> Equestria Wars: The Magic Unleashed V > by sonicdash123 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once upon a time in a magical land of Equestria.... EQUESTRIA WARS The Magic Unleashed V The war rages on in the land of Equestria. Danny's return was just the start for the tide to turn for the Equestrian Empire's victory to burn the Mephiles Alliance once and for all. Danny seeks out new allies in the forests in the east of Equestria to fight in the war and bring peace to the land with the Friendship Festival being prepared in Canterlot. With Danny away, Charming Thunder goes to Canterlot to see the preparations of the festival led by Twilight Sparkle and her friends hoping to get the approval by the princesses for Twilight's new idea she had in mind.... > Chapter 1: The Storm Creatures Attack > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charming Thunder's TIE Advanced flew towards Canterlot and landed in the hangar at the castle. Inside the castle halls, a guard rushed to the throne room and entered to see Celestia, Luna, and Cadence there and bowed to their presence. "Your highnesses," the guard said. "The king has arrived." Celestia nodded and gestured him to get Charming Thunder. As the guard left, the doors opened again to reveal Charming Thunder standing there and he walked up to the princesses and bowed to them. "Celestia, Luna, Cadence," Charming Thunder greeted as the princesses nodded. "Brother," Cadence said. Charming Thunder walked to the left of them with concern. "You seem unsettled since Danny returned." "No," Celestia said. "It's just pressed for time for the festival Twilight is planning. She is coming here right now." "My apologies. You do have a great of things to explain about Danny." "We just don't know if we should trust him," Luna explained. "He was responsible for destroying our resources. He also fought you since then and...beat you." Charming Thunder took a step closer to Luna. "His power to create problems is all in the past now. Our resources are being rebuilt with his help." Charming Thunder walked past the princesses as Cadence followed him. "He blamed you for the balance of the Changelings since they were reformed," Cadence said. Charming Thunder turned to face his sister. "I was not summoned here to hear you three grovel, am I?" "No, it's..." Celestia said. "Danny is my brother. I trust him with my life and beat me in fair combat. You understand, right?" "Yes, brother," Cadence said. "I will keep an eye on him to make sure he won't pull anything like that ever again and rest assured that his help will defeat Mephiles and his followers." The princesses nodded in agreement when the doors slowly opened revealing Twilight and Spike entering the room. The princesses and Charming Thunder approached her as Charming Thunder smiled. "Good morning, princesses and Charming Thunder," Twilight greeted. "Princesses, thank you all for seeing me. I have an idea that I think will make our Friendship Festival the most wonderful celebration Equestria has ever seen!" "Yes, Twilight," Celestia said. "We are very excited!" "Ponies have been arriving from all over all morning," Cadence said. "I'd like to think it's to see us, but Songbird Serenade might be the bigger attraction," Luna said. "Yes, she is the... 'mane' event!" Twilight joked. "And to make it extra special, I could use your help. Spike?" Spike brought in a whiteboard as he hummed a fanfare. Twilight levitated a marker and used it to write on the board math calculations. "Songbird Serenade's performance is not scheduled to start until after you begin the sunset. And based on my precise calculation, to get the very best lighting for the stage, Princess Celestia, I was hoping you could make sure the sun stays about twenty-eight point one degrees to the south, and, Princess Luna, if you could raise the moon sixty-two degrees to the north at the same time, it would reflect the sunlight on the other side and really frame the entire stage perfectly!" Twilight then drew both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna on the board along with the sun and moon. "I..." Luna said before she was interrupted. "But wait! There's more! Cadance, if you could use your crystal magic to create an aurora above the stage, the sun and the moon will shine through it and create a truly amazing light show!" Twilight drew on the board Princess Cadence and some aura over the stage. As Spike presented himself on top of the board holding a figure of Songbird Serenade. "Presenting Songbird Serenade!" Spike said. He then suddenly fell to the ground and then weakly said, "Ta-da." "So you're saying you want us to move the sun and the moon for the party," Luna said. Charming Thunder was impressed with the calculations Twilight made. "Well, I'd do it myself, except I don't have your magic." "Twilight, each of us uses our powers to serve Equestria in our own way," Celestia explained. "You are the Princess of Friendship. You already have all the magic you need." "So...that'd be a no?" Charming Thunder stepped up to Twilight and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "I'm afraid I'll have to agree with the princesses with this one," Charming Thunder said. "Take Celestia's advice and help with the preparations. Your friends may need it including Applejack." Twilight nodded and began to take her leave with Spike. Once the doors closed, Charming Thunder was about to leave as well, but was stopped when Cadence said, "And about your alicorn wings." "What about them, sister? I am able to fly perfectly thanks to my brother teaching me. Rainbow had to setup an obstacle course for me to practice one time." "Are you sure you'll be fine with them? You at first didn't want it since you completed the trials of harmony." "I'll be fine from now on." Charming Thunder then left the room and decided to go see Twilight and the others and maybe help them with the preparations. --------------------- Charming Thunder walked in the streets of Canterlot and sees his friends and family working on the stage for the Friendship Festival Twilight was talking about earlier with the princesses. He goes to them to go see them and see how things are with the preparations. They noticed him approaching and walked up to him. "Hey, Charming," they said in unison. "Hey, girls," Charming Thunder greeted. "How are the preparations?" "Sky's clear," Rainbow said with a salute. "Stage is set," Rarity said. "Banquet is ready for the festival," Applejack said. "The birds are ready for the music," Fluttershy said. "Excellent," Charming Thunder said. "Where's Pinkie and Twilight?" "Pinkie's handling with the balloons and Twilight is talking to Songbird," Rarity said. "Songbird's here already?" Thunder sounded as an airship came through the dark