Boncord: The Pre-Sequel

Chapters

Act 1 - Part 1
Act 1 - Part 2
Act 1 - Part 3
Act 2 - Part 1
Act 2 - Part 2
Act 2- Part 3
Act 3 - Part 1
Act 3 - Finale

Act 1 - Part 1

"Thanks for letting me crash on your couch. Feels good to get out of that empty house." Bon Bon said to Discord, the two stood in the living room of his chaotically appointed house in the heart of the chaos dimension.

"Are you leaving already? Aren't you going to stay for tea?" Discord begged as he snapped his fingers and a table set with a pot of tea and two teacups materialized.

"I guess. If you want me to." Bon Bon said as she took a seat across from Discord.

"Is something the matter?" Discord asked with a sigh.

"No! I had a lovely time with you. I just-" Bon Bon paused.

"Thinking about Lyra, still?" Discord reached over and poured a cup of tea in front of Bon Bon.

"I'm just-" Bon Bon paused again.

"Jealous of that mare she is dating who looks like a cheap knock-off of you?" Discord asked smugly.

"She looks nothing like me!" Bon Bon snapped. "I know- I have no place being so jealous. I know that me being here is entirely my own fault. I feel so petty." Bon Bon sniffled.

"I just wish all this time we've spent together over the last few months has been as adequate a distraction for you as it has been for me." Discord sighed.

"I didn't mean it like that!" Bon Bon reached one of her front hooves across the table. "I guess I'm still adjusting. When Lyra was around she always kept me in order and- well-" Bon Bon took a sip of her tea.

"And I facilitate the side of you that craves disorder." Discord said with a smug grin as he reached over and touched Bon Bon's hoof.

"This chaos tea is really something." Bon Bon said with a flirtatious smile.

"Yes." Discord sighed. "Rancorous Rooibos; Fluttershy's favorite"

"There you go, mentioning Fluttershy again!" Bon Bon complained with a roll of her eyes.

"This hardly seems fair, you wouldn't stop talking about Lyra last night!" Discord huffed.

"You're right." Bon Bon sighed. "It hasn't been very long and maybe we're both just not ready to move forward with this yet."

"I just don't understand." Discord complained as he raked his beard with his claw. "We get along so well when we have some kind of crazy adventure to go on; but when we finally have time to relax-"

"It's just gone." Bon Bon conspicuously turned her head away. "Maybe we just need to back things up a bit."

Discord snapped his fingers and the lighting dimmed. "Well before you go, how about for old time's sake we-"

"No!" Bon Bon protested angrily. "Just send me home!"

"Fine!" Discord snapped his fingers and nothing happened. "That's odd." He said ponderously as he snapped his fingers again.

"The old cart's out of cider routine, huh?" Bon Bon rolled her eyes.

"No- something wrong is seriously going on!" Discord insisted as he tried again. "Something is draining all of the magic in Equestria so I can't send you back there."

"Tirek!?" Bon Bon gasped.

"It feels like the same kind of arcane disturbance." He raked his beard in contemplation and paused for a moment.

"But?"

"This has too much panache behind it to be his work. Tirek is bold and brutish. He would take the magic one pony at a time, face-to-face- assuming they survived the endless, meandering diatribe he would no doubt start out with; but this is different." Discord explained.

"Well then how are we supposed to get back?" Bon Bon complained.

"I suppose we'll have to wait until some pony else fixes it." Discord said smugly as he pulled a newspaper out from nowhere and kicked his feet up lazily onto the table.

"I can't accept that. What if no pony can?" Bon Bon fretted.

"Well I can't send you back to that Equestria." Discord smirked.

"But?" Bon Bon stared intently at him.

"What if we traveled to a parallel world?" Discord tantalized.

"A parallel world?" Bon Bon seemed confused.

"Yes, where it was the same year and you were the same pony- but everything else was different." Discord explained. "I call it gliding."

"How is that supposed to help?" Bon Bon rolled her eyes.

"I don't know! But it beats being stuck here in this awkward situation." Discord rolled his eyes and then snapped his fingers and a tunnel-like disturbance opened up in the air- wind and small debris rushed past them into the disturbance.

"What's that?" Bon Bon stepped back cautiously.

"This portal will allow us to glide into another parallel world." Discord explained.

"Are you sure it's safe?" Bon Bon stared skeptically at Discord.

"Just trust me!" Discord grabbed onto Bon Bons hoof and pulled her through the portal as he jumped in.

After a long, meandering journey through a tunnel of light the duo found themselves in the halls of Canterlot High, still in the form of a Pony and a Draconequus respectively.

"Lyra would like it here." Bon Bon sighed as she looked around and observed the colorful humanoids going about their business, manipulating objects with their hands .

"Whoa, is that a pony!?" A male voice called out excitedly as a mob of students approached the odd couple.

"It's so little!" A female voice added.

"It's my little pony now!" The male person shouted as he reached for Bon Bon.

"Let's get out of here before I have to endure another title drop!" Discord cringed as he pushed the crowd away from Bon Bon.

"No pets allowed in the school!" A voice boomed angrily- Vice Principal Luna walked hastily into the scene.

"Follow me!" Discord sprinted through the front doors of the school toward the statue out front as Luna pursued along with the mob of students. Bon Bon galloped hastily in an effort to keep up but then slid to a stop when she saw they were heading for the base of the statue out front.

"What are you doing!?" Bon Bon shouted as Discord ran into the base of the statue with a thud and fell over.

"I feel like there's supposed to be a portal that leads home here." Discord pondered as he stood up again. "But it must be effected by the magic drain too. Maybe if we broke it open somehow. Look around and see if you can find a cannon!"

"This is a high school." Bon Bon rolled her eyes. "You're not going to any cannon here."

"Students! Get back to class!" Luna ordered. The crowd doubled back toward the school- but she continued her pursuit.

Discord snapped his fingers and the inter-dimensional portal appeared beside them. "There's no time for this." He said. "We have glide out of here before we're caught."

Luna's jaw dropped as she watched the odd couple disappear into the tunnel of light before it closed up behind them with a flash.

"No portals in front of the school!" She shouted furiously.

After a journey through the meandering tunnel of light the two landed, rough, on the ground at the other end. They were surrounded by metal catwalks and strange machinery. Two cylindrical vessels the size of cider kegs, but made of some strange metal alloy with a scaly green patina, lay before them. The sounds of industry buzzed around them but there was not a pony in sight.

"That creature." Bon Bon struggled to catch her breath. "It reminded me of Princess Luna."

"Well, duh! It's a parallel world. Alternate versions of ponies are all over the place. So try to avoid running in to yourself- the results could be disastrous." Discord cautioned.

