Episode 25: "Mutiny on the Grogar, Part 1"
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…
Grogar had gathered all of his legion together in the dungeons of Vorak's kingdom for a purpose: To force them to watch what would happen if they failed him. His recent defeats against the dragons and the hippogriffs had left the ram in a bad mood, and there was only one thing that could fix it. With Lavan and Zeb tied up and facing the dungeon walls, he motioned for the clone of Queen Chrysalis to step forward with a lash.
"I want you all to pay attention to what is about to happen," Grogar warned in a moody voice. "If you fail me, you all suffer the consequences!"
"Why do you punish us?" Lavan weakly asked, scars from previous lashings and beatings visible onto his back.
"Silence, traitor!" Grogar snapped, the sounds of his voice causing Lavan to tremble slightly. "You are nothing more than an object to me because of your defiance and disobedience! Sombra, step forward!"
Snickering, Sombra stepped forward towards his emperor as Grogar proceeded to give him his own lash to use on Zeb. "Proceed with the punishment, show no mercy." Grogar ordered.
"As you command...my emperor," Sombra laughed as he straightened out the lash to be used on Zeb.
Using their respective magics, the Chrysalis clone and Sombra flung the lashes onto the backs of the fire creature and his zebra friend while the others watched.
"You're going too lightly, Sombra!" Grogar remarked. "Lay on 'em with a fury, or you will take the zebra's place."
Snarling, Sombra flung harder on Zeb. The zebra winced in pain as he and his friend were bombarded.
Little did Grogar know that just outside the dungeons, Midnight Sparkle was watching the entire event unfold.
"Why can't I be as good as he is?" Midnight whispered to herself, stretching out her dark purple alicorn wings. "I will never be until he is removed from the equation. He created me, yet he hasn't given me anything to do," Suddenly, Midnight began to get herself an idea as an evil sneer came onto her face. "Of course, there is always a way," She laughed as she looked down at herself. "When all is said and done, Grogar will be no more! Only I can truly defeat the Princess of Friendship, because I came from her and so I know how she thinks! That's something Grogar will never be able to comprehend."
...
…
Meanwhile, news of the recent events at Mount Aris, the Dragonlands and Griffonstone had spread like wildfire. All of Equestria's cities had proceeded to further tighten their defenses. From Canterlot to Manehattan and beyond, every citizen of Equestria was prepared to do his or her part: Buildings were shuttered, ponies were enlisting to fight for their sovereign supreme ruler and her fellow princesses, and last wills and testaments were being made in case ponies and creatures did not survive battle.
"It's almost time, Spike," Twilight said as she and her royal advisor proceeded to walk through the streets of Ponyville. "The final battle will soon be upon us. I can feel it."
"Yeah, I guess you're right, Twilight," Spike replied as he felt the uncomfortable nature of his bandages on his abdomen. "That Grogar...he certainly doesn't play fair. Still, that clone of Lavan was a shock. Makes you wonder if there are other clones out there, doing his bidding or waiting for the chance to strike. Heck, what if Grogar has cloned himself?"
Twilight took in a deep sigh at the thought of her greatest enemies being cloned. It shook her to her very core. But she couldn't allow herself to be controlled by fear anymore than she could let her anger overcome her. Soon afterward, while still deep in thought, she came across Luster Dawn's house on the site where Golden Oak Library used to sit.
"Twilight, what's up?" Spike asked.
"I'm going to check on Luster Dawn and her family," Twilight answered, walking over to Luster's home. "This won't take long. I need to know how they're doing, it'll give me a clue as to how the rest of Equestria feels about the increased security."
Walking up to the door, Twilight knocked on the door and a few moments later, Luster's mother, Fire Blaster, answered it. "Princess Twilight!" She gasped while immediately bowing. "W..what brings you here? I'm sorry if my house isn't…"
"It's all right," Twilight replied while raising her hoof to Fire Blaster. "I was just checking to see how Luster was doing."
"Oh, she's fine…" Fire Blaster responded.