clouds. Pinkie and Twilight arrived with the group to see the airship coming. "Storm clouds?" Twilight said. "I ordered perfect weather! Rainbow Dash?!" "Uh, I don't think those are storm clouds," Rainbow said. The airship turned sideways and made its way down destroying everything in its way. "I bet those are the clowns I ordered!" Pinkie said. She then saw the ship hit the balloons. "You're definitely not the clowns I ordered." Once the airship stopped, the door opened and the ramp began to lower deflating a balloon animal that was left on the ground. A hedgehog then walked down the ramp carrying a box. He then placed the box down to the ground and pressed the button forming a megaphone. The hedgehog clears his throat and said, "Ponies on Equestria, we come on behalf of the fearsome, the powerful, the almighty...Storm King." The crowd began to cower and whisper. "And now, to deliver the evil, evil message, put your hooves together for Commander Tempest!" A pony from the top of the ramp stepped out of the shadows revealing herself to have a broken horn sparking. "Is that a... unicorn?" Twilight asked. "I think so, but what happened to her horn?" Spike replied. Celestia and the other two princesses flew down in front of Twilight as Charming Thunder stood next to them. "Tempest, is it?" Celestia said. "How may we help you?" "Oh, I'm so glad you asked," Tempest replied. "How about we start with your complete and total surrender?" Twilight slowly walked up and stood next to Cadence with a wave. "Hi there," Twilight greeted. "Princess of Friendship. Not exactly sure what's going on, but I know we can talk things out." Twilight smiled. "Oh, goody. All four princesses." Tempest then gazed at Charming Thunder. "And I see that there is another alicorn among you." Tempest then slowly walked down the ramp. "Here's the deal, ladies. I need your magic. Give it up nicely, please, or we make it difficult for everyone!" "And why should we cower before you?" Luna demanded. "There's one of you and hundreds of us." Tempest chuckled as Charming Thunder knew what was going to happen. "I was hoping you'd choose difficult." Creatures appeared behind Tempest as more airships flew in dropping off more creatures which caused a panic to the ponies. Charming Thunder and the princesses gasped as panic grew. Tempest threw a glowing orb in the air and kicked it towards the princesses. Cadence stood in front of the other three and Charming Thunder and used her magic to make a barrier to stop the glowing orb. The orb somehow penetrated the barrier and hits Cadence with a puff of green smoke and she began to turn to stone. "Cadence!!!" Celestia and Charming Thunder shouted. "I can't...stop it!" Cadence gasped as she struggled to break free. Celestia turned her gaze to Luna. "Luna, quick! Go south beyond the Badlands! Seek help from the Queen of the Hippo--" Celestia was interrupted when an orb hits her and turns her to stone as well. Luna began to fly away to do what Celestia tasked her, but was stopped by another orb hitting her mid-flight. Twilight used her magic to hold her while Tempest has a fair advantage. She kicks another orb towards Twilight, but Twilight was saved by Rainbow without knowing it. Tempest chuckled as the orb hits the ground. "Easy as pie," Tempest said. "Oh, I love pie," the hedgehog said. The smoke faded away to reveal Derpy turned to stone leaving the fake horn to fall off of her head. "Oh, you totally got the last princess!" "That's not the Princess! Grubber, get her now!" Grubber began to run off. "Guys, we gotta get the princess!" Tempest stepped on Twilight's crown and began to walk away. "TEMPEST!!!" Charming Thunder shouted as he grabbed his lightsaber and activated it. Tempest turned around to face him as her horn sparked. "Charming Thunder, I have waited for this day for a long time," Tempest said. "Have you come to join the princesses?" "No. I am here to stop you." Charming Thunder charged at Tempest as she fired her magic at him and caused him to go far back. Tempest rushed over to him as he slowly got back up. Charming Thunder growled. "So be it." "You're not the only one with a weapon like yours, you know." Tempest grabbed two lightsabers off of her belt and activated her purple blades. Charming Thunder stood in a battle position before Tempest charged at Charming Thunder. He blocked her strikes as he backed up to an edge. They clashed blades as Charming Thunder grunted. "The Storm King is manipulating you. Making you betray your own kind. Can't you see that?" "The only thing I see is the only thing standing in my way to get my horn back. You will not stand in my way for completing this goal." Tempest broke the clash and kicked Charming Thunder off the edge. Charming Thunder used his wings to safely land on the ground. Tempest jumped down and the duel continued. Tempest blocked the incoming strikes from Charming Thunder and took a few steps back. Tempest then pounds back and slashed Charming Thunder in the leg leaving a wound. He then growled and did a heavy strike, but Tempest jumped back and kicked him to the ground. Charming Thunder then gets back up and clashed blades as he stood over the edge over the water. "Give up, Charming. You can't win." "You forget, Tempest. I never quit!" Charming Thunder strikes again, but Tempest blocked it and slashes him in the face with her blade leaving a scar on his eye. She then kicked him off the edge and he fell in the water. His body floats in the current of the river and goes down the waterfall. > Chapter 2: The Home of the Wookiees > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charming Thunder's body floated in the river far away from Canterlot; unconscious. He was suddenly grabbed by a hairy arm from the shore of the river and got dragged out. He was then picked up by a tall figure and taken away from the river. --------------------- A few hours have passed. Charming Thunder was now covered with bandages laying on a bed made of straw. Danny walked in the room with a tall hairy creature as Danny recognized Charming Thunder. "Where did your scouts find him?" he asked. The creature only growled a reply. "At the river? He must've came from Canterlot then. Something is wrong then. He must know what happened then." He then walked up to the unconscious unicorn and shook him to wake him up. Charming Thunder moaned and slowly opened his eyes to see that he is in a room he doesn't recognize. "W-Where am I?" Charming Thunder asked as he rubbed his head. He then turned to see Danny. "Danny? Was it you who saved me from that river?" "It wasn't me. Thank Tarfful's scouts." Danny pointed at Tarfful as he roared. "What are you, Tarfful?" "He's a wookiee; a tall and hairy humanoid that are originally from the planet Kashyyyk." Charming Thunder then