The Ballad of Xyclone

Entrance to Chrysalis' Kingdom, Equestria, early morning

I woke up early the next morning. I exited my tent and just stared in awe at where I was.

We had finally made it.

After an incredible journey, we had finally reached the headquarters of the sadistic Queen Chrysalis. It felt like it had been months since we left Ponyville, even though it had only been about two weeks. I finally remembered what our mission was: Find out if Chrysalis really has returned, and if she has, to stop her at all costs. And it was pretty obvious that Chrysalis has indeed come back for revenge. But I had a plan...a good plan. I waited until everypony else had woken up so that I could reveal it to them. Thankfully, everyone woke up within 30 minutes. I wasn't surprised; after all that happened the previous day, I would imagine it was pretty hard to sleep. As Bon-Bon came out of her tent, I approached her.

"What do you want?" she asked me coldly.

"Look, I know you and I don't exactly 'get along'—"

"Heh, that's for sure," Bon-Bon scoffed.

"I don't like you, and I know you don't like me...but we really need your help here. I need your help." I held out my hoof. "That's why I want to ask you for a temporary truce. I promise not to annoy you as long as you promise not to make fun of me. How's that sound?"

"I don't know...I don't really feel comfortable forming an alliance with the enemy..."

I let out a frustrated sigh. "Do it for Lyra," I blurted out. Bon-Bon's facial expression weakened. "I know you, Bon-Bon. I know that deep down, you still care deeply for Lyra. All of that yesterday, when you were mocking her...I know you didn't really mean it."

Bon-Bon looked past me sadly at Lyra, who was just getting out of our tent.

"So will you trust me just this once?" I asked again. "For Lyra?"

"You have yourself a deal. But as soon as this is over..."

"Oh, yeah, I know," I said angrily. "Never...again!"

She and I angrily shook hooves. Then I went back over to the campfire we had set up and called everyone to gather around.

"Okay. Listen up, ponies!" I began. "I have a plan. Bon-Bon, do you have any idea where a good entrance to the castle is where we won't be detected by any of Chrysalis' changelings?"

"Well, I noticed yesterday when we got here that her castle has a long inclining walk-up..." started Bon-Bon. "I also noticed that there are quite a few arches supporting it. I saw that there is a small trapdoor exit just under the final arch..."

"Okay, good. Here's what we'll do: I will lead the way to the arches, with Bon-Bon behind me. I'm going to trust that you're not going to try to assault me again...right, Bon-Bon?"

She grinned smugly. "You have my word, Xyclone."

"Anyway, we will quietly tip-toe—er, I mean 'tip-hoof' our way to the arches, ducking into bushes or behind tree stumps, should any changelings come into our view."

Everypony nodded their heads in understanding of my plan.

"We must be quieter than a field mouse, though," I continued. "Any slight sound could alert the changelings. Okay, is everybody ready?" Everyone nodded. "Okay, then. Let's do this thing!"

Everything was quiet...well, almost quiet, what with the vast collections of changelings flying around. I poked my head out from behind a tree, followed by the rest of the ponies. Stealthily jumping out, I started "tip-hoofing" my way to Chrysalis' castle. Bon-Bon was right behind me. I kept looking behind me to see what she was doing. Even though we called for a truce, I still didn't trust her. Behind Bon-Bon was, in this order: Lyra, Applejack, Rarity, Spike, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Derpy Hooves, Vinyl Scratch, Octavia, and Twilight. I turned around and spoke the plan to them: "Okay, we're going to slowly make our way to the castle. We'll sneak through the arches under the entrance bridge and when we get to the last one, I'll let Bon-Bon take over and—OOF!!" My speech was cut abruptly short as I tripped on an exposed tree root and face-planted into the earth...again. Every single changeling froze in their spots to turn around and stare at the other ponies and I. "H-Hi, everyone!" I stammered nervously.

Bon-Bon facehoofed. "Xyclone, you moron..." she said under her breath, but still loud enough for everyone to hear.

Suddenly Twilight rushed up to me. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE JUST DONE?!" she cried frantically.

Right as she said that, the changelings began swarming, flying around us and the castle, shrieking shrilly.

