It all happened in a flash, Silver's eyes glowed grey along with his horn. The ground around the group cracked as multiple large crystal's shot out of ground. Each continued to grow and shape itself until it had formed a crystal dome out of thin air. Shielding the group from Spike's green flames. Timor and Cupiditas watched in amazement as the crystal dome was constructed.
"Interesting." Timor muttered, watching as the green flames attached to the dome slowly died down.
"Very interesting." Cupiditas added. "I believe we've seen this before somewhere?"
"You assume correct." Timor said landing on the ground, Cupiditas joined him.
Timor approached the crystal dome casually. Upon closer inspection he saw his distorted reflection. Reaching up Timor tapped against the dome, examining it top to bottom.
"Just as I thought, this dome here is made a special gem known as crystalline Jade." Timor concluded.
"Crystalline Jade?" Cupiditas repeated Timor's words. "I swear that sounds very familiar."
"It is, you see-" Timor cut himself short as he jerked his head upward just in time to see Odium hovering above the crystal dome.
His eyes looked like they were on red fire, his expression looked like it was overflowing with massive amounts of hatred. Holding his two forelegs above his head a magic ball of red aura formed slightly above his hooves. The ball grew in size until it was the size of his own body, red sparks began to spew out of the ball. Rearing back his hooves he readied himself to throw the ball.
But in a flash Timor teleported himself in front of Odium, just in time to halt his attack. Odium flashed his red fiery eyes at Timor, growling he demanded, "Why did you stop me?!"
Calmly Timor replied, "You clearly didn't hear me when I said that this dome here is made of Crystalline Jade." Timor reminded Odium. "As in, the gem that absorbs both magical and kinetic energy which makes the stuff harder than diamond."
"So?!" Odium barked.
"So if you were to say, oh I don't know, chuck a massive aura ball at it all you would do is make the Jade stronger, not weaker." Timor said, flicking Odium's forehead. "Use that brain of yours when we need it."
Odium growled furiously at Timor. He wanted to kill-no, exterminate-no, destroy-yes. Yes, he wanted to destroy the group of ponies with every fiber of his being. He couldn't put his hoof on it, but he was much angrier than usual. However, like Timor had said, he had a brain and despite all the rusty gears and cobwebs inside it, it still worked. Odium closed his eyes and sighed in defeat as his red magic ball slowly vanished.
Opening his eyes Odium spoke, "Why did you have to be the smart one?" He asked rhetorically.
"Because your to strong for your own good." Timor answered with a smile.
"Wait." Cupiditas added himself into the conversation, flying up to the others. "If your the smart one." He pointed to Timor. "And your the strong one." He pointed to Odium. "Then what am I?"
Timor facehoofed and sighed before answering. "Cupiditas, do you need some anti-depression pills or something?"
"Yes." Cupiditas smiled sinisterly. "I want all the pills!" He said evilly, his eyes turned orange.
"Oi!" Timor yelled, smacking Cupiditas across the face making him loose his orange glow eyes. "Use the element to consume others, do not let it consume you."
Cupiditas rubbed his red cheek, "S-sorry Timor. I don't know what came over me."
"Don't care. In fact I shouldn't care about any of this, actually we shouldn't care about any of this. The only thing we should care about is how we get rid of that." Timor ranted pointing to the crystal dome.
"Oh yeah...how do we get rid of that thing?" Cupiditas wondered. "I mean if it absorbs magical and kinetic energy how do we get rid of it?"
"Simple." Timor said. "Despite the fact that this here dome is made of crystalline Jade it has one weakness that all things have."
"...and that would beeee." Odium trailed off waiting for Timor to answer.
"A melting point." Timor answered.
Odium stared at Timor, having no idea what he just said. Cupiditases reaction however was the opposite.
"Of course, the melting point. How could we have not seen it?" Cupiditas mentally smacked himself.
"Okay, what's the melting point?" Odium asked. "Is it some kind of spell or something?"
