Shadows of Drakmord

Chapters

A peaceful day
Cloudy with a chance of terror
Cavalry’s here, it’s getting real
Slashing established plans
Chasing down a hope

A peaceful day

It was an exciting afternoon in the Crystal empire, for the Equestria games were well underway, and ponies from all over the continent had come to root for their favorite teams. Though it was cold and snowy outside, the shield over the city had kept it as warm and sunny as the ponies’ spirits. It was perfect weather for the competition.

Twilight and her friends were at one of the many concession stands outside the stadium getting snacks before the intermission was over, and the next event began. One of the guards told them that they could send somepony else to get it for them, but Twilight insisted on getting it herself, to make sure they got the order right. Yeah, that’s the reason. Certainly not to avoid being treated like royalty, she didn't feel uncomfortable about that at all… nope, definitely not.

Fortunately, her friends had gotten used to her subtle hints, and were more than happy to accompany her.

“Oh, these games have been just wonderful so far! I simply can’t wait to see the air teams preform next.” Rarity commented as she and the others made to returned to their seats, various snacks in tow.

“I know! And the only thing better than watching the games, is being IN them!” Rainbow dash joyously announced. “Am I right Fluttershy?”

“Oh, umm… I guess. I don’t know how much I like everypony watching me, but it's such an honor to be on the team.” Fluttershy replied.

Fluttershy still wondering to herself why she had signed up in the first place though. She wasn’t that strong of a flyer, and wasn’t even too fond of being in competitions at all. She knew there HAD to be other pegasi who could have competed in her place. But in the end, she decided not to question it too hard.

“Well good luck to both of ya’, we’ll be rootin’ for you the whole way.” Applejack said to them as Rainbow and Fluttershy headed towards the field.

The rest waved to them and sent their own wishes of good luck (which in Pinkies’ case included a megaphone and a comically huge sign) as the group split and went their separate ways.

“Whoa, I almost forgot the rest of the popcorn!” Spike yelled in panic before running off to make a last minute purchase. “You guys go on ahead, I’ll catch up!”

“Just hurry Spike; you don’t want to miss the start of the next event!” Twilight yelled after him.

Just then the trumpets announced the end of the intermission, as the last few roaming ponies hurried to get back to their seats.

“And neither do we,” Rarity reminded them “We’d better hurry.”

“Hey girls, glad you all made it back it time. The next event is just about to start.” Cadance welcomed them as they make it back to their seats in the overseers’ booth.

Down in the center of the games field, Princesses Celestia and Luna announce the start of the next event.

“WELCOME BACK CITISENS OF EQUESTRIA!” Luna addresses the crowd using her Royal Canterlot voice “TO THE SECOND PART OF THE EQUSTRIA GAM-.”

Celestia quickly muffled her younger sister by clamping her mouth closed. Luna looked up at her older sister in confusion.

“My apologies sister, but perhaps you shouldn’t use the royal Canterlot voice, AND a megaphone at the same time.” Celestia says in a worried whisper while motioning the crowd, who were either clutching their ears or blown back in their seats.

“Oh” Luna said, slightly blushing with embarrassment. “Sorry about that.” She announced thought the megaphone “But as I was saying, please join us in welcoming the flight teams!”

On their cue, the flight teams emerged from the sidelines as Princess Luna announced their names. The crowd of spectators cheered wildly for them, Twilight and her friends especially, when they spotted Rainbow and Fluttershy. Rainbow dash looking as confident as ever, and though Fluttershy looks to be on the verge of fainting, she still seemed genuinely happy to be there, even if she started hyperventilating every so often.

“Oh my, there are even more ponies here than I thought.” Fluttershy said to herself as she inched closer to Rainbow.

“I know, and they’re all about to see how awesome our team is.” Rainbow said as she threw a hoof around Flutters and dragged her over.

“YEEEEEAAAAAHHHH!” Snowflake yelled for emphasis while flexing his massive muscles.

“Hey Dash!” a voice called over to them.

“Gilda.” Rainbow dash responded stiffly.

The griffon walked over, stopping a couple feet away.

“Look dash, I’m not too great at this stuff. But I’ve gotta tell you this.” Gilda took in a deep breath “I know I was kind of a jerk to you and your pals, and I just wanted to say I’m sorry for all that stuff. It’s been eating me up ever since. So… just, pass the message on to them, or whatever. And… good luck out there.”

Gilda paused for a moment, staring awkwardly at the ground before turning to head back to her own team. Before she took the first step however, Dash stopped her with a hoof on her shoulder.

“I’m not too great with this kind of stuff either, but I forgive you. To be honest, I was angry about this whole thing too, but i never stopped thinking of you as a friend. I’m glad you told me what you did just now; it made me feel a whole lot better. But I think you should tell the rest of my friends yourself when you get the chance, it would mean a lot more if they heard it straight from you.” Rainbow dash explained with a smile “And… good luck to you too.”

Gilda smiled back at this “Thanks Dash, maybe I will.”

As the teams took their positions at the starting line and the relay race was about to begin, the entire sky above became dark. And an ominous chuckle came from above, echoing throughout the empire. Everyone looked up to the pitch black clouds forming overhead while murmuring unsurely to one another.

Back in the overseers’ booth, Pinkies’ Pinkie-sense was going into overdrive, causing her to jitter, inflate then deflate, moonwalk, and spaz out in nearly every sense of the word.

“This is BAD you guys. REALLY BAD!” she yelled over the thunder as her friends tried to keep her from hurting herself from her continuing spasms.

“Pinkie, what is it? What does it mean?” Twilight asked.

Many crystal ponies were getting very nervous, thinking that maybe Sombra had returned again. Little did they know, it was something far worse.

Suddenly, there was a huge burst of black flame in the center of the stadium. When the flames subsided, there was a lone figure in a tattered black cloak floating high above the ground. He amplified his hollow, rattling voice, addressing the crowd in an eerily calm tone.

“Hello Equestra, I’m afraid there’s been a change of plans. I am Wither, the dread shadow! And my Dominion had arrived!”

As Wither finished his last sentence, the barrier around the Crystal Empire shattered. The blizzard outside quickly filled the vacuum of warmth as snow and wind whipped through the streets and open skies. Hundreds of Withers’ followers materialized throughout the empire and converged on the stadium. They looked like changelings, but much more dark and menacing, almost demonic. With near-skeletal bodies seemingly cloaked in the clinging darkness, and empty eyes like dark sunken pools, they looked less like the bug-ponies Chrysalis had led, and more like something from a forgotten layer of Tartarus.

“Before you ask, no, we’re not here to take part in your stupid games, and we’re not some stupid half-time show! We’re here for blood and vengeance!” Wither screamed, his voice now filled with anger. “This has been a VERY long time coming, so run if you wish, run in fear! We WILL catch you, make you suffer and scream… and then kill you SLOWLY.” Wither finished, putting extra emphasis on his last word.

The shadows all let out sadistic calls of delight for impromptu festival of havoc about to take place. But their cheers were cut short as Princesses Celestia and Luna launched themselves up from the field to confront Wither, light emanating from their forms.

“You’ll do no such thing to our subjects, monster!” Celestia declared with fire in her voice.

“INDEED. YOU’LL NOT DO THEM HARM WHILE WE ARE HERE TO PROTECT THEM!” Luna added in the royal Canterlot voice.

