The Great Gryphon Adventure

It was raining. The sound of thunder echoed in the distance. For a moment the five believed they were transported to a different location. It wasn't until Jacob awoke that things were known to be different. The remaining four rose from the ground only to look in horror around them. The ground which they thought was solid was transparent. Through it they saw two worlds, one of Equestria and one of which Anagonia was founded. There was a slight distance between the planets, both unique in their special ways. The one thing that was similar was the appearance of fissures across the surface of both worlds. Hellfire breached through the fissures, causing the land to burst into flames and the oceans to boil.

They noticed as they watched that the moons orbiting their respective worlds were slowly crumbling. Pieces were falling on the planets causing more fissures and untold destruction. It was the apocalypse in progress, the five forced to watch their worlds go through the Armageddon far above. Space that normally would be littered with stars was instead full of nebula and exploding stars, echoing the belief that wherever they were was somewhere akin to hell. Then they all heard the same cackling laughter that echoed before they disappeared. Each one turning around to view the source.

Before them was a being that could only be related to death itself. To those from Anagonia it resembled Melkos somewhat, having a skeletal form with piercing crimson orbs where the eyes should be. To the Equestrians the skeletal form resembled that of Celestia herself, its wings of bone stretching far and its horn bright with hellfire. Its entire form was surrounded by a dark mist of energy occasionally cloaking its body. The being looked from one Champion to the next, the mist forming around its skeletal equine head to form a devilish smirk.

"Just when I thought nothing would stand in my way," said the being. Its voice was a twisted mixture between a demonic rasp and a deeper, more masculine tone that of Celestia. It growled deeply, "I should have taken the chance to kill you the moment I noticed you."

Kromulus was the first to speak up. His voice was deep, full of anger. "Name yourself, coward!"

The being laughed, echoing that of the greatest evils. "Coward?! Me? Nooo..." It started to slowly walk toward the five, each Champion preparing their weapons in response. "Gods cannot be cowards, silly mortal. Gods can do what they want." It laughed again, glaring at Kromulus. "But if you insist. I am Normgok, Prince of Armageddon. Child of the Sun Goddess Celestia and the Dark Lord Melkos Unchanos." It cackled evilly.

"What?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed in disbelief.

"Oh yes," Normgok said in a low tone, "Child of two unwilling gods, perhaps I should say." It laughed again, this time echoing through space. "And I have you to thank, Gilda of Equestria and Jacob of Anagonia!"

At once the remaining three looked to the ones mentioned, shock on their faces. Gilda and Jacob shared knowing looks, remaining firm in their stance as Jacob raised his weapon. So it was true. All of it. By Gilda's actions she had created a rift in time and space, unleashing the forces under Melkos' control. Through that, this beast of a demon had been created. Jacob's eyes narrowed, staring into Normgok's crimson gaze.

"Yet once you were known by a different name," Jacob said calmly. The others were looking at him now. "A remnant of something greater, something defeated by the Elements of Harmony." He grinned, showing his teeth. "I know you well, Nightmare Moon."

"I AM NO LONGER THAT PATHETIC BEING," screamed Normgok in a rage. He stomped his hooves, shaking the very foundation of space the five stood on. He snorted. "No longer the being who for over a thousand years plotted its revenge, only to be defeated by friendship." A vicious snarl and growl echoed, "Friendship. That one excuse for creatures to make peace." Normgok spit on the ground, the spit bellowing into flames and disappearing. "No, I made them repay for that. All of them but YOU!"

Rainbow Dash took a step back, a feeling of fear going through her as Normgok hissed the words at her. Jacob stood in front of Rainbow taking the blunt of the glare, growling in return. Normgok merely huffed, flames shooting from its nostrils briefly.

"This time," the demonic god continued at a more softer tone, "I had to do things differently. I had to plot my plans for revenge in a way that could counteract Celestia's harmony." It nearly hissed the name 'Celestia'. It stomped one hoof, continuing. "So when your little friend there -" he said, motioning towards Gilda, "- wanted nothing more than to take her life, I was happy to twist that desire and open a rift to your world, humans. That was when I felt it, the greatest rush of power ever." Again Normgok cackled. "And so was I birthed into existence, growing stronger ever since that moment until now. NOW I am exacting my revenge, not only on Equestria, but the entire world where Anagonia resides as well!"

It laughed and with it a deep, hellish echo followed. The five reformed their line before Kromulus roared in rage. He shot forward raising his sword, the other four following quickly. Normgok merely scoffed at the display, easily parrying Kromulus' sword swipe with his wing and then using his full powers to thrust the remaining four back. His head shot at Kromulus, glaring into his soul as unseen forces restrained the Champion of Order. Slowly, painfully, Normgok repeated the process it used the first time against the prisoners not too long ago. Kromulus struggled to breath, trying to cry out in pain.

"NOW you shall ALL die," Normgok cackled. "But you fir- AAAAHHHH!"

The demons hold on Kromulus was broken as a shot rang out from his side. Normgok hissed, stomping both hooves as he prepared to charge at his attacked. Jacob was prone, still aiming his rifle-sword at the beast.

"Not today," said Jacob. Then he fired again.

This time Normgok parried the bullet into space, turning in time to defend against Zecora's staff before being struck by Kromulus sword. All five Champions joined in on the assault. Each one being parried at some point, but eventually striking home. Normgok was slowly forced back, the battle growing more and more intense. Finally the demon had enough.

