> The Meaning of Tenacity > by Marksman > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter One > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight was outside of the royal Canterlot castle, falling to her death. The moon shined high in the sky making the ruby red blood dripping from a large cut on the right side of her head glisten. Her body covered with cuts and dried blood. Broken pieces of glass from the window she stood in front of barley seconds ago all around her. The unicorns life flashed before her eyes as she thought to herself (How could this happen? Less than a week ago I was in ponyville. I had amazing friends, family, assistant, and teacher and now there all gone ... and I'm in a free fall to my death. How could this happen to me? How could this happen to us?) ________________________________________________________________________________ Twilight was walking home from Fluttershy’s cottage. She had gone there to practice some magic on some of her yellow Pegasus friend’s animals. She had to go home early because she had forgotten that day was her book organizing day. She had reached her house around four o’clock. “Ah. Finally home.” The lavender unicorn said to herself taking off her saddle bags. She looked threw her bags and found one book missing. “Dang it! I must have left the book at Fluttershy’s. Oh well, I’ll get it in the morning.” Twilight announced shrugging and taking down all the books in the library. She started organizing to books by their categories placing them all on the correct shelf. The lavender mare was almost finished as she noticed the time. “Oh. I’ll have to finish tomorrow morning. For now I need bed.” The librarian said to herself as she walked up the stairs and lied herself in her warm bed. __________________________________________________________________________________ Twilight was awoken around two o’clock by the sound of coughing. She looked down and saw Spike hacking on the floor. “Spike what are you doing!” the unicorn shouted at her assistant. “I think Princess Celestia is trying to send you a l…” his words where cut short by a glowing ball of green fire emerging from the dragons mouth which then changed into a letter. “Why would the Princess send me a letter this late at night? I’ll check it in the morning. Uh, I’m doing too much tomorrow morning. I’ll work it out tomo…” she cut herself short before saying tomorrow morning. She then went back to bed same with her assistant. __________________________________________________________________________________ Twilight got up around eight o’clock. The first thing she did was take a look at the letter. The letter read Dear Twilight Sparkle About forty minutes ago the statue of Discord went missing. There is no sign he escaped so we can only assume somepony stole it for some unknown reason. I have sent you this letter to ask you if you could come to Canterlot and help us investigate. Also sorry for sending you this letter so late at night but it is an emergency. If you will agree to come then send me a reply and I’ll have a chariot sent to the library. Sincerely Princess Celestia “The statue of Discord has gone missing! Why would somepony steel Discord from the Canterlot Royal Gardens? In fact, how could they even sneak off with the statue?" The lavender mare questioned out loud. "Spike!" Twilight yelled out to get her assistance attention. The small purple dragon came running down the stairs. "What is it Twilight?" the unicorns assistant asked his lavender owner. "Spike take a note." the librarian ordered her assistant. After the dragon was ready to write the unicorn continued "Dear Princess Celestia. I will accept this assignment. You can send that chariot when ready. I'm going to get the other five to help incase Discord did break free again. Your faithful student Twilight Sparkle." "T w i l i g h t sparkle." The small purple dragon finished the letter to the Princess. Spike then rolled up the letter, huffed in, and with a small burst off fire the letter disappeared. Twilight then walked to the door and when she opened it her friend Pinkie Pie was standing there. "Pinkie Pie what are you doing here so early?" Twilight questioned her pink friend. "Well you see I got board of sleeping around three o'clock so I went around Ponyville to ask if anyone wanted to play but they all just slammed the door when I was done talking so I decided I would try you next. So what are you doing?" the pink mare explained talking as fast as she could. Twilight tried to comprehend what her friend had just said before telling her "Well I'm going to Canterlot to ..." the lavender unicorn was interrupted by her friend "Oh. Is the princess making you take another test? Or is there a party coming up and Celestia wants me to plan it." "No. Discord has gone missing from the Canterlot Royal Gardens and the Princess wants me to investigate. So can you get the other four?" Twilight replied the jittery mare’s question. "Oky Doky Loky." the party pony answered before hopping off. __________________________________________________________________________________ All six mares gathered at the golden oak wood library. "So what's this