"Wouldn't the alternate version of you sense something amiss now that you're here?" Bon Bon pondered.

"I'm not from Equestria!" Discord rolled his eyes. "You'd have to go to an alternate version of the chaos dimension to find another me."

"Let's just go over this one more-" Bon Bons complaint was cut short by Discords finger pressing against her face.

"Just be careful." he whispered. "We don't know anything about this world."

"Well if you don't know anything about it how did you know to send us here?" Bon Bon whispered back.

"There's a magical disturbance in this world and it has something to do with these vessels." Discord explained.

"What's inside?" Bon Bon asked as she reached for the heavy looking lid on top of one.

"I don't know. That's what's so odd. Any attempt to sense what's inside is being blocked. This alloy- it reminds me of the stone that Queen Chrysalis' throne was made of." Discord pointed his finger at the vessel and a blast of energy swirled and dissipated into it.

"I guess we have to do this the earth pony way." Bon Bon rolled her eyes and casually knocked the lid open with one of her front hooves. A shimmering red light pulsated from inside the vessel.

"Oh dear." Discord muttered as he reached in and pulled out a small pulsating red crystalline shard.

"What is it?" Bon Bon stared intently.

"Arcanium." Discord examined the shard closely.

"Arcanium?" Bon Bon looked at Discord awaiting an explanation.

"Arcanium is made by refining and crystallizing arcane energy. Once a source of magic has been made into arcanium it can't be returned to it's original form." Discord crushed the small arcanium shard between his fingers and it dispersed into a flash of brilliant light.

"Equestria's magic..." Bon Bon trembled.

"Don't worry. That wasn't it." Discord eyed a series of metallic conduits snaking along the wall. "This way!" Discord slowly followed the catwalk until it overlooked a large pit. Bon Bon followed. A translucent sphere of bright light floated near the bottom of the pit and strange machinery surrounded it.

"All of Equestria- our Equestria's magic is coalescing in this location. It's causing the barrier between the dimensions to weaken and that's why we can see it." Discord explained.

"What's here on the other side?" Bon Bon pondered.

"I believe this whole complex is where Twilight Sparkle's school stands in our dimension." Discord explained. "But why would somepony send it to another dimension to have it refined into arcanium?"

"Why don't we ask Tirek?" Bon Bon smirked.

"Good idea!" Discord snapped his fingers and the duo vanished in a flash of light.

Act 1 - Part 2

Bon Bon and Discord materialized just outside the gates of Tartartus.

"That's odd." Discord pondered. "I was trying to send us inside."

"More of that alloy!" Bon Bon pointed her front hoof at some familiar green scaly patina forming a lattice over the gates. "Somepony doesn't want magic users snooping around."

"Well now how are we supposed to get inside?" Discord complained.

"Haven't I taught you anything?" Bon Bon snickered as she reached into her mane and produced a hairpin. She slid the hairpin into a huge keyhole and fiddled around.

"Oh, come on now. You didn't really think that was going to work, did you?" Discord chided but Bon Bon just stared back smugly.

A short time later a shrieking alarm sounded. Bon Bon jumped behind a nearby bush and Discord quickly followed, barely fitting out of sight. The gate creaked open and two stallions dressed in heavy bronze armor stepped out.

"Look, sir!" One of the guards said to the other as he fished the hairpin out of the lock. Bon Bon tossed a rock into the nearby valley and both guards turned as the rock crashed onto the ground in the distance.

"Over there!" The other guard ordered as both Guards marched off toward the sound. Bon Bon quickly darted from the bush through the door and motioned for Discord to follow. The mighty gates groaned and slammed shut behind them as they entered.

"Are we learning yet?" Bon Bon grinned.

Inside the familiar scene of Tartarus laid before them but most of the cells were empty. Discord strained his eyes at a distant platform.

"The princesses!" Bon Bon shouted as she followed Discord's gaze. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna both lay pale and meek in a cage together. "We have to let them out."

"Not so fast!" Discord snapped. "Glider's code of ethics- we can't interfere in other universes affairs. The magic thing is our affair but we simply don't have time to figure out why they are locked up in this universe. "

"Well let's just find Tirek then and get our Equestria's magic back." Bon Bon ordered as she stared forlornly over the Abyss at the two former princesses- now pale and feeble captives.

"It doesn't look like Tirek is here." Discord sighed. "I get the feeling that, in this world, he never was."

"Hold on now. We need to know what we're getting into here. If Tirek never happened in this world then what would have transpired?" Bon Bon pondered aloud as the two set out to make their exit.

"Intruders!" The guards shouted as they poured through the gates right as Bon Bon and Discord approached them.

"The princesses are escaping!" Discord pointed off in the distance; the guards turned around and followed his finger. Bon Bon turned around and swiftly bucked one of the guards, sending his head knocking into the other guards head. "See. I can do just fine without my magic." Discord boasted as the two made their way out past the gates.

Discord snapped his fingers and the two found themselves standing on top of a cloud peering over Ponyville. In this world it was barely recognizable. The town hall, the Carousel Boutique, the Golden Oak Library; any building that would otherwise have stood out was dilapidated and boarded up. On the precipice that should have held the friendship school there was a large industrial building which cast a shadow of gloom and smog over the rest of the landscape.

"Wait a minute." Bon Bon said as she strained her eyes upon the meager inhabitants going about their daily tasks with very little energy about them. Their cutie marks were all an "=" sign and banners bearing the same sign hung from buildings iIn the center of Ponyville.

"Of course." Discord pondered. "If not for the battle with Tirek there would be no Cutie Map."

"And without the Cutie Map Starlight Glimmer was free to expand her influence- unchecked." Bon Bon sighed.

"But what does all this have to do with our Equestria's magic?" Discord pondered further.

"I thought that was your area of expertise." Bon Bon mocked.

"I only sense magical disturbances- and after our little stunt at Tartarus Starlight Glimmer probably knows we're here." Discord lectured.

"Hey, what's that?" Bon Bon pointed to a commotion that was forming in the center of Ponyville where a polished brass statue of Starlight Glimmer glinted. Discord snapped his fingers and the two appeared in a dark alleyway between two identical, drab, houses looking over at the scene.

Starlight Glimmer and a large battalion of guards dragged a cloaked pony out into the middle of the street. The pony tried to get up onto its feet but Starlight Glimmer fired a blast of magic, knocking it back down.

"Gather around, citizens. Today is truly a remarkable day." Starlight Glimmer announced as the crowd went silent and stared at the scene.

"You'll never get away with this." A familiar voice strained with a cough.

