//------------------------------// // Arbor, the King of Trees, Part III - The Redemption of the King // Story: The Taking of Tartarus // by Rakoon1 //------------------------------// Although Arbor’s black roots continue to invade, the inhabitants of Ponyville seemed to have managed to control the situation, mainly thanks to Discord’s help, although he sometimes did live up to its name. After a while, Blue went to Twilight and told her: "It looks like things are going well here." "Apparently" Twilight said. "But I'm worried. We should have received news from Golden Paladin. " "Don't worry" Blue said, passing his hoof through his wife’s face. "I'm sure they are right. Remember that we're dealing with one of the villains of the solitary. They must take longer to defeat it. " Twilight was hoping he was right, but there was something inside her that was telling her that there was something wrong, something that came to confirm at that time. Heartbeat appeared out of nowhere in front of them, having used her immense speed. She had the coat and mane completely misaligned. She looked like she had been struggling so much to get there, because she was panting a lot. "Princess Twilight, something terrible has happened!" she exclaimed. "What happened, Heartbeat?" Twilight asked. The other, noticing Heartbeat’s arrival, went to them, while she said: "Arbor captured my brothers and sisters!" "What?!" everypony asked at the same time. "Yes!" Heartbeat exclaimed. "And I couldn't do anything. He used his roots to take us all. Those roots are like energy leeches and they managed to subdue my siblings. But Golden Paladin sent me escape to warn you, Princess. " "He managed to defeat five Generals alone?" Rarity asked. "Unbelievable!" "Well, the truth is that he has the upper hand" Shadow Claw said. "We have to do something" Rainbow Dash said. "We have to get that chump now." "How do you go to do that?" Thunder Night asked. "I don't know if you noticed, but he managed to defeat five of the most powerful beings of this world." "Well, technically, it was only four, I managed to get away" Heartbeat recalled. "But the truth is that defeating Arbor will be much more complicated. But that's why Golden sent me. There is a way to defeat Arbor and I think you know what I'm talking about. " Twilight didn't have to think long to realize. "The Elements of Harmony!" she exclaimed. "That's right" Heartbeat said. "After the Generals' magic, their magic is the most powerful one you can find in this world." "All right, y'all, let's go get the elements an’ that evil" Applejack said. "Finally, some real action!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, all excited, saying after seeing her friends staring at her. "What? I'm just saying." "Well, it's not that I like to walk through dark and scary forests, but we may find those funny trees we found when we picked up the Elements of Harmony to defeat Nightmare Moon" said Pinkie Pie. "It was hilarious!" "I don't like at all walking in woods out of control and ready to catch us with dirty roots" said Rarity. "But, anyway, save the world and keep up the good-looks are not things you can do at the same time. Maybe I ask some advice to Melody when we save them." "Okay, I'm ready" Fluttershy said, although her words do not correspond to what she was feeling. "I don't know, Fluttershy, I think I should go with you" Thunder Night said. "If something happens to you or to our foal, I will not forgive myself." "You don't have to worry about, Thundy" Fluttershy reassured. "I'm going to be all right. Besides, I have my friends with me." "I know, but..." Thunder Night started. "Don't worry" Rainbow Dash told him. "I promise we won't let anything happen to Fluttershy or to your foal." The others waved, confirming what Rainbow Dash said. "Besides, we need you to keep these roots under control" Twilight said. "We could leave Discord to deal with them, while we take care of Arbor, but the truth is that I don't trust him." "Did I hear somepony say my name?" Discord asked, appearing and bringing hedge clippers with blades twisted, what he threw to behind him, causing them to fall into a dumpster filled with others hedge clippers also with the blades twisted. "You know what they say when you talk bad about somepony in his or her..." But he then noticed in Heartbeat and when he saw her, he gave a cry of panic and grabbed Shadow Claw, shaking, while asking: "But what's she doing here?!" "Don't worry, Discord, I'm not here to play with you" Heartbeat said to him, while Shadow Claw made Discord leave him. "I don't know if you noticed, but we have a pretty dangerous villain to stop." "Of course I noticed" he replied. "And I don't know if you noticed, but I have been helping to control all of this things of destroy Ponyville." "It's better that way" Heartbeat said. "Because, believe me when I said you will want to wish you never have been created if you don’t help." Heartbeat had said it in a dark tone, and then moved to a more cheerful air asking: "Do you understand?" "Of course I do" Discord said, crossing his arms. "I'm not an idiot. Furthermore, you don’t intimidate me not one bit." "So why are your legs shaking?" Rainbow Dash asked. It was true, Discord’s legs were shaking. He tried to stop the tremors with his hands, but only managed to put his whole body shaking. It was then that he started walking away saying: "Just for the record, I'm