Bionicle: Equestrian Saga Book 2 'Fall of Equestria'

Chapters

1 Light in the Dark
2 Call to arms
3 Union of lands
5 Battle for Appleloosa pt2
6 a brief interlude
7 Battle for Manehatten
8
9 Battle for Ponyville Pt. 1
10 Battle for Ponyville Pt. 2
11 M.C. Escher F.T.W.
12 Hearts of protosteel
13 Epilogue
4 Battle for Appleloosa pt1

1 Light in the Dark

Celestia was in a bed, recovering. I was trying to understand how Teridax managed to overpower not one, but two 1 thousand year old Alicorns.

“He’s been recruiting ponies” Luna said, we were both stood outside the hospital room “but they aren’t ponies any more, they’re…changed” I suddenly remembered something.

“Were they bipedal, generally reptilian or bat-like in appearance and roughly 14 feet tall?” I asked, she nodded and I punched the wall in rage, embedding my fist in the solid protodermis “FOR FUCKS SAKE, HE FUCKING WARNED ME AND I DIDN’T FUCKING LISTEN!!!”

“Who?” Luna asked.

“Red Dawn” I said “Autumn Skies ex-boyfriend, he now goes by the name of Sauradox and matches that description almost perfectly. I still don’t understand why he would warn us, he fucking hates me plus he’s kind of an arsehole”

“Maybe deep down he cares about Autumn enough to warn you?” Luna suggested, I shrugged.

“Fuck knows” I said “I’m just really pissed off that I let this fucking happen”

“Do you have to swear so much?” Luna asked.

“Yes” I said “it stops me from going to Canterlot on my own and killing myself trying to stop Teridax. Oh fuck, what’s going to happen to our friends in Canterlot, what about the Crystal Empire?”

“We can only hope and pray that Teridax isn’t too cruel” Luna said, I nodded.

“Thankfully he isn’t the type to kill unless provoked” I said “which is why we need to keep the elements of Harmony from getting back to Equestria, teach them to fight” Luna smirked.

“What luck that I and my sister are both members of an organisation that is the sworn enemy of Teridax” she said.

“What!?” I exclaimed “both of you!? I could understand Celestia but you’ve been on the moon for 1’000 years, how could the Order…?” Luna cut me off by jamming a hoof in my mouth.

“Not here” she hissed “I’ll explain on the way”

“What do you mean ‘on the way’?” I asked making quotation marks with my hands.

“Do you want to get help or not?” she asked “we need to get the former elements as well, and the Neu-Toa…” she then began listing off everyone that would need training.

“Let’s just get everyone that can fight and go” I said, deadpanning.

*later at an undisclosed location*

I was stood outside the fortress of the Order of Mata Nui along with Luna and the former elements and the ship was a short distance away, Luna turned to all of us.

“What you are about to see, you must never tell anyone outside of those who will also become members” she said “I would actually have to kill you if you did” Fluttershy whimpered.

“Why?” Rainbow asked.

“There are two groups who enforce Mata Nui’s will” Luna said “Toa like Vuur Koning are for doing deeds in the public eye, the Order of Mata Nui on the other hoof do the more secrete work”

“Ooh-ooh-ooh” Pinkie pie said “you mean like Ninjas?” she then struck a Kung Fu pose and I swear I could hear a gong go off somewhere, Luna rolled her eyes.

“If you like” Luna said, she then walked up to the huge door and knocked on it. After a few moments a grey and black Toa with a Kenohi in the shape of a Hau opened the door.

“L-Luna!?” the Toa said, obviously surprised “What brings you here”

“I need to speak to Helryx” She said “sooner rather than later”

“What about your friends?” he asked.

“Their coming with me” she said, in a tone that said she couldn’t be swayed in the matter.

“Oh, okay” the Toa said, before stepping aside to let us through, he raised an eyebrow at the Technicolor ponies as they trotted past, Rarity humphed as she trotted past with her head held high. Luna led us through a long hallway towards a set of doors, just as we reached them Rainbow exclaimed.

“Whoa, hey!” she exclaimed as an invisible force grabbed her and hung her upside down by her tail. She began trying to get free and I heard a chuckle.

“Feisty one, ain’t she?” I heard Jerbraz remark “Hey, Luna, hey, Vuur Koning”

“WHAT!?” all of the ponies exclaimed, looking at me, I shrugged.

“Need-to-know only” I said, simply, Jerbraz chuckled

“He’s good” Jerbraz said, before dropping Rainbow on the ground.

“Am Ah the only one who’s just a tinsy bit unnerved that yawl can’t see im?” Applejack asked, looking around frantically.

“You can’t see his sword either” I said, all of the ponies went pale.

“Dude” Rainbow Dash said, crossing her for hooves and scowling at me “not cool”

“Doesn’t make it any less true” Jerbraz said from behind Rainbow, said spectrum maned pony shot into the air and ended up hanging from a chandelier.

“D-dude” Rainbow said, trembling “r-really n-not c-cool”

“Jerbraz” I said “leave the ponies alone, they’ve just lost their homeland to Teridax”

“Ah” Jerbraz said “well, I won’t keep you” I then heard footsteps walking away, only once they had faded away did Rainbow speak up.

“I-is he gone?” she asked.

“Yes, he’s gone” I said, and rainbow dropped to the floor.

“Tell anyone and you’re dead” she said, pointing her hoof at all of us

“We would be dead anyway” I said “literally no one can know of this place besides my ship’s crew, but they will be sworn to secrecy as well”

“Wait here for a moment” Luna said, walking over to the door and entering the room. After a few minutes she returned “when you meet Toa Helryx, bow like you would to royalty. She’s the very first Toa, at least four hundred million years old and outranks both me and Celestia, she could kill me and you wouldn’t be able to stop her. Do not speak unless spoken to and do not aggravate her, she will not hesitate to kill you if she deems you could jeopardise the secrecy of this organisation” I nodded and the others all recited the Pinkie Pie promise, Luna nodded and opened the door for us to enter.

2 Call to arms

Sat on a raised throne was a female blue Toa, leant against one side of the throne was a spiked mace and leant against the other was a shield. We all walked over and stopped a short distance away before bowing.

“State your names” the Toa, presumably Helryx, said. I stepped forward.

“Toa Vuur Koning” I said “Captain of the ironclad airship Jörmungandr, leader of the Neu-Toa and an informant of the Order of Mata Nui, I was the one who apprehended the Shadowed one” Helryx nodded and Twilight stepped forward.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle” she said “Princess of friendship and Element of Magic” one by one the rest of the Elements stepped forward.

“Applejack, Element of Honesty”

“Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty”

“F-Fluttershy, um…Element of Kindness”

“Rarity, Element of Generosity”

“Pinkie Pie, Element of Laughter” Helryx regarded them with curiosity before standing up and walking towards Luna, who actually looked intimidated.

“Let me get this straight” Helryx said, walking over until she was looking Luna in the eye “you compromised the location of the base, and then come crawling to me begging to let me train your precious elements. All because you lost your kingdom?” Luna’s eyes darted around.

“She lost it to Teridax” I said, her head whipped round

“Know your place, Boy” she said “I am well aware the Teridax has inexplicably returned, despite the best efforts of my order and the Great Spirit, I want to know why you thought it was a good idea to reveal our location, you could have led him straight to us”

“I’m pretty sure no one knows we’re here” I said, she snapped her fingers and an agent came in carrying the Cutie Mark Crusaders by their tails. The Crusaders smiled sheepishly before waiving.

“Heh heh” Scootaloo said, sheepishly “hey guys” myself and the Element groaned and I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“They were found snooping around” Helryx said “if mere children can infiltrate this fortress, then what Teridax will do!?”

“To be perfectly honest” I said “they have the uncanny ability to get into even the most guarded of fortresses without being detected” she glared at me before her features softened.

“Actually…” she said “that could be of some use” Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack all stepped forward.

“No way are we gonna let you train them to fight” Rainbow Dash said, stomping a forehoof “they’re just kids”

“What would you do to stop me? Element of loyalty” Helryx asked, she then walked back up the steps and chuckled quietly “you’re definitely loyal, I’ll give you that. But I wasn’t going to do much to them, merely teach them to defend themselves and use them as messengers”

“You promise you won’t make them do anything too dangerous?” Rarity asked.

“Please” Helryx said, rolling her eyes “I’m not heartless. Suppose I were to let you train as members of this order, what would be in it for me”

“Well” I said “for one thing you would gain 70’000 foot solders” her eyes widened.

“Tempting” she said, nodding “very well, but they will all be sworn to secrecy as well, no one can know of this”

“Know of what?” I said, smirking. Helryx snorted “but seriously, they already know what happens when they defy me and I’m sure you know what happened to the changeling that cut off my son’s arm”

“What!?” the Elements and Luna exclaimed. Helryx chuckled.

“Yes, I’m fully away of his fate” she said “honestly, anyone would think you’d gone rogue”

“Neu-Toa follow a different moral code” I said “he tried to kill my son and I merely had some friends of mine return the favour” Rainbow chuckled nervously.

“You’re kidding, right?” she asked.

“I never mess around when it comes to others threatening my family” I said “a leader protects his own”

“Quite” Helryx said “from this moment, you are now members of the Order of Mata Nui, you begin training tomorrow, you too” she looked at the Crusaders as she said the last part.

*later that day*

All 70’000 members of the crew of the Jörmungandr were stood on the ground below the ship, I was stood on an outcropping of rocks. Vinyl was stood next to me amplifying my voice.

“My fellow crewmen” I said “we face dark times ahead of us, Makuta Teridax has returned and is now in control of Equestria” the Spherus Magnans started to murmur.

“But!” I said “fear not, we have our princesses with us. We will prepare for battle, you are all now part of an organisation sworn to uphold the will of Mata Nui and will be trained as such. So, brothers, sisters. ARE YOU WITH ME?” they responded by letting out a war cry that could be heard for miles, once they had quietened down I nodded.

“Good” I said “rest well tonight, because tomorrow we prepare for war

Autumn and I were with Garnet and Ruby in our quarters.

“Were going to wait until Hearths Warming to give you these” I said “but I guess now is as good as time as any to give you them” I then handed Garnet a box, he opened it and gasped.

“My own armour!?” he asked, picking up the mask.

“Yep” I said “these are the prototypes, the very first elemental armour in existence” Ruby picked up a sword and a couple of wing blades and gasped before looking at Autumn, her eye watering.

“Thanks, Mum” Ruby said, before putting them on the ground and hugging Autumn, tears ran down her right cheek.

“Hey, shush” Autumn said, rubing ruby’s back “it’s fine, you need to be able to protect yourself. You’re going to be a member of the Order now, both of you”

“Really!?” they both exclaimed, their eyes wide.

“Yeah” I said “you’ll be training to become protectors for the Crusaders and Aurora, seeing as they have a knack for getting into places undetected. But you’ll be there in case they run into trouble.

“What about Skohka?” Ruby asked.

“He’ll be there for when you need that extra muscle” Autumn said.

“So…he’s the backup for the backup?” Garnet asked.

“Pretty much” I said “well come on, I want to see what you look like with all that armour” they both put their armour on, with some help from me and Autumn. Garnet’s was red & gold and Ruby’s was orange & gold. The main difference between the two sets was Garnet didn’t have any armour for his right arm other than a shoulder pad. Garnet reared up on his hind legs and changed his right arm into a plasma cannon.

“I look fucking awesome” he said.

“I’ll let that one slide” I said “but only because I agree, let’s go show the others” we soon found the Elements of Harmony, they turned a couple of shades paler when they saw Ruby’s robotic eye and Garnet’s robotic arm.

“What happened to you two” Rainbow asked, looking at Garnet’s arm.

“Wrong place at the wrong time” Garnet said

“Rahkshi” Ruby said, shrugging. At that moment Charahk walked over, the Elements looked up in awe.

“What are you?” Twilight asked.

“Rahkshi” Charahk said, the Elements all took several steps back and gave him wary looks “I’m not the one her hurt her, if that’s what you’re thinking. Pray you never meet a Turahk, even other Rahkshi avoid them”

“Why?” Fluttershy asked.

“Well” I said “lets sum up, their sadistic, brutal, bloodthirsty and just plain vulgar. Did I mention they control fear?”

“They wouldn’t scare me” Rainbow said, I scoffed.

“Well, the Order just so happens to keep one prisoner” I said “I could very easily arrange to have you share a cell with him for the night”

“I think I’ll pass” she said.

Eventually we bid farewell to the Elements and continued on our way, we soon reached the fortress and entered on of the training rooms, where the Crusaders, Aurora, John and Spike were undergoing defensive training. Celestia was also there, keeping an eye on the griffin and two dragons as Mazeka taught the three filly’s defensive tactics, or rather trying to.

“Can you try and take this seriously?” Mazeka asked “I need you to calm down for a few minutes” Scootaloo huffed.

“But you’re boring” she whined.

“Girls” I said “not a good idea to anger him, just do as he says and you’ll have more time to play later” they all sighed before nodding.

“Okay” they said in unison as they sat down in a row, Mazeka looked at me like I had just walked on water.

“How did you do that?” he asked, I shrugged.

“Just ask kindly” I said “they’re kids, and you need to keep that in mind, but don’t be condescending”

“Right” he said, before turning to the three fillies “from the beginning” Celestia chuckled as she watched Mazeka.

“What?” I asked, she shook her head.

“Nothing” she said “just memories of when I and Luna were being trained, I think it was somepony called Trinuma. He could be very persuasive at times”

“You know” I said “I’ve always wondered, did you ever get a Kenohi?” she shook her head

“They didn’t think I needed one” she said.

Over the course of the next year we gradually began the process of training all of the crew on the ship. The order gave us new weapons, mostly better versions of our old weapons. However, my sword now had a handle that could extend, turning it into a staff. I also had a shield that could split into two climbing claws, shoot concentrated elemental energy like a gun or direct the elemental energy into concentrated jets, and I now had a cape that could withstand most elemental attacks, shield me from the hottest of dragon fire and allow me to glide, add the claws into the equation and I could practically fly. Vinyl’s bass cannon had been changed into two swords that vibrated the air around them, often creating interesting audio effects when she used them in battle. Vapaa now had hidden blades that could extend from his wrist like in Assassins Creed, multiple throwing knives that were enchanted to return to him and a hooded cape that could conceal him.

Moving onto the Elements of Harmony, they somehow managed to unlock Toa elements without physically changing. Twilight now had Psionic powers, Pinkie Pie seemed to just use random elements whenever it suited her. Rainbow Dash now controlled plasma. Applejack controlled stone. Fluttershy controlled Plant-life and Rarity controlled ice.