"ENOUGH!" Normgok roared. An explosion wave of fire emanated from his body, sending the five all back and thrusting them on the ground. Each one now helpless against the demons power as it slowly started to crush them. "NO ONE WILL EVER STOP MY VENGEANCE!"

From the nothingness above them formed metal spikes. Slowly, even as the pressure on their bodies grew, each one watched as the spikes grew larger and larger until they were sure if it were to impact it would split their bodies in half. Normgok cackled again, "Nothing can save you now." The spikes raised. "NOW DIE!"

Gilda closed her eyes, expecting death. Then, slowly, she and the rest opened or looked back at the spikes. They were hanging above them, just slightly. When they looked at Normgok the demonic god seemed to be struggling.

"Noo," his voice echoed. "Nooo, you can't!"

"Oh, but we can," said an all-too-familiar feminine voice.

Normgok hissed aloud, the spikes slowly disappearing but the hold on the five Champions remaining. He snarled at Princess Celestia. Then his head shot to his other side, seeing Melkos Unchanos in his skeletal form. His celestial cloak of darkness more full of motion than it had been in ages. The brightness of his crimson eyes dwarfing those of Normgok's.

"You've been a baaa-aad little boy," Melkos hissed.

"NOOOOOOOO!" screamed Normgok, his form suddenly changing. Celestia and Melkos followed suit, avoiding the blast wave his body produced during the change. The five Champions were helpless but to witness the battle between the gods. All in awe at the sight. Normgok reformed as a giant dragon, dark as the abyss. It looked down at the five, starting to swipe its gigantic claws down at them to finish them.

Before they could reach, a molten arm grasped the dragon's arm, forcing it back with a thrust. Melkos had reformed as a Lava Golum, delivering a swift punch to Normgok as he roared in pain. Just before he could loose his footing a staff of pure light swiped under the dragon-demon, twisting Normgok at unbelievable speeds onto his back. Celestia made way beside her godly companion in the form of an armored Valkyrie of Norse Mythology. She slowly placed the staff against her side, drawing in its place a giant sword. The two gods stood above the fallen Normgok, each prepared to deliver the final blow.

To their surprise Normgok reacted faster than they could defend. He raised up and in one quick motion swiped his tail slamming Melkos into Celestia, knocking them to the ground. Instantly he raised himself, thrusting down his fore-claws on both causing them to scream in agonizing pain as the ebony claws pierced their very being. All hope seemed lost as Kromulus watched, wide eyed and in disbelief, as his God seemed to slowly loose form and shape. Melkos reached out to him.

"We can't do this alone," the Dark God said with a pained voice.

Celestia looked to them. "You must unite!" she said.

The five looked to each other, then all looked to Kromulus. He breathed heavily, not sure what to do. His thoughts reached that of his pentagram, thinking of the line Melkos promised. In his mind the pentagram grew brighter, an answer being given. In that moment when his eyes opened wide, they glowed brightly. "I am the Champion of Order!" he yelled loudly. The power of the pentagram flowing from him to the others. Almost in unison they spoke their roles through the pain they experienced.

"I am the Champion of Courage!" Jacob yelled.

"I am the Champion of Wisdom!" Zecora screamed.

"I am the Champion of Compassion!" Gilda screeched.

"I am the Champion of Loyalty!" Rainbow Dash screamed.

Instantly whatever hold Normgok had over them was broken. His head shot over to the five, each one glowing brightly in form as he gasped in disbelief. They all rose and as Kromulus started to walk towards Normgok with his sword raised, each one came close and literally joined into Kromulus' form. Gilda, Jacob, Zecora and Rainbow Dash all merged with Kromulus, his form growing as tall as Normgok. The light grew brighter, the dragon having to cover his eyes. Then it dissipated. Normgok gawked at the sight.

Standing before him was a creature that was adorned in silver armor from head to toe. Its wings were spread, looking very angelic as even there the glitter of armored plates was viewable. Its legs resembled that of Gilda's but in a more humanoid fashion, claws a bright as the moon digging into the unseen ground beneath. Behind it was a lion's tail covered in the same manner of armor. Its head was shaped in the fashion of a eagle. Its very body, while seemingly one piece of armor, moved as if it was a living creature. Slowly it clasped both hands around a bastard sword made of flame, raising it in preparation to strike.

"I am the Champion of Balance," the new form of joined Champions announced. Its voice was a mixture of all the Champions'. Echoing as if each one spoke the words. "And you," it said as its metallic eyes blazed as blue as the ocean, "are an imbalance and a curse on both our worlds!"

Before Normgok could get his claws from the bodies of the gods beneath him and before he could utter further into his roar, the Champion of Balance swiftly struck with an underarm swing of its bastard sword. The blade cleanly decapitated Normgok, the sword arcing up and striking down over the dragons body, piercing and slicing into it. Normgok's body started to expand and without notice it exploded. Reality shook as the imbalance in nature was destroyed, the two worlds below slowly returning to normal. When the light of the explosion faded, the Champion of Balance was no more. In its place stood the five Champions, all gasping in disbelief more than for breath.

With the fading of light Celestia and Melkos' forms had returned to normal. They now stood feet away from the Champions, a pleased look on their faces. All five looked from each other then to them. In their merge they had understood each other in a far more personal fashion than was capable naturally. Everything was known. The two gods standing before them seemed to know this, slightly grinning as they watched all five embrace each other in a group hug as each started to cry in happiness.