pushing me away because I have to keep working and not to stay a safe distance from the most bipolar General that exists." When he walked away enough, Rainbow Dash said to Heartbeat: "Seriously, you gotta say what you did to make Discord so afraid of you." "Well, enough" Twilight said. "We have more important things to attend to." And then she conjured with her magic her crown and her friends’ necklaces with the Elements of Harmony, delivering them to their respective owners. She then turned to Blue Sword and asked him: "Do you take care of this?" "Don't worry, everything will be fine" he assured. "Go on." Twilight smiled and exchanged a kiss with her husband. Rarity approached Shadow Claw and asked him: "See you later?" "Sure" he replied with a slight smile. "I just hope you to stay well." "Of course" Rarity replied him. "You can be sure of that." Fluttershy approached Thunder Night, saying: "Thundy..." "Don't worry about it" he said. "Equestria needs you. You know that I'd preferred you stayed here, but I know that you and your friends are the only ones who can stop this. But please, promise me that you're going to be careful. Not only for you, but also for our foal." Fluttershy smiled tenderly and then replied: "Don't worry about it. I will." The two exchanged a hug and then Fluttershy joined her five friends and Heartbeat to go to the Everfree Forest. The group of seven advanced through the forest, while they all looked around, afraid. "I don't know why, but I feel like we're being watched" Rainbow Dash said. "Seriously, Rainbow Dash?" Applejack asked sarcastically. "What makes ya think that? Maybe it's tha fact that we are surround’d by trees that may be under Arbor’s control." "Calm down" Twilight said. "We have to stick together, if we are to defeat Arbor." "Princess is right" said Heartbeat. "You never know when... Watch out!" And without warning, Heartbeat fired a red beam from her horn that passed between Rarity and Pinkie Pie and tore a giant root that approached surreptitiously. "Wow, that was awesome!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Don’t rely on it until we’re sure of it, Rainbow" Twilight, while she saw more roots to appear. "We are surrounded. Heartbeat, do you think you can deal with them? " "My mission is to get you safely to Arbor" Heartbeat said. "Besides, it takes more than a few roots to overturn a General." "But that's not the way your siblings..." Rainbow Dash started. However, she didn’t finish, because with one Heartbeat’s sharp look made her stop. Turning her attention back to the roots, the General of Affection charged her horn with magic and then created a red bubble around them. "Stay with me" Heartbeat said. "This force field will protect us. Come on!" They started running, with Twilight and her friends struggling to stay with Heartbeat. The roots were trying to catch them, but when they touched the protection created by Heartbeat, they simply burned and eventually back off. Soon they arrive to where Arbor was. Using her magic, since Heartbeat was protecting them from the roots, Twilight managed to destroy the roots that were clogging the entrance to the cave. They entered, finding Arbor sitting on his throne. Stuck to the walls of the cave by the leech roots, were Golden Paladin, Mirror Coat, Purple Smoke and Melody, both practically unconscious. "This ends here, Arbor" Twilight said. "Princess Twilight" Arbor said. "I was wondering when you'd show up. It was obvious that Heartbeat would get you and her friends to defeat me with the Elements of Harmony." "You bet we're going to bring you down" said Rainbow Dash. "Just like an old tree." Arbor giggled and then said: "And you still wonder why I'm doing this. Even with jokes you hide your cruelty to my people." "I know you have your reasons to doing all this, Arbor" Twilight said. "But believe me when I tell you that this is not the best way to deal with everything." "Yes, but I disagree" Arbor replied. And, without warning, roots appeared underneath and managed to grab Twilight, Heartbeat and the others. "Girls, we must act now!" Twilight exclaimed. Twilight and her friends tried to activate the Elements of Harmony, but before they could do so, the roots began to suck their energies. "Personally, I never would have a relationship with the Lord of Chaos more than I should have" Arbor said. "But maybe if I offer him the Princess of the Light Kingdom, maybe my position on our deal will be safer." But before he could do anything else, a voice said: "No, Arbor." Everypony looked all and saw Leaf Mane at the entrance. "Leaf Mane!" the seven mares exclaimed. "What are you... doing here?!" Heartbeat asked. "Your strength ..." "I know I shouldn't be here" Leaf Mane said, advancing slowly, due to her energy being drained, and getting momentarily disturbed by seeing her matrix wrapped by Arbor’s roots. "But I had to come. It's my duty as the General of Nature." "Don't try to even persuade me to abandon my revenge, Leaf Mane" Arbor said. "If you came here for that, then you're just wasting the energy that you still have." "You don't understand... do you, Arbor?" Leaf Mane asked. "You're just doing... more harm than good. You think you're doing the best for your plants, but you’re doing exactly the opposite. And they know that." "Don't be ridiculous" Arbor said. "My subjects are helping me in my revenge. If what you say is true, then how are the plants