Garnet and Ruby had matured a surprising amount over the last year, rather than looking like equine-dragons they now looked more like draconic-equines (if that makes sense). Their teeth were sharper and their legs were longer, allowing them the walk around on their hind-legs most of the time. They also looked a lot fiercer and were much bigger, before their wingspans were around 14 feet, now they were close to 20 feet. Celestia says that it’s normal and that Kirins often have several dramatic growth spurts.

The Crusaders, Aurora, John Henry and Spike were now messengers for the Order and were trained to be as hard to catch as possible. The crusaders had small blades fitted to the armour on their wrists, meaning they could defend themselves if necessary. Spike had two arcane pistols and a dagger. Aurora had gauntlets on her talons and John had a short sword.

We were flying towards New Altero when Tahu flew over.

“Long time, brother” he said “where have you been for the past year?”

“Can’t really say, only that I’ve been training” I said “how’s the city?”

“Rebuilding has been hard as we lack the materials” he said, sadly.

“I have a solution to that” I said, he looked at me warily.

“What are you planning?” he asked.

“Wait and see” I said, we soon reached the city and I had Tahu call a council meeting. It was comprised of representatives from each Spherus Magnan species, but myself and Celestia were also there.

“The council is now in session” Turaga Dume said, and I stepped forwards.

“Gentlemen” I said, leaning on the table “I come here today, with a request and a proposal”

“Go on” Alternate Teridax said.

“Is it not true that your city is mostly in ruin?” I asked, the majority conceded the point “well, this is my proposal” I then placed a holo-gem on the table and an interactive map of the known world came up.

“Is this the rest of the world as it is now?” Tahu asked.

“Yes” I said, I then tapped on the area where Equestria used to be “up until 1 year ago, this was Equestria, where Celestia and Luna ruled side by side, now Teridax rules”

“This is practically common knowledge” Jaller said “where are you going with this?” I zoomed out and refocused the map on Appleloosa.

“This is the settlement of Appleloosa” I said “south of this town it’s mostly uninhabited, I propose that we demolish all of the buildings, begin building airships and fly everything over to the desert just south of Appleloosa” after a few seconds of silence the council room dissolved into laughter.

“Why would we put ourselves deliberately near harm’s way and put up a settlement there?” Raanu asked.

“So we just let Teridax rule as he wishes?” I asked “because that’s essentially what we are doing if we remain here, I’ve seen this happen once before. The rest of the world just sits idle whilst he steadily gains power, eventually he will tire of just one nation, and where do you think he will set his eyes on next? Celestia here has several powerful allies. We won’t exactly be short of soldiers if we request their help” at that point I let Celestia take over.

“Please” she said “I am begging for your assistance in helping me to reclaim my nation”

“If we agree, what happens then?” Dume asked.

“You get to play a part in stopping Teridax, for good” I said, the room soon descended into chaos as everyone began arguing over whether to help or not. Celestia sighed.

“This is madness” she muttered.

“This is politicks” I said, wryly. Celestia sighed before rearing up and slamming her fore-hooves on the table, cracking the Protosteel table-top.

“ENOUGH!!!” she boomed, stunning them into silence “TERIDAX IS GATHERING STRENGTH UNCHECKED AND YOU SIT HERE BICKERING LIKE CHILDREN” no one said anything for several minutes, eventually Tahu cleared his throat.

“Celestia” he said “My Toa Nuva are yours to command”

“The Skakdi pledge their allegiance to Equestria” Nektann said.

“My fellow Glatorians will aid in your cause” Ackaar said

“The Toa Haga will help you as best we can” Norik said.

“The Toa Mahri are behind you all the way” Jaller said.

“The Skrall will provide support” Tuma said

“The Vortixx will supply weapons and machines to aid in your cause” the Vortixx Queen said.

“The Steltians are united to help you” a higher Steltian said.

“Well” Alternate Teridax said “seems we all agree on something for once” one by one all of the species agreed to provide support, work started immediately to demolish the City for the mass migration.

3 Union of lands

Soon all that was left of the City of New Altero was a large patch of earth in the sub-arctic tundra, now hundreds of warships were flying away from the sight of the former fortress of the Shadowed One’s army. We had seized all aircraft and demolished the fortress for resources. Building several large armour-clad warships from the materials. The Order soon joined us with warships of their own, giving us a total fleet of 500 battle capable airships, with the Jörmungandr at the front leading them north. I was stood on the bow of the Jörmungandr when Mata Nui walked over.

“Are you sure this is the right thing?” Mata Nui asked.

“I’m positive” I said “Teridax needs to be stopped, permanently, there’s still several groups we haven’t contacted”

“Who?” he asked.

“Ever hear of the Skrall Sisters?” I asked, he shook his head “that’s our next stop” we stopped the fleet a small distance away from where the Skrall sisters where know to reside and myself, Celestia and Helryx walked the rest of the way. We were walking down a canyon when Helryx stopped.

“They’re close” she said. I noticed a cloaked figure disappear from the edge of the canyon and I got out my sword, turning it into a staff and butting the end against the ground.

“I wish to speak with the leader of the Sisterhood” I said “we are here looking to form an alliance”

“We do not trust males” a female voice said.

“But surely you will be willing to trust another female” Celestia said, walking forward “I am Princess Celestia; former ruler of Equestria, and I have come requesting aid”

“Speak, Princess Celestia” the voice said, I then saw a cloaked figure approaching.

“You may be familiar with a Makuta called Teridax” Celestia said.

“We are aware of him” the cloaked female said “what of him?”

“He has seized my nation” Celestia said, approaching the female “I ask of you, no, I beg of you to provide assistance”

“It is of no concern to us” the female said “leave this place” Celestia looked as if she had been slapped.

“You won’t help me?” Celestia asked.

“No” the female said “you have hundreds by your side already, what good will we do”

“You know what?” I said “I absolutely agree, you probably wouldn’t be able to do much good. I mean, where are the horrific visions, the mind control? I heard so many good thing about your kind, how you were so powerful that you have no need for weapons or armour. But where is all of that now?”

“You dare!” the female snarled “who are you to down talk us?” I pointed my staff at the female’s neck

“Who am I?” I asked “I am Vuur Koning. I have walked the void between worlds, I command an army of several million. I am the first of the Neu-Toa, I have a colossal ice drake as any ally. What are you compared to me?” the female looked like she was concentrating but after a few moments her expression turned into shock

“You…you aren’t reacting to our attacks” she said, taking a step back.

“You’re powers have no effect on me, witch” I said “so, what will it be, will you join us? Or will you stay here cowering from Teridax?” I could hear whispering, after a few moments the Female nodded.

“Very well” she said “we will agree to help” with that tens of female Skrall appeared and we began to walk back to the ships, as we were walking I noticed something.

“Weren’t there less trees when we were walking towards the Sisterhood?” I asked Celestia.

“I’d suggest stowing your weapons, Toa” one of the Female Skrall said “baterra don’t take kindly to armed individuals” I put my staff back in my hammer space and we warily walked through the canyon until we reached the fleet. The male Skrall didn’t take too kindly to the female Skrall showing up.

“Why are those witches here?” Tuma spat.

“Don’t like it?” I asked “then you can go fuck yourself with a thornax” I then walked past him and back onto my ship. After a few days we reached the Rahkshi of the forest and they agreed to help, they directed us to Rahkshi nests where Miserix could seize control.

“Never thought I would end up working alongside Rahkshi” Takanuva said, watching a group of them fly alongside the Jörmungandr.

“We need all the help we can get” I said, leaning against the railing “it’s time we fought fire with fire”

“What’s your world like?” he asked

“Deferent” I said “for one thing there is only one sapient species, Humans. On the whole we’re a bit like a cross between Vortix and Higher Steltians”

“Industrious and destructive?” he asked “I’d hate to get on your bad side”

“Just ask Tahu what it’s like” I said “in all honesty, I hope Teridax never finds a way to get to my world, I dread to think what would happen”

“To him or to your world?” Takanuva asked.

“Both” I said. After months of travelling we finally reached the northern continent and began to set up camps.

Sauradox opened a portal to the throne room in New Destral, Teridax was sitting on a throne.

“Teridax” Sauradox said “we have a problem”

“What is it?” Teridax asked, sounding board. Sauradox opened a portal to the desert near Appleloosa “what is this?”

“Every single Spherus Magna left in existence has allied with several other southern nations” Sauradox said “allied against you” Teridax stood up.

“Summon the other Makuta” Teridax said “we’re going to give them a little welcome party” Sauradox smirked and walked through a portal.

I was helping to set up a tent when a heard a weird whooshing sound coming from the sky, I looked up to see a portal of some kind.

“That can’t be good” Autumn said, I saw multiple figure appear.

“Summon the Toa” I said “all of them, I think I have an idea who that might be” Autumn nodded before flying off, I adapted my armour for flight and flew over to where they were stood.

“Well, if it isn’t Vuur Koning” Sauradox said.

“Shut the fuck up!” I said “I’m not part of the ordinary Toa, so I will not hesitate to kill you”

“Aren’t you the confrontational one” the tallest one said. He was about 25 foot tall and his mask was instantly recognisable.

“Teridax, I presume” I said.

“That would be correct” he said.

“Alright, why are you here?” I asked.

“I’m merely here to show that, as a gesture of good will, I will leave your settlement alone” he said “but, you must never set foot in New Destral”

“And how about you take your staff of shadows” I said “and go fuck yourself!” the other Makuta’s jaws dropped, Teridax simply chuckled.

“My good will refused?” he said, before sneering “so my hand is cast” at that moment Celestia and Luna impacted into the ground next to me.

“Thou hast a lot of gall, showing thou’s face here” Luna snarled.

“What do you want, Teridax?” Celestia barked.

“I came here trying to strike a deal” Teridax said “but your little pet seems so certain on starting fights he can’t finish that he didn’t even think it over”

“The only terms we will accept is your surrender” Celestia said “you are currently on my land, if you do not get out I shall have to let my ‘pet’ loose on you”

“I will not hesitate to nova blast you to high hell!” I said, Teridax actually hesitated for a few seconds. One by one the Toa and Neu-Toa impacted against the ground in line with me and the two princesses “you’re out numbered, and the big difference between you and me is I won’t kill those that serve under me just to makes sure that I don’t have competition” some of the Neu-Makuta hesitated when I said this.

“What?” Sombra asked.

“The last time he got in control he killed every other Makuta just so he didn’t have competition” I said “where do you think that leaves you once you are of no more use to him?”

“Is that true?” Sauradox asked.

“He’s lying” Teridax said.

“Said the master of shadows and deception to the Toa” I said, wryly “now, you can remain under him, and be killed when he grows tired of you. Or you can side with us” After a few moments Sauradox flew over, followed by someone else, but other than that they stood firm.

“Right” Celestia said, to Teridax “get out” the Makuta snarled.

“This isn’t over” he said.

“You’re right, it’s only just begun” I said, they then took off and flew into a portal. I turned to Sauradox “if you defected so easily then why even join him in the first place?”

“You get with the wrong crowd” he said “and you start to lose sense of what’s right”

“And you” I asked, looking at the other one.

“Eh, he was an asshole” She said, before turning into a griffin and walking towards the settlement. After a couple hundred paces she was swept away by a rainbow blur that shot towards the mountains on the horizon.

“And Rainbow just found her old friend” I quipped, before getting out my climbing claws, adapting to my air mode and taking off after them

Rainbow slammed Gilda into the mountainside and landed a few feet away.

“Heh, it’s great to see you too, Dash” Gilda said, wiping the blood from her mouth and taking a few steps back, she then noticed the armour Rainbow was wearing “nice armour”

“How could you!?” Rainbow Dash snarled “After everything, you side with Teridax”

“It’s not like you were ever there for me” Gilda shot back “all these years we’ve know each other, we were practically sisters. Everything we went through together and you left me for ponies you barely knew, some element of loyalty you are”

“You were acting like a jerk!” Rainbow said.

“If you have a problem” Gilda said, changing into her true form “then bring it!”

“Oh, you wanna do this the hard way?” Rainbow Dash asked, flicking her wrists, making a couple of small blades flick out and causing fire and lightening to dance along the blades “we’ll do this the hard way!” she then charged towards Gilda before spinning around and bucking the griffin high into the air. She then sent several bolts of plasma at Gilda, who retaliated by shooting plasma back at the Pegasus. Rainbow Dash just shrugged it off.

“I control Plasma, you bitch!” Rainbow Dash said “so it doesn’t affect me”

“Wanna put that to the test?” Gilda asked.

“ENOUGH” Vuur Koning yelled, sending blasts of fire at both of them and hovering between them.

“I don’t have time to deal with your fucking personal grudge match” I said “you want to kill each other? Do that after we’ve defeated Teridax. Now, you have two options. You can both put aside your differences and work together become a formidable force. Or, you stay the fuck away from each other, what’s it gonna be?” after a few moments Gilda spoke up

“You know?” she said, smirking and changing back into her griffin form “I wouldn’t mind seeing what you can do, Dash. What do you say we put our differences aside? It’ll be just like old times”

“Only if you promise not to be a jerk” Rainbow said, smiling.

“So it’s settled then?” I asked, they both nodded.

5 Battle for Appleloosa pt2

*POV 3rd person*

Boris dived out of the way to avoid another bolt of lightning, maybe he should have waited for Fluttershy to fix up Rainbow Dash before attacking Lightning Dust, now they were several thousand feet up in the air.

“Stay still” Lightning said.

“Not-never” Boris said, blowing her back with a strung gust of wind. Lightning just laughed.

“Is that all you’ve got?” she asked “a light breeze? You’re Princess must be truly desperate if she sent you to deal with me”

“She was your princess too!” Boris said, charging forward and striking with his katanas, only to be blocked by Lightning’s blade.

“She is weak” Lightning said, pushing back and sending electricity coursing through the blades “Teridax just helped us to see that”

“If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree you will spend your whole life thinking it’s stupid” Boris said, straining slightly.

“That makes no bucking sense” Lightning said, before kicking the Toa away and sending a bolt of lightning towards him.

“Hey, bitch!” a voice said, Lightning looked towards the source of the sound only to get struck by a bolt of plasma.

“AHHH!” Lightning cried out in pain as electricity and fire coursed through her. Her muscles locked up and she plummeted towards the ground, Rainbow sighed with relief before flying towards Boris.

“You okay?” she asked, Boris nodded despite the arcs of electricity flowing over his armour.

