//------------------------------//
// Our Mission 
// Story: Resurgence 
// by DouglasTrotter 
//------------------------------//

Two watery eyes glanced down the path, a small plume of dark wisped smoke rising into the air.  The filly gazed at the horrible sight that greeted her eyes.  She hung her head and closed her eyes.  Her ears lowered.  She faced her friends while her hooves trudged along the pathway.  The shade from the apples trees that crept by provided little relief from the sun's rays.  

Apple Bloom moved along the path behind Zecora with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo in toe.  Aegis yawned, and then assumed her filly form.  The sun remained frozen over the heads of the six equines.  Time ticked by while the ponies and their zebra guide moved down the dirt path by Sweetie Apple Acres.  Soon, the group came upon Fluttershy's cottage.  

Zecora reached forward and tapped her hoof against the wooden door.  She gritted her teeth. Her rings jingled as she pounded her hoof against the door, breathing a heavy sigh.  

"Where are we going?" Apple Bloom said. 

"..." Zecora clenched her teeth, her eyes flashing red for a second.  She took a deep breath, exhaled, and then sipped on a small vial of liquid from her saddlebag.  A delicate hoof pointed towards a path leading away from Fluttershy's cottage.  "We must make haste and move without delay.  Our time is precious.  We cannot be led astray." 

Princess Cadence nodded to Zecora.  The mare levitated Aegis onto her back.  She gave the filly a gentle smile, receiving one in kind.  The group resumed their journey once more.  

Hisses, howls, growls, and other emanations greeted the equine's ears as they passed the dark barrier of the forest.  All of them stopped as Zecora rubbed the side of her head, the zebra's eyes flashing red once more.  The ponies recoiled when their friend stamped a strong hoof against a tree, leaving an indentation.  Apple Bloom charged after Zecora who bolted into the forest, the others following.  

Zecora dashed into her hut.  A small potion reflected off her eyes.  She reached for it.  Her hooves trembled.  The zebra tossed the potion out the window.  An angered sigh escaped Zecora.  

"Let me help you, Zecora.  You don't have to fight King Sombra's spell alone." Princess Cadence said.  

Zecora remained silent. She clenched her teeth.  The zebra shivered, and then said, "I can resist him, but not for long.  We must get you on your way, and make it so you can right this wrong." 

"Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo said.  

Apple Bloom crept forward.  She smiled at Zecora.  Her armor materialized.  The filly placed a gentle hoof on Zecora's chest.  A purple, translucent shield materialized and phased through Zecora.  "Get it, Sweetie Belle!"  

On cue, Sweetie Belle materialized her armor.  She hummed a slight tune, and an aura enveloped the red sphere.  The aura dissipated. "Scootaloo!" 

Ethereal wings shot out of the pegasus filly.  Scootaloo rocketed into the air once outside the hut.  The red sphere plummeted to the ground as the pony smacked the object away.  She flew towards it and smacked it back into the air.  Her wings carried her back and forth as she batted the object around before giving it a final hit and slamming it into the ground.  Scootaloo pointed a hoof at Sweetie Belle and nodded at Apple Bloom.  

Apple Bloom materialized her shield.  The intangible, translucent shield morphed into a ball.  

Sweetie Belle focused on the object.  She illuminated her horn.  The sphere shrunk, and then disappeared.  

Zecora winced.  Her eyes flashed red for a final time.  The Zebra smiled at her friends, "Thank you for what you have done.  That monster's curse has been undone." 

Apple Bloom looked at Zecora, and then back down the path towards Ponyville. "If every pony in Ponyville has one of those things -- we can't win.  It took everything ah had to get it out of you and hold it in place." 

"You're not the only one, Apple Bloom." Scootaloo said.  She floated to the ground, her armor disappearing along with her friend's. "This armor takes a lot out of ya.  How can we defeat King Sombra, Nightmare Star, and Queen Chrysalis?" 

"We can't." Sweetie Belle said.  She sat down on Zecora's bed.  The filly glanced at Princess Cadence, and then Aegis. "My voice hurts from just humming that tune.  Not to mention I feel totally drained.  I'd be nice if we could practice." 

Princess Cadence nodded to the others.  She levitated Aegis off her back and into the bed.  The pony gazed back at Ponyville.  Tears streamed down her cheeks, "Shining Armor... please tell me you're alright." 

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo sat by Princess Cadence as Zecora pulled down several vials from a cupboard.  The three fillies smiled at the mare, Scootaloo patting her on the back.  

