Twilight's First Foals -- Episode I - The Hybrid Changelings

Chapters

Chapter Two: And They All Came Marching One By One
Chapter Three: And They All Gather
Chapter Four: The Adventure Truly Begins
Chapter Five: Project Merc.
Chapter Six: Omega's Fire Fight
Chapter Seven: A Second Chance
Chapter Eight: Chrysalis' First Vision
Chapter Nine: As Different As 'Mydnyght' And 'Mydday'
Chapter Ten: The Main Six and Chrysalis and Son Vs. Sombra and Daughter
Chapter Eleven: Somber Or Sombra?
Chapter Twelve: All Are Created Equal
Chapter Thirteen: 'Enter: Control'
Chapter Fourteen: The Origin of Magic and The foal of The Origin
Chapter One: A Change In Life

Chapter Two: And They All Came Marching One By One

The clock struck six, Twilight awoke to the sound of the foals crying. She got up to check on them and Spike woke up. Spike yawned and a green fireball flew out of his mouth. A letter materialized in the flame. When the flame died out, Spike handed the letter to Twilight. She gasped after she read i to herself.

Dear: Princess Twilight Sparkle,

Luna and I have had the same dream for the past three nights and we are starting to believe it bears some significance to the near future. We will be stopping by this afternoon, along with Princess Cadance. No need to get the palace all spruced up, it will just be a friendly visit. I will, however, be bringing one of my most trusted guard captains with me. I have instructed Luna and Cadance to do the same. I feel as though somepony might interrupt our time together, that is my reason for the guard. Also, I have sensed a change in the flow of magic lately and am wondering if you have too. We can discuss these matters when we meet at around four.

Your Friend,

Princess Celestia

"Spike, I need help to get the palace ready for a visit," Twilight said with worry.

"Who's coming over?" Spike asked rubbing his eyes.

"Celestia, Luna, and Cadance all at once!" Twilight exclaimed. "And we have two foals to take care of!"

"Don't worry," Spike yawned. "I'll see if the girls can help."

"No, don't! Then we'd have to explain the foals to them!" Twilight exclaimed. "Besides, we need to get the foals something to eat, they're probably crying because they're hungry."

"Okay, what do we do?" Spike asked looking around. "It's not like we have any baby bottles around."

"Just go to the Cakes’ house and ask if they have any spare baby bottles," Twilight said pushing him to the door, "and if they ask why, just tell them we're looking after some of my second cousins, okay."

"And if they ask whose they are?" Spike asked.

"I hate it when you make more sense than me," Twilight grumbled. "Just come-up with something!"

"I can't ad-lib, you know that!" Spike exclaimed.

"Come on, you're not that bad," Twilight said rolling her eyes.

"Remember my version of the 'Cloudsdale Anthem'?" Spike asked, a bit smart-alack-y.

"Oh, right," Twilight said giggling under her breath. "Um... Just hope Pinkie's there looking after Pound and Pumpkin while Mr and Mrs Cake are out."

"Um, I don't think it's their resupply day," Spike said crossing his arms.

"Fine, go see Elaina," Twilight grumbled opening the door. "She might have some baby bottles from when Button Mash was a foal."

"And what do I say to her?" Spike said walking over to the two baskets.

"I don't know! Just... Just... Fine!" Twilight yelled. "I'll get them while you look after the foals!"

"Okay, that I can do," Spike responded looking into Myx’ basket.

"You're just happy not to get in a sticky situation," Twilight said waving as she trotted out the door.

A short while later, across Ponyville, Twilight arrived at Elaina's house. She knocked on the door three times and in a few minutes Elaina was there.

"Yes? Oh,my! Princess Twilight! Is there anything I can do for you?" Elaina asked bowing.

"Yes, there is," Twilight said as Elaina got back to her hoofs. "Do you have any baby bottles left from when Button Mash was a foal?"

"Yes, I certainly do," Elaina replied letting the princess into her house. "Though, I can't see why you need them. But I'll go get them anyway."

"Thanks, I only need two," Twilight said closing the door behind herself.

"Only two? Okay then. If you don't mind my asking, are you looking after some foals?" Elaina asked opening a cupboard; there were no Bottles, just pots and pans.

"N-no, I'm not looking after any foals!" Twilight exclaimed. "What makes you think that?"

"Dear, when you've been a mother for ten years you get to know how others act when they’re looking after foals and aren’t used to it," Elaina simply stated.

"Well, I guess I can tell you," Twilight said. "But you have to keep it a secret."

"Oh, don't worry," Elaina said while opening another cupboard. "I won't tell a soul, " She said while closing the cupboard.

"Two foals were left by my doorstep this morning," Twilight said, "and I have to look after them."

"Do you know who left them?" Elaina asked raising her left eyebrow.

"Yes, but that I can't tell you," Twilight said. "Even if I wanted to, I couldn't."

"Okay, well let me go see if I have any upstairs," Elaina said. "I'll be right back."

It took five minutes for Elaina to find and give the bottles to Twilight. She also gave her some changing supplies and a baby bag. When Twilight got back to the palace she went straight to the kitchen. She put some milk in both bottles and put them in the microwave to warm the milk.

Twilight then went to her bedroom where she found Spike and the foals asleep. Spike had a foal on either side of him keeping him warm. When Twilight set the bottles on the dresser the foals awoke and started crying. This, of course, woke Spike.

"What time is it?" Spike asked yawning covering his ears.

"Let's see. Eight O'Clock," Twilight said looking at the large crystal grandfather clock in the room.

"Did you get the bottles?" Spike asked climbing out of the bed.

"Yeah, it was easy!" Twilight replied with a nervous giggle.

"You told her, didn't you," Spike said crossing his arms.

"No," Twilight said nervously looking around but never making eye contact with Spike’s.

Spike glared into Twilight's eyes when they did meet, keeping them fixed with his unnerving stare. It took two seconds afterward for the mare to go straight.

"Okay, a little," Twilight said ears flat against her head.

"Well, look at the time," Spike said cringing at a particularly loud wail from Nix. "I bet those foals are hungry."

Twilight took a bottle and gave it to Spike. Spike took Myx and cradled him in his arms while letting the foal suck on the bottle. Twilight took Nix and lifted the small filly with her magic and set her on the bed. She then took the blankets and cradled Nix with them and started to let her suck on the other bottle. When both foals gave a little burp, Twilight started to put them in their baskets.

"I'm going to sing the lullaby again, Spike," Twilight said as Nix sucked on her hoof, much to Twilight’s alarm. "You better not fall asleep this time."

Twilight then sang the lullaby and both foals fell fast asleep in their baskets. Spike was half asleep but could still manage to work.

"Okay, time to get busy cleaning," Spike said after a quick yawn escaped his lips.

"Hey, Spike," Twilight said looking into Myx’ basket. "Is it just me or do the foals seem... you know, bigger?"

"What do you mean, Twilight?" Spike asked bringing Nix’ basket alongside Myx’.

"Their size, you know," Twilight said. "Height, weight, volume.."

"Now that you mention it," Spike said, "they do seem a bit older looking."

"Oh well, guess we'll know later," Twilight said turning to the staircase. "Right now you need to go get the girls."

"What, me?" Spike said in a blue tone, jumping onto her back almost hitting his tail against her wing.

"Yeah, you," Twilight said rolling her eyes as she descended the stairs. "I just spent an hour and a half walking through Ponyville like a ditsy mail-mare."

"Whoa now," Spike said crossing his arms and throwing his head in disgust. "Derpy Hooves, Ditsy Doo, Bright Eyes, and Muffins all would take offense to that."

"Sorry, but it's the best expression I could find," Twilight said as she reached the mane floor.

"You might want to think before you speak," Spike said jumping off Twilight. "Anyway, I'll go get the girls. But what about the foals?"

"I'll explain when the Princesses get here," Twilight said opening the huge doors for the dragon. "All I ask of you is to keep them quiet while we clean the palace."

"Okay, I'll be back in about half an hour, a full hour at the most," Spike said stepping outside.

"Okay," Twilight said waving as the dragon disappeared into the busy streets of Ponyville.

Spike left Twilight and headed for Rainbow Dash's aerial practice area. When he arrived, Rainbow Dash was practicing her "Sonic Rain-boom." When she had finished, she noticed Spike by a tree watching. To her, this doesn't usually happen, so she went to Spike to ask what was up.

"Hey, Spike," Rainbow Dash said. "What brings you out to the course?"

"Twilight needs you and the girls to help with the palace," Spike said. "It seems Celestia, Luna, and Cadance are coming to visit."

"Okay, hop on and we'll go get them," Rainbow Dash said setting her hoofs on the ground.

"Thanks, Rainbow Dash," Spike said climbing on but hit his tail on her wing. Now the wing needed to be preened; something a Pegasus does in the safety of their house.

"Okay, where to first?" Rainbow Dash asked with a groan as she flapped the mess of feathers that was once her wing.

"A.J.'s place," Spike said. "It's furthest from town."

"Okay, first stop: Sweet Apple Acres. Hold on tight!" Said Rainbow Dash as she took off on hoof.

When they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was in the East field bucking trees. They stopped about twenty feet away, as not to disturb her concentration.

"I saw ya' commin’. I'll be there in a minute," Applejack said as she bucked the tree she was near.

"Okay," Spike said.

"Hey, Spike," Rainbow Dash said as the dragon climbed off her back. "Can you remind me why we are here again?" looking at the mess of her wing again

"I told you, we are here to get the girls and clean the palace. Okay?" Spike said sheepishly.

"Huh, what? Oh, never mind. I'd ask you to say it again, but I'm deaf to stupidity," Rainbow Dash said a bit playfully.

"Sometimes I wonder about you," Spike responded.

"Okay,what do y'all need?" Applejack asked.

"Twilight needs you at the palace," Spike said

"I'll be over there as fast as I can," said Applejack. “Just as soon as I finish this last row of apple trees.”

"Thanks," Spike said. "Rainbow Dash, Do you think you know where Fluttershy is?"

"She said she'd be over near Everfree Forest," Rainbow Dash said.

"Good, let's go get her," Spike said.

“Hey Aj? I’m going to your barn for a minute, I need to get my wings back to their glorious state before the accident of ‘Spike the Dragon’,” Rainbow Dash said heading towards the barn after a nod from Applejack.

When they arrived at the edge of Everfree Forest, they found Fluttershy singing with the birds. They landed about thirty feet away as not to disturb Fluttershy's song. Although, she did see them land.

"Okay, let's take a break," Fluttershy said turning to the duo. "I'll be back tomorrow."

The birds tweeted and flew away as Fluttershy waved them a goodbye.

"Hi, Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash said rapping a wing around the fellow Pegasus.

"Um... hello, Rainbow Dash, Spike," Fluttershy said nervously pushing Dash’s wing off her with a blush.

"Twilight needs you at the palace," Spike said looking at the two.

"Well, okay," Fluttershy said. "I'll be there in a little while, I mean, if that's okay with you."

"Thanks," Spike said. "Okay, Rainbow Dash. Next is Rarity," he said pointing into the Everfree forest; then quickly pointing out the right direction.

"Okay, hold on!" Rainbow Dash said after rolling her eyes. She then gave Fluttershy another quick hug as another blush came from her.

They took off for Carousel Boutique, which was only two minutes away. When they arrived, Rarity was in the back taking inventory on her stock. Rainbow Dash and Spike walked in and a small bell rang.

"I'll be with you in a minute, Darling," said Rarity with a cheery tone.

"Okay," said Spike jumping off the mare.

"Hey, Spike," Rainbow Dash said. "Do you think this would be a good look for me to wear on Nightmare Night?"

Spike paused and looked at the Daring Do costume she was pointing at. He took a while to examine it, and then picture Rainbow Dash wearing it.

"No, because the wings are fake and it would hurt you to wear it," Spike said.

"You do know I could just dye my fur and wings, right?" Rainbow Dash said rolling her eyes.

"Oh yeah, I forgot," Spike said face-palming.

"And I could draw you a false cutie mark," offered Rarity.

"Oh hi, Rarity. We didn't see you walk in," Spike said hugging the mare.

"I know, I was practicing my teleportation magic for Nightmare Night," Rarity replied hugging him back.

"Come on, Spike, tell her why we’re here," Rainbow Dash insisted.

"Oh, right," Spike said. "Um, Twilight needs you at the palace."

"I'll be right there," Rarity said teleporting to the back room. "Just let me finish counting how much orange body paint I have."

"Ooh! Can I get some?" Rainbow Dash asked trotting to the Doorway.

"Certainly, how much do you need?" Rarity asked as Spike entered the room behind Rainbow Dash.

"Enough to cover me on Nightmare Night," Rainbow Dash said as Rarity took out her measuring tape.

"Okay, let's see," Rarity said unraveling it. "Let me measure you and I'll give you an estimate."

"Alright!" Rainbow Dash said standing still.

Rarity got her measurement book and measured Rainbow Dash. When she was finished, she gave the estimated cost.

"It'll take about two cans of paint," Rarity said adding everything together, "and at five bits a can, it'll be ten bits, Dear."

"Alright, can you put some on layaway for me?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Certainly," Rarity said. "Come back on the day before Nightmare night so the paint has time to dry."

"Thanks," Rainbow Dash said. "Okay, Spike that leaves Pinkie."

"Huh, oh, right. Let's go. Bye, Rarity." Spike said in a daze.

"Bye, Spike," Rarity said. "I'll see you at the palace."

Rainbow Dash and Spike exited the store and took off for Sugar Cube Corner. When they arrived, they entered and found Mr. and Mrs. Cake tending the store. They asked if Pinkie was there and were told she was in her room. when they arrived at Pinkie's room, they found her blowing up balloons.

"Hi guys!" said Pinkie "Wanna help me?"

"Sorry, Pinkie," Spike said. "We just came to tell you that Twilight needs you at the palace."

"Aww. I was hoping to get all these balloons blown up," Pinkie said. "But I'm having a little trouble with the pink ones."

"Sorry, Pinkie, but we need to get to the palace," Rainbow Dash said. "I'll help you after we're done there."

"Pinkie Promise?" said Pinkie.

"I 'Pinkie Promise' that I'll help you blow up all the pink balloons in the pack." Rainbow Dash said knowing she was probably going to regret it later.

"Yay!" Pinkie yelled. "Okay guys, let's go to the palace."

They left sugar cube corner and headed for the palace.

It took an hour for all the girls to gather at the palace doors. When they arrived, Twilight broke them into groups. Group One was Pinkie and Applejack. Group Two was Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. And that left Rarity and Twilight in Group Three. Spike just headed up to Twilight's room.

Group One focused on cleaning the floor and getting the rooms ready for the princesses’ stay. Group Two focused making sure there were no cobwebs in the rafters. And Group Three focused on making sure the stained-glass windows were well cleaned. It took until Three O'clock for the palace to get cleaned for the arrival of the Princesses.

"How much longer until th' Princesses arrive, Twi?" Applejack asked.

"About one hour, A.J." said Twilight.

"Good, that leaves us time to set up a surprise party!" Pinkie yelled.

"No, don't set up a surprise party, Pinkie, it'll be too noisy!" Twilight exclaimed.

"What do you mean 'too noisy', Twilight?" Pinkie asked. "I thought you enjoyed my parties."

"I'll explain later." said Twilight

"Twilight!" Spike yelled.

"Yes, Spike?" Twilight yelled back.

"I, uh... need to see you upstairs. Now!" Spike yelled in response.

"What's so important you need me now?" twilight asked.

"We got a little problem up here," Spike yelled trying to get Twilight to hurry up.

"Girls, please wait here and make sure nothing goes wrong with the arrival," Twilight said.

"Okay,Twi," Applejack said. "We're not going to go anywhere. Are we Pinkie?"

"Aw, I just wanted to see what was up," Pinkie said in dismay.

"Thanks, A.J.," Twilight said.

Twilight left the front of the palace and headed for her room. There she found Nix had transformed into a lookalike of herself. She quickly ran in and cast a light sleeping spell on both foals, causing Nix to change back.

"Thanks, Twilight," Spike said catching his breath. "I was starting to get freaked out."

"It's okay, Spike," Twilight said. "But at least we know they can change form."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Spike asked.

"I don't really know," Twilight said.

"Good thing the Princesses are coming they might get a better hold on the situation," Spike said.

"Yeah but they're not here y-" Twilight said before being cut off.

"Twi, there here!" Applejack said.

"Oh, dear," Spike said.

"Just look after them and I'll go great the Princesses," Twilight said.

Chapter Three: And They All Gather

The clock struck four as Twilight hurried down the stairs to meet the Princesses. When she arrived, she realized they weren’t the only visitors.

“Hello, little sister!” introduced Shining Armor, Twilight’s older brother.

“Shining!” Twilight exclaimed. “I didn’t expect to see you.”

“I am married to Princess Cadance, and a Royal Guard after all,” Shining said rolling his eyes. “Besides how long has it been since I spent time around my sister?”

“Too long,” Twilight said walking up to the four.

“Twi, somepony else is here as well,” Applejack said while pointing to a familiar orange Pegasus wearing gold armor.

“F-Flash Sentry?” Twilight asked blushing. “Is that you?”

“Yes, your highness.” Flash replied.

“Please, while you’re here, call me Twilight,” she said with an even brighter blush.

“Okay, Twilight,” said Flash after a little hesitation, due to Shining and the princesses being nearby, with a small blush appearing on his orange cheeks.

“Twilight!” Spike yelled in worry.

“Oh no! I forgot!” Twilight half yelled. “Everypony follow me!”

Every one followed Twilight to her room. There they found the two foals flying around the room. Princess Celestia cast a slow-time spell so she could examine the foals. When she figured out what they were, she froze them in place and returned time to normal.

“Twilight, you have some explaining to do,” said Celestia in a stern tone.

“Yes, Princess Celestia,” Twilight said. “ You see, it’s like this…”

Twilight explained what she knew about the foals, and she also explained to her older brother that they weren’t hers. When she finished explaining, the clock struck five.

“... And that’s all I know,” Twilight concluded.

“You do know that since they are Changeling hybrids,” Luna said staring at the frozen Myx, “we have to perform the test of love on them, right?”

“Yes, I know,” Twilight said in dismay ears folding against her head.

“Cadance, prepare yourself,” Celestia said looking at the pink alicorn.

“I am ready,” said Cadance closing her eyes.

“I’m going to release them, stand back everyone,” said Celestia as her horn glowed once again.

When she released them, they hit the ground with a loud thud, and they started crying. This made Twilight to try to get to them, only to be stopped by Luna’s magic, her glare also stopped Twilight from complaining.

Cadance readied herself for the spell, and when she cast it, a bolt of magic was released and she fell to the ground unconscious. Shining rushed to her side. The bolt that was loosed spread out into a dome over the foals. Soon the foals fell to the ground unconscious.

A minute was a month, twelve were a year, and two hours were a decade. The foals started out young with one key loving figure in each of their dreams. As they grew, so did the love for the figure. A tragedy happened in each dream, causing the loss of the figure. This caused them to grieve for it. And after time, miss it.

“... And that is what I saw,” said Cadance rubbing her temples.

“So, they can love,” Luna said looking at the two foals laying on Twilight’s bed.

“I knew it,” said Twilight with a cheery smile. “That would explain why Spike didn’t get hurt when I told him to look after them.”

“But they didn’t turn into Rarity which would have probably gave them a death sentence.” said Luna looking at Twilight.

“At least let them have the right to grow up!”Twilight exclaimed harshly to Luna.

“They are Changelings and you know that!” said Luna in hateful tone.

“Girls, stop arguing! At least we know now,” said Cadance after she took a sip of water.

“Correct, Cadance,” said Celestia helping her to her hoofs. “And with them being capable of loving, this might give us some hope to look forward to.”

“Let’s get some rest, we all could use it,” yawned Cadance. “Plus, the foals will be out of it until morning.”

“Twilight, I’ll leave you in charge of the foals,” said Celestia as she parted Nix's mane. “Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie, you all may go home.”

“Okay, if ya’ll need us, ya’ll know where to find us,” Applejack said as she and the others left the palace.

“Cadance, we prepared a room for you in the East tower,” said Twilight. “Luna, your’s is in the West. And, Princess Celestia, your’s is in the North.”

“Okay, Twilight. We will all see you in the morning,” said Celestia as she, Cadance, Luna, and Shining left.

“I’ll patrol around front, if you don’t mind, Twilight,” said Flash as he walked out the door.

“Well, Spike, seems like all we got to do is go to bed,” Twilight said. ”Am I right?”

She waited a second before repeating her statement, but there was still no response. She turned around to see Spike already in bed fast asleep. After a face-hoof, she went over to her own bed and soon fell asleep.

She had the same dream as the night before, all the details were the same, except they were more clear. This time she got a little further in the dream.

“... Yes,” said Luna, “but that was before the elements of harmony sent my darkness further back than I ever could.”

“That’s still not a good enough reason to let you teach two foals at once,” said Celestia. “If it’s even a reason for you to teach one, I still wouldn’t let you because you’re still not out of it yet.”

“At least let me teach Nix,” said Luna, “we might get along considering…”

The dream ended at the sound of the clock. She woke at the final strike of six. The foals were still asleep, Spike was just waking up.

