to the void, shoving several changelings through. “D --> I for one feel that things are going considerably more smoothly now. In fact-” But Zahhak never finished his statement as double edged sword pierced suddenly through his chest. The startled Vantas leapt back as Zahhak struggled to stay standing. He failed, and toppled to the ground, dead. Hive Lord Noir yanked the double edged sword from Zahhak’s corpse, before returning it to his deck of cards and drawing instead a wickedly sharp knife. “Hey, kid. Draw.” “Oh please don’t let it be heroic, please don’t let it be heroic,” Vantas muttered as he charged the Hive Lord with his sickles drawn. The two enemies met, clashing to the sound of metal on metal, scythe on knife, as in the background Zahhak’s corpse became engulfed in blue and crackled with a multicolored light, his revival imminent (That’s not really too important, though). Vantas swung furiously, determined to strike Noir down here, before he could cause any more trouble. The Hive Lord ducked and weaved expertly around the troll’s attacks, evading a slash before lunging forwards. He caught Vantas in the shoulder with his blade’s very tip; the Threshecutioner cried out in pain, stumbling back. Noir stabbed again- Vantas blocked the attack, but screamed in pain again as the movement sent aches crawling from his stab wound. Noir made a wild slash; it didn’t hit Vantas, but it did cause him to take another step back, and trip over a strategically placed changeling corpse. Vantas tumbled to the ground and Noir made to finish the duel with a slit to the throat. Suddenly, Maryam appeared between the two, chainsaw at the ready to block the Hive Lord’s stab. Noir’s knife caught in the saw’s chain, which tore the weapon from his grip and flung it away (incidentally, the projectile went and impaled Megido, but she revived soon after). Hive Lord Noir looked quite unfazed as Maryam pressed her assault. The changeling evaded one swipe, than another. A card appeared in his hooves- then, a mighty cane with a horse head- the cast iron horse hitcher. Noir swung the horse hitcher as murderers would swing a lead pipe- the first blow, Maryam caught against her saw. The second sent her stumbling back. The third caught her in the stomach, and Maryam toppled away. Hive Lord Noir glanced away from the Caretaker, and focused on Vantas, still lying on the ground clutching his bloody shoulder. He approached slowly, grinning with a sadistic joy and slapping the horse hitcher against the base of his hoof. This time, the kid was his- A bolt of white magic struck Noir from behind, blasting him forwards. “Oh come on already,” Ampora cried. “Wwhy do I havve to keep savving evverybody?” “Don’t tell anyone,” Pinkie whispered, appearing out of nowhere, “but the writers are trying to make you seem a bit more badass. It’s not really working.” The baker hopped away, leaving the seadweller more than a little confused. Noir returned to his hooves and saw that Vantas had done so as well. The two glared at each other, Vantas clutching his shoulder, Noir rubbing his burned back. The two charged at each other, Noir brandishing yet another sword, Vantas with his regisickle. The two met- Noir slashed at Vantas, the blade cutting through air like it could cut through flesh, and Vantas, spotting the attack, and leaning away as it swung harmlessly past. Vantas lunged forwards. The point of his sickle entered Noir’s right cheek, and as Vantas tugged upwards, dragging the weapon across his eye. “Ahh! Fuck!” the Hive Lord swore as he leapt backwards, holding a hoof to his bloody eye. With his remaining optical receptor, he glanced around. The trolls and ponies seemed to be riding their second wind- in the sky the revived Zahhak had joined the revived Megido and Serket (who’d yet to die), and were battering the changelings without end, with Rainbow Dash’s help. On the ground, Nitram and Applejack were tearing through the insects, as Twilight, Rarity, and Ampora provided long-ranged assistance. If ever there was a time to leave, it was now. “Retreat!” Hive Lord Noir called, marshalling his forces. From the corner of his eye, he spotted Maryam, dashing towards him, chainsaw raised. In a flash of green, Noir teleported away, and soon after the remaining changelings followed; Maryam sliced through nothing but empty air. And like the descending of a conductor’s baton, the