attacking the ponies?" "That's because... you made them attack" Leaf Mane said. "You are using your influence, even unintentionally. But, if you hear them... you’ll find that." Despite being skeptical about Leaf Mane’s words, Arbor started to listen his subjects and was stunned when he heard their pleas to stop what he was doing with them. "But why?" he asked. "Because Arbor..." Leaf Mane replied, while she activated her magic and made appear little birds which were chirping and flying, going to land on her back. "The animals are also part of Nature. With them, there is perfect harmony between them and plants." And the birds flew out of Leaf Mane’s back to Arbor’s branches, something that left him petrified. "Of course ponies were not well when they brought down your trees, but that was a long time ago" Leaf Mane said. "Ponies are remedying what they did and, for this may happen completely, we must give them a chance." Arbor couldn't help but think in Leaf Mane’s words. She was spending the little energy she had left to say all that. She looked like she was putting all her trust in them, like she was sure that corresponded to reality. Also he had the prayers of his servants and all of that was made him fight against everything he believed for centuries. "Well, well, well..." a voice said at the entrance of the cave. "How sentimental." They turned to there and saw Kitsune. Seeing him, the birds that Leaf Mane had invoked fled from the cave. "Kitsune" Leaf Mane said. She tried to attack the nine-tailed fox with her magic, but she had spent so much energy on the invocation of the birds that she fell to the ground. Kitsune laughed and said, while he entered: "It seems that this time you won't be able to defeat me, my dear." "What are you doing here?" Arbor asked coldly to Kitsune. "This is no place for a freak like you. Go away. " "Arbor, you should be more nice" Kitsune said. "After all, we're both on the same side. Both of us serve the Lord of Chaos." "I don't serve and I never served him" Arbor replied. "Don't tell me" Kitsune said. "Because you did exactly what he wanted you to do. Well, not entirely. Allow me to finish the job for you." And saying this, he opened his nine tails which started to burned and then launched the fire through everypony and hit directly on Leaf Mane’s matrix. "No!" she exclaimed. "What the..." Arbor started, not wanting to believe. "No! If the matrix dies... My subjects." He turned to Kitsune and asked him: "How dare you?" "I dared because it was the great Lord of Chaos who asked me" Kitsune answered. "What?!" Arbor asked. "But he promised... He tricked me!" "What a surprise" Rainbow Dash joked. "You're going to pay!" Arbor exclaimed to Kitsune. He prepared to launch his roots and branches to attack the fox, but a wave of weakness gripped him and his roots and branches backed to normal. The leeche roots which arrested their prisoners weakened and broke, releasing all of them but the power that they had stolen left them weakened too much to fight against Kitsune. "I don't feel well" Arbor said, while kneeling. "It’s the matrix!" Twilight exclaimed, pointing to the matrix. "All the powers of Nature are connected to it." "Exactly" Kitsune said with a smile. "Without the matrix, the General of Nature will lose all her power and the Lord of Order will lose influence, which will give to my master more power and room to maneuver. Moreover, Arbor, you did us the favor of capturing the other Generals of Order and even Princess Twilight and her friends. Now, nothing can prevent the Lord of Chaos to rule this world." And he gave a cruel laugh. "That will not going to happen, Kitsune" a voice said. They turned all and saw Shadow Claw. "Shadow Claw!" Rarity exclaimed, seeing her coltfriend. "What are you doing here?" "An excellent question" Kitsune agreed. "After the beating you took, along with your thestral friend, I thought you'd be smarter." "Sorry to disappoint you" Shadow Claw answered. "But, you know what, I wouldn't have come if I knew that I couldn't help." "What do you mean?" Kitsune asked. "You're going to see" Shadow Claw answered. He closed his eyes and then Shadow Claw was surrounded by an aura. Suddenly, his hooves become paws with claws and his ears became pointed. His coat bristled and his pupils became split with his teeth become canine. He had become a pony-wolf, to the shock of all. "But how?" the fox asked, not wanting to believe. "It's impossible." "I don't think so" Shadow Claw growled. And Shadow Claw lunged at Kitsune and the two began fighting. Due to the surprise effect, Shadow Claw managed to stay in advantage over Kitsune, but the nine-tailed fox was trying to haggle with his pyrokinesis. However, the pony-wolf could always avoid his attacks with fire. It was then that Shadow Claw began to reach Kitsune with his claws and teeth in such a way that the fox was pretty weak. After being hit by Shadow Claw’s claws in the face, Kitsune stepped back and said, gasping: "This can't be happening." "But it is" Shadow Claw said. And, giving a small boost, Shadow Claw ran into Kitsune and gave him a blow so hard it knocked him unconscious on the floor. After having defeated Kitsune, Shadow Claw took a deep breath and then the same aura came again and he returned to his pony form. The ponies that were lying on the floor rose, including the other Generals who began to regain consciousness, all greatly amazed because of what happened. "Ok, what just happened?