Part 3 - Chapter 3 (11): Kingdom Came
Now that Scorpan had been brought up to speed about everything he missed since he departed from Equestria over a thousand years ago, he realized how powerless he really made himself, standing alone in his stone form for so long.
"My word. I'm... i'm sorry about your sister, and everything that happened." Scorpan said woefully, holding his hand up to where his heart would be. "If only I were present; there might've been something I could've done."
"Please, don't be hard on yourself." Luna advised. "You had your own matters to take care of."
"To think, though, that Star Swirl still trots among us." Scorpan thought out loud. "And Grogar... more than a bedtime story, and worse than I feared."
"Well, i'm glad you believe us about that ruthless goat." said Applejack.
"Your friend's condition is all the proof I need." Scorpan stated. "Father hinted at something like this in the tale."
"Thanks for your concern." Twilight sincerely expressed to the sorrowful old gargoyle.
"You're welcome." said Scorpan in a bow. His eyes then shifted to the left, at the stone wall over in the distance. "I have something to show you all. What's happening to Equestria sounds familiar."
"It does? In what regard?" Fluttershy asked.
"I'd like you to see why." Scorpan replied, lowering himself down. He gestured the ponies without the means to fly onto his back, a signal that they instant read clearly.
The gargoyle was big enough to carry Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity and Twilight on himself without having to strain his wings. As the flyers, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Luna and Spike accompanied him in the air, all of them grateful that none of them would have to return to the lower path.
"So what's behind the wall?" Spike queried Scorpan, curious as a kid could be.
"My home. It's been guarded for the past millenia." the gargoyle answered.
Luna stared blankly in realization for a few seconds, before she said "Sweet sister... we've stumbled upon the legendary Midnight Kingdom. I never thought i'd find it, let alone see it with my own eyes."
"Oh, a kingdom." Rarity moaned in relief. "The perfect change of scenery."
"I would temper your expectations." Scorpan suggested. "My homeland was a great place where gargoyles like myself, and centaurs like Tirek, thrived. But today..."
Soon, they had gone over the stone wall, and broke through a cloud of fog, finding the Midnight Kingdom on the other side. But what they ended up viewing was nothing resembling a lively, functioning city. Instead, there was nothing for miles but dilapidated buildings, empty gardens, hills and crevices without greenery or water, abandoned weaponry littered all over the ground, and many, many stones, wood planks and sticks stuck in the dirt next to wilted bunches of flowers, each marking something.
They didn't know what to expect when they first laid eyes on the land where Tirek and Scorpan came from, but what they saw had seen far better days, even before the Malice plague began.
"Um... nice place?" Fluttershy feebly tried to offer as a compliment.
"Nice empty words..." Twilight groaned audibly. Fluttershy plugged her ears and sang "la-la-la-la" in response.
"What... happened here?" Luna asked in horror.
"It's a long story." Scorpan affirmed solemnly.
"Help. Help. Help!" Twilight begged as her face went green, and her stomach roared like a fire.
"Uh oh, we need an emergency landing!" Spike called.
"I'll lower us down at my quarters!" Scorpan hollered back. He and the other fliers quickly lowered themselves down towards the very heart of the ruined Midnight Kingdom, towards a castle that was ripped open, but still holding together by load-bearing design pieces.
They arrived in what appeared to be an old bedroom. Twilight returned from losing whatever lunch she had last week before her Grogar-induced coma.
"As you can see, my home fell into a state of desolation, the same fate now befalling yours." Scorpan stated.
"I guess it's as simple as that, huh?" Applejack figured.
"But I fought hard to prevent it." Scorpan solemnly added. "My brother and I first came to Equestria for it's magic, but I quickly learned from each clan, and Star Swirl, that ponykind was worth celebrating. My heart opened to the possibility of them and the Midnight Kingdom clans building a mutually beneficial relationship. Tirek said that would be disgraceful; he had always been the prouder one between us, loyal to the warrior code of the centaurs."
"That's his excuse for being a bully? For hurting thousands of ponies?!" Fluttershy inquired with an impassioned growl.
"It's what our father, King Vorak, desired for him." Scorpan clarified, hanging his head. "He was the chosen heir of this kingdom. I knew it was the right thing to do, but it hurt me to have to rat him out to Celestia and Luna, and go home... alone."
"I do believe I can guess where it went from here." said Luna.
"Indeed. There was an outrage when I returned here without Tirek, and informed the clans, and my father, about his imprisonment." Scorpan explained. "I was forthright about my complicity in his sentence; needless to say, father deemed me a traitor. That's exactly what I was. The gargoyles were the kingdom's gatekeepers, and the centaurs were the fighters, so without my brother, we had no future leader."
"Well, better to be a traitor for the right reason than for selfish gain." Applejack remarked.
"Thankfully, since I was taught the magic draining spell, I could escape the fate father ordered for all defectors." Scorpan continued. "I wasn't his son anymore, nor a prince, but I still had a voice. They prepared for war against Equestria, but day by day I managed to sway some. We charted every course to keep the army confined, not letting a single soldier reach the borders of your country. Moons passed, and my revolution was evenly matched with my father's batallion. But sadly..." He paused.
"But sadly... what?" Twilight questioned.
"Though they eventually forgot about attacking Equestria, they went to war with themselves." Scorpan said. "Words weren't working anymore, only violent actions. I was ultimately the last one who held onto reason, and what you've seen here is the end result of that battle."
"I'm... I'm so sorry, old friend." Luna mourned.
"Now, me and Tirek are the only gargoyle and centaur left." Scorpan lamented. "As my gatekeeper duty was all I had, I remained on that perch out there, keeping a constant, silent vigil on the kingdom's wall. But not before I made memorials for all of the fallen."
"And then we came along after 7 long days of running from monsters- uh, I mean wondrous, magical super-creatures, and gave you company." said Pinkie, nervously remembering Fluttershy's presense and giving one of her gigantic, cheek-killing grins.
"Wow, that hit close to home." Rainbow commented. "At least Windigos don't come around these parts, right?"
"Honestly, it's not a force of nature, but a kingdom's folk that are their own worst enemies." Scorpan remarked. "My homeland's destruction was grim, for certain, but what it went through was a fate far worse." He could hear Twilight giving a grunt of agreement.
"But we have many friends waiting for us back home, working as hard as they can." Fluttershy pointed out. "They have to be..."
"Don't say it!" Rarity emotionally responded. "Don't put the image in my head!"
"Think of the colts and fillies!" Pinkie hollered to Fluttershy pleadingly.
"So, is this all you brought us here for, or..?" Rainbow asked expectantly, feeling like time was wasted.
"Ah, yes, there is something i'd like you to have." said Scorpan, turning towards his decrepit bed. "I left Equestria with a parting gift. Star Swirl and their majesties thought I could use it as a goodwill token." He reached underneath the mattress and pulled something out. A small item fit perfectly between the palms of his ape-like hands. It was dusty, torn up, but recongizable as... a piece of headwear. It resembled a sun hat, but topped with a cup of some chocolate-y fabric.