got up from his bed and felt pain on his eye. "My---my eye." Danny then made a mirror magically appear to show Charming Thunder that he has a permanent scar on the right eye. His eyes widened and took a step back. "You must've been in a helluva fight. Care to explain?" Charming Thunder sighed as he used his magic to remove the bandages. "Canterlot has been invaded." "The Mephiles Alliance?" "No. It was those creatures commanded by a unicorn named Tempest Shadow." "Tempest?" "Yes. She has turned the princesses to stone, but Twilight escaped. I don't know where she and her friends went, but I have an idea where. Before Celestia was turned to stone, she tried to task Luna to go to the south of the Badlands and find these so called 'hippos'." "You mean the animal?" "I'm not sure. Celestia didn't finish her sentence. I must go there at once." "Hold on, brother. You are too weak to go." "Don't try to stop me. I must go south from here and find Twilight and the others. They might need me. Are you trying to tell me to abandon my family and yours?" Danny looked down then looked back at Charming Thunder. "Help me and I'll help you." "What do you need?" "Help me make peace with the wookiees to make them our allies to your empire and I will take you south past the Badlands." Charming Thunder smiled and nodded. --------------------- Tempest stood in front of the flame talking to the Storm King himself about the situation. "Give me three days," she said. "I'll have everything ready for your arrival." "Remember, Tempest," the Storm King said; ominously. "Only I have the power to make you whole. Make this twig work, and you'll get your reward. Fail me, and your horn won't be the only thing that's broken." "It won't be a problem." "Great! I'm ready to power up, crash and bash, and be the biggest, baddest bugaloo..." The message ended as Grubber stood behind there. "Sorry, bad spell service," Grubber said. "You want me to call him back?" "Do you have the princess?" Tempest asked. "Well, uh, funny story. It kinda seems like she... she might've like, you know, got away... a little bit. I know you're disappointed, but I got one word for you: 'spongecake'." Tempest zapped Grubber with her magic. "I need all four for the staff to work." "Hey, I know! I want the Storm King to fix that crazy horn as badly as you do. It looks like a crackly chipped tooth on the top of your head. And you know you don't look good in that." "That Princess is not gonna keep me from getting my horn back! Prepare my ship! And Grubber. Send a ship to the east and find that other alicorn. I want him alive as a gift to the Storm King." "Yes, ma'am!" Tempest then turned away. "Please. How far could two little ponies get on their own?" --------------------- Charming Thunder and Danny walked together on the bridge of the wookiee tree village. "Where exactly is this place anyways?" "In the woods east of Canterlot," Danny explained. "I found these wookiees during my quest to find allies. They are fierce warriors." "Sounds like good allies to our cause." "There is a rivalry against the Trandoshans. You may be familiar with them." "Yes. They are cold blooded reptiles. I made friends with one of them a long time ago." "Well that 'friend' of yours is probably sided with them. The wookiees want to drive them off of their land and hopefully free the slaves they have taken." "Slaves?" Danny and Charming Thunder walked to the balcony of the tree hut and Danny pointed to a direction. "They have a big camp in the north. If we free the slaves, we may be able to cooperate with the wookiees be allies with them." "It won't be easy, brother. They are fierce as they rival the wookiees. We must face them without help. I fear we would just loose more." "Then we let some scouts lead us to the camp and then we attack the camp." "I will ask Tarfful for that then." Charming Thunder walked away from Danny. "And Charming..." Charming Thunder stopped and turned to face Danny. "I hope Rainbow is okay with Twilight since the attack at Canterlot. Promise we when we go past the Badlands, we find her and the others and retake Canterlot together." Charming Thunder smiled. "There's the Danny I know." Charming Thunder continued to walk away and crossed the bridge to meet up with Tarfful who was talking to some of the other wookiee warriors. He gestured them to leave and turned to Charming Thunder and growled a greeting. "Hello, Tarfful. I have a favor to ask." Tarfful roared a reply as he listened to the unicorn explain a few things. > Chapter 3: Attacking the Trandoshan Camp > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sun never sets as Charming Thunder and Danny were being escorted by two wookiee scouts to the location of the camp where the Trandoshans stay. Once they reached a safe spot to hide, the two wookiees quietly growled and took their leave. Danny and Charming Thunder then hid behind a bush and began to assess the area. There was a cage full of wookiee slaves crawling with guards standing next to the cage. A familiar Trandoshan to Charming Thunder stepped out of the tent. More Trandoshans stepped out of the tent and began to patrol the camp. Charming Thunder and Danny then sneak past some guards and hid behind another bush. The Trandoshan then sniffed around and investigated the bush. Danny popped out and grabbed the guard and silently knocked it out. Charming Thunder popped his head out of the bush then went back into hiding. "Okay here's the plan, Danny," Charming Thunder said. "You distract the guards at that cage while I free the wookiees." "Distracting is what I do best, brother," Danny said as he turned invisible and stepped out of the bush quietly. He then went to the other side of the camp and purposely stepped on a twig which got the attention of the guards at the cage. The two left their posts to investigate as Danny hid behind a tree. Charming Thunder then made his chance to rush to the cage and used his magic to pick the lock. He stopped when a Trandoshan appeared behind him seeing the unicorn picking on the lock. "It has been years, Charming," the Trandoshan said. "Hello again, Roeoss," Charming Thunder said as he turned around. "That's Chief Roeoss to you, your highness." Roeoss growled as he aimed his blaster at Charming Thunder. "I'll give you one chance to step away from that cage or else you will be joining them." "Not an option, old friend." More Trandoshans arrive to the scene with their weapons aimed at Charming Thunder. "What are these wookiees to you?" "Innocent lives you took. I don't want any trouble, Roeoss. We used to be a team." "That was a long time ago. I am not with the empire anymore. These wookiees are our rivals. It's bad for business." "We don't have to fight." "Says the pony who is surrounded. Tempest has made an