Rise of the Earth Pony Rebellion

The mane six gasped at Shadow's new appearance. He was an alicorn! How was it even
possible? How could an Earth pony of all ponies have this kind of power? As the girls
stood there is shock, Shadow merely trotted over to them, enjoying the moment. Using his
new found powers, he instantly teleported the Elements of Harmony off of their respective
owners and zapped them over to his sides. The elements merely floated in midair next to
the mad stallion.

"Well, that was easier than anticipated." Shadow chuckled, "Seems this whole 'hocus pocus'
deal isn't so difficult after all."

"W-what have...have you d-done?" Twilight stammered.

"Ah, yes...that." Shadow closed his eyes. His horn began to glow in a gold aura. Flames
started to surround the girls as well as Biggs and Wedge. "You're a smart mare, Twilight
Sparkle. Surely you've heard of 'alchemy' before."

Twilight thought back to her studies. Alchemy was the mixture of two or more objects. It
can be used in many different ways with many different effects. The zebras, like Zecora,
were infamous for their alchemy skills.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"You see... There's a different sorta alchemy in Equestria. It's very similar to magic,
but it has it's drawbacks, unfortunately. It's called 'Equivalent Exchange.'"

"Equila what?" Rainbow questioned.

"Equivalent Exchange." Shadow repeated, annoyed. "In order to gain something, you must
give up something of equal or greater value. That's it's drawback. But the great thing
about it is that anypony can use it...with enough practice, of course."

"That still doesn't explain what you did!" Twilight yelled. She was getting angrier and
angrier.

"Really? Of COURSE it explains what I did. Or are you just too foolish to understand?"

After several moments of silence, Shadow sighed. "Fine, let me explain it to you then:
As I said before, Equivalent Exchange allows one to gain almost anything they can
possibly desire. But you have to give up something in return that is of equal to greater
value. Are you following me so far?"

Everyone nodded.

"Good. Now, like I said, you can obtain virtually ANYTHING and Celestia's power is no
different. Of course, you're all probably thinking, 'How can anything match up to Celetia's
power?' Good question. But isn't what I gave up obvious? After all, it was the very thing
that got me these powers... Surely that skill alone would suffice as the greater or equal
value."

"You mean..."

"Yes, I sacrificed the ability to use the arts of Equivalent Exchange. It no longer serves
a purpose, after all. I now have the same powers without a cost."

"That's...actually pretty clever." Twilight admitted.

"Isn't it?"

"What about your rebellion? What was their purpose anyway?"

"A distraction. Nothing more. I could care less about you pegasi and unicorns. I just want
the power you have..." Shadow placed a hoove on his chin, thinking. "But you know...I
think I'll stay true to my promise. I can't let you get in my way, you know? And those
horns and wings of yours will definitely be a boon. So..."

Shadow's horn glew once more. However, the spell he was casting was not so simple this
time, it took a lot of power for him to gather and use. Sweat started to emit from his
face. Finally, after a minute or so, a bright white light sprung out of Shadow Flare and
covered the entire room, the entire castle, the entire kingdom, and then the entire world.

After a few minutes, the spell ceased.

"Wooo... I guess this will take some getting used to... How's it going, girls? What's it
like being the common vulgar weak licentious crowed?"

As their sight began to come back into focus, Twilight noticed that her friends (the ones
who had them, anyway) were missing their horns and wings. "NONONONONO this can't be happening!"

"'fraid so. But I doubt that'll be enough... So let's do THIS!" Shadow stomped his right
hoof on the ground, and the Elements of Harmony instantly shattered into pieces, and
those pieces dissolved into ash and later nothingness. Twilight was heart broken. If
ANYTHING could have saved them, it would have been the Elements of Harmony. Shadow once
again used his magic, this time to banish the fire that imprisoned Twilight and co.

"I don't think any of you are much of threat now. Here." Shadow removed the bombs strapped
to Spike. The explosives disappeared to Celestia knows where.

"Twilight!" Spike said, as he ran to his sister.

"There's no need to keep him locked up anymore. His role has been played. Now, I'll let
you all go free. I've done all that I can to make sure you won't stand in my way. So...go
about your daily routine? We're done here."

"Done? DONE!?" Twilight asked, obviously irritated. "How can we be DONE! You're going to
let us go just like that?"

"There's no point in keeping you locked up or killing you. What can you do? No magic,
no elements, NOTHING can save you. What hope do you even have?"

Twilight was stunned by his words. Surely there was something that can save them.

"You're no threat to me. And, honestly, I genuinely like you all. Twould be a waste to
end you all here. If I were you, I'd leave now...lest I change my mind."

"Come on, Twi, he's right. There's nothin' we can do."

"'He who fights and runs away, may live to fight another day.' Isn't that how the saying
goes?" Shadow asked.

"I don't understand though...why? Why would you spare us?"

"Do I have to repeat myself? You're no longer a threat. Why waste a perfectly good life?"

The other girls, Spike, as well as Biggs and Wedge just left the room, taking Shadow's
advice. They could come back and think of a plan to strike back. But for now, they were
powerless.

"Fine. But mark my words, Shadow Flare, we will be back and we WILL defeat you." And with
that, the lavender pony left alongside everyone else.

After they left, Shadow jumped onto his new throne, ready to enjoy his new life. He gazed
around the throne room to get a feel for the place. In the corner of his eye, he could see
the now fallen princess of Canterlot lying on the floor in despair.

"How ignorant are these fools? Why would they leave their poor princess behind? Ah, well.
A king needs a queen, right? Or I guess princess in this case."