Starlight Glimmer pulled the cloak back from the pony, revealing that it was Twilight Sparkle. "At long last. After you only one princess remains."

"Even your magic can't get past my brother's shield." Twilight Sparkle whimpered boldly before being treated to another painful blast of magic from Starlight Glimmer.

"Don't worry. We're working on that." Starlight Glimmer said smugly. "And when we liberate the power of day and night from Princess Cadence prosperity will belong not just to the Crystal Empire but to all ponies!" Starlight Glimmer raised her voice and spoke out to the crowd in a triumphant tone.

"She's gone mad with power in this universe." Bon Bon whispered discreetly.

"She seems like her usual self to me." Discord mocked.

"Set an example, Princess. Surrender your mark voluntarily and this can all end peacefully now." Starlight Glimmer taunted.

"Never! Just take it now and get it over with." Twilight Sparkle huffed.

"Now what kind of role model would I be if I didn't give you a night to think about it?" Starlight Glimmer flashed an uncanny smile out to the onlookers. "Take her away." She ordered to the guards who then converged on Twilight Sparkle.

"I wonder where they are taking her." Bon Bon pondered as they watched the guards carry Twilight Sparkle off.

"There's only one way to find out." Discord smirked.

"I haven't even heard your plan and I already don't like it." Bon Bon sighed.

"Come now fellow cutie mark enthusiast!" Discord said loudly as he snapped his fingers and a crude childlike drawing of a pony appeared on his side as he dragged her out into the middle of the scene.

"Well, what have we here!" Starlight Glimmer turned around and trotted up menacingly toward the duo. "An actual Draconequus. I bet you have at least ten shards of arcanium waiting to be extracted." Starlight Glimmer fired a containment beam from her horn at Discord. Discord shrugged it off with ease.

"I'd like to see you try." Discord mocked.

Red clouds swirled around Starlight Glimmer's horn and arcs of energy crackled as she fired a powerful blast at Discord, knocking him to his back. Discord pulled himself to his feet and pointed at Starlight Glimmer, sending a powerful blast of his own. Starlight Glimmer concentrated hard and a shield formed around her, protecting her from the ensuring blast.

"Enough! I grow tired of this" Starlight Glimmer shouted out.The crowd began to part as a menacing stomping sound shook the ground. As the stomping got closer the clatter of chains could be heard along with it.

"Oh this can't be good." Discord sighed. Bon Bon assumed a ready to fight posture. Tirek came stomping into the scene from around a nearby corner, bound partially in chains.

"I thought you said he wasn't here!" Bon Bon whispered angrily to Discord.

"I said he wasn't in Tartarus." Discord snapped back.

"Tirek. Drain this fool of his magic, take her cutie mark and bring it to the refinery.

"Yes, my queen." Tirek said reluctantly as he motioned toward Discord.

"No!" Bon Bon dived protectively between Discord and Tirek but with a blast of energy Tirek effortlessly drained th magic out of Discord. Discord collapsed helplessly to the ground, his complexion dulled. Starlight Glimmer fired a blast from her horn and Bon Bon's cutie mark lifted from her flank which Tirek then clasped his hand around before turning around and stomping off.

"Guards!" Starlight Glimmer called out and some of the guards that were escorting Twilight Sparkle doubled back. "It looks like Princess Twilight has some company for the night."

Act 1 - Part 3

"Ugh" Discord grumbled as he sat up and looked around. Bon Bon looked over him at one end of a prison cell and Twilight Sparkle sat at the other, staring out at two guards- after saying something softly to them they turned around and walked away.

"Discord!" Bon Bon gave him a hug and then quickly pulled away.

"This is all my fault." Discord sighed.

"It's awful- but you can't blame yourself." Bon Bon shook her head.

"But your cutie mark, my magic." Discord sighed. "By now it's been reduced to arcanium."

"Did Starlight Glimmer really do this to every pony's cutie mark?" Bon Bon sobbed at the disturbing thought.

"Yes." Twilight Sparkle confirmed with an uncharacteristic curtness as she walked over. "I wasn't aware of any holdouts outside of the Crystal Empire."

"How could I have been wrong about Tirek?" Discord shook his head. "This is supposed to be my area of expertise."

"You two don't belong here, do you? In this world." Twilight Sparkle quizzed ominously, sizing up the odd duo.

Bon Bon looked over to Discord and then to Twilight Sparkle. "How do you know that?" She asked with an equally ominous tone.

"Because-" Twilight Sparkle's voice changed as in a swirl of magic she assumed her true form- Queen Chrysalis. Bon Bon quickly positioned herself defensively between Chrysalis and Discord. "You think I'm your enemy here?" Chrysalis snickered. "You'd be wise to trust me."

"And why should we trust you?" Bon Bon demanded. "What good could come of any pony trusting you?"

Chrysalis turned away from the duo and looked down. "There's very little love in Starlight Glimmer's Equestria. My kingdom has been dismantled and my swarm, scattered to the wind, starves as we speak. That's how I could tell you two don't belong here; the way love oozes freely from your hearts. I'm an ally to any pony who stands against Starlight Glimmer as long as she sits on the throne in Canterlot." Chrysalis looked back at the duo as she finished explaining.

"Freely from our hearts?" Bon Bon sighed and looked down at Discord who looked back.

"The spark never seems to be there when we need it to be." Discord piped in.

"Only your kind!" Chrysalis hissed. "Only you could have the luxury of being so naive about love." Frustration began to build in her voice.

"What would you know about love when you just steal it from others?" Bon Bon chided.

"Well I certainly can't steal what I can't see now can I?" Chrysalis snarled as she stepped closer to Bon Bon.

"Look we don't want any trouble." Bon Bon sighed. "It just seems like the flame is only there when we're off on some wild adventure together- when it's sure to get us both in a world of trouble."

"I hear that." Discord affirmed with a sickly sigh.

"Imbeciles!" Chrysalis boomed. "Just as you can have passion without love; love can remain without passion." Her voice calmed as she clamped her hoof against her forehead and then shook her head.

"But without the passion-" Bon Bon started.

"It's just not the right time for you two." Chrysalis shook her head again and walked over to Discord and turned to face Bon Bon. "I can feel that you are both holding on to something that you aren't strong enough to let go of yet." A bizarre benevolence began to erupt from her as she lectured. "You both know it. That's why the passion to act on it only shows up often enough to remind you of the great union that can, one day, be."

"But how do we-" Discord raised a finger as his query was interrupted.

