Avengers: War for Equestria

With Iron Man, War Machine and the Hulk returning to S.M.I.L.E. headquarters, back in Tambeleon, the rest of Grogar's minions were left wondering just what exactly was happening with an important piece of detail that Grogar was keeping from them.

"What is it that you wish to tell us, Grogar?" demanded Chrysalis. "Are you saying that you are working for somepony?"

"Not working for somepony, but rather helping him out, Queen Chrysalis," Grogar explained as he stepped off his throne, walking over towards the ex-Changeling Queen. "You see, I've gathered you all here for a purpose. 1,000 years ago, your predecessors each had a role. A role that requires total and complete dedication to the final solution of Equestria."

"And what exactly is this role?" asked Lavan. "And what does that have to do with the creature that came before me?"

"Your father or rather, the creatures who predeceased you all, was all part of a group, a group meant to eliminate the rulers of Equestria and redesign it according to our will. A group that is known as 'The Circle of Death.'"

At that moment, Grogar rang his bell and out came a table similar to the friendship map, but all black as night. The group of villains stepped around the map and eyeballed it carefully.

"Do you see this?" Grogar asked, beckoning for the villains to look down at the map. "This is the map of Equestria, a land that will one day be ours to share."

"Share?" asked Sombra. "Why would I want to share? All I want is the Crystal Empire."

"And you'll get the Crystal Empire as your share, Sombra," laughed Grogar. "For you see, the Circle of death was founded by an alicorn pony whose bitter jealousy for his sisters led him to betray his trust to them and seek out the Elements of Harmony, which is right here."

Grogar then pointed towards the location of the tree of harmony, where the most powerful weapons in Equestria were located.

"I'll have you know that I tried to obtain the elements of harmony to seek out my revenge against Starlight Glimmer," remarked Chrysalis, snarling slightly at reliving this painful memory. "But, I was betrayed by my created servants."

"However," replied Grogar. "Were you to notice that the Elements were…corrupted in some way?"

Chrysalis' eyes widened in shock upon hearing this.

"What do you mean, corrupted? All I remember seeing was the tree suck all of the life out of my creations and turn them into pieces of wood."

"Wood?" wondered Tirek. "I'll have you know, your majesty, that I can't stand trees."

"Why would you not stand trees, Tirek?" asked Titanium.

"I have my reasons."

Clearing his throat, Grogar resumed to the task at hand.

"Now then, Chrysalis, answer my question," he asked again, looking right at her intently. "Did you or did you not…see the Elements become corrupted?"

"No," she whispered and Grogar, annoyed by her incompetence, took a goblet that sat on his throne and using the magic from his bell, threw at Chrysalis, who ducked out of the goblet's range.

"Foolish bug!" he suddenly sneered. "You didn't see the Elements become corrupted? Don't you all see? If the Elements are corrupted, that means that they are ripe for the picking. They won't respond right away to the bearers themselves. You could have taken them when you had the chance!"

"My mind was consumed with anger, Grogar!" protested Chrysalis, trying to defend her actions.

"That is no excuse, Chrysalis! And you call yourself Queen of the Changelings?"

Humiliated, Chrysalis nervously attempted to back away from the map and leave the throne room. However, Grogar refused to let her go, motioning for two donkeys to stop her.

"And don't even think about trying to leave this meeting," he added, stamping his foot down. "You are as much a part of this as your fellow villains."

With no other choice, Chrysalis was forced back to the table.

"In any case, we must prepare ourselves to obtain the Elements," Grogar said, firmly. "I want you to gather all of the minions that you all have and bring them to Equestria. We will obtain the Elements and with their power in our grasp, we can bring in slaves that we will use to bring Tambeleon to its former glory. For when all is said and done, Tambeleon will serve as the new capital of Equestria while Canterlot is reduced to nothing more than a pile of rubble."

Consumed with determination, Grogar laughed wildly and evilly catching the attention of the rest of the villains except for Chrysalis and Lavan.

"How dare he bring me down like that?" Chrysalis asked, feeling very insulted. "I am a Queen! He should show me some respect."

"I still don't like the idea of him bringing my enemies to fight alongside us," added Lavan. "Squirk and Arabus are nothing but thorns in my side and I won't stand for it."

…

Back at S.M.I.L.E. headquarters, Tony, Jim, Bruce and Rainbow Dash returned following their encounter with the Chimera.

"Tony!" Julia cried, running over to hug her boyfriend at the building's entrance. "Thank goodness you're all right!"

"Well, we're safe that's for sure," Tony remarked, quickly looking over towards Jim, taking off his War Machine helmet. "But, what was with the PTSD, Rhody? Don't you see Rainbow Dash here could have died?"

"Tony, I…I don't want to…"

"Why can't you just forgive yourself after what happened to your brother?"

"Because I can't, Tony! All right? I just can't! Every time I go near water, I panic! Don't you have moments where you panic yourself?"

"Yeah, but I try not to let it get to me," Tony retorted firmly, before realizing he was being too hard on his fellow Avenger. "Look, Rhodes, I'm sorry if I sounded harsh just now, but you have to face your fears eventually."

"What's going on here?" wondered Rainbow Dash, totally oblivious to what was going on in front of her.

Just then, a voice called for Rainbow Dash to come to the medical ward for treatment to her wounds, which were minor.

"Look, Rhody," suggested Julia, putting a hand on his shoulder. "We've all had a long day. Why don't you just take some relaxers and lie down for a bit? Think about defeating the Chimera or whatever that creature is."

"Whatever you say, Chuckles."

Sighing heavily, Tony and Julia watched as Rhody walked into the building.

…

"Julia, I can't understand it," Tony said as they got ready for bed that night at Twilight's castle. "Jim still can't get over the fact that what happened to his brother was an accident. And I'm sorry for sounding harsh, but I don't want his emotions to compromise this mission."

"We are all going to have our emotions get the better of us," advised Julia as she slid off her suit jacket and unbuttoned her white long-sleeved blouse. "Just get some sleep and we'll be nice and fresh in the morning."

"Easy for you to say," Tony yawned as he climbed into bed. "Remind me when it's morning, all right?"

Rolling her eyes, Julia finished undressing and soon was fast asleep beside her boss and the love of her life.

…

However, not all of Equestria was asleep as Luna prepared to assume her duties of the night, amidst the talk of evacuating due to the pending threat. In fact, with the revelation about her brother, Luna was more uneasy than normal. But, before she could assume her duties, she noticed the Wakanda Embassy's flag being lowered. Flying down, she went to investigate.

"What is going on?" she wondered as she saw Mufasa and his wife preparing to leave. "Mr. Ambassador, why are you…?"

"We are returning to Wakanda where we will be safe," he answered. "Your sister sent out an evacuation order tonight, remember?"

"But, not till tomorrow morning!"

"Furthermore, we have been ordered to return by our king."

At that moment, Luna turned and looked up towards the top of the Embassy and saw a figure dressed in black, looking out towards the skies above Equestria.

"Who is that?"

"That is our king making sure that we heed his order and leave before the invaders come," answered Mufasa as he and his wife left along with their staff. "And don't be alarmed, Wakanda is sending her troops here to Equestria to help you fight."

Luna was unconvinced and began to get the sense that there was more to Wakanda closing their embassy than met the eye. While Wakanda's embassy was closing, the other embassies remained open.

The only way to get that answer was to talk to the Black Panther…