Chapter Twenty-Four
Spike of Equestria’s first instinct once the thing had assaulted poor Rarity was to lung for the muck blob, claws extended and teeth bared. The small purple dragon’s claws sank into the thing’s ooze and slipped off. The momentum from the attack caused Spike to tumble over the monster and land on the other side of it. The blob followed his path, swinging a tentacle at him. Spike managed to roll away as the tentacle landed on the pavement. He had to duck as Rover stepped close, his claws scratching into the muck, and tossing aside filth as the Diamond Dog fiercely tore at the monster. Spike looked up to see Red take in a deep breath and turn his fire at the bottom of the beast. The thing squealed and its tentacles waved.
“Ha! It still hates fire! Come one, Green, help me! Rover, get Rarity and get through that door! We’ll be right behind you!” Red laughed and breathed more at the muck monster, and the thing squalled more. Spike grinned and stepped nearer to Red, blowing his flames at the monster. Although at first Spike’s flames matched Reds, the Equestrian dragon soon started to pant a bit as he started to lose his breath. He rarely used his flames as a weapon, and he almost never used it this fast or this long. Red, on the other hand, didn’t seem to have this problem, and that was starting to irk Spike a bit. Still, Spike’s flame seemed to help. Slowly the creature stepped further and further towards the muck. Occasionally the thing would try to lash out with a tentacle, but a quick flame would make it draw its tentacles back. Out of the corner of Spike’s eye he could see Rover scoop Rarity up and dash for the door, followed by the other Diamond Dogs and Bushwoolies.
Spike started to pant with each breath, his flame coming less and less as he started to run out of breath. Red, however, didn’t seem to be having this issue. Red tapped Spike on the shoulder and pointed a thumb to the door. Nodding Spike gave one last feeble puff and dove through the door. Red took two steps back, then suddenly dashed for the door. He passed through it in a small pink blur, kicking the door behind him and shutting on the monster. The door rattled as the monster flailed against it, but it held. Red chuckled.
“It never could keep up with me.”
“You. Done. That. Before?” Spike asked through heavy breaths.
“Yeah. Being a minion isn’t as fun as you’d think. You got to learn to entertain yourself.”
“You used to be on Tirac’s side?” Spike asked.
“Well, more like I was on Scorpan’s side. He raised me. I was only here because he was.” Red shrugged. “Anyway, from what I remember the Heart is a pretty big artifact. But Tirec he likes to keep his magic items close. Heck he kept the Rainbow of Darkness on him at all times. So I bet the Heart is either in his quarters, or in the Throne room. Let’s try his quarters first. It’s easier to get to from here.”
“We need to wait for Rarity to get up.” Spike said stubbornly.
“We don’t have that kind of time. Hey, you, think you can carry her?” Red looked at Rover, who blinked and nodded. The Diamond Dog gently scooped Rarity up and looked back to Red as if looking for more instructions. For some odd reason Spike gritted his teeth, but tried not to let it show. He didn’t know why, but watching Red take charge like this was starting to annoy Spike. The other dragon couldn’t be older then him, but there was something annoying in the fact that the others seemed to be taking their cues from him. But then again, Spike had no idea where he was going, so for now, for the sake of the ponies, he could tolerate it. After all, he wasn’t going to turn this into another Owl Incident.
Spike breathed a few times to settle himself down, like he had seen Twilight and Cadence do, as he followed the others deeper into the castle.
The head crabnasty clamped his right claw around Twilight Sparkle’s waist, pinning her legs against her body. She glared and attempted to flap her wings, battering his claw and attempting to shake herself loose. She yelped and just managed to throw up a shield to protect her head as the crabnasty bashed her against the ground. The crabnasty frowned down at her. She blasted his eyes with purple energy, making him wince back and let her go. Twilight flapped her wings, and turned in midair, kicking him under the chin and finally tipping him over. She sighed and looked around, attempting to take stock of the situation.