"Don't force it!" Chrysalis pressed her hoof against her face again and then turned toward Discord. "You can't force it. You both need to grow in your own way so that you can let go of whatever it is you are holding on to. In the mean time just let your love for each other manifest the way it does now- moments of trust, moments of kindness, moments like this where you set aside your differences and grin and bear your frustrations in order to stand by each other in moments of strife." Chrysalis glowed with passion as her diatribe escalated. "Be good to each other and be available to each other for your adventures (and misadventures) and when the time is right it will ignite into the storm of passion that you need in order to go onward together."

"That's such a beautiful way of putting it." Bon Bon swooned as a smile escaped from her heart.

"Who would have expected that from-" Discord was interrupted with Chrysalis's hoof in his face.

"Spare me!" Chrysalis rolled her eyes and reverted back to ambivalence. "My capture was no accident and I'd love to leave you two rotting in this cell but we could use an extra pair of hooves for our plan."

"Our plan?" Bon Bon asked.

"The guards watching us are my spies. Twilight Sparkle plans to launch a frontal assault at dawn and we're going to provide support from the inside."

"And what do we hope to accomplish?" Discord sighed as he lazily pointed his finger outward as though to affirm that he could no longer cast magic. "With Tirek on her side-"

"Things must be different in your world." Chrysalis sighed. "For a thousand years Tirek and his brother Scorpan faithfully served the ponies of Equestria- a real thorn in my side. When Starlight Glimmer showed up they warned Celestia not to trust her and they were right. Scorpan went missing and then shortly after that Tirek started reluctantly doing her bidding. She bound Tirek in chains after he allowed the holdouts to escape to the Crystal Empire."

"If only I had my magic; I could have provided a stylized cutaway scene for that." Discord sighed and curled up meekly on the ground.

"She must be holding Scorpan hostage and using him as leverage." Bon Bon raised a hoof to her chin in contemplation.

"That's not important. Our mission is to take back the Elements of Harmony and escape with them. Starlight Glimmer has them somewhere in the castle." Chrysalis explained sternly.

"Where even are we?" Discord strained, unaccustomed to his lack of awareness.

"We're in the dungeon in Canterlot. A suicide mission. We were doing just fine hiding behind Shining Armor's shield." Chrysalis sighed.

"But?" Discord urged her on.

"My spies came back with word that Starlight Glimmer was in the process of acquiring some sort of arcanium cannon that would be able to take out the shield around the Crystal Empire with a single blast. We have to do something now. I suggest you rest up if you want to make it through tomorrow." Chrysalis turned around and headed back to the opposite end of the cell.

"One last question." Discord said, causing Chrysalis to pause. "How do you know of other worlds?"

"Word is she has been in contact with somepony from another world." Chrysalis explained.

"Do you know who?" Bon Bon asked.

"She just calls her contact the filly." Chrysalis continued back to her own end of the cell.

"I don't see how we're going to survive this madness without my magic and without your special talent." Discord clutched his face in dread.

"Things are certainly going to be different for us now." Bon Bon sighed as she curled up on the ground beside Discord.

"What even is your special talent?" Discord pondered. "What does your cutie mark mean?"

"You mean; what did it mean?" Bon Bon frowned. "My village was destroyed and I was orphaned when I was just a filly. To deal with it I walled off a lot of my earlier memories. I wish I could tell you what it meant but I don't know either. Candy? I don't even like candy that much. Not that it makes a difference anymore."

"Bon Bon." Discord nagged softly as he began to drift off to sleep.

"Hmm?" Bon Bon asked.

"I have a bad feeling about this assault tomorrow." Discord mumbled as he fell asleep.

"Me too."

Act 2 - Part 1

"Wake up!" Chrysalis shouted. She stood over Bon Bon and Discord along with two other changelings. Bon Bon and Discord had shifted into an embrace while they slept.

"Is it time, already?" Discord asked with a yawn as he and Bon Bon stood up. They looked around and saw that the prison cell was wide open.

Chrysalis looked over to her changeling companions and with a nod they transformed into Starlight Glimmer and two guards, respectively.

"Stay close and you won't seem so suspicious." Chrysalis ordered as she hastily sauntered off with her companions- Discord and Bon Bon followed the changelings closely. They weaved their way through the lower halls of the castle until they came across an inconspicuous doorway guarded by two armored ponies.

"We're here to check on the Elements of Harmony." Chrysalis bluffed.

"Ma'am?" One of the guards replied with a confused look.

"You just brought them up to the throne room." One of the guards explained. Chrysalis flashed him a perplex look and then promptly fired a blast from her horn at both guards, knocking them unconscious as she reverted back to her normal appearance- the other changelings followed suit.

"So much for Subtlety." Discord mocked with a sigh.

"We have a traitor in our midst." Chrysalis explained as she eyed over the two changelings at her side. "Thorax!"

"Yes, my queen?" One of the changelings replied with a salute.

"Stay close by my side. I have a dozen infiltrators in this castle and it could be any one of them." Chrysalis ordered.

"Then Starlight Glimmer also knows about Twilight Sparkle's assault." Bon Bon gasped.

"We must make haste!" Chrysalis ordered as the five galloped off toward the throne room.

Elsewhere in the castle; Starlight Glimmer stood on a balcony, which opened to the throne room, staring out at the morning sky, surrounded by a dozen guards. A dark spot formed on the horizon as scores of air balloons trailed behind an army of pegasi, accented by three distinct streaks in the sky; purple, blue and rainbow.

"The filly gave us some toys to keep us busy while we await delivery on the real prize." Starlight Glimmer said with a menacing grin as her horn glowed. She levitated a gun-like apparatus onto the back of each of the guards. Heavy black saddlebags fit over their backs and two barrels extended beyond the face of each guard- aimed by an ornate bridle that each guard wore. The guards aimed around randomly to familiarize themselves with the weapons.

Starlight Glimmer stared out at the approaching army for a while. "Open fire!" She ordered.

As the guards bit down on a bit attached to their bridles, deep within the machinations of the weapons, a clockwork mechanism crushed a shard of arcanium and expelled the resulting blast through the barrels and out into the sky as a bright red bolt and sounded with a thunderous crack.

Up in the sky, at the lead of the charge, Twilight Sparkle, Trixie (in the form of an alicorn) and Rainbow Dash streaked rapidly toward the spire at Canterlot Castle.

"Are you sure they don't know we're coming?" Trixie asked.

"They'll never know what hit them!" Rainbow Dash assured confidently.

"I just hope the changelings are in position." Twilight said with a sigh.

"What is that?" Rainbow Dash asked loudly as bright red points of light began to fill their field of view.

"Trixie doesn't like this at all." Trixie said nervously.

As the field of red lights got closer their elongated shape and direction of movement became apparent.

