This day is going to be perfect. Chrysalis thought to herself as she and a rather heavily mind controlled Shining Armor stood at the altar. Her smile was big enough for everyone to see, but it wasn’t for the reason everyone in the room thought. These fools wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between their actual princess and a toad.
“Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, it is my great pleasure to pronounce you-”
“Stop!” Twilight yelled out as the doors of the chapel to slam open, said pony running in.
“Ugh! Why does she have to be so possessive of her brother?” Chrysalis grumbled quietly before making up some crocodile tears. “Why does she have to ruin my special day?”
“Because it’s not your special day!” The real Princess Cadence walked in, looking rather ragged. “It’s mine!” The entire room gasped as Chrysalis growled before turning to Celestia and taking advantage of her surprise. She pulled out a golden sphere and shouted “Sphere of Yun!” Suddenly, the princess was sealed in a ball of energy, seemingly unable to use her magic. Chrysalis chuckled evilly as her disguise dropped.
“Now that Celestia is out of the way, I have nothing to fear as my changelings invade!” The barrier fell as she finished speaking, swarms of changelings descending upon the city. The ponies in the chapel fled in fear as Twilight went to grab her friends.
“Come on girls. We need to get the elements.” They all nodded before running off, not noticing Chrysalis as she watched them with a grin.
“You can run but you can’t hide.” she laughed as changelings followed them. She turned to look out the window only for a changeling to land in front of her. “What is it?”
“My queen,” the changeling bowed. “We found something odd in the Canterlot Archives. Shall we bring it to you?”
Chrysalis rose an eye to this. “Very well. Bring it here.” The changeling bowed once more before flying off.
* * *
A little while later, Chrysalis stood victorious over the ponies, the element bearers captured. As she smirked over the group of defeated ponies, the changelings she sent to get whatever it was in the archives arrived. They carried with them a statue of a creature she had never seen before, holding in front of him some strange looking object. The creature stood on two legs like a minotaur, but not nearly as tall and bulky. The element bearers and Celestia gasped at the sight of the statue, confusing Chrysalis.
“What is this?” She spat, looking over the statue as it was placed in front of her. “What sort of strange creature is this?” She looked at the ponies, all of them seemingly on edge. Chrysalis gave them an evil grin. “You all seem rather attached to this hunk of stone. Wouldn’t it be a shame if I were to…” Chrysalis’ horn glowed brightly, her power increased by what she stole from Celestia thanks to the sphere. She fired a beam at the statue, sending it crashing out one of the chapel windows.
“Allan!” Rainbow Dash cried, trying to fly after the statue only for four changelings to hold her down. The other ponies just looked at the window in various states of shock while Celestia stared out, a focused gaze in her eyes.
Chrysalis just laughed evilly. “You all jump to protect a statue?! No wonder taking over this city was so simple.” Little did she know that said statue had slammed through various buildings before landing in the middle of a donut shop, intact but not without a few cracks where the beam had struck. These cracks however began to grow, white light pouring from them. The entire statue grew brighter and brighter until the stone exploded, a tattered and scrapped Allan stumbling out.
* * *
Alright, so before we continue on, there is one thing I need to say.
Petrification is mierda!
First, I have no idea what you might think being turned to stone is like, but it is dull. I couldn’t see, couldn’t hear, couldn’t move, and that was my life for I don’t even know how long. Than there’s the fact the first thing I actually feel after that long is something slamming into my chest. And the cricks I had in my neck when I finally got out will never go away.
That aside, I was glad to be out, if just because I now had a chance to punch Chase in the nose. If there was one thing I thought about during my time as a statue, it was what I was gonna do to him when I got out. I wasn’t a fool though. I knew Chase out classed me in martial skill many times over.
If I’m going to protect everyone from him, I need to train. I glanced around at the donut shop I was in. But first let’s figure out por qué demonios I’m in a shop. Wasn’t hard to find the massive, person sized hole in the wall that most likely was where I came from. A few black pony-shaped creatures flew past as I looked through.
Of course. I wake up in the middle of some kind of invasion. What could make this worse?