“Good morning, Twilight,” Spike yawned.

“Good morning to you too, Spike,” Twilight yawned back.

There was a knock on the door followed by a series of voices that were inaudible due to the fact that they all happened to be talking at the same time.

“One at a time, I’ll go first,” said a voice sounding like Applejack. “Um… Twi, we’ve got a visitor.”

“Who is it?” Twilight asked in wonder.

“Queen Chrysalis!” a voice sounding like Pinkie exclaimed.

“I’ll be there in a second!” Twilight said in shock.

“Want me to look after the foals?” asked Spike.

“Yes, but be careful Queen Chrysalis might still be able to control the Changeling side of them,” Twilight warned.

Twilight got up out of her bed and opened her bedroom door to find Chrysalis waiting for her surrounded by the rest of Elements of Harmony. She was sitting with her eyes closed and her wings folded on her back. Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and Shining were just now entering the hall when twilight moved into her position about ten feet away.

“Twilight, what is going on?” Celestia asked.

“Chrysalis just stopped by that’s all,” Twilight said a bit sarcastically.

“I may not be able to fully comprehend love,” said Chrysalis, “but I know sarcasm when I hear it.”

“Why are you here?” Twilight asked.

“Why, to see how well my children are, of course,” Chrysalis responded while opening her eyes.

“Why else?” asked Luna. “I know you come for more than one reason.”

“To ask for help,” Chrysalis said as a tear flowed down her cheek. “Somber is hurt.”

This shocked everyone, because it’s not everyday you hear the Changeling Queen ask for help for another pony, if ever.

“The horde attacked him and when I tried to stop them they threw off my command as if I were just another pony,” Chrysalis said while starting to cry.

This also shocked everyone, as they had never seen a Changeling cry.

“Twilight, I need your help to get Somber back,” Chrysalis said while trying to calm herself.

“I doubt it,” said Twilight in a cautious tone. “And who is this ‘Somber’?

“No, help her,” said Cadance who was starting to tear up.

“WHAT?!?” exclaimed everypony but Celestia and Chrysalis.

“You can’t be serious,” said Luna.

“After what she did to us back on our wedding day?” added Shining

“She’s come to almost fully understand love now,” Cadance said as she began crying, “she truly cares about this ‘Somber’ pony.”

“She’s the Changeling Queen,” said Shining. “There’s no way somepony this evil could

actually come to love any other pony but herself.”

“False,” Cadance said as she started to get angry from all the arguing. “You as well as

Luna know I’m the ‘Princess of Love’ and am able to tell if somepony can truly love

another. And-”

“Yes, but-”Shining said.

“Do not interrupt me when I’m talking, Shining Armor,” Cadance said about to lose her temper.

“Yes, your highness,” Shining said ears flat against his head.

“And I know when they are lying, and she’s not lying,” Cadance said. ”Now please, HELP HER!”

“What do we do?” asked Twilight. “We don’t even have a remote idea whether or not he’s even alive.”

“I know the Changelings, they cause pain slowly and like slow death the most,” said Chrysalis still sobbing. “So, right now he’s probably alive, just barely.”

“Okay then. I guess we’re going to have to help,” said Twilight. “You get us to the hive, and we’ll save this ‘Somber’, deal?”

“Yes,” said Chrysalis with a glint of hope in her voice. “Anything to get Somber back.”

The elements of harmony and chrysalis began preparing for the journey ahead. Pinkie grabbed her party cannon and reloads so she can constantly use it. Applejack and Rarity warmed up for the journey by bucking practice dummies Shining conjured up. Twilight meditated for half an hour. Rainbow dash flew around the palace walls trying to best her previous laps’ speed. And Fluttershy stayed close to Chrysalis to comfort her. When they finished preparing, the clock struck nine.

“Twilight!” yelled Spike.

“Oh no. Not again!” Twilight said in dismay.

Twilight hurried to her room where she found the two foals trying to get out of the room, and were hissing like Changelings. When Chrysalis heard them she told them to stop. They listened like well mannered children. This caught Chrysalis’ attention.

“They actually listen to me?” said Chrysalis in wonder. “They actually listened to me!”

“Well, of course. They are, after all, part Changeling,” Twilight said with minor sarcasm.

“Well, they’ve never even heard my voice and still they listened,” Chrysalis said to Twilight. “A Changeling has to hear my voice for at least a day before it will listen.”

“Well they’re your children they should listen to their own mother,” Twilight said to Chrysalis in response.

The foals went away from the door and sat down by the baskets. When they sat down they closed their eyes and folded their wings to their backs.

“The Changeling waiting pose,” Chrysalis mumbled under her breath.

“The what? Twilight asked highly curious.

“The Changeling waiting pose, “chrysalis repeated, “it’s the standard pose a Changeling uses when they are waiting for something or somepony.”

“Why?” Twilight asked still a little confused.

“It’s a little complicated to explain,” Chrysalis said, “if you’re not a Changeling you wouldn’t understand why we do it.”

“Like when you were waiting on me?” Twilight asked.

“Exactly,” Chrysalis simply stated.

“Okay, we should probably go now,” Twilight said.

“Let us leave,” Chrysalis responded.

Chapter Four: The Adventure Truly Begins

Twilight, Chrysalis, and the rest of the Elements of Harmony left Twilight’s palace and headed toward the Everfree Forest.

At the edge, they stopped for a while before entering.

“Chrysalis, do you remember exactly where the hive is?” Twilight asked turning to Chrysalis.

“Yes,” Chrysalis replied nodding, “ it’s right in the middle of the Badlands.”

“What was your last changeling count?” Twilight asked writing on a scroll that she had brought along.

“One quarter million six hundred and seventy three,” Chrysalis said drawing on the air with her hoof, “excluding eggs.”

“And how many eggs?” Twilight asked scribbling stuff on the scroll.

“About three hundred,” Chrysalis replied.

“Girls, it’s gonna be a long week,” groaned Applejack.

“At least now I know exactly how much confetti to put in each pack!” explained Pinkie

with glee.

“And I know just how many times to fool them,” said Rainbow Dash bashing her hooves together.

“I don’t think they’re going to change form this time, Rainbow Dash,” explained Chrysalis.

“Why not?” asked Fluttershy looking at the queen. “They always change form when they fight.”

“They didn’t change into Somber when they fought me,” said Chrysalis. “And they must have known I loved Somber enough to change into him.”

“Aw, no more silly lookalikes of me,” whined Pinkie Disappointed. “That’s it! Now they’ve done it. Game on!” she cried out just as Bulk Biceps would.

“Pinkie, I still don’t trust Chrysalis enough to believe everything she says.” Twilight said face-hoofing. “No offence,” she said looking back at Chrysalis.

“None taken,” Chrysalis replied ears flattening against her exoskeleton. “I understand you not wanting to believe everything I say.”

“Well, we better get going,” said Twilight with a sigh. “HEAD’EM UP! MOVE’EM OUT!”

“Be careful,” said Chrysalis in a warning tone, “I was followed by about two hundred of the Changelings all the way to this end of the forest.”

“Thanks,” Twilight said nodding once Chrysalis was done talking. “Girls, expect an ambush.”

“Okie dokie, Lokie, “exclaimed Pinkie.

“Okay,” replied Rainbow Dash and Applejack together.

“Okay, Darling,” Rarity said nodding.

“Um, okay, I guess,” said Fluttershy in a whisper.

They entered the woods and when they lost sight of the edge an ambush of exactly one hundred changelings came out of the darkness.

As they jumped toward the Elements of Harmony, Chrysalis commanded them to stop. They didn’t listen. Twilight then cast an area protect spell to guard them against the changeling attack. When the changelings realized what she was doing, they halted their attack.

“Why won’t the listen to me?” Chrysalis wondered .

“It’s probably what you feared about the foals,” explained Twilight. “They’ve found out you care about somepony and they no longer find your rule meaningful.”

“If that’s so there is only one thing I can do about it,” Chrysalis said. “I need out of this dome.”

“We’re not going to let you out,” said Twilight.

“Then what do you expect me to do to help you?” Chrysalis asked now angered.

“Change,” Twilight said stomping her hoof down on the earth below, causing Fluttershy to shriek and lift Twilight’s hoof off the small mound of earth. A small snake slithered from it and coiled around Fluttershy’s hoof causing her face to be flushed bright red.

“I can’t do that,” Chrysalis said sadly, “I promised myself I wouldn’t change until I got Somber back.”

“Chrysalis, I look at this ending one of two ways.” Twilight said, charging her horn. “Either you change and adapt your skills to match mine and we save this ‘Somber’ pony. Or I cast a hypnotism spell on you and I make you change, either way, we win.”

“For the record, I vow never to break a promise again,” Chrysalis said.

“Duly noted, now change,” Twilight said angrily.

“Fine,”Chrysalis groaned as she changed into Twilight.

“Good, now fight with us,” exclaimed Rainbow Dash standing in an offensive stance .

Twilight released the protect spell and began firing bolts of magic energy at the changelings. Chrysalis and Rarity did the same. Fluttershy curled up into a ball with her tail protecting the small snake. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie did their best to keep changelings off Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack were bucking away changelings while Pinkie was loading and unloading her party-cannon. When Fluttershy unfurled herself, she got hit in the head, this resulted in her getting mad. When Twilight noticed that Fluttershy was mad, she cast an area illusion spell. This spell focused Fluttershy’s glare at the changelings.

Soon all the fighting stopped and Fluttershy was ranting about the changelings not having the right to hurt others. This gave Twilight a chance to examine the changelings. She soon noticed an oddity in each of the changelings. Their eyes looked like the had seen a mind control spell, sort of like when Sombra had control over the crystal ponies.

“Chrysalis,” whispered Twilight looking at Chrysalis.

“Yes,” Chrysalis whispered back.

“Look at their eyes and tell me if they look normal,” Twilight said softly, pointing to one of the drones.

Chrysalis looked at the changelings around her and noticed the oddity in their eyes.

“No, they’re not,” Chrysalis replied looking into the unblinking eye of a drone.

“That’s what I thought,” Twilight said. “I think they’re under mind control.”

“What are you going to do about it?” asked Chrysalis turning to Twilight.

“Release them from the spell,” Twilight replied closing her eyes..

“Do it fast, I think Fluttershy’s eyes are watering,” Chrysalis said looking at the ranting mare.

“Get ready to command them,” Twilight said her horn glowing brightly.

Twilight cast the release spell and all the changeling’s eyes went back to their normal state. Chrysalis commanded them to stop and they all stopped what they were doing and sat down, wings folded on their backs, eyes closed, breathing slowed.

“Why aren’t they fighting any more?” asked Pinkie waving her hoof in front of one.

“Because, they are under my control now,” said Chrysalis, creating a chirping noise from her wings telling the Changelings to open their eyes.

“Yeah, but they were under mind control beforehand,” said Twilight looking at one of the many changelings in front of her.

“Who do you think was controlling them, Twilight?” asked Chrysalis sitting down.

“I hate to say it, but the only pony I know that would do this is Sombra,” Twilight announced in dismay.

“No. It can’t be. He wouldn’t do this to me!” Chrysalis exclaimed in disbelief standing back up.

“He’s the only pony I know with this much training in this field of magic,” Twilight said nodding.

“He… Why? Why would he?” Chrysalis asked angrily.

“I don’t know,” Twilight explained. “But right now we need to focus on using the Elements to get Somber back.”

“If you think you’re going to give him another near-death-experience, you’ve got another thing coming!” yelled Chrysalis as she commanded the changelings to prepare for an attack.

“What do you mean ‘near-death-experience’?” asked Fluttershy finally calming down.

“We came to help, not to hurt!” Twilight yelled angered.

“I don’t care!” Chrysalis yelled. “If it involves hitting him with the Elements, I don’t want your help! Changelings, ATTACK!”

Twilight cast a mass area sleep spell putting all the changelings and Chrysalis to sleep. She then cast a waking spell to wake-up Chrysalis. When Chrysalis awoke, she started sobbing.

“Why did you do that?” Twilight asked angrily stomping her hoof.

“I don’t know. I just don’t know!” Chrysalis said still sobbing.

“Whatever the reason, we’re here to help only,” said Twilight, still angered. “We won’t use the Elements unless we have to, okay.”

“Um, Queen Chrysalis, what did you mean by, um, ‘near-death-experience’?” Fluttershy asked, helping the queen to her hooves.

“It’s when somepony nearly dies, and their life flashes before their eyes,” said Twilight. “I should know. When we used the Elements after setting you cutie marks back to normal, do you remember, I disappeared when I was hit by the beams of your’s and the other Elements?”

“Um, yes,” said Fluttershy.

“Logically, I died,” said Twilight as a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Then, how are you still here?” asked Chrysalis her sobbing starting to stop.

“I don’t know, you’ll have to ask Celestia that one,” sighed Twilight.

“Why Celestia?” Chrysalis asked curiously poking at the ground.

“I don’t know, maybe because she is the pony I saw after I died. Besides, we need to focus on why Sombra would take control of the changelings.” said Twilight. “And how he came back in the first place.” she thought to herself.

“I think I know what he wants,” Chrysalis said as a tear rolled down her face. “He wants the foals.”

“If that’s the case, he’s probably going to my palace,” said Twilight. “He’ll have a hard time for a little while, but not long. There’s only so much three alicorns, three royal guard captains, and one highly trusted guard can do compared to the darkness in a pony’s heart. Or the Elements of Harmony, for that matter.”

“We had better hurry!” Chrysalis cried in her hooves. “The foals’ lives may be at stake.”

“Cadence was right, you do care,” said Twilight lifting the sleeping spell from the drones, and starting to run back to the palace.

Chapter Five: Project Merc.

It took a good two and a half hours for Fluttershy to wake up in rage. Her nose was still bleeding and her head hurt. She couldn’t focus on being mad enough for her glare to work properly. This told Twilight it might take even longer for her plan to work.

“You. Big. MEANIES!” yelled Fluttershy glaring at one of the changelings. “What gives you the right to knock others out, huh? Is it when you think the rules of common courtesy don’t apply to you? WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU’RE SO SPECIAL?!?”

Twilight noticed that Fluttershy was glaring at one of the changelings and cast an area illusion spell. This spell, as some may know, focuses an image in all directions, in this case, Fluttershy’s glare.

As soon as all the changelings stopped fighting, Twilight cast the mind control release spell she was hoping to cast earlier. This released Sombra’s control on the changelings. Then Chrysalis commanded them to sit down on the ground, and all the changelings were on the ground with their wings folded on their backs, eyes closed, and breathing slowed.

“That... was round... two,” said Twilight gasping for breath. “Round... three... we might... be... out... of resources.”

“What do you mean, Twilight?” asked Chrysalis.

“Every... time... I cast... the release... spell... on... a mass... of creatures,... I lose... an equal... amount... of magic... for... an equal... amount… of minutes... as... the number... of... creatures,” Twilight said still gasping for breath.

“Didn’t ya say ya always carry a recharge crystal ever since ya tried to heal Snowdrop’s eyes?” asked Applejack.

“Yes… But... I… used it… when we… released… the first... round... of... changelings,” Twilight said still gasping. “ But… the Element… of Magic… should... help... me… recover... faster.”

“But ya look a little… outta breath,” said Applejack.

“Thanks… for… noticing… I-” said Twilight before passing out.

“Twilight!” yelled everyone as she passed out.

It took three hours for Twilight to wake up. And when she did she could barely move.

“Look who finally woke up.” said Sombra.

“What the-” said Twilight before getting cut off.

“Ah-ah-ah, don’t curse. It’s not befitting of a princess,” said Sombra. “Besides, if you play your cards right, I just might let you live.”

“What have you done with the others?” asked Twilight.

“Oh, don’t worry about them. They’re over in the main hall, chained to the pillars,” Sombra laughed.

“And what of Chrysalis?” Twilight asked as she raised an eyebrow.

“The same,” laughed Sombra.

“You’ll not get what you want, at least not while we have our… Ele-ments,” Twilight said as Sombra shown her her Element.

“You were saying?” Sombra said laughing.

“Aww, buck you,” Twilight said in anger.

“I told you not to curse,” Sombra said, “it’s a very unbecoming trait.”

“What do you even want this time?” asked Twilight.

“To put it simply,” Sombra said, “control of Equestria.”

“Yeah, and how do you expect to get that?” Twilight asked a bit smart-alek-y.

“Simple,” Sombra said. “I control the changelings don’t I?”

“No, Chrysalis does,” Twilight said.

“Not while they’re under mind control,” Sombra laughed.

“Yeah, and the only reason you got them under mind control is because Chrysalis loves you,” Twilight said.

“Love is overrated, It’s time for hate and darkness,” said Sombra.

“Yeah and as usual you’ll slip up somewhere and we’ll end up beating you... a-gain,” said Twilight smiling.

“I don’t think so,” said Sombra. “You see I found what you recently finished working on and found a way to perfect it.”

“No! Not my Mercenary Project!” Twilight yelled.

“You originally designed it for Royal Guards like your older brother,” Sombra said laughing, “but I found a way to make it work on Alicorns.”

“No! I won’t let you!” Twilight said. “It’s designed to work only if the host wants it to.”

“And I can make you want it to,” Sombra said. “You see, I’ll give you a choice. You make it work or I’ll take out your friends one by one.”

“What do you mean ‘take out’?” Twilight asked with fear in her eyes.

“You know,” Sombra said with a sinister smile as he summoned a bone scythe.

“No! Not…” Twilight said as a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Exactly,” said Sombra.

“Fine, get the crystal ready,” Twilight exclaimed as she started tearing up.

“I’ll do better, I’ll get the armour ready,” Sombra said with a smile, making the scythe disappear.

“Armour?” asked Twilight.

“ Yes, you made some armour to correspond with the crystals’ contents, remember?” Sombra said.

“Yes, but none fit my figure,” Twilight said.

“Incorrect, Twilight. A combination of Pegasus and Unicorn armour would fit just fine,” Sombra said turning around.

“Go to Tartarus,” Twilight said.

“Naturally that will be last on my list of places to conquer,” Sombra said looking back at her with a wide smile planted on his face.

Sombra exited the room and headed for Twilight’s lab. When he arrived he put a helmet built for a Unicorn and a back piece built for a Pegasus in a bag and then gathered the rest of the necessary armour for a guard and the first crystal he could find from Twilight’s ‘Mercenary Project’ and put those in the bag as well.

When he got back to where he was holding Twilight, it looked as though she had escaped.

“Oh dear, where ever has she gone? Maybe, right... here!” Sombra said sarcastically as he hit her in the side making her lose concentration. “Next time make sure you’re free before casting an illusion spell.”

“Oh, I will,” Twilight said holding her side.

“You’ll be free once you absorb this crystal,” Sombra said as he used his magic to hold up the crystal, which had the Omega symbol on it.

“No! That’s Omega! She’s unstable!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Does it look like I care?” Sombra asked sarcastically.

“You better, for your sake,” Twilight said.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Sombra said, ignoring Twilight’s warning.

“Fine, get it over with,” Twilight said. “I’d hate to see you get hurt.”

Sombra set the crystal against Twilight’s forehead and it was absorbed into her. After it was absorbed she fell to the ground unconscious. It took five minutes for her to wake up again but this time it wasn’t her controlling herself.

“Alright, Omega put this armour on,” Sombra said.

Omega ripped the chain off her leg and put the armour on. The helmet covered her whole face, except her ears, it had a gold visor, a spot for her horn to come out, and an electrical ‘Heads Up Display’ and built in combat computer. The back piece was black as well and had two slots for wings to go through and a spot for her tail to come out. It also had a moderate sized battery pack on it. All four leg pieces were also black and covered even the bottom of her hooves. The front two had knives that extend out of the armour. When she finished putting the armour on, she stood at attention in front of Sombra.

“You are well trained aren’t you. Well the next order of business is getting the other Elements of Harmony to do what Twilight just did,” Sombra said. “Omega, bring me two sets of Pegasus armour, two sets of Earth pony armour, and one set of Unicorn armour.”

“Yes, sir,” Omega replied before setting off to do what she was told.

“Changelings, bring me the rest of the Elements of Harmony,” Sombra said.

The changelings departed for the main hall to bring the rest of the Elements to Sombra. When Omega returned she set the armour down on the floor near herself. The Changelings soon returned with Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy.

“Well you five certainly make it hard for somepony to take over Equestria, don’t you?” Sombra asked sarcastically.

“It’s our job to protect Equestria and all it’s inhabitants!” yelled Rainbow Dash.

“Omega, demonstrate a bit of your power on their chains, will you?” Sombra said.

“I’d be delighted,sir,” Omega said as she walked over to the chains..

She took the chains with her hooves and a web of gray light went out over every link and shackle of the chain. She snapped the potion she was holding and the whole chain broke into one hundred thousand pieces, separating the rest of the Elements of Harmony from one another. Rarity then tried to run but was stopped by Omega’s magic grip.

“Drat!” Rarity said in disappoint.

“Good catch, Omega,” Sombra said laughing.

“Thank you, sir,” Omega replied.

“Lighten up, Rarity. All I wanted was to let you go for a little while and give you your Elements back,” Sombra said with an evil grin.