"Uh, g-guys...?" I stuttered. "W-What's going on?!"

"Oh, you've done it now, Xy'..." Applejack said.

"WHO DARES DISTURB ME?!" a voice boomed loudly all of a sudden after a few moments.

"Uh, w-who is that?" gulped Lyra, her voice quivering with fear.

Before anypony could say anything, I noticed a dark figure appear atop the huge balcony of Chrysalis' palace. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the unicorn Twilight Sparkle and her little friends!" the voice boomed again. "By the way, congratulations on your coronation, PRINCESS!" As the figure came closer into view, the morning sun shone on it, revealing it to be the Changeling Queen, Chrysalis. "Oh, and I see you've brought others!" she said, switching her attention to Lyra and the other background ponies. Then she looked at me. "And who might this handsome stallion be?"

I froze, blushing slightly. "Uh..."

"I said, WHO ARE YOU?!?!" the Queen roared loudly.

"Uh, Xyclone, ma'am!" I blurted out. "Ma'am"? I asked myself. Why the hay did I call her "ma'am"?

"'Ma'am"? My, what nice manners you have! I might just let you live!" Chrysalis looked back inside. "Honey, you've simply got to see this!"

"'Honey'?" all of us asked simultaneously.

Suddenly, an even darker, shadowy figure approached the balcony. "What issss it, my dear?" it asked. When the light shone onto it, it was revealed to be simply a shadow with eyes on it.

"A shadow...?" I asked out loud. "What is—"

"No..." Twilight said suddenly, interrupting me. She trotted up closer to the castle. "No...i-it can't be..." she continued. "No, that's—THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!"

The shadow then began to solidify into a pony-like shape. In mere moments, the shadow was replaced by the one and only...

King Sombra.

Twilight began to step back. I could see tears in her eyes. "No..." she whimpered.

Well, that explains the changelings' abilities to use dark magic, I thought.

"Oh, haven't I introduced you all to my fiancé? How terribly rude of me! This is King Sombra, but I think you have all met his acquaintance once before.” She grinned evilly. Then she kissed Sombra...ON THE LIPS.

"...WWWWWHAT?!?!?!" I screamed, my face twitching. I don't think I'd ever been so shocked in my entire life. Chrysalis? With Sombra?! Are you freaking KIDDING me right now?!

I looked back over at Twilight. She was curled up into the fetal position on the ground and was rocking back and forth, shivering crazily. "Queen Chrysalis and King Sombra are back...and they're...d-d-dating..."

"How in th' name of Equestria did y'all two meet?!" asked Applejack in disbelief.

"Ah, yes, I suppose I should explain it to you all before I kill you," replied the Changeling Queen.

Sombra took over the explanation. "Do you perchancccce remember the day I returned to take over the Crysssstal Empire? Do you remember when you thought you had killed me?"

All of us nodded reluctantly.

"Well, when the influencccce of the reinvigorated empire hit me, quite the oppossssite happened. You ssssee, it simply threw me out of the empire with exxxxtreme force. The powerful blast sent me hurdling through the land, eventually placcccing me on the outsssskirtssss of Equestria. My body was in shamblessss. I began my trek to sssseek revenge on you horrible poniessss, but I was very weak. After 3 long and enduring monthssss, I reached an old abandoned castle that wassss falling apart. Little did I know that this was the home of my dear Queen Chrysalissss." Sombra gazed up dreamily at Chrysalis as she continued the story.

"It was early in the morning; my changelings and I were all starving. Our home was still in horrible shape from the last time you ponies bested me. I heard somepony enter through the front gates. I sent my changelings after whomever had just broken in, as I thought it was you 6 ponies coming here to rub your victory in my face. My changelings returned to me carrying a much weakened Sombra. They dropped him on the floor right in front of me. He tried to stand up, but he hadn't the energy; he passed out right there. I felt so sorry for him. And somehow, I knew that it was the doing of you vile ponies."

Sombra resumed. "Chryssi here took me in and nurssssed me back to health. Her caring kindnessss gave me comfort; it gave me power." The two villains then started staring intently at each other.