“Had bad-worse” he said, twitching slightly.

Lightning Dust lay on the ground with a hole through her stomach and a sharp, bloody rock a few feet away, she spat at some blood and chuckled bitterly.

“Not getting out of his one are we, Lightning?” she said to herself, leaning against a boulder. She heard wing beats approaching, followed by Rainbow Dash gasping.

“Oh buck, Lightning!” she exclaimed, flying over. Lightning stopped her by folding up a clawed hand.

“It’s too late” she said, before changing into her pegasus form which also had a hole through the stomach “I’d bleed out before you could get help” Rainbow shook her head in denial.

“No” she said “you must have some way of healing yourself”

“Even if I did I wouldn’t” she said.

“Wha-why!?” Rainbow asked, hey eyes watering, Lightning chuckled.

“Let’s just say that your shot knocked some sense into me” she said, spitting out some blood “just, do one thing for me”

“What?” Rainbow asked.

“Don’t blame yourself” Lightning said, she saw Rainbow go to object and weakly held up a hoof “just don’t, I know what you’re going to say so don’t”

“But I was the one that hit you” Rainbow said, tears streamed down her cheeks “I did this”

“I…forced you to…do this” Lightning said, looking drowsy “it’s…not your…fault” she then shut her eyes and stopped breathing, Rainbow Dash fell into a sitting position and broke down. The rest of the elements then appeared.

“Rainbow” Twilight said “we’ve started to force the Rahkshi back, we’ve…oh” Twilights smile fell when she saw Rainbow Dash sobbing, Fluttershy slowly walked forward.

“R-Rainbow?” Fluttershy asked “are you going to be okay?” she slowly placed a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder, the cyan pegasus sighed and her shoulders slumped.

“I-I don’t know” she said, between sobs, she turned around and rested her head on Fluttershy’s shoulder, the yellow pegasus put her arms around Rainbow.

In the Jörmungandr multiple drop-pods of varying sizes were being prepared for launch.

“Are you sure this is safe?” Gali asked as she climbed into one.

“Absolutely not” Vapaa said, strapping himself in “but it’s the only way to fall 30’000 feet in 60 seconds”

“How fast is that exactly?” Norik asked.

“340 miles, or 529 Kio per hour” Vapaa said “give or take a few Kio, 30’000 feet is about 6.6 Kio” the eyes of all of the Spherus Magnans widened and Lewa gave a low whistle.

“Mata Nui!” Lewa exclaimed “that’s what I call quick-speed”

“Are you all ready to drop?” Vapaa asked, they all nodded their conformations and Natrix selected a song to play through the coms, Vapaa rolled his eyes “really, this one!?” Natrix just shrugged.

“It fits” Natrix said, Vapaa face palmed before pulling the lever. The pods dropped just as the song settled into a steady riff, about 60 seconds later they impacted against the desert ground, followed by all of the doors flying off. In the distance they could see the Rahkshi forces retreating, with no sign of the Makuta assigned to lead them, Miserix chuckled.

“This makes things so much simpler” he said, stepping out of his shipping container sized drop-pod.

“What do you mean?” Vapaa asked, stepping out of his

“I would usually have to mentally overthrow the original leader of the Rahkshi, in this case the female Makuta assigned to control them whilst in Appleloosa, I can neither see her nor sense her control” Miserix said, he then flew into the air and raised his fire staff into the air “RAHKSHI, YOUR LEADER HAS FALLEN. YOU WILL BOW DOWN TO ME OR FACE DESTRUCTION” the Rahkshi all stopped and the Toa and alternate Teridax could see the entire battalion of Rahkshi drop down like a wave, signifying their submission to Miserix, who slowly lowered down to the ground.

*song ends*

“Well that was anti-climactic” Natrix said “Why exactly are we even here if all you had to do was fly up there and shake your staff” Miserix chuckled and looked down at the human out of the corner of his eye.

“What do you think would happen if I was unable to take control of them, hmm?” the Draconic-Makuta asked “did you expect me to take on a millennia of Rahkshi by myself?”

*POV 1st person Vuur Koning*

We were helping to rebuild the town when the Elements of Harmony walked past, Rainbow was distraught and was carrying a filled body bag on her back.

“Oh, no” Gilda whispered.

“What?” I asked.

“I think that is, or was Lightning Dust” she said, sadly, rubbing the back of her neck “they weren’t exactly friends, but Dash isn’t the type of pony to wish death upon someone, enemy or not” I sighed.

“Will she be okay?” I asked, Gilda shook her head uncertainly.

“I don’t know” she said “I’ve known her for years, I know things about her that no one else does and I’ve never seen her this distraught about someone she knows dying, unless…” she trailed off and her eyes widened.

“What?” I asked, she looked at me, her eyes full of worry.

“Unless she feels guilty” she said, before flying over to Rainbow Dash, they briefly talked and Gilda’s eyes widened before her expression softened and she placed a talon on Rainbow’s shoulder comfortingly before flying back over and helping me to lift up a door.

“What happened?” I asked, Gilda sighed as we placed the door back on its frames.

“She killed Lightning Dust” she said.

“Shit” I said “if you want to go and comfort her then I won’t hold it against you”

“Whilst I appreciate the gesture” she said “I’m terrible at mushy stuff, better her fellow ponies are there for her. But I promise you this, when I find Teridax, that jäveln är död” she slipped from a southern Equestrian accent into a Griffonian accent as she said this.

“That’s probably the first time I’ve ever heard you speak Griffonian” I said “let alone swear” she shrugged

“My Mom died in childbirth” she said “my Dad re-married with a pegasus whilst I was still a chick, as a result I can speak both languages in their respective accent, what about you, even I know you aren’t from around here, yet you and your brother speak with a Northern Equestrian accent, whilst Vapaa and Natrix speak with Southern Equestrian accents.

“Me and my brother come from a small island where everyone speaks in accents that are practically identical to Northern Equestrian accents” I said “but with a hell of a lot more variation”

“And the other two?” she asked, gesturing to Vapaa and Natrix.

“They come from a continent where everyone speaks with Southern Equestrian accents” I said

*later that day*

Lightning was laid out on a funeral pyre that was yet to be lit, Twilight had placed a spell on her so her wounds weren’t visible. Rainbow Dash stepped forward with a bow strapped to her left arm and touched the fitted arrow to a torch before aiming at the pyre and pulling the bow back with her wing and firing the lit arrow, Celestia began reciting a prayer as the arrow hit the pyre, setting it alight.

“Lo, there do I see my father. Lo, there do I see my mother, and my sisters, and my brothers. Lo, there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning” as she said this Gilda, myself, all of the Neu-Toa and the Elements of Harmony aimed and fired lit arrows at the pyre “Lo, they do call to me. They bid me take my place among them, on the plains of paradise, where the brave may live forever” no one said anything as the funeral pyre burnt into the night

6 a brief interlude

I was stood on a hill, on the outskirts of Appleloosa. I had specifically requested to be alone for this, I also had a small mini-fridge standing on the ground. A portal opened and Teridax walked through.

“Why exactly have you summoned me?” he asked.

“To threaten you” I said, I then walked over to the mini fridge and got out two glasses and a bottle of Baileys imported from Earth “drink?” he raised an eyebrow.

“You intend to stall me?” he asked.

“No” I said “threaten, no drink, you sure?” I then began pouring myself a generous glass of the Irish cream “you really do not seem to grasp how pissed off everyone is after the battle of Appleloosa”

“That was the plan” he said.

“Fucking terrible plan” I said “because now the Union will stop at nothing to bring you down”

“Union?” he asked.

“It’s what we call ourselves” I said “let’s do a quick head count. Your brother; the demi god” Teridax grimaced.

“Two Immortal Princesses with the power to move planetary objects. Myself and my team of Toa. The entirety of the population of Spherus Magna, the world’s first Toa and her team of worriers sword to follow the will of Mata Nui, a 2 ¼ million ton airship with a crew of 70’000, the Elements of Harmony plus all of the Saurian nations” I said “and you, have managed to piss off every single one of us” Teridax smirked.

“I take it Rainbow’s old friend didn’t survive the battle?” he asked.

“You would be correct” I said “when exactly did you think it would be a good idea to piss us all off?”

“You think this gives you any more chance of defeating me?” he asked “I have a nation…”

“We have a rail-gun” I said “which, might I add is pointed directly at you. The Spherus Magnans think you immortal, shall we test that?”

“This isn’t over” he said, before walking back through the portal. When he was gone I heard whispering and some rubble shifting and sighed.

“I can hear you” I said, walking over to the source of the sound. One by one Garnet, Ruby, Aurora, John, Thel, Spike and the Crusaders all poked their heads up, I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose “what am I going to do with you kids?”

“Not tell our parents?” Garnet said, sheepishly. I deadpanned.

“I am your parent” I said “Garnet and Ruby, you stay here, the rest of you get back to Appleloosa now. Before I tell your parents and sisters to ground you” the rest of them walked back to Appleloosa with their heads hung low.

“Why did you want us to stay?” Ruby asked, nervously, I picked up the rather weighty mini-fridge and handed it to them.

“As punishment for needlessly putting yourselves in danger, you can carry this all the way back to Appleloosa” I said.

“But, Dad…” Garnet said, struggling to hold it up.

“No buts” I said “mini-fridge, Appleloosa, now” they both grumbled before making their way back towards Appleloosa with the mini-fridge laid across both their backs.

“You know you should really go easier on them” Autumn said, deactivating her mask power “they’re just kids”

“Garnet and Ruby are both 17” I said “they’re only about 4 years younger than us, but they’re still our children, and I can’t just let them go walking into danger” Autumn raised an eyebrow.

“Were we so different?” she asked “when we first met?”

“I just…” I trailed off and sighed “I don’t want to see them get killed” Autumn walked forward and pulled me into a hug.

“I know” she said “I worry about them as well, but we can’t hold them back” she then stepped back and watched Garnet and Ruby walk back to the settlement.

We were all stood around a holo-map of what was Equestria, trying to plan where to strike next.

“I’m telling you” I said “Manehatten would be the best target”

“Why exactly would it be a good idea to strike there?” a Matoran asked “it’s a huge city, it could take all of our warriors to take it. We can’t risk something like that. We should take Ponyville, if we take Ponyville then Canterlot would literally be a kanoka’s throw away”

“It’s too soon to take Ponyville” I said “plus it’s too close to Canterlot, Manehatten has a lot of political power and it’s outskirts are full of factories. All Ponyville has, and I mean no offence Applejack, is a large apple orchard, strategically speaking it isn’t that important”

“Non taken” Applejack said “ah have tuh agree with yawl, Maneha’en would be best fer buildin’ up our troops an goin’ from there, plus ah have kin livin’ there who are rather high up the political ladder, so I could help to get them on our side” I nodded to her in thanks and she tipped her Stetson towards me.

“That would be a big help” Mata Nui said “does anyone have any sound arguments against taking Manehatten?” no one went to say anything.

“Very well” Celestia said “then it is agreed, we next strike for Manehatten”

*POV 3rd person*

An ice tribe Agori stepped through a portal into a cave.

“They plan to strike Manehatten next” he said, two humans stepped forward out of the shadows.

“Good” one of them said in an American accent, and chucked a rather large bag of money to the Agori’s feet.

“You have done well, Metus” the other said, before turning to his brother “What do you say we give our big brother a small surprise, I hear he’s rather good at controlling light these days”

“Well let’s see how well he can stand against the power of shadow” the other said, and they both shape shifted into Makuta.

7 Battle for Manehatten

I was in the armoury, the kids were picking out some firearms and I was supervising them, just in case.

“Skohka likes” I heard the Lower Steltian say, I looked over to see him holding an arcane-Gatling gun with the power pack already strapped to his back

“If you like” I said “then it’s yours, it’ll do 4000 rounds per minute if you’re feeling brave” Skohka went to say something but was interrupted by several loud bangs in quick succession, we looked over to see Ruby pointing a large gun at a target, or lack of said target.

“I think I’ll keep this” she said, smirking.

“…And my daughter just found the arcane 50 calibre machine gun” I said “that’s a comforting thought”

“Was that genuine or sarcastic?” Autumn asked, walking over.

“Honestly, a little bit of both” I then saw John Henry walk up to the firing range with a gun, very similar to the one Ruby had. Except when he fired it, it fired at a much slower rate and the arcane round spread out a lot more. It also totally obliterated the target in a couple of shots “and now the 14 year old griffin has an automatic shotgun as well”

“Detta är nu min bom-pinne” John said in Griffonian, smirking whilst sticking the shot gun in his hammer space “ingen får röra min bom-pinne” Autumn face palmed and shook her head.

“What did he say?” I asked.

“I’m not even going to bother translating” she said.

*POV 3rd person, a few weeks later*

The battle raged through the streets of Manehatten as the Crusaders, Spike, John and Aurora, all covered from head to toe in armour, ran for cover around a corner as the edge exploded into rubble.

“Of all things” Scootaloo said “it had to be a Kaita Rahkshi. John, think you can take that thing out?” she motioned to the automatic shotgun held in the albino-griffin’s talons as she said this.

“Not at the range” he said “the shots would just bounce off”

“Spike?” she asked.

“These are just pistols” he said, shaking the aforementioned weapons.

“Gosh darn it!” Applebloom said, Aurora opened a com link.

“Dad?” she asked.

“What’s up?” she heard her adoptive father ask over the sound of plasma fire.

“We might have provoked a Kaita” she said, chuckling nervously.

“What!?” he exclaimed “I’ll be there soon, where are you?” Aurora looked around for a street sign.

“28th street” she said.

“Why did it have to be halfway across the city?” she heard her dad say before the com-link cut out, they could hear the footsteps of the Kaita approaching and John readied the shotgun only to hear plasma fire and the carcass of the titan to fall to the ground next to them. Minion poked his head around the corner and smiled.

“You okay, kids?” he asked, they all nodded and he pointed to a school building located across the street “good, Rahkshi have taken some kids and their teachers hostage, think you can rescue them?”

“We’ll do our best” Aurora said.

“I’ll be outside making sure nothing gets in, Garnet and Ruby should be here with Skohka by the time you bet back” he said “so if you need help, just buzz me, now go!” he then ran across the street covering the young teens as they ran inside. Applebloom kicked open the front door and they walked in, it was seemingly empty.

“Am I the only one who gets really creeped out by empty schools?” Scootaloo asked, nervously.

“Never been to one” both John and Aurora said, they soon came to a large hall, John looked through the window and ducked down before cursing in Griffonian.