“Just what is that?” I heard a hissy voice come from behind me. I looked to see three of the creatures entering the shop, letting me get a better look. They had bug-like wings and eyes, on top of a set of fangs that made them look like a cross between a pony and a fly.
“What does it matter?” The second one to enter the shop replied. “Chrysalis’ orders are to capture everyone in Canterlot. That includes this… monkey thing.”
Alright, that wouldn’t bug me normally. But right now, I’m stiff, I’m a bit beat up, and I’ve got better things to do than squish a few bugs! I gave the bug ponies a glare. “Look, you caprichos de la naturaleza, I’ve got things to do so how about you take me to your leader so I can settle this quick.”
“Huh? What did he call us?”
“I dunno, but I think he’s making fun of us.”
“Well then,” spoke the front changeling as he arched his back like a cat. “Let’s shut him up!” He leapt at me, only to be quickly sent through the wall to my left as I swung the Fist of Tebigong into his muzzle. The other two saw their friend go flying, taking a moment for their jaws to drop before growling at me and attacking themselves. One was snatched out of the air by the Third Arm Sash as I gave the other a quick set of kicks, juggling him in the air before sending him out the hole his friend had made like a soccer ball into the goal.
Once things settled a bit, I brought the third creature close to my face before baring my teeth. “Just what are you and who is leading the attack?” I asked bluntly. For a moment he held strong before I wound the fist back for a strike and he yelled out.
“Okay! I’ll tell you! We are changelings, under the rule of Queen Chrysalis. She’s leading the attack from the chapel in Canterlot Castle. She already has Celestia captured along with the element bearers.”
“And Luna?”
“She is away on a diplomatic mission. It’s why our queen choose to attack now. Having only one alicorn to deal with is much better than two.”
“Well too bad for you, ‘cause now,” I brought the changeling close before muttering, “Now you’ve got to deal with me.” I tossed him up before sending him flying through the hole with a well placed punch, the coward landing on the heads of his friends as they were just getting up.
Alright, lets get this over with. Soon as the bug queen is done I can start working toward the real fight with Chase. I packed up the Wu I had brought out before cutting one quick portal with the Golden Tiger Claws and jumping through.
* * *
The element bearers could only watch at this point as Chrysalis’ drones swarmed over Canterlot, the queen watching from the window. Twilight had already tried to free Cadance from the slime coating her hooves but the changelings watching them were very strict. They had all just about lost hope when suddenly their ears perked up, the sound of something crashing being heard from somewhere else in the castle.
Chrysalis heard it as well though and stepped away from the balcony. “Just what was that?” She sneered before a rather beat up looking changeling ran into the room and shut the door behind him.
“My Queen! We are under attack by some two legged creature with powerful magic. He’s on his way here!”
“What?! How can he be defeating so many soldiers? That’s impossible!” As she said this, a few of the changelings in the room moved to the door to barricade it as the hurt one tiredly made his way over to the queen.
“It is so, my Queen. I saw it with my own eyes. A few of us have managed to hit him back, but he seems to just take them like they are nothing.”
Chrysalis growled as she thought of how to face this new enemy. “Very well. We will have to-”
“Eye of Dashi! Light!” Suddenly a voice called from behind the now blocked door, though it did little good as a white beam cut through it all, slicing it like it was air. Those inside the room were forced to jump to the side or duck in order to avoid it as it traced a large circle in the barricade. Once the circle was done, the voice spoke again. “Fist of Tebigong!” And with that, the cut out portion of the door was blown out, leaving an opening for whatever stood on the other side.
The ponies gasped as they saw Allan step in, though it was impossible to tell whether it was because they were happy to see him or because of how many bruises and cuts he seemed to have. Chrysalis merely growled at the newcomer. “You! You look like that statue I turned to rubble.”
Allan glared at the queen. “So I’m guessing you’re to blame for that mierda alarm clock that hit me in the stomach.” He then looked around the room, his glare not ceasing. “I’m also guessing you’re the queen I’ve heard about. And here I thought these cosas were ugly.” He pointed at one of the drones standing nearby.
“How dare you address me so! This time I will make sure that there is nothing but dust left!” She charged up a beam and fired it at Allan. He was too fast however.