“Why would you want to do that?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“You see, I possess something stronger than any Element of Harmony, and I wanted to see if you could defeat her,” Sombra said laughing. “And If you can, I’ll release you.”

“And what about Twilight?” asked Fluttershy.

“I’ll release her too,” said Sombra with an evil grin.

“And if we lose?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Then you end up like this,” said Sombra. “Omega, remove your helmet!”

“Yes, sir,” Omega said while removing her helmet.

The rest of the Elements gasped when they saw Omega’s face.

Chapter Six: Omega's Fire Fight

When Omega’s helmet came off, the faces of the Elements of Harmony were in shock as they saw Twilight being possessed by what can only be described as a Magical Intelligence.

“TWILIGHT!” they all screamed in unison.

“Yes and if you don’t want to end up like her,” said Sombra, “beat her at her own game.”

“And what, pray tell, is that?” asked Rarity.

“Fighting,” Sombra replied laughing.

“If that’s what it takes to get Twilight back,” said Fluttershy putting on a helmet, “so be it!”

“Are you sure about this, Fluttershy?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“If you think I’m going to let him take one of my best friends away from me forever,” said Fluttershy as she finished putting on a yellow set of Pegasus armour, “YOU’RE SADLY MISTAKEN!!!”

When Fluttershy finished her sentence, she dashed faster than sonic rain-boom speed and hit Omega in the face knocking her down for a second.

“Go, Flutters!” yelled Rainbow Dash.

“AAH! MY HEAD!” screamed Omega. “YOU’RE GONNA PAY!”

Omega got back up, put her helmet back on, used her magic to grab a hold of Fluttershy, lift her into the air, and then throw her against a pillar. One could hear the pillar crack.

Fluttershy was barely awake after that. Omega lifted Fluttershy with her magic and set her aside Sombra.

“One down, four to go,” said Sombra.

“Girls, suit up,” said Rainbow Dash who was putting on the blue Pegasus armour. “That’s the last time you mess with my oldest friend, Sombra.”

“Oh. It. Is. On!” said Rarity who was putting on the white Unicorn armour.

“That’s it!” said Pinkie who was putting on the pink earth pone armour.

“Now ya dun it!” said Applejack who was putting on the orange earth pone armour.

When they finished putting their armour on, Rainbow Dash faced Sombra.

“Hey, Sombra, Pinkie Promise me this,” said Rainbow Dash, “when we win, let us go.”

“Not that it matters, but alright, I ‘Pinkie Promise’ to let you go if you win,” said Sombra with an evil grin.

“Pinkie, I give ownership of this promise to you,” said Rainbow Dash as she turned toward Pinkie.

“Okie, dokie, Lokie,” said Pinkie gleefully.

“Let’s fight!” said Omega.

“Wait! You promised to give us our Elements, Sombra,” said Rainbow Dash.

“Oh, I did didn’t I? Fine, here they are,” said Sombra as he threw the six Elements of Harmony on the floor in front of Rainbow Dash.

“The match begins when you all have your Elements,” said Omega.

“Good that means you get Twilight’s Element, Omega,” said Rainbow Dash as she was walking over to Fluttershy to put her Element around her neck.

“How so?” asked Omega.

“You posses Twilight’s body so it’s only fair that when you say ‘all of us’, you get Twilight’s Element,” said Rainbow Dash.

“Oh, okay, I guess,” said Omega a little confused by what Rainbow Dash was saying.

“Well put it on already!” Rainbow Dash said.

Omega put on the Element of Magic and the rest of the Elements already had theirs on. The sight before Sombra meant only one thing to him: the loss of the Elements of Harmony.

“Let the fight begin!” yelled Sombra.

“Okay, Pinkie, how ‘bout you go left and -” Applejack started when Pinkie pounced at Omega and got knocked on the floor. “-Or you could just go in and get knocked down first. Okay, Rarity, why don’tcha use yur magic and -” Rarity runs at Omega and gets punched across the room “- Or you could just do that and get out second. Okay, Rainbow Dash, how ‘bout you -” Rainbow Dash charges at Omega at Sonic-Rain-Boom speed and was repelled by her magic. Applejack then turns to face the three mares on the ground “- Am I the only pony who knows how to talk?”

“I don’t think talking’s you’re problem,” said Omega who teleported behind Applejack.

“Aww, buck,” said Applejack after turning around and before getting hit across the room by Omega.

“This must be karma for crashing into Twilight so many times,” said Rainbow Dash as she sprung up and charged at Omega again.

This time when Omega was about to hit Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Dash jumped up and dove down on top of her.

“Time-Out!” yelled Sombra. “Isn’t there a spell that Twilight used to activate the Elements true power?”

The three mares on the floor looked up at Somber with puzzled looks on their faces. Rainbow Dash, however, remembered that there was a spell Twilight did use the first time they used the Elements.

“There is one,” stated Rainbow Dash. “It’s just, only Twilight can remember the words.”

“That’s no problem.” Sombra snickered. “Omega! Allow Twilight to perform the spell and then you can take control again.”

“Yes, Sir,” said Omega before losing control over Twilight’s body.

“Ugh, my head. What is hap-” Twilight stated before realizing Rainbow Dash was on top of her and also realizing it was her controlling herself. “Rainbow Dash, get off of me, you’re hurting my back.”

“Sorry, Twilight. It’s just... I need to... make sure you’re... you,” Rainbow Dash replied nervously.

“And why would I not be me?” Twilight asked.

“Because you have some sort of creature inside you or something!” Rainbow Dash said loudly.

“The M.I.? Yeah, I know. Just get off me before I get angry,” Twilight warned.

“Why would you get angry?” Rainbow Dash asked. “You always get in the way of my landings and don’t complain… much.”

“Dashie, I don’t think now’s the time to be arguing with Twilight,” said Pinkie worriedly.

“I guess you’re right, Pinkie, she’s as Twilight as can be right now,” said Rarity trying to convince Rainbow Dash to get off Twilight.

“If you’re trying to get me off Twilight, the answer is: no, not until I’m absolute-” Rainbow Dash stated before getting lifted into the air by Rarity’s magic. “Why’d ya do that?”

“Because when somepony asks you to get off of them you should,” Rarity said in her regal tone.

“Thanks, Rarity. Now let me guess, You want me to unleash the full potential of the Elements of Harmony,” said Twilight sarcastically “Right, Sombra?”

“Yes, and how did you know that?” asked Sombra.

“I hear what Omega hears, Omega hears what I hear,” started Twilight. “If I say something, Omega knows what I say and vise versa. If I think something, Omega knows what I’m thinking. If I do something, Omega knows what I do and vise versa.”

“Just get to the spell already,” Sombra yelled.

“Fine, just be warned: it only works while i’m in control,” said Twilight a bit smart-alek-y.

“Whatever, get to it before i take your friends out myself,” said Sombra a bit annoyed at Twilight’s tone.

“From all of us together, together we are friends. With marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end,” said Twilight.

The Elements began to glow and launch a beam of light at her. When the light died down, Twilight was glowing with Omega symbols all over her armor.

“Time to play,” said Omega

“Oh, not again!” said Rainbow Dash.

Omega lifted the four mares off the ground and into the air, with her magic, and threw them across the room.

“Twilight! Stop fighting!” yelled a voice that sounded like Spike’s.

Omega turned her head to where the voice came from just in time to see the fireball that was headed for her head land.

“OWW!” Omega yelled.

“I said... Stop... Hurting... YOUR... FRIENDS!” yelled Spike from afar.

Omega lifted Spike and brought him closer to herself.

“You little pest!” Omega said slapping the young dragon in his face.

Spike then began to cry.

“You’ve… never… hit me… before,” Spike said in between sobs.

“Suck it up y-” Omega said before getting hit in the face with another fireball.

Omega then dropped Spike and he began barraging her with fireballs.

“Nopony… EVER… HURTS ME!” Spike said in between fireballs

“Poor Spikey wikey,” said Rarity who was looking at the ongoing struggle.

Omega finally got her senses and cast a shield spell protecting her from Spike’s fireballs. She then lifted Spike again and tried throwing him across the room. But when she did Spike air jumped and shot a fireball so hot it crystallized mid flight. When it hit Omega’s shield it shattered and penetrated it. It then went through her armour and dug into her side

“AHH!” Omega screamed before losing control.

“SPIKE!” Twilight yelled before hitting the ground unconscious.

“SPIKE, STOP!” yelled Rarity.

Spike turned to look at Rarity and launched a fireball which barely missed her.

“Spike, what’s gotten in-” Rainbow Dash said before noticing the illuminating symbol on Spike’s forehead. “It’s Omega!”

Fluttershy looked up from the ground and saw the crystal shards sticking out of Twilight’s side. She removed her helmet to get a better look and tried to rush over, limping the entire way.

Fluttershy removed Twilight’s helmet, so she could breath easier, and then started removing the shards very carefully, as not to harm Twilight too much. Twilight regained consciousness after the last large shard was removed.

“Fl… Fluttershy?” Twilight asked.

“Quiet now, you need to save your strength,” replied Fluttershy in worry.

“Fluttershy,” Twilight said before coughing a few times, “go to my lab and get the white, yellow, sky blue, green, navy blue, purple, turquoise, and orange crystals out of the drawer in the desk.”

“What will that help?” asked Fluttershy.

“One more thing,” said Twilight, “get the lavender crystal out of the glass of water on the desk.”

“Okay, just don’t move an inch,” said Fluttershy.

~~~

Fluttershy left the battle scene and headed toward Twilight’s lab. Along the way she saw the princesses in the main hall chained to the columns and approached them.

“... and how could he be able to return? It doesn’t make sense,” finished Cadance.

“Why are you ponies not trying to help us?” asked Fluttershy.

“The only reason Cadance and I submit to him fighting you is because Celestia told us to,” groaned Luna.

“I told you to submit for your own good,” Celestia said strongly.

“And why is that?” Luna asked angrily.

“Because I don’t want to lose you again!” Celestia yelled.

There was a silence for a couple seconds. Cadance was the first to talk.

“How could you lose her again?”

“She could become Nightmare Moon again,” comment Chrysalis, who was chained up across the hall.

“How could she-” Cadance started.

“Sombra, he caused Nightmare Moon to first awaken,” Luna said. “I’ll tell you the story."

“Fluttershy, do what you were going to do,” Celestia said. “We’ll get over this our way.”

“Oh! Right!” Fluttershy said before going to the door that said “Twilight’s Lab” and entering.

“Welcome to Twilight’s ‘Project Mercenary’ M. I. lab. Please give the audio access code,” a computerized female voice said.

“Um,” Fluttershy mumbled, barely audible. “She never said anything about an audio access code,” she thought to herself.

“Audio accepted. Welcome Fluttershy,” the computer said before opening a larger portion of the lab to view. “My name Is M.I.L.I.S. The Mercenary Internal Laboratory Intelligence System.”

“Um, hello M.I.L.I.S.. Oh, I need to get at the crystals in the desk. Do you know which desk Twilight put them in?” Fluttershy asked.

“Yes but you do not have permissible access to them,” said M.I.L.I.S..

“Twilight told me to get them!” Fluttershy said to the computer screen on the wall nearest the two desks.

“In that case, access granted,” said M.I.L.I.S. as the desk to the left of Fluttershy, which had a glass of water on it with a lavender crystal inside, had it’s middle drawer pop open and reveal eight crystals and one empty slot where a crystal had been removed. “I advise you put on a helmet before you touch any of the crystals.”

“Oh? Okay… I guess,” Fluttershy said nervously as she looked for a helmet.

When she found a helmet, she put it on and went to grab a crystal.

“I advise you touch the green one,” said M.I.L.I.S.

“Um… Okay?” Fluttershy responded, a little confused by what M.I.L.I.S. was telling her.

Fluttershy touched the green crystal and fell to the ground unconscious for a few seconds before waking back up.

“Hello, my name is Delta,” said a voice that sounded like an ‘over-analytical Twilight’ voice in Fluttershy’s head.

“Who’s there?” Fluttershy said looking around.

A vision of a solid green alicorn mare that looked like Twilight played in Fluttershy’s head.

“Twilight your green!” exclaimed Fluttershy. “And you’re… better?”

“I’m not Twilight... My name is Delta,” Delta said trying to disregard the similarities between her and her maker. “It seems you are injured. I will now activate your armour’s healing unit.”

“Um… Okay?” Fluttershy said as she heard some beeps in her helmet. “Ahhh. That feels good!” she commented as the healing unit was regenerating the lost and damaged cells in her body.

“I believe you should continue gathering us and delivering us to Twilight,” Delta said.

“How did you know I was supposed to take you to Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.

“I scanned your memory for recent occurrences requiring our assistance,” Delta said. “Also, M.I.L.I.S. told us what was going on outside the laboratory.”

“Oh, um… okay? I guess,” Fluttershy said before gathering the rest of the crystals she was sent to get and heading out to Twilight.

~~~

“Good,” Twilight said weakly, “touch the lavender crystal to my horn.”

Fluttershy took the lavender crystal and put it at the end of Twilight’s horn and it was immediately absorbed by Twilight, healing her side.

“Now, touch the white and navy blue crystals to my horn as well,” Twilight said staying on the ground.

Fluttershy did as Twilight asked and touched both the white and navy blue crystals which caused Twilight to pass out for a couple seconds. When she woke back up, she held one hoof up to her head.

“Alpha, Epsilon, deduce which of the rest of your sisters should go to the other elements of harmony,” said Twilight as two holographic alicorn mares, one white and the other navy blue, were projected from the light emitters on her suit.

“Gamma and Pinkie seem to have fun on their mind a lot, so maybe they would be best suited for each other,” a voice exactly like Twilight’s said through the audio speakers near the neck of Twilight’s armour.

“Alright Alpha,” Twilight said as she grabbed her helmet and put it on, “Fluttershy give Pinkie the sky blue crystal. I’ll distract Omega and Spike.”

“Um… Okay, I’ll do it,” Fluttershy said.

“Don’t worry, Director, If she gets hurt again I’ll reactivate the healing unit,” said Delta through the speakers on Fluttershy’s suit.

“Good, just try not to overheat the unit,” Twilight said as she went to engage in battle with Omega and Spike.

“Hey Pinkie, Fluttershy has a gift for you!” exclaimed Delta as Pinkie popped up in front of Fluttershy.

“Ah!” Fluttershy exclaimed as she fell on her tail from the sudden surprise.

“WHATISIT?WHAT'STHEGIFT?WHEREISIT?” Pinkie exclaimed.

“Calm down Pinkie,” said Delta. “Sit down and we’ll give you the gift.”

“Okie dokie, Lokie!” Pinkie said as she sat down and waited eagerly for the gift.

“Fluttershy, touch the sky blue crystal to Pinkie’s helmet,” Delta said.

“Um… okay,” Fluttershy said as she touched the crystal to Pinkie’s helmet.

Pinkie passed out and soon awoke to a vision of a sky blue alicorn mare jumping up and down and it looked like Twilight.

“Hello, I am Gamma. Nice to meet you Pinkie,” said a computerized Twilight voice in Pinkie’s head.

“Oh, hi! When did you come to Ponyville?” Pinkie asked a bit confused by the sudden appearance of an alicorn pony she never knew existed. “No matter. After I help my friends beat Sombra and Omega I’ll be happy to throw you a ‘Welcome-To-Ponyville Party’.”

“Director, I’m completely fused,” Gamma said through the speakers on Pinkie’s armour. “You may want to start calculating the next combination.”

“Already on it, Gamma,” said Epsilon through the speakers on Twilight’s armour. “Fluttershy, the purple crystal goes to Rarity.”

“Um, Okay,” Fluttershy said nervously. “Ahh!”

“Sorry to frighten you, dear, but I heard and teleported over,” Rarity said after catching her breath from expending energy instantaneously.

“Thanks, Epsilon,” Delta said. “Touch the crystal to her horn, Fluttershy.”

When Fluttershy touched the crystal to Rarity’s horn, Rarity passed out but soon awoke to a vision of a purple alicorn filly with a red and blue mane and tail that looked like Twilight if she were a filly but still an alicorn.

“M-Ms. Rarity? A-Are you okay?” asked a ‘filly Twilight’ voice in Rarity’s mind.

“Yes, dear. I’m quite alright,” Rarity said. “Can I have your name?”

“I-I’m Theta,” she said nervously.

“Well Theta, um…,” Rarity said.

“D-Don’t say anything, please,” said Theta, “I already feel welcomed to your mind.”

“My what!” yelled Rarity.

“Director, I think I messed up introducing myself!” Theta said through the speakers on Rarity’s armour.

“Rarity, what I think she is trying to say is that she is proud to help you in activating the shield system of your armour when needed,” Delta said through the speakers on Fluttershy’s armour.

“Oh, I thought… Never mind, Theta,” said Rarity looking at the vision of the crying foal in her head. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“R-Really?” Theta asked wiping her hoof up against her eyes.

“Really,” Rarity said in a reassuring tone. “And even if you were in my mind I wouldn’t tell you to get out.”

“But nopony except you can see or hear me right now,” Theta said.

“So long as they don’t think I’m crazy, I’m fine with it,” Rarity said before seeing that Applejack and Rainbow Dash where giving her the ‘who are you talking to?’ face. “What? I’m not crazy!”

“D-Director you should probably hurry and decide who gets who,” Theta said.

“Give A.J. the orange crystal then give Dash the lemon and turquoise crystals,” Twilight said dodging crystallized fireballs left and right. "Probably not the best choice but at least they can learn to live with each other.”

“Alright let’s git it done with,” said Applejack as she closed her eyes.

Fluttershy touched the orange crystal against Applejack’s helmet and Applejack passed out. When she awoke, she saw a vision of an orange alicorn mare that looked like Twilight.

“Hello. My name is Sigma,” said a female multi-synth voice that sounded like Twilight’s voice in Applejack’s head.

“Hello, Sigma. Nice ta meet’cha,” Applejack said.

“Director, I’m fully bonded,” said Sigma through the speakers in Applejack’s armour.

“Good, now get Rainbow Dash done,” Twilight said barely avoiding a massive crystallized fireball. “I can’t hold Omega off much longer alone

“I’m here, Flutters,” Rainbow Dash said as she flew over to Fluttershy.

“Touch the two crystals to her helmet,” Delta said.

Fluttershy touched the two remaining crystals to Rainbow Dash’s helmet and Rainbow Dash passed out. She soon awoke to a vision of two alicorn mares, one lemon yellow and the other turquoise, that looked like Twilight.

“Hello, I’m Iota,” said the turquoise one quickly.

“And I’m Beta,” said the lemon one quickly as well.

“Together we can help you increase your speed,” they both said rapidly.

“O-kay, didn’t really catch that but I guess it was something to do with making me faster judging by how fast you two spoke,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Now, girls, I’m going to have to ask you to let the M.I.’s take control of you,” Twilight said.

“Are you kidding!” Rainbow Dash asked. “Look at what Omega’s doing. I don’t think you want to have to fight us too.”

“Excuse me, but are considered M.I. passives, “ said Delta. “In Laypone’s* terms: we will not fight without reason. Unlike Omega, we are ‘pone-broken’.”

“Even still, I don’t want to let some ‘creature’ making decisions for me,” Rainbow Dash scoffed.

“Rainbow Dash, I can tell them to control you as an order and they will,” Twilight threatened. “So, unless you want me to do that, let Beta and Iota control you.”

“Fine,” Rainbow Dash groaned. “But I still like calling the shots I make.”

“Duly noted,” Twilight said, “now let them control you.”

“This is gonna hurt,” said Rainbow Dash. “Hope fully not, though.”

~~~

“How could he do such a thing?” asked Cadance.

“More Importantly, how is he back?” said Celestia.

“It’s my fault,” said Chrysalis who was across the hall with the two foals. “It was I who found the Dark Crystal Heart, and shown it to him. He must have regained his memories as Sombra and desired that power again.”

“Then, in that case, it’s not your fault, Chrysalis,” said Cadance, defending the reformed Changeling Queen.

“How is it not?” Chrysalis asked after wiping a tear from her eye. “I told him about it. I led him to it. I shown it to him.”

“Yes,” said Cadance only slightly agreeing, “but you’re forgetting that you love him and that you should do your best to get him back.”

“I-I…,” Chrysalis stuttered.

Cadance’ horn began to glow and the chains holding Chrysalis were broken.

“Go to him,” Cadance said calmly.

“What?” Chrysalis asked in wonder.

“Go. To. Him,” Cadance repeated.

“Nix, Myx, let’s go have a chat with your father,” Chrysalis said, herself changing into Celestia, Nix into a smaller version of Luna, and Myx into a smaller version Cadance, all while she was talking.

~~~

“Omega, please stop!” Yelled Twilight. “I’m only going to ask once.”

“Try and stop me if you can,” Omega said.

“Girls, try not to harm Spike’s body,” Twilight said. “all we need to do is surround Omega, then we can bring her out of him.”

“Director, I have used your armour’s scanner and I am failing to register four ponies,” said Alpha through the speakers on Twilight’s armour.

“Which ones?” asked Twilight.