“They’re in there” he said “with about 6 Rahkshi, how are we gonna go about doing this”

“Activate our cloaking garments and each sneak up behind one” Sweetie Bell said “then we use these to take them out” she took out a pole from her saddlebags that she extended out to 8ft, at the end of it was a nozzle.

“So were gonna hit them over the head with a long stick?” Scootaloo asked, Sweetie Bell and John face hoofed/clawed.

“No, Vapaa made them for us, he says they fire out lots of ball bearings with enough force to cut through barbed wire” John said “or the armour of a Rahkshi” Sweetie Bell then passed one to each of them and showed then how to set them up, once they were proficient in using them they activated the cloaking garments and John slowly opened the door just enough for them to sneak inside. They each walked around the back of a Rahkshi and set up the pole so it was at the same height as the Kraata chamber on the Rahkshi.

“On three” Sweetie Bell whispered through the com link “one, two, three”

BANG

Tongues of fire spat out of the top of the poles, children all screamed and the Rahkshi promptly collapsed to floor. The kids all deactivated to cloaking garments and stepped forward.

“Alright Everypony” Sweetie Bell said “you need to calmly walk outside and make your way to the nearest shelter, we’ve got friends who will escort you there” an adult pony, most likely a teacher, scoffed.

“Why should we listen to you?” he said “your just kids” the Rahkshi nearest Sweetie Bell stirred and she grabbed it by the head before twisting violently, breaking the Kraata’s spine. The whole room dissolved into shocked silence.

“Anypony else got any stupid questions?” she asked, raising an eyebrow “you want a reason why you should listen to us? Okay, our nation has been taken over by a Makuta, we’ve been stuck outside our own country for 1 and a half years. We managed to enter this building undetected and take out all of the Rahkshi in 2 minutes, and frankly I’m not particularly in the mood to deal with ponies who are sore over the fact that they got rescued by a bunch of kids, now get moving!” she pointed to the door as she said this and the teachers began directing the school kids towards the exit. Applebloom was looking through the crowd when she saw Babs Seed.

“Cuz!” she called, Babs Seed looked over and her face was riddled with confusion.

“Uh, do I know you?” she asked, realisation struck Applebloom.

“Oh, the uniform” she then took off her full face helmet and Babs Seed ran over and tacked her into a hug “careful, watch the blades”

“When Teridax took over, you disappeared” Babs said, her eyes watering “I thought you’d…”

“Hey, it’s okay” Applebloom said “come on, Ah got friends who’re helping to take back this city for the Princesses” the kids then led everyone outside, the school kids began to panic when they saw Skohka.

“Hey, it’s alright” Sweetie Bell said “he’s a friend, we’re going to escort you to the nearest shelter” the school kids calmed down but they still looked nervous.

“Alright” Minion said, stepping forward “my name is Toa Minion, whilst were escorting you, we’re going to need your help. If you see any Rahkshi, I need you to tell us, okay?” the kids all nodded but the teachers looked sceptical.

“Again, why should we listen to you?” the one from before asked, Minion hefted up his plasma cannon.

“You really want to argue with this?” Minion asked, tilting his head towards his plasma cannon “better yet, do you want to argue with my niece and nephew who friends a Steltian wielding a mini-gun. We are in the middle of a bloody war here and we don’t have time for ponies like you asking questions all the time, you can either come with us or stay here and get slaughtered by Rahkshi” as he said that a swarm of Rahkshi flew around the corner towards them.

“Skohka!” Ruby said, the Steltian grinned before levelling his mini-gun and unleashing a torrent of arcane energy at the Rahkshi.

“Alright, let’s move” Minion said, he then turned to the Kirins, Crusaders, Spike, Aurora and John “protect the school kids, me and Skohka will hold the Rahkshi off” the teens all nodded before leading the school children and teachers away. Skohka guffawed as the Rahkshi began dropping like flies.

“WAAAAAAAA, CRY SOME MORE!” the Lower Steltian said “is like music to Skohka’s ears” Minion rolled his eyes

“Of all the times to make that reference” Minion said, sending 20 of them into the wall with a flick of his sword before unloading his plasma cannon at the pinned Rahkshi, causing them to explode in a fireball that took out several stray Rahkshi “you had to use it now!?”

“It fits” Skohka said, taking out the last few Rahkshi before lifting up the mini-gun and kissing the barrels “you did well my friend!”

“Again with the Team Fortress 2 references” Minion said, rolling his eyes before placing a new plasma cartridge in his cannon. A few more few around the corner, Minion went to take a shot at one when they all got obliterated by lightning as Rainbow Dash and Gilda flew past “thanks, the kids are escorting a group of school kids and teachers, think you can give them a hand?”

“You bet” Rainbow said over the coms.

*POV 1st person Vuur Koning*

I was with Autumn, Vapaa and Orca as we made our way towards the city hall. A Rahkshi jumped out of an alleyway and Vapaa got out his Tomahawk before throwing it at the Rahkshi, hitting it square on the head.

“Bloody good shot” I said.

“Thanks” Vapaa said, walking over and yanking the small axe out of the Rahkshi’s skull plate, we all heard chuckling and two humans walked out of the alleyway, flanked by Rahkshi, they were soon blocking our path.

“Hello, big brother” one of them said, looking at Vapaa, who scowled.

“Long time no see” the other said “it’s been what? 2 years, since you ran off to pony land”

“Seth!? Gabe!? What do you two want?” Vapaa said “because I don’t have time to deal with you two”

“Care to explain who these are, Vapaa?” I asked, walking forward. The two humans looked at me and raised their eye brows.

“So you finally made some friends” the one on the left said “even if they are British”

“You got a fucking problem with me being British!?” I asked, stepping forward and getting out my sword.

“Which country was it that needed our help to win World War Two?” the one on the right asked.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t say much considering your country constantly tries to claim other countries inventions as your own?” I shot back, running my finger up the blade of my sword “we could just stand here all day talking shit about each other’s countries, but I’m quite frankly not in the fucking mood…” I was cut off.

“Quite the foul mouthed one, aren’t you?” the one on the right asked, smirking.

“Go fuck yourself” I said, pointing my sword at him “I don’t care if you are Vapaa’s brothers, I will fucking end you if carry on”

“You and what army?” they both asked, at that moment a centurion of Chameleon Rahkshi, led by the Charahk that we knew, all made themselves visible.

“You were saying?” I asked, they sneered before walking up to Vapaa.

“We’ll be back” the one on the left said “and next time, your boyfriend won’t be there to protect you”

“We aren’t gay” I said “we both have girlfriends, now fuck off before I deck you!” they both turned into Makuta, with one of them looking like the grim reaper, and flew off. Their Rahkshi followed soon after.

“No offence, Vapaa” I said “but your brothers are dickheads”

“Tell me something I don’t know” Vapaa said “to make it worse they’ve sided with Teridax” I sighed.

“Just when things couldn’t get any more complicated” I said, before turning to Charahk “we need you to defend the entrance to the city hall, if we can take it, then they city is ours” Charahk nodded before relaying the message to his troops in their language.

“Hag nah kini Metru duh ye ignika” he said “dreg nah makoki rah nah Metru” the other Charahk all cheered before charging and swiftly dispatching the Rahkshi that were standing guard. Myself and my fellow Toa all walked inside the city hall, where a troop of Vahki were surrounding the Mayor. I walked forward.

“Halt!” one of them said, they all readied their staffs.

“This city is now under the control of the Union” I said “all Vahki law enforcers are to obey our commands as per override protocol 4859” they stiffened up momentarily, before disarming their staffs.

“Override protocol received” they all droned “Thank you for choosing the Nynrah Ghost Tech standard law enforcement unit”

“You directives are to protect the city and help in rebuilding” I said.

“By your command” they droned, before walking out and driving Teridax’s Rahkshi out of the city. Within a few hours we had Manehatten back under Equestrian rule.

8

I was stood on the rooftops of night time Manehatten when a dark figure bounded across the tops of building towards me.

“Nice work” Mare-Do-Well said “with Teridax’s Rahkshi gone, I can get back to stopping the gangs that prowl the streets”

“You’ll have some help as well” I said “I’ve discreetly reprogrammed the Vahki so that they don’t apprehend you” Mare-Do-Well nodded.

“Thank you” she said “that will be a big help, it’s hard to track down a gang of thugs when you have several Vahki on you tail. Well, I best be going” she then leapt off the building and ran into an alleyway.

The leaders of all the races in the Union were in the war room, planning where to strike next.

“Now would be a good time to go for Ponyville” I said “all we would need is just the Jörmungandr and we could take the town within a few hours, if not immediately. Then Princess Twilight could take back her castle. That means we would be able to gain access to the Elements of Harmony, we would also have a suitable location for the Railgun”

“I will not have you turn a weapon of mass destruction on Canterlot!” Celestia exclaimed.

“I wasn’t going to unless absolutely necessary” I said “we British have a saying; ‘expect the best, plan for the worst’. Sure we’ve been pretty successful so far, but how long will our luck hold out? Till the end of the war? Till the end of the month? Till the end of next week? It could run out at any time and I don’t want to get caught with my trousers down when it does, if Teridax wins I will not hesitate to point that at whatever city he’s hiding in”

“If you fire that thing at Canterlot, hundreds of thousands would be killed” she said

“Acceptable losses after everything Teridax has done” I said, we began to stare each other down.

“Enough, both of you!” Luna said “we can’t afford to squabble like children. Celestia, Vuur Koning was merely preparing for the worst”

“Thank you” I said, backing down.

“But Celestia is right, Vuur Koning” Luna said “you can’t be so willing to fire that thing upon a populated area”

“My decision still stands” I said “now are we going to take Ponyville or not?”

“I personally see no reason why we shouldn’t” Luna said “as Vuur Koning pointed out, it does contain Princess Twilight’s castle and the Elements of Harmony. Plus, it can be well defended and is within close proximity to Cloudsdale and Canterlot, we could take Ponyville and then take Cloudsdale and Canterlot at the same time” Celestia sighed.

“Very well, sister” Celestia said “if you agree with it then I see no reason to argue with it” everyone else agreed and the meeting was adjourned. Everyone except for me and Celestia left.

“Look, Celestia” I said “for all it’s worth, if it did come to me firing the Railgun at Canterlot, I would probably kill myself afterwards, I would fire it and make sure the war was won, but after that I don’t think I could cope with having that many deaths on my hands” Celestia’s eyes widened.

“Then why even consider firing it?” she asked.

“I’m not the type to hold back with what I’ve got” I said, resting my elbows on the table and placing my head in my hands “I would use everything short of a nuke to make sure Teridax doesn’t get back up, but I’m not sure I could cope with the guilt of destroying the city we’re trying to take. *sigh* I’m not cut out for waging a war”

“You’ve haven’t made that many bad calls yet” she said.

“What about planning to fire the Railgun on Canterlot?” I asked.

“I said you haven’t made many” she said “doesn’t mean all of you decisions have been good, that’s up amongst your more stupid ideas”

“You mean it’s worse than me singing Ich Tu Dir Weh during a live show?” I asked, Celestia giggled.

“they’re both up there with punching Blueblood” she said “you should really be careful what your children listen to, I recall Ruby singing along to it” I shuddered.

“That was not an image I want in my head” I said.

“Also, why didn’t you play me a song?” she then began pouting.

“Really!?” I exclaimed “I’m having a crisis, the fate of Terra hangs in the balance and you choose this moment to complain about a concert that happened about 1 and half years ago?”

“But you played a song for Luna” she whined.

“What would you have us play?” I asked “Sonne by Rammstien?”

“Um, on second thoughts, maybe not” she said.

*a few days later*

The Jörmungandr was flying towards Ponyville and I was on the gun deck, talking to Frostfang and Blazewing.

“I need you two to keep an eye on things whilst I’m gone” I said.

“What exactly are you planning?” Frostfang asked.

“That’ll spoil the surprise” I said “but I’ll be in Ponyville in time for the battle, whilst I’m gone you are to take orders from Autumn or Minion only, okay?”

“Yes cap’in” Blazewing said, I then bid them farewell before walking off to find Miserix, and I soon found him talking to one of our Rahkshi in the hold of the ship.

“Miserix” I said “I kind of need your help with something” the elder Makuta dismissed the Rahkshi before turning to me.

“What exactly?” he asked.

“I might need your help with some business in the Everfree mountains” I said “plus I need a lift” Miserix snorted.

“Very well” he said “climb on, but you owe me one, Toa” I then jumped onto his back and a panel on the side of the ship opened. Miserix gave a roar before jumping out of the hold and flying towards a mountain range visible on the horizon.

“Now that we are away from prying eyes” Miserix said “care to explain why I am currently giving a free ride to the Everfree Mountains?”

“We’re going to get the Dragons and Wyverns on our side” I said “plus I need to catch myself a wyvern”

“I hear even Dragons avoid Wyverns” Miserix said.

“Dragons don’t have a mask of translation or Rahi control” I said, after flying for a few hours I spotted a Wyvern flying just ahead of us “Miserix, I need you to fly above that Wyvern so I can jump on its back”

“You’re crazier than Vezon” he said, before ascending into the clouds. I got a long rope out from my hammer space before jumping off of Miserix and letting my cape catch the wind, I slowly began to catch up with the draconic beast which thankfully hadn’t seen me yet. I switched to the mask of translation and landed on its back before taking the rope and rapping it around the Wyvern’s neck, the Wyvern responded by trying to throw me off.

“Get…off” the Wyvern said in a female voice.

“No chance” I said, the Wyvern then began to barrel roll whilst ascending “and now the spinning”

“I said get off!” the Wyvern said.

“And I said no chance” I shot back “I need you for something” the Wyvern then levelled out and flew at a steady pace.

“What exactly?” she asked.

“I need to convince the dragons and Wyverns to unite” I said “I need you to help sway the Wyverns to my side”

“And the Dragons?” she asked, at that moment Miserix appeared out of the clouds.

“That’s what grumpy over there is for” I said “so what do you say?”

“What would be in it for us?” she asked.

“You would no longer have a reputation as stubborn, mindless beasts” I said, the Wyvern looked back at me and growled

“We are not mindless!” she said, baring her teeth.

“Then prove it” I said “help to return Equestria to Alicorn rule” the Wyvern snorted.

“Fine!” she snapped.

“Which way is the nearest Wyvern nest?” I asked.

“We need to go bigger than just a nest” she said “we need to go to the colony”

We soon flew deep into the mountain range and reached a cave that was thriving with Wyverns

“I can’t guarantee this will work” the Wyvern said, looking around nervously as she walked through the cavern.