“Reversing Mirror!” He held up the mirror that appeared in his hand, absorbing the magic before returning it back at the Chrysalis, though a changeling took the blast for her. This was signal enough for the remaining changelings in the room to attack as well, the entire swarm leaping at Allan.
“Sword of the Storms!” He called out as said named sword appeared in his hand above his head. It then became a blur, kicking up a tornado around him and pulling all the attackers into it. Allan stopped for a moment once the swarm was sufficiently before swinging the blade at Chrysalis, blasting her and her guard out the window before Allan flew out after them using the Longi Kite.
The ponies left in the room stood there agape for a moment, looking around at the once empty room as if expecting for something to jump out at them. When nothing did they started to get up and move around, Rainbow stretching her wings now that she wasn’t being held down.
“Uh… what just happened?” The remaining ponies all had a similar response of “no idea”, except for Celestia who spoke up.
“I believe that my power combined with Chrysalis’ might have been enough to crack the seal that was on Allan, or perhaps Luna’s attempts to break him out weakened it enough to the point where it just needed a well placed blast. Either way, we should be grateful yet cautious at Allan’s return.”
Twilight finished freeing Cadance’s hooves before glancing up at her mentor, still trapped within the barrier created by the Sphere of Yun. “But princess, what would we have to worry from Allan?”
“Ya, we should be celebrating!” Pinkie jumped up. “Ally’s back! WOO HOO!” Despite Pinkie’s optimism, Celestia was not smiling.
“I’m afraid it is not that simple, at least to Allan. He seemed… troubled. Focused. Merciless. As if he was trying to get rid of Chrysalis as quickly as possible. Allan as we know him wasn’t like that. He would taunt and smirk at his opponent, acting cocky.”
“What could get under his skin like that?” Applejack spoke up.
Celestia shook her head. “I don’t know. But it can’t be good whatever it is.”
“Oh come on!” Rainbow threw her hooves up in the air. “I bet he’s just cranky from being stuck in that statue for two years. I know I would.”
Celestia looked out the window that the changelings had all been sent out. “I hope you are right.”
* * *
The battle outside was a flurry of motion as Allan fought off the remaining swarm while avoiding or reflecting Chrysalis’ magical attacks. He was wearing many Wu, including the Sword of the Storms in one hand, the Golden Tiger Claws in the other, the Third Arm Sash holding the Reversing Mirror, the Longi Kite on his back, and finally the Eye of Dashi hanging around his neck.
Despite Allan’s abilities and best efforts, he couldn’t keep every changeling off of him. For every few groups of changelings he blasted back or sent to the Everfree Forest with the claws, a single changeling or two would get through, cutting into him with their jagged horn or leaving a bruise. It took awhile, but the numbers were eventually thinned out enough that Allan could make a move against the queen herself.
“Why won’t you just fall?!” Chrysalis screamed as she shot another beam, striking a wing of the Longi Kite.
“Golden Tiger Claws!” With a slash, Allan fell into a portal, coming out on top of Chrysalis. The changeling queen was startled by the sudden rider, zipping side to side before crashing into the castle and destroying the wall. The two were thrown into what had been something of a museum, filled with old weapons, armor, and other mementos of heroes past.
The two stood up and glared at each other, Allan clearing the Wu off him as he took up his martial arts stance. Things were quiet between the two of them as they just watched each other until, as if they had both been given a silent message, they both leapt to the side and into the array of objects.
Chrysalis made the first move, telekinetically grabbing some quivers before firing off the arrows in them in rapid succession. Allan ducked behind a table holding a model ship, said model being destroyed by the rain of death. As he covered his head with his arms against the shards of wood flying around him, he glanced up at the ceiling and the chandelier that hung there before coming up with an idea and pulling out the Mantis Flip Coin.
“Are you just going to hide?” Chrysalis taunted over the sound of splintering wood just as Allan leapt out of his cover, landing on the chandelier and swinging toward Chrysalis. She glanced upward just as Allan gave the chandelier a swift kick, breaking it from the ceiling and sending him and it falling toward Chrysalis.