all about?" the rainbow maned pony asked before Twilight answered. "Princess Celestia has informed me that the statue of Discord has gone missing. There is no sign he has been freed but I just want to be safe by bringing all of you." "So, y'all sayin that Discord has gone missin but it don’t see as if he's escaped?" Apple Jack questioned her librarian friend. "Yes. But I just want to be able to use the elements of Harmony if he does appear which is why I'm bringing all of you." Twilight clarified. Fluttershy opened her mouth to continue but was cut off by a knock at the door. Twilight opened the door and when she did there where two pegusi guards wearing the golden armor standing in the doorway. "Miss Sparkle, we have been sent by Princess Celestia to talk you and your friends to Canterlot to investigate of Discords disappearance." one of the two guards spoke. "Yes we'll be leaving immediately." Twilight spoke to the guards. While the two pegusi hooked themselves to the chariot all the mares except for Rainbow Dash walked in. "You flyin yourself there Rainbow." the orange earth pony asked the rainbow pony. "Obviously and Fluttershy why aren’t you flying?" Rainbow Dash asked the mare. "Well uh, uhhhhh ..." Fluttershy never finished her statement as the chariot took off Rainbow Dash flying beside it. __________________________________________________________________________ The chariot reached Canterlot around 10 A.M. The six mares and the baby dragon walked out and where greeted by Twilight's brother Shining Armor and her sister Princess Cadence. "Twily!" the lavender mare’s brother spoke to her younger sister. "Hi bbbff, hi Cadence." Twilight spoke while hugging her relatives. "So your hear to find out what happened to Discord right?" the pink princess asked her sister. "Yes. Oh and you both know my friends." Twilight replied the Cadence's question "Well all of you can follow us." the white colt spoke to the mares and Twilight assistant followed Twilights older sibling. _____________________________________________________________________________ "Ok, so here’s where the statue use to be." the white unicorn explained to the mares. Twilight immediately asked "Do you know anything about how it disappeared?" "Only that it was taken around 1:40 A.M and that whoever took it had one unicorn and two pegusi with them. No one got a good look at them though so we have no leads." Shining Armor explained to his sister. "Well I can’t stay; I'm not of duty until 8. Until then Cadence will be around if you need anything." The white guard pony exclaimed to the six before walking off. "I know none of you have eaten breakfast yet so would you like me to take you to the cafeteria?" the love princess asked the seven. All of them except Twilight said yes. "Um ... are you sure you’re not hungry Twilight?" the shy pink maned Pegasus asked the librarian. "Don’t worry you all go on I'll be there shortly." Twilight replied before the other seven walked off leaving Twilight alone in the garden. Twilight was looking around for about five minutes and found nothing. "Uh. There’s got to be something here that will give a clue to who took Discord!" Twilight yelled out loud. She then thought to herself (I don't know if it will work but they said there was a unicorn that helped so I might be able to trace the magic.) Twilight then focused her magic to see if there were any traces. She had found magic but there was something unusual about it. It wasn't average unicorn; it was dark, evil magic. She followed the magic trail but it stopped at the edge of the Canterlot Gardens which just goes into a fall into the Everfree Forest. "Could they have just wanted Discord destroyed so they threw him over the edge of Canterlot?" the lavender mare needed to know the answer to her question. "I have to go down there to find out. _____________________________________________________________________________ The five mares and Spike were all sitting around the table in the dining room. "I wonder were Twilights been? She hasn’t arrived yet and we already finished." the little purple dragon spoke to his friends. "We'll if you want we can go check on her?" the tailor pony asked her friends assistant. "Ya. I think we should." Spike replied to the love of his life's question. The six got out of their chairs and proceeded to the purple unicorn’s location. When they arrived they saw their friend standing on the ledge of the Gardens. They all shouted her name thinking she was going to jump. Twilight turned her head to see her friends standing in the middle of the doorway. Twilight jumped down before greeting her friends "Hello. Why do you all look so nervous?" The white unicorn was the first to answer by saying "Daring, we thought you were going to jump off the edge." "What? No. I have a feeling that whoever did this threw the statue over that ledge because when I traced the magic of the unicorn involved with the crime and it ends right over that edge." the lavender librarian explained to her friends. All of them started to calm down as they all walked toward the edge and looked down, wondering if the statue of Discord was indeed down there. > Chapter Two > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “So you really think that some ponies threw Discord over the edge of Canterlot?” the rainbow pony asked her purple friend. Twilight replied by saying “Well it’s only a theory but considering that the trail ends here it’s highly likely.” “Well I’ll just go down there and check myself.” The rainbow pony exclaimed to her friends before opening her wings. The rainbow Pegasus then flew down to the bottom of the mountain Canterlot rested on. The other five mares waited in the gardens of Canterlot for about seven minutes before there cyan colored friend returned. “So did you find anything?” the tailor pony asked her friend. “No, nothing.” Rainbow Dash replied the white unicorn’s question. “Well, um … is it possible that the ponies who did this got rid of the pieces?” the shy Pegasus asked her friends. “Well its possible but we still wouldn’t have any leads.” The lavender librarian explained to her shy friend. “Well do y’all think we should just tell Celestia that there ant any lead’s?” the orange farmer asked the purple unicorn. “No. I told Celestia I would find Discord for her and I won’t let her down.” Twilight replied. “Well should we at least tell Celestia that there are no more clues?” the unicorn’s assistant asked her. “Well … I guess we should at least tell her that.” The librarian explained to her friends. The seven then walked back into the large, white castle. They reached the royal thrown room in no time. When they walked in Celestia was sitting on the thrown writing on some paper. The white alicorn lowered the paper to see her faithful student and her friends standing in the door way. “My faithful student, have you or your friends found anything?” the princess of the sun asked. “Well, no we haven’t, but I’m not giving up.” Twilight explained to her teacher with confidence. As the princess was about to reply a royal guard came bursting throw the door and announced “Your highness, we’ve just got reports of a changeling attack in Ponyville!” “Changeling’s are attacking Ponyville. Send an army down there and get the ponies there to shelter.” The solar princess ordered the guard. Twilight thought to herself for a second before announcing “What if the Changelings took Discord so they could team up to try and beat us?” Princess Celestia replied by saying “Twilight you know there’s no spell that can free a pony or any living being from stone without the Elements of Harmony.” Twilight hesitated before replying “Your probably right. It’s just it seems a little suspicious that the same day Discord goes missing that the changelings attack.” The lavender mare explained. “I know what you mean Twilight, but coincidences like this can easily happen.” The lavender unicorn’s teacher explained to her student. The seven then walked out of the room and looked out the window. Outside of the castle where hundreds of Pegusi guards getting ready to fly to Ponyville. “I hope dem changeling won’t be too much of a problem.” The orange mare stated. “I hope so too darling.” Rarity added. The Pegusi started to take off, all of them armed with swords and spears. “I think we should be over in Ponyville helping the ponies there.” Fluttershy announced to her friends. Twilight replied saying “Well if changelings are attacking Ponyville then they’re bound to attack Canterlot as well.” “And when the changelings are gone I can throw a party!” the party pony explained. The seven started walling to their rooms in the castle. On their way they saw some guards running down the halls looking like they’re going to a fight. Twilight stopped one of them asking “What’s going on?” The guard replied saying “Changelings are attacking northern Canterlot. All available troops are heading there now.” The guard then ran off. “Should we get the Elements of Harmony?” Rainbow Dash asked. Rarity replied saying “I think we should. If changelings are attacking no doubt that Chrysalis will show up.” “I agree.” Twilight announced afterward. “You know how to open the vault to the elements of harmony right Twilight?” the shy Pegasus asked the librarian. “Yes I do. Let’s go.” The lavender mare replied. The seven started running down the halls of the castle. “Wait shouldn’t one of us stay here with the princess?” Twilight stopped the others on their way. “Well you guys can’t use the elements with one not coming.” Spike replied. “I know, it’s just that last time Princess Celestia went up against Chrysalis she lost.” Twilight explained. “I guess, but it was probably she just underestimated Chrysalis last time, plus aren’t Shining Armor and Cadence also with her.” Spike replied. “Your right Spike, let’s just go get the elements and defeat the changelings.” Twilight finished as the seven proceeded down the halls soon reaching the vault holding the elements. Twilight started using her magic to open tell vault. It didn’t take long before the vault doors opened. The mares and the baby dragon ran inside. Each of the mares attached the necklaces on to their necks and Twilight put the tiara on. They then proceeded out of the castle to fight off the changelings. “Ok. Let’s do this.” Rainbow Dash announced after walking outside. The