As they flew higher, beams of raw destructive magic erupted from their horns and shot towards Wither. And Wither didn’t move an inch before he was blasted into dust. The ponies below cheered, and as the smoke cleared, Celestia and Luna looked over their victory expecting to see the Shadows fleeing. But the Shadows did not flee; they stayed right where they were. And then, one began to laugh, then another, then more joined in. It was a quiet laugh at first, but it quickly grew louder as the ponies cheering below faded out. Before long every shadow was laughing hysterically, baring their wicked fangs.

“Why are they laughing?” Luna asked “We just obliterated their leader, why aren’t they- GAH!”

Before Luna could finish, they had their answer, an answer in the form of a blade in each of their backs. Wither appeared behind them from a cold mist, the daggers in his grip, and very much not-obliterated.

“Not while you’re here, huh?”

Wither channeled his magic through the blades, turning them to a liquid which sunk into the gaping wounds in the princesses’ backs. Before another second could pass, the liquid solidified within them. Celestia and Luna screamed out in pain as the black crystals pushed their way out through their skin, tearing at their insides as they formed.

“I’ll just have to fix that then.”

Wither then let them fall to the ground before floating down to meet them. When he arrived, the princesses had already begun to recover and break free of their magic stopping bonds. Seeing this, Wither swooped down and snatched them up in his claws before they could get any further. Guards on the field, and even some of the athletes tried to intervene. But before they could get close, a ring of fire encircled Wither and his detained foes, denying any help for the princesses.

“You won’t get away with this; we won’t be so easily beaten.” Celestia growled defiantly

“Do you take me for some common threat, an average foe to be easily dispatched? I am not." Wither spoke to them as he drained the life and power from them. The flames around them growing taller as the pegasi attempted to breach through.

"I know of the two of you. You are the two immortal sisters that hold power over the sky and all that live under it. So much has changed, yet so much remains the same. You destroy not only that which means you harm, but also anything that would disrupt your status quo. You trick those that willingly serve you into believing your lies while you either kill or enslave all who would not, just as those who came before you have done.”

The agony that consumed Celestia and Luna was increased with every word Wither spoke. Finally his anger subsided, and the pain dispersed as the flames reached their apex.

“I may not have the power or the means to remove you permanently, but I will soon enough. And with you gone, all others who would oppose me will follow in your stride. Until then, have fun rotting in the wasteland your forefathers condemned us to for so long.”

As Wither finished draining the last of their power, Celestia and Luna fell unconscious, and in a blaze of light, Wither ripped open a portal and flung them far into the wastes of his world. But no one else saw this portal, to the view of all others watching, he had just single-hoofedly destroyed the goddesses of night and day, and he knew it. The ponies who were watching looked on in shock and disbelief at the scorched ground as Wither rose up once more.

“Where are your gods now!?” He yelled in triumph.

There was half a moments’ pause before screams of panic filled the stadium as ponies tried to escape. But Withers’ shadows blocked them in the air, and on the ground. If it were possible, things were even worse back in the overseers’ booth. Twilight, like everypony else, was filled with a mixture of shock, panic, and disbelief.

“No…” she whispered. “No no no.”

Shining took Cadances’ hoof. “Come on honey, we need to stop this maniac… Cadance?”

“Auntie Celestia… Auntie Luna…- I’m with you Shining, let’s do this!” Cadance said with a determined look.

“I’m with you too!” added Twilight, her sadness turned to anger towards the changeling that destroyed her beloved mentor and foalhood idol.

Cadance amplified her voice challenging Wither as the three charged out to face him. “We’ll never submit to you! You’ll pay for this!”

As Shining and Cadance overcharged their expecto patronum love-shield, the Shadows moved to intervene, but Wither signaled for them to stop.

“Stay where you are.” He told them before simply folding his forelegs and continuing to hover with a smirk.

The spell was fired off in full force, but the Shadows were not repelled by the blast. Instead, the warmth became chilling cold, and the spells' light turned to unfettered darkness as the Shadows fed on it, Cadance and Shining watched in shock as the Shadows turned what would be their bane, into a massive boon.

“No! This can’t be happening.” Cadance said as the Shadows let out their guttural calls.

“How? How did that not work?! It got rid of them last time!” Shining yelled, equally baffled.

“Try again!” Twilight urged them, “I can add a ‘disintegrate’ effect, or a ‘return to sender’ spell, or maybe-”

Wither warped over to the trio. “Don’t waste my time. That may have worked when you killed my second in command, but not on us. ”

Wither then amplified his voice once more, shouting one final order to his legion before departing upwards into the sky.

“The doors are open and the way is clear, it’s DINNERTIME!”

The Shadows give a resounding roar of approval before diving into to the stadium full of screaming, terrified food.

Cloudy with a chance of terror

Panic overtook the stadium within seconds. The Shadows swooped down into the bleachers as ponies desperately tried to escape. No longer held back by Withers’ commands, and charged up by a wave of solidified love, they were free and willing to do as they pleased.

The guards did all they could to keep the Shadows at bay while the civilians fled to find safety. The Shadows hardly noticed however; though Equestrias’ guards were easily much stronger than your average pony, they were ill prepared, outnumbered, and easily overpowered. Many of their efforts to protect their citizens ended with them simply being dragged off along with them.

Rainbow dash was caught right in the middle of the chaos, and was never one to sit idly by while there were ponies in danger. This was quite evident as she mid-air body-slammed into a huge cluster of Shadows at mach-5.

“Aww yeah! Nopony crashes the games while I’m around.”

Rainbow was like a bowling ball though pins, a bowling ball with arms, that was whaling on the face of the nearest Shadow she could find with hooves made of smaller bowling balls.

“Take that! And this! And that! And some of that!”

However, the Shadow barely seemed to notice her skull crushing blows, and kept snapping its jaws at her between hits. Rainbow was so focused on the one she was hitting that she didn’t notice that the other Shadows had recovered from her previous attack and were now floating right behind her.

“Oh, umm…” Rainbow chuckled nervously as no less than ten Shadows glared at her. “wow, there’s a lot of you guys here, huh?”

The Shadow Dash had been beating up until then sprang back to life; tendrils burst from its chest and ensnared her.

“AHH, NO! I've seen enough anime to know where this is going! At least buy me lunch first!” Rainbow screamed before the rest of the Shadows joined the group tackle.

The world disappeared beneath Rainbows' hooves, and she fell into darkness as the sound of rasping breaths closed in around her. The light drained from her vision and her blood turned cold. Rainbow dash felt like she was drowning in a freezing lake. She paddled her legs and wings against the void to no avail.

“Get off me you creeps!” Struggling, she thought of her friends, how they were surely in danger and how she needed to help them. She remembered the good times they had shared together, and why she needed to get free.

“They need me!” A desperate gasping came from all around and those feelings were ripped away from her, leaving only her feelings of hopelessness and doubt.

“I need to…find them… help- oh what’s the point?”

…

“Don’t you DARE give up on me, dweeb!”

A bright light burst through the crushing dark. A fistful of talons plunged towards Rainbow, and the light turned to fire. The clawed hand grabbed her and pulled her out of the dark.

Back in reality, Gilda flew as far and as she could; finally reaching relative safety behind a set of track obstacles.

“Dash! You still with me, filly?!” She screamed as she shook Rainbow, trying to wake her "Come on Dash, don't make me do mouth to beak on you."