Both which were suddenly stopped in a green aura as the changeling queen grinned. “What, is that your big plan?” When she moved the chandelier however, she was surprised to find nothing behind it. “Where did-” She was interrupted as a foot struck her across the face, quickly followed by another to her body that sent her into the next room.
“Why you piece of…” She looked up from her position on the floor to see Allan running at her, jumping for another kick. She was ready this time though, grabbing a shield from a nearby display and blocking him with it. She then took a spear from the same display, thrusting it at Allan who avoided it by bouncing off the shield.
“You are beginning to annoy me!” She growled as she stood, grabbing the other half a dozen spears and launching them at Allan. He bent his body left and right, avoiding the spears as they were embedded into the wall. This just angered Chrysalis more, her horn glowing bright before she threw her head down, the floor collapsing as a wave of green magic went through it.
Again Allan was quicker as he leapt up onto the handle of one of the spears still stuck in the wall. As another wave of spears came at him, he leapt from spear to spear, even grabbing a few out of the air and throwing them into the walls on either side.
“GRAH!” In her anger to get rid of the monk, Chrysalis threw the shield at him, it spinning at a speed that could only be matched by a motor saw. Allan, in an unexpected act, leapt toward the shield, bounding off the top of it with a single foot before landing behind Chrysalis. He couldn’t get a counterattack in however as Chrysalis let off another beam of energy, scorching the spot he was just standing as he leapt into the next room.
The queen ran into the room with all the grace of a bull as she did a good of imitating one with her snorts of anger. “Where are you?!” The next room was a long hall, sets of armor lining each side so that it made it almost appear that the ponequins were going to war with each other. “So now you are hiding? Are you afraid?” Chrysalis taunted as she stalked down the center of the display, glancing side to side as she looked between the ranks of fake soldiers.
As she reached the center of the room, suddenly one of the ponequins from the back of the ranks leapt above his fellow soldiers to attack Chrysalis. It was quickly turned to dust by Chrysalis, along with all the suits of armor in the direction it came from. No roasted human corpse was amongst the remains.
“Is it really a good idea to play a game of hide and seek with the ruler of a race of shapechangers? Hiding is what we do best.” Her ear twitched before she turned and fired another disintegrating blast, having no luck once again. When she turned back to her front with a huff, she was met with a glowing palm coming at her.
“Orion’s Palm! Light!” A flash went off as it connected with her, sending her flying through the halls until she landed against a wall, an array of swords hanging above her. She saw this and grinned at Allan as he ran toward her, pulling sword after sword and firing it at him. This forced Allan to take evasive actions, leaping off the walls, sliding beneath, and even deflecting blades out of the air with his palm to block others.
Chrysalis soon was running out of swords, down to her last one. This blade was shorter than most, the middle of the steel covered by a gold section and the entire thing decorated with light blue. The guard was shaped similar to a bat’s wings and was also gold. The strange designed distracted her for a split second, which Allan used to close the distance and grab the sword with the intention of ripping it out of her telekinetic grip.
What neither anticipated was the sword suddenly glowing brightly, the two of them suddenly finding themselves unable to let go. “What is this trickery?” Chrysalis yelled as Allan only squinted against the light.
“Looks like this is a Wu. And that means I challenge you to a Xiaolin Showdown. I will wager the Mantis Flip Coin against the Sphere of Yun that you have used to trap Celestia.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Unless you want to see what it’s like to be hit with a bug zapper like your distant ancestors, I’d suggest rethinking that.” Allan spoke, his tone much more threatening than mocking.
Chrysalis gave a growl before tugging on the sword. “I accept, but only because I can’t wait to wipe the floor with you. The challenge will be a game of deception. The first to tap the other in the center of their back wins.”
“Alright. Let’s go! Xiaolin Showdown!” The weapons and armor that had been strewn about the place by the battle was picked up as a swirling vortex spun around them, clattering and clinking as the ponequins beneath the armor slowly began to take on simple features. Each was given a fur color and eyes, even becoming either a stallion or mare before Allan and Chrysalis were thrown away from each other, being caught in the storm before it died down. They both found themselves in a strange bazaar, the living ponequins walking about in their armor.