She suddenly realized that this would probably be one of the most bloodless conflicts in both Ponyland and Equestria. The uncorrupted ponies of course didn’t want to hurt their crazed friends, but at the same time the corrupted ponies seemed to be trying to restrain the others instead of hurting them. Twilight couldn’t help but feel a bit relieved at that. Even the changelings, and the other creatures that were not apparently under corruption, seemed to be using nonlethal tactics. She nodded at Applejack, who had just finished tying up Monochrome Dash’s hooves and had even managed to wrap the rope around Dash’s muzzle, mostly so the angry pegasus would stop screaming insults at her. AJ rushed over to Twilight, dragging Dash.
“Ya…think ya can do something about her?” Applejack asked.
“No. Just drop her off somewhere she can’t cause anymore harm. We have to get to the gates.”
Applejack nodded and tossed Dash on her back. “Don’t worry, Twi. I’ll see yall in a bit.”
Twilight jumped as a beam of green energy nearly hit her in the back. She looked up to see Chrysalis and Rosedust still circling each other in midair. The Changeling Queen was blasting at Rosedust with her green magic, but Rosedust was so swift that most of the blows were missing, and missing badly. Twilight was a bit surprised that Rosedust, of all ponies, had taken it upon herself to face off against Chrysalis.
Finally, however, it appeared that Chrysalis had enough. She sent a bolt of magic at Rosedust, and at the same time, buzzed her wings and attacked Rosedust’s flank. Rosedust yelped as Chrysalis’ fangs tore at her fragile butterfly wing, and she dipped to the side in midair. Rosedust fluttered down towards the base of the castle, attempted to escape from Chrysalis. However, now that Chrysalis had her she was not willing to let Rosedust go. The pair of them struggled in midair as Chryasalis bore Rosedust down towards Midnight Castle.
Even with the concentrated efforts of ponies, grundles, trolls and orcs, the new Midnight Castle was still very much under construction. So, when Chrysalis slammed Rosedust hard against the wall of the castle, attempting to smash her like a bug, the stones on the walkway above shifted and moved slightly. Rosedust whinnied as Chrysalis bore her to the ground and started to pound her with her hooves. However, with every slam against the wall the stones above them began to tremble. Chrysalis ignored them and paused, grinning down at Rosedust.
For a moment the two insectoid ponies stared at each other. A million things she could say to this monster flew through Rosedust’s head, but where rejected. She settled for suddenly spitting in Chrysalis’ eyes.
Chrysalis was so startled by this that she reared back and shook her head, giving Rosedust her chance. She attempted to roll to the side, and at the same time Chrysalis turned her head and slammed both her hooves at the escaping Rosedust. Had Rosedust been a bit to slow she might have been struck, but she just managed to roll away as Chrysalis hooves slammed into the bare rock. The stone shaking above suddenly rolled to the side, right above Chrysalis. The rock landed on her back as she scrambled after Rosedust, crushing her around the middle. Chrysalis screamed, a horrible shriek that managed to break through most of the battle. The combatants nearest to her turned and stared, both sides staring with growing horror at the sight of the squashed Changeling.
Rosedust gasped and galloped forwards, ignoring her own damaged wings as she leaned against the rock, attempting to push it off. “Don’t worry, I’ll get it off. You’ll be fine…”
Chrysalis stared at her and just laughed. She licked her fangs and extended her head, attempting to take an almost lazy bite out of Rosedusts’ face. Rosedust gasped and backed away. Chrysalis grinned, almost madly, at the crowd that was gathering. She was still chuckling, even as she lowered her head and closed her eyes. She only stopped in the moment she no longer took a breath.
For a long moment there was total silence as both sides stared at the fallen Changeling Queen. Then all of a sudden the sky exploded with the sounds of buzzing, howling Changelings. The creatures leaped into the air, and like a swarm of locusts buzzed towards Midnight Castle, and vanished into the depths.
For another long moment the gathered forces just stared, then Twilight took the opportunity presented. She teleported forwards, then touched Rosedust. She teleported again, bringing herself and the still injured Flutter Pony to a knot of their allies.
“Get through the gate. Charge the doors. I’ll be right back.” Twilight touched Rosedust again and teleported to the far side of the field as Megan rallied their forces and charged forwards towards the gate. Tirac’s forces were so startled that it took them a while before they could rally themselves and start pushing the enemy back. However, now Twilight Sparkle's forces had the advantage, and they barreled forwards, knocking a few of the enemy to the side as they galloped.