"Look out!" Twilight Sparkle shouted as blasts of energy began grazing past them.

The three leaders dodged the first salvo of blasts with relative ease but the followers behind them began dropping out of the sky as the blasts struck them with explosions of red light. Bolts tore through the canopies of some of the balloons- sending them drifting to the ground.

"We're never going to make it there at this rate!" Trixie lamented.

"She must have found out about our attack." Twilight Sparkle sighed as a tear of anger formed in her eye.

"I'll move in and draw their fire!" Rainbow Dash boldly exclaimed as she picked up speed and hastened toward the spire.

"Trixie's almost in firing range!" Trixie followed closely behind and began taking pot-shots with her magic.

"I'll have to deploy the ground forces outside the castle." Twilight explained as she fell back toward the balloons.

Back in the castle Bon Bon, Discord and the trio of changelings quickly burst through the unguarded door to the throne room.

"I was wondering when you would finally show up." Starlight Glimmer cackled as she casually strolled in from the balcony as the commotion of the arcanium blasters sounded from outside.

"Where are the elements!?" Chrysalis demanded as she stepped forward.

"You mean these worthless things?" With a flash of magic from Starlight Glimmer six tarnished and mangled metal trinkets clattered down onto the floor in front of them.

"What have you done with them!?" Chrysalis examined them.

Out on the balcony two of the guards took hits from Trixie's distant magic shots and fell to the ground. As Rainbow Dash swooped through the entrance to the throne room a blast of magic from one of the arcanium blasters struck her wing.

"Ugh!" pain shot through Rainbow Dash's body as she skidded to a halt in front of the scene.

"As you can see." Starlight Glimmer paced over to Rainbow Dash and quickly peeled the cutie mark from her flank with her magic. "There isn't a pony left in Equestria who can wield the Elements of Harmony now."

Chrysalis leveled her horn at Starlight Glimmer, ready to fire.

"You think you can defeat me!?" Starlight Glimmer taunted.

Chrysalis fell over from a bright blue explosion behind her and writhed in pain. Bon Bon, Discord and one of the other changelings looked over and Chrysalis looked up- Thorax stood over her. Two of the guards moved in off the balcony and pointed their arcanium blasters at the group.

"But, why?" Chrysalis struggled.

"When this war is over I will be the leader of a newer, fairer changeling empire." Thorax moved over and stood beside Starlight Glimmer.

"Do you really think the ends justify the means? Do you really think you can trust her?" Bon Bon asked with a frown.

"Chrysalis was a cruel leader. She is only using the holdouts for her own gains. When this is done the changelings and the ponies can be allies. We will usher in a great new era for all creatures of Equestria!" Thorax explained.

"Trixie disagrees!" With a blast of magic the two guards were quickly dispatched as Trixie swooped in and stood before Starlight Glimmer and Thorax and proudly spread her wings.

"I see Cadence has gotten lax with the ascension criteria." Starlight Glimmer chuckled as she fired a blast at Trixie, who blocked it with an energy shield.

Thorax grabbed and equipped the arcanium blaster off of one of the fallen guards as Discord, Bon Bon and the other changeling quickly dragged Chrysalis to cover behind a pillar.

Starlight Glimmer concentrated hard and Tirek appeared in a flash in the middle of the throne room. "I have a present for you." She cocked her head toward Trixie- who quickly dived for cover behind another pillar.

With a swipe of his gigantic arm Tirek knocked the pillar over and Trixie ran into the open to escape as the section of ceiling above caved in. Tirek quickly and effortlessly drained the magic from her and Starlight Glimmer moved in and pulled the cutie mark from her flank. Trixie collapsed from exhaustion.

"Just come out and surrender and nopony else needs to get hurt!" Thorax pleaded as he kept his sight trained on the pillar that concealed Chrysalis and the others.

"I don't think so!" Twilight Sparkle shouted as she swooped in and fired a blast of magic at Tirek, who shrugged it off with ease.

"At last. The real Twilight Sparkle. Come for these worthless trinkets?" Starlight Glimmer taunted as she pointed to the Elements of Harmony on the floor.

"No!" Twilight Sparkle slumped down to the floor and began to sob as she examined the battered elements. Tirek slowly stomped toward her. The remaining surviving guards from the balcony returned to the throne room and trained their weapons on Twilight Sparkle.

"They are out of aerial support. Some of their balloons managed to make landfall but there's not enough to pose a threat." One of the guards reported.

"Well then, Twilight Sparkle. It looks like this ends with you." Starlight Glimmer taunted as she trotted up along side Twilight Sparkle.

"Princess Cadence-" Twilight Sparkle protested.

"Won't survive my siege for another week!" Starlight Glimmer interrupted. "Thorax, quit playing around!" Power surged through her horn as she teleported the remaining four from behind the pillar out into the open. "Execute them!" She ordered to the guards.

The guards opened fire and the other changeling at Chrysalis' side dived in front of her and was struck by a bolt from one of the arcanium blasters leaving him in a lifeless heap on the floor.

"Brother, no!" Thorax screamed. "You promised this would end peacefully!" Thorax pounced angrily at Starlight Glimmer. Starlight Glimmer teleported herself some distance away and fired a powerful blast at Thorax- leaving him motionless, on the floor.

"Enough!" Discord shouted angrily as he stood tall. Energy arced through his body as he disappeared in a flash- along with
Bon Bon, Chrysalis and the broken Elements of Harmony.

"Impossible!" Starlight Glimmer snarled.

"I don't understand." Tirek trembled.

"This isn't another one of your treacheries, is it?" Starlight Glimmer seethed with anger as she stared at Tirek. "Because if it is you will never see your brother again."

"Of course not." Tirek pleaded.

Twilight Sparkle shuddered in fear as she was stripped of both her magic and cutie mark.

"No matter." Starlight Glimmer grinned and placed a hoof on Twilight Sparkle's shoulder. "It looks like your little resistance has finally come to an end."

Act 2 - Part 2

"Hold still!" Bon Bon complained as Chrysalis struggled to her hooves while Bon Bon attempted to examine her wounds. The trio stood along a sandy beach with the ocean on one side and dense foliage on the other.

"I don't need your help! I was mostly just in shock." Chrysalis stepped away and then slumped down near the water. Bon Bon caught up and went back to treating her wounds.

Nearby; Discord stared at his paws in disbelief and then began examining the Elements of Harmony. "I just don't understand how I did that."

"It certainly didn't come from this trash!" Chrysalis snapped as she snatched one away and stared at it.

"I know things seem bad now." Bon Bon sighed. "But we're here in one piece, right?"