"What ya makin', Zecora?" Apple Bloom said as she watched the Zebra pull several items from cupboards, pots, and storage containers.  

"..." Zecora went about her business.  Several hooffuls of powder floated into the cauldron she stirred with care.  She uncorked a small stone vial.  Blue liquid poured into pot, turning its contents white.  Her hoof reached into a sac.  Zecora blew a small bit of dust into the air.  She gazed around her hut, and then put a ladle into the pot.  White liquid flung towards the corner before she pounced. "You're quite the sneak.  What is it you seek?" 

Queen Chrysalis thrashed about.  She illuminated her horn, soon finding herself restrained. 

"You caused this! You took my aunt from me.  You took my dear sister-in-law from me and her friends.  Above all else, you caused me to lose my love.  My Shining Armor!" Princess Cadence said.  Her horn glowed in a fierce light.  The princess stopped.  She glanced down to see the Cutie Mark Crusaders standing in front of Queen Chrysalis. "I should be allowed revenge." 

"Hatred will breed Hatred.  Violence will breed violence, your highness.  You must let go of your anger, of your hatred.  It's not befitting your title, princess." Zecora said.  Her calm eyes reflected off the mare in front of her.  "Please, do not give in to despair.  That is a horrible place of darkness.  Believe me, I know all too well of its lair." 

Princess Cadence's horn went dim.  She closed her eyes and looked up, "Why?! Why is this happening." 

"One word, bug.  And we'll shut ya up for good." Scootaloo said, glaring at Queen Chrysalis. 

The deposed changeling queen rose up.  She glared at the ponies and zebra in front of her.  "Do you all believe I don't know that my action have consequences.  I've lost my home.  I've lost my subjects.  I've lost everything because of that wicked stallion.  What I desired was revenge, not this." 

Zecora glanced at Queen Chrysalis, "All things carry a price, even victory.  Of course, this isn't the end of the story." 

"Your group lies defeated.  I've been cast aside by King Sombra, the one who returned him to Equestria.  Nightmare Star will burn this land to ash.  Not even my hive will be safe."  Queen Chrysalis said.  Her ragged mane drooped over her faced.  The crown atop her head fell to the ground.  "All is lost.  Now my kind will wither away without their food.  They'll starve, like me."

"So, how will we get to the others?" Apple Bloom said. 

"Some sympathy." Queen Chrysalis said, ending with a grumble.  

Zecora poured a final bit of potion into the cauldron.  From her saddlebag, she produced a map of Equestria.  The map floated on the top of the black pot before sinking in.  Zecora's eyes glowed as she recited an incantation.  She pulled the floating map from atop the bubbling potion and unfurled it.  

"It is with this guide that you will find those you seek.  This map is yours to take and keep." Zecora said.  She nodded to her friends, and then stood by Princess Cadence. "We will journey to the kingdom of the north with the fourth.  The deposed one shall join you --" 

"Like Tartarus I will.  I will not trade subservience of one master to another." Queen Chrysalis hissed. 

"Unless you would like to return to your former state.  I suggest you accept this new fate." Zecora said.  

Queen Chrysalis looked in the mirror. "The collar is gone?" 

"It was a powerful and expensive brew.  You can at least show 'some' gratitude." Zecora rolled her eyes.  She placed a cloak over Princess Cadence and herself.  "In case you thought about betrayal, Sweetie Belle can put the collar back on with a simple wale." 

The changeling shivered.  She groaned.  Green flames consumed her.  Queen Chrysalis assumed the form of a slender mare. "Not exactly like I can go trotting around in my real form.  You get rid of King Sombra and his side mare, and I will call off my changelings.  Agreed?" 

"No deal.  You're just going to betray us." Sweetie Belle said, inhaling.  "Apple Bloom, why'd you stop me?" 

"Ah don't like this anymore than Princess Cadence likes it.  Still, we ain't got no choice here.  We'll need all the help we can get to find the others, stop King Sombra, and turn Nightmare Star back into Princess Celestia." Apple Bloom said.  She faced the mare in front of her, "Ya betray us even once, Sweetie Belle can put that collar back on ya tighter than a pony's tongue caught in a vice gripe.  Got it." 

The diguised mare extended her hoof out with the Cutie Mark Crusaders shaking it.  

"The deal is struck.  Let us make haste while we still have our luck." Zecora said.  

Princess Cadence glanced at Queen Chrysalis one last time before she turned towards Zecora, floating Aegis onto her back.  "We'll head to the Crystal Kingdom.  Bring the others there.  We can setup a safe place to plan out our assault."