Luna gasped and said "I remember now! The hat of Chancellor Puddinghead!" The others uttered "Huh?"
"The real hat worn by the Chancellor Puddinghead?!" Rarity exclaimed in disbelief. She got a closer look and felt morose from it's abused state. "What has time done to this poor garment!?"
"I never thought i'd see anything beyond those Hearth's Warming pageant replicas." said Pinkie sentimentally.
"That's valuable Equestrian property." Twilight pointed out. "Why would you give... it... away?" A vicious irritation in her throat caused her to hack and cough. It was so bad tears not only emerged, but streamed down her cheek.
"That hat is a symbol of Equestria's founding, and it was the only one of the ancient leaders' headdresses we were able to preserve after their departure." Luna explained. "To this day, the whereabouts of Commander Hurricane's helmet and Princess Platinum's crown remain a mystery, but that's for another time. Scorpan, i'm sorry our offering has proven a failure."
"You may take it back where it belongs, for what it's worth." Scorpan proposed.
"I doubt it'll help." Twilight moaned, heavily breathing and wiping her muzzle.
"Could come in handy." Applejack opined.
"Speaking of handy, do you have any parchment around here, Scorpan?" Spike formally requested.
"What for?" Scorpan asked politely.
"To write a letter to one of our friends back home." Spike simply replied. "We need to make sure they're... you know." He tried not to betray much of his dread, or worry anyone present even more, in saying those words.
"Here, use this." said Scorpan, gesturing towards an aged, dusty scroll hanging from a wall on the other side of the room, which he deftly removed.
Discord had finished talking about his deeds of deception, and everyone who listened, after a period of disbelieving silence, was ready to unleash a wave of rage.
"What in tarnation is wrong with you?!" Apple Bloom snarled in disbelief.
"How dare you!" Sweetie Belle emphasized her anger intimidatingly.
"Are you out of your mind?!" Scootaloo screamed.
"You thought that was going to work out?!" Sunburst questioned, infuriated.
"You betrayed us again!" Shining Armor yelled from above venomously.
"You are a creature of chaos!" Star Swirl snarked downward.
"I can't believe what I just heard!" Starlight joined, echoing on the ceiling. "I put up with your antics at the School, but there was a line, and you just crossed it, buddy!"
"I know, I... I took her for an action hero, like out of Ogres & Oubliettes, and neglected everything she really was, and earned." Discord berated himself, knowing there was no weaseling his way out of this. "I tried to make up for it, I really did, but I was overpowered; I never thought that'd be possible. So, if I couldn't correct my mistake with magic, I sure don't have a chance of doing so now."
"Even if you could, that's gonna need to be a pretty epic correction." Scootaloo critically declared.
Discord let out a guilt-ridden sigh. Without a sliver of hesitation, he muttered to himself "A klutzy draconequus to the last.", a moniker he hated. The taste of humble pie was quite pungent.
Stratadon Squad soared elegantly through the Windigo-filled air, carrying the Midnight Chariot like it was just a lightweight toy. Tirek signaled them to a halt when they hovered over the city of Tambelon.
"Looks like the boss has controlled the Windigos' ferocity, as promised." Tirek noted. He jumped off his chariot and landed on his feet on the city streets, getting the attention of the surrounding monsters and zombies. He was welcomed with respect and warrior cries, much to his enjoyment.
As if performing some kind of ritual, the centaur king raised his arms, expelling blue magical energy in a vast burst. The monsters took great enjoyment in this shower of power. It felt like being fed a bountiful feast and rehydrating. The zombies cackled with excitement at the energy surging through their veins. They could hit harder than before, fly faster and shoot stronger beams. It seemed they were set for life.
"And that was Stop #1. Now, i'll be seeing your father and master very shortly." Tirek announced to the deadly crowd. Before he could shift his weight, four cockatrices clucked loudly at his large hooves, snagging his attention. "What is it?" he asked impatiently. Using both their chicken-snake hybrid voices, and a group game of charades, they tried to explain something to him. Tirek stared, analyzed, and soon widened his eyes with realization. He pounded his fist on his palm in a growl.
Sunburst and the CMC scrambled, looking for something they could use. Fortunately, there were cave gems lying around, alongside the few remaining pieces of Chrysalis' throne.
"Hey, what's wrong with my horn?" Sweetie Belle thought out loud in irritation. Giving up, she lifted the throne piece with her hooves. "Float up, you dumb rock!"
"Oh, that dark stone? It cancels any magical force that comes near it." said Discord. "That includes my... something, magic?" All of a sudden, some blanks were drawn in his mind, by force. "It had a name, what was it again?"
"What?" Apple Bloom asked.
"That's odd. I know I had magic before, and potent magic too, but I can't remember what it was called, or what... it... did." Discord explained, scratching his head. He did a double take at how he was using a fore hoof to do that, no claws attached.
"You're not messing with us?" Sunburst queried. "You've lost your pieces, and got amnesia?"
"You do Chaos Magic." said Sweetie Belle.
"Kiosk Magic?" Discord erroneously tried to repeat, feeling a hard thump in his head.
"No, say it with me." Sweetie Belle began to correct, until a large, square portal with Tirek on the other side opened in the cave.
"HIDE!" Discord yelled, stricken with fear for his life.
Sunburst noticed the portal, yelped, and immediately grabbed the fillies, hauling them over to wherever they could escape the horned titan's line of sight. He entered, stopping to illuminate the dark place with a magical orb, and slowly tromped.
"Whoever's coming near the prisoners, you're going to serve time in my battle camp after my Present Run!" Tirek called, his voice echoing off the shiny walls.
"Well, long time, no talk, huh Lord Tirek?" Discord spoke up, trying his best to hide his terror.
"That's King Tirek now." the centaur addressed to the dismembered earth pony. He paused when he saw him. "Discord? Are you moving?"
"Yes, for the first time in... I don't know, what day is it?" Discord noted, picking up a gem off the ground and eyeing it.
"But how? You have no core." Tirek pointed out. "Tell you what: as the ruler of the New Midnight Kingdom, I shall allow you a place as my little Present Run helper every Winter season, in exchange for information on your miraculous resuscitation."
Discord scoffed at the offer. "I'm not telling a single thing; I certainly won't tell you after the way you lied to me the last time we teamed up, you muscle-bound cretin!"
"First of all, it's "CREE-tin", you idiot." Tirek annoyedly corrected the small creature on his mispronunciation. "Second of all, this "cretin" could crush you before you can blink, so choose your next words carefully."
"You're right, "cretin" is too polite." Discord admitted mockingly, saying that one word right this time. "How about "pathetic centaur who steals magic and uses others for his own benefit just to compensate for the fact that he has no faith in his own ability", hmm?"
"Didn't anycreature ever tell you not to pick on someone bigger and stronger than you?" Tirek snarled down at the pony, his eyes glowing with rage.
"Think about it: if I hadn't been such a proud sucker back then, I would've snapped you back into Tartarus in a literal snap." Discord explained. "What's more, you'd stab me in the back once you had everything you wanted, but you'd spare those other crooks? I was more helpful to your machinations."