“I’m beginning to doubt your judgement, Toa” Miserix said, walking next to us “you may as well give us to Teridax”

“Just trust me” I said, the Wyvern soon led us to a chamber that was filled with gems. Sat on top of the horde was a rather large male Wyvern.

“Why have you brought two…outsiders into this sanctuary?” the male asked, I jumped off of the female wyvern.

“That would be my doing” I said, the Wyvern’s eyes widened.

“How do you speak in our tongue?” he asked.

“Such is the wonders of Kenohi magic” I said “I was the one that made her bring us here”

“Why?” the alpha asked.

“I came here hoping to form an alliance” I said, before looking at the Wyverns roosting in the walls of the chamber “between the Wyverns, the Dragons, and Equestria”

“And why would we agree to that?” the Alpha asked.

“The Equestrians currently view you as beasts” I said “driven purely by instinct” the Alpha growled before charging towards me.

“You dare to call us beasts!?” he roared.

“I never said I did” I said “I was merely stating what the Equestrians view you as” the Alpha growled before backing down.

“Continue” he said.

“As I was saying, if we were to unite, you could dispel the notion that you are mere animals for good” I said “Equestria is currently under the rule of a great shadow, he hasn’t made a move for more land yet. But one day he will yearn for more and I’m willing to bet that he will go for your colony first, help us to bring him down” the Alpha thought for a moment before busting into laughter.

“You think you can just walk into my colony and expect me to become allies with Equestria?” he asked “get out! Before I let my subjects feast on you” I walked back towards the female Wyvern and climbed on.

“Very well” I said “but when Makuta Teridax bursts through here slaughtering your ‘subjects’ don’t expect help from Equestria, or the Spherus Magnans” I then signalled for the female Wyvern and Miserix to leave, the last thing I saw before we left the chamber was the pensive face of the Alpha Wyvern.

“Well” the female Wyvern said “I don’ think they’ll let me back in there any time soon, you mind if a tag along with you?”

“Actually” I said “I was going to ask you to come with us, I can’t rely on old grumpy over there to give me a ride all the time”

“for the last time, I am not grumpy!” Miserix growled.

“I rest my case” I said “by the way, I never got your name”

“Wyverns don’t have names” she said, I thought for a moment before turning to Miserix.

“Are Spherus Magnan names affected by gender?” I asked.

“Not particularly” he said, I nodded before activating my mask of translation.

“How does Lhikan sound?” I asked the Wyvern.

“Does it have any significance?” she asked.

“Lhikan was a great Toa” I said “he’s held with the same reverence amongst certain people as you Wyverns view your Alpha, and greatly respected even by those that don’t hold him in high reverence”

“Then I would be honoured to be named after Lhikan” the Wyvern, now called Lhikan, said, smiling. After flying for a few hours we stopped to make camp for the night.

9 Battle for Ponyville Pt. 1

We woke up the next day and began making our way towards the Senate of the Dragons. Whilst the Dragon’s weren’t united as such, the Senate was in charge of uniting them in a time of need and represented the Dragons as a whole. If we wanted to unite the dragons then here was our best shot at doing so. The Senate of Dragons wasn’t exactly a hall as it was an entire city, located on the side of the Everfree’s tallest mountain, and it was huge. Canterlot had nothing on this city, both in sheer size and beauty, it was like something out of Lord of the Rings. We landed at the gate to the city and a small dragon, about the size of Garnet or Ruby, walked over.

“Outsider, state your name and intention” he said.

“I am General Toa Vuur Koning of the Terra Union army” I said “I come here wishing to speak to the Senate”

“And you, dragon?” he asked, turning to Miserix.

“I am Makuta Miserix of the Terra Union army” Miserix said “I have come here also wishing to speak to the Senate”

“What about the…Wyvern?” he asked, looking at Lhikan warily.

“Do you really want me to leave her out here with you?” I asked, Lhikan growled quietly as I said this

“Uh, no” he said “you uh, can’t miss the Senate building”

“Thank you” I said, before directing Lhikan forward. She walked past the diminutive dragon, who looked like he was bricking it. Once we entered the city, dragons large and small quickly moved out of the way when they saw me riding a wyvern, Miserix just snorted and rolled his eyes as he watched a 200 ft. long fire drake quickly step aside to let us pass. We soon reached the Senate building and, not surprisingly, they let us straight in. we entered a hall full of senators.

“May I ask why you have come to this fine…uh city?” a gold dragon asked, his gaze warily flicking between me and Lhikan, who I was still sat on.

“Dragons of the Senate” I said “Myself and Makuta Miserix come here today on behalf of Princess Celestia to form an alliance with your senate, as you probably already know, Equestria is now under the control of Makuta Teridax, I come here asking for your help in taking back Equestria”

“Might I ask why we should agree to join your alliance?” a 500ft. long jet-black dragon said, not the least bit bothered by the fact I was sitting on the back of a Wyvern.

“I’m the first person to do the one thing that no one has ever done since Wyverns have first appeared” I said “I’ve tamed one, I could always just let Lhikan here go on a rampage if your answer doesn’t please me” the jet-black dragon now looked nervous, whilst the rest of the senate looked ready to run out of the hall.

“If…we were to agree to join” the jet-black dragon said “what would be in it for us?”

“the fact that I don’t turn my pet Wyvern on this city?” I suggested “plus you also become allies with Equestria, but I think you a bit more worried about the Wyvern that I’m currently riding on and have complete control over” all of the dragons gulped before looking at the jet-black dragon.

“V-very well” the Jet-black dragon said “we will help you to take back Equestria”

We were now flying towards Ponyville with twenty 200 foot dragons, Lhikan also had her own set of armour, and much to the relief of my aching behind, it came with a saddle.

“So I’m your pet, am I?” Lhikan asked, she now had a gem infused with a translation spell located on the chest plate of her armour, I laughed nervously.

“Heh, that was just to get the dragons on our side, okay?” I said “I didn’t actually mean it”

“Oh sure” she said, sarcastically whilst rolling her eyes “also, what was that about you having complete control over me?”

“Same excuse as before?” I suggested, suddenly feeling very nervous, she gave me a very evil smirk and her gaze flicked down towards the ground and I suddenly realised that we were at a very high altitude “you wouldn’t dare” she responded by stooping into a dive and doing a barrel roll.

“Oh, yes I would” she said, over the sound of my totally manly screaming, I noticed the ground was approaching at a rather swift pace.

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry” I said, she instantly stopped spinning and levelled out.

“Apology accepted” she said, smiling innocently as she re-joined the dragons, some of whom were giving me sympathetic looks. I just groaned before lying back in the saddle.

“Why did I think it was a good idea to pick a wyvern?” a muttered.

“Because Dragons are terrified of me?” Lhikan suggested.

“Rhetorical question” I said.

“She has a point” I heard a dragon mutter. I sighed.

“This is going to be a long flight” I said.

“And I’m going to love every minute” Lhikan said, doing a barrel roll.

“Of all the Wyverns I had to choose” I said “it had to be the childish one with the sassy attitude”

“You love me really” Lhikan said.

“Tempus, kill me now” I whispered, so that a certain Wyvern couldn’t hear me.

*meanwhile in Ponyville*

The Crusaders snuck into Ponyville along with John, Aurora, Spike, Garnet, Ruby and Thel.

“Why exactly are we here?” Thel whispered.

“Did you not listen?” Sweetie Bell asked “*urgh* we are here to protect the school”

“You could do that without us” Thel said “why do you need me, Garnet or Ruby?” the Crusaders and Spike quickly pulled everyone behind a bush as a Kaita walked passed.

“Because of that” Spike said.

“What is that?” Thel asked, shaking slightly.

“It’s a Kaita Za” Sweetie Bell said.

“In Atquean?” Thel asked.

“*Sigh* it’s three different Rahkshi magically fused into one” Sweetie Bell said “it’s faster, stronger, has tougher armour and is a heck of a lot smarter”

“How do you take one down?” Thel asked, Spike smirked.

“We don’t” he said “you do” John chucked his extra automatic-shotgun to Thel before giving a two clawed salute.

“Well” Scootaloo said “it’s been fun knowing you” they then shoved the three older members of the group out of the bush before running for the school house and activating their cloaking garments.

“They are so going to pay for that” Ruby said, a large shadow loomed over them and she chuckled nervously, they looked up to see a three headed Kaita with absolutely huge fists, Ruby got out her 50-cal and looked to Thel “uh, Thel, now would be a good time to start firing” Thel took aim and pulled on the trigger, bangs echoed across the street as shot after shot impacted into the Kaita’s thick armour. Ruby began firing but none of their shots seemed to affect it.

“They are definitely going to pay for this” Garnet said, turning his right arm into a plasma cannon and sending a shot at the armour. Only for said armour to catch the round, stretch and then snap back into shape, sending the round right back at him “What the fuck!?” he jumped out of the way just as the shot hit the ground where he had been standing.

“What kind of power is elasticity!?” Ruby exclaimed “that’s just cheating!”

The younger of the kids soon reached the school house.

“Wait a second” Sweetie Bell said, the others could just see her walking towards the School house and looking inside, she quickly walked back over “They’re in there, there’s also a Rahkshi. Scootaloo, Applebloom, with me. Spike, Aurora, John, you three stay here and look out for trouble” the Crusaders then walked over to the School house and snuck in before walking around the back of the lone Rahkshi, the three of them deactivated their cloaking garments. Cheerilee’s eyes widened when she saw them and the Crusaders quietly signalled for her to keep on teaching, Cheerilee nodded discreetly before carrying on. The Crusaders looked to each other and nodded before getting out their short swords, jumping up and thrusting them into the Rahkshi’s Kraata chamber. The Rahkshi gave a final screech of surprise before collapsing to the floor, the students all turned around and their eyes widened when they saw the Crusaders.

“Heh, hey guys” Scootaloo said, the entire class then rushed towards them and enveloped them and a hug “Hey, we missed you too, but could you please give us some space, we haven’t finished yet” as if to punctuate the point they all heard an explosion outside, the Crusaders ran outside followed closely by the school kids. Running towards them were Spike, Aurora, John, Thel, Garnet and Ruby followed closely by a Rahkshi Kaita.

“Run for it, kids!” Garnet called, the school kids all screamed before scattering.

“I told you guys to take care of it!” Scootaloo exclaimed, as she ran after the group.

“Kind of hard when it’s practically made of rubber” Garnet said, running alongside her “we should have waited for an adult, but noooo, you were too worried about the bloody school”

“Just get behind it and take it out from there” Scootaloo said, Garnet huffed before taking off and flying around and behind the Kaita. He landed on the back and turned his arm into a flame sword.

“Let’s hope this works” Garnet muttered, before igniting the sword and plunging it deep into the Kraata chamber, the Kaita let out a screech before collapsing whilst still in motion and throwing the Kirin off. Garnet impacted with a thud and shook his head to clear his thoughts, he looked towards the Kaita to see it was still alive and kicking.

“Oh come on!” Sweetie Bell exclaimed, Garnet stood up and fired several plasma rounds at it, this time the rounds melted through, killing the Kaita for good. The school kids began to warily approach the remains of the Kaita.

“Is it…dead?” Pipsqueak asked, looking at Garnet, who turned his right arm back into its normal mode.

“Yep” the Kirin said “you won’t need to worry about it now, or pretty soon Rahkshi at all for that matter, we’ve come to liberate the town” Diamond Tiara scoffed.

“I doubt that” she said “you haven’t been here 5 minutes and we’ve nearly died”

“Diamond?” Sweetie Bell said, extending a hidden blade in her hoof “shut up, now!”

“Or what?” Diamond Tiara asked

“What do you think we’ve been doing for the past year and a half, Diamond?” Scootaloo asked, walking forward “Looking for our cutie marks? No, we’ve been training non-stop and fighting to put an end to Teridax’s reign”

“Um, I don’t mean to doubt you” Cheerilee said “but you’re just 9 kids, how are you going to stop him?”

“What do yawl think those guys are for?” Applebloom asked, as the Jörmungandr, flanked by several smaller vessels, came into view over the Everfree forest. The school kids, and Cheerilee’s, mouths dropped.

“And that isn’t even a tenth of our total fighting force” Sweetie Bell said, Scootaloo looked at Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon and smirked.

“Who’s the blank-flank looser now?” she asked, one of the smaller craft landed near them and Skohka walked out wielding his Mini-gun. Ruby beamed before running over and jumping on his shoulder, she then got out her 50-caliber automatic spell rifle and took aim before taking down several Rahkshi that were flying towards them.

“Come on, Skohka!” she said, Skohka nodded before charging into the town center after several Rahkshi. Autumn, Minion, Boris, Vinyl and Scar walked over.

“You okay, kids?” Autumn asked, the school kids all nodded “Follow us, we’ll take you to safety, Miss Cheerilee, ma’am? If you could make your way to the town hall please” Cheerilee shook her head.

“These children are under my care” she said “where they go, I go”

“Very well” Autumn said, before turning to the younger members of their team “I need you to scout ahead, we need to get to the town hall and I need you to find the safest route” the younger members all nodded before running for the town.

“Alright, kiddies” Vinyl said, getting out her swords and flipping them over several times “let’s go” the Toa the began to lead the children down the streets.

Twilight and the rest of the Elements of Harmony walked into Ponyville Castle.

“Girls?” Rainbow Dash said as they entered the empty hall “does it seem a little strange that this castle is deserted?” they all heard sinister chuckling

“Who said this castle was deserted?” Sombra asked, materialising out of the shadows. He was now bipedal, about 14 foot tall and he had a distinct feline quality to his appearance. He had silver armour and a black cape that dissipated at the end, as if made of smoke, and he wielded a staff with a blade made out of crystals. He walked forward and looked around at the hall “I must say, Twilight, I do approve of your aesthetical choices for this castle”

“You aren’t Trixie!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Oh, were you expecting that bumbling half-rate showmare?” he asked, running a metal clawed finger up the crystalline blade of his staff “She couldn’t handle a position of power to save her life”

“What do you want, Sombra?” Rainbow Dash demanded.

“I do believe there should be a ‘King’ somewhere in that sentence” he said “as for what I want; all of you…dead” the Elements began backing up as he walked forward with a predatory gleam in his eyes. He flipped his staff 180 degrees and thrust it into the floor, causing a wall of crystals to spring up behind them and block their escape.

“I am going to enjoy this moments, very much” he said, pulling his staff out of the floor “they say revenge is a dish best served cold...

10 Battle for Ponyville Pt. 2

Rainbow Dash reared up.