“Gil… Gilda?” Dash mumbled weakly as Gilda tried to keep her awake.

“Oh my goodness!” Fluttershy practically screamed as she ran over. “What happened?!”

“A bunch of those freaks got to her,” Gilda explained. “we need to her help, fast!.”

Fluttershy and Gilda ran to the stadium interior. Gilda slammed the doors in the face of their changeling pursuers while Fluttershy held onto Dash, who was now ice cold and barely conscious.

“Thank heavens, y’all made it!” Applejack said as she trotted up to them. "We couldn't find any way to get to y'all out there."

“Dashie, you don’t look so good.” Pinkie noted as she zipped over “We need a warm blanket and some hot coco over here, STAT!”

“S-s-so… c-cold.” Was all Rainbow could shiver out as tears idly spilled out of her eyes.

“Don’t worry Rainbow, you’re going to be okay.” Fluttershy whispered to Rainbow dash as she cradled her in her forelegs. Rainbow said nothing, but gripped any part of Fluttershy she could reach and pulled her closer.

“What are we going to do?!” came a panicked yell from a room deeper inside.

Inside what looked to be a staff break room, a group of several ponies had taken shelter. All of them were terrified the verge of ‘flipping it’ despite Pinkies’ attempts to keep their spirits up and their nerves calm. One such blue unicorn was busy going off on a freak-out rant.

“WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO!?” he screamed “They’re taking everyone and eating them like tubes of yogurt! They took my little brothers, sucked them dry in seconds! The look in their eyes, oh Celestia! There WAS none! They were dead, they were both DEAD!” he broke into sobs.

Meanwhile a crystal mare in the corner was rocking back and forth on the floor muttering “It’s happening again, it’s happening again…” over and over, sometimes throwing in a “WHY do I still live here?”

“Calm down everypony,” Applejack said as she entered the room “we’re all gonna be okay.”

“How can you POSSIBLY say that?! Have you seen those things? The princesses are DEAD, we can’t fight these things, and now we’re waiting around to be eaten like a boxed lunch! Just how are we going to be okay!?”

“Give it a rest Cobalt. You’re freaking everyone out.” A dark red earth pony chimed in.

“Indeed, your attitude has been most unhelpful.” Rarity added, before continuing to bandage a stallions’ legs.

“You shut up!” Cobalt spat back “And you, you want me to calm down? Eh, Rojas. Try losing everyone you cared about and THEN tell me to calm down!”

The entire room rattled as Cobalt fell flat on the floor, clutching his cheek. Rojas loomed over him with a scowl.

“I saw my little sister and my grandma get dragged off into the sky by those monsters, and there was nothing I could do to help them.” Rojas told Cobalt “So I’ll tell you again… calm, the buck, down.”

“But he’s right, what are we going to do?” A minty green crystal mare asked while holding onto her friend in the corner.

“We need to find Twilight; if anypony knows a way out of this mess, it’d be her.” Applejack reasoned “Last I saw them, they were down on the field, anypony seen them since?”

The room muttered and shrugged in response.

“I saw them.” Gilda told them “They headed inside the stadium too, but on the other side.”

“Great! If we hurry we can get to them in no time!” Applejack exclaimed.

“Oh, we won’t have to do that, silly.” Pinkie told her.

“Why not?”

“Because they’re right over there!”

Just like Pinkie said, Twilight, Shining, and Cadance came running towards them from around a corner. All of them looked exhausted, but otherwise no worse for wear.

“Girls, thank goodness we’ve found you.” Twilight greeted them “That locator spell really came in handy.”

“The entire empire’s been overrun out there. We need to evacuate, and get everypony to safety.” Shining armor told them.

“What happened to Rainbow?” Cadance asked upon finding Rainbow still huddled against Fluttershy.

“A bunch of those things got her all at once.” Gilda filled her in. “They only had her for a few seconds before I pulled her out, but…”

Cadances’ eyes went wide “Quickly, give her to me, I can help.”

Cadances’ horn lit up as she cast a wave of pink light over Rainbow dash. Slowly she began to stir and her eyes fluttered open.

“Where am I, what happened?” Dash groaned “Is everypony okay? One second I was kicking flank, and then everything went dark.”

“It’s okay Dashy, we’re all here, you’re safe with us.” Fluttershy soothed.

“Geez Dash, those freaks did a real number on you.” Gilda playfully prodded.

“It’s very fortunate you got to her when you did,” Cadance told Gilda “I don’t think I could have saved her if she were any further gone.”

Gilda let out a low whistle. “Okay, that’s heavy.”

“What in the hey are those things?” Applejack asked “I’ve never seen anything so scary in all my life.”

Everypony else in the room gathered around to hear as well.

“Shadows, they’re like changelings, only a lot worse.” Cadance explained.

“How much worse are we talkin’ about?” Rojas asked.

“You all know about Nightmare moon, right?”

They all nodded.

“Shadows are to changelings, what Nightmare moon was to all of us. They don’t need to use tricks or mind control; they can just drain the life out of anything they touch. If we don’t stop them… they won’t stop at the Crystal empire.”

“But how?” Twilight asked “The empires’ shield was powered by the crystal heart and all the ponies in the entire city, but they broke through like it was nothing. They even absorbed yours’ and Shinings’ spell!”

“Not to mention what their horrid leader did to the princesses.” Rarity reminded them.

“And hitting them doesn’t do a thing!” Rainbow added “How are we supposed to fight something that won’t eat a hoof-sandwich?!”

“I told you it was hopeless.” Cobalt threw in.

“And I told you to quit that.” Rojas responded.

Upon hearing no suggestions from the others, Twilight spoke up. “Well one thing’s for sure, we can’t just hide in here. We need to get outside the empire and get help.”

“Before we go, we need to save as many ponies as we can.” Shining told them “There’s a defense array in the tower that should at least distract those ‘Shadows’ while everyone else escapes. It’s not a perfect plan, but it’s a plan.”

“Right, if everypony’s ready, we’ll go to the south exit and make a run for the tower from there.” Twilight informed them.

“Am I the only skeptic here?” Cobalt asked “Those things…” -he jabbed a hoof at the barricaded doors- “are everywhere. We won’t be able to just run there; we’ll get killed.”

Just then, a noise shook the room. Several pieces of furniture fell over as a large segment of wall crumbled behind them. Two Shadows clawed their way through the narrow opening and rushed towards the group, claws and fangs at the ready. The two crystal mares in the corner shrieked as the shadows bore down on them.

In a snap decision Twilight threw a spell at the mares, blinking them over to the rest of the group. Next she focused hard, gathering her energy into another.

“Everyone get back!” she called as her spell complete. Chain lightning shot from her horn as she released it, surging through the Shadows and knocking them back in a daze.

“It worked? Wow, it actually worked!” Twilight exclaimed as she looked over her work. Though the Shadows wouldn’t let her victory last; they got up and were soon hungrily moving towards them once again.

“But maybe not that well. RUN!”

There were no protests as they all shoved to get out the door.

“Twilight!? What was that just then?” Rarity asked.

“After the changelings invaded Canterlot, I learned some new spells that might help us fight them if they ever came back.” Twilight explained “But I don’t think it will work on these ones. If they really can feed on ANY kind of magic, it might do more harm for us than good.”

