The Umbrum castle was surrounded by a forest of thorns. This made it extremely difficult for the five royals to pass through. Discord tried snapping his talon to part the forest in the middle, but the mass of thorns merged once again. He tried flying a paper airplane over the thorns, but they snared the airplane before it could reach the entrance.
Spike asked, “Any more brilliant ideas?”
Discord smirked, “Well, I do have one more trick up my sleeve…” He conjured up a bag of seeds and said, “These are plunderseeds. They can grow into monstrous vines that will be sure to choke the life out of those pesky thorns.” He threw the seeds at the thorns and said, “Feast, my little pretties! Feast on that forest of thorns!” He then popped a plunderseed in his mouth and chewed on it.
Sunset grimaced and said, “Uh, Discord? Should you be eating that?”
Discord replied while chewing, “Why not? Plunderseeds are delicious.” When he swallowed, he shivered with pleasure.
Screwball pointed to the mass of thorns and cried, “Look! I think the plunderseeds are growing!”
Sure enough, black vines with teal thorns began to sprout from the ground and wrapped themselves around the thorns.
Apple Jewel said, “But I thought they’d be like Venus flytraps.”
Discord said, “Wait for it…Wait for it…” He waited for the vines to choke the thorns, but they only seemed to add to the problem. When the vines didn’t do anything, Discord said, “Oh, come on! I was sure that would work!”
Spike then sneezed and breathed fire out. When Discord saw that some of the thorns burned, his smile curved wickedly at the thought of his new idea.
Discord told him, “Spike, open wide.”
Spike asked, “Wha-?”
Before Spike could finish his sentence, Discord stepped on the dragon’s foot and Spike’s mouth flew open like a trashcan lid. Discord conjured up a jar of peppers and poured them into Spike’s mouth.
When Spike’s face began to burn red, Discord grabbed him and said, “Stand back!”
He opened Spike’s mouth and used him as a flamethrower. Great flames burst from the dragon’s mouth and burned down the entire mass of vines and thorns into piles of ashes.
When Discord put him on the ground, Spike coughed, “That was hot!”
Discord smirked, “But of course. I used Mare-olina Reapers.”
The dragon hoarsely requested, “Could I have some water, please?”
“Coming right up!” Discord conjured up a fire hose and aimed it at Spike.
Spike cried, “No, wait!” His plea was ignored and he got sprayed with a powerful blast of water.
Apple Jewel cried out, “Daddy, are you okay?”
Screwball remarked, “I guess that’s one way to douse a fire.”
Spike sputtered out water and said, “Daddy’s…fine, honey…I only wish Discord wouldn’t resort to extreme measures.”
Discord countered, “Hey, these are desperate times here!”
Sunset agreed, “Well, he’s got you there.”
Once the royals entered the castle, Discord said, “I say we should split up. Sunset, you take Screwball, and Spike, you take Apple Jewel.”
Spike asked, “But what about you?”
Screwball asked, “Yeah, why are you going it alone?”
Discord answered, “Well, let’s just say I got an old score to settle.”
Without another word, he went down a hallway. This left the others worried, but they decided to take separate paths as well.
As Spike and Apple Jewel were walking, Jewel asked her dad, “Daddy, what do you think Uncle Discord meant by ‘old score’?”
Spike said, “Well, he could be talking about Snow Pea being kidnapped. Oh, that and maybe what happened to his friend.”
“What did happen to her?”
“Well, he told us that she was gone because of Belladonna. That’s all he said. I’m guessing she must’ve been taken…or worse.” Honestly, he did not want to think about that particular thought.
Meanwhile, Sunset and Screwball were taking another path. Screwy then asked, “I’m worried about Daddy. He looked serious when he walked off.”
Sunset said, “I’m sure your dad’s worried about Snow Pea. He wants to find her and set everything right.”
Just then, they heard howling. The girls stopped in their tracks and Sunset spread her hoof in front of her niece to shield her.
Screwy asked in a frightened tone, “Is it the Umbrum, Aunt Sunny?”
Sunny responded, “Stay close to me, Screwball.” She lit her horn to shed light where they were now. She stayed on guard, alert for any activity. Suddenly…
Screwball shrieked as she was pulled away at lightning speed, “EEE!! Aunt Sunny!”
Sunset turned, only to catch a glimpse of Screwball before she disappeared into total darkness. Sunset panted as she raced towards the darkness, “Screwball?! Screwy, where are you?!” Her desperate cries went unanswered.
Spike and Apple Jewel continued to walk down the hall when suddenly, an Umbrum charged into Spike and knocked him off his feet. Spike could barely register anything when he heard his daughter cry, “DADDY!”
In that instant, he got up and found that he was now alone.
Snow Pea hung her head in despair as two Umbrum guards stood watch of her. She didn’t know what to do at this point. Belladonna and Nightmare Moon had gone after Snowy’s family as soon as they heard that the royals had arrived. She wanted to help her family, but she didn’t want to endanger their lives now that she knew why she was given her powers. She was meant to do either one of two things: destroy the Windigos and time with them, or bring wintery destruction to all of Equestria. Neither choice seemed good at this juncture.
