Revenge of the Shadow Pony

The malachite crystal swirled around like a violent tornado and it started to consume Canterlot in its wake. Wasting no time, Starlight hoisted Spike up on her back and started running away with Tempest. Everywhere they ran, Canterlot was crumbling up like a cookie and the trio were caught in the crossfire. As they were running, Spike weakly said,

“What happened to me…? I was in that cave… then all of a sudden… this heart-shaped crystal latched onto… my body. It was like… being a fish… lured by a worm… on a hook.”

Starlight and Tempest were at a loss for words after freeing Spike from the Malachite Crystal. Not only is the Crystal now free and rampant, but they were unsure if Spike was feigning memory loss or if he really was possessed and can’t remember what happened to him or anybody else around him. But either way, he was defenseless and had no methods of backstabbing them in his weakened state.

“What the-!?” Tempest shouted, turning her head around.

Alerted by her shout, Starlight turned around and saw a huge armor-clad minotaur chase after them. He appeared to be possessed by the malachite crystal and it was extremely angry as it roared in its pursuit.

“Are you kidding me!?” Starlight screamed as she continued to run.

“That thing is like a sales rep that won’t take no for an answer!” Tempest shouted while running with Starlight.

Looking forward, they saw the Everfree Forest ahead of them and ran inside since it was thick with trees and the minotaur would have a hard time catching up to them. Running inside the forest, it was a success at first. But the minotaur started tearing through the forest with its brute strength and it was slowly beginning to catch up to them.

“Let’s separate! It can’t follow us at the same time!” Starlight shouted before throwing Spike to Tempest who successfully catches him.

“Starlight, wait!” Tempest shouted, trying to stop the brave unicorn.

Starlight refused to listen and she ran the other direction. Groaning in frustration with Starlight’s plan, Tempest continued to run as far away as she could to get away from the minotaur behind her.

“Just hang in there, Spike! We’re almost out of here!” Tempest said to keep Spike alive while she continued to run.

***

Starlight kept continuing to run away from the minotaur with all the strength. She ran through some trees to throw it off, but it proved to be in vain as it tore through the trees.

“What will you do, little pony? I have strength on my side and you have nothing but that broken horn on your forehead! How can you hope to outmatch the likes of me!?” the creature boasted as it was getting closer to Starlight.

Seeing as she had no other choice, Starlight looked at the trees and said,

“I’m sorry, everypony…”

Starlight activated her horn and electrocuted the trees on her right, causing them to catch on fire. Before they knew it, the forest slowly started to catch on fire, making the forest burn up. The Creature saw this and tried to back away, but the fire was so big that it caught itself onto the minotaur, causing the Creature to catch on fire in the process. The Creature screeched in pain as the flames surrounded it and it had no other means of escape. Having no other choice, the Creature had the minotaur reach into its chest and rip the crystal off. The minotaur fell to the ground, but it was still alive and it got off the ground. The Creature manifested itself into a dragon and shouted,

“KILL THE PONIES CARRYING THE PUPPET!!! I will handle that meddlesome unicorn…” the Creature said before shrinking into the ground and chasing after Starlight.

The minotaur did as the Creature and went the other direction to chase after Tempest and Spike.

***

Tempest continued to run her heart off as she carried Spike. She didn’t see Starlight and didn’t know what had happened to her, but she knew that Starlight would be okay and she didn’t have to worry about the others since Sunset was capable of protecting Applebloom and herself. Up ahead, she saw Cadance and Shining Armor walking further ahead and ran over to them.

“Tempest! Where’s Starlight?” Cadance asked in a relieved tone.

“That one’s hard to explain…” Tempest said before looking behind her.

While Tempest was checking for any enemies, Cadance and Shining Armor spotted Spike on Tempest’s back.

“And what’s he doing here…?” Shining Armor asked, ready to harm Spike.

“He’s normal. But that crystal on his chest is off him now. He can’t hurt anypony…” Tempest said, defending Spike from his potential attackers.

Cadance walked towards Spike, who was having a hard time breathing, and looked him straight in the eye.

“Do you remember everything that you did…?” Cadance asked with a serious tone.

“Well… I remember walking into this cave… it had lots of gems. Then I found this heart-shaped crystal in the cavern… it was shiny. Then it latched itself onto me and…” Spike said before losing his train of thought.

“What do you mean? Speak up, dragon!” Shining Armor ordered.

“I can’t remember… my mind just went dark after that…” Spike answered before coughing up blood.

Cadance and Shining Armor had no idea what to make of Spike’s story. They couldn’t tell whether he was lying or if he really did lose his memory. But either way, he didn’t mean any harm to them and they lowered their guard towards the weakened dragon.

“Well, as long as it’s the truth…” Cadance said before giving him a light smile.

But before they could talk any further, they heard a booming roar from across the forest. Tempest looked ahead and saw that it was the minotaur.

“I hate to spoil the reunion, but we need to leave now!” Tempest recommended.

Cadance and Shining Armor nodded and ran along with Tempest, having regained most of their strength.

***

Starlight continued to run away from the monster far away from the direction that Tempest was in, but she was unsure if the minotaur was around or it went back to chasing after the latter. But she had little time to think on it as she was trapped in a deadend. Just then, she heard cackling from the other side of the forest and she knew who it was. But instead of fearing what would happen next, she became angry. She grabbed a random tree branch from the ground and set it on fire with her horn before waiting for the Creature to arrive. Although it didn’t take long for the Creature to catch her scent and meet her in front of the deadend.

“So the mouse is cornered by the cat! Whatever shall it do?” the Creature taunted.

“Why are you doing all this!? Just what in the name of Tartarus are you!?” Starlight shouted, demanding answers from the monster.

“I have many names, pony. Creature. Monster. The Abyss. But they are all meaningless!!! I have been around for many eons, centuries… I have fought the Royal Sisters, I have fought Gusty the Great, the Six Pillars… I have even met King Grogar.” the Creature growled.

“Quite the resume you have there. But tell me something. If you really intend to get rid of us ponies, what made you become this in the first place? Why do you hate us all?” Starlight asked.

“Ignorant little pony. I was always like this. Seeing their agony, hearing their screams, eating away at their carcasses. Eyeball jelly, kidney juice, liver grease… their pain and anguish fills my life with joy…” the Creature said, fantasizing over the ponies.

“I have fought a lot of monsters in my day. I met a lot of the biggest jerks all my life. But I have never met anyone feelingless… heartless… soulless… and as MONSTROUS AS YOU!!!” Starlight suddenly shouted, getting ready to fight.

“I am glad you feel that way, pony. Because when I am finished with you, I WILL FIND YOUR FRIENDS AND EAT THEM!!! AND WHEN I AM DONE, I WILL BURY EQUESTRIA IN THE ENDLESS ABYSS OF CORRUPTION!!!!” the Creature roared before standing on its hind legs.

“Not on my watch, you monster. You are going to pay for what you did to my friends! FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID!!! AND I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL EITHER ONE OF US IS DEAD!!!” Starlight declared, getting her torch ready.

“We will see about that…” the Creature said before it got on all fours.

Suddenly, the Creature charged at Starlight and she swung her torch, ready for the final battle.