“Well I say it’s a dish best served heated…” she then slammed her forehooves down, sending forth bolts of plasma which sent the dark king flying into the opposite wall “…super-heated” Sombra chuckled.

“You ponies are just full of surprises…” he said, standing up, he then sent a bolt of chain lightning at Rainbow Dash, the bolt connected and jumped to the other five elements “…but you’ll have to do better than that to stop me” Twilight stunned him with an attack of mental ‘noise’, Sombra cried out in surprise before dispelling the chain lightning.

“Rainbow isn’t the only one with new powers” Twilight said, stepping forward and levitating her staff out of hammer space

“Indeed” Sombra said, scowling before charging towards them.

The first team of Neu-Toa led the school kids and their teacher through the streets.

“Guys?” Vinyl said “hold up, there’s something approa…UNGH!” she never got to finish her sentence as a bolt of red energy slammed into the unicorn, sending her crashing through a shop front.

“VINYL!!!” Minion exclaimed, running over to her. She was sat against the wall, trembling and she had a red aura around her “Vinyl, are you okay?” Vinyl cowered when he tried to put a hand on her shoulder.

“P-please…d-don’t h-hurt m-me” She stuttered, looking at him in fear. Minions eyes widened in shock

“Vinyl, babe” he said “I would never even think of hurting you, come on, we need to protect the kids” she shook her head.

“I-I c-can’t” she said, trying to back away. Minion sighed before opening the com-link.

“Guys?” he said “Vinyl’s been emotionally compromised, she’s been hit by a blast from a staff of fear, I can’t help you from now on”

“What! Why!?” Autumn exclaimed.

“Because I need to stay and protect her!” he shouted, causing Vinyl to cower in fear, he sighed before lowering his voice “you’d do the same if something happened to Vuur Koning” he then shut off the com-link.

“P-please…d-don’t leave me” Vinyl pleaded. Tears were starting to form in her eyes, Minion sat down next to her and pulled her close.

“I promise” he said “I will never leave you, I will always protect you, no matter what”

The crusaders and John ran through the streets and into an alleyway. A white Rahkshi appeared at the end of the alleyway and fired its staff, hitting Sweetie Bell. John took it out with several shots from his shot gun. They turned to look at Sweetie Bell, who hadn’t moved, she just stood there panting, she also had a white aura around her.

“Uh…Sweetie Bell?” Scootaloo asked “Are you okay?” she placed a hoof on the unicorn’s shoulder and Sweetie Bell glared at her.

“Get…away” she growled, starting to walk towards Scootaloo, who had begun backing away “what have you ever done for me!?” she ignited her magic and launched Scootaloo down the alleyway.

“Sweetie Bell!” Applebloom exclaimed “What’s wrong with yawl!?” Sweetie Bell sneered and started to stomp towards her earth pony friend, who also began backing away until her flank was up against the wall.

“You never did anything for me either!” she said, before raising up a forehoof and punching Applebloom in the face, sending the earth pony sprawling on the ground. She went to walk towards Applebloom when she felt something poke the back of her head.

“Don’t make me pull the trigger” John said, Sweetie Bell snorted before bucking him down the alleyway. She sneered at Applebloom before turning and walking away.

“If the world isn’t going to love me?” she said “then I’ll teach it to fear me instead” she saw several walking down the street, he noticed her and waived.

“Hey, Sweetie Bell” he said, he then looked around in confusion “uh…where are your friends?”

“Which friends?” she growled, before sending him flying into a shop with her magic. The other Toa all pointed their weapons at her, if a little hesitantly.

“What the hell, Sweetie!?” Vapaa exclaimed, getting out his converted Desert Eagle and setting it to stun before aiming it at her. She growled before igniting her magic and ripping it out of his hands and pointing it at him “Seriously, what the hell is wrong with you!?”

“You’ve never been there to help me!” she said, Vapaa heard the click of the gun being set to kill and he went pale.

“Sweetie Bell” he said, getting out a throwing knife “I really don’t want to do this, but if you don’t stand down then I’ll have no choice”

“Go ahead!” she snarled, Vapaa hesitated and she sneered “you don’t have it in you, do you? Well let’s see if this changes your mind” she then pointed the gun at Orca and the other Toa tensed up

“Saphyrus” Vapaa hissed “now would be a good time”

“I can’t” the blue dragon said “she’s received mental training, just like us” Sweetie Bell snorted.

“If you really love Orca” she said “you’ll throw the bucking knife!”

“I won’t kill you, Sweetie Bell” Vapaa said, Sweetie Bell smirked.

“Then she dies” she said “in three, two…” a bolt of blue magic slammed into her, a shocked expression came over her face as her magic failed and she collapsed to the ground before falling unconscious. Natrix walked out of the shop holding an arcane crossbow.

“Check for her friends” he said “I think I saw them in the alleyway” Vapaa ran into the alleyway and found John sitting with his back against the wall.

“Are you okay, bud?” he asked, john nodded, if a little woozily.

“She bucked me in the head” he said “but I’ll be fine, check on the others first”

“Ow” Applebloom muttered, holding a bloody nose with a forehoof “that filly can really throw a good punch, I think mah nose is broken”

“Urgh, is Sweetie Bell okay?” they heard Scootaloo ask, and looked over to see her standing up unsteadily. One of her wings was hanging limply and twisted at an unusual angle.

“Scoots!” Applebloom exclaimed “your wing!” Scootaloo groggily looked at her wing.

“Oh...” she said, before collapsing and falling unconscious.

The first team of Neu-Toa led the school kids towards the town hall, only to find it blocked by Rahkshi.

“Well this was a stupid plan” Diamond Tiara sneered.

“You know what?” Scar said, walking over to the pastel pink filly “I’ve had just about enough of you” Diamond Tiara just smirked.

“It’s not like you can actually do anything to me” she said “you wouldn’t hurt an innocent little filly, would you?” she batted her eyelids and her eyes flashed red.

“Don’t push your luck, kid” Scar said, narrowing his eyes, before walked towards Autumn “Sister, I think we might have a little problem”

“What do you mean, brother?” Autumn asked.

“I think a certain little brat we all hate might be a shadow-pony” he said, Autumn frowned.

“Don’t do anything yet” she said “but keep an eye on her” Scar nodded before walking back towards the back of the group and keeping a wary eye on the pink filly. Autumn and Boris got their weapons out and crept towards the corner, they were about to charge when they heard a high pitched whistling that got louder and louder.

“WYVERN!” Boris exclaimed “GET DOWN!” everyone/pony hit the dirt as the ground in front of the town hall burst in to flames, obliterating the Rahkshi that were standing guard and a Wyvern clad in silver armour landed on the ground in front of them.

“What a minute…” Autumn said “is that…?” the flames sprang up and flowed into the red-armoured rider sitting atop the Wyvern.

“That magnificent, crazy, son of a bitch” Scar said, walking over and crossing his arms. Twenty 200ft. dragons landed on the ground behind Vuur Koning.

“I’ve already told you which targets to go for!” Vuur Koning said “Now get moving! We’ve got a war to win!” he got out his sword, thrust it into the air and sent a column of concentrated fire into the sky, the dragons all roared before taking flight.

“Vuur Koning!” Autumn called, Vuur Koning jumped off of the Wyvern and walked over.

*POV 1st person Vuur Koning*

“Hope I’m not too late for the party” I said, walking over and pulling Autumn into a hug.

“Well, you were needed a few minutes ago” Autumn said, stepping back

“What happened?” I asked.

“Vinyl got hit by a blast from a Turahk” she said “and Minion stayed with her to protect her, and I heard over the coms that something has happened to the Crusaders”

“Damn” I muttered, before turning to the group of school kids “alright kids, into the town hall, now!” Cheerilee led them inside and I turned to the other Toa, who were eyeing Lhikan nervously.

“Um, Vuur Koning?” Scar asked “Are you sure that thing is safe”

“’That thing’ has a name” Lhikan growled.

“Easy girl” I said, before turning to the Toa “this is Lhikan, she’ll be helping us”

“The Wyvern just talked…” Autumn said.

“Yeah?” I said “And?

“I always thought they were dumb-beasts” Boris said, scratching the top of his head

“And I still think the same of the tall green griffon” Lhikan said, snorting.

“Hey!” Boris exclaimed “I’m a Toa-hero!”

“Enough! We need to work together” I said, before running back to Lhikan and jumping back on the saddle “Boris, Scar, I need you to protect the town hall. Autumn, you’re with me, we’re going to the fly to the castle” Boris and Scar nodded before running over to the town hall and Autumn began hovering.

“Let’s get going” Autumn said, before flying towards the castle. Lhikan gave a roar before flying after her.

*POV 3rd person*

Twilight slid backwards from the force of Sombra’s attack, the rest of the Elements were either pinned against the wall by crystals or unconscious. Sombra sneered.

“You’re a skilled magician, I’ll give you that” he said, his staff began to glow a dark red “but now it’s time for your parting gift”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.

“As in it will part you” he said, smirking “Part of you here, part of you there and part of you way over there, staining the walls” he then fired the charged up magic at Twilight, who brought up a shield just in time.

“Even if…you kill me” Twilight said, straining “others will rise up and one day, you will fall!” she closed her eyes and when she reopened them they were glowing a pure white, her shield turned into pure, limitless magic before pushing the red beam back towards Sombra and sending him flying into the wall. Sombra groaned before standing up.

“H-how did…!?” he trailed off when he saw Twilight, she was much taller, with a longer horn and a long, ethereal mane that flowed in some unseen wind “Impossible, how did you reach full ascension so early?”

“Ascension does not have a set time in which to bestow its gifts upon a chosen individual, Sombra” she walked towards him as she said this “nor can it be taken as you tried, all those years ago, ascension must be earned and used for noble purposes, not to conquer and enslave. Henceforth, I release you of your curse” she then began to levitate and her aura of magic engulfed Sombra, before drawing out the Makuta virus from Sombra and restoring him to his original form.

“NOOOOOOOO!” Sombra exclaimed as the virus was ripped from his very being, Twilight brought the swirling black and green mass towards her and examined it before moving it away and looking at it in mild disgust.

“Be gone, spawn of Teridax” she then exposed it to pure, unfiltered light, eradicating any trace of it.

*POV 1st person Vuur Koning*

We were flying towards the castle when pure light shone through the windows, stunning us and sending us crashing into the ground.

“What the fuck was that!?” I exclaimed, standing up. Autumn was just as surprised as me, I checked to make sure Lhikan was okay before running into the castle with my sword and shield drawn. We entered the main hall and stopped dead in our tracks, Twilight had somehow reached full ascension and was extracting a black and green mass from Sombra, who was turning into a grey Stallion. I put away my sword and shield and smirked before crossing my arms “well, Teridax is fucked”

11 M.C. Escher F.T.W.

A couple of our Rahkshi dragged Sombra towards us.

“You may have defeated me” he said “But Teridax still stands, and when you are dead at his feet, I will take my rightful place alongside him, where I belong.

“The only place you belong in is an M.C. Escher drawing” Sombra gave me an odd look whilst Twilight rolled her eyes “you’ll understand what I’m talking about soon enough, take him away”

“M.C. Escher?” she asked, raising an eyebrow “Really?” I shrugged, Vapaa ran over.

“Guys, we have a problem”

“Let me out of here” Sweetie Bell snarled, trying to get out of her cell.

“Let me guess” I said, turning to Vapaa “Rahkshi of anger?” Vapaa nodded as Sweetie Bell fired a bolt of magic at the Plexiglas wall, causing it to ricochet all around the cell.

“How can we solve this?” he asked, at that moment Rarity galloped in.

“Sweetie Bell!?” she exclaimed, before turning to us “Let her out of this cell right now!”

“That wouldn’t be such a good idea” I said “she’s been struck by a blast from a Rahkshi of Anger, until we figure out how to help her she’ll try to kill anyone she come across, she even tried to kill her fellow Crusaders and leaving Scootaloo with a broken wing” Sweetie Bell groaned and held her head in her hooves.

“G-g-get out of my head!” she screamed, before slumping slightly and looking at us with a pleading look “I’ve… got a moment…I can’t…hold it off…for long, but…if you can’t help…me. Promise me you’ll stop me…permanently” Rarity put a hoof against the see-through wall.

“Sweetie, don’t talk like that!” she pleaded.

“Rarity…ungh, Scoot’s got a…argh…broken wing…GET OUT...Because of me” she said, shutting her eyes tightly to try and block it out “I…don’t want…to…hurt you too…’but I will if a have to’…get out of my head”

“Come on, Sweetie Bell” I said “fight back”

“I’m…trying” she said, holding her head in her hooves, the white aura surrounding her was starting to falter “it’s…no…I…won’t…hurt them…noooo…” the white aura glowed brightly and Sweetie Bell returned to a rage driven state.

“Come on, Sweetie Bell” I pounded the wall of the cell with a fist “don’t you dare give up”

“I hate you!” she growled, before her resolve failed slightly “No…I…don’t…help me!”

“How is she able to fight it?” Vapaa asked.

“I think it’s to do with the mental training she received” I said “I think it’s allowing her to resist it, but only just” Luna walked in.

“I came as soon as I could” she said, before watching Sweetie Bell for a few moments and turning to me “this is a potent curse, I cannot remove it. This is her battle, but if she can’t win, it will consume and destroy her”

“Hang on” I said “I think I have an idea, you’ll probably hate me for it, but it might work”

“What are you suggesting?” Luna asked.

“Cognitive recalibration” I said, before teleporting inside the cell and punching Sweetie Bell on the back of the head, knocking her unconscious in the process. The white aura dissipated completely.

“What in Celestia’s name!?” Rarity exclaimed, banging her hooves against the wall.

“Cognitive recalibration…” I went to say, but was interrupted.

“A restart of the synapsis” the recently ascended Twilight said, walking forward “most commonly caused by a sudden impact to the cranial region”

“In English?” Vapaa asked.

“I hit her really hard on the head” I said, rolling my eyes, before kneeling down and picking up an unconscious Sweetie Bell “and it seems to have worked”

“I did notice the sudden lack of white aura” Luna said, Rarity just stood there, mouth agape.

“You hit my sister on the head!” she exclaimed.

“I saved your sisters life!” I shot back, before teleporting out of the cell, Rarity just humphed before turning around and walking out with her head held high, once she was gone I muttered “still as snotty as ever. Twilight, if you would be so kind as to transfer her to more comfortable accommodation” Twilight frowned at me before nodding and taking Sweetie Bell in her magic, she then teleported away.