Twilight looked up from the far side of the field. She breathed as Fluttershy, along with about five giffons, landed near them. Twilight smiled and saw that Fluttershy trot next to Rosedust. It was strange, aside from the different wings, and the antennae, the two ponies could have been twins. Twillight nodded at the griffons.
“Watch out for them. I need to get back.” The griffons nodded at her as Twilight swept away with a flick of her wings. She wished she had time to talk to Rosedust. The poor Flutter Pony looked stunned, as if she couldn’t believe that had just happened. It wasn’t even horror, just a strange sort of numbness that Twilight Sparkle had never seen on the usually collected Queen’s face, though Twilight hadn’t known Rosedust for long she had a feeling that she was not usually that poleaxed. It was understandable though. Twilight wasn’t sure if she would ever get her fur to lay down properly after hearing those screams…
Twilight shook her head and tried to focus. She couldn’t dwell on it. Rosedust was in good hands, she could still see Fluttershy embracing her and probably saying something comforting to her. Much as Twilight wanted to join her she knew she couldn’t.
Right now her friends needed her. She could have nightmares later.
“Why aren’t the Changelings out there?” Tirac snarled at Shining Armor. The former Captain of the Royal Guard turned Prince turned flunky shrugged.
“I have no idea, master. But their Queen…she’s dead.” He blinked.
“…bring the Heart up to my throne room.” Tirac growled as he turned and clopped off.
“Sir?”
“They are breaking through. Bring it.”
“But-“
“Shut up, unicorn. I don’t need you to think for me.” Tirac hissed as he continued forwards.
One a hill near the castles, Rath’s skull briefly popped out of the earth. It looked around and then grunted as it slipped back under the earth.
A few moments later, a skeletal arm burst through the floor of the castle basement. Luckily he had managed to aim them away from the sewer system. Rath crawled out of the hole, followed a few moments later by his decedents. Rath cocked his head and listened.
“Hmmmm….We’re going to have to be careful. I’d rather not run into either the ponies, or Tirek’s followers.”
Hydia scowled slightly, but nodded. “This way. I doubt the Changelings will give her up easily though.”
“Let’s hope they are to busy fighting.” Rath turned his skull down at Hydia as she turned and lead him towards the stairs.
“So, why don’t you want to run into us?”
Rath stopped in his tracks as he looked up the stairs to see the two Spikes staring down at him, both with tiny little frowns on their snouts.
“Well crap.” Rath grumbled.
Draggle ducked as the Changelings buzzed around her, chittering and skittering and apparently having a collective fit. She wasn’t quite sure what the problem was, but all of a sudden the entire hive was buzzing. It reminded her of the time one of the baby ponies had upset a small beehive, only the small bees (different from the large Bees that Draggle had met before) had been…well small. The only difference was that these creatures were not stinging and attacking, but apparently just panicking.
The only ones not panicking were a pair of large armored drones, who had shoved her to the back along with the baby queen. At first Draggle had thought they were going to attack her, or drain her, but it soon became clear that they were just getting her and the baby out of the way of the scurrying workers.
“What’s going on?” Draggle snarled at one of the drones. The drone’s eye twitched and he looked down at her.
“The queen is dead. We all can feel it. It hits the little ones the most. Just give them a few moments to-“
A loud boom echoed as Tirek kicked the doors open. He clopped angrily into the room, followed by a sheepish looking Shining Armor. He kicked away any Changelings that got in his way. The force of his blows cracked chitin and crumpled wings, but he was heedless of the damage he was doing to them. One of the drones buzzed angrily and rose to Tirek’s face level.
“Stop! You’re hurting the workers!”
“Your kind fled the battle. I don’t care what happens to cowards.” Tirek snarled.
“Our Queen is dead, don’t you understand that-“
“Silence” Tirek snarled and swatted the drone into the wall. He clomped forwards and grabbed Draggle by the back of her shirt and lifted her into the air. He sneered as the baby queen clung to the witch. Draggle wasn’t sure if she was clinging to her because the baby saw her as a food source, or if the baby had grown some sort of affection for the witch. However, Tirek wasn’t happy at all. He once again swatted her away, and the baby screamed as she was slapped into the wall. Draggle gasped as the poor thing’s leg broke as she fell to the floor. Draggle snarled at Tirek. “You didn’t have to do that!”