“Chrysalis, Myx, Nix, and Sombra,” said Epsilon.

“That is not good,” commented Delta through the mouth of Fluttershy.

“Girls, we need to release Spike from Omega’s control soon,” said Twilight. “Or else, Chrysalis may have just been lying to me and the Elements of Harmony.”

“The probability of that occurring is approximately three-point-one-two-five percent,” commented Delta.

“Thanks for the info, Delta,” said Twilight sarcastically.

“You’re welcome,” Delta said.

“I was being sarcastic, Delta,” said Twilight.

“Oh. I’m sorry. I was confused with the new tone,” Delta said.

“Director, we need to hurry if we want to make sure,” said Sigma through the mouth of Applejack.

“Alright girls, get in position,” said Twilight.

“Um… Me too?” asked Theta through the mouth of Rarity.

“Yes , you too Theta,” Twilight said with a moan.

“Yes, Director,” Theta said.

On an analog clock, from Omega and Spike’s view, Alpha, Epsilon, and Twilight would have been at twelve; Beta, Iota, and Rainbow Dash at two; Gamma and Pinkie at four; Delta and Fluttershy at six; Theta and Rarity at eight; and Sigma and Applejack at ten.

On Twilight’s armour, the alpha and epsilon symbols appeared. On Rainbow Dash’s, the beta and iota symbols. On Pinkie’s, the gamma symbol. On Fluttershy’s the delta symbol. On Rarity’s, the theta symbol. And on Applejack’s, the sigma symbol.

A beam fired from each symbol when they were all lit.

“NOOOOO!” Omega yelled, unable to do anything else due to the fact the beams paralyzed Spike’s body. “DON’T... TAKE... ME... OUT!”

After a few minutes the beams stopped flowing and all six ponies and the dragon fell to the floor. After about an hour, all but Spike woke up.

“Um… Did we do it?” asked Fluttershy rubbing her head.

“Yes, look,” said Twilight pointing at a black crystal with a white symbol on it.

“And what’s that symbol s’posed ta’ mean, Twi?” asked Applejack.

“It means-” Twilight sighed “- I’m back to square one with my research.”

“Well at least we got rid of Omega,” said Rarity.

“Yeah, but we got rid of all the others too,” said Twilight hanging her head down.

“Aww, no more jokes from Gamma?” Pinkie Asked. “At least she told me a good one before she left. Wanna hear it?”

“I guess,” sighed Twilight.

“Knock, knock.”

“Who’s there?” Twilight moaned.

“Look.”

“Look who?”

“Look who’s behind you!”

Twilight turned around to see Celestia, Luna, and Cadance walk into the room.

“So you beat Omega?” Celestia asked in her usual calm tone.

“Yes, but what of Chrysalis, Myx, Nix, and Sombra?” asked Twilight.

“I sense that Sombra is headed for the Badlands,” Celestia said. “If Chrysalis is smart, that’s where she is heading.”

“So, they’re not working together?” asked Twilight a little astonished at the fact that Delta was correct.

“No,” said Cadance calmly. “I can sense that she truly cares not just about the foals and Somber, but a little about our well being as well.”

“Nice armour by the way,” Luna said, giggling a little. “Tough, it makes you look a bit like a stallion.”

“It was meant for stallions,” Twilight said in her defense. “Girls, you can take your armour off now.”

After they all took their armour off, Twilight went to her lab.

“M.I.L.I.S.,” Twilight boomed.

“Did I do something wrong, Director?” asked the computer system.

“No,” said Twilight calmly, “but I need ‘The Suit’”

“Are you sure, Director?”

“Just give me ‘The suit’, M.I.L.I.S.,” Twilight said, face-hoofing.

“Opening panel zero-one-zero,” said M.I.L.I.S. as a panel in the wall went in a bit and rose to reveal another set of armour different from the rest.

This armour was lavender with a silver visor and had: slots for wings, tail, and horn; dome shield, time loop, holograph clone, speed, cloaking, color change, and regeneration armour enhancements; several different weapon attachments; and a direct communications link to M.I.L.I.S.

Chapter Seven: A Second Chance

“Don’t touch it!” Pinkie yelled.

“Pinkie, don’t worry. The crystal can only be absorbed if I want it to be,”said Celestia while she lifted the black and white crystal off the ground. “An M.I.? The last time I saw one of these was during the Pony Wars.”

“What are they used for again?” asked Luna.

“Combat aid for Unicorns,” said Celestia, “seeing as how they weren’t as strong physically as either other species of pony. No offence, Rarity.”

“I understand what you mean,” Rarity replied. “I can’t even protect myself from Diamond Dogs, let alone fight in a war. I might get cut.”

“Still, I don’t know how Twilight got a hold of the spell to create it,” said Celestia, still looking at the crystal.

“I found the spell in one of the books you sent me,” said Twilight as she entered the room.

“Uh, Twi, why are ya back in a set of armour?” asked Applejack.

“I’m going after them,” said Twilight as she turned to face Celestia. “May I have the M.I.?”

`”Yes, but let me teach you a weapon summoning spell,” Celestia replied as her horn began to glow.

“If you’re going to teach me the one you used when you first fought Sombra,” Twilight started, “don’t bother, I already know it. That’s how I made this suit of armour I’m wearing.”

Celestia's horn stopped glowing and she raised a brow. “So... your weapon… was a suit of armour?”

“I know it doesn’t really make sense,” said Twilight, “but I’m not one to argue how one of Starswirl’s spells works.”

“Well whatever your weapon, I just hope you can stop Sombra,” commented Luna.

“If I use the Elements of Harmony, I should be able to reverse the effects of the Dark Crystal Heart,”stated Twilight.

“Alright,” said Rainbow Dash, “we’ll put our armour back on.”

“No!” Twilight responded quickly. “I’m going alone.”

“What!?!” exclaimed everyone except Celestia.

“Are you sure you’re ready to use their power by yourself?” asked Celestia.

“I will try,” Twilight said calmly.

“Then I’ll not stop you,” Celestia said before the whole room went quiet.

“Y-you’re actually going to let me face him alone?” Twilight asked a bit baffled.

“I believe you’re ready to use them,” Celestia said calmly.

“Then I’m off,” Twilight said while heading out the door. “M.I.L.I.S., ensure the Elements are ready for transport by the time I get to the Everfree Forest.”

“Yes, Director,” said M.I.L.I.S.

~~~

Twilight had just arrived at the edge of the Everfree Forest when she received a message from M.I.L.I.S.

“The Elements are in place, Director,”

“Be prepared to send them to me on Meta’s mark,” responded Twilight.

“Director, word from Zecora’s hut terminal,” said M.I.L.I.S. “Shall I patch her through?”

“How important is it?”

“Priority One, encrypted transmission.”

“Patch her through,” groaned Twilight. “Go ahead, Zecora.”

“Tending to a plant I was about to cut,” Zecora started her first rhyme, “I found Queen Chrysalis hurt. She is at my hut.”

“What!?!” Twilight exclaimed. “I’m on my way!”

“I will be waiting when you arrive,” Zecora started. “Hopefully she won’t try to escape to her hive.”

“I’ll be there in thirty seconds,” said Twilight engaging her speed enhancement.

~~~

“Who brought her here?” asked Twilight.

“These two creatures,” Zecora started to rhyme as she pointed to the two foals of Chrysalis. “I’ve noticed they have Changeling features.”

“Now, Zecora, I’m going to ask you to do something you really don’t like to do,” said Twilight while holding her hoof near Chrysalis having Meta scan her injuries.

“What is it, Twilight?” Zecora started. “I hope it’s not-”

“Please, stop rhyming for about half an hour,” Twilight groaned.

“Since you asked politely, I won’t rhyme,”said Zecora outside her usual ‘moderately cheery’ tone.

“Thank you,” replied Twilight.

“Scan complete, Director,” stated a voice just like Twilight’s through the speakers on Twilight’s armour.

“Give me the read-out, Meta,”said Twilight as she looked at Chrysalis’ side.

“Let’s see, she’s been hit several times with Sombra’s scythe,” Meta started. “The biggest gash on her side is exactly three point one four decimeters long and exactly six point two eight centimeters deep “

“Anything else?” Twilight asked as a black holographic alicorn pony that looked like Twilight appeared right next to her.

“Yes,” Meta stated as her hologram pointed to the green Changeling blood trail. “She’s lost a substantial amount of her blood and needs immediate medical attention. I’ve had to launch two heal beams while I was scanning her to keep her from flat-lining.”

“That bad?” asked Twilight. “Zecora, see if you can brew up something to heal Chrysalis.”

“With a few moon-drop plant roots, some seapony tears, a bit of a dandelion stem, one whole white lotus blossom, and one flake of poison joke powder I should be able to brew a potion possibly capable of healing her,” Zecora said while gathering what she listed. “Although it will take fifteen minutes to fully brew.”

“Meta, how long can we afford to use the healing unit’s beam?” asked Twilight.

“About five minutes,” Meta stated. “That’s without a pipeline back to the command server.”

“Meta you’re a genius!” Twilight exclaimed. “M.I.L.I.S., connect Zecora’s terminal to the main power grid.”

“Authorization code?” asked M.I.L.I.S.

Twilight sighed, “I heart Flash Sentry.” Twilight turned to look at Zecora, “Not a word to my brother.”

“Yes, Princess Twilight,” Zecora said after she stopped giggling.

“Authorization code accepted,” M.I.L.I.S. said. “Your terminal is now on the main power grid, Zecora.”

“Zecora, I need you to flip that lever on the side of the terminal,” said Twilight pointing at a blue ball on the end of a metal rod sticking out of the side of the lavender computer terminal.

When Zecora flipped the lever, an antenna rose out of the terminal and a beam of energy started to flow to Twilight’s armour.

~~~

“W-where am I?” Chrysalis asked as she opened her eyes to see Celestia and visions of what she had done in the past surrounding her.

“So this is all you’ve done…,”started Celestia, “You’ve terrorized village after village of different creatures on the edge of Equestria for the past few years... looking for what you were missing…”

“What?” Chrysalis asked.

“Until one day, you found it in the one pony thought to have been destroyed by the Crystal Heart’s power…”

“I don’t understand,” Chrysalis said.

“‘True Love’ is the one thing you kind has been looking for... and you where the one who found it…”

“Celestia, what are you saying?!” Chrysalis asked frantically.

“Somber Sombra… The Dark Magician… He must be stopped…”

“I’ll not hurt my lover!” Chrysalis said, gritting her teeth together.

“If I give you the power to live on… Will you save him?”

“I’ll not hurt him!”

“Look…,” said Celestia pointing to a vision with Zecora and Twilight in it. “They’re trying to save you… Yet you’d rather die than hurt the one you love to save him from complete destruction…”

“Th-they’re... actually trying to… save me?”

“Yes... But they can’t save you… Even Zecora’s potions have their limits…,” said Celestia as the Twilight and Zecora in the vision tried to give her a healing potion.

“B-but my foals! Who’ll take care of them?”

“Twilight will… But she need’s a Changeling Queen’s help to control them…”

“I… I’ll… I’ll stop Sombra and save Somber.”

“Then I grant you renewed life…,” Celestia said while fading away. “Use it well.”

~~~

“Twilight, we’re losing her!” Meta exclaimed.

“Meta, prepare for a full power blast,” Twilight said.

“Twilight,” Zecora said, “she’s gone.”

“No,” Twilight said frantically, “there has to be something we can do!”

“Twilight,” Zecora said as she put her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder.

Twilight turned her head to face Zecora and Zecora shook her head. Twilight turned her head back to face Chrysalis’ body and then took off her helmet and threw it at the wall of the hut.

“BUCK IT!” Twilight yelled. “BUCK IT TO TARTARUS!”

“Twilight, no amount of yelling will bring her back,” Zecora said removing her hoof from Twilight’s shoulder.

A beam of light flashed outside the hut attracting the attention of the two mares.

Twilight gasped when she saw what it was. “How? When? Why?”

“Twilight,” said a grey colour Chrysalis with crimson eyes and mane and tail, “I need you to help me save Somber from destroying himself from inside.”

Twilight was too shocked to reply.

“What is it? What’s-” Meta said as her hologram appeared beside Twilight. “Y-you’re supposed to be dead!”

Chrysalis giggled a bit, “Celestia gave me another chance.”

“Oh, I forgot!” exclaimed Twilight as she rushed to the computer terminal in Zecora’s hut. “M.I.L.I.S., patch me through to the castle’s video chat.”

“Patching… Go for secure?” asked M.I.L.I.S.

“Go for secure,” responded Twilight.

“Secure-”

“Oh, hi, Twilight!” said an upside down Pinkie Pie through the monitor.

“AAH!” Twilight yelled. “Pinkie, don’t ever scare me like that again!”

“Sorry, Twilight,” Pinkie said as she dropped from the top of the screen to the bottom, “but I was just looking around your lab.”

“Good to know,” said Twilight sarcastically. “ Get Celestia, Luna, and Cadance.”

“Okie, Dokie, Lokie!” said Pinkie as she wandered off screen and a few moments later the three Princesses came into view.

“You wanted us?” asked Celestia.

“I found Chrysalis,” Twilight started. “But not the way I expected to find her. Her first body is dead, and I hear you, Celestia, gave her a second chance.”

“I did,” Celestia started as the other two Princesses and the rest of the Elements of Harmony gasped. “But there was one stipulation, she must, at the very least, help stop Sombra.”

“Alright, now, I’ve also found the foals,” Twilight resumed. “I’m going to have them stay here with Zecora while Chrysalis and I attempt to stop Sombra.”

“Twilight, are you sure Zecora can look after the foals?” asked Cadance.

“They will do as she asks,” said Chrysalis. “Won’t you children?”

“Yesss, Mama,” Nix said in a voice that was a cross of Sweetie Belle’s and Chrysalis’.

“Yesss, Mother,” Myx said in a voice that was a cross of Spike’s and Sombra’s.

“Th-they can talk?!” asked Twilight.

“Of course. They’ve been able to talk since we left your castle. Also they’ve reached a size they’ll stay at for the next few years,” Chrysalis said as Twilight took in the difference in size since she last seen them. She failed to noticed their coat colour was now grey.

“Hopefully It won’t cause trouble when I announce you and your Changelings official citizens of Equestria,” said Celestia.

“Y-you’d really do that?” asked Chrysalis.

“You can’t be serious!” exclaimed Luna. “After what she’s done to Equestria?”

“She has changed, Luna,” said Cadance.

“I don’t care!” Luna exclaimed. “Changelings are nothing more than filthy- “

“Luna!” exclaimed Celestia.

There was absolute silence for a few minutes. Chrysalis was the one who broke it.

“If it pleases you, Luna, when I stop Sombra and save Somber, I’ll return to the Badlands with Somber and the entire Changeling Species.”

“Done,” Luna replied quickly.

“No,” Celestia boomed, “I’ll not let you do that to her, Luna.”

“But-”

“Luna, there once was a time you weren’t good,” said Celestia, “do you remember it?”

“Yes, b-”

“And we’ve all forgiven you for what you’ve done,” Celestia continued. “Why can’t we do the same for her?”

“Because she’s not a pony!” Luna exclaimed.

“According to my scan of her previous body’s blood,” Meta started, “she’s eighty seven point five percent pony.”

There was another long silence.

“How?” asked Luna.

“The previous three Changeling Queens all bred with random ponies to make their next generation more like normal ponies,” Chrysalis said. “I bred with Somber not only for the same reason, but also because I love him.”

It was at this time Luna knew she lost her argument.

“Fine,” Luna said while stomping her front hooves. ”But when an angry mob appears. it’s not my fault!”

“Alright,” said Celestia. “Twilight, you and Chrysalis should get going.”

“Alright,” said Twilight while gabbing and putting on her helmet, “M.I.L.I.S., Close com. link and pipeline to command. We don’t want to waste any more mesmia power.”

“Com. link closed,” said M.I.L.I.S. “Pipeline closed.”

“Okay,” said Twilight as she faced Chrysalis, “let’s get going.”

Chapter Eight: Chrysalis' First Vision

Twilight and Chrysalis had just reached the edge of the Everfree Forest when Chrysalis jumped back a bit.

“Twilight, do you sense something?” Chrysalis asked.

“No,” Twilight said. “Do you?”

“Yes,” Chrysalis started, “but I don’t recognize the magic wave pattern, and I’ve learned most.”

“Wait...,” Twilight said while swiveling her ears. “Something is nearby.”

“You’re one-hundred percent correct, Twilight,” said a voice like Sombra’s.

“Chrysalis, look out!” Twilight exclaimed Before rushing into Chrysalis and pushing her out of the way of a Dark Crystal stalactite that came from a Dark Void spell above them.

“Thank you, Twilight,” said Chrysalis as she picked herself off the ground.

“I can sense it’s only you and Chrysalis,” Sombra’s voice echoed, “so I’m going to propose a challenge. You two against me, in the Badlands. You bring your ‘Elements of Harmony’ and me, I’ll bring the Dark Heart. Spoils will be decided at the end of the battle. Deal?”

Twilight looked at Chrysalis and they nodded at one another at the same time.

“We accept,” said Twilight confidently.

“See you at the Badlands,” Sombra’s voice echoed, laughing as it faded away.

“Well, at least we now know he has the Dark Heart,” Chrysalis said.

“Let’s go about this in a smart way, Chrysalis,” said Twilight as they started to go over several strategies to defeat Sombra.

~~~

Twilight and Chrysalis had just made it to the Badlands when another Dark Void appeared above them. This time it was Chrysalis who saved Twilight from a falling stalactite.

“Thanks,” Twilight said as she picked herself up and brushed the dirt off her armour.

“Don’t mention it,” said Chrysalis slightly blushing at the fact she was the one saving somepony else.

“So, I guess you two have tried to come up with a plan to defeat me, hmm?” asked Sombra as he appeared out from behind a boulder. “I’ll tell you this: I’ve come up with a way to defeat you. So, what have you planned?”

“Us?” Twilight asked as she looked at Chrysalis and nodded. “We’ll wing it!”

Twilight then engaged her speed enhancement, rushed at Sombra, and activated her Light Sword weapon attachment. Before Sombra knew what hit him, he had a gash on his left side.

Sombra laughed for a few seconds before he started talking. “You think a scratch is going to stop me?” he asked, laughing as the large gash mended itself. “Didn’t know I could heal myself, did you, Twilight?”

“No, I knew,” Twilight said as she started to barrage Sombra with sword attacks.

Sombra kept laughing as Twilight tried harder and harder to hurt him.

“Keep this up and I’ll let you hurt you brother’s body,” Sombra laughed before Twilight paused her barrage of attacks.

“My brother’s body?” Twilight asked, puzzled by what Sombra said.

Sombra released a portion of his control over Shining’s mind. “Big... Brother... Best... Friends... Forever,” he said, fighting for control over his own body. Sombra then took back control and began laughing.

“SHINING!” Twilight exclaimed.

Sombra noticed a symbol appear on Twilight’s armour, the ‘Meta’ symbol to be exact. He started to laugh harder and summoned his scythe. But before he could use it, he was covered in injuries caused by Twilight’s Light Sword.

The Dark Magic left Shining’s body, leaving him lying unconscious on the ground.

Twilight pulled off her helmet and rushed over to her brother.

“Shining?” Twilight asked trying to wake up her brother. “Shining, wake up! SHINING!” she yelled as tears formed in the corners of her eyes.

Shining coughed a few times and then began to speak. “T-Twilight? Is that really you?” he asked.

“Yes! Yes, it is,” Twilight replied wiping the tears from her eyes..

“T-Twilight, w-why are you w-wearing that s-stuff?” Shining asked trying to catch his breath.

“Don’t worry about that,” Twilight said smiling. “Just tell me, does Sombra have Flash Sentry?”

“Y-yes,” Shining said before coughing a few more times. “I-I t-think he p-plans on u-using him l-like he u-used me.”

“Thank you, Shining,” Twilight said before putting her helmet back on. “M.I.L.I.S., one for evac.”

“Co-ordinates?” asked M.I.L.I.S.

“Scan for Beacon One,” said Twilight after she put a small transmitter on her brother’s armour.

“Beacon One detected,” replied M.I.L.I.S. “Teleporting... now.”

Shining disappeared in a ball of light that up and traveled Twilight's castle. When he arrived, he found himself on the floor in front of Princess Cadance.

“Sh-Shining? I-is that you?” Cadance asked.

“Y-yes?” Shining replied as he flattened his ears against his head.

“Oh, thank the stars, you’re alright!” Cadance said as she looked up at the now early evening sky.

Back in the Badlands, Twilight and Chrysalis were setting up camp for the night in a cave.

“I wonder how my foals are doing,” said Chrysalis as she was preparing herself a place to sleep.

“They’re alright,” said Meta through the speakers on Twilight’s armour. “I’ve been monitoring them by communicating with the terminal in Zecora’s hut.”

“Thank you, Meta,” Chrysalis said as she lay down on some soft cave moss. “You know, for a little crystal of magic energy, you’re not half bad.”

“Thank you, Chrysalis,” Meta said as her holographic body appeared next to Twilight. “It is my job to serve and please my Director and her-”

“That’s enough, Meta,” Twilight snapped cutting Meta off. “I’ll take first watch.”

“Thanks,” responded Chrysalis, yawning. “I could use some sleep.”

“You could use some sleep?! Who did all the fighting?” asked Twilight angrily.

“You did, but-” Chrysalis said while standing up rapidly and then subsequently fainting.

On her way to the ground, she hit her horn on the side of the cave and it snapped in half.

“Chrysalis!” Twilight exclaimed.