Just then, the Fire Tiara glowed dimly and brought up every positive memory Snow Pea made within the last 48 hours. Time stilled for her as she remembered every encouraging word her family and friends had spoken to her.
You always have the power to change your future by changing yourself for the better.
Just believe in yourself, and you can do incredible things with your powers. You don’t need to be ashamed of them. They’re a part of who you are. I’m sure your parents think the same thing.
I also sense a good and kind heart in the young filly. If she maintains her innocence and never loses her way, she can rid the world of those dangerous foes.
If your magic was strong because you were scared, just think what it might do if you were brave.
Then came the memory of her mother being healed of the ice magic. Snow Pea knew it was transferred into her, but then she looked at it in a new way.
She thought, Wait a minute. I saved my mother. I bet I can save my family, too! Maybe I can use my powers for good instead of evil!
It seemed like no time had passed at all for Snow Pea, but it all happened within a moment. As soon as the Umbrum noticed the tiara was glowing, they were alarmed by this.
One of them warned her, “Don’t try to escape, princess.”
She heard his warning and the tiara stopped glowing. Then, she had an idea.
She coughed and lowered to the ground, “*cough* *cough* I don’t feel too good. I think…I think I’m going to faint.”
When the Umbrum leaned in towards her, she instantly froze them, encasing them in blocks of ice. Snow Pea smiled, “What do you know? It worked. Thanks, Mom.”
She then used her magic to turn her chains into ice and broke them with a simple thought. She carefully walked out of the room before she was met by two more Umbrum guards!
One of the guards asked threateningly, “And where do you think you’re doing?”
Fear coursed through Snow Pea for a bit before she remembered something. Her mother had told her that singing could help her overcome her fears. Snowy didn’t know why, but a song Countess Coloratura had taught her during Hearth’s Warming popped into her head.
She began to sing, “I'm here to show you who I am…” This confused the Umbrum as she continued singing, “Throw off the veil, it's finally time…There's more to me than glitz and glam, oh-whoa…And now I feel my stars align…”
As she sang the last word, her horn glowed brightly and the guards became encased in ice.
Snowy continued as she ran down the hallway, “For I had believed what I was sold…I did all the things that I was told…But all that has changed, and now I'm bold…'Cause I know…”
She then iced the floor and skated on it. She continued to do so as she sang, “That I am just a pony…I make mistakes from time to time…But now I know the real me…And put my heart out on the line…And let the magic in my heart stay true…”
Her eyes shrunk when she saw the staircase as she sang, “Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa…” She then iced the staircase and slid down it. “And let the magic in my heart stay true…Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa…” When she came to the bottom, she conjured up a pile of snow in front of the staircase. She sang before she ran into the pile, “Just like the magic inside of you…”
She jumped out of the snow mere moments later and sang, “And now I see those colors…Right before my eyes…I hear my voice so clearly…And I know that it is right…”
When she saw an Umbrum pop out from the side, Snow Pea was a little startled, but continued to sing, “They thought I was weak, but I am strong…” When she sang the last word, she threw a snowball at the Umbrum. “They sold me the world, but they were wrong…” She threw a snowball at another Umbrum.
She sang, “And now that I'm back, I still belong…” She then saw an Umbrum several feet in front of her. “'Cause I know…” As she sang that verse, Snow Pea conjured up a snowball on the ground and enlarged it, jumping on it before it got too big. The snowball smashed the Umbrum in its path and trapped it in the mass of snow. “That I am just a pony…I make mistakes from time to time…But now I know the real me…And put my heart out on the line…And let the magic in my heart stay true…Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa…And let the magic in my heart stay true…”
When she saw a wall, her eyes shrunk as she continued, “Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa…” When the snowball crashed against the wall, Snow Pea emerged from the pile of snow unharmed. She finished, “Just like the magic inside of you…Just like the magic inside of you...”
She then heard voices heading in her direction, so she looked around and saw a vent. She jumped in and slid down the tube.
Discord was walking down the hall when he heard a peculiar noise. He conjured up a detector and said, “Curiouser and curiouser.” He pointed it to the nearest vent and found that something was coming-
KA-WHUMPT!
When Discord came to, he saw a familiar white filly on his chest.
“Snow Pea!” he cried as he embraced her.
Snowy smiled, “Uncle Discord! I’m so glad to see you!”
Discord asked as he set her on the floor, “But however did you manage to escape?”
She said proudly, “I used my snow powers for good instead of evil.”
Discord smiled widely, “Oh, Snow Pea, I’m so proud of you!” He then pointed to her snow-covered flank as he said, “Although the snow on your flank gives indication. Let me wipe it off for you.”But as soon as he wiped off a bit of snow on the left side, he saw something that surprised him. He let out a small gasp before whispering, “No, it can’t be, can it?” He then wiped off the snow from both sides of Snow Pea’s flank. He gave a small squeal and smiled widely.