"What? No. No, the melting point is the point where a solid begins to melt at a certain high temperature." Timor explained.
"But if I recall, the melting point for crystalline Jade was never discovered." Cupiditas added.
"That's because no one ever thought to drop it in a volcano before." Timor smiled.
"Welcome back Silver platter. It's been a while." A mare's voice said inside Silvers head spoke.
'Good to see you too.' Silver thought.
Shock and surprise. That was the common emotion that was displayed across everyone's face. To Scootaloo and Sweetie bell it was the pink and blue shield that appeared out of no where and protected them. To the others it was the fact that Silver had just constructed a crystalline dome out of thin air.
"Woah." Twilight said in awe.
However little paid attention to the alicorn mare as most were still staring in awe themselves. Applejack however couldn't care less about the dome, she only cared about comforting her hurt friend Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash. The mare who laughed at fear in the face was curled up in a ball on her side frightened by fear itself. Applejack slowly stroked Rainbow's mane, trying her best to comfort her.
But it was little use, Rainbow Dash had just been handed her greatest fear. Abandonment. She was always afraid of the word, it was the one wound that she could never heal.
"How." Rainbow choked out. "How did he know about my family?"
"Shhhh." Applejack said softly. "Yer alright sugar cube. Everything's gonna be alright."
"But...but how did he know?" Rainbow dash asked again. No answer.
The memory of her mother still haunted her. She never knew why but her mother left her. She could still remember the words her mother said before her mother left.
"I'm sorry."
That's all she said, 'I'm sorry'. Nothing more, nothing less. And Rainbow Dash continued to run and run from that memory. Hoping and praying that it would just go away. But it never did, and now she was reminded of that horrible moment because of the yellow alicorn.
Ranger tore his gaze away from the dome and looked down to his friend Applejack, who was still trying to comfort her. A bit ashamed of himself for not noticing he approached the two mares. Applejack looked up to Ranger and he asked, "Will she be okay?" He asked.
"I don't know Ranger. I truly don't." Applejack replied sadly.
Meanwhile Rarity was currently pacing back and forth worrisome of Spike.
"Rarity, calm down." Twilight said.
Rarity whipped her head to Twilight. "Calm down!" She yelled at her friends absurd suggestion. "How can I calm down when we just saw Spike out there controlled by those three...villains and our friends turned to stone?!"
Twilight was about to retort but cut herself short as she remembered the expression Flash had when he was turned to stone. Her heart tightened and her stomach churned as she imagined the pain Flash must've been feeling.
"And yet..." Rarity sighed. "I can't help but feel that this is all my fault."
Silver looked at Rarity with surprise. "What are you talking about?" He asked. "You had nothing to do with this."
Rarity shook her head sadly. "No Silver. I have to confess something to you." She took added, taking a deep breath. "Some time ago, Spike let his greed get the best of him and turned into...well...the dragon we just saw. He rampaged all over Ponyville, taking anything and everything. But...when he took me and saw the gem he gave me he turned back to normal." Rarity explained. "We were caught in a free fall and as we were about to hit the ground he told me that he loved me."
Silver looked shocked. "Then that letter he gave you at the shop..."
Rarity nodded sadly. "It was a poem, it was very nice, but I never had the same feelings for him like he did for me."
"But...I thought only if he loses control of his greed he turns giant?" Twilight asked confused
"You are correct Miss Sparkle." A gentle female voice said.
Startled, everyone stared to the one who spoke in such a voice. The one they were staring at was Sweetie bell. Or at least, it looked like Sweetie bell. Her body and mane were the same, but her eyes were fully pink.
"However, you seem to not know that both Greed, Rage, and Fear are all connected to one another." Sweetie spoke in the different voice.
Rarity stared wide eyed and dumbstruck at her little sister. "...Sweetie bell?" She asked carefully.
Sweetie directed her attention to her sister, "I am not the host known as Sweetie bell." Sweetie said. "I am Amare, the Element of Love."