The centaur paid her no heed as he turned and stomped back out the door. Draggle attempted to punch the centaur, but Chrysalis previous draining weakened her blows. In fact she was fairly sure the centaur didn’t even feel them.
“What are you doing?” She shouted. Tirek chuckled.
“The Changelings have failed. There’s no point keeping you here. All that’s left for you is bait.”
Tirek chuckled as he ducked his way out the door, leaving a trail of broken and injured Changelings in his wake.
The two witches glowered as the gathered forces of Team Purify blocked the doorway at the top of the stairs. The dogs just sort of peered at them, mostly curious as to why the funny bone man was down there and why his smelly ape things looked mildly constipated. The Bushwoolies, on the other hand, looked like they were going to roll down there and give the witches a piece of their fluffy fluffy minds.
The awkward, glaring silence was broken when Rath appeared to teleport up the stairs till he was looming over Rover. The dog growled. He was the one carrying Rarity, and it was pretty clear that if the lich tried something the dog didn’t like then Rover was going to try out a few thousand-year-old bones. Rath peered down at Rarity’s still unconscious form and his lights blinked.
“I can’t leave any of you idiots alone, can I?” Rath looked at Rover. “What happened?”
“Slime monster.” The dog shrugged.
Rath sighed and muttered. “Damn fucking ponies and their low constitution levels...” He continued to mutter darkly as he pulled out a rune and before anyone could stop him, tapped with his finger. A stream of water erupted and splashed over Rarity’s face. She sputtered and jerked awake.
“Gahh! What!” Rarity didn’t usually wake up to water being poured over her head. “Why, how uncouth!”
“I’ve never been known for couth.” Rath chuckled.
“But apparently you are known for complaining?” Spike of Equestria snorted at him. Rath turned his eyes to the small dragon. Spike tensed, just in case Rath decided to do something nasty to him. You never knew with someone who did magic like Rath’s
“I’m old. I’m entitled to complain.”
“Oh yeah? The Princesses never do.”
“Ha. Moonhead’s an arrogant twat and her sister’s a poof.” Rath retorted. Spike blinked. He had never heard of anyone, pony or otherwise, who referred to Celestia as a ‘poof.’
“What does that even mean?” Spike asked.
“Well you see a twat-“
“I know what a twat is, you twit.” Spike folded his arms and glared at Rath. The lich chuckled.
“Oh I like you.”
“I’m so lucky.” Spike rolled his eyes.
Meanwhile, Rarity had gotten to her hooves and was studying Rath with narrowed eyes. “Where were you, exactly?” She asked Rath.
“Looking for them.” Rath jabbed his thumb bone at his descendants, who seemed to be engaging in a three way glaring contest with Red Spike. It was the first time Green Spike had gotten a good look at Draggle’s relatives. He honestly didn’t see much resemblance. Maybe she took after her father? Either way, the sheer dislike the witches seemed to be aiming at Red Spike, and to a lesser extent the Bushwoolies, was practically coming off them in waves. It was fairly clear that both groups were going to pounce on each other at any minute.
Rath suddenly clapped his hands together, producing a thick rattling noise echoed.
“So. I guess we are going together, correct?” He asked. Everyone in the room just stared at him. Then both Red Spike and Hydia exploded at him. It was unclear exactly what they were saying, but Green did catch the gist. Green looked over at the sister. What was her name? Smelly or something? Whoever she was she had placed a hand over her face and was shaking it. He sighed at her.
“You ever think your family is insane?”
“Think?” She snorted.
There was a sudden flash as Rarity’s horn light up and sparked magic between Red Spike and Hydia, and both of them leaped back. They looked at Rarity, who had managed to fix her mane and had assumed a rather regal look. She raised a hoof and smiled at them all.
“Now gentle…” She looked from Rath to Hydia and amended what she was going to say “Beings. While I am sure we all enjoy a nice spirited debated, I don’t believe the bottom of a tyrant’s keep is the best place to do it. Perhaps we can suspend our differences and work together as Rath suggests. At least until Tirek is vanquished?”
