Die Hard with a Promise: Dark Union

“They’re still alive sugarcube. I feel it.” Applejack said in a comforting tone.

“I hope so. Thanks AJ. Let’s go inside, but keep your eyes open everypony.” Twilight commanded.

The interior of Canterlot castle looked alien, to put it lightly. The old architecture was hybridized with dark “growth” that could best be described as insect-like in nature. An eerie dim greenish glow permeated the atmosphere. Statues were smashed and strewn about. A damaged but still recognizable portrait of Celestia could be seen on the floor as the ponies slowly walked by.

Twilight briefly thought at the sight of it of how she could use some advice from Celestia now.

“This is awful.” Fluttershy said solemnly.

“I know. May I add that their sense of décor is a capital offense?” Rarity quietly quipped.

“Do you think they know we’re in?” Pinkie whispered.

“After the big flank kicking fight we gave them on the way here I’m sure they do. It seems unusually quiet in here considering.” Rainbow Dash added.

Twilight continued down the hall with a stance of bitterness and vengeance strangely balanced in her soul. Her axe was at the ready for any Dark Union soldier who may ask to die with its mere presence. The other ponies were in much the same readied position both physically and mentally.

They reached the stairs leading to Celestia’s former throne. Traces of blood were around, but for some reason none of the mane six could quite figure why there seemed to be a lack of bodies of the former royal guards. In fact, nopony living or dead could be seen in the vicinity. It was rather mysterious given the earlier encounter outside.

“Where is my brother? Where are my friends?” Twilight demanded suddenly (and seemingly in vain) directing her voice to an unseen Chrysalis and Sombra.

The other ponies were a bit surprised. For some reason they were also surprised when there was an answer by a sinister female voice.

“You sound worried. There is a perfectly good chance they are having a good time though.” The voice answered cynically. It was without doubt Chrysalis.

“And another question, where are YOU?” Twilight yelled with her horn magic subtly surrounding her readied axe.

“Ha ha, I’m everywhere foolish princess.” The voice said with the word princess in a detectably mocking tone.

“Your love of your brother and friends is energizing me in a way. That’s the only reason they’re still alive.” The voice continued. “I can’t say they’ll be alive for long within the changeling realm in the Cauldron of Obscurica though.”

“What? Cauldron of Obscurica?” Twilight queried with displeasure.

“The place of origin of changelings can be found through it ignorant one. The primitive changelings in there feast so ravenously on love that they drain the very life force of their… food. Sombra has enchanted it to make changelings entering Equestria even stronger. You’ve lost.” The voice of Chrysalis explained.

Chrysalis was playing a dreadful mind game to reveal this to Twilight, knowing she couldn’t doom her brother and friends by trying to destroy the Cauldron. Furthermore going through it would spell certain death. Still, Twilight thought that if she could find it Shining Armor and the others would be on the other side. Perhaps they could be seen alive one last time…

“Look, there! That’s gotta be it!” Applejack shouted and pointed behind the throne.

There stood a black cauldron. It had a more pronounced glowing green mist emanating from it than the surrounding air. It was surprisingly not very tall but wide enough for two ponies to easily fit inside.

“We have to go into the changelings’ world if we’ll ever see our friends again!” Twilight said.

“Somehow I don’t think it’ll be a party in there.” Pinkie said randomly.

“What if this is a trap?” Rarity dissented.

Twilight was normally rational enough to consider that herself, but in the heat of emotion for her loved ones somehow she needed Rarity to give her the second opinion.

“Now I don’t know. Maybe if some of us are going to make it we can split up into two teams.” Twilight answered.

“I need two of you to go with me. I don’t know if we’ll survive but...” Twilight began before Applejack and Rainbow Dash stepped forward and almost simultaneously said “I’ll go.”

Another tear of love escaped Twilight’s left eye.

“Then the rest of you search the castle for survivors. Be on guard for the enemy. Both friends and enemies have to be somewhere.” Twilight instructed.

“Do be careful in that dreadful world.” Rarity said with a glint of sadness.

“Don’t forget to giggle at the ghosties. Never let them get to you!” Pinkie added.

“I wish you the best girls. Please find them and come back OK.” Fluttershy said tearfully.

After a broad exchange of hugs, Twilight dutifully plunged into the Cauldron followed by Rainbow Dash and Applejack.

“Good luck girls.” Rarity said softly.

The descent into the parallel realm was like a quick strange hallucination. Twilight, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash found themselves lying on the ground when they woke up. What a strange ground it was.

The landscape was like something out of an electron microscopy image. The landscape was like the contaminated ruins of Canterlot castle amplified. Black and mildly luminescent green were the dominant colors. The landscape was rocky and slightly resembling of the desert of Appleoosa in a way save for the uncanny color. A flock of strange winged creatures flew overhead. It was a world fitting of the bizarre dark hearts of Chrysalis and Sombra.

“What the hay? Is this Tartarus?” Applejack broke the silence and asked.

“Could be. I rightly guessed that the changelings didn’t come from paradise. I’m ready to trash some more of them by the way.” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Where could Shining Armor and the others be though?” Twilight thought aloud.

In this weird world there did appear to be sort of civilized settlement a bit over half a mile ahead. Without words, the three pony friends simultaneously looked towards it and thought the same thing.

“May as well start this way.” Twilight pointed and led the way.