On the final stretch before the southern exit, they reached a set of locker rooms.

They spotted the exit past several blocks of lockers, lit by a bright green sign.

“Look, we’re almost there!” one of the crystal mares happily announced.

Just then, the water that was spilled over the floor froze into ice. Three more Shadows broke the exit door off its hinges and spotted them instantly.

“Had to jinx it, didn’t ya?” Gilda commented.

“I’ve got them!” Twilight yelled as she moved in front of the group and fired off another chain lightning. The Shadows kept advancing, pushing through the torrent of sparks. Twilight kept pouring in more juice until they lay motionless on the floor. Finally, Twilight collapsed herself, her magic reserves finally spent.

“Twilly!” Shining called as he ran over to catch her “You okay.”

“I’m fine big brother, let’s get moving. We still have to reach those defences.”

Twilight and the rest of the group quickly made their way to the broken down exit, carefully stepping over the Shadows’ motionless forms. Before they made it outside however, Twilight became dizzy and stumbled.

“Whoa there Twi,” Applejack said as she stopped her from falling. “you should take it easy; all that magic just now must’ve taken a lot outta’ you.”

“Thanks AJ, I should be fine after a-“

They were interrupted by a scream far to their right. One of the Shadows had already gotten back up, and had cornered Fluttershy away from her friends. It bore its’ fangs as it moved in, eager to feed on its’ adorable prey.

Before it could get closer however, there was a loud “crack”. It ceased its’ growls and yelped in surprise before whipping around to see Rainbow dash standing there with a wound-up towel in her mouth. Its’ surprise turned to anger as it lunged at Rainbow. But Rainbow caught it by the neck and shoved the towel in its’ mouth.

“Oh, no you don’t! Not to me again, and definitely not to Fluttershy.” She yelled at it in a badass tone before bucking it into an open locker, which was then slammed closed by Gilda.

“Nice one Dash! Reminds me of flight camp.” She and Rainbow shared a fist/hoof bump “You okay over there Flutters?”

“I’m okay. Thanks you two.” Fluttershy affirmed.

“Right, let’s get out of here.”

The streets were in utter chaos, the ponies who escaped the stadium were being chased by the hundreds of shadows while the blizzard continued to cover the streets and rooftops in a blanket of powder. Even those who tried to hide inside of buildings were eventually found and dragged back out into the streets to be fed upon. Some were even thrown from the upper windows into the claws and tendrils of their near feral assailants.

The Shadows were clearly enjoying themselves with such a feast. Instead of simply feeding on the ponies they captured and discarding them like candy wrappers, they went out of their way to terrorize their victims. They slung spells which exploded around them, ransacked buildings and homes, and threw many frightened ponies through the air to each other like a demented game of catch.

A particular celebrity from Canterlot and his elegant marefriend were in the midst of such a game.

“I say, this is quite unpleasant!”

*Pose*

“How uncivilized!”

*Pose*

“Put us down at once, I’m warning you!”

*Pose*

Several loud thumps sounded out across the street, followed by a pair of sickening cracks.

“… well I did warn them.” Said a sophisticated voice as its’ owner carefully wiped the ichor stains from his suit “Come along my dear, let's find some place to hide.”

The pink and white mare happily trotted up to him as they went on their way.

Twilight, her friends, and their newfound companions ran through the crowded streets; dodging past shadows and around the scattered debris of uprooted plants, overturned stands, and bits of broken wall.

Drawn by the large concentration of potential victims, several more Shadows joined the chase, diving at them from all angles. It was all Twilight and her friends could do to dodge out of the way. Their attempts to fend them off were altogether unsuccessful as the Shadows deftly avoid melee their strikes, and were unfazed by all but their strongest spells.

They continued to run, ducking through alleys and hiding under Shining armors’ shield when they were forced into the open.

After several blocks, and more than a few detours the group finally made it to the central tower. As they climbed the steps leading to the main doors, dozens of survivors, guard and civilian alike, flocked to them for salvation.

“Everypony get inside!” Shining yelled to them as he swung the massive doors open with his magic.

The ponies weren’t the only ones to take heed of this however, as their demonic pursuers tried to follow them inside. Shining and Cadance intervened, putting a barrier across the threshold as they entered. The fleeing ponies were let through, while the Shadows access was blocked as they began draining the shield. When the last of the ponies made it through, the door was shut and barred.

“That ought to keep them out for a while.” Applejack commented.

At that moment, several large bulges were pushed into the inside of the door from the shadows pounding on it outside.

“Yikes, maybe not.”

“You ponies still jinxing things over there?” Gilda called.

Meanwhile, Shining was talking to a pair of guards that had been hiding in the tower since the attack.

“What do you mean we can’t use it? It’s our best chance right now.” Shining asked them.

“It’s just what it sounds like, sir.” responded the one on the left. “We tried to turn it on as soon as we saw there was trouble. But before we could start it-“

“Something happened that messed up the magic targeting system. If we use it now we won’t be able to control what it hits.” the one on the right finished for his friend.

“We’d hit our own people as much as the monsters that are after them.”

“Darn it,” Shining cursed under his breath “I thought for sure that would work. What else could possibly go wro- hrmph!”

"Will. You. Quit it!?" Gilda seethed as she clamped Shinings' mouth shut.

Back in the entry hall, ponies were busy barricading the main door with whatever they could move, while others were trying to find their families, or some place to hide. During the commotion, Spike pushed his way through the crowd to regroup with Twilight and the rest.

“Twilight!” Spike ran over and greeted them “Am I ever glad to see all of you.”

“Spike, I’m glad you’re safe. Grab a quill and some paper; I need you to send a message to Canterlot.” Twilight explained.

“We need reinforcements, someone to cover us while we evacuate.” Shining added.

“I know!” Spike yelled “I’ve already tried sending like a million! But they don’t go anywhere, they just burn up and come right back! My magic flame won’t take them for some reason!”

“Celestia…” Twilight whispered as the realization dawned on her “She’s really gone… she and Luna are both- No! I can’t focus on that now! We need to figure out another way.”

“But what can we do?” Rarity asked “These things are downright invincible.”

“And they don’t even go for my chimmy-cherry-changas!” Pinkie recounted the time she tried to distract a group of Shadows by throwing a plate of the cherry treats over their heads. They barely shot it a passing glance. “I made those with LOVE! Changelings are supposed to like that stuff!”

“I hope we think of something soon,” Fluttershy chimed in “Because I don’t think that door will hold out much longer.”

Meanwhile, somewhere in the market district several children and their teacher hid behind the counter of a small gift shop. They had taken cover there once they escaped the stadium.

“Shh, don’t worry kids, everything will be fine, but we need to stay very quiet.” Cheerliee told them in a hushed whisper.

Their field trip had turned into a nightmare; she had no idea what was going to happen. First that evil changeling showed up, and even the Princesses together couldn’t stop him, then those monsters came and started taking everypony. It was like the royal wedding at Canterlot all over again, only this time there was no spur-of-the-moment miracle to save them.

Cheerilee had seen so many others get pulled off into the sky or get drained right on the spot; she worried about what the children were going through. It was by sheer luck that they had all gotten away safely; she had taking a silent roll call eleven times before she finally believed that her precious students were all still with her.

“What about everyone else? The monsters will get them.” one of the children said to her before looking out at the storefront.

Cheerilee quickly pulled him back, fearing he would be seen.