Hydia opened her mouth, clearly about to go into another tirade when Rath grabbed her by the ear and hissed something at her. The witch continued to glare at him, but eventually threw up her hands and marched off. Rarity nodded and followed gracefully.
“…this is going to be a disaster.” The younger witch grumbled. Green Spike nodded.
“Yep.”
The Great Kitchen Incursion was finally settled once and for all when Cadence sent the last of the goblins into the oven and blocked the door with a long ladle. She then ripped the knobs off so that the poor thing wouldn’t suddenly bake by accident. Evil this goblin might be, that didn’t mean he deserved to be a cake. Besides, he’d probably taste awful.
She turned and gazed around. The kitchen was littered with knocked out monsters, some of whom were either tied up with rope someone had found, or stuffed into cabinets or had their heads covered by pots, or in one little grundle’s case trapped in a large flour sack. The uninjured members of Team Break Things were helping their injured allies. To Cadence’s relief most of the team was only slightly injured, the worst being Flash’s new goose egg on the head. The poor pegasus was still babbleing a bit, but a quick healing spell got him straightened out.
Cadence gathered the team and they pushed forth down the hall, to what Cadence thought was the east hallway. Although it might have easily been the west. Cadence wasn’t great at directions, especially after being plopped into a location by a sort of friendly god of Chaos. Still, her assignment didn’t require her knowing exactly where she was going, only that she cause as much, well, destruction as she could. Normally Cadence wasn’t a fan of destruction for destruction’s sake, but right now it was necessary. And, she had to admit, a bit of fun. It was nice to let your mane down a bit. All in all, it was going well, and she was starting to enjoy herself, indulging in a rather chipper trot as she went down the hall, occasionally tearing off banners as she went.
So it came as rather a surprise when Flash Sentry, who was flying ahead and trying to clear his head, suddenly dove down and pushed her into an alcove as they approached a crossroads of hallway, waving at the others to take cover. There was a brief scramble as the team found things to duck under. At first Cadence was confused, then she heard and felt a distinctive thumping. With a sudden jolt of fear Cadence gulped as the huge form of Tirek thudded into view around the corner. Or at least at the perpendicular hallway that crossed Team Break Thing’s hall. Had the murderous centaur bothered to look to his right he might have seen the torn banners and general clutter in his castle, but he did not. Instead he seemed focused on reaching his destination.
Truly suddenly tensed. As Tirek’s haunches lumbered out of view she stuck her head around the corner, then ducked back into view. “He’s got Draggle. Let’s jump him.”
“Are you crazy? There’s no room to maneuver here. If he’s as tough as they say he could smear us along the walls!” Flash hissed.
“There are more of use then there are of him, don’t be such a coward!” Truly hissed back.
“…he was holding her prisoner, right…” Cadence said. “So he must have been coming from the dungeons. If we do down there we might find more beings he’s captured, set them free, then we will have a stronger force. And look at the ground.”
They looked. Green hoof prints led from one end of the hallway to the other, Cadence looked down the way Tirek had come from and huffed. In the distance she could see green ooze.
“Changlings are down there...” she was about to change her mind when her ears caught a sound. She pricked them forwards and trotted a few steps down the hall. The sound was not pony, but it was recognizable. Crying. Screaming…and then a door opened from down the hall and a little Changeling burst out. It didn’t take much focus to realize what he was saying. He, it, was screaming for help.
Cadence shuddered a bit at the sight of the thing. It was just so…unnatural. It looked down the hall and buzzed towards them, Cadence tensing and lighting up her horn as it came closer, ready to smack it into the wall. But, then she noticed the cracks in the thing chitin, and the fact that its left hind leg was held at an awkward angle, as if it was damaged or broken. Cadence sneered slightly as the thing came to a troubled halt in front of her.
It looked up at her suddenly trembled, as if it just now realized who Cadence was. She stepped forwards and lifted her hoof.
“If you think of calling for your master, or your queen, I will make sure you don’t.” She hoped she sounded a like Celestia at her most disappointed. She wasn’t used to threatening other beings, but for a Changeling? It wasn’t so hard.