"Mostly one piece." Chrysalis winced in pain as Bon Bon sutured a wound on her back and then began bandaging one of her wings. "Surely, if it wasn't for you two I would be dead now. I suppose I am in your debt." She sighed.

"But why did the Elements of Harmony come with us?" Discord pondered. "I wasn't even thinking about them."

"Starlight Glimmer was right though. There is nopony left who can wield them!" Chrysalis shook the element she held with her right-front hoof. As she did it glowed bright-white and morphed an ornate golden anklet with a blue gem set in the center and attached itself firmly around her hoof.

"Curios." Discord pondered.

"I don't feel any different." Chrysalis noted.

"What were you thinking about, just now?" Bon Bon quizzed.

"Regrets." The others stared at her expecting a more detailed reply. "Just- that if I had set aside my differences sooner I could have helped the ponies defeat Starlight Glimmer and then things would be so much different now- more prosperous. No- more peaceful. Maybe there was a way to keep my swarm fed without preying on others; but once the Crystal Empire falls I am all that remains." Chrysalis looked down at the ground as a tear came to her eye.

"Then we better make sure the Crystal Empire doesn't fall- and I guess we better keep these safe." Bon Bon gathered the rest of the elements and shuffled them into a saddle bag.

"What's that?" Discord whispered. They could hear whistling coming from further down the beach.

"Oh, excuse me!" A male voice called out as a hippogriff with a ruffled green feather pattern, pointed with earthy brown colors, wandered into view. "Don't usually see many ponies about on the eastern shore." He added as he flashed Bon Bon an odd look.

"Why is that?" Bon Bon queried. The hippogriff went back to searching around the area as though he didn't hear the question.

"Oh, I don't suppose you've seen a hippogriff around here, have you?" The hippogriff asked in a troubled tone.

"You mean other than you?" Discord piped in sarcastically.

"Me? Don't be ridiculous! I'm a sea pony!" The hippogriff chuckled.

"So then Queen Novo didn't use a magic pearl to transform the hippogriffs into the sea ponies to escape the Storm King?" Bon Bon raised her hoof to her chin.

"Why, yes, of course I knew that! The name's Papageno! Servant to Queen Novo, herself!" The hippogriff boasted proudly as he offered a flamboyant hoofshake to each of the trio. "Wait! How do you know about the hippogriffs magic relics? Those are top secret. After Starlight Glimmer defeated the Storm King; she started selling us Equestria's abundant supply of arcanium to help us make more and we've since expanded our trade- not just magic pearls anymore: magic gemstones, magic carpets, magic flutes..."Papageno paused for a breath. "and I'm probably saying more than I'm supposed to." his enthusiasm faded with a sigh.

"You buy arcanium from Starlight Glimmer?" Bon Bon rolled her eyes.

"Yes, seems like a fair trade to me." Papageno nodded.

"She steals magic and cutie marks from ponies and turns it into arcanium!" Bon Bon protested furiously.

"If that were true then surely Queen Novo would never buy it!" Papageno huffed back angrily.

"That's what I came here to prove!" A female voice called out as the foliage to the west rustled. A yellow hippogriff with aquamarine colored tail and crown plumage wandered out of the brush and stood beside Papageno.

"Princess Skystar! Your mother has been absolutely worried about you!" Papageno lectured. "You know better than to run off chasing your crazy conspiracy theories!"

"I know what you're saying is true." Princess Skystar spoke compassionately as she looked over at the trio. "But my mother-" She pulled out a clam shell dressed with 'googly eyes' ."I absolutely refuse to act on unfounded rumors. Do you want to cause a diplomatic incident, young lady!?" She clapped the shell open and shut while speaking in a mocking voice.

"What can you tell me about this magic relic?" Chrysalis held her anklet out to the two hippogriffs.

"It was like these ones before." Bon Bon produced one of the broken elements and held it out.

"Ah, the Elements of Harmony." Papageno pondered as he looked it over. "Starlight Glimmer asked us if we could repair them- but their magic is different- they will only yield their power to a chosen bearer."

"It must have been so beautiful before." Princess Skystar sighed as she reached for the element. As she clutched it in her claw a brilliant glow erupted outward. She opened her claw and saw that it had transformed into a golden pendant with a dazzling red gemstone set in the center.

"No pony left who can wield them!" Bon Bon shouted in revelation.

"You mean I-" Chrysalis turned around and stood shoulder to shoulder with Princess Skystar. "You mean we are the Elements of Harmony now?"

"The elements must have brought us here to find their new chosen bearers." Bon Bon pondered.

"So then it wasn't me who teleported us here?" Discord sighed. "I knew it was too good to be true."

"I don't see how I embody any of the six elements." Chrysalis rolled her eyes.

"The elements have changed throughout history to represent the things the world needs most to thrive." Discord explained. "I should know. I was there; albeit trapped in stone for most of it."

"Chrysalis was being penitent when her element chose her. She must be the Element of Penitence " Bon Bon put her hoof on Chrysalis' shoulder as she spoke. "Princess Skystar risked her safety coming here to help the ponies of Equestria when she could otherwise live a perfectly comfortable life back home- she must be the Element of Compassion." She finished as she paced over to Princess Skystar.

"And I suppose magic will make it all complete once again." Discord pondered. "Then what are the other three?"

"This is pointless!" Chrysalis protested. "Until we find the remaining four elements- we won't defeat Starlight Glimmer with hope and idle speculation." She sneered.

"You're right." Bon Bon looked down and pondered momentarily. "If we could find where Starlight Glimmer is holding Scorpan and then free him we might be able to turn Tirek against her. Have your spies turned up anything?" Bon Bon turned to Chrysalis- who shook her head 'no' in reply.

"The Hippogriff Navy was paid to transport a large container to the Dragon Lands recently! A whole compliment of troops from Canterlot watched us the whole time to make sure we didn't peak! Very spooky!" Papageno piped in with excitement. "But that was a top secret mission so I'm not supposed to tell you."

"Then I guess we're heading for the Dragon Lands!" Princess Skystar said enthusiastically.

"Young lady, I can't go back to your mother empty-clawed!" Papageno protested.

"By the time you get home we'll be on our way back to Canterlot. If she's so worried about me then tell her she can meet me there!" Princess Skystar shouted as she motioned for the others to follow her- southeast, along the shoreline.

"There's only one problem." Bon Bon piped in as the rest of the group followed. "Not all of us can fly."