"Mom?" Luster Dawn asked as she came down the stairs. "Mom? Princess Twilight? What's going on here?"
"Hey, Luster," Spike greeted. "Twilight just wanted to check on you and see how you and your family were doing with the shut down of the School of Friendship and all."
"It's different...to be honest with you," Luster sighed. "Seeing all of us be forced out so suddenly…"
"Well, it's only temporary, Luster," Twilight interrupted, draping a wing over her protege as Luster looked up at her with hopeful eyes. "I can assure you that we have the strongest army in Equestria ready to fight Grogar, and we will beat him! You just have to have faith in my friends and I. When the time comes, Grogar will fall as all who have threatened Equestria have fallen in the past."
Luster took an enormous gulp at her mentor's words. She had only been in Ponyville for a short time and was afraid that she might never see all of her friends again. "L-look, Princess Twilight," She stammered back to her mentor. "I-ff there's a-anything I can do…"
"All I want you to do is be safe and stay away from danger, Luster," Twilight firmly replied. "If anything were to happen to me…"
"-Don't say that, Twilight!" Spike cried, causing her to look back at the young dragon. "Don't say that! Remember how Shining Armor reacted when you said those words before?! Don't even think about that possibility, we can't lose you!"
But Twilight had to prepare for the possibility of not being able to survive the impending battle. It was something she didn't want to think about, but the threat was there. There were seldom guarantees in war.
"Princess Twilight, I mean it! I can help fight! I mean...we fought those Predacons...me and my friends did and we survived, right?" Luster questioned.
While Twilight was impressed by Luster's bravery, she still remained steadfast in her decision. "Yes, Luster, but you were lucky. I need you to listen to me very carefully," She sighed before bending down to Luster's level. "Grogar is nothing like any enemy that my friends and I have ever faced before. He's very dangerous and is not afraid to kill anycreature that stands in his way, even you and your friends. He is without mercy or restraint, no one is safe from his wrath."
Feeling somewhat a sense of defeat, Luster lowered her head in disbelief, seemingly being denied the chance to fight alongside Twilight.
"Princess, what should we do?" Fire Blaster nervously asked. "My husband is coming back with supplies shortly and…"
"The important thing is for you to find a safe place to ride out the coming battle," Twilight ordered. "Ponyville could very well end up in the crossfires like Mount Aris or Griffonstone. This structure has a basement that you can hide under, in case you weren't aware of it yet."
"Twilight, I completely forgot about that," Spike remarked. "That's where you used to keep all your scientific equipment."
Twilight promptly walked over to the basement door and looked down at the large area that greeted her eyes. Seeing the space couldn't help but make her sentimental for the past. "This basement will provide you with the best protection," She said to Fire Blaster, gesturing for her to come forward. "Stay here until you get an all clear."
"We will do that, Princess," Fire Blaster said just as Moon Dusk came into the house with supplies. Among them was what appeared to be an enchanted spear! "Moon Dusk, really?!"
"I had to do it, Fire," Moon Dusk firmly declared. "This is the only way we can be safe!"
But Fire Blaster was not convinced. "Moon Dusk, I will not allow you to have that object in this house. Get rid of it!" She commanded, only for Twilight to stop her with a wing.
"I am afraid that there are going to be exceptions made to some rules," Twilight replied. "Many ponies throughout Equestria are having the same idea, especially after everything that has come before."
Having been given the all clear for the time being, Moon Dusk took his weapon downstairs as Luster looked over at Twilight and her mother once more.
"Princess Twilight," Fire Blaster declared. "The very minute this war is over, I want him to get that weapon out of this house!"
Twilight said nothing and only responded with a silent nod of her head, acknowledging Fire Blaster's words. Then, after hugging Luster Dawn, Twilight proceeded to turn and leave through the front door, leaving Luster and her family alone.
…
…
Back in Vorak's kingdom, Zeb and Lavan were thrown back into their cells as water was splashed on top of their wounded backs by a pair of donkey soldiers.