“I want to go home.” whimpered another.

“Don’t worry, Rainbow dash and her friends will save us!” an orange pegasus filly told them “You should have seen how she slammed into those creeps and started kicking flank. POW! They were running scarred!”

“Are you kidding me?” a filly with a tiara asked in a demeaning tone “You think they could save us from all THIS?”

“As a matter of fact, we DO.” a filly with an oversized bow stepped in.

“Yeah, our sisters are probably out there doing everything they can.” a white unicorn with a streaked mane added. “We’re going to be just fine.”

“Then why are we still hiding then? If they’re really going to save the day like they always do, then why haven’t they done it already? How do we know they’re not already DEAD like everypony else?!”

“Diamond tiara! That’s a horrible thing to say!” Cheerilee scolded “We’re all going to be okay, I promise. We just have to have some faith and give them time.” she assured them

There was a bang and the sound of shattering glass outside.

“Everypony be very quiet now. Close your eyes and think of something happy.”

The children did as they were told, some more reluctantly than others. They thought of their families, of their homes, of warm summer days. They remembered running through fields of grass, picnics in the parks of Ponyville, going to Pinkies parties at Sugercube corner.

Then something changed in their minds, and they thought of all the ponies dying outside, how they would never get to see their friends or families again, how everything they cared about would burn to the ground as they were helpless to stop it.

They shivered as the air in the shop became bone-chillingly cold, the warmth between them fading. A raspy voice echoed throughout the room and into their ears “The snack that smiles back…”

They looked up to see the Shadow standing before them. Its’ gaze fixed firmly on them; hunger glinting in its’ cold, emotionless eyes. It licked its’ scabby lips with its’ long thin tongue.

“Children.”

They screamed at the top of their frightened lungs as the Shadow slowly stalked its’ way forward.

“Stay away!” Cheerilee yelled, taking a defensive stance between her students and the soul-eating beast before her.

The Shadows’ mouth cracked and curled into a sinister grin as it snatched her off the floor and easily ignored her punches and struggling.

In seconds, Cheerilee felt cold and limp as the Shadow fed on her. Her vision was about to fade completely when the encroaching cold ceased its’ advance into her being. A flash of bright red caught her eye as she was dropped to the floor. She heard a horrid shrieking as an explosion of light filled the room around them, followed by a trickle of pink ash.

The terrified children watched as the Shadow was disintegrated before them. Before them stood a figure roughly the size of a mare, covered from head to tail in tight black and red clothing. A hood covered its’ head except for its’ curved horn. It had large red circles of glass and a vent for a face; a gas mask.

It looked at them silently, watching their faces. Then, slowly, it walked over to Cheerilee, who was still lying on the floor. The children didn’t dare to move. Its’ horn lit up in a soft silver glow; this glow worked itself into a thin, steady stream that flowed into Cheerilees’ mouth and torso. The pony helped her to her hooves when she had recovered enough to stand.

“Come with us,” It said to her in a gravelly and distorted voice. “we’ll protect you.”

Cavalry’s here, it’s getting real

Back in the crystal tower, the door was being slowly but surely smashed to pieces by the Shadows outside. High up as they were, the windows had also come under attack and had been re-blocked over and over as the Shadows had kept trying to scratch their way inside any way they could. One by one, as the thresholds broke beyond repair; Shining and Cadance threw up more and more barriers to seal them up again. Each new patch added a new level of strain to them, and it took all of their concentration to maintain them as the Shadows intently begin to claw at any that appeared.

Twilight entwined her own magic into the shields, unleashing a burning sensation onto whatever touched them. She just barely succeeded in casting her spell before her magic reserves were depleted once again. The Shadows currently feeding on the shields’ energy flailed in the air and shrieked in protest. After a few seconds, more had taken their place and began to blast at the tower with spells of their own, sending shockwaves running through the large room.

“What do we do now?” Spike asked as he held on to Twilight.

“I don’t know!” Twilight responded, searching through her massive bank of knowledge for any kind of solution “Nothing seems to keep these bucking things off of us!”

For a few short moments all was quiet. Ponies looked up and listened. Then the main doors and a large segment of surrounding wall were blown apart entirely, sending chunks of crystal brick and a half a sofa flying every which way.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl, the next several seconds playing out as though the world were covered in molasses.

Everypony was knocked over or sent flying back by the force of the explosion. The remaining shields imploded and dissolved as Shining and Cadance were sent tumbling into the receptionists desk.

Pieces of wall clattered against the floor like stones skipped across a lake. Larger chunks came crashing down as ponies were crushed and trapped beneath them. Shadows swooped in by the dozen, each diving strait for the prey of their choice, and there were plenty to choose from.

One lunged at a stallion who had his back legs pinned underneath an overturned bench. Three others pursued a group of crystal ponies as they turned to run; one of them already in a Shadows claws, screaming for help as they dug into her flesh.

These scenes, and many more like them were at the forefront of Twilights’ attention as she saw it all play out in perfect focus, but none were quite so clear as the ones involving herself and her friends.

To her left, Applejack was poised like a spring, tensed to the limit and ready to hit the Shadow rushing towards her with a buck that could level mountains.

Rarity was beside her levitating shards of crystal and glass honed to knifepoints, ready the slice apart the next threat they were aimed at. And to Twilights’ right, Rainbow and Gilda leapt forth to tackle their assailants head on while Fluttershy stood guard over a pair of children that were trapped underneath a magazine rack, literally staring down the Shadow that sought to make them a meal.

Out of the corner of her vision she saw Pinkie, who appeared to be wearing a helmet and a jersey, wielding… a chainsaw strapped to a baseball bat? The question as to where she got those things in a place like this escaped Twilight as her attention was brought to focus solely on the Shadow diving through the air towards her as she lay collapsed on the floor; its’ claws and tendrils outstretched, and mouth open wide.

However, what she didn’t notice as her life flashed before her eyes was the bursts of light outside. Nor did she notice the lone figure in black and red step into the room, and draw back its’ bowstring.

Before another second could pass, several flaming red bolts hit the Shadows claiming victims.

Twilight watched as the Shadow before her was turned to hot, glowing dust as the attacks from her friends connected, wounding and knocking their targets back.

More of the ponies in black and red moved in, their bows drawn as well.

Bolts were released again, this time tethering themselves to the Shadows they hit with barbed tips and steel cables.

As the Shadows struggled against their bonds, a black blur tore through the room. With a flurry of sword strikes and movement almost too quick to see, each remaining Shadow was cut down, falling in dismembered piles that oozed black slime across the floor.

As the dust and ash cleared, seven figures in black and red stood before them. The ponies -and griffon- looked to their supposed saviors with confusion, fear, and general unease as they gazed back with menacing red eyes. One of them, slightly taller than the others, sheathed her swords and stepped forward.

“Don’t worry; we’re here to rescue you.”

The ponies cheered and let out sighs of relief at this. “Thank you!” one yelled.

“You’re welcome!” one of the soldiers responded.

She quickly walked over to where Cadance and Shining were while the others lowered their weapons as well, and moved to aid those hurt before they arrived.

“Ah don’t mean to sound ungrateful,” Applejack started as she and the others joined their new ally, save for Twilight, who was already helping her brother and former foal-sitter. “but who in tarnation are all of you?”

“In a second” She dismissed. "I need to make sure they're alright."