"Did pony say she need yak boat!?" A burly, male voice called out from further down the shore. A long wooden vessel, crowned with ornate carvings and patchwork plates of bronze armor- with a dozen pairs of oars protruding along its length paddled swiftly toward the shore. Prince Rutherford stood at the bow as his fur swept back heroically in the wind. Princess Skystar landed and lined up with the rest of the group, along the shore, as it slowed to a halt.

"A yak boat?" Discord raked his beard in a confounded manner.

"Yak boat- best boat!" Prince Rutherford proclaimed with a stomp of his hooves. The crew could be heard stomping and cheering in agreement from within the depths of the vessel.

"What are yaks doing on this side of Equestria?" Chrysalis asked.

"Yaks blocked in mountains by pony war zone! Yak try to make friends with purple pony but purple pony refuse! So yak make boat and row around war zone! Now yak head to Dragon Lands to try and make friend with dragons." Prince Rutherford explained.

"Dragon fire- best fire!" Princess Skystar said in a comical ventriloquist voice with a giggle as she held out her clam-shell companion.

"Yak will see about that!" Prince Rutherford said boastfully as he stared intensely at the clam shell.

"You'll bring us to the Dragon Lands!?" Bon Bon asked enthusiastically.

Prince Rutherford nodded and gestured toward the boat. The boat re-positioned itself broadside to the shore and two burly yaks slammed a boarding ramp down on the beach near the party. "Yak best helpers!"

The party boarded the boat, double-file. Bon Bon pinched her hoof against her snout. "That smell..." She whispered to Discord as she walked beside him. As the they finished boarding the two yaks in charge of the ramp pulled it back up onto the boat. The boat turned its bow to the horizon and took off swiftly as the crew inside began rhythmically paddling the mighty oars, singing "Yak song- best song!" repeatedly.

"It could be worse." Discord mocked.

Act 2- Part 3

The sun had escaped on the journey over and reemerged in a new day as Prince Rutherford's ship made landfall on the shore of the Dragon Lands. The party disembarked and was immediately drawn to the sight of a large number of hoof prints heading further inland to the south east.

"Ponies go this way!" Prince Rutherford observed.

"It looks like we're headed south." Bon Bon said as she paced off and signaled for Discord to follow.

"Dragon kingdom is north!" Prince Rutherford exclaimed.

"You're right." Bon Bon looked around and pulled off the saddle bag containing the rest of the Elements of Harmony and held it out toward the group. Bright light began to erupted from all around her and when it faded her cutie mark had reappeared.

"Your cutie mark!" Princess Skystar exclaimed as she took the bag from Bon Bon.

"It's not that it's candy or that it's three of them. But that they are together. My special talent is piecing things together- solving mysteries- figuring things out. I guess that's why I'm an agent. I have re-solved the original mystery." Bon Bon explained.

"We're reaching levels of meta here that shouldn't even be possible." Discord pondered as he raked his beard.

"It's up to you now." Bon Bon looked at Princess Skystar and Chrysalis. "Find the rest of the elements and help the rest of the ponies re-discover their special talents and create new magic to replace the magic that Starlight Glimmer has stolen from them." Bon Bon explained.

"Then perhaps it's not too late for our Equestria either- or my magic!" Discord popped with enthusiasm.

"Whatever is down that path will be heavily guarded!" Chrysalis warned as she trotted bravely toward Discord and Bon Bon. "You'll never make it on your own!"

"This is our journey. Seek out the rest of the elements on your way to the dragon kingdom- that is yours." Bon Bon ordered. "Besides- now that we know the elements still contain magic we can't afford to let Starlight Glimmer get her hooves on them again."

"I go to make friends with dragon on behalf of yak!" Prince Rutherford exclaimed. "But yak warriors go with pony to keep pony safe!" Prince Rutherford ordered. A dozen heavily armored yaks broke from the entourage and joined Bon Bon and Discord.

"Be careful." Chrysalis whispered to Bon Bon and Discord before rejoining Prince Rutherford and Princess Skystar.

Bon Bon and Discord quietly followed the hoofsteps and the vegetation grew denser as they moved further inland. They looked back to see their friends were no longer in sight.

"What's that?" Discord strained his eyes against the bright morning sky and pointed out a straight, narrow, white streak of cloud forming high in the sky. A rumble began to sound as it stretched overhead.

"I don't know. But I have a bad feeling about this." Bon Bon sighed.

The two looked forward- down the trail of hoofsteps. They followed it to a rise in the terrain. As they reached the top of the rise a large bunker in the middle of a clearing came into view down on the other side. A small army of armored ponies, sporting arcanium blasters, patrolled the perimeter. Bon Bon signaled for the accompanying yak army to halt.

"We're going to need a plan." Discord urged.

"Plan is yak smash!" One of the yaks shouted and the rest cheered.

"They'll put you down before you smash anything! Don't underestimate those weapons." Discord warned.

"If we draw some of them into the surrounding vegetation they'll lose their advantage." Bon Bon signaled for the yaks to approach along the vegetation.

"Of course! Then we could strip them of their weapons. I suppose you'll have me play the role of the bait." Discord rolled his eyes at the thought.

"Aces in their places. Wait for my signal." Bon Bon replied with a smug grin as she disappeared into the vegetation along with the yak warriors.

Bon Bon gave the signal as a small group of armored ponies approached Discord's position. As Discord emerged from over the rise he could hear the whir of servos with each of their steps and see that parts of them had been replaced with machinery.

"Is this the way to the-" Discord's ruse was interrupted immediately by the sound of blaster fire from the ponies- who began to shoot at him as soon as he entered their sights. "Not ones for conversation I see!" Discord huffed as he sprinted quickly toward the vegetation, zigzagging back and forth to narrowly avoid shots from the blasters.

As the ponies began to follow Discord into the vegetation the yaks wrenched them to the ground and began stomping them. Mechanical parts flew everywhere.

"These ponies are a combination of machine and pony!" Discord explained as he reached over to grab one that had pinned Bon Bon down.

"It doesn't look like there's any pony left in them." Bon Bon said with a sigh as she observed the dead expression on the pony's face. With a surge of strength she threw it to the ground and with a quick stomp it fell dead with the sound of one last mechanical whir. An alarm began to sound from the bunker. "Arm yourselves, fast!" She ordered.

Bon Bon and the yaks each equipped an arcanium blaster from the wreckage of the guards.

"How am I supposed to use this?" Discord pondered as he hoisted a blaster in front of himself.

"You'll figure something out, I'm sure." Bon Bon said as she gave Discord a comforting pat with her hoof. In that moment there was a flash of magic and the blaster had reshaped itself into a rifle-like apparatus- shaped to be perfectly manageable by Discord's appendages.

"I wish I knew how I kept doing this." Discord sighed as he examined his newly customized weapon.