Everyone continued to stare at Sweetie/Amare. None having the faintest clue what to say. Silence hovered in front of the group in a mocking matter as the situation began to become very uncomfortable to everyone.
"Element of Love?" Twilight asked, lifting away the very uncomfortable silence.
"Yes, I am the Element of Love. Just as you are the Element of Magic Miss Sparkle."
"When did Sweetie bell become the Element of Love?" Silver asked.
"The same time she faced greed and defeated it." This time Scootaloo spoke, but in a more mare like voice. Also her eyes were glowing blue. "Greetings, I am Spero, the Element of Hope."
"Squirt...?" Rainbow Dash asked weakly to the Elemental filly.
Scootaloo/Spero turned to Rainbow Dash with a bland expression. "Subject Rainbow Dash is suffering from a mental attack caused by the Element of Fear, I cannot help you."
"Element of Hope and Element of Love?" Twilight muttered in disbelief. "I thought there were only the Elements of Harmony?"
"Negative Miss Sparkle." Sweetie Bell/Amare stated. "There are six Elements of us, Hope, Rage, Love, Greed, Fear, Will. Sweetie Bell was chosen because she had faced Greed with Love and succeeded." Sweetie/Amare explained.
"Subject Scootaloo was chosen as the Element of Hope for facing great fear and succeeding."
"And the Element of Will?" Ranger asked.
"The Element of Will was the last Element to choose its host." Scootaloo/Spero explained.
"So...you don't know who the Element of Will is?" Pinkie asked as the writer smacked himself in the face in embarrassment at how he had forgot about her.
"Negative." Scootaloo/Spero answered. "Despite being the last Element to arrive, we could still sense when a Elemental has chosen its host."
"So then, who is the Element of Will?" Applejack asked, continuing to comfort Rainbow.
"The Element of Will's host is a filly known as Applebloom." Sweetie/Amare answered.
Applejack's expression turned to shock, then to anger as she stopped comforting her friend and stood up. Applejack began to approach towards Scootaloo/Spero and Sweetie Bell/Amare. However Ranger saw the mares advance and extended his hoof in front of Applejack, making her come to a halt. She knew it was a waste of time to even try to get past Ranger, but that didn't stop her from having a very certain talk with them.
"Now listen here ya two so called Elemental's." Applejack glared at the two Filly's, pointing a hoof at the two. "Ya'll have no right dragging my li'll sis into this here mess."
Despite the mare's hostile tone, both Scootaloo/Spero and Sweetie Bell/Amare stood untouched by Applejack's words. "Negative, subject host of the Element of Will known as Applebloom is already aware of the power she wields and has accepted all of its responsibilities."
The fact that was spoken only made Applejack more angry. "No way am I lettin' ma sister get hurt in all of this." Applejack growled.
"That is not you decision Applejack." Scootaloo/Spero spoke. "You are her sister. Sisters are to look out for their younger ones, not control her."
"She's ma Sister, sayin' that I don't want her to get hurt is looking out fer her!" Applejack shouted.
"Yes, but it is not your decision, Applebloom is the wielder of her fate not you. The decision is hers and hers alone." Scootaloo/Spero said more sternly.
The sent of a fight stirred in the air like a morning dew fog. But before punches could be blown and kicks received the entire crystal dome shook violently. Everyone stumbled backwards as they tried to gain their balance. But it was no use as one by one they all fell down. Eventually the violent shaking ceased, but that wasn't enough to convince everyone to get up. Well...everyone except-
"Wheeeeeeee!" Pinkie laughed with glee. When the dome and ground beneath had began to shake and turn, everyone tried to stand upright. But Pinkie instead embraced the rocking by curling into a ball and rolling around like a pony sized pinball. When the shaking stopped she untucked herself and landed in a heap on her back. "Hehehe. That was fun, let's do it again!"