"This is different!" Tirek stressed. "It was a universally beneficial alliance!"
"That doesn't change the fact that you needed backup to get this far." Discord stated. "Your kingdom's not much of a prize, then. But oh, I haven't even gotten to the juiciest story. When you were only pen pals with that Cozy Glow character. I was busy those three days, but Fluttershy told me all about it." He juggled the gem while slowly approaching the giant centaur.
"What of it, shrimp?" Tirek grumbled.
"The foal's plan almost went off without a hitch, you had Twilight and her friends trapped with you for eternity, and you were easily convinced to release them by... them being trapped with you for eternity." Discord went on, wanting to laugh.
"So I made an oversight!" Tirek yelled, preparing a magical blast from his horns.
"The only oversight was concerning your longevity, next to six finite ponies plus a dragon with no food or water." Discord refuted. "But even putting that aside, when it was all said and done, that crazy filly would've had everything, and you, who is nothing without others, would've been left with nothing. If you claimed to be okay with that, i'd say you're the same fat liar as ever." After taking all these insults to his pride, Tirek snapped and crackled. Discord finally asked slyly "What, you gonna tell daddy Grogar?"
Tirek, at last, popped. An energy beam shot out of his head, directly at the small pony. Discord, reflexively, held the gem up like a shield. The impact blew him across the ground, but the beam rebounded. It flew everywhere, bouncing off the walls rapidly. Even though Tirek was huge, he was able to duck and cover from his own deflected attack. Finally, it stopped and caused an explosion on the ceiling. Luckily, it wasn't enough to cause a cave-in. Everyone was unharmed, besides Discord, who was planted against a wall.
"Oh, that was your plan?" Tirek deduced. "Well, you missed!"
"Did he, though?!" Starlight called out, to the centaur's surprise. The throne piece on her cocoon was destroyed in the explosion. She ignited her horn and sliced her prison open, then eyed Tirek with renewed cockiness.
Apple Bloom, a light of hope twinkling in her eyes, said to Sweetie Belle "Give me that." for the throne piece. She complied quickly, and Apple Bloom came out of the hiding spot with her friends and Sunburst, charging into the fray that was beginning. Starlight used Accelero to swiftly run circles around Tirek.
"What is going on?!" Tirek exclaimed in confusion, not understanding how ponies that were clearly drained could've recovered like this. As he was about to let out another livid shout and activate his area-covering draining power, Apple Bloom threw the throne piece into the air, jumped, and kicked that little black stone as hard as she could, sending it flying at the centaur's face. His mouth opened, which let the piece enter his throat, where it would be lodged. Tirek hacked and gargled.
Starlight stopped her Accelero spell to blow a raspberry at her suffering enemy. Her next move was to unleash a magical shock wave to detach all of the remaining cocoons from the ceiling, disintegrating them as well and setting the others free. Once her telekinesis lowered them all down, they, although drained by Tirek, were able to stand.
"Cadance!" Shining Armor yelled, running over to his coreless wife to pick her up.
"Starlight, go! Take the others and help Equestria!" Star Swirl ordered, he and the other Pillars looking ready to fight Tirek again.
"What about you guys?" Starlight asked, concerned.
"We may not have our magic, but we aren't completely helpless!" Star Swirl asserted in determination. Rockhoof, Somnambula, Mistmane, Mage Meadowbrook and Flash Magnus nodded simultaneously. They all tackled the choking, magically-nullified Tirek, even knowing he could still use his physical strength and weight against them.
"Cutie Mark Crusaders, Sunburst, Shining Armor, Stygian, Discord, let's get out of here!" Starlight commanded. Sunburst telekinetically collected the dismantled earth pony, the CMC also tending to him. Still conscious, the poor thing had something to say.
"I know what I just did was crazy, and doesn't make up for the atrocity i've committed." Discord softly said, still overriden with regret.
"Yeah, that wasn't an epic correction, but it's a start." Scootaloo remarked. Nobody objected to her in any fashion, but all their expressions had signs of appreciation towards the chaotic being.
Everyone who didn't want to stay and fight gathered around Starlight as her horn ignited for a teleportation spell. In a flash, they were out.
That high-effort teleportation landed the ponies in the streets of Tambelon. However, the first thing they saw up here was not a bunch of monsters, but rather many ponies from each of the three clans, marching and clamoring for the food in the marketplace. The monsters, as well as the zombies, were letting them pass without a fight.
"How long have we been down there?!" Sweetie Belle shrieked.
"Everypony, what are you all doing here?!" Starlight tried to ask somebody in the crowd. She took a moment to look at her surroundings. "Is this... Canterlot?"
"This looks nothing like Canterlot." said Shining Armor, feeling ominous air in his spine.
"This is what that Grogar varmint did to it." Apple Bloom solemnly clarified. "He called it "Tambelon", the thief."
"Look what else!" said Sunburst, pointing up. Starlight and Shining Armor gazed at the sky to see the Windigos.
"No way!" Starlight gasped.
"But... they were just symbolic inventions!" Shining Armor ranted in shock.
"Star Swirl told me he was there when they last descended." Stygian mentioned gravely. "History is repeating itself."
A Malice portal appeared in front of the pony crowd, a fair distance away from the heroes, to all of their surprise. Out of it slowly trotted the big guy himself. On his face, to present to his audience, was a smile.
"So, he decided to get some fresh air." Shining Armor contemptuously whispered.
"Why does the Architect of Malice reveal himself here?" Stygian puzzled over tremulously.
"Who the heck is that?" an earth pony stallion in the crowd asked.
"Ponies of Equestria, welcome to Tambelon, my humble city!" Grogar pleasantly greeted everyone with a bow.
"Starlight, can you check around this creepy place for any way to deal with him?" Apple Bloom suggested.
"Hmm... i'll try." Starlight considered and decided. "Sunburst, look after the girls. Shining Armor, Stygian and I are going to search this place, top to bottom."
"Okay." Sunburst agreed.
"Be careful." Shining Armor wished for the three fillies before he left for the castle, hauling Cadance. Stygian silently bidded farewell.
"My name is Grogar." the ram introduced himself. "I built this city with a mere thought, and the power of Chaos, as a sanctuary of warmth, rich food and enforced shelter from the forces of nature, especially the Windigos."
"You're real?! Weren't you that villain from Gusty the Great?" a unicorn mare inquired.
"Yes, that does seem to be the only record anypony has written of my existence." Grogar confirmed. "A true, though modified, telling of my story, and my terrible mistakes. All of which I wish to correct for the new generation."
"So if you're in charge here, I guess you overthrew Celestia and Luna." a pegasus stallion mused.
"Yeah, that rotten-" Scootaloo growled.
"Good!" the same pegasus stallion said.
"Huh?!" Scootaloo gasped, the other heroes giving confused looks.
"Yeah, good riddance to no-good, complacent princesses!" a unicorn stallion shouted.
"Same goes for Twilight Sparkle!" an earth pony mare yelled. "Guess we finally agree on something!"
"Don't get used to it!" that same unicorn stallion hollered back.