"And in turn, he gave me strength as well. We slowly began to fall deeply in love with each other through the passing months. We both became stronger and more powerful. He gave me the confidence to start taking over towns and cities again..."

"...While sssshe gave me the power to sssstart healing mysssself with my own magic." Their faces grew closer and closer as the both explained their returns in tandem.

"You ssssee, poniessss, our livessss are now interdependent. She gives me the strength to improve my dark magic abilitiessss..."

"...While he gives me the love on which I feed upon. We even finish each other's—"

"—Sentences," went Sombra. Their lips finally touched again and they began passionately making out with each other. I could've sworn I saw tongue.

"OKAY! Whoa! I did not want to see that today!"

Ignoring me, the two lovers continued their speech, finally ending their wet kiss. Chrysalis spoke first. "And now, in just one year, we have become..."

"THE MOSSSST POWERFUL BEINGSSSS IN ALL OF EQUESSSSTRIA!!!" roared King Sombra, his eyes flaring green and purple as dark magic surged through him.

"And combined, we now have the ability to destroy you and your friends once and for all! SEIZE THEM, MY CHILDREN!" commanded Queen Chrysalis.

Suddenly, all the changelings that were swarming around turned their attention to us. King Sombra tilted his head toward them and reinforced them with dark magic. They all pounced then.  We were all taken aback by them.

It was utter chaos. I had no idea where to go. I just blindly ran into a bunch of changelings, assaulting them. I was actually faring pretty well, until I saw something that caused me to freeze in my tracks: There, through a break in the swarm, was the changeling that I had beat up as Rageclone back in the forest. He was being carried on a stretcher into the castle. He was covered in bandages and blood, and some of his ligaments were twisted in directions they weren't supposed to go. "It's...it's him..." I said to myself. Unfortunately, I was distracted so much that I didn't have enough time to avoid a changeling that was hurdling towards me, and it tackled me to the ground. It was about to stab me with its newly-grown horn (which I assume is from the influence of Sombra's magic, because I don't ever remember hearing of a changeling with a horn) when Lyra saw me and bopped the changeling on the back of the head with her hoof. Before I could give thanks, another changeling snuck up behind her and captured her in its hooves. "No! Lyra!" I cried hopelessly as the changeling began to fly off with her. I looked around in horror. The numbers game was finally catching up to us. We tried to fight back, but the changelings were just too powerful. One by one, the ponies were captured by them. Eventually, it looked as if I was the only one that hadn't been captured. The changelings began to swarm around me now. I began slowly backing up. Suddenly, it felt like I had bumped into someone.

It was Bon-Bon.

"You?!" I said to her. "What are you doing here?! I thought you were caught!"

"Not yet!" replied Bon-Bon. "But I probably will now because I'm here with you!" I turned around to face her. "Hey! What about the truce we made?!"

"It was off when you decided to be a retard and plant yourself in the dirt, alarming all the changelings!"

I saw the changelings carry everypony else into the castle, followed by a cliche order from Chrysalis: "Throw them in the dungeon, with...The Scaly One!"

"Scaly One?!" Bon-Bon, Twilight, Rarity, and I said at the same time.

"Oh, and leave Lyra in my quarters. I would like to...speak with her." Lyra gulped.

"And leave Twilight in my room," said King Sombra. "I would like to assssk her ssssomething as well."

Bon-Bon turned her attention back to me. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" she screamed at me. "If you never came here in the first place, none of this would have ever happened!"

"What, you think I'm behind this?!" We continued arguing even as the changelings picked us up and began to carry us into the castle.

"Oh, look, now we've been captured! That's just greeaaaat!"

I was once again fuming.

Bon-Bon lowered her voice and tone. A sad frown appeared on her crazed face. "Now we're all gonna die because of you. I'll never get to see my little Lyra again." She began to cry.

Then my face reflected Bon-Bon's. This is all my fault, I thought. Everyone would've been safer if I'd have just stayed at home.

As the changelings flew us through the huge entrance doors to Chrysalis' kingdom, I could hear her and Sombra on the balcony above: "I love you, my Sombra-wombra baby!"

"No, I love you, my Chryssi-sissy-poo!"

I struggled to keep myself from vomiting all over the castle's marble floor.