Shortly after, when they neared their destination, Cadances’ eyes opened wider as she watched them approach.

“Galendra, is that you under that mask?” Cadance asked.

“Cadenza, I’m glad you’re oka-“

Before she could say another word, Cadance met her halfway and threw a hug around her; much to the surprise of their audience, and even the other participant.

“It-It’s good to see you too.” said Galendra as she carefully returned the hug.

“You two know each other?” asked Shining and Twilight simultaneously.

“It’s a really long story.” Cadance replied, finally breaking away.

“My name is Galendra; I’m in command of the Crimson special operations units.” she explained “We came as soon as we realized Wither and his Dominion came through to your world. I’m sorry we didn't get here sooner.”

“It’s alright, you’re here now.”

“And just in time too.” Shining added.

“Right, I see the element bearers are all here, which is good.” Galendra noted “But what of your immortal rulers, where are they right now?”

Everypony around Galendra turned solemn when she mentioned Celestia and Luna.

“They confronted Wither when he first showed up.” Twilight explained “It… it didn’t go well for them.” she choked slightly on the words as they came out “Th- they’re... they’re both…”

Galendra didn't need Twilight to finish in order to know what happened. She turned away and was silent for a few moments. “Where is he now?” she asked calmly “I’ll have his head on a plate for this!”

“He left,” Pinkie informed her “after he let his evil minions loose on us he shot off above the clouds. He’s probably still there, evilly watching us while evilly eating evil popcorn of evil!”

“Oh no.” Galendra whispered as she realized Withers’ intentions.

“"Oh no" is right! I want some popcorn too; he needs to learn how to share!”

“No not that!” Galendra shoved Pinkies popcorn craving out of the way “He’s probably up there charging a doomsday spell, just like he did on Drakmord. If he took the princesses energy, it won’t take him long to finish; you need to evacuate the city!”

“That’s what we’ve been trying to do!” Rainbow dash chimed in “There’s no way out with all these Shadow jerks around!”

“My spec ops have been clearing the city since we arrived; we’ll make a way out.” Galendra told them before motioning to her guards

“Crick, Zie-eel! I’ll send a squad to secure the train station. Make sure these ponies get there.”

“Consider it done commander.” Zie-eel saluted.

“Wait, where are you going?” Cadance asked as Galendra turned to leave.

“To try and interrupt Withers’ spell, or slow him down at the very least. If he fires that thing off the whole city and everyone in it will be dust. The rest of my forces will protect your people while they make a run for it.”

Galendra kicked off from the ground and took flight, ascending the tower.

She magically projected her voice so it would reach throughout the city, and began her warning.

“Attention citizens of Equestria, the Crimson alliance is here to help you! Go with our soldiers, they’ll escort you to the train station. You will not be safe if you stay here. Do NOT wait, and do NOT hide. Time is of the essence, as are your lives!”

“Crimson,” she addressed her soldiers “find and save as many as you can; fly them out yourselves if you have to. No one gets left behind.”

With one last order given, Galendra flew to the top of the spire confront Wither.

Slashing established plans

Outside, the blizzard had finally relented, allowing the devastation to be seen unobstructed. Bodies lay motionless in the streets and columns of smoke rose into the air. All over the empire brief flashes of red and purple light could be seen from the sky, while on the ground, craters and piles of rubble were left in their wake as the Crimson Spec-ops and the Dominions’ Shadows battled it out.

The large group of ponies from the tower galloped through the streets of the empire towards the train station; Twilight and the rest leading them onwards, while Crick and Zie-eel protected them from the air.

Heavy fighting continued around them as they weaved around the fires and debris that covered the streets.

The Crimson spec-ops worked to save as many ponies as they could. Most came to them, willingly and eager; while others were wounded or left discarded by the Shadows after being drained, but as Galendra ordered, the Spec-ops made sure to not leave anypony behind, loading the fallen onto carts and dragging them out of harms’ way.

Even as they fought off the relentless Shadows, they scoured the streets; searching house by house for anyone who hadn’t heeded Galendras’ warning.

As they keep running, the Spec ops would bring other escaping citizens to the fleeing crowd before leaving again to search for more survivors, more and more ponies joined the group heading to the train station until it became less of a crowd and more of a living river, coursing through the streets.

The Spec-ops already had their hooves full with the Shadows repeatedly dive-bombing the crowd and carrying off whomever they could grab, or slinging magic fire-bombs into the clustered group. But they soon realized they had a new danger to contend with as the panic level dramatically increased.

“Everyone calm it down!” one Spec-ops yelled to them from above, popping blue flares to grab their attention “Keep moving in an orderly fashion, and don’t panic! And for crying out loud, stop trampling each other.”

The flood of ponies beneath him responded by doing the complete opposite of what he had just said.

Suddenly, another Spec-ops frantically flew towards the group of stampeding, terrified ponies from the direction they were headed.

“Not this way! There’s too many to-”

He wasn’t allowed to finish before he was engulfed by a swarm of at least forty Shadows headed right for the crowd of tasty bites. The entire crowd skid to a halt, ponies in the rear crashing into the ones in front of them in what would otherwise have been a hilarious “pony domino effect”.

Before they’re set upon like grain to a swarm of locusts, Zie-eel motioned to the remaining spec ops guarding the group. “Ready your Helix-bows!” she told them “Crick, with me!”

“On it!” he confirmed.

What followed next was a display of teamwork combined with raw arcane power that even Rainbow dash would consider “huh, not too shabby there”.

Zie-eel charged up her body in a cone of red flame and shot towards the flock of Shadows, smashing through them much like Rainbow dash had done mere hours before, but with more fire and much more effect. She quickly followed up by unleashing several nova pulses right in the center of the densely packed swarm, melting those closest to the explosion and scattering the rest.

After this, Zie-eel was left almost fully drained, and fell to the ground unable to move, but Crick was by her side in less than a second to cover her. As he raised his bow, he channeled a spell into his next shot. The rest of the archers followed suit, and several bolts trailed by barbed chains were released from each of them, ensnaring the remaining Shadows and tearing them to bloody shreds as they angrily attempted to get free.

Seconds later, the Shadows were nothing but ribbons of flesh and bone being scattered on the breeze, and the ponies were led forward once more.

The train station had become the center of attention ever since Galendra told the ponies to head there, and while most rescue teams were out scouring the city for survivors, nearly two dozen Spec ops had to defend the station from the more daring Shadows as the ponies flocked to them for a way out of the nightmare hole their kingdom had become.

Every other minute or so, another Crimson soldier would get knocked out of the sky or off the rooftops, their comrades rushing over to take their place.

As Twilight and the main group arrived they found several Spec-ops already getting the trains ready to depart.

Once they were inside, Twilight heard a few hurried conversations between the Crimson Spec-ops.

“- are only two trains on standby in the station; I don’t think we’ll be able to fit them all on.”

“Get the stage coaches from the streets, can use those to carry them out once we evacuate as many as we can from here.”

…

“-got a large group held up in the library, need a team to get them out!”

…

“I’m sorry; I can’t help you find your mommy and daddy. Just get on the train and everything will be fine.”

…

“Sir we’ve got a problem! Shadows are moving down the tracks to intercept the trains when they leave!”

“Then get some guards on top of the trains, one on each car, two on the engine and caboose. Make sure they leave safely!”