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Shadow Claw, your powers..." Rarity started, approaching him. "I know" he said, going to Rarity. "But you don't have to worry about. It was the Lord of Order that returned them to me and he even eliminated the infectious bite. He thought you could need backup." "And he though well" Twilight said. "But, unfortunately…" And they all turned to the matrix which was still on fire. "I'm afraid it's too late" Twilight said. "My matrix..." Leaf Mane said, approaching her with a deadpan air. "The Nature... My powers." There was a long silence in which nobody said anything, but it was then that Rainbow Dash said: "Hey, we can help. We have the Elements of Harmony. We can..." "Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do" Mirror Coat said. "Mirror Coat is right" Golden Paladin said. "The fire that Kitsune used burns everything it touches. It's a cursed fire that doesn't go out until it burn what it’s burning. We lost the matrix of Nature." "No" a voice said. “There is a way to save her." They turned and saw that who spoke was Arbor that began to rise. "You don't make a move" Rainbow Dash said, putting herself in a fight position. "If you take a step that is, I will kick your ass." "Don't worry" Arbor said, starting to advance. "The Lord of Chaos betrayed our deal, so I don't owe him anything. In addition, I realized that I made a big mistake and I want to correct it." He reached the edge of Leaf Mane and, when she looked at him, he said to her: "Thank you for opening my eyes." He then turned to Twilight and her friends and told them: "Use your Elements of Harmony to transfer the power from the matrix to a new one." That left them confused. "Wait, is that possible?" Applejack asked. "Indeed" Mirror Coat answered. "But for that we must use a container that corresponds to the attribute that you want to make it keep. In this case, a corresponding container to Nature." "And how are we going to find something like that?" Rainbow Dash asked. "I don't know if you've noticed, but the plants are dying." "That’s not true" Pinkie Pie said, referring to a little flower that was in there, but soon started to wilt. "Never mind!" "There's still a possible container" said Arbor. "Me." That left everypony speechless. Leaf Mane turned straight to Arbor. "Arbor, no..." "It's the least I can do to repay you for everything I've done" Arbor said. "My misjudgment almost destroyed the Nature that I love. So, I want to make it through the only way I can do: save the matrix, becoming its container." He directed to the alicorn princess: "Please, Princess Twilight, make the desire of this old tree reality." Twilight didn't even know what to say, but she could see through Arbor’s eyes he was telling the truth about his repentance. He really wanted to save the matrix. That made her smile and wave. Twilight turned to her friends and told them: "Let's go, girls." They waved and then they closed their eyes, while focusing the magic of their respective elements. Twilight opened her eyes that were glowing with a white light and the star of her crown began to shine, beginning to free two tentacles with the color of the rainbow and connecting the necklaces' pendants until they are all connected. The star launched the rainbow that hit the tree on fire and then was redirected to Arbor, along with the power of the matrix. He started moaning, while receiving all that power. While this was going on, his body began to stiffen even more, while his torso was becoming the same color as the matrix. They stay watching, while the transfer was finishing and the tree that was once the matrix started to liquefy into ashes because of the flames. They were now looking at a beautiful tree like the one that had burned, but larger and with more resistant. What were Arbor’s feet were now rooted in the ground and what were once his arms were now branches covered by vines and green balls. The new matrix started shining immensely and the same happened with Leaf Mane who recovered the aspect she had before, as well as her power. But that was not all. Its magic has spread all over the place. The plants began to regain its vitality and the roots that Arbor invoked also retreated, what did the ponies pretty happy. Back to the hideout of the matrix of Nature, the other generals went to Leaf Mane. "Are you ok, Leaf Mane?" Melody asked. "Yes" she replied. "All thanks to Arbor." She went to her new matrix and put the hoof on its trunk and said: "He sacrificed himself for what he loved." "You were right, Leaf Mane" Twilight said. "Arbor was misunderstood. Deep down, he really loved Nature." "Yes, I just hope I can honor his sacrifice" Leaf Mane said. "You can start with a certain fox” Purple Smoke replied, motioning to Kitsune. Realizing what he meant, Leaf Mane turned to Kitsune and invoked the cell blaster and pointed it to Kitsune. Using her magic, Leaf Mane charged the cell blaster and began to absorb Kitsune and then, invoking the prison-book, arrested him. The Lord of Chaos was trying to contain his anger at seeing one of their plans be ruined again, but it was difficult. "Am I going to have to continue to see my plans being ruined in this way?!" he exclaimed, while Fire Punch struggled to stay out of reach of the anger of his master. "But this is a war, a war that I know I won't lose. I'll have what I want!"