Everyone looked at Pinkie with half-lidded eyes and monotone expressions.
"What happened?" Twilight asked.
"We'...we're moving." Rainbow Dash said weakly.
Despite the size of the dome and the bottom, it was easily lifted thanks to a certain dragon by the name of Spike. Timor, Odium, and Cupiditas all flew close to the dome, keeping a safe distance from it in case the group of ponies inside tried anything funny. Small chunks of rock fell from the bottom of the dome and onto Spike's face.
"Sooooo...where do we find a volcano?" Odium asked the obvious question.
"Simple, there's plenty of them in Dragonia." Timor answered. "And since we have a large dragon with us, we should blend right-" Timor cut himself off as a chill ran up and down his spine. He was shocked at first from the feeling, but then he knew exactly what it meant.
Cupiditas looked over to Timor and saw the look on his face."Timor?" He asked a bit concerned.
Timor turned his head around to face Cupiditas. But he no longer had a look of shock, no he was smiling. But this wasn't an ordinary evil sinister smile, oh no, the smile was one that reflected pure evil glee. A look that Cupiditas and Odium knew all to well.
"Timor don't-" But he was to late as Timor vanished in a yellow flash.
Observing from a distance young Applebloom watched as the large dragon, Spike, walked mindlessly carrying her friends to who knows where.
"Voluntas?" Applebloom asked to no physical thing.
"Yes Host Applebloom?" A stallion's voice said inside Applebloom's head.
"Are they all alright?" She asked a tinge worried.
"According to Spero and Amare they are all fine." the stallion responded.
Applebloom let out a sigh of relief at the news.
"Also, forgive me for forgetting. Happy birthday Subject Applebloom."
Applebloom smiled as a green aura wrapped itself around her entire body.
"Thanks Voluntas." Applebloom thanked the voice inside her head. "But let's safe the cake after we free my friends. Voluntas, how many ponies do they have?"
"Just a moment.......yes. Alright, I've detected twelve ponies inside the crystalline Jade dome. Eleven ponies are turned into stone by Timor's magic, and the dragon is your friend Spike, but he is full of hatred which is being controlled by Odium."
"Alright." Applebloom said, her entire eyes turning green. "What's the plan?"
"I suggest we do not attack yet." Voluntas suggested.
"What?!" Applebloom asked in a shocked manner. "Why!"
"After searching the area, I located both Odium, the Element of Rage, and Cupiditas, the Element of Greed." Voluntas said.
"So?"
"I found no sign of Timor, the Element of Fear." Voluntas said, before quickly adding, "Warning, Fear detected."
A split second was all the time Applebloom had to react to the attack. In the corner of her eye she saw a yellow aura dagger flying towards her. And in that split second she leaped upwards, dodging out of the yellow daggers range. But her mistake was jumping upwards instead of blocking.
In a yellow flash, Timor appeared above Applebloom with a wicked smile on his face. A yellow aura sword in his hoof he swung it down onto Applebloom. But Applebloom saw the attack coming, and raised her hoof in front of the blade. A green aura round shield appeared, blocking the sword from striking Applebloom.
Timor jumped off Applebloom and both landed in battle ready stances on the ground. Timor smiled happily as he stared at Applebloom. Who began to slightly blush at the stare.
"Didn't your mother tell you it's rude to stare?" Applebloom asked hotly.
Timor slightly chuckled at what his opponent had just said. "Oh Voluntas, we both know I never had a mother."
"My name is Applebloom, and I know that you are Timor the Element of Fear." Applebloom replied.
Timor chuckled again. "Oh Voluntas, it's been a long time old friend."
"Hey! My name is Applebloom, not Voluntas!" Applebloom growled.
"Subject Host Applebloom, I suggest that you let me speak to Timor."
"... Alright." Applebloom sighed. Closing her eyes she let Voluntas take control of her body.
Opening her eyes Voluntas spoke through Applebloom's body. "It's been a long time Timor." Voluntas spoke.