“…queen is dead.” The Changeling buried its nose in its front hooves and shook. “Queen is dead. Little queen is dying…he smashed her.”
Cadence jerked. “Wait, little queen?”
“Queen’s larva. Not even a day old. Tirek smashed her.”
“What! Why!” Cadence blinked. A baby?
“Old queen is dead. We connected to her. Wouldn’t fight. Tirek didn’t like it. Took the witch, then smashed our new queen. She dying to!” And with that the little drone started to bawl like filly.
Cadence gasped and flew down the hallway. The rest of Team Break Things followed, some shouting at her to stop. But she couldn’t. He distaste for the little monsters had been overridden by what the little Changeling had told her.
When she peeked into the door that led to the new hive her heart lept into her throat. At first the sheer terror of seeing Changeling grime on the walls, empty cocoons, and the smell. Oh Celestia the smell! For a brief moment Cadence was back in the caves again, listening to that horrible beast of a queen gloat and change into her, telling her all the things she’d do to Cadence’s beloved fiancée. For a moment all Cadence wanted to do was finish what Tirek had started and crush the hive like the cockroaches they were.
But then she saw the tiny, broken form of a baby Changeling Queen, a creature not even a week old. An…innocent. Yes, Cadence realized. No matter what its evil mother had done, this baby was still innocent. Maybe she would be a monster some day, but right now it had done nothing wrong. It didn’t deserve to be crushed. Not today.
Cadence trotted slowly towards the group of Changelings huddled arund their little queen. The sea of them parted as she approached, eyes wide as they stared at her. For a moment she couldn’t interpret the look in their buggy gazes, but then she realized. It was fear. They were afraid of her? Her? After all they had done to her? Cadence pushed down her own nerves as she passed through the crowd as they huddled away from her.
She finally reached the little queen, and looked down at it. Two large, almost as large as a normal pony, Changeling’s flanked their baby queen and snarled at her. Still, Cadence could seen the fear flashing in their eyes. She had no idea why they seemed so intimidated by her, but clearly they were.
“If you’re going to use your magic, you’ll have to get past us first. We won’t let you blow up our little queen without a fight!” One of the larger Changelings said and stamped his hoof feebly. Ah, so that was it. They had no idea that she probably couldn’t use that spell without Shining.
The little queen whined and flicked her little translucent wings. Cadence could see that whatever Tirek had done had almost crushed the poor things left side. It…her, left legs and wing were smashed, and large cracks snaked over her body. Small rivers of green ichor trickled down and pooled on the floor. The filly chirped at Cadence, giving her a wide eyed puppy look, and reached out her tiny uninjured hoof and placed it on Cadence’s leg.
That did it. Cadence started to lower her head, her horn glowing, and the Changeling’s tensed. She smiled gently.
“It’s okay little one. I’ll help you.” Cadence said, and the Changeling’s stared as Cadence as she focused her thoughts on another little filly she had taken care of. She didn’t think it was appropriate to think of her husband while healing a child. However, thinking of Twilight, back she was itty bitty Twili, tiny unicorn filly, was more then enough. She concentrated, and her horn began to glow gently. Most of the Changelings leaned in, sensing Cadence’s natural love magic, and probably eager for a taste. However, none of them tried to attack or disturb her. At first this puzzled Cadence, but then she realized they must be more concerned with the baby queen then themselves. She didn’t think Changelings could be that way. However, most of her attention was on the baby.
Healing damage this deep was far more difficult the bruises and cuts that filly Twilight would get. But Cadence was older as well, and healing magic flowed from her horn. Being born a pegasus magic and spells didn’t come naturally to her, but as she got older she had managed to learn a great deal. First she delved deep under the larva’s soft armor, sealing up the cracks and tears both on the surface and inside. The poor thing had a rib cracked as well, but Cadences magic was able to heal internally as well as externally. Not many unicorns could use this spell, and repeated use of it could tire Cadence out. But one little filly? Not hard at all.
The baby Changeling chirped again and snuggled next to her. Cadence tried not to shudder to much as the hard armored shell pressed into her fur. It wouldn’t do any good to push it away now. Finally the last cracks sealed and the filly buzzed happily.