~~~

“Sombra, leave Nix alone, she’s not done a thing against you!” yelled Chrysalis. “Myx, Celestia's taught you all the Light Magic she knows. Help me save your father and sister.”

“I’ll do my bessst, mother,” said Myx as his horn began to glow white.

“How touching. Father sssaid you’d think I wasss under hisss control,” said Nix. “I don’t know what’sss worssse. Being thisss young and having almossst beaten my mother and older brother? Or thisss pathetic emotion called love you have for me?”

“That 'pathetic emotion called love' is what created you. If I didn’t love Somber you wouldn’t have even been born!” Chrysalis yelled.

“Yesss, that isss true. But that fact isss about to get you killed,” Nix said laughing in such a manner like her father as she summoned a smaller version of his scythe.

“Nixxx, pleassse ssstop!” exclaimed Myx as he flattened his ears against his head. “I don’t want to hurt you!”

“I sssaid ssstop calling me ‘Nixxx’!” yelled Nix as she grew to the size of Chrysalis, her mane turned black and began to flow, her eye's became dragon-like and violet in colour, and a violet mist coming from them. “From now on it’sss Mydnyght Nixxxusss!”

“I will never call you that, Nixxx!” proclaimed Myx as he grew, also, to the size of Chrysalis, except his mane and tail turned white and began to flow; and his coat turned to a creme colour, his horn became blue, his eyes became dragon-like and crimson in colour, and a greenish-gold mist began to flow from them.

Mydnyght Nixus charged at Chrysalis and Chrysalis blacked out.

~~~

“Chrysalis!” exclaimed Twilight as she was shaking Chrysalis trying to wake her up. “Wake up Chrysalis, it’s just a bad dream!”

Chrysalis woke up and pushed Twilight away. “I’ve got to save her!.” she exclaimed as she stood up and tried to walk. “Ahh!” she yelled as her head started pounding because she snapped her horn.

“Chrysalis, who are you trying to save?” asked Twilight as she rushed over to Chrysalis again. “Don’t try to walk, you’ll only end up hurting yourself.”

“You don’t understand!”Chrysalis exclaimed, crying. “If I don’t get there in time she’ll be gone forever!”

“Who? Who’ll be gone forever?” asked Twilight frantically.

“NIX!” Chrysalis yelled as loud as she could before fainting again.

~~~

“Mother?” Nix wondered aloud as she turned to face a Southeast direction.

“What is it Nix?” Zecora started. “I hope it’s not another of your tricks.”

“I ssswear it’sss not, Missss Zecora,” Nix said as she turned to face the zebra. “I have thisss feeling mother called my name. And I’m worried about her.”

“I’m worried about mother, too,” said Myx. “But I didn’t hear mother call my name, ssso if you asssk me, Missss Zecora, shhhe’sss jussst kidding.”

“But I really did hear mother call my name!” exclaimed Nix.

“Yeah, and I’m Dissscord,” commented Myx who then stuck his forked tongue out at Nix.

“Missss Zecora!” Nix said pointing at Myx.

“Please, stop arguing,” Zecora started. “Especially over such a little thing. If her mother’s call is what she heard, I will not doubt any word.”

“Thank you, Missss Zecora,” Nix said as she walked closer to the zebra, “but could I asssk Missss Twilight if shhhe’sss alright?”

Zecora looked down at the filly who was attempting to make a cute face but failing due to her eyes not being like that of your average foal.

Zecora sighed and then began her rhyme, “Your effort was the best you could do. I’ll contact Twilight, just for you.”

Nix jumped up and hugged Zecora causing her to blush a bit. Myx just face-hoofed and turned away.

Zecora finished making the potion she had started then walked over to the computer terminal Twilight installed in the back of her hut to make the call.

“M.I.L.I.S., I would like to call Twilight,” Zecora began. “Nix want’s to know if Chrysalis is alright.”

“I’m sorry Zecora, but it appears as if Twilight is in a high interference area,” said the computer. “I would not be able to successfully hold the line open for more than five seconds.”

“But I’ve gotta ssspeak to Missss Twilight!” Nix exclaimed as she hit the computer. “I muss! I mussst!”

“Nix, please refrain from causing any further damage to my hardware,” said M.I.L.I.S.

“Nix, go sit in a corner, you’re now in time out!” Zecora exclaimed. “And I don’t want to hear you cry or pout.”

“Yesss, Misss Zecora,” Nix said as she walked over to a corner away from the computer, sat down, and started to silently cry.

~~~

“It took quite some time to brew,” Zecora said as she dipped a ladle in her cauldron and poured the liquid into two bowls, “but here is something I made for you two.”

“Thank you, Missss Zecora,” said Myx as he walked over to one of the bowls and began to drink the brew.

“Nix, come and eat,” Zecora began, “and when you’re done you can have a treat.”

“Th-thank you, Missss Zecora,” said Nix as she stood up out of the corner, walked over to the other bowl, and also began to drink the brew. “Mmm. What’s this made of?”

“Promise you won’t tell anypony?” asked Zecora outside her usual rhyming manner.

“Umm…” the foals said looking at each other, puzzled by Zecora’s sudden change in speech pattern.

“Why would we tell anypony, Missss Zecora?” asked Myx, curiously.

“Just promise not to tell anypony!” Zecora exclaimed.

“Yes, Ma’am!” the foals quickly responded out of fear.

“It contains various types of powder Hydra meat, a selection of herbs from my garden, and Chaos Water.” said Zecora.

“What’sss Chaosss Water, Missss Zecora?” asked Nix.

“It’s a special enchanted water I get when I visit Discord in Chaosville,” said Zecora.

“You’ve met the real Dissscord?!” asked Myx excitedly.

“Yes,” said Zecora as she looked into her cauldron and started to brew another liquid, “and he’s quite the entertainer.”

“Missss Zecora why aren’t you rhyming?” asked Nix politely.

Zecora froze for a second then resumed brewing, “Oh! Um… No reason. Why? Am I committing treason?”

“Alert! Highly powerful magical entity detected,” said M.I.L.I.S.

“Where Is it?” Zecora said as she rushed over to the computer terminal.

“Within y-ou,” M.I.L.I.S. said as Zecora punched the computer causing it to lose power.

“Zecora!” the foals yelled, surprised by the zebra’s actions.

Zecora became shrouded in a black mist that, when it had dissipated, left Sombra in her place.

“Hello, son, daughter,” Sombra said as he looked at the two foals.

“Sssombra!” the foals exclaimed, jumping back as they did.

“That’s ‘Father’ to you two!” exclaimed Sombra as he summoned Dark Crystal Cages around the foals.

“You’ll never be father to me!” exclaimed Myx as he trashed about in his cage.

“I-I th-think I-I’d sss-sssooner h-him b-be-be f-father th-than b-be-be h-held in th-this c-cage f-forever,” Nix stuttered in fear, ears flat against her head.

Myx stopper thrashing about and looked at his sister in shock.

“Atta girl,” Sombra said as he dematerialized the cage around Nix. “Come here.”

“Y-yes, f-father?” asked Nix as she slowly approached Sombra.

“Would you like to be as powerful as me?” Sombra asked looking down at the young filly.

“Um...,” Nix mumbled barely audible.

“Speak up, dear, I haven’t got all evening,” said Sombra trying to rush the filly’s decision.

“Y-yes,” Nix said trying to not upset Sombra.

“You really want to become as powerful as your father?” Sombra asked again.

“Y-yes, father,” Nix said, unsure of what might happen next.

“Allow me to take control of you and we'll go somewhere where we can practice your magic skills," said Sombra as he turned amorphous around Zecora's body.

"O-k-kay, father," Nix said nervously.

Sombra left Zecora's body and went to Nix' body. This caused Zecora to fall to the floor unconscious. Zecora recovered from the experience just in time to see Sombra use his dark magic to turn them both into mist and fly off with Myx still in his cage.

"This... is not... good," Zecora said before fainting again.

~~~

"Director, I've lost contact with Zecora's terminal," said Meta as her holographic body appeared next to the now asleep Changeling Queen. "Just before I lost contact, I received an alert from M.I.L.I.S. that Sombra was in the hut somewhere. I told her to stall on the alarm for a while, but she went ahead and alerted Zecora. However, I was able to pick up a final transmission from M.I.L.I.S. Zecora turned out to be used by Sombra to get at the foals."

"How?" Twilight asked puzzled by Meta's report. "We were fighting him here not three hours ago!"

"Apparently he's mastered a new dark magic thanks to the Dark Heart," said Meta as her holographic body looked down at Chrysalis.

"So... Is there any chance she'll regrow her horn if we use a heal beam?" asked Twilight, concerned about Chrysalis' possible inability to transform.

"Point two five percent," responded Meta as her holograph shook its head in dismay.

"Um... At least there's a slim chance," said Twilight as she readied her armour. "Let's try... For her sake."

"Alright, but we don't have a pipeline to command so it'll use all our- Alert! Dark Void detected!"exclaimed Meta as her holograph looked up to see a cage containing Myx fall to the cave floor and shatter.

"Ouch," Myx said as he stood up and tried to straighten his now bent wing. "Misss Twilight! I'm ssso happy to sssee you," he said as he rushed to hug Twilight. "Sssombra took Nixxx, and sssent me through that thing. We've gotta ssstop him from corrupting Nixxx! And-"

"Calm down, Myx," said Meta as her holograph walked over to him. "Start at the beginning and go from there a little at a time."

"Well," Myx started, "We were having a ssstaring contessst when all of a sssudden..."

~~~

"... And then I arrived here through that thing," Myx said, concluding his long explanation of what happened at Zecora's. The time was now just before dawn.

Chrysalis awoke at the end of Myx' explanation.

"Is it as I fear, Myx?" Chrysalis said somberly. "Is your sister with Sombra?"

"I... I'm sssorry, mother," Myx replied as he started to cry and rushed to hug his mother.

"It's not your fault," said Chrysalis, hugging back, "you couldn't do a thing to stop him."

"M-mother, what happened to your horn?" asked Myx as he wiped tears from his eyes.

"Oh? Oh! Um...," Chrysalis said, now noticing her snapped horn. "I don't remember. It must have happened when I passed out earlier."

"It did, Chrysalis," said Meta as Twilight walked closer to the two Changelings. "Twilight and I were about to attempt healing it when Myx appeared."

"Yes, but that can wait till we get back to my castle," Twilight said. "We need to search the archives that Celestia sent me to make sure we don't have a way to successfully counter what will happen."

"Shall I instruct M.I.L.I.S. to teleport us to the castle, Director?" asked Meta as her holograph looked at Twilight

"Yes. Have her lock onto beacons two and three and my armour," Twilight said as she handed the two beacons to the Changelings. "Then have her ready to teleport us on my mark."

"Yes, Director," said Meta in a sort of 'complaint' tone as her holograph glitched a bit.

"Are you unhappy with such a simple task, Meta?" asked Twilight not noticing the glitch.

"No director," Meta said, still in her 'complaint' tone and glitching.

"Then why are you complaining?" asked Twilight slightly angered.

"I... don't... know," Meta said as her voice fluctuated and the glitching of her holograph increased in pace. "M.-M.-M.I.L.-M.I.L.-M.I.L.I.S., t-t-tel-tel-teleport n-n-now."

"Teleporting," responded M.I.L.I.S. as Twilight and the two Changelings turned into white balls that floated off to Twilight's castle.

~~~

"META!" Twilight yelled, aggravated. "META RESPOND!"

"C-c-com-com-command a-a-ac-ac-acknowl-acknowl-acknowledged," said Meta, still fluctuating and glitching. "I-I-I'll n-n-not l-l-last m-m-much l-l-long-long-longer."

"What are you talking about, Meta?" asked Twilight as Meta's crystal appeared in her hoof.

"I-i-it's b-b-been a-a-a p-p-pleas-pleas-pleasure s-s-serv-serv-serving w-w-with y-y-you, D-D-Di-Di-Direct-Direct-Director," Meta said as her crystal started to darken. "F-f-fare-fare-farewell, D-D-Di-Di-Direct-Direct-Director."

Meta's crystal faded to such a dark black that even light could not be reflected off it's surface.

"NOOOOOO!" Twilight yelled looking up at the ceiling.

"Twilight, what's all the yelling about asked Celestia as she entered Twilight's lab.

"I just lost the foundation of my Mercenary Project," Twilight said tossing the crystal in a waste bin.

"You did know they were only usable so long as they received magic energy... right?" asked Celestia as she picked the crystal out of the bin with her magic.

Celestia brought the crystal closer to herself. When the crystal was about two feet away, a stream of magic energy began to flow from Celestia's horn to the crystal.

Twilight watched in amazement as the crystal changed from a light absorbing black to light emitting white with a gray 'Meta' symbol on it.

"How are you...?" Twilight mumbled inaudible to Celestia's ears but not to her eyes.

"I'm simply restoring the magic energy the crystal had," Celestia stated simply.

"Then why did-"

"It changed colours because I'm putting Light Magic energy into it and not just any magic into it, which is why it was more gray than white earlier," Celestia said dumbfounding Twilight. "Light Magic is a magic type unique to alicorns and those of their figure."

"What do you mean, 'unique to alicorns and those of their figure'?" asked Twilight as magic energy stopped flowing from Celestia's horn to the crystal.

"What she means is that there is a possibility that Chrysalis Myx and Nix can use it," said Meta as her holograph appeared being cast from the crystal.

"Provided their aura is of a corresponding type," Celestia added as she handed the crystal to Twilight using her magic.

"How do you know if somepony's aura is of a corresponding type?" asked Twilight in wonder.

"Why, with the Light Heart of course." Celestia replied.

Chapter Nine: As Different As 'Mydnyght' And 'Mydday'

"The Light Heart?' asked Twilight, confused by Celestia's prior comments.

"The Light Heart is a sacred treasure given to Luna and I to protect," started Celestia. "Through it, one has the possibility of learning Light Magic, such as 'Revive', the spell I used to give Chrysalis a second chance."

"Why are you just now bringing this up?" asked Twilight, agitated by Celestia's withholding of information.

"Because you just now inquired about it," replied Celestia with a playful smile.

"Ugh..." Twilight groaned as she face-hoofed. "Where is the Light Heart now?"

Celestia started to giggle slightly. "I believe you already know where it is."

"What do you mean 'I already know where it is'? And what's so funny?" asked Twilight even more angered by Celestia's laugher.

"I'll give you a hint as to where it is," Celestia stated as she tried to calm herself. "Your brother has seen it almost daily since he married Princess Cadence and moved to the Crystal Empire."

It took only a few seconds for it to click in Twilight's mind what and where the Light Heart was.

"You've masked it as the Crystal Heart, haven't you?"

"Yes, all the easier to protect don't you think?"

"Considering it almost fell in the wrong hooves the first and second time Equestria had to deal with Sombra-" Meta commented as her holograph appeared between the two mares.

"Can it, Meta," the two mares said in a flat tone simultaneously.

"Yes, Director, Princess Celestia," the holographic mare said as it flattened it’s ears and lowered it’s head.

"Now, I'll summon the Light Heart and I'll see if it reacts to your aura," said Celestia as her horn began to glow. "That will let me know if you can learn Light Magic."

An intense light began to shine from Celestia's horn, momentarily blinding Twilight. Within moments the Crystal Heart appeared between Celestia and Twilight.

While the light was shining from Celestia's horn, Myx walked into the lab in search of something to heal his mother's snapped horn.

"No, thisss won't work," Myx mumbled to himself as he looked throughout Twilight's collection of full beakers.

When Twilight and Celestia weren't paying attention to the Crystal Heart, it began to spin and glow. Celestia soon noticed and saw that it was reacting to Myx' aura.

"Myx, come here please," Celestia asked.

As Myx got closer to the Crystal Heart, it began to spin faster and shine brighter. When he was about half a yard away the Crystal Heart completely changed forme. It was now solid white with the exception of the shading of the altered surface angles.

"Misss Cccelessstia, what'sss that?" asked Myx in curiosity.

"That would be the Light Heart and judging by the way it just acted, you can learn Light Magic," Celestia said to the foal with a hint of wonder in her voice. "Come, touch it."

Myx did as he was told and touched the Light Heart. As he did, a ribbon of light came out of it and wrapped around him.

Chrysalis walked into the lab just in time to see the light die down. Her son now looked different.

Myx was now as tall as Chrysalis. His coat-shell was now creme colour. His horn was solid blue. His mane and tail were now flowing light energy. And there was a green-ish gold mist flowing from his eyes. His voice also changed to sound almost like Sombra’s.

"Myx!" exclaimed Chrysalis rushing to her son in shock. "What happened to you?"

"Mother, for the future's sake," Myx began oddly, "call me Mydday Myxer."

Chrysalis stood there speechless at what her son had just said and how he said it.

"What do you mean 'for the future's sake', Mydday?" asked Celestia, obeying Myx' wish.

"I mean... Ugh, how to explain, um...." Mydday pondered.

"Something in the future has something to do with you being called Mydday Myxer?" Meta asked as her holograph reappeared near the four equines.

"Yes... Specifically, fighting Sombra," He replied.

"Fighting Sombra?" asked Chrysalis in shock of what her son was saying.

"When I fight him, Sister will proclaim her name to be 'Mydnyght Nixus'," Mydday said.

"So I had a vision?" Chrysalis mumbled to herself.

"Yes, Mother, I believe you did have a vision," Mydday stated as he caught the stray comment.

"Wait, you had a vision?!?" asked Twilight in excite.

“I-I guess, but that’s not important right now,” said Chrysalis. “What’s important is my son learning Light Magic.”

"Alright, what would you like to learn first?" asked Celestia as she faced Mydday.

Mydday looked at Chrysalis and then back at Celestia.

"A spell that will restore my mother's horn.”

"In that case, let me just summon the Light Scrolls," Celestia said in slight complaint.

"Is learning Light Magic really that hard?" asked Mydday in wonder.

“Well… All you really have to do is merely glance at the scroll and you will immediately know the spell that is on it,” explained Celestia.

“Well that seems easy,” commented Chrysalis.

“Though, he’ll still have to practice using the spell before he’s able to use it successfully,” Celestia finished.

“Oh,” Chrysalis sighed.

Elsewhere…

Nix regained consciousness and found herself in a cave system deep in the Badlands’ SouthEast corner. She spotted Sombra looking out of a hole in the roof of the cave. He was staring at the moon.

“F-Father, w-where’sss Brother?”

“I dropped him off with your mother,” Sombra stated as he faced Nix. “He was of no use to me… Us.”

“Usss?” asked Nix in confusion.

“Yes, us. You want to help me change Equestria into a more beautiful world, don’t you?”

“Um…” Nix replied, pondering her decision.

“It’s a simple question, foal, it deserves a simple answer!” Sombra snapped before returning to his normal tone. “Sorry… Well, don’t you?”

“Y-yesss, Father,” said Nix in a bit of fear mixed with curiosity.

“Good. Follow me,” said Sombra as he turned into a mist and began to float away through the cave system.

Nix followed shortly behind. She soon found herself looking at an orange Pegasus in golden armour inside of a black crystal cage.

“Stay away from me, Sombra!” the Pegasus yelled as Sombra returned to his normal forme.

“F-Father, who isss he?” asked Nix in wonder as she observed the Pegasus backing into the corner of the cage furthest from Sombra.

“He… Is a nuisance,” Sombra said as his horn shimmered sending a black mist around the Pegasus.

When the mist lifted, the Pegasus lay on the cage floor unconscious.

“F-Father! What happened to him?” asked the young filly in fear.

“I simply made him fall asleep,”stated Sombra flatly.

“Oh. Um, Father, c-can you, um, teach me sssome magic?” Nix asked nervously.

“Certainly,” Sombra started. “But first, follow me. There’s something I want to show you.”

Sombra turned back into a mist and drifted further into the cave system. Nix followed closely behind.

After about five minutes of walking, Nix questioned the remaining distance to their destination.

“Just a little while longer,” Sombra said, ending in a bit of laughter.

Nix did not contest her Father’s reply and continued walking through the caverns.

After another two minutes they arrived at a black heart-shaped gem embedded in the wall of the far end of the cave they were in.

Sombra returned to his normal forme and began to sing a song to Nix:

”Come to me, fo-al, and fol-low my way

“In-to a world of dark-ness and ma-gic

“With all my pow-er, I’ll show you the way

“To all your dreams, hopes, and il-lu-sions.”

“Go ahead... Touch it… Touch the gem… Touch the Dark Heart,” Sombra said, promptly followed by Nix touching the Dark Heart.

A black mist shrouded around Nix and she began to change forme.