offer for finding you alive. She thought that you were dead when you faced her at Canterlot. Bad mistake for her." "She serves this so called 'Storm King' to get her horn back. She would never fulfill an agreement with a reptile like you." "You dare insult me, puny pony?" "I never liked you anyway, 'chief'." "Kill him!!!" The Trandoshans opened fire at Charming Thunder as he quickly activated his lightsaber and blocked the blaster bolts. He then threw his saber towards one of the Trandoshans and pierced him in the chest then used the force to get the lightsaber back to his hoof. He then flew up in the air and deflected some more blaster bolts back at the Trandoshans. Danny suddenly reappeared and activated his lightsabers to attack the Trandoshans. The two ponies stood back to back as they reflected blaster bolts away from them. "Another pony, Charming?" Roeoss hissed at the two. "Even better for Tempest." Roeoss drew his electrostaff and twirled it. He then gestured a taunt and Charming Thunder charged at Roeoss with a strike. The Trandoshan chief blocked the strikes and backed up from Charming Thunder. They then clashed their weapons as Roeoss roared. He then broke the clash with Charming Thunder as Danny held off the other Trandoshans. Danny force gripped one of the Trandoshans and threw his saber at him. He then used the force to bring the saber back to his hoof and threw the dead Trandoshan at another group of Trandoshans. The wookiees cheered in their cage as the fight continued. Charming Thunder continued his fight with Roeoss and clashed his crimson blade to the staff. Roeoss kicked Charming Thunder to the ground and bointed his staff at him then readied his finishing blow. He was stopped when two lightsaber blades pierced the chief in the chest. Danny deactivated his blade as the other Trandoshans noticed their chief struck down and slowly got up. Danny then helped Charming Thunder up and they went to the cage and set the wookiees free. One of the wookiees growled and began to make a run for it with the others. Charming Thunder looked at Roeoss' dead corpse on the ground and then the Trandoshans who were walking up to their chief and picking him up and walked away with him. The other Trandoshans looked at the two ponies while Charming Thunder walked up to them. "Leave this place and leave the wookiees alone or else you'll wind up like your chief." The Trandoshans hissed and made a run for it with the other Trandoshan. Charming Thunder then looked at Danny who looked disappointed. "You shouldn't have let them go free, brother," Danny said; concerned. "You really think that they are free? They will think about what they have done and maybe have peace with the wookiees in the future." --------------------- Back at the wookiee tree village, Charming Thunder meditated in the room he stayed in. Danny then entered and cleared his throat to get his attention. Charming Thunder turned to see Danny and got up. "How did the meeting go?" "It went as I expected," Danny said. "They have agreed to the peace terms with the empire and is willing to aid us in this war." "That's great news." "That's not all. They have also agreed to give us transport to the south past the Badlands." "Even better news. When do we leave?" "A transport is being fueled up for us as we speak. Enough to take us straight to the place you need to go." "Shall we be off then?" Danny nodded and then walked together to the ship the wookiees have prepared for them. > Chapter 4: Arriving at Mount Aris > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charming Thunder and Danny rode in an airspeeder with two wookiees piloting it over the Badlands. Charming Thunder looked down to see a town they were flying over. He felt concerned if Twilight and the others passed through the town. The speeder then proceeded past the town and he looked up to see an airship Charming Thunder recognizes. On board the airship, Tempest stood in front of the window of the bridge as Grubber entered the room. "What is it, Grubber?" "We are detecting a vessel heading towards us," Grubber reported. Tempest stepped outside of the bridge with Grubber as he pointed where the vessel is located. Charming Thunder sees the airship turning around towards him and taps the wookiee driver on the shoulder and said, "Get us closer." "What are you doing?" Danny asked. "You'd rather face the enemy now instead of finding Twilight and the others?" "I know there is good in Tempest. I felt it since we first fought at Canterlot." The wookiee piloted the airspeeder towards the approaching airship as Charming Thunder got up from his passenger seat. Once they were over the deck of the airship, Charming Thunder jumped down and came face to face with Tempest again. "So you are alive after all, Charming," Tempest said. "I was hoping that the Trandoshans would bring you to me alive as a gift for the Storm King." "The Storm King is the true villain I am after. Not you, Tempest. Or is that just a title given to you before you joined him." "It was a name given to me. Nothing more. Now, surrender or I will be forced to take you down." Charming Thunder glared at Tempest as they stood with the wind blowing in their manes. They then began to walk sideways as they kept their gaze at each other. "If you are going to stand in my way to get the princess who is heading to Mount Aris, then so be it." Charming Thunder got into his battle position as he grabbed the hilt of his lightsaber. (Note: Sung to the tune of The Prince of Egypt's The Plagues) Sung by: Charming Thunder, Tempest Shadow, and chorus Once you were one of us Once I thought a chance To redeem you Was all I ever wanted Thunder began to crackle in the sky as Charming Thunder activated his lightsaber and Tempest did the same. I send the thunder from the sky I send the fire raining down And even now I wish that Celestia Had chose another Serving as your foe on my behalf Is the last thing that I wanted I send a hail of burning ice On the field, on every enemy Tempest fired lightning from her horn, but Charming Thunder jumps in the air to avoid the attack. This is our home All this pain and devastation How it tortures me inside All the innocent who suffer From your stubbornness and pride Tempest got angry and charged at Charming Thunder with a strike. Charming Thunder blocked the strike and pushed her back. He then fired magic at her, but Tempest fired lightning and clashed their magic. I send the locusts on the wind Such as the world has never seen On every leaf, on every stalk Until there's nothing left of green I send my scourge, I send my sword Thus saith Celestia The magic clash ended with a small explosion pushing back Tempest and Charming Thunder further away from each other. You who I now call foe Why don't you just