mares then split up. Twilight went with Spike and Rarity. Pinkie Pie went with Fluttershy and Apple Jack went with Rainbow Dash. Only about one tenth of a mile Twilight, Spike and Rarity ran into changelings. The mares got themselves into a fighting position. Twilight used her magic the same way she did the first time a couple of weeks ago during the first changeling attack. While shooting at the changelings with her magic she thought to herself (What if the changelings are just a distraction to get us away from Celestia so they can attacker with barley any resistance.) After her thoughts where complete she called for Spike. “Spike can you go check on the princess for me?” Twilight asked her assistant. “No problem Twilight, but I’m just saying, I’m sure Celestia can take a couple of changelings.” Spike replied. “Please just go check in on her.” Twilight asked once again. The purple dragon then ran off. He entered the castle with no life forms in sight. He reached the throne room in no time. He then proceeded to opening the throne room doors. _____________________________________________________________________________ About 5 minutes earlier Princess Celestia was inside the throne room with Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. Celestia was going over a check list of things that needed to be taken care of. “So how are the guards doing with the changeling treat?” the white alicorn asked the warrior unicorn. “The royal guards are doing fine defeating the changelings. At this rate all of them should be gone in a few hours.” Shining Armor replied. “Good. Make sure all ponies that en…” The princess of the sun was halted by the ability to move from her current location. The same happened to Shining Armor and Cadence. The trio looked down at their hooves and saw that they were starting to turn to stone. The three ponies struggled to get free. “Celestia what’s happening?” Cadence asked the solar princess with hits of panic. Celestia while still struggling against the stone slowly encasing their bodies she replied saying “I’m not sure.” They continued to struggle until they heard a voice come from … somewhere saying “Hello Celestia.” Celestia quickly recognized the voice “Discord! How did you escape?” Then a bright light spawned in front of the three revealing the bringer of chaos. “Well that’s not hard to answer, its call Chrysalis set me free.” Discord answered. “That’s no possible. Only the Elements of Harmony could have freed you.” Celestia explained to Discord. “That is where you are wrong. There actually is a spell that can reverse the process but only the most powerful of unicorns… and changelings can do.” Discord explained. The stone now covered half of the three pony’s bodies. “Anyway once you three are gone there’s nothing stopping us from killing the Elements of Harmony and conquering Equestria.” Discord explained to the ponies. “Don’t you dare hurt my little sister!” the white unicorn yelled the Discord. “Oh, like you can single handedly stop me and all the changelings especially while the magic blocking stone is incasing your body.” The ponies now had the stone up to their necks. As Discord was about to continue a purple and green baby dragon busted the door drawing the attention of the four. “Hi princess I just came to check …” The dragon stopped himself at the sight of Discord. “Spike, run and go get the others!” Celestia shouted. As the dragon was about to run off he appeared in front of Discord. “Oh yes, I remember you. Twilights little … pet. So you came to check on Celestia? Well hear she is.” Discord spoke to the dragon. “Let him go Discord!” Celestia ordered. “Well I can’t do that so he’ll just join you all in stone.” Discord announced before stone started to consume the baby dragon. Since Spike was small it quickly got to his neck. “Cadence…” Shining Armor started. The princess of love turned her head to see her husband. “Cadence I’m sorry I got you into this.” The white unicorn spoke to the pink alicorn. “It’s not your fault; it’s not your fault at all.” Cadence explained. “No … it is. I didn’t guard Discord as much as I should have.” Shining Armor explained lowering his head in shame. “I don’t care if you think it’s your fault, because it wasn’t. I love you.” Cadence spoke. “I love you t…” Shining Armor was cut off as the stone completely covered his body and Cadence’s. Princess Celestia looked down is defeat before Spike announced “Don’t worry princess, I’m sure Twilight with defeat Discord and the changelings and fine a way to free us.” Spike assured Celestia. “And another wrong statement. You see, once Twilight and the other five get a good look at you the statues with denigrate, and all of you will be dead. And no, they will not win.” Discord explained as the two were fully covered in stone. “Yes. Ha ha. All what’s left is the Elements of Harmony and when we split them up; no one will be able to stop us.” Discord was sure victory was within his grasp. > Chapter Three > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The battle against the changelings lasted over two hours. The white and purple city of Canterlot is now covered in bodies and blood. At the front of the