She grew to the size of Chrysalis, her horn grew to a size twice as long as Chrysalis’, her eyes turned Dragon-like and solid violet with a violet mist flowing from them, her fangs grew longer, her wings grew larger, and her mane and tail became flowing dark matter. Finally, her voice now sounded almost like Chrysalis’.

“Father, I’ve seen a bit of what I believe is the future… I will fight Brother… And you will fight Mother and Twilight,” said Nix.

“And who wins?” asked Sombra succeeded by Nix laughing.

“We do, Father,” replied Nix in laughter.

“Good,” Sombra laughed, “at least we win. And all Equestria will be ours!”

“But there’s one catch, father,” Nix said. “I have to have the Dark Heart.”

“Anything to gain control of Equestria!” Sombra laughed. “Nix, you’ve just made me one of the happiest ponies in Equestria!”

“Father, please… Call me ‘Mydnyght Nixus’,” Nix said with an angered expression on her face.

“Yes, Mydnyght,” replied Sombra trying to calm his daughter.

“Thank you, Father,” said Mydnyght. “May you please begin teaching me magic now?”

“I’ll do better,” Sombra said with a laugh. ”I’ll teach you Dark Magic.”

A few weeks later…

“Mother, I’ve been practicing this spell for over a week and… I think I’m ready to try and heal your horn,” said Mydday as he looked off the balcony of the West Spire of Twilight’s castle at the sunset.

“Are you sure you can do it, Mydday?” asked chrysalis as she turned to face her son.

“Yes,” Mydday replied assuring his mother the spell would be successful.

“Alright, I’m ready,” Chrysalis responded a few moments later.

Mydday’s horn began to glow and a ribbon of light extended from his mane to wrap around Chrysalis. When the ribbon of light faded, Chrysalis had her horn again.

“M-Mydday! Y-You actually succeeded!” exclaimed Chrrysalis.

“What? What is it? What did he-” Twilight exclaimed as she walked onto the balcony after seeing an intense light from the Spire Room. “Mydday… Y-you healed your mother’s horn!”

“Now I need know only two spells more,” said Mydday as he took one last gaze at the sun before going off to find Celestia.

Mydday found Celestia in the guest quarters in the North Spire. There were two guards posted by the door, one on either side.

“I seek audience with Her Majesty,” Mydday stated.

“I’m sorry. She’s having a private conversation with-”

“Let him in,” called Celestia’s voice through the door.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the two guards responded simultaneously, succeeded by the door to the room opening.

Mydday walked in and found Celestia and Luna sitting around a table in the Southeast side of the room.

“Your Majesties, I have a request.”

“What is it Mydday?” asked Luna.

“It’s more of a request from Princess Celestia,”Mydday started. “I wish to learn both of the Light Magic attack spells.”

Celestia almost choked on her tea when she heard his request.

“Mydday, do you have any Idea what that takes!?!”

“Sound mind, sound body, pure heart, complete control of the situation, and a lot of Light Energy.”

“These aren’t spells you can just go out and practice, they cause massive destruction. I’ve only had to use them once against Tirek and even then I had never before attempted them. I just barely pulled them off.”

“This is a request not for my own gain.... But for the protection of all Equestria from Sombra.”

“Still, I cannot risk-”

“Sister!” Luna yelled gaining Celestia’s attention. “Even if there is a large risk accompanying the use of these spells, I believe he can and will manage to use it with succession. Regardless of his adversary.”

“Luna! How can you say such things!” Celestia exclaimed. “You know full good and well that the Badlands weren’t always a barren, desolate wasteland!”

“Yes, I do. And I remember that day well. But, I believe with my entire being that he will pull it off,” Luna said calmly.

“Luna!”

“Please, Sister.”

“... Alright. I’ll teach him. But you must promise me this Mydday,” Celestia said as she faced Mydday, “Only use them on Sombra.”

“I… I cannot promise that.”

“And why not?”

“The more destructive of the two will hit not only Sombra but Mother as well.”

“You do know what you’re saying?”

“Yes.”

“And you do know-”

“Yes.”

“What do you plan to do about it?”

“I have a plan. Don’t worry.”

“I am worried and I will stay that way until Sombra is defeated.”

A tear came to Mydday’s eye. “I will not kill my Father, but I will not let Sombra escape.”

“And how-”

Mydday’s mane and tail turned blood red. He looked up at the roof and yelled: “PLEASE DON’T QUESTION MY REASONING!”

There was complete silence in the room until the guards burst through the door.

“Your Majesties, we’ll handle him,” one said.

“No,” Celestia responded.

“But, Princess Celestia-” the other started.

“Silence!” Celestia exclaimed. “He’s only pressured by the burden of fighting his Father. Please, let him be,” Celestia said calmly.

“Is that a choice, Your Majesty?” asked the first.

“Yes. Because I will let you try and take him, but if you do it would only prove how stupid you are.”

The guards looked at each other and left the room closing the door behind them.

Mydday stood in that spot for five minutes facing the ground eyes closed and breathing heavily out of anger and sorrow. His mane and tail soon returned to their white Light Matter state.

“I… I… I’m sorry…” Mydday said before bursting into tears and running out of the room.

On his way to the South Spire, Mydday past his mother, Chrysalis. He ran past her not even acknowledging she was there.

“Mydday? Mydday! MYX!!” Chrysalis exclaimed as she watched her son rush past her in sorrow and anger, sensing his emotions as he did.

This prompt her to follow after.

Mydday kept running until he was on the balcony of the south Spire where he jumped off and began to fly towards the Badlands.

“NOOO!” Chrysalis cried as she saw where he was headed. “Twilight! TWILIGHT!”

Chapter Ten: The Main Six and Chrysalis and Son Vs. Sombra and Daughter

Twilight came rushing into the South Spire’s top floor room at blinding speed.

“What is it?!” she asked fearful of Chrysalis’ answer.

“Myx… He’s headed for the Badlands,” Chrysalis said somberly before looking up at Twilight. “Wait, why are you still wearing your armour?”

“I was modifying it and wanted to test it out. Now I can run a fifteen mile dash in under five seconds.”

“That might come in handy,” Chrysalis said as she put her hoof to her chin.

“Chrysalis… What are you thinking?”

A few moments later…

“This is not what I had in mind as a field test,” Twilight thought as she carried Chrysalis on her back at blinding speed through the Everfree Forest.

”Well, Director, better this for a field test than testing it against Sombra,” Meta remarked in Twilight’s mind.

”Can it. You’re lucky I brought you along,” Twilight replied.

”Yes, Director.”

They reached the end of the Everfree Forest and arrived at the RailRoad tracks between Appleloosa and Dodge Junction. There they found Mydday resting on the South side of the tracks.

Twilight stopped on the north side of the track and let Chrysalis off her back.

“MYX!” Chrysalis yelled gaining Mydday’s attention.

“Mother… please… I don’t want to lose you.”

“How would you lose me?”

Mydday’s mane began to form a ribbon and flow toward Twilight. When the ribbon of light energy reached her, it severed in the middle. The half touching Twilight was absorbed into her. The other half went back to Mydday.

Soon, Meta appeared and began explaining why Mydday was afraid of losing Chrysalis.

Chrysalis then walked over to Mydday. “Even though I may be gone after it’s all said and done, I’ll always be here,” she said putting her hoof to where his heart was.

“Promise?” Mydday asked as a tear formed in his eye.

“Promise,”Chrysalis replied before Mydday rest his head on her neck and started to cry.

Mydday and Chrysalis sat down and soon, Mydday cried himself to sleep.

Chrysalis moved to lay Mydday down and Twilight whispered: “Why did you let him stay asleep?”

“He’s still young,” Chrysalis whispered back. “He needs as much rest as he can get… Even if he isn’t entirely a pony.”

“How do you know that our foals need rest more than anything else?” asked Twilight.

“Your kind’s youth is full of love, and if raised right, they will love their enemies… And even those that threaten their very existence.”

“And you know this, how?”