"This is what happens when you disobey me," Grogar explained while growling sinisterly. "Don't any of you ever forget that! You are all dismissed."
Doing as they were told, the rest of the Legion left Grogar alone with Sombra and the two prisoners.
"How…" Zeb coughed, weakly turning back to face Grogar. "How long do you plan on doing this, man?"
"Until there is not a speck of life left in you," Sombra replied in a mocking voice. "Someone has to be the example for the others, don't they?"
Groaning, Zeb turned his attention away from Grogar while Lavan didn't even try to look at him.
"Let us leave them be for the time being. We shall resume their punishment before long" Grogar said to his second in command, and so Sombra obeyed..
Yet as they made their way up the stairs, Grogar and Sombra began to think of another far more pressing issue.
"My emperor," Sombra wondered as they stopped in the middle of the stairs. "What troubles you, may I ask? Something seems to be on your mind."
"It's that Midnight Sparkle, that clone I created" Grogar whispered. "I have this sudden feeling that she is trying to kill me. She has been suspiciously absent from my presence since I created her. And I fear she may intend to kill me."
Sombra blinked in disbelief. "Kill you, my emperor?"
"Yes, you idiot!" Grogar remarked. "I cloned her from Twilight Sparkle to serve me, but there may be something I am overlooking."
Suddenly, Sombra began to become confused by Grogar's sudden behavior. "My emperor, I assure you," Sombra chuckled nervously. "That Midnight Sparkle is surely just getting acquainted with her new form. After all, she was created from the blood of Princess Twilight herself. She is not purposed to harm you in any way, shape or form."
But Grogar was anything but convinced by Sombra's words. "I beg to differ on that, Sombra," He remarked as he made his way back to the throne room. "Check on what that clone of Princess Twilight is planning to do. If she is planning to do something to me…"
"I disagree with your idea, my emperor," Sombra protested before sighing. "But if this is what you want…"
"-Good, now go at once!" Grogar commanded and Sombra left.
Once he was alone, Grogar proceeded towards the throne and sat down. So much was going through his mind and the more he thought about it, the more suspicious he became of Midnight Sparkle.
"My emperor…" Said a voice as a figure came into the throne room. "Forgive me for disturbing you, but I couldn't help but overhear…"
"-I know it's you, Sendak," Grogar sighed, rolling his eyes in disgust. "I know you were trying to be nosy about the situation!"
The elder centaur stepped into the throne room and saw the blue coated ram expressing his troubled mind through his body language. "My emperor, I wasn't trying to be nosy," Sendak remarked as he came into the light of Grogar's bell. "I was just wondering if you needed any help."
"Help? With what?" Grogar questioned.
Sendak smiled and bowed his head. "Why, to get rid of Midnight Sparkle, of course."
"And what would you suggest?" Grogar grunted.
"Something that would involve a painful, yet simple way to remove the problem," Sendak suggested while approaching the throne. "This Midnight Sparkle is probably just like those others who tried to overthrow our beloved king. And they all met with the same fate."
Suddenly, Grogar began to get himself an idea of how to get rid of Midnight Sparkle by any means necessary. "What would you propose, Sendak? How would you get rid of my problem?"
Snickering, Sendak felt the wheels in his old head turning the more he thought about Grogar's problem.
...
Meanwhile, Sombra made his way across the castle, looking for Midnight Sparkle by using his horn to track her movements. Finally, he came across one of the castle's large banquet halls. And there, sitting at the end of a long table, was Midnight Sparkle in all her evil glory.
"Well, well, well," Midnight remarked, lowering her chin onto her forelegs. "If it isn't the high and mighty King Sombra. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
Clearing his throat, Sombra walked into the dining hall only for Midnight to gesture to a spot at the far end of the table. "Please, sit. I insist."
Right away, Sombra felt his instincts begin to kick in. He could tell just by looking at her that Midnight was up to something, and it wasn't good. Still, he sat down at the end of the table with his eyes locked on Midnight Sparkle. Least he give her reason to suspect he was onto her.