beating of wings and the cries of battle ceased. The road was quiet once more- the symphony adjourned. ----- “Well,” Rarity said, after a considerable length of time. “That’s two enormous battles in as many days. I need to take a nap.” “Phew! Ya said it Rarity!” Applejack said. “I’m more tired than a suckling sow in spring. That sure was an acre’s worth of bugs, eh?” “Ugh- you said it, Applejack,” Rainbow Dash groaned. “I’m exhausted. I’m gonna go home and take a shower.” “Err- thank you,” Twilight said to the trolls, who were gathering now, off to the side. “I’m not sure we would have made it through that if you hadn’t come help us.” “It’s No Issue,” Maryam swiftly replied. “We Were Glad To Be Of Assistance.” “Hmm. Speak for yourself,” Ampora muttered. “Why don’t you stay here for a while,” Twilight offered. “We could all go down to Sugarcube Corner, get some food. We could go down first, make sure everypony there is ready for your arrival. We don’t want any panic.” “Well, I Don’t Pretend To Speak For Everyone, But I Believe That Sounds Lovely,” Maryam said. “If I Could Confer With The Group, We Could Follow You Down In About-” But the troll was cut off as suddenly, with the whoosh of a transportalizer, Captor appeared on the scene. “Everybody, get out of here!” he cried. “II ju2t 2aw Priince22 Cele2tiia on the moniitor2, teleportiing away. We’ve got 2econd2 at mo2t before 2he arriive2!” The trolls tensed at this, while Twilight adopted a guilty look. Vantas spotted this, and his expression morphed quickly into a livid glare. “You knew?!?” he screamed. “After all the help we gave you, you knew Celestia would be on her way and you tried to make us stay?!?” “Err-” Twilight started, but was cut off as Vantas rushed forwards, grabbing the librarian around her neck and hoisting the small pony into the air. “Listen to me right now, you slimy, silver-tongued savant. We helped you because we weren’t going to let the changelings get any more powerful. But I think you can forget ever receiving our help again.” “And I think,” a regal voice said from behind, “that you can forget ever seeing the light of day again unless you put my faithful student down now.” Vantas glanced behind him, and gulped at the sight of Princess Celestia, hovering gracefully in the air above him. “Ulp.” Before the princess could follow through with her threat, Zahhak leapt forwards. Vantas disappeared in a flash of blue, and the rest of the group quickly followed, leaving the street barren except for the ponies. “Wha- but- Princess?” Twilight sputtered. “Hmm. Thank you, Twilight, for trying to distract the Doomed Gods,” Celestia said (“But- I wasn’t-”). “However, it seems like Ponyville is much more dangerous even then I had originally thought. Come- we must return to Canterlot. Where it’s safe.” Twilight barely had an opportunity to stutter any additional objections before, with a golden shimmer, the ponies too disappeared. ----- “The nerve of that girl!” Vantas screeched as he reappeared in the lab, the rest of the trolls materializing soon after. “Err- Vantas, Are You Sure-” “1 know, r1fght?” Pyrope replied from her chair. “1 s4w th3 whol3 th1ng on th3 mon1t3r, 4nd 1’v3 got to s4y- 1 d1dn’t th1nk Sp4rkl3-bottom h4d 1t 1n h3r. Sh3 c4n b3 sn34ky wh3n sh3 w4nts to.” “Pyrope, Are You Positive-” “I can see why you decided not to come,” Vantas growled. “Though I still wish you had. We could’ve used your help.” The troll winced, his hand returning to his wounded shoulder- he needed to find some bandages or something. “H3y, wh4t c4n 1 s4y? No god-t13r3d m4n14c s33m3d to f1nd 1t n3c3ss4ry to f3tch m3,” Pyrope said. “Don’t act like that’s a bad thing,” Ampora muttered. “Vantas, I Don’t Think-” “D --> Wait!” Zahhak cried, to the surprise of those around him. “D --> Before you all start with your arguments and debates, I have a question. Has anyone seen Leijon?” ----- “:33 < It’s too bad that I couldn’t tell the others where I was going,” Leijon mewed to herself as she cut through more of the jungle’s thick vegetation. “:33 < But this is just something I need to do! That old kitty-lover would be furryous if I came back and never paid him a visit! Besides- I’ve put this off fur long enough already.” Ahead, the sight she’d waited for so long finally appeared on the horizon- a fortress, a terraced temple, looming ominously over the jungle’s lush hills... ----- End of Act 2