"Celestia came to me for a fight, to send a message, and I utterly defeated her. The message, as it appears, has been lost. Luna and Twilight have been chased out of Equestria, and my children are seeking them out as we speak, to bring to me, so I can make sure they never restart the loop of insanity again." Grogar went on.
"Children? You mean these big, mean monsters?" Soarin asked, terrified.
"I apologize for their temperaments; I taught them some barbaric things back in ancient times, hard habits to break." Grogar answered. "The only orders they've received were to keep you, my subjects, together, and help me deal with oppressive so-called "peacekeepers" like Twilight and her friends." The crowded went "Aah!" at this explanation.
"What about those pony zombies?" asked Moon Dancer as she raised her hoof.
"A unit of earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns long or recently past that i've summoned under my power." Grogar explained carefully. "Magical support for my children."
"That's messed up!" an old earth pony stallion shouted.
"I consider it a necessary evil; expect them to return to their slumbers in due time, when our common enemy has fallen." Grogar promised.
"Whatever." a pegasus mare accepted along with the others, though still unsettled by the concept of zombie animation. "We're here for something. We noticed it from our settlement."
"Now, I wish to offer you all this wide, neverending stock of food to aid in your livelihoods." said Grogar. "It will give you strength, will and strong seeds to plant rejuvenating trees. Do you accept?"
"Eeyup!" Big Mac agreed loudly.
"Big Mac?!" Apple Bloom gasped incredulously.
"But that food belongs to us unicorns! These ponies have been taking our cuisine away from us!" Blueblood hollered. "You can only choose one of our tribes, and you must pick us!"
"No, we deserve it most! You, as the new ruler of Equestria, have a responsibility to the pegasi!" Spitfire objected.
"We earth ponies are the most vulnerable, and you know it, right Grogar?" yelled Dr. Hooves. "Leave these high and mighty bunches with the scraps!"
"Come now, everypony." Grogar softly said. "This isn't a contest of who will get the most love from the figure of authority. I don't play favourites, fillies and gentlecolts. This is about your self-preservation, your futures, your friends and families. It's all about you."
"You mean you want us to consider them equals?! Never!" Blueblood objected.
"Not equals. Each clan has strengths to play to, and weaknesses to overcome." Grogar specified. "Which one is best, whom becomes stronger than the rest, is in your hooves."
"Then what's your purpose?" Thunderlane inquired.
"As an emperor, I must indeed heed the will of my subjects, provide for them, keep their communities in order, eventually ensure that these storm-bringing beings are permanently disspelled, so winter can be wrapped up forever." Grogar continued. "Take your well-earned feast, and i'll make sure you will want for nothing more. Tough it out, everypony."
The crowd of ponies began giving sincere thanks to the ram sorcerer, some even saying things such as "That makes sense!" and "I'll hold you to that promise!"
"Okay, i've heard enough!" Scootaloo snarled, ready to charge in.
"Me too!" Apple Bloom growled.
"Sunburst, save yourself." Sweetie Belle recommended darkly.
"What? But I can't just leave you fillies!" Sunburst protested.
"Trust us, you'd be more useful elsewhere." said Scootaloo.
"Where? There's monsters and ponies all over the place." Sunburst stressed.
"You can just slip on through the crowd." Apple Bloom advised.
"You're too young!" Sunburst emphasized.
"And we're three of the most appreciated ponies in town." Scootaloo added. "They have to listen to us."
"I can't leave you three." Sunburst argued again.
"If thing's go wrong, we want you out of the way." Sweetie Belle remarked. "If you see Starlight, i'm sure she'll understand. We sent her off, too."
Sunburst mulled it over briefly, and he silently accepted. Without any further argument or complaints, he trotted off into the crowd with the coreless Discord, whom was too remorseful to say anything the whole coversation.
The CMC moved through the crowd of earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns as they hurriedly took food items from the marketplace. Grogar looked at them contently, feeling hopeful about his success.
"Everypony, stop it!" Scootaloo hollered desperately, jumping out in front of the ram sorcerer.
"Are you gonna let this beast maker manipulate you?!" Apple Bloom reprimanded the clans. They stopped and gave her a look. "Do ya'll even realize what he confessed?!"
"You're focusing too much on your differences, and letting them divide you!" Sweetie Belle commented. "That's what villains like him use to their advantage!"
"I don't care! If it weren't for the Windigos, we wouldn't be begging!" Soarin cried.
"How do you know this isn't some ploy?" Scootaloo queried. "For all you know, that food has mind control... stuff in it."
"Sorry, but we're in a war right now; we can't afford to weigh our options too much!" Moon Dancer replied.
"Big Mac, surely you must see this for the hooey it is!?" Apple Bloom protested to her big brother. "Think of Applejack!"
Big Mac, even understanding that his honest answer isn't what his youngest sister wants to hear, still had to give her a straight "Nnope." The earth pony filly couldn't believe her ears.
"Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, how nice of you to visit." Grogar happily said to the little trio. "I've watched all your escapades, your accomplishments, your vocal desires to find the full potential of the three pony clans you each represent, young and old. Truthfully, i'm a fan of your work."
"Shut your bearded muzzle!" Sweetie Belle snapped. "I know none of that was sincere!"
"Believe or don't believe, it doesn't change the truth." Grogar accepted. "I know you support your self-righteous sisters, but on your own, I feel you are a precious collective talent. The educational system can use ponies such as yourselves, to help those searching for their identity. I know somepony who'd love to hire you; somepony you've already met."
"Oh, I can tell you want to teach all the boys and girls right from wrong." Scootaloo sarcastically replied and rolled her eyes.
"I promise you all that while my magical ability has exceptionally poisonous properties..." Grogar started to clarify to the fillies and the crowd.
"You see?!" Apple Bloom yelped, desperately expecting everyone to wise up.
"None of those properties grew these nourishing edibles. Only passion." Grogar ended, undisturbed by the interruption.
At that moment, Tirek emerged from a portal right in front of everyone.
"Boss, the prisoners underground escaped!" Tirek called. "They're loose in the city!" The ponies gasped at the centaur's presence.
"Tirek? But weren't they all drained?" Grogar patiently asked.
"One of them got their vitality back! I don't know how, and somehow Discord's moving, and Star Swirl's moving, and he and his pals escaped in the caves, i'm so confused!" Tirek babbled.
Grogar gave a serious, businesslike look. "We can't let supporters of false peacekeepers run amuck. I'll see to it soon, you may return to your Present Run."
"It's Lord Tirek! He and Grogar are acquainted?!" an earth pony mare screamed in disbelief.
"Oh, busted!" Scootaloo sang.
"You won't imprison any of us, will you?" asked a trepidatious pegasus stallion.
"Excuse me, everypony." Tirek cordially addressed the crowd. "I'm on a mission to deliver a powerful miracle to all creatures. Early Hearth's Warming gifts, you can call them. I'll send them to your homes, and you may thank me later."
"Worry not, dear subjects. Despite what he has done in the past, he's a reasonable creature of honour at heart. We see eye-to-eye." Grogar made clear. Tirek gave a big thumbs up. "The only ones we imprison are the most dangerous, stalwart minions of the princesses."