“Let’s just say, Changelings aren’t the only ones living in the Changeling Kingdom.”

~~~~~

“M-Mother… N-No…” Mydday mumbled in his sleep while tossing and turning. “MOTHER!” he yelled as he awoke from his dream.

“Calm down Myx,” Chrysalis started, “it’s only a dream.”

Meta then appeared over near Mydday. “Actually, I believe it was a review of his vision.”

“You know this, how?” asked Chrysalis.

“I had her monitoring Mydday’s biorhythms,” Twilight said in Meta’s response.

“My vision of the future has changed,” Mydday said.

“How so?” asked Twilight.

“I cannot tell you the new vision of the future,” Mydday started, “but I can tell you what we need to do to make it come true.”

“Tell us, Mydday,” Meta said.

Elsewhere…

“Father, in order for us to win, I’m going to need to know Dark Demi and Dark Ultima,” Mydnyght said.

“Fine, fine. But these aren’t spells you can just practice at any time,” Sombra replied.

“I know, Father,” Mydnyght stated. “Though, I suppose, if you want us to lose…”

“Fine, Mydnyght, here are the scrolls to learn them,” Sombra said as two scrolls materialized near Mydnyght.

“Thank you, Father,” Mydnyght said as she lifted the scrolls with a levitation spell and went deeper into the caves.

“I don’t suppose you’re hungry, eh, Flash?” Sombra said as he turned to face the orange pegasus wearing golden armour inside a dark crystal cage.

“I’ve answered that question before,” Flash said.

“Refresh my memory, what was your answer?”

“Go to Tartarus you Millenia-old-” Flash answered before getting flung across his cage.

“Bring up my age again and I’ll kill you.”

“Twilight... hurry,” Flash said before passing out.

Back where Chrysalis, Twilight, Meta, and Mydday were…”

“F-Flash?” Twilight wondered as she turned to face the badlands.

“I sense it also, Director,” Meta said as her holograph appeared near Twilight.

“How do you sense his call? You’re not but magic energy stored in a crystal,” Twilight remarked.

“I have the same biorhythms as you, Director. I am more you than you think I am.”

“Ladies, stop arguing!” Chrysalis said in anger. “Pay attention to what we need to do.”

“Alright. we get it.”

“So far the plan is to disguise Twilight as Mydday, attempt to defeat Nix’ new forme, then meet you two at the remains of the battlefield where you two will have fought Sombra,” Meta said as she looked at Chrysalis.

“Good, you’ve at least got the necessary parts down,” Chrysalis said.

“That is all they need to know to do,” Mydday said as he transformed into Twilight and Twilight use her illusion caster and voice filter on her armour to make herself look and sound like Mydday.

Again, elsewhere…

“Father, it's time for me to depart for the boarder of the Badlands and Equestria,” Mydnyght said as she began walking out of the cave with the Dark Heart.

“Just ensure you give Myx one last chance to join us before you kill him,” Sombra said with a slight laugh at the end.

“Yes, Father,” Mydnyght sighed.

At the border of the Badlands and Equestria…

“Your travels stop here,” Mydnyght said as a thunderbolt was cast down at the trio of heroes.

“Let them pass, I'll fight you myself Sister!” ‘Mydday’ said.

“Ah, dearest older Brother, come to fight me? Tisk, tisk, tisk. What say you, Mother?”

“If it's what it takes to teach you a lesson, I'll let him any day of the week.”

“Fine! Leave! Brother and I will just have to see who is better.”

“Teach her, Myx,” Chrysalis said before she and ‘Twilight’ left for the deeper barens.

“I’m going to make you beg for mercy,” Mydnyght said laughing.

After Chrysalis and ‘Twilight’ were long gone, Twilight dropped her ruse.

“What!?!” Mydnyght exclaimed in shock.

“Meta, run program ‘Brutalight Sparkiller’.”

“Affirmative.”

After Meta’s confirmation, Twilight’s armour loosed a mass of magic based weapons. Light Blades, Magi-Missile Launchers, the works. Any weapon available was present.

“Celestia, help me, I don't want to kill her.”

Back at Twilight's castle…

“Twilight?” Celestia mumbled.

“Princess Celestia, what is it?” asked a Mayor Mare dressed as a clown.

“Mayor Mare, prepare the town for an announcement.”

“As you wish.”

“Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy, I need you five to find a way to get to Twilight. She needs help.”

“Okie dokie, Loki,” Pinkie said as she began bouncing toward Twilight's lab.

“Uh, Pinkie, where do ya think you’re goin'?” asked Applejack.

“To see if M.I.L.I.S. can teleport us to Twilight, duh.”

“Like M.I.L.I.S. would be able to-”

“Teleporter online,” M.I.L.I.S. said cutting off Rainbow Dash.

“See, told ya she’d be able to help!” Pinkie said before looking back and smiling.

The five pones entered Twilight’s lab and were directed to a tele-pad.

“Location locked, activating Tele-Pad,” M.I.L.I.S. stated as a rectangular prism began to spin underneath the platform the five pones were on. “Teleporting in three, two, one”

Zwub

And with that, the five pones were teleported to Twilight’s location in a matter of mere seconds.

“Aah!” Rarity shrieked. “I wasn’t ready!”

“Uh, Rare?” Applejack said nudging Rarity.

“What?!” Rarity asked slightly angered looking at Applejack.

When Applejack didn’t respond she looked where her friend was looking: directly in front of them.

“Oh… my… GOSH!” Fluttershy stated as she watched the fight between Mydnyght and Twilight become more intense with each passing moment.

“Hey Flutters, we’re in that cool armour again!” Rainbow dash said as she noticed she and her friends were once again wearing Project Mercenary armour.

“This is M.I.L.I.S., if you can hear me, respond by touching the left side of your helmets then speaking,” M.I.L.I.S. said through the radios in the helmets.

“Rainbow here, read ya loud and clear,” Rainbow Dash said as she did what was asked.

“Pinkie here, and I’m ready to party!”

“A.J. here, ready and waiting.”

“Fluttershy here, this won’t result in any of us getting hurt will it?”

“Rarity here, you couldn’t have picked a worse place to put us. It’s a mess here!”

“Good you’re all accounted for. Twilight’s busy fighting Mydnyght right now so I’ll be the one relaying the instructions. Alright, first off, select one of Twilight’s weapons, I’ll force launch it so you may use it.”

“Ooh, ooh, that thing shooting those big balls of magic, I want it!” Pinkie said excitedly.

The M.M.L. was projected towards Pinkie and it landed right in front of her.

“Oh, I want that sword looking thing,” Rainbow dash said and soon after the same thing happened with the Light Sword.

“I want the… bolt launching thing on Twilight’s foreleg,” Applejack said and soon Twilight’s Magi-Bolt leg band came off and landed in front of her.

“That antique looking gun would be fine for me,”Rarity said followed by Twilight’s Magi-Blast Pistol landing near her.

“I’ll take the needle shooting one, um, if that’s okay with Twilight,” Fluttershy said followed by Twilight’s Magi-Needler ending up a few feet from her.

They all attached their weapons of choice to their armour and darted into the fray.

Back in Ponyville…

“Citizens of Ponyville, as you may know, tonight is Nightmare Night…” Celestia stated. “What you didn’t know is that right now, as I speak, your Princess is in the Badlands fighting to save all of Equestria.”

The crowd that was gathered gasped at this news.

“However, she is not alone. She has her friends with her, and she has Chrysalis the Changeling Queen helping to save Equestria.”

The crowd gasped once again, when they were done they started murmuring to each other.

"Please settle down. Princess Cadence has assured me that Queen Chrysalis is capable of genuine love and that she truly cares for somepony. the very pony whom we thought we were rid of years ago, King Sombra.”

Again the crowd gasped following it up with more murmurs.

“SILENCE!!” Celestia yelled much to her distaste. “She is not in love with King Sombra himself, but with the pony he used to be. She cares deeply for a pony named Somber Sombra. He once was a leading teacher at Canterlot’s School for Gifted Unicorns over a millenia ago. I don’t know how his body has lived this long.

“But that doesn’t matter. What matters is: Queen Chrysalis has shown genuine affection towards somepony, and now she want’s to help stop him from taking over Equestria.”

“Princess Celestia!” a mare’s voice called out of the crowd.

Everypony looked at the mare who called out. It was Elaina, Button Mash’s mother.

“Princess Celestia, please forgive me for interrupting but I have something important, yet confidential, to say,” Elaina said as she rushed to the front of the crowd.

“What is it?” Celestia asked after she put a sound dome over them.

“Well, I promised Twilight I wouldn’t say anything about this, but… Twilight came to my house a few weeks ago and asked for some supplies for raising foals. This wouldn’t have anything to do with that would it?”

“I’ll tell you in private later, right now I need to finish my announcement.”

“Yes, your Majesty,” Elaina said before Celestia dropped the sound dome.

“Another thing you didn’t know, is that Chrysalis and Somber have had children, much to my surprise. And right now one is helping to fight against Sombra… but the other… the other is helping Sombra. I know not what is going on in the Badlands, but I assure you, your Princess will win.”

The crowd broke out in murmurs once more. this time some comments were audible to three Princesses present:

“Do you actually think I’d believe that the Changeling Queen, an enemy of Equestria, would be able to love?! Ha!”

“Somber Sombra? King Sombra? Same deal, they’re both evil.”

“Like I would put my trust in the hooves of some Changeling.”

“Like the Changeling Queen would actually care. She’s probably working with Sombra.”

“The Princesses are liars. They’re probably just trying to prank us early. I'm leaving.”

The last comment did it, Celestia was in genuine rage. A lightning bolt struck down and hit her knocking the other two Princesses aside and out. In the blink of an eye, her coat colour had become Gold, her mane Deep Sea Blue, and her eyes were now solid black.

She then pointed to the pony who made the first comment, “You! You’d better believe Chrysalis is capable of loving or I’ll send you to Canterlot to serve a year in the Castle Dungeon!”

“Yes, your Highness!” the pony said, terrified of Celestia’s new forme.

Celestia then pointed at the pony who made the second comment, “And you! They are not the same! One is capable of loving while the other is pure Dark Magic energy!”

“Sorry, your Highness!” the pony said while trying to hide it’s face.

She pointed to the pony who made the third comment, “And you! You had better put your trust in them because without them you probably won’t have a tomorrow!”

“Yes, your Highness!” the pony said while doing the same as the last.

She pointed to the fourth commenter, “And you! How dare you accuse somepony of something without proof! I should just go ahead and send you to my Castle’s Dungeon!”

“Sorry, your Highness!” the pony said while trying not to faint in fear.

She pointed to the last commenter she heard, “And you! Don’t you dare leave this area, or I will send you to the Castle Dungeon!”

This pony just fainted before it had time to respond.

The other two Princesses soon awoke to find Celestia still threatening the crowd with serving time in Canterlot Prison.

“Sister, stop! This isn’t like you!” Luna yelled gaining Celestia’s attention.

“SILENCE!” Celestia yelled while unleashing a powerful magic bolt at Luna.

When the bolt hit Luna she was flung across the platform and through two walls of the Sugarcube Corner. By the time Celestia realized what she had done, it was too late. Her sister was bleeding heavily and was passed out on the floor of the Sugarcube Corner.

“Medic!” Celestia yelled after returning to normal and rushing to Luna’s side.

The entire crowd just stood there and did nothing.

“Help me, confound it!”

Soon Nurse Redheart and Doctor Horse were at the scene tending to Luna.

“How much power did you put in that bolt, your Highness? Doctor Horse asked as he looked at the puncture in Luna’s side where the bolt entered.

“I-I have no clue,” Celestia sighed.

“From the looks of it, she’s lucky to be alive,” Nurse Redheart said somberly.

With that news, Celestia fled the scene and began to return to the Castle in Canterlot.

Cadence ran to where Luna was soon after Celestia left, “Do you know about how long it will take for her to heal?”

“It’s hard to say, Princess. She’s an Immortal Alicorn, so she heals faster than the rest of us. But she can’t heal that fast from magic induced damage. I would give her at least a year to fully recover,” Doctor Horse said as he shook his head in dismay.

“This is not good.”

Back at The Main Six’ location…

“Pinkie, Rainbow, and Rarity, you three head behind Mydnyght,” M.I.L.I.S. said to the three pones through their radios. “Fluttershy and Applejack, you two help Twilight in attacking head on,” she then said to the remaining two. “Now activating all armour enhancements,” M.I.L.I.S. said to all of them. “Pinkie your armour contains the ‘Recursion Unit’ enhancement, use it when you think you’re going to fail. Rainbow, you armour contains the ‘Speed Unit’ enhancement, use it when you need to be faster. Rarity, your armour contains the ‘Dome Shield Unit’ enhancement, use it to protect yourself and those within range from harm. Fluttershy your armour has the ‘Healing Unit’ enhancement, use it when you are hurt. And lastly, Applejack, your armour has the ‘Strength Unit’ enhancement, use it when you need to be stronger.”

“Okie dokie, Loki,” Pinkie replied.

“Sweet,” Rainbow Dash remarked.

“That’s good,” is all the came to Rarity’s mind.

“Um, okay,” Fluttershy said nervously.

“Well, alrighty then!” was Applejack’s comment.

Deeper in the Badlands…

“Stop right there, Twilight!” Sombra boomed as a lightning bolt struck behind him.

‘Twilight’ and Chrysalis looked at Sombra, who at the time was levitating in the sky.

“You and Celestia has been thorns in my side for far too long, And now… Now I’ll rid myself of you!” He said as he summoned his scythe and lunged at ‘Twilight’.

Chrysalis pushed ‘Twilight’ aside and was struck in the mid-section by the scythe. The scythe became lodged in her mid-section and Sombra let loose of it.

“Why sacrifice yourself for this worm of a pony, Chrysalis?”

“Because… it is… our son,” Chrysalis replied weakly before Mydday dropped his ruse.

“I’ll give you one final chance, Father…,” Mydday started. “Stop this madness and we can resume our lives where we left off.”

“Not until Equestria is mine!” Sombra yelled as he summoned another scythe and lunged at Mydday.

Chrysalis again blocked the attack and ended up having the second scythe lodged in her back.

“Why do you persist on saving this incompetent foal?! You once understood darkness as well as I do. Why do you not see this world needs changed?” Sombra questioned the now almost deceased Changeling Queen.

Cough, cough, cough “-Because… he is… my son… and i… would do… anything… for him… Even… die.”

“Then die, you shall!” Sombra said as he summoned a third scythe and lodged it in Crysalis’ other side.

Chrysalis soon began coughing up blood, and Sombra was surprised to see red blood instead of the green blood he had seen her bleed before.

He used his magic to quickly remove the three scythes and when they were removed, red blood shot everywhere and Chrysalis fell to the ground.

“Don’t… forget… where… I… am… Myx,” Chrysalis said before losing consciousness.

“You’ll... always… be... here,” Mydday said as he held his front right hoof to his heart and began to cry.

“Last chance, Foal. Join me, or die,” Sombra said as he disbanded two of the three scythes and held the third at the ready.

“Celestia… forgive me,” Mydday mumbled inaudible to Sombra.

“What was that, you Foal?”

“Celestia, grant me the power I require to end this!” Mydday yelled as he looked up at the sky.

Soon his body began glowing and his mane and tail whipped around ferociously. His eyes began to glow solid white with a greenish-gold mist flowing from them. He began to levitate in the air and soon he held his forehooves above his head and a ball of Light Magic Energy began to form.

“What is this power?!” Sombra thought as he watched the ball of energy grow larger and larger.

“Forgive me… Mother,” Mydday said as he threw the ball of energy at Sombra who was only a few ‘hooves’ away from Chrysalis.

Before the ball of energy could get to Sombra and Chrysalis, Mydday teleported himself to where Chrysalis was and teleported Chrysalis to Zecora’s hut in the everfree. The ball of energy landed on top of Sombra and Mydday hurting both of them badly. The Dark Magic presence over Sombra was destroyed and he was knocked to the ground and out, while the Light Magic presence over Mydday was destroyed as well and he returned to his youthful state.

Back where the Main Six were…

“AAAHH!” Mydnyght shrieked as she fell to the ground holding her head in her hooves.

The battle was halted by this sudden action. Mydnyght was no longer able to fight, all she could do was scream, hold her head, and kick the ground in pain. Soon the Dark Magic controlling her left and she returned to her youthful self.

She was now frightened and curled up in a ball on the ground. Twilight wandered closer but Nix just backed away.The Main Six surrounded her and managed to get her. Twilight then teleported the group to her castle. when they arrived the clock struck three.

“Okay girls, it’s three in the morning. You five need to rest, I have some business to tend to,” Twilight said before she teleported back to the Badlands.

Chapter Eleven: Somber Or Sombra?

When Twilight arrived where the battle had taken place between Chrysalis, Mydday, and Sombra, she found a grey unicorn stallion, who had a black mane and tail, lying next to Myx. She then cast an awakening spell on the unicorn.

Yawn “-Where am I? Wait, who are you?” he asked.

Twilight rushed him and pinned him to the ground. “I’m Princess Twilight, and I’ll be the one asking the questions here,” she said as a small blade extended from her armour’s right forehoof piece.

“P-p-please, d-don’t hurt me!” the unicorn begged.

“What’s your name?” Twilight asked as she pulled the blade back away from him a bit.

“M-my name’s S-Sombra, S-Somber S-Sombra,” he replied nervously.

“What happened to Chrysalis?”

“Something happened to Chrysalis!” Somber said as he tried to push Twilight off to no avail.

Twilight brought the blade closer to him and he stopped struggling. “Yes, something happened to her. I was supposed to meet her here and instead I find you and Myx both hurt. And I didn’t even know who you were until you said your name, King Sombra!”

“P-please, I’m not him!” Somber pleaded.

“Prove it!”

Somber looked to his left and saw Myx on the ground hurt badly. “Allow me one last moment with my son before you kill me,” Somber said as a tear formed in his eye.

“Good enough proof for me,” Twilight said, retracting the blade into her armour.

Somber turned his attention back to Twilight who then got off him and went over to Myx. “What are you going to do to us?” he asked.

“I’m going to take you two back to my castle and then look for Chrysalis.”

“P-please… I want to help find her, too,” he said as he put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder.

“No, I don’t entirely trust you yet so you’re not coming with me to find Chrysalis.”

“I know a Changeling locator spell, it can help find her.”

“And where did you learn such a spell?”

“From from the Queen of Changelings of course,” Somber said.

“I’m not even gonna ask…”

“I think the answer to you unasked question is: ‘So I know where she is if she needs help.’”

“Yeah, that’d be the appropriate answer.”

“So, may I come with?”

“Alright, but I still don’t trust you,” Twilight said before teleporting Myx to her castle. “Alright how does this spell work?”

“I can’t tell you, I promised Chrysalis I wouldn’t tell anypony.”

“Somber, Don’t press your luck,” Twilight said as she extended the blade from her armour again.

“If you're threatening me, it won’t work when you’re so-”

Thud

“T’was that?” Twilight asked after rushing Somber and pinning him to the ground again.

“I-I still won’t tell you.”

Twilight then began slowly decreasing the distance between the tip of the blade and Somber’s neck.

“No! I promised Chrysalis the last time I remember seeing her and I intend to keep that promise!” Somer said as he tried to use his magic to get Twilight off, to no avail.

“Did… did you seriously just try to use magic to get me off you?” Twilight asked. “Alright you deserve this,” she said before retracting her blade, punching him in the head and knocking him out.

It was several hours before Somber regained consciousness, and when he did he found himself tied to a large boulder.

“T-Twilight? TWILIGHT, WHERE ARE YOU!”

There was no reply. He tried using his magic to free himself of the bonds but was unable to due to the fact he was wearing an Anti-Magic Charm around his neck.

“Haha. Okay,Twilight, you got me. Now can you please let me go?”

“Not until you teach me the spell.” Twilight said as she came out from behind a different boulder.

“I promised Chrysalis I wouldn’t tell anypony. Now, let ME GO!” he said as his eyes flared a purple mist. “Twilight... Don’t make me angry… You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”

“I knew it! You’re still King Sombra!”

“Not… at… this… MOMENT!” Somber said trying not to lose control of his anger. “TWILIGHT, RUN!” he said as he opened his eyes revealing dragon-like pupils emitting a purple mist.

“Aw, buck.” Twilight said as she began running away.

“RAAAAAAAAHHHH!” Somber yelled as a pillar of darkness surrounded him.

“WHERE ARE YOU, YOU PATHETIC MARE?!?” Sombra yelled as he broke the bonds holding him to the boulder with his brute strength. “I SWEAR I’LL FIND YOU!” he yelled again while breaking the Anti-Magic Charm off his neck. “AND THEN I’LL KILL YOU!” he said while summoning a scythe.

“Oh, buck! Meta, warn the others. We may have to face Sombra after all,” Twilight whispered as she held her hoof to her helmet.

In Canterlot Castle…

“Yes, and make sure they are-” Celestia said before gasping and turning to face the Badlands.

“What is it, your Majesty?” the Guard Captain asked.

“Put the Kingdom on lockdown,” Celestia started, “then gather the Consul Of Magic. You have your orders, now go!”

“Yes, Ma’am!” the soldier saluted before heading out the door.

“I can only hope we can do this in time,” Celestia said to herself aloud.

“You can only hope you do what in time Princess?” asked a mare’s voice from behind Celestia.

“Oh Cadence I didn’t… I mean, how nice to see you.” she said as she turned around and smiled falsely.

“Princess Celestia, the false smile routine doesn’t work with another princess.”

“Alright,” Celestia said as her smile lost it’s form and became a frown. “Cadence I need you and Shining to put a Dome Shield spell around the Castle. Make sure nopony is able to get into the castle without you knowing about it.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Cadence said as she headed out Celestia’s bedroom doors.

In Ponyville…

“I can’t believe she actually did that to her own sister,” Rarity said as she looked off the balcony at the city below.

“She was angry and her head wasn’t clear. I’m not going to blame her for it,” Fluttershy said as she turned toward Rarity’s direction.

“Well I will! If it had been me, I wouldn’t have hurt my sister!”

“Rarity, I know ya like you’re sis and all, but just think. Are ya really sure ya wouldn’t’a done that if you were the Princess?” Applejack questioned.

“Well… Okay, maybe I would have gotten mad. But that doesn’t mean I would have struck anypony who interrupted me with a lightning bolt!”

Applejack looked at Rarity with a ”Really?” expression on her face.

“Okay, yes, maybe I would have. But I’m sure I wouldn’t mean to.”

“Well, the good part about this is, Mr. and Mrs. Cake are planning on adding a new patio to the Sugarcube Corner!” Pinkie said cheerfully with a smile.

“Pinkie, not right now,” Applejack said as she took off her hat and set it on the MIniature Cutie Map table in Twilight’s room. “It’s not that we’re not happy about it, Pinkie, it’s just… now ain’t the time to bring that up.”

“Aww, but I was about to tell you about the special candy I made!”

“Pinkie, now’s not th’- Wait, what kind of special candy?”

“Ask Zecora, she helped me make it. All I know is it’s supposed to taste super yummy and make you really powerful.”

“And how long have you had this candy?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Oh, just since the Changeling attack in Canterlot,” Pinkie replied with a smile.

“Come on girls we’re headin’ for Zecora’s hut!” Applejack called out as she picked her hat up off the table, put it on, and began to run out the bedroom door.

A few moments later...

“WARNING! URGENT MESSAGE INBOUND!” M.I.L.I.S. said as the five pones made it to the base floor of the castle.

“What is it, M.I.L.I.S.?” Rainbow Dash asked after coming to a halt mid-flight.

“Hello, this is Meta. Twilight agitated Somber and he became Sombra again. We need your help now! We can’t fight him without you. Get to the teleporter in Twilight’s lab. I’ve relayed co-ordinates to M.I.L.I.S. so she can teleport you to a safe distance away from Sombra, hopefully. As for armour, it will be on you when you arrive. It will also be the same armour you used to battle Mydnyght Nixus. Meta, out.”

“Great, now we’ll never now how my candy tastes,” Pinkie said sadly.

“Maybe we will… M.I.L.I.S., can you chain teleport?” Rarity asked the computer system.

“Rarity, what are you thinkin’?” Applejack asked.

“Affirmative, though it is very experimental and may have unwanted side-effects.”

“What if just one of us went?”

"The amount of possible side effects would minimize to five percent of the total amount of possible side-effects of two travelers.”

“M.I.L.I.S., set up a teleportation chain in this order: Zecora’s hut, Ponyville Hospital: Princess Luna’s room, and Twilight’s Castle.”

“Teleportation chain ready.”

“Rare?” Applejack wondered aloud.

“Back in a few minutes girls!” Rarity said as she stepped on the teleporter and disappeared.

Zecora’s hut…

Vwoosh

“Zecora, where is Pinkie’s special candy?”

“Let me see, I put it on shelf number three.”

“Thank you, I’ll let you know how good it tastes later, I have to run right now,” said Rarity after nabbing the candy and beginning to head for the portal

“Farewell, Rarity. It’s delicious, I hope you’ll see.”

Vwoosh

“I’m not so glad she did not see you. I guess I’ll have to heal you with my brew.”

“D-don’t… bother… I don't… th-think I’ll… make it,” Chrysalis said as she tried to stand to no avail.

“Please you must rest, it is only for the best.”

“Z-Zecora… p-please… stop… rhyming… just… until… I’m asleep.”

“I will respect such a wish. Here, this should null the pain,” Zecora said as she brought a spoon full of blue liquid over to Chrysalis who then drank it.

Within seconds Chrysalis fell asleep.

“You needed to rest… as I said… It was for the best, hahaha,” Zecora said as she became shrouded in the darkness of her shadow and disappeared with it.

In a realm showing Chrysalis her past…

“W-why am I here again?” Chrysalis wondered aloud.

“You’re here because you died of a lethal poison whose ingredients are known only to the Zebras,” Celestia said as she appeared behind Chrysalis

“So Zecora… killed me?” Chrysalis asked as she turned to face the Princess.

“More or less, yes.”

“Am I trapped here this time or-”

“No you not trapped… But you’re not leaving this realm for a long while.”

“Why not?”

“I cannot give you another chance to correct your mistake until the new year.”

“And why?”

“Because I can only revive somepony once a year.”

“Why is your power so limited?”

“It’s not limited so much as I am limited. I may be over three thousand years old, but that does not mean my magic is without limit while I am limited in physical means.”

“So… basically if you’re limited physically-”

“I’m limited to the same extent magically as well, yes,”she said as she lowered her head.

“Wait. I remember something,” Chrysalis said as she held her hoof to her temple. “There was something off about Zecora… I can’t seem to recall what it was though.”

A vision of Chrysalis’ past appeared right behind her. In it there was Rarity, Zecora, and herself, they were in Zecora’s hut. She played the memory over and over until she figured out what it was.

“Look at Zecora’s shadow,” Chrysalis said pointing to the shadow which had eyes and a horn contradictory to Zecora’s form.

“No this cannot be!” Celestia exclaimed. “Sombra lives on in Zecora and is most likely going to try to reunite with Somber.”

“Oh, buck,” is all that came to Chrysalis mind.

In Ponyville Hospital

(After Rarity left Zecora’s Hut and before Zecora poisoned Chrysalis) ...

Vwoosh

“Doctor Horse, get Princess Luna to eat a piece of this candy,” Rarity said as she came out of the Warp Ring.

“What is it?”

“Don’t ask, just get her to eat some. I have to leave,” she said before turning around and heading for the Warp Ring.

Vwoosh

At Twilight’s Castle…

Vwoosh

“And I’m back,” Rarity said as she reappeared in Twilight’s castle in front of her friends

“So now what?” asked Applejack.

“Now… we fight for tomorrow!” Rainbow Dash said as she jumped up and held a hoof above her head.

“Alright! Let’s get’em!” Applejack said as she waved her hat in the air and jumped on the teleporter. “Who’s with me?”

“We all are,” Fluttershy said as she spread her right hoof out pointing to Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash.

“IT’S PARTY TIIIMMMEE!” Pinkie yelled as she, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash lept onto the teleporter.

In the Badlands…

When the other Elements of Harmony arrived, Twilight was already fighting Sombra.

“Sombra, yield this meaningless fight!” Twilight yelled.