"Tell me something, King Sombra," Midnight remarked in a not so innocent tone of voice. "Have you ever wanted to rule Equestria for yourself?"
"Um... y-yes, I have," Sombra stammered. "But I am really here on account of Grogar suspecting…"
"That I am trying to overthrow him?" Midnight guessed in a sarcastic tone. "Hmm, maybe…" She paused and then finally let out an evil chuckle. "Oh, I almost forgot! He is just too darn powerful and…"
"Midnight Sparkle!" Sombra shouted in a loud commanding voice, before lowering it. "It has come to our attention that you don't want to play by the rules. The rules of our divine emperor, is that it?"
Rather than answering the question, Midnight merely laughed to herself, feeling amused. "Divine emperor? That old goat?" Midnight mockingly remarked as she kicked her legs back up on the table. "He's an emperor all right, a dummy emperor! I've read all about him, how he became evil when his mother died at the jaws of a wolf!"
Right away, Sombra began to get premonitions of his own son's murder in the Crystal Empire.
"Speak hooves for me!" Casca screamed. As Julius recoiled from the sudden strike, the other conspirators followed suit! Finally, near death, he staggered over to Brutus with his back turned.
Yet when Julius attempted to touch him, Brutus shrugged his former friend off while looking Julius right in the face.
"Brutus, even you betray me?!" Julius asked while gasping, the last thing he would say.
Brutus delivered the finishing blow, striking his former friend in the chest. "Fall, fiend! The throne shall never belong to evil."
With no more life left in him, Julius fell face first onto the floor.
"Of course," Midnight continued while stretching out her wings. "You had a similar fate yourself with your own child, no?"
Shocked, Sombra felt his heart sink. "How did you know what happened to my son?!" He furiously demanded.
"Because I know everything," Midnight replied, sitting herself upright in the chair. "I love to study everything...especially magic!"
"But...but...what do you want with me?" Sombra asked, stammering in fear of what Midnight was saying.
Midnight just snickered and grinned. "I want you to help me throw Grogar out of the picture, permanently."
Enraged at being asked such a request, Sombra rose to his hooves! "Never!" He angrily shouted even though Midnight was unfazed. "I don't understand what you are planning, but it's not going to work!"
"Is that so?" Midnight said, activating her horn and causing a dark mass to cover the dining hall. Sombra looked up to see the entire room changing around him. He realized at that moment that he was no longer going to be playing by his own rules. "By the time I am done, you will be serving a new empress, me!"
And Midnight cackled at the prospect of overthrowing Grogar while Sombra trembled in fear of betraying Grogar.
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Back in the throne room, Grogar became eager to hear what Sendak had to say. "If you want to rid yourself of the clone," Sendak explained. "You must do exactly what my king used to do when traitors threatened his reign."
"Trial without jury?" Grogar asked, seemingly taken aback by being asked about something he already knew. "Why is that any different to me? I did it plenty of times."
"Yes, but this will be different," Sendak went on explaining. "With the powers of your bell, you can easily destroy that would be traitor!"
Grogar looked down at his bewitching bell and contemplated the thought of having Midnight Sparkle's powers inside of it. But then, he had a suspicion. "Wait!" He protested, forcing Sendak to look him right in the eye and bow to him. "I can sense that you want something out of me…"
Shocked at the guess Grogar had made, Sendak had no choice but to reveal his plans. "You are correct. I'm more than willing to help you get rid of Midnight Sparkle, on one condition."
Grogar reluctantly asked. "What is it?"
"That you restore the powers of my protege and his allies the same way you took them away." Sendak dec;ared, causing Grogar to snarl in disapproval.
"Why do you wish such a request?" Grogar asked in an angry tone. "Those fools tried to overthrow me the same way as that Princess Twilight's clone is undoubtedly trying to do right now!"
Sendak was shocked as his eyes went wide in disbelief! "But my protege…"
"-Your 'protege' is a backstabbing rat along with his lover and his daughter," Grogar snapped. "I refuse to give him the power to overthrow me!"