stand down right now I send my scourge, I send my sword Let my people go Thus saith Celestia Tempest and Charming Thunder charged and clashed blades. Tempest broke the clash by kicking Charming Thunder and pushed him to the railing of the airship. You who I now call foe How could you have come to hate me so? You know what I must do I send the swarm, I send the horde Even though my heart is hardened And never mind how high the cost may grow This will still be so I will never let your people go Thus saith Celestia Thus saith Celestia I will not... Let your/my people go! Tempest fired lightning at Charming Thunder, but Charming Thunder flew in the air and got in his passenger seat of the airspeeder and gestured the wookiee pilot to fly away from the airship. Charming Thunder then had a look of disappointment as he got away from Tempest. "You tried your best," Danny said with confidence. Charming Thunder looked at Danny with a smile as the flight continued. Tempest stood on the airship as she watched Charming Thunder get away. "Plot the course to follow them," Tempest ordered. "Right away, ma'am," Grubber said. --------------------- After going through the sea of clouds, Charming Thunder sees a mountain across from the beach when they landed. Charming Thunder walked to the edge of the rock and glanced at the mountain as Danny got out. Charming Thunder closed his eyes and then snapped them open. "What is it, brother?" Danny asked. "I feel a familiar presence," Charming Thunder said. "It's coming from the ocean." "I feel it too." Danny then turned to the wookiees who stepped out of the speeder. "Guess this means that whatever is down there, we better fly to that mountain and swim. I don't need any swimming gear since I am a halfa. You remember, don't you?" "Agreed. If I am to breathe under water, I need the equipment." "Not a problem." Danny walked to the speeder and took out some diving gear for Charming Thunder to put on. "Once you are ready, we will begin our descent deep in the sea." Charming Thunder took the gear and puts on the wet suit then the helmet. He then spreads his wings and flew towards the mountain with Danny right behind him. Danny turned to the wookiees and shouted, "Wait here for us." The wookiees nodded. "We'll contact you if anything comes up." > Chapter 5: Twilight Kidnapped > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charming Thunder and Danny arrive at the mountain and stood at the edge of the beach. Danny was the first to dive in as Charming Thunder stepped into the water and dove in. He followed Danny deeper in the water as they explored the depths of the sea. Charming Thunder then began to feel a familiar presence and followed it to an open passage. He then pointed the passage to Danny and they then explored inside the passage. The area around them got darker and darker until they saw a light flash in front of them. In the distance the glow, there came an underwater kingdom they have never seen before. Around them, there were sea ponies swimming around as Charming Thunder looked around amazed with the location. He then saw some guards swimming towards them and pointed their spears at him and Danny. "We come in peace," Charming Thunder said with his hooves raised in the air. "Likely story," a voice said as a light fuchsiaish gray sea pony leader swam past the guards. "I am Queen Novo of the sea ponies. No other outsider has ever found this place other than the other seven that are here." "Other seven, your highness?" "Wait, mother," another voice said as a light gambogeish gray sea pony swam up to Charming Thunder fast and got a closer look at him. She swam around the unicorn to examine him. "Red unicorn. Just as Twilight described." "Twilight's here?" "Oh, yes." The sea pony then shook Charming Thunder's hoof. "Princess Skystar at your service, your highness." "Twilight's told you about me?" "Not just her. She and her friends thought you were dead. They were worried since the Storm King attacked your land." "Storm King?" Danny said with concern. "Oh, please don't tell them too, Skystar," Novo said as she face palmed. "Once upon a time, like, a while ago, the Hippogriffs did live on Mount Aris. A horned beast did show up to steal their magic!" "Reminds me of Tirek." Charming Thunder said to himself. "But, to keep it out of his clutches, their brave and majestic leader, Queen Novo, hid them deep underwater where he could never go! We were the Hippogriffs." "So you just abandoned your city? To save yourselves? But what about my friends and family? Are they okay?" "They are all fine. I'll show you." Skystar gestured Charming Thunder to follow her and swam right behind her. When they arrived, Charming Thunder stopped to see Applejack and the others swimming around in their sea pony form. Applejack turned to see Charming Thunder and rushed over to him with a tight hug while the others came over to join. They broke the hug when Fluttershy noticed the scar on his eye and placed a hoof on the glass of his helmet. "What happened to you?" Fluttershy asked; worried. "Tempest happened during the invasion. I did my best during my duel, but she seemed stronger than me." Charming Thunder looked past the group and noticed that Twilight isn't among them. "Where's Twilight?" An alarm then began to sound. and a yell was heard in the distance. Charming Thunder recognized the sound of the yell and swam with the group along with Skystar and Novo followed by Danny to investigate. They then see Twilight all tangled up trying to reach for a pearl. Novo snarled and swam to the pearl and grabbed it. "No!" Twilight shouted. "Please!" Charming Thunder was shocked to see what Twilight has done. "All of this so you could sneak in and take the pearl?!" Novo said. She grabs Skystar and looked at her. "This is why we don't bring strangers into our home!" She then looked back at Twilight. "You don't deserve to be one of us." The pearl glowed as Charming Thunder and Danny covered their eyes. --------------------- At the surface of the beach away from Mount Aris, the nine popped out of the water gasping for air except Charming Thunder who still had his diving helmet on. They then stepped out of the water as they dried themselves up. Twilight walked ahead of the others as Applejack looked at her and said, "What were you thinking? I mean, stealing their pearl?" "It was the only way to save Equestria," Twilight explained. "Except it wasn't!" Pinkie said. "The queen was going to say yes! We did what you told us and that's what made her realize we were ponies worth saving!" Pinkie gasped. "Unless...you didn't really want us to show her the best time ever! You just wanted us to distract her!" Everyone except Danny gasped. "I never would have done it, but this isn't Equestria! We can't just dance