“The trains will be leaving here in a few minutes, you all get on board.” Crick explained to the Twilight and the rest “Zie-eel and I need to get back in the fight, good luck.”

“Wait!” Twilight tried to stop them “I still have so many questions!”

“I’ll tell you everything when we’re not in the middle of a war-zone, promise.” Zie-eel told her. It was hard to tell through her mask, but

somehow Twilight knew she was sincere. “All you need to know right now is that your world open to ours now, and the Dominion is looking to destroy your entire race. But we’re not like them, and we’ll do all we can to make sure they don’t.”

With that, Crick and Zie-eel took to the sky.

“Don’t worry Twilight,” Applejack put a hoof on her shoulder “you’ll get all the answers you want in due time. But right now we’ve got bigger things to focus on.”

“You’re right, but there’s just so much happening right now; this “Dominion” invading, these Crimson ponies trying to save us… and the Princesses. I can’t believe their actually gone.”

The trains’ whistles blew, its doors opened, and ponies began frantically filling onboard.

“I do believe this is our ride,” Rarity informed them “quickly now.”

Before they got on board the train however, a voice called out to them.

“Well hello there!”

They looked up to see a Shadow in bandages and a tattered black trench coat standing behind them waving the crystal heart.

The ponies around him immediately scattered away.

“You wouldn’t leave without this would you? You see if you-”

Before another word could be said, the Crimson spec-ops had already drawn their helix-bows and opened fire.

The bolts struck him, but instead of turning him to ash like the others, they harmlessly plinked off him, leaving his coat singed.

“Oh for crying out-

“Don’t”

“inter-“

“-rupt me”

“While I’m”

“monologuing!”

Each word was punctuated by a blast of ashes thrown at the Spec-ops firing at him. Each one he hit fell to the ground, writhing in pain.

Several more attempted to hack at them with their hyper-talons, but he swiftly dodged their swings and either kicked them into the walls, smashed them into the ceiling, stomped them into the floor so hard it left cracks, or in the case of one special soldier, broke a chair over his head; a crystal chair.

“Anyone ELSE feel like interrupting me?!” he asked after he finished his beat-down.

To the horror of everyone, one stallion on board the train raised his hoof. “Umm, I might.”

“Oh get the f-yay-k out of here, you stupid pr-yay-k!”

His bandages became like snakes as he channeled his power through them; they lashed out, entangling Twilight and her friends and dragged them over.

“Aww man, not again!” Rainbow dash said, indignantly.

“My name is Slash if you’re wondering.” he introduced himself “So here’s the deal. If you want, you can just get on that train and ride off. But could you really leave, knowing that you could have them back?”

He shoved the crystal heart in her face. Through its’ crystalline structure they saw faces, ones that were very familiar, because, though they were distorted, anyone could recognize the Princesses of Equestria if they saw them.

“Princess!” Twilight yelled to the faces in the heart.

“Let’s make this into a game.” Slash suggested “I won’t fly, try to fight, or use magic to harm you in any way. If you can take it from me before I escape with it, it’s yours.” He laid out the rules for them to hear “So how about it Princess Sparklebutt and friends, feeling up for a chase?”

He released them and began to run away from the station.

Twilight shared a quick glance with her friends; Rainbow dash, Applejack, Pinkie pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity. Cadance and Shining armor joined them as well, even Spike stepped forward. None of them had to think twice before running off in pursuit of the heart.

Chasing down a hope

Twilight and her friends rushed back out into the streets, looking all around for Slash and the crystal heart. They saw fires, ruined buildings, and wanton destruction everywhere they looked, but could see no sign of the Changeling. Until…

“Hey, what are we all looking at?”

They turned around, and there was Slash, standing in their midst with a giant grin on his face.

“Hi”

“Get him” Rainbow and Applejack yelled as they dove for him. Their heads bonked together as Slash ducked out of the way and kept running.

He didn’t get far however, as a glowing wall materialized in his path. Slash skidded to a halt and made a hard right into an alley; Twilight and the others in pursuit. Seeing her chance, Twilight teleported to the other end of the alley as Rainbow, Cadance, and Fluttershy took to the air, the rest moving in on foot.

“We’ve got you sorrounded!” She yelled.

“No you don’t, you’re just in the way.” Slash replied as he picked up Twilight in his magic grasp and kept running.

“Hey, no fair!” Twilight objected “You said you wouldn’t use magic!”

“Yeah, to hurt you. This doesn’t hurt does it?” Slash responded with a laugh as he threw her into a news stand further down the street. “Oh, and hurt pride doesn’t count.”

“Hey you!” Pinkie yelled, appearing out of the same news stand Twilight was thrown into. “Nopony does that to Pinkies’ friends! Saaaay CHEESE!” She proceeded to pelt him with blocks of assorted cheeses while yelling various cheese-based puns.

Slash managed to get away after being pummeled with an entire wheel of Gouda, and Pinkies “Gouda know ya’” pun by dodging into a warehouse. Twilight and the rest followed inside.

Inside the warehouse, it was nearly impossible to see anything, and smelled strongly of scented candles. Twilight ignited her horn in a dim glow; Rarity, Shining, and Cadance did so as well. Finally able to observe their surroundings, they noticed the lack of windows and the mountains of crates piled high before them.

“This must be one of those new storage buildings;” Twilight mused “built after the empire reappeared in order to hold the new imports being shipped into the city.”

“That’s great Twi, but maybe we should focus on finding this jerk so that we can get the Princesses back.” Rainbow dash reminded her as she flew up to the ceiling for a better view.

“Oh, right.” Twilight replied sheepishly before beginning her search with the others.They split into four groups, one unicorn in each providing light.

“Anypony see anything yet?” Spike called out.

“I can see a lot of boxes, and even some crates!” Pinkie replied from atop some boxes. Spike rolled his eyes.

“Nothing over here, but keep your guard up; he could be anywhere.” Shining warned them as he looked past another pile of crates.

“It’s so dark in here.” Fluttershy noted in a timid voice.

“Ah know,” Applejack agreed “I can hardly see my hoof in front of my face.”

“That’s why…” Slash’s voice whispered from seemingly everywhere in the darkness. Before every single crate burst open, their contents instantly alight; flooding the area with an overwhelming bright light.

“I FREAKING LOVE CANDLES!” Slash shouted from atop the tallest stack of crates as though he were the king of burning scented wax. With his love of candles declared, he kicked the tower over and made his escape from the now burning building and magically blocked the door behind him; several crates exploding in his wake. Twilight and the rest rushed over to the door only to discover this fact as they tried to open it.

“Everypony out of the way.” Applejack told them as she spun around and bucked at the doors. They came out of the ordeal indented with a pair of hoof-shaped, but didn’t budge in the slightest. “Aw nuts! These things are bolted down tight.”

“Well we need to get out of here;” Rainbow yelled as she body-slammed the doors. “this place is burning up fast.”

“Everyone chill out,” Spike said as he stepped forward with a confident grin “I got this.”

He faced the door as the others gave him some room. He took a long, deep inhale. The smoke began to clear, the fires dimmed until they were extinguished, and the room was once more plunged into darkness. Then a bright white flame erupted from Spikes’ jaws as he exhaled. Several seconds of an intense cone of flame melted through the solid steel door like a giant blowtorch, and soon they had their way out.