The pony clans once again felt the genuine sound of the ram's tone of voice, and agreed with each other. Someone said "Alright, I guess he's cool."
"Did he say Star Swirl?" Lyra pointed out, fascinated. "Wow, legends really aren't everything."
"Oh, come the heck on!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed in exasperation. Scootaloo could only smack her forehead. And Apple Bloom? She just had to look away.
Tirek kangaroo jumped back onto his Midnight Chariot on one of the rooftops. Grogar faced the CMC again with intent.
"Seriously, you could turn into zombies, like those ponies, the moment you eat some of that!" Scootaloo angrily rebuked the busy ponies.
"Look, if you kids aren't picking sides, then get along!" Spoiled Rich came out and snapped, pointing forward as if to an exit. The CMC recoiled at her acidic attitude. With a sneer, she ironically suggested "Unless you'd like to be taste testers."
"Well, maybe I wouldn't mind you getting zombified." Apple Bloom spat back, but comfortable about it, unable to forget how Spoiled Rich treated her own flesh and blood.
"Thunderbird!" Grogar called to one of the electric, avian monsters. It approached like a lightning bolt, and a good dog. "Safely escort these three fillies to the School of Friendship in Yakyakistan." As the bird lifted the CMC onto it's back, the sorcerer, with a flick of his pastern, encased them in a protective field, which only restricted the young trio, having no poisonous qualities. "Don't want you freezing out there."
"Peh, imagine you showing kindness." Apple Bloom scoffed. "You ain't got no reason for this but to keep them skeletons in your closet."
"What reason do I need to want to protect my children?" Grogar responded matter-of-factly. He waved the Thunderbird and the CMC good-bye as they quickly disappeared over the city wall, into the thick blizzard. He looked once more at the crowd to tell them "They will lead fulfilling lives under the employment of Cozy Glow, the best Headmare I know."
The ponies of Equestria now had big enough food stockpiles to last them a whole normal Winter, and if their new emperor was correct, this would be the beginning of good things for each clan's evolution apart. The Cutie Mark Crusaders would soon arrive at Cozy Glow's school, and whatever positions they would be hired for, they dreaded the possible prospects.
Spike, Twilight and company were preparing to head back out, but before Scorpan carried the non-fliers into the air, Spike had finished taking a letter on the old, dusty parchment.
This is what he wrote:
"Dear Trixie,
We're holding out, but lost, and Twilight got struck with poisonous Malice Magic.
She's just hanging on, so we're keeping eyes open to help her through it.
Princess Luna is still with us, helping to escape from Grogar's army.
But get this: we recently found the headpiece of Chancellor Puddinghead, an old leader.
We think that could turn things in Equestria around. Pass on this knowledge and reply soon.
Sincerely, Spike."
"Please don't let Grogar or his Apocalypse posse intercept this." Spike pleaded before teleporting the letter away in his fire breath.
"How do you... know she has... letter materials?" Twilight weakly questioned.
"Because she pulls lots of things out of her hat." Spike mentioned in good faith.
"Ready for takeoff." Scorpan vocally signaled, flapping his gargoyle wings once again to lift off the ancient grounds of his tarnished homeland.
A fair distance was flown over the wilderness the group previously wandered on their hooves. The fliers hadn't been at this height above the trees before, at least for any reason other than looking for civilization they had no luck of finding. Now that the sick pony they were looking after was also airborne, it felt like a weight was removed, especially for an acrobatic speedster like Rainbow Dash.
"If my memory serves me right, Equestria is in this direction." said Scorpan. "We'll arrive there in a few hours if we make a straight shot for it."
"But... we can't... go back there." Twilight moaned.
"Unfortunate that your first revisit to Equestria must be under these circumstances." Luna lamented to the gargoyle. But something else caught her attention.
"You said there were these monstrous creatures in pursuit?" Scorpan echoed from a previous conversation.
"This isn't good." Luna remarked. "No telling where or when they'll spring a trap." As her sentence finished, needles rained down from the cloudy, red sky. A stream of fire flew up from the swampy forest. Scorpan and the other fliers reacted like cats to dodge it.
"Like that?!" Spike exclaimed at the sight of their attackers. Zombie pegasi cast a wide shadow above them, alongside Thunderbirds. Lightning crackled in their talons, ready to strike downward.
"Time for another one of those "emergency landings", youngin!" Scorpan commanded in terror. Thinking quickly, he bounced the ponies on his back off and magically grabbed them in the air, pulling in them to use his body as a protective shield. Then he quickly descended, but took a barrage of needles and terrible shocks to his back, which his large body could take, but still hurt immensely. He suffered enough from the assault to hit the ground on his front, sending the ponies tumbling.
Luna fired energy beams from the horn to fend off the monsters the best that she could, though the reality of their strength in numbers couldn't be overcome. She and the others were surrounded by lava lizards, Manticores, shadow dogs. Pukwudgies, Whirling Mungteeth, and a few Ursa Majors crawling on all fours.
Scorpan quickly got back on his feet and got on his guard. "Stay back! I am a gatekeeper, and I will defend!"
"The rainbow laser, quick!" Spike yelled desperately.
"What? Here?" Fluttershy objected.
"Twilight's awake, let's use it!" Spike urged. "It's our best chance!"
"Oh, okay." Fluttershy reluctantly agreed after narrowly avoiding a swipe from a manticore.
"Yeah... rainbow lasers... answer everything." Twilight sarcastically puffed out.
"Come on! Altogether now!" Rainbow hastily called, shoving the Friendship Princess next to the rest.
The six Equestrian champions lined up, faced their foes and stretched their hooves over to one another. Except Twilight, just sitting and feeling empty. Pinkie was the one to give the trigger. "Friendship is magic!"
"Forgive me, beautiful ones!" Fluttershy pleaded to the monsters upon the growth in magical light. It took all of the surrounding beasts by surprise.
It grew and grew, enveloping all six of these heroes once again. They started to slowly lift off the ground. True to form, their friendship would unleash a glorious, cleansing blast.
But... instead, it flickered on and off before fizzling out entirely. It stopped; no blast.
Collective responses of either "Huh?" or "What the-?" were heard from the group, except Twilight again, remaining silent. The monsters and zombies traded looks in confusion.
"Uh, did I stutter? Friendship is magic!" Pinkie repeated, annoyed. The light of their rainbow attack ignited once more, surprising the beastly squadron again. But the same thing happened. The five healthy heroines didn't notice that the serene glow of friendship's might was being rejected by Twilight. A look of contempt, closed eyes clenched tight, crossed her face within the radiance.
"Come on, work, you darn Elements!" Spike complained.
"Forget the Elements' power, it's cheap!" Twilight snapped, wearing a psychotic, mocking grin, followed by a short coughing fit. There was no more time for talking after that when their monstrous enemies lunged.