royal castle the six bearers of the Elements of Harmony stood talking about the battle. "That was intense." The rainbow pony said to the others. "I agree, and the fighting is still going on further down." The white tailor unicorn explained to the five mares. "Girls." The lavender mare announced to get the attention of her friends. " About two hours ago I sent Spike to go check on Celestia and he still hasn't come back." The librarian explained to her friends. "Don't y'all worry Twi, I'm sure that he just decided to stay with the princess instead of fightin." the orange farmer explained to the lavender unicorn. The unicorn replied saying "I'm sure your right. Lets just get back to the Princess." The six mares walked threw the halls of the Large castle. The six stopped at the throne room and opened the doors. They stood in the middle of the portal speechless at the sight of the four statues in front of them. "No, no, no, NO!" Twilight yelled running over to the statues. "How could this happen? Changelings can't turn ponies to stone." The lavender unicorn announced crying in front of the statue of her teacher. She got a hold of herself when she heard a voice from somewhere "Yes little miss Sparkle, changelings aren't capable of that, but they know someone who can." The mares huddled up in the door way before the rainbow pony yelled "Where are you Discord?! Show yourself!" Before a reply the four statues then shattered into pieces. The mares gasped, Twilight nearly falling to the ground. Tears welled up in the lavender mares eyes but before she started crying a talk snake like created made out of multiple animal parts appeared behind them. "How could you do this Discord?!" The white unicorn yelled at the bringer of chaos. Before answering Twilight yelled "How did you even get out of you stone imprisonment?" "Well you see, one of Chrysalis' changelings found a book dropped by you yesterday Twilight. Well in the book was a spell that can reverse imprisonment in stone. Is that a good enough explanation." Discord answered the question all of the mares wanted answered. A buzzing sound drew the attention of the mares. They turned there heads to see the queen of the changelings walking toward the group. "We'll done Discord, are plan is going perfectly, now do your next part." The alicorn sized changeling ordered. "Oh yes." the bringer of chaos stood up strait before disappearing. Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash all turned around at the sound of teleportation. When they looked behind them Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie disappeared as well. "Where did they go?" the librarian unicorn asked. Chuckles from the changeling queen brought to there attention before the queen explained "You really didn't think we would leave all of you together to use the Elements of Harmony, did you?" After the changeling stopped talking she then asked "What is Discord going to do with them?" "He's taking them to his own grounds to what ever he needs to too make sure they die." The tall changeling explained before chuckling again. "Bring them back hear!" the rainbow maned pony ordered. "I'm not the one who took them Rainbow." the queen smirked at the cyan Pegasus. ___________________________________________________________________ Three of the mares woke up and looked around. "Where are we?" the white unicorn asked. The voice of Discord drew there attention "Well, your in the void. This is the place you three will die while Chrysalis takes out the other three." Discord answered there question. "Your going to ... kill ... us?" Fluttershy started to panic. "Oh don't worry little Fluttershy, I'll make sure it's painless." Discord explained before chuckling. Anyway, instead of letting Chrysalis kill all of you I brought you here. In about, I'd say five minutes you three will start to suffocate to death. So say your goodbyes and ill be back later. See you never again." Discord announced before teleporting off. "Well girls, it looks like these are our final moments." the white tailor explained. The pink party pony then fell to the ground and started crying. "Don't work Pinkie, at less we die together." the butter yellow Pegasus announced walking over to her pink friend. "I ... I guess your right Fluttershy." the pink mare got a hold of herself. "Don't worry, I'm sure the others will find a way to defeat Chrysalis and Discord without us." the tailor pony announced. "I still can't believe this is how it ends." Fluttershy expressed her feelings on the matter. "I just hope the others survive. But ether way we'll be dead." the pink mare said to the other mares. The trio huddled together hugging each other and started crying awaiting there deaths. ___________________________________________________________________ The cyan colored Pegasus got ready to charge at the changeling queen. Right before she was going to charge she was blasted into the cobblestone wall behind her. Twilight launch a ball of magic at the alicorn sized changeling but the queen dodged it. Outside of the castle the sun started to set which let them know Luna was around in Canterlot. Before Twilight and Applejack turned there heads back