"He's…he's…." Sendak stammered, backing away in fear. "Tirek was never like this. My king abused him and made him weak in his own eyes. Tirek needed a father figure in his life and he needed me! I guided him when no one else would. He doesn't realize what he's doing or how great he had it serving you. Restore his power and I promise he and his allies will never threaten you again."
"SILENCE!" Grogar roared, slamming his hoof on the throne's armrest. "Lord Tirek is nothing short of a minion to me, someone that I can easily dispose of, just like you, Sendak!"
"But he will not survive without his power! The ponies will surely take him in as a prisoner and see fit to throw him back into Tartarus to rot away," Sendak protested. "I implore you, my emperor…"
"Your request is denied!" Grogar cried while ising to his forelegs. "Now leave my sight before I summon Scarface to feast upon you!"
It was then that Sendak decided to become defiant of Grogar by any means necessary. "I dare you to do it!"
Grogar blinked in confusion. "What?"
"I dare you to sic that bear on me!" Sendak boldly declared, spreading his arms out and exposing his chest to Grogar. "I never feared you, Grogar. Always have and always will. I will lay my life on the line for my protege if need be, and there is nothing you can do to stop me!"
Snarling, Grogar felt like he was left with no other choice.
…
Back in the dining hall, Midnight rose from the table and stared at Sombra, now standing completely still and seemingly hypnotized.
"I hate to have to do this, Sombra," Midnight laughed as she walked around the stilted Sombra. "But I will get my way by any means necessary. You've always been the most devoted to Grogar, so it only seems fitting that you be the one to do him in," Midnight leaned herself onto Sombra and looked into his sickly green eyes, a sign that he was under mind control."Besides, didn't you want to use this to attempt to take over Equestria? I seem to recall that being part of your plan. Now you are getting a taste of your own medicine, a chance to feel what it is like to be controlled!"
Twirling her left foreleg, Midnight forced the hypnotized Sombra to leave the dining hall. "Now, bring me to the emperor! We have some unfinished business to settle." She cackled and followed the hypnotized Sombra towards the throne room.
…
Meanwhile, Sendak remained defiant, daring Grogar to kill him in an effort to restore his protege and his companions to their enhanced powers.
"So you have chosen death over obedience, Sendak?" Grogar asked, powering up his horns. "So be it!" Aiming his horns, he prepared to administer the final blow! "I shall have you be the first to suffer a trial without jury! Your sentence is to be destroyed!"
But just as Grogar prepared to fire, the doors suddenly flung open! "What's this?" He questioned as he saw Sombra slowly approaching him. "Sombra? Have you done as you were told? Where is Midnight Sparkle?"
"Right here, of course," Midnight cackled, walking around the mind controlled Sombra. "But I don't think your right hoof is!"
And Sombra opened his eyes to reveal to Grogar that he was indeed being mind controlled.
"What did you do to him?!" Grogar furiously demanded.
"I simply made him understand that there is only room for one ruler of Equestria!" Midnight laughed as her horn charged dark magic while Grogar turned his attention away from Sendak. "By the time I am done with you, Grogar, you will wish you never had created me!"
As Grogar stepped down from his throne, he could sense a mutiny was happening and he had to stop it by any means necessary if he was to rule Equestria for himself!
…
TO BE CONTINUED
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... You know, I actually kind of expected this. After all, if the Star wars films has taught us anything, is that villains always betray one another to either for their own survival or take what they want out of selfish desires. And so far, Tirek, Chrysalis, and Cozy are the former.
10982528 Yeah, if the final season of the actual show taught us anything is that there are signs of redemption in them, at least in Tirek and Cozy Glow.
I don't see this ending well for King Sombra. A shame, really. He was the most loyal to Grogar and probably would've preferred fighting to the end alongside him.
You seemed to have really slowed down on the multi-part episodes. Do you think you can give us any previews on your blog like you usually do at least?
Yeah, from a drop of blood to make a fake.
She is in a rude awakening that she is not truly Twilight's dark side but just a fake clone walking around.