Scorpan, as he warned, defended the ponies and dragon to the best of his ability with his own magical skills. Telekinesis, energy blasts fired from his hands, and swapping to his statue form here and there to slam into monsters and zombies. Luna fired more energy beams, Rarity assisted with a few bolts of her own, and everyone else besides the ill Twilight only had their old tricks to rely on. The tussle covered everyone up in a dust cloud.
The fight left everyone rather battered, but they managed to put their foes onto their knees. Luna pacified the Ursa Majors and sent them away by manifesting large, transulent beehives with some of her Nightmare Moon magic.
"I did... my best." Scorpan panted, holding his chest.
"Ow..." Rarity groaned, softly rubbing her head. "How does Twilight do this blasting thing without getting dizzy? Ow..."
"Come on, creepers, i'm up for Round 2!" Rainbow hollered. "Oh no, wait, "super-creatures", sorry Fluttershy." She scanned the area for a moment, and noticed everyone was still present... except for the very pony she mentioned. "Fluttershy? Hey, where's Fluttershy?" Great worry took it's hold on her mind.
"Fluttershy!" Pinkie called. "Oh, Fluttershy!" No response.
A scream of "AAAAAH!" erupted from the bleak forest. Everyone turned to where it came from, recognizing it as the kindly pegasus in trouble.
Far along in the swamplands, Fluttershy was in the clutches of her captor, a Manticore. She screamed again, but rather than doing so in complete fear, she had been doing so to get her friends' attention, hoping they'd follow the sound. She addressed the Manticore with an ice-cold, disapproving gaze.
"You're in big trouble, you bad kitty!" she chastised the lion-scorpion beast through gritted teeth.
The Manticore spoke to her in it's feline language. Fluttershy could read it as if it were the regular Ponish tongue she'd spoken in all her lifetime.
"You're "Just honouring the order of your dear father", you say?" Fluttershy translated. "He's no parent, he's a tyrant! He doesn't love you!" The Manticore roared in her face defensively. "What about Discord? He was your brother, and Grogar demolished him, piece by piece!" she argued.
The Manticore spoke once more, articulating itself in a more impassioned fashion.
"A "Harmony lover?", "Minion of the princesses?" "No brother of yours?!", "Deserved?!"" Fluttershy continued translating. "Well, what kind of daddy does that make Grogar?! Think about it: defy him once and he's done with you!"
The Manticore simply shook it's head back and forth, realizing that this pony just wouldn't understand the relationship between the ram sorcerer and his monster creations. Or what it believed such a relationship to be.
"You serve him out of fear, I can tell." Fluttershy deduced, calmed. "But you and all your brothers and sisters lived and prospered without him. Why can't you go back to that?" The Manticore, clearly now fed up with hearing her words, threatened to bite her wings.
Then it stopped moving, noticing something approaching from the forest darkness. The presence of what it was seeing made it look on in reverence. Within it's view and Fluttershy's was a tall silhouette most familiar. The shape from top to bottom was umistakeable.
"What?" Fluttershy gasped, on the verge of choking up. "No... that isn't..." How badly she wanted to believe it was, but even in this emotional state, her mind couldn't find it possible. "Who are you?!"
The draconequus made a low sound like a lion letting out an evil chuckle. Then swiftly, it came out of the shadows, intent on drawing close and spooking Fluttershy. Smiling down at her, unnaturally toothy, was Havoc, in all of his Discord-impersonating "glory".
Fluttershy shook, stammered and shed tears at the Spirit of Destruction. It was several seconds before she could get out a new sentence. "W-why... Why d-d-do you... look like him?!"
Havoc pointed at Fluttershy, then counted up on his claws. Seeing that they only had one of Twilight's group of six captured, he, through his animal noises, deemed this insufficient, and not the time to go teleporting back to Grogar. He showed six claws, to which the Manticore nodded.
"Fluttershy, i'm here!" Rainbow cried out in a rush, arriving on the scene. "Just tell me whose butt to k-" That's when she noticed Havoc. "IS THAT DI-?!" The fiend noticed back, showed two claws and did a quick snap of claws on his other appendage. This transformed Rainbow into a little oatmeal cookie, which he grabbed out of the air, very much to Fluttershy's shock.
Just like Tirek said, the Pillars escaped into the very caves that the CMC and Sunburst spent an entire week roaming. Victorious in escaping the centaur after their fight, they traveled deep into a dark, crystalline path.
"With us down here, and the others up there, we can spread the attention of Grogar and his pets as thin as possible." said Star Swirl. "No matter how harmless we may seem without our magic, we'll be targeted as threats to their power."
"But what are we to do in the meantime?" Flash Magnus asked.
"We hope." Somnambula proposed. "For now, it's all we can do."
To their great fortune, the Pillars found one of the old minecarts stationed in the caverns. Sadly, there was only space for one passenger. They exchanged some looks of consideration before they silently came to a decision. Rockhoof would hop in and carry Star Swirl on his giant back. The rest would push it forward. When it got going, it spiraled down the tracks into the abyss before them. The ride was wild, like a roller coaster, but before too long it would come to a bumpy end. In the darkness, they couldn't tell where they were.
"Perhaps we made a wrong turn?" Rockhoof mused, scratching his beard.
"Rockhoof, stay close while our eyes adjust." Star Swirl ordered, taking note of how dark the place was.
As they methodically walked through this straight, crystalline tunnel, and their pitch-black view cleared up ever-so-slightly, Rockhoof anticipated the other Pillars catching up, though wondered how without a spare minecart. He couldn't really tell where he and Star Swirl were walking towards. Just a deep hiding spot with no light, perhaps?
"You know, in our era, many a greedy unicorn called these caverns home." Star Swirl proclaimed to break the silence. "Their gems used to be immensely valuable, especially to the society of spellcasters."
"You sound like you have firsthoof experience in here." Rockhoof responded curiously.
"That's because I visited these caverns back then." Star Swirl confirmed. "Not for any treasure, but to find a place where I could practice, alone, far from anypony."
"When?" Rockhoof asked.
"Many times. All the way until we had to send ourselves and Stygian to limbo." Star Swirl answered solemnly.
"Ah, that makes sense." said Rockhoof casually. "We may have been a team, the Pillars of Equestria, but you preferred to be alone, not too keen on friendship." Suddenly, he was beginning to feel he was annoying the old wizard. He spoke sheepishly, "Er, you know what I mean. So... is that all?"
"Well, when I wasn't training myself, I eavesdropped on the unicorns' activity. Those eager gem miners included a very special pony: King Bullion's daughter, Princess Platinum." Star Swirl explained, rubbing his head in subtle embarrassment.
"Really? But what purpose would that have served you?" Rockhoof inquired, an eyebrow raised.
"The princess loved these caves more than any jewels, pearls or metal in all the land." Star Swirl described. "It was her dream to build a castle around them. She'd live at the top, and have a monument to her excellence in it's heart."
"So, what happened?" Rockhoof pressed further.
"We got Canterlot, which was not exactly to Platinum's vision." Star Swirl remarked. "But, that leaves the monument. I never got to see if it had been made. If i'm not mistaken, we're approaching the heart of the cave right now."
"I don't see what that'll do for our predicament." Rockhoof commented.