“Whilst I can’t say I totally agree with your methods” Luna said “I’ll admit they do yield results, only time will tell if it totally cured her. Until we meet again I bid you two farewell” she then teleported out of the room.

“Right” I said “time to check on Vinyl”

I was stood outside a hospital room.

“How is she?” I asked, Nurse Redheart sighed.

“The effects will wear off, eventually” she said “but if you want my advice, let her sit the next battle out. I understand that every Toa is important to you, but it’s better letting her sit this one out and having her for the battle after, than making her fight in this battle and being unable to fight ever again” I nodded and sighed.

“Thank you, Redheart” I said “can I go see her?” she nodded.

“Yes, but make it quick” she said, I thanked her before walking inside. Minion was sat on a chair, watching Vinyl, who was sleeping peacefully. Aurora was sleeping on Minions laps

“Hey, brother” I said.

“Hey” he said.

“Look” I said, sitting in the chair next to the one he was sitting in “the nurse said it would be better for Vinyl to not fight in Canterlot. I know you really care abut her, so if you want to stay here and look after her, I’ll understand” Minion nodded.

“Thank you, brother” he said “I would have stayed with her anyway. I promised her I’d stay by her side, and I’m not going back on that. Plus I’ve been meaning to spend some quality time with her and Aurora, she was so upset when she heard what happened to Vinyl, she was in floods of tears and it took me forever to calm her down” at this point Aurora stirred.

“Mmm, Dad?” she asked.

“Yes, dear” he asked.

“Is Mom going to be okay?” she asked, tears starting to form in her eyes. I can’t even begin to imagine what my brother felt like, because my heart broke at that point.

“Oh, come here” Minion said, pulling her into a hug “yes, she’ll be fine. The Nurse says she’ll get better and you, me and your Mom are going to be taking it easy for a little while, your Uncle says we can stay here whilst they go to Canterlot” Aurora looked at me with her eyes full of hope.

“Really!?” she asked, I nodded.

“Yes, because Vinyl, Minion and you are part of my family, and because you’re my favourite niece” I said, she gave me an odd look

“I’m your only niece” she said.

“That doesn’t mean you aren’t my favourite niece” I said “it just means there’s no risk of anyone else taking your place as my favourite niece” I tapped her snout with my finger, making her giggle. Vinyl woke and sat up with a groan, Aurora’s eyes widened. Vinyl looked at Aurora and smiled softly.

“Hey, kid” she said softly, before holding her arms out “come here” Aurora didn’t need to be asked twice and she flew over to Vinyl.

“I was so scared, Mom” Aurora said “I thought you were going to…” she trailed off and began crying again.

“Oh shh, I’m fine” Vinyl said, holding her adoptive daughter and rubbing her back comfortingly “a little thing like this isn’t gonna keep me down for long”

“Vinyl?” I said “about Canterlot…” she looked at me.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“The nurse said it would be best for you to sit this one out…” Vinyl cut me off.

“What!?” she asked “no way, I want to help”

“Very well then, if you want to make this difficult” I said “Vinyl Scratch, as your superior officer, I’m ordering you to sit this one out, no excuses”

“So you’re pulling rank on me” she said.

“If it means you’ll survive until the fight after, then yes” I said “Minion’s sitting this one out as well”

“I will not stand around doing nothing whilst you go and kill yourself!” she said.

“Mom! Stop!” Aurora pleaded “please, Uncle V.K. doesn’t want you to hurt yourself, and I don’t want you to either” Vinyl’s expression softened and she sighed before nodding.

“Okay, Aurora” she said “I’ll sit this one out, for you” at that moment the nurse poked her head around the door.

“Vuur Koning?” she asked “I’m afraid your time is up here” I nodded before standing up.

“I guess I’ll either see you just before or after the battle then” I said, Minion and Aurora nodded, but Vinyl just pouted as I left the room.

*POV 3rd person*

Sweetie Bell shook her head to try and block out the…voices, for lack of a better word. That’s the best way she could describe them; voices that whispered in the back of her mind. She was currently strapped to the bed she was resting on, and Applebloom was sat in a chair placed against the wall.

“Come on, Sweetie Bell” Applebloom said “yawl can fight it”

“And if I don’t!?” she snapped, before her expression softened “sorry, that was the anger talking, how’s Scootaloo?” Applebloom sighed.

“She took it pretty hard” Applebloom said, rubbing the back of her neck “Ah don’t know if she’ll trust yawl”

“Bucking great!” Sweetie Bell snapped “sorry, anger again. But seriously, our friendship in tatters is the last thing we need” Applebloom nodded.

“Ah agree, but if it does come to you and Scoots not talking to each other?” she said “Ah’ll be there, for both of yawl”

“Thank you” Sweetie Bell said “I think it’s gone, for now at least”

“Ah’ll admit” Applebloom said, absent mindedly rubbing her jaw “you have a mean swing” Sweetie Bell giggled quietly, it soon got louder and eventually Applebloom joined in until they were laughing like friends again.

*POV 1st person Vuur Koning*

I stood on one side of a set of iron bars, Sombra was on the other side glaring at me.

“I suppose this is your Idea of a joke” he said, glancing back at his large cell. It was based off of an M.C. Escher drawing, with multiple points of gravity and floors on every wall, plus a hell of a lot of staircases.

“You can thank Discord for this” I said “look on the bright side, at least you won’t get bored, you have multiple gardens. And the stairs, don’t forget the stairs” Sombra facehoofed.

“Why does everypony think I have some weird obsession with stairs?” he asked rhetorically “the castle was very tall, how else was somepony to get to the top”

“You could also use it for letting Slinky’s go down” he gave me an odd look and I chucked one at him, he caught it in his magic.

“What is this…thing?” he asked, holding one end in his magic and letting the other stretch down to the floor.

“A children’s toy” I said “place it upright at the top of a set of stairs and give the top a nudge, that should keep you entertained for the next few hundred years, ta-ta” I then walked around the corner and stopped before activating my mask of stealth and creeping back up to the door. Sombra looked around before walking to the edge of a stair case and placing the Slinky at the edge, he then nudged the top with a hoof and his face lit up when it proceeded to slink down the stairs.

12 Hearts of protosteel

I was stood on the bow of the Jörmungandr, looking at the steadily approaching Mt. Canter with the capital city of Canterlot located on the side. It was a shadow if it’s former self, with a dark cloud looming over it like an oppressive shadow. I looked at my team, two members down, we would have to make do.

“You ready?” I asked, they nodded but didn’t say anything, we all knew what would happen if we failed but no one wanted to say it. I’d spoken to Minion and Vinyl, if we didn’t make it then they were going to look after Garnet and Ruby, who were in Ponyville. Celestia walked over, she was covered in golden battle armour and had a staff levitating next to her. She sat down next to me and looked at Canterlot.

“Captain” she greeted, not taking her eyes off of the capital.

“Princess” I replied. “How’re your Honour guard doing?”

“Nervous” she said simply, Celestia’s Honour guard were a group of six ponies from my ship that were the best fighters we had, they were also equipped with elemental armour that only used light based powers. Luna had a set of six Honour guard, with the same powers, except they had silver amour and were thestrals. I spotted a couple hundred Rahkshi approaching and sighed before speaking into a small red and gold bracelet on my right wrist.

“Shoot them down” I said, I heard a dull whirring, followed by the staccato pops of one of the auto-turrets and I could see glowing, magic infused metal slugs whizzing through the air towards the Rahkshi who began to drop out of the sky. Two dark figures slammed onto the deck inform of us and stood to their full height, of course, Vapaa’s brothers decided to show up. I turned to Vapaa and nodded, he and Takanuva flew off, the ploy worked and Vapaa’s brothers flew after them. My armour adapted to its airborne mode and the rest of my Toa followed my lead, seeing Scar with a set of heli-rotors sprouting out of his back was certainly a new one to me. His Gatling guns had also moved and were now located on his hips, much like with Boris. Speaking of whom, he now had a set of booster jets on his back, as did Autumn and her two siblings; Winter Chill and Midsummer Night. “Right, our priority is to get to the palace and contain Teridax. Our personal safety is lowest priority, no exceptions. Am I understood?”

“Perfectly, Sir!” they all said.

“Good” I said, before getting out my sword and shield “let’s get out there” and then ran to the edge and jumped off. After free falling for a few seconds I heard a pair of jets kicking in and I shot forward, my wings keeping me airborne as the jets propelled me along. Autumn flew alongside me.

“What’s the plan?” she asked “you have a plan, don’t you?”

“Honestly, I doubt we’ll get very far” I said “so, if I can’t take down Teridax in single combat, I want you and other Toa to surround the Castle in an energy shield. I’ll hold him in the throne room so that I can nova blast him to Tartarus…”

“You’ll bring the castle down on top of you!” she exclaimed.

“That’s a price I’m willing to pay if it means Teridax is stopped for good” I said “look on the bright side, at least I’ll see my dad again” she sighed before pulling me into a kiss.

“Just try and be careful” she said.

“You know me, dear” I said, giving her a two fingered salute “I’m always care…fuck” I slammed into a billboard, Autumn pulled me upand gave me a pointed look.

“Shut it” I muttered. Before flying off towards the castle with Autumn, Celestia and Luna in tow.

*POV 3rd person*

Fantasia walked into the great hall of paradise.

“Brother, sister” she said “I’m begging you let me go down there and help restore my daughters to the throne”

“You know the rules” Tempus said “we cannot meddle with the affairs of mortals”

“Suppose Teridax wins” Fantasia said “he will hear of us and he will try to claim this sanctuary for himself, we all saw what happened all those millennia ago. His heart is a pit that will never be filled”

“He will not get past the gates” Anima said, before sighing “but very well, I will give you a few months” Tempus looked at the goddess of nature in shock.

“You can’t be serious” Tempus said, Anima rolled her eyes

“Brother” she said to the god of time “Fantasia is the only one of us three with anything even remotely resembling a sense of humour. Go sister, before I change my mind” Fantasia nodded before turning to leave, ornate gold armour faded into existence as she left the hall.

“Why the generosity all of a sudden?” Tempus asked.

“You’re a male” she said, looking at him out of the corner of her eyes and giving him a wry smile “you wouldn’t understand the bond shared between a mother and her children”

*POV 1st person Vuur Koning*

We flew through the streets of Canterlot until we came to large square with shops around the edge, I got out my sword and shield before diving into the group of Rahkshi.

“Have at you!” I yelled as I spun around, taking the heads of several Rahkshi as I went. I landed on the ground and sent a column of fire into several that were charging towards me, incinerating them. One went to attack me from behind and I went to slice its head off only for the Rahkshi to have a golden blade thrust through its chest and turn to dust. A white and maroon Alicorn in gold armour materialised “Fantasia?”

“Hail, Vuur Koning” she said, before thrusting her blade into the ground and sending out a golden shockwave that turned all the Rahkshi in the square into dust “I have come to assist in restoring my daughters to their rightful place on the throne” Celestia and Luna landed nearby and their jaws dropped.

“M-mother?” Celestia asked.

“We have plenty of time for a family reunion later” I said “we need to get to the castle, think you can eliminate the Rahkshi?” Fantasia smirked.

“It would be my pleasure” she said, before turning to her daughters “come children” the three Alicorns then took off and I looked at Autumn.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Just thinking what the buck we’re standing around for” she said, before taking off. I followed her and we flew towards to castle I put the jets to full and aimed for a stained-glass window depicting Teridax overthrowing Celestia and Luna, I crashed through the window and rolled across the floor.

“Okay” I muttered, wincing as I pulled a shard of glass out if my arm “not one of my better judgement calls” Teridax chuckled and stood up.

“Ah, Vuur Koning” he said “have you come to surrender” at that moment Autumn flew inside and landed next to me.

“Over my dead body” I said, drawing my sword and shield “surrender or I’ll nova blast this castle to Tartarus” Teridax chuckled as he got out his staff of shadows and stepped forward.

“Your hollow threats are worthless, human” he said “you give yourself so many titles, when they are meaningless” at that point Fantasia, flanked by Celestia and Luna crashed through the ceiling.

“Surrender, Teridax” Fantasia said, drawing her sword “we’ve just destroyed your Rahkshi, you have no forces” Teridax chuckled.

“Ha! You think you can stop me?” he asked “so called god, only the Great Beings could bring me down…”

“I am a Great Being!” she snapped, cutting him off, the rest of us stared at her, wide eyed “now, be-gone” she then thrust the sword into Teridax’s chest, only for it to phase through, Teridax flickered.

“Then your reputation has left me underwhelmed” he said, and began picking at his long, thin fingers “I’m not even in Canterlot, I’m currently on an ironclad, sailing away from your miserable city, you’ve won this war. But I’ll be back, and then not even you so called gods can stop me”

“What are you planning!?” Fantasia demanded.

“That would spoil the surprise now, wouldn’t it?” his hologram then disappeared.

“FOR FUCKS SAKE!!!” I yelled, before blowing out another of the stained glass windows, launching my sword across the room and imbedding it into Teridax’s crystalline throne, I then slumped to my knees “once again, that bastard has fooled us all”

*POV 3rd person*

Vapaa crashed into the side of a building, his brothers flew over and landed. Takanuva had been taken out soon after the start of the battle. Vapaa stood up and coughed.

“This time” Gabe said, pulling his scythe out of hammer space “Your farewell will be forever, brother”

“You lost the right to call me brother long ago” Vapaa said, before spitting his blades into two.

“Then we will have no problem with killing you” Seth said “Drew” he then pulled out his swords and the three of them charged. Vapaa brought his swords up to block their attacks before kicking Gabe away and pushing Seth into the wall, he then took off into the air and flew up to a great altitude.

“Trying to run away, are we?” Gabe asked, and the two Makuta flew over to Vapaa and blocked his path.

“Actually” Vapaa said, smirking “I was drawing you into the middle of the Union army” the clouds cleared to reveal hundreds of Pegasi, Thestral, Griffins and the Neu-Toa, all surrounding them, with the Jörmungandr directly behind Vapaa. Frostfang growled and the two Makuta slowly put their hands up.

*POV 1st Person Vuur Koning* (1 week later)

We were all stood in the celebration hall of Canterlot castle, Celestia, Luna, Fantasia and Mata Nui were there.

“Toa Jörmungandr” Celestia said “for playing a crucial part in returning Equestria to order, it is my honour to award you all the Celestia Cross; for most conspicuous bravery and valour in the presence of the enemy” Celestia levitated 15 gold crosses hung from red ribbons and clipped them to our left shoulders.