His niece asked, “What is it, Uncle Discord?”
Discord pulled back and smiled delightfully, “Look behind you.”
Snow Pea did so and gasped in surprise. What decorated her flank was a stream of snowflakes that had a swirl on the right end and had a large snowflake in the center of the swirl.
She excitedly cried, “I got my cutie mark!” She then jumped for joy, “I got my cutie mark!”
Discord remarked, “And at such a young age, too. I’m impressed.” He added in a low voice, “Now I have to urge Screwball to get her cutie mark.” He then spoke again in a normal voice, “Well, I guess there’s only one thing left to do…” He then pulled out the hoof mirror, “…call the others about the wonderful news.”
Before Discord could do anything else with the mirror, Snow Pea said, “There’s something you should know: Belladonna is really Radiant Hope.”
Discord froze then and there, shocked at the revelation that Snow Pea found out. He let the paw holding the mirror drop to the side, still clenching the delicate accessory. He turned to Snow Pea in absolute shock and breathed, “How did you…?”
Snowy explained, “The tiara let out some magic and bounced around the room before it hit Hope’s neckpiece. That’s when I saw flashes of a darkness turning Hope bad. But I don’t understand. You said that Radiant Hope was gone.”
Discord said, “Now wait a minute. I never told you or the girls about Radiant Hope. I only told Sunset and Spike.”
“I…kinda listened in.”
He sighed, “Well…Remember when I detected Belladonna and her darkness? That’s how I knew she and Radiant Hope were the same pony. What I really meant about Hope was that she was lost to the darkness that was Belladonna. When she became evil, she created a new name and a new personality for herself. She was no longer the pony I remembered. The pony I knew was a princess, a healer…a friend.”
“But that doesn’t mean she can’t be Radiant Hope again.”
“Is there any hope left for her?”
“Yes, there is, and she’s still inside Belladonna.”
“But how? How can there be anything left of Hope in her?”
“Because there’s still Aunt Luna in Nightmare Moon.”
Discord knew that Snow Pea would not be convinced otherwise. He chuckled and rubbed her head, “You sure have your parents’ determination. They would be so proud of you.”
Just then, they heard noises at the end of the hallway. Snow Pea gasped, “I think the Umbrum found me!”
“Okay, on my mark, throw snowballs at them.” He waited till the sounds were closest to them and then he shouted, “Now!”
Snow Pea closed her eyes and fired snowballs at the strangers. When she heard grunts, she looked up…and was surprised to see Spike and Sunset lying there! She said, “Oh, no…”
Discord tried to stifle his giggles when he and Snowy went to the other royals.
Snowy asked Sunset, “Are you okay?”
Sunset said as she and Spike wiped snow off their faces, “Yeah, we’re fine.”
Spike asked, “What happened?”
Discord then burst out in laughter and said, “Oh, that was just too funny! I’ll replay it for you.” He then conjured up a screen and it showed Snow Pea firing snowballs at Spike and Sunset when the latter two were rounding the corner. Snow Pea could feel herself blushing with embarrassment.
Spike admonished Snowy, “You hit us! I can’t believe you hit us!”
Snow Pea defended, “Well, we thought you were Umbrum!”
Sunset praised, “See, Snow Pea? I knew you could do a lot with your powers.”
Discord said, “If you ask me, she should’ve just frozen you.”
Sunset and Snow Pea cried, “What?!”
The draconequus clarified, “Well, in case it wasn’t you or Spike.”
Sunset said, “Okay, now’s not the time. We need to find the girls and soon.”
Discord said, “The girls?” He crossed his arms and asked sternly, “What happened?”
Spike answered nervously, “Well, see…The Umbrum got them.”
Discord shouted, “What?! You let my daughter get captured by conniving shadow ponies?!”
“Hey, my daughter is captured, too!”
Sunset asked, “Guys, where’s Snow Pea?”
They all looked around and saw that Snowy was gone.
Discord face-palmed, “Oh, great! We lost another one!”
Just then, they heard Snowy’s voice shout out, “I’m right here!” The adults peeked around the corner and saw Snowy with the Fire Tiara glowing. She told them, “The Fire Tiara can lead us straight to Screwball and Apple Jewel! Come on!”
The royals followed Snow Pea as they ran down the hall and eventually came to the throne room. They stopped in surprise when they saw the Umbrum army, Belladonna, the sirens, and Nightmare Moon before them.
Belladonna smirked, “Welcome, Canterlot royals. We’ve been expecting you. We’ve already met your darling daughters.”
When she stepped aside to show them something, the royals’ – especially Discord’s – hearts dropped. Spike put his claws to his mouth and had tears in his eyes. He reached out an arm and whispered, “No, Jewel.”
To the royals’ horror, Screwball and Apple Jewel were now imprisoned in stone.