"It wouldn't hurt to learn history in the time we still have." Star Swirl remarked poignantly. When he looked straight ahead, a faint gleam several yards away came into view. It almost looked like a sunlit exit. The two Pillars took interest and rushed over to see the source up-close. Star Swirl uttered "My word." at what turned out to be an exceptionally shiny stone carving of Princess Platinum, surrounded by gemstones.
Up above this area was a wide void, no ceiling. Pointing towards it, atop the monument, was a worn, rusty, jewel-adorned crown.
"Her design came true." Star Swirl breathed.
"Fortuitous, is what this is." Rockhoof concluded. "To think all these moons it's been undiscovered."
"Rockhoof, is that you?" Somnambula's voice echoed behind.
"Over here!" the large stallion called back. Unfortunately, this attracted the source of other sounds. Sounds more monstrous and demonic. It was an omen that made the two Pillars exchange looks of worry.
The message Spike blew away travelled fast and homed in on it's target at Cozy Glow's School of Friendship. Just one obstacle got in it's way: a window. Inside, Trixie was giving one of her smoke & mirrors demonstrations, monitored closely by Twittermites. Her eyes shifted back and forth out of nervousness, hoping her dreadful time was at least informative.
One longing look towards the window got her to notice the smoke trail outside. She gestured at everyone to wait, opened and closed it quickly, and the Midnight Kingdom parchment manifested in front of her.
"Finally, outside social activity." Trixie moaned gratefully before reading it. Instantly, she saw the names written in it, and widened her eyes at it's clear importance. As if responding to privacy violation, she said "Do you mind?" to her Twittermite supervisors, and covered herself and the letter.
"Professor Trixie, what does it say?" Patty Peppermint asked, her hoof raised. All she got for a reply was a shushing command.
The magician concluded her silent reading and faced the schoolchildren seriously. "Class, you've learned a lot today. I declare this naptime, for there'll be plenty more great and powerful lessons. Don't want your brains low on energy." she announced. "That's fair, right?" The Twittermites buzzed in approval, thankfully, so as long as Trixie went to sleep herself. She rolled under her desk as the students lowered their heads down on their desks and rested their eyes.
Hiding, Trixie quickly thought of a plan to write back, in which she slowly - quietly - tore the parchment in half. Next, she pulled a readied quill out of her cape. Student Counseling 102: keep a pen, even if you have no paper! she thought proudly.
Before Trixie started writing, intense worry surged in her mind. In that moment, the first name she wrote was "Starlight".
In the time it'd take to throw a smoke bomb and exit, Trixie wrote this message:
"Dear Starlight,
i'm afraid i'm caught up in teaching magician lessons at Cozy Glow's school.
I hope you're doing okay, like Twilight said you are.
She, her friends, and Princess Luna mailed me today, and are in a bind as well.
Apparently, they found some hat from an old Equestrian leader, Puddinghead.
No idea how that's important, but it's important to me that we speak again soon.
Sincerely, your Greatest and Powerfulest friend, Trixie."
Followed by this one:
"Dear Twilight and friends,
I'm in a terrible situation, too, teaching magician classes at Cozy Glow's school.
I don't know what that hat will do to help things, but I hope you stay strong.
My students are currently on their napping breaks.
Princess Luna, if you want to warp over here, seize this chance now.
I've sent Starlight a letter as well, so maybe she'll write to us both.
Sincerely, the Great and Powerful Trixie."
"Alright, now, remember your training." Trixie whispered to herself. She took a moment to focus and breathe. Until finally, "Delivery, Starlight aaaand Twilight." A flash from her horn turned the parchment halves into traveling beams of light. At first they headed for the window, but ricocheted off it's glass and flew out the classroom door. Thankfully, none of the students were disturbed, but the Twittermites noticed. "Oops!", the magician weakly uttered.
"Attention, school staff and students!" Cozy called over the intercom. "Exciting news! I've just been informed that three old friends of mine are being brought over here, all the way from Tambelon! Look forward to the future vice headmare, student counselor and official headmare's butler! We're gonna have fun, like old times! Thank you!"
Trixie couldn't be more glad about that distraction for the Twittermites. They had forgotten about the parchment-turned-light beams. But knowing her back was against the wall anyway, she remained beneath the desk and forced herself into slumberland.
Gallus, his friends, their caretakers and the other griffons, flew as a unit over The Abysmal Abyss, the windy, seemingly bottomless chasm near Griffonstone. It had expanded to an outrageous level, stretching for miles, thanks to the earthquakes. Yona and Prince Rutherford had to ride Ocellus and Pharynx, respectively, to get across and back.
"So, boy, which way to this Tree of yours?" Grampa Gruff asked his child.
"It's deep in the Everfree Forest, the place covered with thick trees, right on the outskirts of Ponyville." Gallus answered. "You'll see the path when we get there."
Unfortunately, the Abyss's winds had gotten stronger. They had to fight against the air currents, and if they flew extremely high, they had lightning from the storm clouds to worry about, so it was no use going above them. They didn't give up, but even at just the right height, they were at risk at being blown in the wrong direction.
Griffons, the dragons and the hippogriffs were going all over the place, other griffons putting their strength into keeping them on a straight path. But worse, the changelings teetered, which was bad news for the flightless yaks. Most of all, Rutherford. These winds and the yak prince's weight had begun to take their toll on Pharynx's giant transformation.
"Yak unbalanced!" Rutherford yelled, panicked.
At this most inopportune time, a lightning bolt hit Pharynx's head, and with an exclamation of pain and exhaustion, he gave in to the current. Silverstream, Seaspray, Ocellus and some Griffons banded together to push and pull him, but unfortunately, Rutherford had fallen off.
"Help Yak!" he screamed. He was too heavy for the winds to push him back up.
Many of the fliers had noticed, and tried to pursue him, but they were blown back. Gallus and Silverstream took a dive together, but they didn't fare any better. Ocellus fought against it to catch the two. Gallus looked at her, thinking of something.
"Ocellus, can you give us a big push through?" he requested of the changeling youth.
"What do you mean?" Ocellus inquired in confusion.
"Like, can you toss us through there, while you're like this?" Gallus clarified. The spoken thought made Silverstream cringe with dread.
"I'll see..." Ocellus replied hesistantly. "Maybe... if i'm just..." she rose closer to the clouds, holding the griffon and hippogriff children in her transformation's claws, until she was out of the current. It was risky to reach that altitude, but she felt this needed to be tried. Ocellus pulled her arms back, and threw her friends downward, like a pair of darts, with great force.
Down Gallus and Silverstream flew. The power behind the throw allowed them to break through the strengthened wind. In the moment, Silverstream made a realization.
"Oh, I get it!" she chirped. "Gallus, spin! Do it in style, like the Wonderbolts!" Spin she did. Gallus looked and understood, proceeding to mimic that maneuver. Their small selves keep going, until Rutherford was in sight. The two avian hybrids grasped him tight and spread their wings. They weren't blown up, but they managed to slow down the big yak's fall.