“Wow Spike, that was incredible.” Twilight complemented him as they made their way outside. The others shared their praise as well.

“I knew you had a certain affinity for fire, but I never imagined you could manage anything on that large of a scale.” Rarity told him, wide-eyed.

“Yeah, the fire was all “Shoom”. And then you made it go all “Fwoosh”! And that door just went “blub blub blub”.” Rainbow reenacted through sound effects.

“Yeah, I’ve been working on that one for a while now.” Spike said, slightly coughing up excess smoke “Trying to make myself more useful for when the bad guys show up.” He explained “You know, like they do every other week.” He mumbled to himself.

=====

For nearly an hour, the chase led them all across the crystal empire; ducking into and out of ruined buildings and homes, through the market street, and past more than a few of fire-fights between the remaining Crimson and Dominion forces. Each time Slash was within their reach, he would pull some nasty trick and get away, usually leaving behind a not-so-clever insult. Once he even tried to use Fluttershy as a meat-shield before she turned The Stare on him. He narrowly escaped by clothes-pinning his eyes shut and flinging her into a tree.

Finally, after their chase had led them back to the base of the crystal tower, they found Slash sitting on the pedestal where the heart would normally be; a bored expression across his entire body.

“Well… I have to say I’m disappointed.” he said in a monotone as Twilight and the rest reached him, most of them on the verge of exhaustion. “I expected more of a fight out of Equetrias’ greatest defenders.”

“I don’t care… what you wanted. Just give us the Princesses back.” Twilight yelled at him as best she could, considering how out of breath she was.

“Hmm…” he tapped his chin “yeah, okay.”

To everyone’s surprise, Slash stepped off the pedestal and calmly walked towards them. Twilight tensed up as he got closer to her, her friends were ready to spring on him the second he tried to hurt her. But instead he simply held out the crystal heart in his hole-ridden hoof for her to take. There was a nervous pause and an awkward silence.

“What are you waiting for, just take it.” Slash said in a slightly mocking tone.

Twilight kept her gaze on Slash as she hesitantly raised her own hoof, and quickly snatched the heart away. She let out the breath she had been holding and took several steps backwards; the heart now safely in her grasp.

“Oh and one little thing,” Slash smirked at them “I lied about that whole ‘their souls are trapped inside, you can free them’ speech. You can’t actually bring them back, they’re gone.”

“WHAT?!” everypony else yelled in unison.

In her anger, Twilight lit her horn charged at Slash. “You dirty little-” In hindsight, this was not the wisest decision. Slash stood his ground as his bandages whipped around Twilight, lifting her off the ground and squeezing tightly around her neck. Shining was the first to respond, hitting Slash with a blast from his horn. Slash staggered, but remained standing; he threw up a wall of flame before anyone else could try to slug him, much like Wither had done in the stadium. Spike attempted to eat the flames as he had done before in the warehouse, but the fire was not the same; it had an evil quality to it, and in seconds he was coughing and chocking on the black flames.

Inside the cone, Twilight struggled against the bandages choking her, managing to pull them off and drop down to the floor.

“You said that we could bring the Princesses back if we got the heart from you!” Twilight yelled in outrage before casting an arc-lightning as powerful as she could muster. “You LIAR!” The massive bolt would have struck Slash directly in the chest if he hadn’t deflected it with a spell of his own. Though neither spell connected with its’ target, both Slash and Twilight felt the backlash from their magics colliding.

“And believing me was your mistake. Thinking you were ever a challenge was mine.” Slash said as he turned away indifferently, shrugging off the knockback from the spell. “You’re weak compared to me Twilight Sparkle, you and all your friends. Get stronger, we’ll meet again when you’re ready to give me a true challange. Until then, remember today.”

Slash’s body slowly turned to ashes, scattering away on the wind as the wall of flames dispersed.

The wind howled and roared above the darkened skies of the empire. Lightning struck frequently among the storm clouds. A tornado of sleet and snow engulfed the crystal tower, and for the second time in the last year, a battle between good and evil raged at the top.

Wither had left himself completely unprotected while he prepared his spell, and for the past hour and a half, Galendra had been hacking and blasting at Wither with everything she had. But Wither proved that unprotected wasn’t nearly the same as defenseless as he blocked or avoided nearly all of Galendras’ strikes.

“Hold still you freak!” Galendra shouted over the wind “I’m going to kill you for what you’ve done here.”

“How about you back off? I’m doing what should have been done long ago; I’m doing what’s right!” Wither yelled back as he threw a flying kick at Galendra.

“Butchering innocent people, draining them to death? Is that what you think is right?” Galendra asked as she dodged and parried before striking back.

“Innocent people, no. But them? Yes… yes every time.” Wither said, his voice dripping with malice “How could you call them innocent?” he swiped “Knowing what you know- what we ALL know.” he deflected Galendras’ blades once more “And why would you Crimson shut-ins intervene now? After millennia of no involvement what so ever, why would you defend them?!” his claws clashed against her blades.

“Because we’ve watched them like you have, but we’ve seen how things have changed. Thousands of years have passed since the sundering, since the hunts!” Galendra continued to hack and stab at Wither “They may have been the worst monsters we had ever known once, but I’ve seen for a fact that it’s not true anymore. I won’t let you take them!” Galendra knocked Wither back and ran him through with her swords.

Now impaled on her blades, Wither hovered there, nearly motionless.

“But Galendra, don’t you see?” Wither hung there limply as he looked up to meet Galendras’ eyes “That’s exactly what they are, and I was stupid to think they could be anything else. They…will all… Die.”

Galendra tore through Wither when he said that; her blades hacking and cleaving at his form, black ichor gushing from his body with every swing, again and again until she finally went for the neck, pouring the last of her momentum into one final strike; decapitated Wither in a single, clean cut.

She breathed heavily, her neck and shoulders slumped. “You’re wrong Wither; I’ve seen how things have changed, how they have changed, and how good they can be if they’re given the chance. You can’t be right about them. They’re not the merciless imperials that hunted us down so long ago. I have to believe that they’re better than what we all remember.”

“I knew someone who thought the same thing once.” Wither materialized behind her, speaking in a dead serious tone “She gave them a chance to prove her right, and they tore the world apart!” his tone became much more angry “I’m so sick of you idiots wanting to beg those monsters for forgiveness, when they should be apologizing to US for what THEY did!”

“Maybe we didn’t deserve what happened to us.” Galendra reasoned “But what we tried to do was a horrible mistake!”

“IT WAS NOT A MISTAKE!” He yelled, the wind picking up as his anger flared. “If it was, then where was their kindness when we needed their help most? Where were they when we were starving to death? I’ll tell you where, they were hunting us down and

KILLING US! They knew what we did would make us gods among them if we ever got it right, and they feared us enough to attempt genocide!” Wither screamed as the blizzard grew more intense.

“And now, you’re saving them from us so that if they don’t decide to kill you all when this is over, then maybe they’ll like you enough to accept you all again, and welcome you back to their side like old times- You unbelievable moron!”

“When they decide to betray you, I hope you remember that I was right.” Wither told her, having finally calmed down to his normal cold, calculating demeanor.

“Oh and by the way… my spell is finally done charging.”

Wither then shot a wave of black sludge at Galendra. Before she could move, her legs and wings were covered in the slime, forbidding her from staying airborne and sending her plummeting to the ground hundreds of feet below.