“Toa Jörmungandr” Luna said “for helping to return Equestria to our rule, it is my honour to award you all the Luna Star; for conspicuous gallantry at the risk of life and going above and beyond the call of duty” she then levitated 15 silver stars hung from blue ribbons and clipped then to our left shoulders, next to the Celestia Cross.

“Toa Jörmungandr” Mata Nui said “For protecting the innocent and fighting with courage and honour, I award you all the Lhikan Star; for acts of gallantry in the face of exceptional danger to life and limb, whilst demonstrating staying power in order to fulfil the mission in an ethically sound way. You are all truly deserving of the title of Toa” a Royal guard then levitated 15 red, metal circles with a golden depiction of the figure on Mata Nui’s mask, all hung on golden ribbons, and placed them on our left shoulders, on the other side of our Celestia crosses. Celestia then spoke up.

“Would Ruby, Garnet, Thel, John, Aurora, Spike, Applebloom, Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo please step forward?” she asked, the kids eyes widened and they nervously walked over from the assembled audience, I noticed Scootaloo had a cast on her wing, but had no problems standing right next to Sweetie Bell “For assisting in protecting Equestria, I award you all with the highest civilian award I can bestow upon you. The Equestrian Cross; for acts of the greatest heroism and courage in the face of extreme danger” she then levitated 9 silver crosses with an engraving of the Equestrian flag in the middle and clipped them to their shoulders. We then heard clapping and laughing.

“Bravo, bravo” said a voice that made me groan in frustration, we all looked around to see Metus. Myself, Minion, Vapaa and Natrix all exchanged glances and nodded before pulling out pistols and pointing them at him.

“What are you doing!?” Celestia exclaimed.

“That” I said “is Metus, an ice tribe Agori who has made quite the name for himself selling secrets to the enemy, whether they be Skrall, Bone Hunters, or Makuta” the Guards all pointed their weapons at Metus.

“Now, now, let’s not be too hasty” Metus said “oh, sure I’ve sold the odd bit of…information to the enemy, but it brought everyone together in the end, I united the Glatorians the first time around”

“Whatever you have to say?” I said “you can tell me behind prison bars, take him away” the guards then dragged him out of the room, despite his protests.

“Honestly” I said “it’s like some cliché scene out of a movie”

“Oh, don’t be silly” Pinkie Pie said “that happened because the writer of this fan-fiction was bored and wanted to add some surprise drama to the scene” everyone stared at her, wide eyed, a cricket could be heard chirping in the background.

“Pinkie” Rainbow Dash said, facehoofing “you are so random”

13 Epilogue

“What do we do now?” Garnet asked me “with Teridax still at large”

“We’ll be ready for him” I said, leaning on the railing “when he comes back, and he will, the whole world will be united against him. But for now, we will rebuild and celebrate our victory. Anyway, look at you, with your Equestria cross” he smirked and puffed his chest out, showing off the medal he was still wearing over his armour, his expression then fell.

“*Sigh* you’ve still got more medals than me” he said, I placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I don’t care about the medals” I said “what’s a medal, other than a tacky lump of metal? All I care about, is that I’m proud of you and Ruby” I then turned and leant against the railing of the Jörmungandr as it flew away from the foundations of New Altero.

*POV 3rd person*

“I still can’t believe you just gave up like that” Trixie said, herself, Roodaka, The Shadowed One and Teridax were on the bridge of a small airship with about twenty or so Rahkshi.

“Did you know that there used to be a species of fish” Teridax said, Roodaka sighed, she’d heard this one a hundred times over already “it wasn’t particularly large, or strong, or fast, but it was cunning”

“Here we go again” Roodaka muttered.

“It would swim around, without any regard for predators” Teridax said “and if a predator, let’s say for arguments sake, a Ruki fish were to eat it, it would release a toxin that was so powerful, that a small drop could kill a venom eel the size of this ship, then it would eat the carcass of the dead predator before swimming off”

“Where are you going with this?” Trixie asked.

“That fish won by pretending to lose” Teridax said, holding a mask of Dimensional gates “let them have Equestria, compared to how much we will win, Equestria will seem a pitiful prize. Tell me, Chiratrix, what do you know of the Multiverse theory?” Trixie’s eyes widened and the others all smirked.

4 Battle for Appleloosa pt1

“The number of Rahkshi in Appleloosa has been increasing” Rainbow dash said. She had just returned from a scouting run to Appleloosa with Gilda and they were relaying the information to me. Said griffin groaned in frustration.

“Urg, when are we going to get that town back?” she asked “if we keep sitting on out asses all the time they are just going to keep on coming”

“I am fully aware of what will happen, Gilda” I said, calmly “but we are still trying to figure out an attack plan”

“I have a plan” Gilda said “attack”

“Which is exactly the reason why you aren’t in charge” I said “we can’t just go blindly rushing in” Gilda just groaned in frustration before walking out of the tent.

“She’s right you know” Rainbow said “we need to take Appleloosa, sooner rather than later” I nodded and sighed.

“I know, I just don’t want to order an attack that will end in too many needless deaths” I said, leaning on the table with a map of the desert. Several settlements were now marked with a flag of the 3 virtues, symbolising settlements that we now controlled. Appleloosa, amongst several other northern settlements, still had a flag with a picture of Teridax’s mask above a stylised ‘M’ “if you told me 3 years ago that not only would I be in a land of talking ponies, but also leading a rebellion against Teridax, I would have laughed and told you to take up stand-up comedy” Rainbow snorted.

“Still have a terrible sense of humour I see” she said, I rolled my eyes before walking out of the tent. Most of the settlement of the new-New Altero was comprised of tents with the odd wooden building forming things like shops, the only problems are the sweltering sun…and the Cendox’s. They’re 10 foot long snakes that have a nasty habit of hiding in the rafters of buildings and under furniture, they also like eating anything inedible.

“FUCK OFF!” I yelled, grabbing one of the anaconda sized pests from the rafters of a shop and launching it into the air and past the borders of the city. Rainbow gave a low whistle as she watched it sail through the air before landing some distance away from the settlement with an audible thud.

“Never thought I’d see a Cendox fly” Rainbow said, chuckling before turning to follow after me “Just…don’t let Fluttershy see you do that”

“I somehow doubt even she would object after they ate her tent” I said.

“True” Rainbow conceded. We began walking towards the council tent, Ackaar was discussing something with Tahu when I entered.

“Summon the council members” I said “we’re going to take Appleloosa” they both nodded before leaving, soon they returned along with Turaga Dume, Mata Nui, Tuma, the leader of the Skrall sisters, Nektann and the rest of the leaders of the individual species and groups. Since we had left the tundra the Order had revealed themselves and Helryx was also a part of the council.

“Why have you summoned us?” Helryx asked, I brought up a holo-map and several pictures that Rainbow had taken.

“Teridax has been sending more and more Rahkshi to Appleloosa” I said “if we are going to take Appleloosa, we need to strike sooner rather than later, otherwise Teridax is going to send more, and more, and more, until he has enough to overrun us”

“What do you suggest then?” Mata Nui asked.

“It’s an old tactic from my world called a pincer technique” I said, I tapped the holo-map and multiple arrows began to appear, a gold one at the south of the settlement began moving north “we will drive the Rahkshi back. Then our Teridax, Miserix, the Toa Nuva and Takanuva, Toa Haga and Vapaa’s team will drop from the Jörmungandr and stop the Rahkshi from retreating by blocking their escape and taking control of their forces” as I said this, the red arrow signifying the Rahkshi forces began moving north. And another, smaller gold arrow appeared and moved to block their path. The Rahkshi forces then changed from red to gold.

“What makes you think that this plan will work?” Tuma asked.

“I don’t” I said, crossing my arms “I know it will”

It was the next morning, the Jörmungandr was about 30’000 feet above Appleloosa and myself and my team were armouring up and preparing to drop. Tremors rocked the ship as I climbed into the drop-pod.

“Guy’s?” Said Rainbow Dash over the com-link, I could also hear the crack of lightening “you better get your flanks down here, we have *urgh* a lit...shit… little problem”

“Rainbow?” I asked, strapping myself in to the pod “what’s the problem?”

“Oh nothing” Rainbow said sarcastically “Teridax has only turned an old…BUCK OFF, YOU BITCH! *ZAP-BOOM*...’friend’ of mine from the Wonderbolt academy into a Makuta, she’s the only pegasus I know to keep up with me…oh for Celestia’s sake, GILDA? GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE NOW! Look guy’s, just get here and fast” I could hear several lightning strikes in the background.

“We’re on our way” I said, I brought up several screens showing the other five Toa “alright guy’s, you ready?”

“This is Vinyl Scratch, waiting for the drop, motherbuckers”

“This is Scar, ready and waiting”

“Toa-hero Boris, ever-quick and waiting for ground-bound, Fire-spitter”

“This is Minion, ready to bring forth Ragnarok, brother”

“Well then” I said “What are we waiting for?” I then grabbed hold of a lever and pulled it down, I heard five muffled thuds before I heard a loud bang and my drop-pod lurched. I was momentarily dazzled as the morning son pierced though the window.

“WOOOOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOO!” Minion called out, I could see five other pods falling just below mine.

“Alright, Rainbow needs some help with an old friend of hers” I said “She’s really fast, think you can give Rainbow a hand, Boris?”

“I’ll do my best” he said, I saw Boris’s drop-pod veer off towards a low level thunderstorm.

“Alright, Rainbow” I said “Boris is on his way, hang tight”

*POV 3rd person*

Rainbow Dash hid behind a large boulder.

“Celestia damn it, she’s fast” she muttered, absentmindedly rubbing the shoulder where she was struck by lightning. She peered out from behind the boulder and pulled out a spell pistol “I just need one good shot”

“Oh, Rainbow Dash” Lightning Dust sang, looking around “come out, come out where ever you are” Rainbow Dash quickly pulled herself back behind the boulder and tried to slow her breathing. She could hear the hoof, no, footsteps of the former pegasus approaching, slowly but surely.

“Oh come on, I promise I don’t bite” Lightning said, she then chuckled “heh, heh…much”

“Why are you doing this?” Rainbow asked, she heard the footsteps stop.

“Well, let’s recap” Lightning said “you humiliated me, ruined my reputation and crushed my dream!” Rainbow then heard a blade being unsheathed and Lightning Dust began approaching again.

“You brought it upon yourself” Rainbow said “I didn’t do anything” the Lightning leapt around the boulder and pinned Rainbow Dash by her throat, causing her to drop the spell pistol.

“Try saying that to my face” Lightning said, Rainbow responded by spitting on her face. Lightning punched Rainbow in the stomach before launching her across the desert, the cyan pegasus’s head slammed into a boulder, dazing her. She could just hear Lightning Dust approaching over the ringing in her ears “I’m going to take my sweet time killing you, I want to make this as painful as pos…*oof*” Lightning was cut off as the door to Boris’s drop-pod slammed into her, pinning her to a builder. Boris walked over to Rainbow and helped her up.

“Sorry for the delay” Boris said “can you still battle-fight?” Rainbow nodded.

“Just hold her off for a few minutes” she said, leaning against a boulder and rubbing her head with a hoof “I think that bitch gave me a concussion *ungh*” she winced as she touched a sensitive spot.

“If so, then it’s probably best for you to sit-out this one” Boris said “you can barely ground-walk, let alone battle-fight” Rainbow nodded.

“Sure, just keep her busy” She said, before sitting down and activating her com-link “Fluttershy? Think you could get over here? I think I’ve got a concussion”

“Just a minute” Fluttershy said “DIE RAHKSHI…um…if that’s alright with you”

“Sure” Rainbow said, before resting her head on the boulder and shutting her eyes to try and block the pain. Boris walked towards Lightning when the door shot past him.

“You know?” Lightning said, walking forward “it’s a really bad idea to piss me off” she had a long cut down her chest plate

“Past-late to change that” Boris said, getting out his katanas and pointing one at the former pegasus “sure you don’t want to second-think about this? Not-never too late to turn-back”

“I’m going to enjoy taking you down” Lightening said, before charging towards Boris with her sword drawn.

*POV 1st person Vuur Koning*

The drop-pod shook as it impacted into the ground, I kicked the door off, taking out a few of Teridax’s Rahkshi as it shot away. I noticed a Rahkshi had its back turned to me so I got out my hunting knife, I ran towards it, grabbed one of the spines and pulled it down before taking the hunting knife, slicing a big gash in the Kraata compartment and shoving an armed grenade inside. I jumped back and threw my cape in front of me to protect me from the blast.

“Fucking show off” Minion said, walking over after the grenade went off. I let the cape fall behind me to see half of a Rahkshi still standing there, before it promptly collapsed to the ground “Autumn and Vinyl have stuck together, shall we”

“Sure” I said, getting out my sword and shield “just like old times?”

“When have we ever done anything like this?” he asked, shooting and killing a Rahkshi that was approaching from the side without looking, I shrugged.

“Fuck knows” I said. At that point a Rahkshi Kaita, a fusion between three different Rahkshi with all three of their powers, burst through a building, it was built like a centaur and wielded a staff, my jaw dropped “oh come on!” Minion took a shot, but the round just passed straight through without harming it.

“Shit!” he said “density control, try to keep it busy” he then ran off behind a building.

“OH FUCK YOU TOO, BROTHER!” I shouted, the Kaita started to approach and I sent forth a stream of fire from my sword, but it just shrugged it off “Fire resistance as well, great” I jumped to avoid a bolt of lightning sent from its staff. It charged and went to strike me with its staff but I parried just in time, and so we began trying to a back and forth, both trying to land a hit but the other always managing to block.

It seemingly had enough of this as it snorted and promptly kicked me into a building, hiding inside the building were a family of earth ponies and I motioned for them to be quiet, they nodded shakily and I hid behind the wall before getting out my spell pistol and priming it. The pistol gave off a quiet whine that increased in pitch, I could hear the Kaita stomping towards the building.

I took in a deep breath before running from cover and out into the open, the Kaita took the bait and followed me. I levelled my pistol and opened fire, shot after shot went through the Kaita as it charged. Suddenly Minion leapt from the roof of building I was in and landed on the back of the titan sized Rahkshi fusion.

“Überraschung Mutterficker!” he said, before unloading his plasma canon into the Kaita’s Kraata chamber, reducing the top half to molten slag and causing it to drip down in to the other two Kraata chambers, killing the Kraata inside. He then leapt off and landed in front on me just as the twitching, smouldering remains of the Kaita slumped to the floor, he cocked the canon and a red hot, empty cartridge flew out of the side.

“Took you long enough” I said, smirking and giving him a fist bump all the same.