“Not until you’re finished, you putrid foal!” Sombra replied swinging his scythe at Twilight.

The others were watching from behind a boulder when they each received a message from Meta.

“Why aren't you helping us!?!” she yelled over their radios.

“Because we don't want hurt?” Rainbow Dash wonder aloud.

“You might as well face it, you're going to get hurt.”

“Fine, we're on our way,” Rainbow Dash groaned.

“Sombra, where is Flash Sentry!?!” Twilight yelled while evading a dark crystal stalactite that was falling out of a void rift above her.

“Flash is dead!” he yelled back.

Twilight froze for a second.

“Meta, run program ‘Death Bot Annihilator’,” Twilight said barely audible.

“Director, I don't -”

“Run the bucking program, Meta!” Twilight yelled.

“Yes…, Director,” Meta said somberly.

Twilight's suit began to spark with magical energy. Soon, she was practically a walking “Electo-pone”.

“Girls, stay back. It's personal now,” is all the warning Twilight gave to her friends.

“Even you lack purity in your heart. How amusing,” Sombra laughed.

Next thing anypony knows, Twilight's left foreleg is sticking through Sombra’s neck still pulsing with electricity.

“Die... you millennia old beast of a stallion,” Twilight said before removing her foreleg from Sombra's neck.

Vines of darkness grew in the disintegrated area in Sombra's neck, healing him well enough to laugh at Twilight's effort to end his existence.

“So… much… hatred!” Sombra yelled as he swung his scythe at Twilight.

Twilight countered his scythe with her Light Blade, barely having the scythe miss her.

“I can taste your wrath,” -he swung again and was blocked- “and it is delicious.”

Suddenly, Zecora appeared behind Somber.

“Finally, we can be together again,” Zecora said as her eyes fared a purple mist.

Zecora’s shadow grew upward from the ground and then shrouded around Sombra. This was succeeded by Zecora falling to the ground unconscious.

“RAAAAAHHH!” Sombra yelled as the darkness was absorbed into him. “Now it is an even fight!” Sombra said with reverberations in his voice.

“Sweet Celestia,” Twilight mumbled.

Back in Twilight's castle...

“Myx, wake up,” Celestia said and continued to repeat until the Changeling hybrid woke up.

Yawn “-Princess Celestia!” youngling said as he hugged the princess, he then soon realized what he was doing and let go of her. “S-sorry, y-your Majesty.”

“It's quite alright, but on to the reason we woke you. Your father has become Sombra again.”

“N-no… I-I got rid of him… It can't be true…”

“I'm sorry, but it is… we need you to return to your Light Oversoul form to truly defeat him.”

“I-I’ll try… one… last… time.”

“Good, and your sister is going with you.”

“She is? How? She possessed the power of the Dark Heart. How will that be helpful?”

“I will be helpful in my new form,” said a voice like Mydnyght Nixus only without the reverberations in her voice.

Myx turned around to see his sister in a different Oversoul form.

She was creame coloured with crimson wings and eyes; she was as tall as her other Oversoul form; her mane and tail were light violet with a crimson streak down the middle.

“S-sister?” He wondered.

All she did was smile and nod.

“Myx, are you ready?” Celestia asked calmly.

Myx nod and followed Celestia to the Light Heart. He placed his hoof on it one last time.

”I swear, this will be the last time I have this form,” Myx thought to himself before returning to his Light Oversoul form.

“M.I.L.I.S., teleport these two to the fight in the Badlands.”

“Affirmative, teleporting in ten seconds.”

“One last thing you two. Sombra was controlling Zecora and forced her to dispatch your mother. I'm sorry, but I had to tell you.”

Before they could reply they were teleported to the Badlands.

When they arrived Myxer whispered something in Nixus’ ear. She nod and they began to fly the rest the way to the fight.

“Twilight, you and your friends must leave,” Myxer said loudly.

“No, he needs to pay!” she yelled back.

Myxer looked at Nixus and they both nod at each other. Before Twilight could make her next attack, she, her friends and Zecora were in her castle.

“Buck you, Myxer,” said Twilight after realizing where she was.

“Myxer, you go left, I’ll go right.”

Myxer nod and they moved into position above Sombra. They both raised their forelegs above their heads and soon an energy ball appeared above each of them. Soon the two balls of energy joined above Sombra and continued to grow larger.

Sombra lept up and tried to cut either of them but failed to leap high enough.

“For our mother!” they yelled simultaneously.

They threw the ball of energy directly on Sombra causing massive destruction and leaving only a gray Unicorn with a black mane and tail in a massive crater.

They flwew down, touched the Unicorn, and teleported to Twilight's castle.

When they arrived Twilight was furious at them.

“Why in Tartarus did you bucking do that!?! I almost had him!”

“We did it to protect our father!” they yelled in their defense as they lift Somber onto a table in Twilight's lab.

“And you expect me to forgive you! He killed Flash!”

“No he didn't,” Celestia said as she entered the room. “I would have told them to tell you he didn't die had I known Sombra was using him to put you in a fury.”

“Then…-”

“Yes, he’s still alive. Where, I don't know.”

Twilight turned her Light Blade on and kept at the table Somber was on in an attempt to kill him only to be repelled by a shield put up by Myxer and Nixus.

“Buck you! Buck you to Tartarus!”

“Twilight, continue this behaviour and I will have no choice but to send you to Tartarus until you settle down!” Celestia boomed.

With that Twilight stormed off and out the room.

Chapter Twelve: All Are Created Equal

After Twilight made her way to her room, she burst the door open and yelled: “M.I.L.I.S.! Prepare a video.”

“Recording.”

“Hey guys, Twilight here. I've had enough of Sombra's lies. I'm leaving to find Flash. If I'm needed, contact me through M.I.L.I.S., otherwise, don't bucking bother me. Hopefully I'll find him, and if I don't… let's just say Somber isn't seeing the light of another day. Here's hoping I find him. Farewell.”

“Is that all, Director?”

“Yes, end the recording.”

“Recording ended.”

“Play it back in the lab after half an hour. I should be far enough away by then,” Twilight said as she jumped off the balcony and began flying to the Badlands.

In Twilight's lab…

“I can't believe Twilight made all this technology,” Celestia said aloud.

“Well, she was your smartest student,” Luna said as she entered the lab.

“Sister!” Celestia called as she ran towards Luna, hugging her when she arrived by her side.

“It's good to see you too,” Luna smiled.

“Wait a second, you're not supposed to be better for at least a year, how are you well now?”

“You won't believe me, but it was a small piece of candy that Rarity gave to Doctor Horse for me to eat.”

“Rarity? Usually it's Pinkie that plays around with candy all day long.”

“It was my candy! And by the way, how did it taste?!?” Pinkie exclaimed as she popped up out of nowhere.

“Aah!” the two Alicorns exclaimed with the sudden appearance of a friend.

“Uh, it was sweet, and a bit salty too. It tasted like the ice cream made with sea salt, just not cold,” Luna replied.

“Excuse me, I have a message from Twilight,” M.I.L.I.S. said as she made a screen come out from inside a wall.

“Hey guys, Twilight here. I've had enough of Sombra's lies. I'm leaving to find Flash. If I'm needed, contact me through M.I.L.I.S. Otherwise, don't bucking bother me. Hopefully I'll find him, and if I don't… let's just say Somber isn't seeing the light of another day. Here's hoping I find him. Farewell.”

“There's only one thing I fear more than the power of darkness,” Celestia started, “and this is it.”

“What?” Luna asked with deep concern.

“An Alicorn when enraged,” Celestia stated flatly.

In the North tower of Twilight's Castle…

“Light Heart, we ask of you one wish in exchange for our power,”Myxer and Nixus said simultaneously.

The Light Heart began to glow and spin.

“We wish for our mother… to return to life,” Myxer and Nixus finished.

With that a pillar of light surrounded the Light Heart, Myxer, and Nixus. It drained the power of their Oversoul forms and returned them to their young forms. Then took that power and generated a figure in front of them.

“Why? Why would you sacrifice your most powerful forms to have me?” the glowing figure asked.

“Because, we love you more than our power,” the twins said.

“Then I think the Light Heart will grant that wish.”

Soon the glowing figure began to darken. And it began to take on physical properties.

Chrysalis had returned but was different in appearance. She had a crimson shell on her back; crimson wings, mane, tail, and eyes; and a creame coat.

“I'm proud of you two, you've learned more than I when it comes to caring,” Chrysalis said after taking complete form.

The twins then rushed and nuzzled their mother. She hugged them back as she was feeling a little warm and fuzzy on the inside.

“Is this what it feels like to care?” she mumbled.

“Yes it is, Chrysalis,” Celestia said as she entered the room along side Somber.

“S-Somber…” Chrysalis stated as she ran and hugged her husband.

Somber froze for a second before returning her sentiment. “It's been too long, my love.”

Later, in Twilight’s Laboratory…

“Somber, do you have access to the memories you made as Sombra?” Celestia asked.

A tear came to Somber's eye and he grit his teeth. “Saddly, yes. Though, I wish I could forget all the harm and grief I caused the Kingdoms.”

“In this moment it’s a good thing. You can tell M.I.L.I.S. where Flash Sentry is and she can relay the directions to Twi-”

“Twilight here, Somber you’d best thank your lucky star that I found Flash. To somewhat quote a famous singer: ‘We’re comin’ home. We’re comin’ home. Tell the girls that we’re comin’ home. Let the rain, wash away, all the tears of yesterday.’ Anyway, M.I.L.I.S., teleport us home!”

“Affirmative,” M.I.L.I.S. said before teleporting Flash Sentry and Twilight to the castle Laboratory.

“P-p-please, Princess Twilight Sparkle, forgive me for the things I did as Sombra,” Somber said as he bowed as deeply as he could.

“Silence, or I won’t forgive you.”

“Twilight!” Celestia called loudly.

“Princess Celestia, right now I still can’t forgive him. Flash is in critical condition and I! need to heal him or he just might die,” Twilight said as she set the unconsious, bleeding, orange Pegasus stallion Guard Captain on a table in the lab. “M.I.L.I.S., set up an energy line from console three-four-three directly to my suit. Meta, prepare the healing unit for a full power heal beam.”

“Affirmative,” the two said simultaneously.

“I hope this works,” Twilight said as an antenna arose out of a compartment in a nearby computer terminal and began emitting an electric energy that went straight to Twilight’s armour.

She then pointed her right fore hoof at Flash and a green beam of energy that began healing his wounds.

Flash soon woke up to find himself in the lab surrounded by: Celesia, Luna, Cadance, Shining, Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Somber, Chrysalis, Myx, Nix, and Zecora.

“It seems his wounds did mend, but him, on a mission, I would not send.”

“Zecora, please, we’ve known you a long time, and we get that you enjoy rhyming, but please, pretty please, don’t rhyme on friendly visits.”

“Yes, Princess Twilight,” Zecora said as she hung her head.

“Ya’ know, I’m beginnin’ ta git a bit worried,” Applejack said as if something was nagging at her mind.

“What is it, Applejack?” Twilight asked beginning to get worried herself.

“Well, through all these events, we ain’t seen hide nor hair of Discord. I’d ‘a thought he’d be at least around ta’ see it all happen,” Applejack said.

“Oh, Honest Applejack, I have been watching you this whole time,” Discord’s voice echoed throughout the castle.

“Discord!” Celestia said the exact way she did when he returned from his first imprisonment in stone.

“Show yourself coward!” Luna yelled.

“P-lease, I’m no coward. I may be a bit batty, but i’m no coward,” he said before a cloud of smoke appeared in front of the ponies.

When the smoke dissipated, Discord was left standing in front of them eating a theater box of popcorn.

“You do know that this whole adventure you were on was quite the show, don’t you?”

“Discord, why do you always sit on the sidelines and watch everything go wrong?” Cadance asked with a flat tone.

“Because it’s fun. Now, anypony wanna play ‘Pin-The-Tails-On-The-Royals’?” he asked while pulling Celesia’s, Luna’s, Cadance’, Shining’s, Twilight’s, Somber’s, Chrysalis’, Myx’, and Nix’ tails out from behind his back.

All nine Royal ponies looked back at where their tails were supposed to be to see they were missing.

“Discord, enough games. Why didn’t you offer your help to the Elements of Harmony and the Hybrid Twins?” Celestia asked as kindly as she could at the moment.

“Because, they had the whole situation under control from the start,” Discord said smiling and juggleing the tails in the air.

“Okay, we’d like our tails back, um, please?” the twins asked.

“Here you two go,” Discord said as he snapped and the twins tails were put back onto the correct twin.

“What about the other Royals?” Nix asked as she put on a small sad face and her yes grew real big.

“Aw, such a cute face how could I not do what you ask,” Discord said as he snapped once more putting Twilight’s tail on Shining, Shining’s tail on Cadance, Cadance’ tail on Luna, Luna’s tail on Celestia, Celestia’s tail on Twilight, and Somber and Chrysalis had each other's tail.

“Correctly, please?” Nix asked as her eyes got bigger and her face looked sadder.

“Oh, alright,” Discord said agitated as he snapped again correcting the tails’ placement. “There my dear, are you satisfied?” he asked angrily.

“Thanks, Mr. Discord!” she said before trying to rush up and hug him only to be stopped by an invisible barrier he put between them.

“I don’t hug foals!”

“Please?” she asked with the previously mentioned look on her face again. “Just once, friend?”

“I’m... your… friend?’

“Yes, Mr. Discord, you’re my friend and I’d like to show you you’re my friend by giving you a hug. It’s what friends do... isn’t it?”

“Oh, well, yes, but… Okay, c'mere you silly filly!” Discord said before making the barrier disappear, bending down, and letting the foal rush up and hug him.

“Mr. Discord, can I be your friend too?” Myx asked.

“Sure, the more friends there are, the stronger Equestria’s magic becomes!” Discord rang out almost singingly.

“Thanks!” Myx said as he rushed up and joined his sister in hugging Discord.

“Well it seems like this chapter in each of our lives is complete. Perhaps we can all live in harmony together,” Celestia stated confidently. “Chrysalis, are you willing to learn to live in peace with ponies?”

“I’m willing to give it a try, Princess Celestia,” Chrysalis replied.

“Then I will prepare the kingdoms for an announcement,” Celestia said before leaving the room.

“Mr. Discord, is it true there’s such thing as Chaos Water?” Myx asked referring to the ingredient used in the broth Zecora gave them.

“Yes there is, and such water can only be found in the Unstable Zone just outside of Equestria.”

“What’s so special about it?” Nix asked.

“Well for starters, if you put soap in it and then dip a clean dish in the mix it will make the dish dirty.”

“Ha ha, that’s funny, Mr. Discord,” Myx laughed.

“What else can it do?’ Nix asked.

“Tell you what, let’s go take a seat in the library and I’ll tell you everything Chaos Water can do. Sound fair?’

“Sure!” the twins said as they darted off for the library with Discord following suit.

“Somber, Chrysalis, what gave you the inspiration to name your children he way they are?” Luna asked curiously.

“Well I suggested Myx, for our son, after a black Unicorn stallion, with a crimson mane and tail, that was my friend before...,” Somber said as he hung his head and tears came to his eyes.

Chrysalis came closer and tried to comfort her husband. “And I suggested Nix with a modern spelling of the name of a pony my ancestors lost a fight to centuries ago. Nyx Of The Night I do believe was her name.”

“Your ancestors fought Nyx Of The Night?!?” Cadance and Twilight said simultaniously.

“Why, yes. Is there something-”

“Nyx Of The Night was just a mares tale! We didn’t know she actually existed!” Twilight said in astonishment.

“Twilight, Cadance,” Luna began, “if either you had asked Celestia, she most likely would have told you she existed.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think about it,” Cadance said in her defence.

“Nor I,” Twilight said following suit.

“Anyway, next time you want to know about somepony from centuries or millennia ago, ask either me or Celestia, we may turn up an answer for you.”

“Alright, everypony, it’s time for us to make an announcement,” Celestia called from the Laboratory door. “By the way, where are the foals and Discord?”

“Right here,” Discord said after appearing with the foals behind Celestia in a small cloud of smoke.

“Aah! Discord, don’t sneak up on me like that!” Celestia scolded earning a laugh from the trio.

“Oh, boo. Here will these make up for the scare?” Discord said before snapping and making a bouquet of crimson and black petalled flowers.

The black petals formed an equilateral triangle underneath the crimson petals which did the same only at a thirty degree rotation from the black petals as not to cover them completely.

“They’re lovely,” Celestia said as she used her magic to take the flowers gently from Discord’s paw. “Grow them yourself?”

“More or less.”

“What exactly are they?” Celestia asked with sudden concern.

“They are Eternas. The longest living flower know to Draconequus kind.”

“Is there something I must know about them?”

“Nope, just water and sun like you would a potted dandelion and they’ll be just peachy.”

“Alright, everypony,-”

“Ahem.”

“-and Draconequus, it’s time to head to the Town Hall. Chrysalis, I advise you and your twins disguise yourselves to make it to the Town Hall unnoticed,” Celestia stated as she turned around and began walking to the door of the castle followed soon thereafter by everypony-

“Ahem.”

-and Draconequus, else.

“Thank you, narrator. You finally added a moment I could actually break the fourth wall.”

You earned it for being kind and hugging the foals. I know that that is one thing you would not do unless you received a reward.

“Anyway, you can continue on with the adventure now.”

They soon arrived at the Town Hall and Celestia began her announcement:

“Citizens of Ponyville and representatives of other cities. For ages we have fought against many villains, from our worst nightmare, Nightmare Moon, to the physics defying magic of Discord, from the swarms of Changelings at Canterlot, to the Mind Controlling Magic of Sombra, and from the abduction and abuse of the Element of Magic from Sunset Shimmer, one of my former prodiges, to the most recent destruction from Tirek the Centaur. Each foe we have faced only made our friendships stronger.

“I’ve come before you today to remind you that we know evil can be reformed. As Discord is proof we all know this to be true. Today it is with great pleasure I announce that two more of Equestria’s ‘Super Villains’ have been reformed.

The crowd began to chatter amongst itself and there were a few audible boo’s. None the less Celestia was determined to finish her announcement.

“Today I announce that all equines are created equal. The two that have been reformed are: Somber formerly known as King Sombra and Chrysalis formerly know as Queen Chrysalis of the Changelings.”

The crow began making noise of both cheer and uproar. Celestia summoned a bolt of lightning from her horn to the sky gaining everypony’s attention.

“Only three Changelings are to be treated like normal ponies, they are Chrysalis, her son Myx, and his twin sister Nix,” Celestia said as the three Changelings dropped their ruses.

“Princess Celestia, Great Scoop from the Trottingham Post, are you sure you’re doing the right thing by letting two ‘former’ Equestra villains join society as normal ponies without at least keeping watch on them?” a Unicorn stallion asked as he held a tape recorder close to the Princess.

“I never said they wouldn’t have an eye kept on them. Now no more foalish questions!” Celestia said as she stomped the ground with both her forehooves.

“Princess Celestia, Modern Scoops of the Ponyville Journal Logic Breaks Column, and I-”

“No I’ll not answer any of your questions. Next.”

“Princess Celestia, Braeburn of Appleoosa, I’m not so sure you should just let two ‘supposedly reformed’ Equestria Villains just join society and make their homes in our cities?”

“Braeburn, you’re an Apple Family member, am I correct?”

“Yes, Ma’am- I mean, your Majesty.”

“It's quite alright. Anyway, listen to Applejack after this question and answer session is done and I'm sure she'll do her best to tell you why I'm doing this.”

“Yes, your Majesty,” he said as he hung his head.

“One final question is all we have time for.”

“Princess Celestia, Mayor Mare from Ponyville, where are they going to stay?”

“I’ll house them until they are able to afford their own housing,” Twilight said without hesitation almost immediately regretting her comment.

“Th-thank you Princess Twilight,” Somber said as he, Chrysalis, Myx, and Nix bowed before her in gratitude.

“Good idea, Twilight,” Celestia said smiling. “Them living with you will certainly prove beneficial for them as they can ask you for advice on making friends around town.”

“Glad I could help,” Twilight said with a fake smile.

“Alright everypony-”

“Ahem.”

“-and Draconequus,” Celestia continued, “this Town Hall meeting is adjourned.”

The crowd began mumbling as it left the building, yet nary a single comment could be overheard.

“Twilight, is there some reason you don't want these four staying at your castle?” Celestia asked as she turned to face her former student.

“Well, Chrysalis almost took over Canterlot and killed my brother on his wedding day, Sombra almost killed us… thrice, Chrysalis is usually just saying what she does just to get what she wants, and-”

“Twilight, I’m not one to dwell on the past, nor should you be,” Celestia said shaking her head in dismay.

“Oh, alright. But at first sign of revolt, their on their own.”

Chapter Thirteen: 'Enter: Control'

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter Fourteen: The Origin of Magic and The foal of The Origin

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter One: A Change In Life

The clock struck twelve, Twilight jolted up from a nightmare. It was her battle with King Sombra, except this time Queen Chrysalis was with him. They were guarding something, she couldn't quite tell, but it looked like a filly and a colt. They both had red horns atop black foreheads with gray muzzles, like King Sombra. But had eyes, wings, and sharp teeth like Queen Chrysalis. They both had different color manes and tails. The colt had a black and crimson mane and tail, while the filly's were dark violet. This wasn't the first time this was her dream. In fact this was the third time this week, each time more clear than the previous.

Twilight got up out of bed and started to go for a walk around the palace when Spike woke-up. When Twilight noticed Spike was awake she went to tuck him in to make him fall asleep again. But Spike was too curious as to why Twilight was awake. When Twilight told Spike about her dream he told her he also had a dream relevant to hers. Spike's dream also had two young foals, but they were trotting around the palace. Both had gray muzzles, red horns, solid blue eyes, sharp teeth, and changeling-like wings. One had a black and crimson mane and tail, while the other's were dark violet. Twilight told him not to worry that it was most likely a dream about the next Nightmare Night celebration.

Soon after Spike fell asleep again, Twilight heard a knock at the palace door. When Twilight arrived, there were two baskets setting on the top of the stairs. Twilight looked in each and saw the foals from the dreams she and Spike had. There was also a note setting on the ground between the baskets and read it to herself.

To the Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle,

These are Myx and Nix. Myx is the colt, and Nix is the filly. I need you to care for them. But beware, they are half Changeling and need special care. Please teach the about love and friendship, for I cannot. Being the Changeling Queen, I cannot stoop to such a level as to care in front of the other Changelings. And since you are the “Princess of Friendship,” I considered you first. Please, for their sake, guide them.

Sincerely,

Queen Chrysalis

"This has got to be a joke," Twilight thought to herself.

Twilight looked around to see if this was a joke put up by some young foals, but her search yielded no results. Twilight soon tried an area scan spell, but, as her horn began glowing Myx began crying causing her to lose concentration. When the spell failed, Twilight quickly took the two foals inside to avoid waking anyone. When Twilight got inside she started trying to remember what she did when she helped Mr. and Mrs. Cake with Pound and Pumpkin. That way she could calm down Myx.

Twilight was searching for something to amuse Myx, when she found a doll of a Changeling hanging out of Nix’ basket. Twilight tried to take it, but when she did Nix woke-up and started crying. When Twilight set it back down Nix quit crying and started hugging the doll. Twilight tried to clone the doll using a materia cloning spell, but she couldn't concentrate well enough. When Twilight turned around to go look for her old doll, “Ms. Smarty Pants,” when she bumped into Spike.

"Hey, Twilight, what's all the noise about?" Spike asked yawning.

"Oh, nothing!" Twilight replied nervously. "Just a little, um, spell practice."

“You call a spell that imitates a foal crying practice?" Spike said, a little agitated. "It's Twelve-Thirty in the morning! We should be in bed right n-. Um, Twilight?”

“Yes, Spike?” She asked nervously.

“Why is there a foal hiding behind your leg?” Spike asked a little scared.

“What!?!” Twilight said as she looked down to see Nix and her doll holding on to her leg.

Nix was hiding as if she were afraid of Spike.

“Um, I... I can explain!” Twilight said, trying calm Spike.

“Please do,” Spike said.

Twilight lifted Myx out of his basket and set him onto the floor. Myx stopped crying and then tried to scoot over near Spike. Spike picked up Myx and cradled him in his arms. Spike started to rock Myx gently, who yawned as if he were tired.

“These are the foals from my dream," Spike said.

"Yes they are, Spike," Twilight said. "Be careful not to freak out when I tell you why they're here."

"What are their names?" Spike asked.

“The one in your arms is named Myx," Twilight said, "while the one near me is named Nix. Now, will you please focus?”

“Funny names," Spike said. "Whose are they?”

“Don't drop Myx when I say this," Twilight said, "but I think they're Queen Chrysalis' children.”

“What!” Spike said while dropping Myx, causing Twilight to catch him before he hit the floor.

Once caught, Myx started to cry again. Twilight nuzzled against him to calm his crying.

“I said don't drop Myx, he's still just a foal!" Twilight said, scolding Spike for dropping him. "Next time he might not be so lucky!”

“I'm sorry, Twilight," Spike said apologetically. "It’s just, that would mean that they are part Changeling!”

“Yes, that's true," Twilight said. "But I think that's why they're here.”

“What do you mean?” Spike asked with extreme curiosity.

“I was given them to look after," Twilight replied, "I think."

“Um, okay," Spike said. "Do you need help right now?”

“Yes, actually I do," Twilight said. "Do you think you could keep Myx quiet long enough for me to get them back to sleep.?”

“Sure," Spike said. "Just leave it to me.”

"Good," Twilight said. "I know a lullaby that ought to make both of them fall asleep."

Twilight cleared her throat and began to sing Luna's secret lullaby: "Children of the Night." When she finished singing, she noticed both of the foals were fast asleep and Spike was half asleep.

"Nice song, Twilight," Spike said yawning. "Where did you learn it?"

"I found the lyrics in Princess Luna's room," Twilight said, "in a secret panel in her dresser."

"I bet if she knew that," Spike said, "she'd make you forget what you saw."

"I don't think she would. There wasn't much in there," Twilight said. "Now, we've got to get these two back in their baskets so we can get you back to bed."

Twilight and Spike put Nix and Myx back in their baskets and started toward Twilight's room. When they arrived, they put the baskets by Twilight's bed. Spike yawned and got back in his bed.

"Hey, Twilight," Spike said. "Do you think you could sing that lullaby again?"

"Sure," Twilight replied, "if you really like it."

When She finished singing again she noticed Spike was asleep. She started contemplating what to do about the foals, because she had an uneasy feeling about later that morning. She spent a good half-hour thinking about the foals and what she should do about them. She got on her bed and continued to ponder until she fell asleep.

This time she had a soothing dream. She, her friends, and the two foals were at Celestia's palace. They entered the main hall where they found Celestia, Luna, and Cadence waiting for them. Celestia stood and began speaking.

"You've been raising the foals well, Twilight," said Celestia. "It looks like they are ready to learn about advanced magic now."

"Don't you think I could teach them, sister?" Luna asked.

"Now, Luna. The last time you taught a set of foals was a long time ago," Celestia said. "And I haven't let you teach since that incident. Do you remember why?"

"Yes," Luna said. "But that was before-"

Twilight didn't get to see much of the full dream because she woke to the sound of the clock.