A few more seconds later, they had descended well into the darkness of the Abysmal Abyss. It was illuminated enough by the crimson light of the sky to see what was in there. They had reached the bottom, where Rutherford would land a bit roughly, but otherwise safely.
"Griffon and Hippogriff save Yak life!" said Rutherford gratefully. "You honourary Yak brother and sister!"
"But how do we get you back up?" Silverstream puzzled out loud. "You're too heavy to lift. Uh, no offense." Rutherford didn't have any response.
"Well, i'm glad this abyss actually has a bottom." Gallus noted. His eyes turned above, to everyone still flying. He cupped his talons around his beak to holler "Grampa Gruff, guys, we're okay! Keep going, i'm sure you can figure something out up there!" But no indication if his voice made it past the sound of the winds, especially from that far below.
The three of them took a moment to gaze on their surroundings. The Abyss bottom seemed to be covered in different treasures, metallic objects and bones.
"What is this place?" Silverstream asked.
"Huh. From the looks of things, lost treasures of Griffonstone history." Gallus surmised. "Gold... armour... crowns... bones of enemies, probably..." One drew his eye in. "Hey, it's that Idol of Boreas." Then he quickly resumed. "Strange that so much is piled into this spot."
"No waste time, we must go!" Rutherford puffed.
"Okay, okay, just... let me take a moment." said Gallus. "Ah!" he uttered at a particular sight. "The helmets of the royal guard." Golden headpieces, all identical and rusted with age, sat in a cluster with torn-off armor pieces. "The gear that ties the outfit together." He saluted the helmets, as if paying to respects to the spirits of the griffon warriors.
"Cool!" Silverstream yipped. "I bet you'd look amazing with one on!"
"Well, if the chance ever arose, I would love to be a royal griffon guard." Gallus admitted, followed by sighing. "I just need the guts for it."
"You showed that to Grampa Gruff!" Silverstream reminded. "You're gonna be great!"
Gallus chuckled. "Let's just call that my practice run." he said modestly, acknowledging the boost to his confidence. He figured he'd take one last look at all the helmets. That was all it took to catch... a helmet that looked rather out of place.
This strange helmet had gold accents, but was dominantly black. Of course, it looked as worn as the others.
"That certainly doesn't look like Griffonstone custom." Gallus thought aloud. "Must've been a visitor's."
"You're right." said Silverstream upon inspection. "But what creature could've dropped it?"
"I don't know, but it stands out. Like me." Gallus commented. With that, he felt compelled to pick the helmet up. "I better take this."
"What for?" Rutherford queried.
Gallus replied "Building character, I guess?" as he put the metallic headpiece on his head, seeming to enter a daydream.
The three marched to the other end of the Abyss, where the rest were headed. They had to climb over an increasingly high mound of stone and dirt, no doubt the fragments of the cliff affected by the earthquakes, and the reason for the expansion. With only the strain of fighting gravity hindering them, along with a few loose pebbles, they got to the top. But there was a dead end.
"Hey, guys! You've got a long rope, or something?!" Gallus hollered upward. As if on cue, something ropelike came down. But the rope was actually a chain. A chain of griffons, wings closed, with Ocellus, in her giant transformed state, at the end as a weight, held up by Yona, held up by Seaspray and Grampa Gruff. "Whoa, that... that's creative."
Indeed, the griffons were putting strenuous effort into holding this chain. At the top, the transformed Pharynx was pulling the whole load with help from Ember and Smolder.
"Hurry!" Ocellus panted. Gallus and Silverstream grabbed on to their changeling pal without causing any issues, but Rutherford's heftiness was felt across the entire chain. Still, with extreme determination, every winged creature holding together opened their wings to the mighty wind current.
Pharynx and the dragons gave a hard, exhausting pull, until, like a rubber band, the chain snapped back up the cliff, even with the extra pounds added below. The two young fliers made it out, their rescue a complete success.
"Rutherford!" Yona exclaimed in relief.
"Yona!" Rutherford exclaimed back. The two embraced, cherishing this precious moment of togetherness after the distressing last few.
"No need to thank us, Yak brother and sister." said Gallus.
"Well done, sonny." Grampa Gruff congratulated the blue griffon youth. "Just tell me you're gonna do that, my old heart races easily!" Gallus nervously nodded in compliance.
The students and their caretakers knew only one path forward from here: to the Treehouse of Harmony. Back to Equestria; whatever remained of it.
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A missed opportunity to collect it, if only for historical reasons.
I don't feel like Tirek would admit to confusion or ignorance on his part. I feel like at the most he'd simply ask Grogar how that was possible. The guy doesn't like to state his weaknesses.
I can't stop seeing Tirek as All Might now. I love it.
"Fear not citizens! Because I am here!"
Cozy Glow can be Deku. She's got the nerd thing down cold.
"Stop mumbling like that, you're freaking me out!"
That's kind of important Gallus. Maybe consider grabbing it?
Ohh! A new element wielder!
Please tell me we get to see Smolder in a bonnet or crown. She'd look so cute!
That's one way to look at it. Another way is to realize that he's so dangerous and manipulative (at least in the terms of this show) that he could be an effective villain in his own right, even without any magic.
I mean they do function as a literal army and are sizable enough to challenge Equestria's capital in a straight fight so...
Well, magic was being drained from him as well, and it's the most likely thing that's keeping him alive too. He'd probably starve or age to death alongside them.
I see that whole thing as being an act of suicide myself. Tirek goes down and takes out Equestria's status as a superpower along with him. Considering his time in Tartarus weakened him the first time around, and how weak he was going in the second, it's entirely possible he thought he wouldn't make it another thousand years. Cozy Glow was a convenient opportunity for revenge.
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Thank you for this detailed, composed comment. It was a genuinely interesting read; your perspective on some of the story elements brought to light understandable ways I hadn't thought about them. That's the kind of feedback which makes storytelling worth the effort. And of course, thank you for giving my rewrite story the time of day. Stay tuned if you're interested in what comes next.
One little thing I'll mention: that's the 2nd time I've gotten the suggestion that Gallus should've taken the Idol of Boreas with him. I wrote the moment as a testament to how far the Griffons, even a youth like Gallus, have moved on from the Idol and the ideas surrounding it, but I understand the desire to see their society's historical treasure(s) preserved someway else.
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It's always nice to know that my comments mean something to a writer. Makes using the comment feature worth it if I can be of assistance or make a connection.
Not a problem. I enjoy chating with writers. I don't always know the right things to say but I enjoy chatting with them.
Thank you for writing. I've enjoyed this so far. It's a far more intense alternative to what the show put forth, and while I get why it wouldn't make it on modern television, I actually am enjoying it a fair bit for what it has done so far.
Removing Discord's involvement with the events of the final is already a huge step up, and it's nice to see how you would top him as a big bad through Grogar.
I mean there's probably a huge argument that they don't need it, and should be able to get along without it, but I'm a big believer in doing what works, and for some reason that lump of metal worked for the griffins.
Now maybe they've improved as a species (there's an argument to be made that Gallus has done remarkably well for himself) but I'm not sure the same can be said for all of of the griffins. Gruff in particular still seems to take losing it particularly hard.