"Ah, at last you show yourself Voluntas." Timor said obviously, smiling even more. "How does it feel to be inside a normal body?"
"Better than that construct."
"Fool!" Timor spat. "That body gave you complete power to your Element and you throw it away so that you can be joined with a weak and pathetic body like that?!"
"No, it is you who are a fool Timor." Voluntas replied calmly. "You underestimate the true power of these ponies, their emotions are the true power they wield. But what I find curious is why you care?"
"Why I care?! You have always been my enemy, my equal. To see you throw away your power like mere trash for something like this...it is infuriating to see it." Timor ranted.
"If it's a fight you want than I won't object. But let the ponies go, they have no part in this."
"Fine by me, I actually lost them about a while ago. But as long as it doesn't concern me I don't care." Timor said. "Shall we begin?"
"Let's." Voluntas Replied.
"That fool Timor." Odium growled, looking down as both Timor and Voluntas battled. "Why does he get to fight his opposite Element while ours hide away inside this dome?"
"I don't really have an answer for that Odium." Cupiditas chuckled.
"Yeah well-" Odium whipped his head to Cupiditas ready to retort but stopped short when he just stared at the thing on Cupiditases head.
"What?" Cupiditas raised an eyebrow. "Is there something on my head?"
The one who stood on top of Cupiditases head swung his head down and stared Cupiditas in the eyes. "Guess who?" Cheese sandwich smiled.
"Gah!" Cupiditas shrieked as his wings came to a halt. Knocking Cheese off of his head.
Only for him to come floating back up with his hoof tied to a shiny red balloon. The balloon stopped itself as Cheese face both Cupiditas and Odium. "Good afternoon to you too." He smiled.
"Who the hay are you?" Odium asked.
"Oh that's easy, I'm a talking floating banana with stick figure arms who wears a rainbow clown wig, has swirly eyes, a red nose, a fake evil mustache, a red bow tie with white polka dots, a very bad taste in puns, and only wants to force people to experience laughter." Cheese answered with a smile.
Both Odium and Cupiditas flew in both fright and shock as they stared at Cheese confused.
Cheese let out a frustrated sigh along with an eye roll. "Oh come on! You act like you've never heard a joke before." Cheese said. "You know what, forget it. You wouldn't understand anyways." Cheese tapped his chin, "Why was I here again?...oh right." Cheese said looking back to both Odium and Cupiditas. "I'm here to make a deal with you guys."
Still shocked Cupiditas replied, "What kind of deal?"
"An easy deal, you see I know something that you would love to know."
"An what might that be?" Cupiditas raised an eyebrow.
"Ah ah ah." Cheese said tauntingly. "I'll only tell you if you hear what I have to say."
"That doesn't sound reasonable." Odium muttered.
"Ignoring you." Cheese stuck out his tounge. "My terms are this, I'm not a unicorn but you guys are, well your part alicorn, anyways I want you to teleport everyone in there to a location that I'm about to tell you about."
"And just why should we listen to you?" Odium asked.
"Because I have information that you would love to hear." Cheese responded again.
"You keep saying that you have information that we want to hear. But I haven't heard what this information even is." Cupiditas stated.
"Ah yes. The information that I wish to give you is this, you see I know where the Element of Love and Hope are." Cheese said.
Both Odium and Cupiditas perked up when they heard that.
"Oh yeah, both Amare and Spero are inside that crystal dome. I'll happily open it up for you but you have to promise that you'll teleport everyone in there to the location I desire. Understood?"
"Understood." Both Odium and Cupiditas agreed.
"Good, now then there are three foals in there who I want you to teleport home. The rest, including me, I want you to teleport to an airship bound for the Crystal empire. I want you to do this the instant I blow a hole in the crystal dome." Cheese said, pulling out his large metal cannon. "Do it now!"
Cheese yelled pulling on the cannon's trigger. A loud boom along with a teleport spell were all that heard.