Almost instantly a pair of black arms reached out and snagged the tiny queen away from Cadence. One of the bigger Changelings had snatched her and was putting himself between Cadence and the baby, despite its loud squeaky protests. The baby held out its arms to Cadence and whined, so much like a true pony filly it almost hurt. The older Changeling watched Cadence closely.
“You’re looking for the witch, aren’t you?” He asked.
“If you bugs hurt her…” Truly snarled at him. The Changeling warrior blinked at her.
“…you’re the one that doesn’t like her. What do you care?” He asked.
Truly sneered. “’Course I don’t like her. Doesn’t mean she ain’t one of us.”
“Can you show us where he’s taken her?” Cadence asked the Changeling warrior. He glanced down at the bouncing baby queen and nodded.
“You saved her. It’s the least we can do.”
Cadence gulped. On the one hand, the Changeling’s still made her skin crawl. However, who knew what they were going to do to the Ponylander’s witch friend?
“Alright. You can come.” She turned and trotted back to the enterence. “Come on.”
“What aobut the whole, breaking things…thing.” Flash asked she passed by.
“That was before he started dragging prisoners off to who knows where to do who knows what to them.” Cadence said. “And if he’s already willing to stomp over his allies to get his way it means that we can’t just leave her.” Flash nodded in understanding.
The team, not bolstered with several dozen Changelings, swarmed down the hall, following in Tirek’s wake.
Twilight Sparkled ducked as the castle’s portcullis started to descend on them. She turned and blasted a beam of energy at the goblins attempting to lower the portcullis on top of her army. Most of said army was still on the bridge leading over Castle Midnight’s moat. Which of course was for some reason a deep gorge with raging waters and rocks below, because why wouldn’t an evil tyrant have one of those? Twilight was concerned that the others might end up falling, so she determinedly pushed forwards, hoping to get the rest of them over the bridge.
She, Galaxy, Megan, Magic Star, both Applejacks, Scorpan, Catrina, and the other world’s Twilight were in the courtyard, the others taking down Tirek’s forces in the courtyard as the others pressed forwards. However, before Majesty, who had been behind Twilight Sparkle, could enter the courtyard a wall of ice erupted in front of the gate. Twilight looked up to see a dark blue Earth Pony with a wand. Princess Royal Blue smirked down at her, waving her wand as hail began to rain down on the group. Twilight winched as several of the icy blocks hit her back, drawing blood. He horn glowed as she threw up a shield to cover her, and the other’s heads. Two more wand wielding ponies appeared on the castle’s walls. They two waved wands and plants began to snake over the ground, grasping at Twilight Sparkle and her friends as they backed away towards the door. Wind picked up and began to toss more of the ice at them. Twilight attempted to make more shields, but the multiple magic attacks were starting to wear her down. She noticed the cat witch casting fire magic at the ice, melting it, but the amount of ice and force of the wind was making it difficult to hit them all, and many hail shards were passing through and cutting into the group.
A flash of light appeared on the walsl, and Majesty suddenly appeared. She charged Princess Royal Blue, firing magic from her horn at the Princess Pony. Royal Blue turned to face Majesty, firing ice at her hooves. Majesty leaped and collided with Royal Blue, slamming her to the ground. The other two Princess Ponies turned to face Majesty.
“Go!” Majesty shouted down at Twilight Sparkle. “I’ll hold them off!”
“But!”
“GO!”
Twilight Sparkle gritted her teeth, but nodded. She turned and with a glow of magic forced the doors to the castle open. Twilight Unicorn, on the other hand, suddenly wished three times. Twilight Sparkle looked over at her mother’s double, who was suddenly on the walls next to Majesty, forcing Princess Primrose back with a stern hoof.
“Twilight, what?” Majesty looked at her old friend, who smiled at her.
“I won’t let you face this alone. Not after losing you for so long. I’ll stay by you. Just try and stop me.”
Majesty smiled and turned to the circling princess ponies, backing till both unicorns were back to back. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” She said as both mares lowered their horns to their foes.
Twilight Sparkled nodded at the two and turned around. With her remaining friends she charged through the doors, pausing a bit at the entrance.