around with con artists, make rainbooms in the sky and expect everything to work out! It's not enough! We are not enough!" "No, Twilight! We stuck together! We were gonna get the help we needed! The only thing that stopped us...was you!" "Well, I'm doing the best I can! It's all on me. I'm the one Tempest wants. I'm the last princess!" "You're also the only one who doesn't trust her friends!" "Well, maybe, I would've been better off without friends like you!!!" Pinkie Pie gasped at the thing Twilight said as Fluttershy whimpered. Charming Thunder looked away to hide his tears as Danny placed a hoof on his shoulder. Pinkie slowly began to walk past Twilight, who realized what she said was wrong. "Pinkie, I..." "I just can't talk to you right now." Everyone else except Spike, Danny, and Charming Thunder walked away behind Pinkie. Charming Thunder was about to walk away as Twilight gasped. "Charming..." Charming Thunder stopped and didn't turn to meet her gaze. "Please. Not you too." "I'm sorry, Twilight," Charming Thunder said as he held his tears. "I just have a lot on my mind right now." Charming Thunder walked the other direction away from Pinkie and the others. Spike and Danny were the only ones who haven't left. Danny stepped up next to Twilight. He then ran to follow Charming Thunder leaving Twilight and Spike alone. Twilight sat at the edge of the cliff looking over the sea. Spike stood behind her and said, "Twilight? It's okay. You'll figure it out." Twilight then began to cry. "No," Twilight said. "I can't. I ruined everything. There's no chance to save Equestria now. It's all my fault." Nothing but silence came from Spike as Twilight looked behind her. "Spike?" When she turned, she gasped to see Spike grabbed by a creature. Twilight got up and tried to save him, but was stopped when a cage fell on her; trapping her inside. "Spike!!!" Spike blew fire on the creature's hand which made it release him. He then looked up to see Twilight being taken away in her cage. "Twilight!!!" Danny, who overheard and saw everything, began to run as fast as he could to find Charming Thunder and tell him what has happened. --------------------- Charming Thunder sat on a rock with his diving gear off of him; upset as he kicked some rocks away from him. Danny rushed to him and said, "Twilight's been taken!!!" Charming Thunder got up from the rock with a gasp. "What?" Charming Thunder said. "She's been taken by the creatures you told me about and is heading to Canterlot right now." Charming Thunder then drooped his head down and turned away. "Then it's over then. Tempest has won. She has all of the princesses." "I'll go tell the others. You need to pony up and think straight." Danny then ran the other direction to go find Pinkie and the others and tell them what happened while Charming Thunder stayed behind. (Note: Sung to the tune of Beauty and the Beast's Evermore) Sung by: Charming Thunder She was the one who had it all Her life is wonderful to me And too late to realize I was wrong It’s like it slipped from my hooves And while her pain is wailing up from within I close my eyes and she is still here Long ago I let her into my heart How much more can I even bear Charming Thunder flew up to the top of the rocky cliff and looked at the sky. Now I know she can never betray me Even as she made one mistake She will still love me, calm me, comfort me, move me Come at me All alone in the middle of nowhere Day after day I fooled myself, she walked right in And stayed with me for evermore Charming Thunder spreads his wings and walked along the path on the cliff. At first I cursed what I felt The pain it’s causing me Even though she is taken away through her own fault I can now sense her fear Now I know she can never betray me Even as she fades from view She has always inspired me Always next to me, fighting by my side All alone in the middle of nowhere Day after day Charming Thunder flew up high in the air to see a fleeing airship leaving the area. I fooled myself, she walked right in And as her fate is sealed I’ll think of all she might have done Waiting there for evermore Charming Thunder then hatched an idea and flew towards the direction where his wookiee friends were staying since he left them. > Chapter 6: The Battle for Canterlot > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Silence was filled in the circle Pinkie and the others sat in a circle. Fluttershy then broke the silence and said, "This whole journey was such a mistake. All we wanted was somepony to help us." Applejack sighed at the thought. "Ya think, maybe it's time we talk to Twilight?" Applejack asked the group. Spike ran in with Danny as he shouted, "She's! Been! Taken!!!" "What?" Rainbow said as he flew in front of the two. "Twilight's been taken! Tempest! She grabbed her! And took her on her ship!" The rest of the girls gasped. "We gotta get her back!" "How?" Fluttershy asked. "We'll never catch up." "And we got no way to defeat those monsters. Where's Charming?" "He's fine," Danny said. "Just thinking of things about earlier. He is aware of the situation too." A huge shadow of a cat like figure appeared over them. "Well, good thing I happen to know of a group of mighty heroes that could handle this easily!" the figure said. The group turned to see a humanoid cat with moderate gamboge fur and lighter on the chest fur. "Well!" Rarity said; angrily. "Look what the cat dragged in! Himself!" "These heroes have faced the Storm King's army and escaped! I've seen them topple the streets of the roughest towns, break out of the tightest situations, and inspire others to join their cause!" "Now don't get too excited,"Applejack said. "He's just talking about us." The cat then slid down the rock and stood in front of the group. "They even escaped certain doom at the hooves of Commander Tempest!" "Yeah!" Rainbow said. "That was pretty great." "Are you kidding me?!" a voice said. The group turned to see a group of humanoid parrots jumping down in front of them. "That was awesome!!!" "Figured you could use a claw!" the other parrot said. "We're on board to help you fight the Storm King! Just not on board our...actual ship." "That crazy unicorn sunk it," another said. "But you got back our argh! And we're ready to kick some booty." The parrots along with their captain laughed heartily. Bubbles were formed in the water as the group turned to see what is going on. A figure popped out of the water and spreads its wings. "Is that what I think it is?" the cat asked himself as the figure landed in front of them. It was Princess Skystar in her hippogriff form. "Hello!!" Skystar greeted. "Me again! I'm gonna get so grounded, but I talked things over with Shelly and Sheldon and they pointed out that you were just trying to help your friends. So I wanna help too. 