//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: The Villain // by Gear Spring //------------------------------// The snow has since ceased to fall, but the clouds are dark and boding in the sky above. The ponies have all fled into their homes, chased away by the living nightmares. Those who remain outside are a fallen princess and the villain she helped create. A crystalized spear is fixated on Twilight Sparkle, ready to take away the last of what Thorn has already torn from her. The once baby dragon looks down uncaringly as tears form in the eyes of his former friend. “What’s wrong, Twilight?” he asks. “No retort? No grand speech of how friendship shall win the day?” Twilight Sparkle turns her head down, not even wishing to look him in the eye. “I thought as much. Goodbye, Twilight Sparkle…” The light around the crystal spear glows brighter as he is about lead to the climax of his revenge. Suddenly, a ray as radiant as the sun strikes the crystal, causing it to shatter. Thorn steps back, avoiding the shrapnel as it pierces the snow. “I will not let you harm my student!” Twilight picks her head up from to see Princess Celestia standing there in the midst of the storm. The princess’ rainbow mane flows magnificently as if her follicles were alive. Standing beside the princess of the day is the one of night, Princess Luna. Anger flashes across Thorn’s face, “What? No, this isn’t possible.” “We know all about your plotting, Spike,” Luna speaks up. He gnashes his teeth, “It matters not. While I chose not to contend with you two, if you get in my way I will have no choice but to rid the kingdom of its princesses.” Aiming his horn at Celestia, he shoots a beam of magical energy. But before it can even reach the Princess of the Day, it is blocked by a magic shield, which repels the attack right back at him. Thorn is quick enough to leap out of the way of his own attack. It strikes the side of a building, causing the entire wall to explode, exposing innocent ponies to the elements. “I won’t let you hurt the princesses,” the voice of a stallion barks, “Or my baby sister.” Looking in another direction, the villainous unicorn sees that two others have appeared. Standing at the forefront is the captain of the guard, Shining Armor. He protects his wife, Princess Cadence who glowers at the pony that had betrayed her sister-in-law. “This is impossible,” Thorn looks at the new foes, backing away. “I made sure to use the utmost secrecy in my plot. How is it that all of you are here at the most crucial point?” “That would be my doing…” Thorn hears a familiar voice, but he cannot find a body to where it matches. Then, a snowman grows out of the snow, bearing a striking resemblance to a draconequus. Two coal eyes look at him, and a grin turns upwards on the frosty face. The carrots and snow melt away for scales and fur, as Discord takes the other side of Princess Celestia. A devious grin is about his face, as he folds his arms about his chest. Thorn looks at him in disbelief. “No,” he shouts. “No, no, you cannot be alive. I drained you of your essence. I turned you to stone. I watched you die!” “Oh my, is that what you watched?” the lord of chaos says. “If I recall, all you did was crush a statue of me. Are you sure that I was the statue that you so rudely stomped on?” “Even so,” Thorn grits his teeth. “I drained you of all of your power. Your tricks should be no more…” “Oh, didn’t you know?” Discord asks. In a puff of white smoke, a small perfume bottle appears in his hand. He gives it a few spurts on his neck. “After that little incident with Tirek, I make sure to keep a bottle of Essence of Discord with me at all times.” Thorn stomps his hoof, glaring. “So once I learned of your nasty little plan, I decided to tell Princess Celestia,” Discord explains. “She rounded up the princess and the others. Twilight’s friends are hunting down Starlight Glimmer and Pinkie’s cutie mark right now.” My entire plan has become unraveled, Thorn thinks bitterly. All because I underestimated him. “Give it up, Spike,” Princess Cadence shouts. “You are outnumbered. There is now way out of this, just surrender, and let Twilight go.” “Outnumbered, is that what you think?” Thorn growls. Rearing back on his hind legs, he slams his front hooves into the snow. Spears of black crystal rupture from the earth, trying to strike his new foes. The three alicorns take flight, avoiding the rising spikes with ease. Discord and Shining Armor manage to slip away from the blackened gems. Even though his attack fails, it continues to grow, breaking through buildings. In the air, the princesses watch, searching through the frozen fractals for their foe. Then out of the spires, an enormous red hand reaches out and attempts to grab them. The princesses manage to get out of the way as Tirek climbs up the crystal towers after them. Between the curved devil-like horns is a fiery ball of energy. He lets it grow large enough before shooting a ray. It pierces the clouds, ultimately misses his mark. Princess Celestia answers with a radian beam that strikes him. While he is able to swat it away, it causes him to lose his balance. They watch as the colossal form disappears, and the small gray unicorn lands safely in the snow. “I will not be denied,” he shouts. The giant spires start to glow in the light of his magic. Like rockets, they shoot toward the heavens. Unable to dodge them, the three princesses choose to attack, splitting the crystals with their own magic. They manage to split them down the middle, as the spikes harmlessly sail over the Ever Free Forest. “That’s enough!” Thorn Eclipse turns just as he sees the white of a unicorn charging him. Shining Armor slams into him, knocking the blackened pony to the snow. Dazed, Thorn struggles to get back on his hooves. As he does, he is slowly surrounded by his foes. “Enough of this, Spike,” Celestia begs. “My name is not Spike, it is Thorn,” he bellows. “Thorn Eclipse. And I will never—” Suddenly, he falls to the ground as if overcome with pain. The others gasp, as parts of his body start to almost melt as if he were made of wax. Looking up, his left eye has become completely hazed, blinded. Looking at the horrified faces, he gets up and summons all the strength he has in his horn. Light envelops his body and he vanishes in an explosive manner that leaves a small crater in its wake. Somewhere in the draconic caves he reappears, falling against a stalagmite. He groans, his body continuing to fall apart. “My body,” he gasps. “This body. I can’t keep it stable any longer. No, all this power is going to waste. Everything that I have strived for is going to waste. No. No. No!” He slams a hoof against the cave wall, but it is he that cracks not the stone. Falling in pain, he lies there and closes his eyes. Somewhere in the depths of the cave, he catches the sound of a fierce growl, and the air becomes thick with scent of fire.