“Gong Yi Tan Pai!” Allan quickly leapt to the roof of a nearby building, using the Mantis Flip Coin to get up there in a single bound. He then bound from rooftop to rooftop, looking over the bazaar for any signs of Chrysalis. After about a minute of that, he went back to the ground, walking through the crowd.
Chrysalis meanwhile had taken the form of one of the armor wearing ponies and had watched Allan make himself completely exposed. Ha! She thought to herself. This is almost too easy. Did he really think he could beat me, the Queen of Changelings, in a game of hiding? She moved closer and closer to Allan, taking her time to not expose her intentions. She was just a breath away and was lifting a hoof to tap him in the back when suddenly he was gone, her hoof going through empty air and causing her to fall forward.
“Where did- ack!” She cried out as something landed on her back. A quick glance confirmed it was Allan, a finger on the square of her back as it glowed slightly. “H-how did you pick me out so quickly?!”
“I didn’t. I just knew if I made myself a big enough target you wouldn’t be able to resist. So I showed off, making sure you saw me before then giving you an opportunity. After that, all I had to do was wait until someone got too close.” His explanation was blunt, as if it was obvious what he had done. It wasn’t long before the showdown deconstructed itself and the two were returned to where they were, Allan holding the sphere and sword.
Chrysalis growled and her horn glowed to attack Allan once more before he rose the arm holding the sphere and called out “Sphere of Yun.” In that instant, Chrysalis cried out, her near limitless power that she had stolen from the alicorn cut off. As she began to recover, she was met with a quick foot to the face, knocking her out.
“Finally got you out of the way.” Allan muttered, putting the Wu away before pulling out the Golden Tiger Claws.
* * *
Meanwhile, back in the chapel with the ponies, they were all surprised by Celestia’s sudden release. Even more surprised when Chrysalis herself fell into the room through a tear in the air, unconscious. The tear closed soon after though, leaving the ponies all wondering the same question.
“Just what the hay is going on?” It was Shining Armor rubbing his aching head that vocalized said question.
* * *
At the same time back in Ponyville, Master Gongniu sat at a table, sipping some tea. “Welcome back, my young apprentice.” He spoke as Allan stepped into the entryway, still beat up and bloodied from the fight.
“Thank you master. If you wouldn’t mind, I would like to continue my training right away.” Gongniu looked Allan up and down before turning back to his tea.
“Do you not think you should rest? You seem to have had a rather eventful time since being freed from stone. I would think you would celebrate your freedom with your friends.”
“I can’t relax and enjoy being with my friends knowing that they are all in danger and that I’m the only one who can stop what threatens them.”
“I assume this has to do with the one called Chase?”
Allan was momentarily surprised by this. “How did you know?”
“You mentioned him before leaving me to fight Discord. Said he was the one who mentioned using the chi of the element bearers. When I later was told that was what ended you sealed in stone, I figured he must have told you with that in mind if he was being so oddly specific.”
“Well you’re correct.” Allan said, leaning against the frame of the entrance. “He did tell me to use their chi, and made a point to mock me from afar as I was turned to stone. Who knows what he has been up to since then.” He glanced at the ground for a moment before speaking again. “How long was I gone?”
“A little over two years. It was nearing the end of fall when you left, and it is now spring. Almost three years since you arrived in Equestria actually. The Summer Sun Celebration is next week.”
“Well I won’t be around for this one. Chase is on a level of skill I won’t be able to match unless I get to work.”
“Tomorrow, my young apprentice.” Allan seemed ready to argue when Gongniu rose a hand, cutting him off. “You are hurt and clearly tired. It will do you no good to train in this state. Tend to your wounds and then get some rest. I promise I will wake you tomorrow and we can begin training once more.”
Allan didn’t seem to like this but obeyed nonetheless. “Thank you master.” He bowed before leaving the room. Once Gongniu could no longer hear the footsteps of his apprentice he sighed, looking down into his cup of tea.
“Be careful young dragon. You are walking along a fine edge now. If you can make it without falling you will find the strength you so seek, but if you fall…” He took a sip of his tea. “The world won’t just have Chase to worry about.”