'Cause ya know... one small thing..." She then leaned in closer and whispered. "Can make a really big difference!" "That's it, right?" Spike asked. "We didn't make friends with anypony else?" "There is one more you don't know about," Charming Thunder's voice said as he leaps down out of nowhere. "What do you mean?" the parrot asked. "I'm sorry who are you, pirate?" "The one who also helped your friends; Captain Celaeno." Charming Thunder then turned towards the cat and was about to ask the same thing. "Capper at your service, your highness," Capper said as he bowed. "As I said before, what do you mean?" Celeano asked. "Is there someone you know?" "Danny had a run in with company as he was searching for allies for the empire." "He is correct," Danny said as two wookiees came behind Charming Thunder and stood. "At the east from Canterlot, we made peace with these wookiees." "They are warriors like the soldiers of the empire and are willing to help us to retake Canterlot as a start." One of the wookiees roared as the group was amazed. "All right then, y'all!" Capper said. "I think our course is clear. Y'all ready to do this thing?" "We're coming, Twilight!" Pinkie shouted as everyone cheered. "As soon as we think up a plan!" --------------------- The sun and moon were being played with as a cart with a cake arrived with Spike pretending to be a candle. Behind the cart was Charming Thunder sitting in a cage. The cart arrived at the Canterlot gates as two creatures stood guard. Capper was wearing a chef's hat as he walked up to the guards. "Uh, yeah, I got a delivery here for a Mister 'the Storm King'," he said. "I was given explicit instructions to bring this here cake to this here castle's throne room." The creatures growled as they held their weapons. "All right, then. Look here. Could one of y'all go be a pal, go tell your boss he's not getting his 'congratulations on subduing defenseless pastel ponies' cake? Cause I don't wanna be the one responsible for the big guy missing his special dessert. You know what I'm saying? And not to mention this other alicorn Commander Tempest wanted you guys to find." Capper walked away and looked at the Pinkie at the others who were pulling the cart. He gave the countdown as the guards behind him stood aside. Pinkie smiled as the group moved the cart again. "Thank you kindly, fellas. I'll be sure and put in a good word for the both of y'all." Once they were past the guards, Charming Thunder quickly went to his hidden earpiece and said, "We're inside. What about your end, Danny?" "Took us long enough to get our warriors hidden, but we are golden, bro," Danny's voice said in Charming Thunder's earpiece. "Good. Wait for my signal." The cart continued through the town as some of the other ponies were in their cages. Some were used for the storm creatures for entertainment or massage treatments. Charming Thunder couldn't stand it, but no longer. Grubber was at a stand eating some pies until he noticed the cake. "Oh, hello, cake!" Grubber said as he got out of the stand and rushed to the cake. "Don't mind if I do!" Charming Thunder noticed and said, "I wouldn't do that if I were you. This is special to the Storm King himself." "The Storm King can wait. I just want to taste it." Grubber took a taste of the cake and licked the frosting off of his face. "That's some, like, gourmet icing." He then noticed an eye inside the cake. "Who puts eyeballs in filling?" The eye blinked and Grubber jumped back. "Guards!" He was then grabbed and pulled inside the cake. The creatures turned towards the cart and began to walk towards it. "Uh-oh," Applejack said. "Plan B." "The jig is up!" Rainbow said. Charming Thunder quickly went to his earpiece and said, "Plan B. Begin attack! Now!" Suddenly, Tarfful came out of the rooftop and roared a battle cry as more wookies came out of all directions. The guards turned their attention to them as the pirates busted out of the cake. The wookiees jumped down and began to fire their bowcasters at the creatures. Danny joined the attack as Charming Thunder used the force to repulse out of the cage and join the battle. Some of the wookiees charged at the creatures with spears of their own and attacked. Charming Thunder got into cover with Tarfful as they got pinned down by a mounted turret placed in the distance. The creature fired at the two as Charming Thunder deflected the incoming shots with his lightsaber. He then got back to cover and looked at Tarfful's bowcaster. "Can I try that?" Tarfful nodded and handed him his weapon. It was at first heavy, but Charming Thunder was able to aim at the creature at the mounted gun as the bowcaster charged. He then pulled the trigger and fired at what appeared to be an explosive shot which sent the creature flying. He was amazed with the weapon and turned to Tarfful with a smile. "I like this thing." Captain Celaeno blocked some strikes from the creatures with her sword when she said, "Head for the castle! We'll hold them off!" "Come on!" Rainbow shouted as Charming Thunder and the others followed her as Fluttershy comforted one of the creatures who was crying. "Let it all out," Fluttershy said. "Fluttershy!" the group shouted. "Oh! Sorry, our time is up. Buh-bye!" The creature waved goodbye as Fluttershy caught up with the others. Danny stayed behind to help the wookies fight off the creatures while Charming Thunder rushed ahead of the group. > Chapter 7: Confronting the Storm King > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charming Thunder went ahead inside the castle dealing with the guards along the way to the throne room while his friends tried to catch up. He noticed a tornado surrounding the outside of the castle as he approached the doors to the throne room. The creatures who guarded the doors charged at him but was stopped by Charming Thunder's force choke and got thrown out of the window into the storm. He kicked the doors open and saw that no one was in the room. He saw only the statues of Celestia, Luna, and his sister Cadence. He then heard a voice coming from the balcony of the throne room. "Now I truly am the Storm King!" the Storm King said. "And the entire world will bow to my ba-ba-ba-boom, baby!" "Yes, yes, you are every bit as powerful as I promised, Sire, now, restore my horn and I swear to use my magic to serve you!" Tempest said as Charming Thunder hid beside the open hole and saw Twilight, Tempest, and the Storm King himself. "Who cares about your dinky little unicorn horn?!" Charming Thunder quietly gasped as the Tempest King walked past Tempest. She stepped in front of the Storm King with worry. "But...we...we had an agreement!" "Get with the program! I used you! It's kind of what I do!" The Storm King then used his staff to zap Tempest. Charming