“This way.” Scorpan looked down at her. “He’s probably down here. He always liked gloating on his throne.” Twilight Sparkle nodded up at Scorpan and followed the gargoyle prince. He led them down the hall and straight to a large pair of double doors, pointed at them with a claw.
Twilight Sparkle’s magic glowed over the door that lead to the throne room, flinging it open with a magical jerk. She squinted as the throne room was dark, really dark. Galaxy, shivered next to her, Megan still mounted on her back. The human looked around.
“It’s almost exactly like the first time.” She muttered to herself. Twilight, however, was to busy casting a light spell. A ball of white glowing energy leaped from her horn to hover around the celling, illuminating the room like a lantern for the group. Twilight gasped as a sudden stream of dark energy raced for her. She ducked as the thing whipped around her friends, blocking her from them. She noticed that the thing seemed to drip with darkness, as if it was a strand of taffy covered in ooze. She saw the others attempting to push or batter it away, and Megan’s voice echoed from behind it.
“Oh no! Magic Star, look! It’s the Rainbow of Light!”
Twilight sputtered. “That’s your Rainbow?”
“Technically, it’s mine now.”
Twilight turned, ears lowered and eyes narrowed. With the light from her horn she could see Tirek lounging on a huge stone throne. Sitting next to the throne on Tirek’s right was what could have only been the Heart of Ponyland, a huge crystal that might have once been a beautiful diamond, but was now a deep black. The black seemed to crawl across the Heart’s surface like black clouds across the sky. Standing in front of Tirek, at the base of the throne, was Twilight’s big brother, Shining Armor.
On Tirek’s left was a goblin, who was holding a spear aimed at Draggle, who was doing a fairly good job of glaring daggers at him, showing little to no fear.
“Now, this might seem a little…typical of me.” Tirek smiled, clasping both of his hands together and resting his chin on them. “But since you did such a good job at these with Nightmare Moon, I thought I’d see what you do…” He smiled, as mist began to pour into the room, aiming for Twilight’s still trapped friends. “You have a choice here, Princess. You can try to purify the Heart. I won’t do a thing to stop you. But if you chose it, your brother will shield my goblin over there, who will kill the witch. If, however you chose to save the witch, Shining Armor will shield the Heart. And if that happens…well, my mist may take longer to get to you then usual, but eventually it will get you all in the end.
Twilight Sparkle glared at him, then glared at Shining Armor. “I can’t believe you’d let that happen.”
Shining chuckled, and for a moment Twilight could almost believe it was normal. “Aww Twili, I know you won’t chose the Heart. You’d never let a friend die like this. So why not just surrender now? It’ll be easier in the end.”
“It’s not like you would be giving up that much, Twilight Sparkle. You’ll still have your friends. You brother, your magic, I’m taking nothing from you. I’m just…refocusing you. Nothing important will change.”
“Except for the fact that I’d be betraying Celestia and Luna.” Twilight bristled.
“Oh not really. They will fall to me as well.” Tirek stood. “I’ll need someone to take charge of Equestria. They will just…be under me. Like I said…nothing will change. Only night eternal…and you would answer to me. That’s all. We can all be friends. Isn’t that what you want?”
“Purple, if you even think about saying yes then I’ll find a way over there and slap you.” Draggle snarled at Twilight, even though she was still glaring at the goblin.
Tirek looked down at her and sighed. He looked back up at Twilight. “Your choice, Princess. What will it be?”
Twilight Sparkle closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, and then opened them. Her eyes slid around the room, for the first time noticing that many of Tirek’s army had slid into the room, as if eager to watch the show. She could make out Wind Whistler with two unfamiliar pegasus, Shady, Knight Shade, and others, all with glowing yellow eyes…yet…was Wind Whistler staring at Draggle, her eyes fading then snapping back, fading then snapping…
Twilight turned her head upwards, as if in thought. Tirek smiled as the mist slinked closer and closer to her ears. Twilight’s head suddenly snapped forwards and she smiled at him.
“I chose the third option.” With a sudden poof of magic Twilight was suddenly hovering over Tirek’s head, blasting at him with a beam of magic. He roared and rose to meet her attack with his own beam from his hand.
Celestia, please let this work. Twilight thought as she descended towards Tirek. Because if it doesn’t, I may have just killed someone…