to Chrysalis a magical force pushed they through the cobblestone wall behind them leaving Rainbow Dash alone with Chrysalis. The cyan Pegasus got ready to charge again. "Your seriously going to try to attack me alone?" the changeling queen asked the cyan Pegasus. "You still don't get it, do you. We never give up." The rainbow maned pony replied. As she was about to attack the queen again she was cough by the same magical force as earlier. The force pulled her in front of the queen. "You have got to be the second most annoying of you three." The tall changeling said to the mare before launching a yellow green ball of fire into the mares stomach. The rainbow maned pony fell more pain then she had ever felt. When she looked down her chest had a large. Amount of blood dripping from the wound. She was dropped to the floor with the wound being the first thing to hit the ground. When she hit the ground the red liquid splattered on the grey cobblestone. The cyan mare had started breathing heavily, blood dripping from her mouth. The rainbow pony tried to stand up again but fell back down, vomiting blood. The majorly injured mare couldn't feel anything but her life slipping away. At the last second her eyes shut closed. She was no longer breathing nor moving. Rainbow Dash had been killed. _____________________________________________________________________ The orange earth pony stood up. She looked down at Twilight whom was knocked out. She looked up and saw the cyan Pegasus bleeding on the floor. A tear streamed down the orange ponies face at the sight of her dying friend. The cyan ponies eyes shut and the farmer pony knew, Rainbow Dash was dead. Chrysalis turned her attention to the orange mare before saying "Let me guess, your going to try to fight me now." "I may no have wings or a horn, but I can still fight." Applejack replied. "This is going to be to easy." The changeling queen then announced. She called upon her magic to pull the mare right in front of her face. Before she could say anything the orange farmer kicked the tall changeling in the face. The impact made the changeling queen throw the mare into the wall behind her as hard as she could. The impact of the wall made the orange pony cough up blood. She wasn't able to move. "Uh. You little bitch. I will make your death slow and painful." The queen assured the farmer pony. Just afterward green flames started to engulf the orange mare. She started screaming in pain as the fire slowly moved up her body. ________________________________________________________________ Twilight woke up after the traumatizing blow. Her vision was blurred and all she could hear was the screams of her orange friend. She got her vision back quickly and looked around. The first thing she saw was the pool of blood around the cyan Pegasus. She then saw Chrysalis and shoot a ball of magic at her sending the changeling queen through the window. Twilight ran over to the Pegasus on the floor yelling her name while tears slipped down her check. After a couple of seconds with no response she ran over to the no longer burning mare. "Applejack, no ... no don't die Applejack." the librarian ordered her friend. "It's ...to late Twi. Get ...out while you can. Your all that's left of us. You ...must ..." The orange farmer never finished her sentence. The changeling queen got back up and looked through the window. She saw the lavender unicorn standing next to the burnt earth pony. The queen launched a ball of green fire at the lavender unicorn. The impact threw Twilight into the cobble behind her. The impact caused many cuts along her body and also caused the right Side of her forehead to start bleeding. "Why don't you give UP?!" Chrysalis yelled at the lavender unicorn. "You've kill my friends, my family, every one I've cared about ...and you expect me to just give up. I don't care if I die, as long as I go down ..." the librarian mare was interrupted by being shoot threw the window behind her. She felt the cool breeze rub against her skin while falling down to the Ever-free Forest. Her blood shined in the moon light as it dripped from her forehead. As she was approaching the ground her life flashed before her eyes. She finally said "Well, I guess this is how it all ends. I'm sorry Equestria, I've failed you." ____________________________________________________________________ Princess Luna was flight threw the city of Canterlot, rushing to get to the castle. On her way she saw a figure falling out of the castle. She quickly recognized it to be Twilight and flew as fast as she could to get to her in time. She just got under the lavender unicorn in time to catch her at the bottom. She laid Twilight on the ground to get a good look at her injuries. "Twilight. Twilight can you hear me?" the ruler of the night asked the mare. "I'm ...sorry Luna ...I've failed Equestria." the lavender unicorn said to the lunar mare. "What do you mean? What happened?" Luna asked the dying mare. "All of them are dead Luna. All of them. Even Celestia." the lavender pony explained. As the lunar mare was about to carry Twilight off the unicorns eyes shut. Luna knew that she was dead, and Equestria had fallen. THE END