Thunder popped out to the action to see Tempest hanging on for her life as the Storm King was knocked out and Twilight standing between them. Charming Thunder was about to rush in to save Tempest, but Twilight took his place instead. "Hold on!" Twilight shouted. "Why are you saving me?" Tempest asked. "Because this is what friends do." Charming Thunder smiled as Twilight turned to notice him. He then nodded after Tempest was pulled away from the storm and landed on the ground. The Storm King got up and laughed. "Isn't that just so sweet!" the Storm King said; sarcastically. "Yeah. See ya!" "Give me one good reason not to kill you, Storm King?" Charming Thunder said; angrily as he stepped up behind him. "Another alicorn? Why wasn't I told about you?" The Storm King then chuckled. "Even better fish to fry." Charming Thunder was about to fire some magic at the Storm King, but was too late when the Storm King zapped the unicorn with his staff causing him to go flying back inside the throne room and hit a wall causing some rubble to fall on him. The Storm King was suddenly hit by a cannonball of ponies lead by Pinkie Pie. "Bull's-eye!" Pinkie said; weakly. "Pinkie!" Twilight said. "You all came back! I'm so sorry! I was wrong to---" Twilight was then interrupted when Pinkie gaveher a tight hug. "I'm sorry, too. Friends mess up sometimes, but we never should've---" "Uh, make up later!" Rainbow shouted. "This isn't over." The group turned and gasped to see the Storm King's staff going out of control while hanging on a window as it cracked. "I've gotta get control of it!" "Go! You've got this, Twilight!" "No. We've got this. Together." Twilight and the others formed a rope as she reached for the staff so that they don't get caught in the storm while a rope on a rock tied Applejack up. The Storm King busted out of the rubble and climbed for the staff. "The staff belongs to me!" The rubble busted again as Charming Thunder transformed into his wirewolf form. He growled as he saw the Storm King and rushed to him with a tackle. The wirewolf roared at the Storm King's face and bought time for Twilight to get the staff. The Storm King kicked Charming Thunder off of him and continued to climb. "No! That's my staff!!" He was suddenly grabbed by the leg by Charming Thunder as he tried to pull him down. He then kicked him square in the face and continued to climb to the top. "Mine!!! MINE!!!" The Storm King jumped to get the staff, but Twilight grabbed it and jumped out of the window. Twilight was then pulled into the storm along with the staff. "Twilight!" Pinkie shouted. "NO!!!" The storm died down as Pinkie and the others were slowly lowered to the ground. Charming Thunder got up and walked behind them. He then howled as he slowly transformed back to his pony form with a shout being formed. He then began to cry as he sat down on the ground. The light then began to glisten. Charming Thunder and the others looked up to see a shadowy figure approaching. It was Twilight holding the staff as everyone cheered as she flew down. Charming Thunder sighed with relief as he approached the others. The group hugged as Charming Thunder watched. The group broke the hug as Twilight rushed over to him Charming Thunder with a tight hug. The Storm King climbed up from the balcony with the same orb that turned the princesses to stone. Tempest came in running and jumped over the group as they noticed and let the orb hit her as a puff of green smoke also hit the Storm King and caused him to fall back as he and Tempest were turned to stone. The stone statue of the Storm King shattered when it hit the ground in front of Danny who was approaching with a group of wookiees. Tempest's stoned self was held by the power of the staff and was carefully placed on the ground. "I can't believe she did that!" "Me and Charming can," Twilight reassured as she used the staff to reform her back to normal. Tempest turned to see Twilight and the others and shyly smiled. "Now what?" The group looked at each other until Tempest said, "Now...we fix everything." She then walked with Twilight and Charming Thunder and stood in the center of the throne room where the princesses stood at each corner. Twilight used the staff to return the magic stored in it to herself and the princesses which also freed the three from stone captivity. "Twilight!" Celestia gasped as she and the other princesses rushed to Twilight. "Princesses!" Twilight said with excitement as the room was being restored to normal. Danny entered the room with some wookiees. Cadence noticed Charming Thunder and walked up to him with tears of joy. Cadence then hugged Charming Thunder and said, "I'm so glad you're alright, little brother." She then broke the hug and noticed the scar on his face. "How did you get that scar?" "It's a long story." --------------------- As the Friendship Festival was underway, Charming Thunder stood next to the princesses as they watched Songbird perform a song. Danny was with Rainbow Dash as he introduced the wookiees to her. He then turned to see Tempest talking to Twilight. He then turned to the princesses and said, "Would you excuse me for a moment?" The princesses nodded as Charming Thunder left to go see Tempest. Tempest looked up as she said, "But, um...my horn." "You know, your horn is pretty powerful, just like the pony it belongs to," Twilight said as Charming Thunder arrived. "She is right, you know," Charming Thunder said with a smile. "Charming...can you forgive me for not believing you?" "I already have, Tempest." "I did tell you I wanted to show everypony in Equestria what I could do, right?" Tempest then creates fireworks for Songbird Serenade's performance with her magic. Pinkie pops out from the crowd and said, "Nice touch, Tempest!" "Actually, that's not my real name." "What is it?!" Tempest walked up to Pinkie and whispered in her ear. "It's 'Fizzlepop Berrytwist'." Pinkie gasped with excitement at the name. "Okay! That is the most awesome name ever!" Charming Thunder smiled and walked up next to Fizzlepop. "May I have a word with you, 'Fizzlepop'?" "Of course, your highness." Twilight and the others left the two alone as Fizzlepop walked next to Charming Thunder. "Your skills as a warrior are most impressive. I think Tempest is a good nickname for you." "Thank you, Charming." "That is why I am offering to help you restore your horn and your services to the empire as my personal bodyguard." Fizzlepop gasped at the news. "I...I am honored. Of course I will." "I am glad to hear that. Now, shall we return to the festivities?" "Of course, your highness." "And I'll introduce you properly to the other three princesses while we are at it." Fizzlepop nodded as she followed Charming Thunder back to the festivities and enjoy the party. THE END