"There it is again!" Bon Bon pointed to the sky as another white streak rumbled toward them; this time at a lower altitude and sporting the identifiable silhouette of a pegasus mare.

"Something gives me the feeling she's not on our side." Discord observed.

"Charge!" Bon Bon ordered with a hoof high in the air.

The yaks peaked out of the woods and began firing a vigorous salvo at the waves of guards that now converged on their position. Shots flung back and forth but the advancing guards fell and could not hit any of the yaks as they popped in and out of the vegetation for cover. As the mare in the sky rumbled closer another white streak began to form from underneath one of its wings.

"What is that?" Discord pondered as he strained his eyes against the bright morning sky. "Wait. Look out!" He hurried Bon Bon out of their concealed position as a rocket streaked past them and exploded into a brilliant ball of fire where they once stood.

"We have to move up!" Bon Bon ordered as she fired at some distant guards, skillfully scoring kill shots.

"Yak covering fire!" One of the yaks shouted as they unleashed a chaotic salvo of shots at the waves of approaching guards. Bon Bon and Discord seized the opportunity and quickly sprinted forward and dived, opportunistically, behind a stack of cargo crates.

"She's coming back!" Discord warned, pointing to the silhouette in the sky as it once again streaked in their direction. As it got close a deafening clatter sounded as a relentless, rapid volley of arcanium blaster shots rained down from the sky- striking several of the yak warriors. Discord carefully aimed and took a shot but the pegasus was too fast.

"We're done for if we can't shoot her down on the next pass!" Bon Bon complained.

"Well here she comes again!" Discord warned as he and Bon Bon fired desperately at the pegasus as she streaked past once more; indiscriminately bombarding the area with blaster shots, hitting the rest of the yak warriors along with most of the guards. Discord and Bon Bon kept firing at her as she flew in a broad arc in preparation for a final approach.

The pegasus swept in lower, revealing more detail of her form; her wings gave off a metallic glint and remained in a fixed position and she rode in front of a gout of flames. She was grey in color. The streams of two more rockets began extending toward Discord and Bon Bon, who looked at each other in terror before embracing each other as the rockets rapidly rumbled towards them.

A black streak swept in front of the rockets as they drew nearer to Bon Bon and Discord; and in a bright halo of light they exploded at a safe distance. As the halo faded they saw Chrysalis; converging rapidly on the aerial attacker. Energy crackled and arced between her horn and her anklet as a bright beam of light fired and blasted one of the mechanical wings off of the pegasus, who swooped down in a streak of black smoke and skidded to a halt and slumped down just outside the door of the bunker.

"Chrysalis! You came for us!" Bon Bon cheered as Chrysalis landed beside them. Bon Bon and Discord gave Chrysalis an excited hug.

"I wasn't about to let my best and only friends wander into their demise." Chrysalis said smugly. "Besides. Princess Skystar is much better suited to diplomacy."

"You also figured out how to use the element." Discord said as he raked his beard.

"We'll ponder this later. Let's find out what sinister secrets hide inside!" Chrysalis urged as she fired another beam of light- vaporizing a guard that charged toward them.

The scene fell eerily silent as the alarm stopped sounding. The remaining guards halted in place as the pegasus labored herself to her hooves and limped into the bunker.

"It almost looks like we're being invited in." Discord pondered as he looked over the sudden stillness.

"Why the red carpet, now?" Chrysalis added.

"Something tells me whatever's inside isn't going to be a tea party." Bon Bon warned as the trio reached the bunker door and swung it open.

Act 3 - Part 1

The bunker door opened directly into a shallow stairwell. Pipes and wiring lined the metallic walls of a single hallway below. Bon Bon, Chrysalis and Discord quietly followed a trail of blood and oil drops down the hall until it opened into a large room. Machinery and consoles lined the walls of the room and in the middle a gigantic gargoyle-like figure slumbered, taking shallow breaths. Like the guard ponies outside; much of his body had been replaced with machinery while cables and pipes ran between the machinery in the room and his body.

"Scorpan..." Discord said as he looked Scorpan over. "They must be preparing him to use that super weapon."

"No. I think he is the super weapon." Bon Bon rebutted as she observed a large cannon-like apparatus running along the length of one of Scorpan's arms.

The group surveyed the length of his body until they reached his head at the other end of the room. There stood a large ring shaped apparatus; which was attached by wires to a nearby console and off to one side the entrance to another hall.

"I've never seen enchantments like this before." Chrysalis said in awe.

"Not enchantments." An earth pony stallion called out as his silhouette emerged from the nearby hall with an eerie enthusiasm. "Science. Technology." Bon Bon and Discord trained their weapons on Dr. Hooves as his form became clear in the brighter lighting of the large room.

"As you can see I'm clearly not a war pony. So feel free to lower your weapons. I am here to help." Dr. Hooves explained calmly as he walked over to the console attached to the ring-like apparatus.

"Start talking." Bon Bon ordered as she removed the firing bridle from her head and Discord lowered his rifle. The trio lined up in front of Dr. Hooves.

"Chrysalis here, no doubt gave you two the condensed version of Equestrian history- our Equestrian history. That version lacks some important nuances." Dr. Hooves snickered as he fiddled with some controls on the console. Electricity arced through the ring-like apparatus and a gliding portal opened up. "Your world lies on the other side of this portal. You may leave now- unharmed."

Chrysalis simply hung her head and stood silently.

"But how?" Discord pondered. "With the magic drain."

"Where magic comes up short science always steps in with a solution." Dr. Hooves explained. "Wonderful, isn't it?"

"This must be how the filly is supplying all these weapons." Bon Bon said.

"Oh, goodness, no. The filly is an expert tactician and a brilliant mind but she is no inventor. It was I who found her. Until that fateful experiment she was going to let all of your world's magic simply vanish into the ether. But when it comes here we shall refine it into arcanium to run the machinery that will make our world prosper. Your Equestria will no doubt prosper under her rule- even without its magic. Look around you! You don't need magic to prosper. Everything you see here is of my creation." Dr. Hooves boasted.

"Why give her all the credit?" Bon Bon asked.

"If Starlight Glimmer knew I was the one making the weapons she would want all of them at once." Dr. Hooves paced over to Chrysalis and touched his hoof to her chin and she looked up in response. "And if there's one thing we can all agree on it's that Starlight Glimmer is a real loose cannon."

"Then why are you helping her?" Bon Bon chided.

"Come, my beloved!" Dr. Hooves called out toward the hallway. Derpy paced in meekly as servos whirred. Much of her body had also been replaced by machinery- one of her wings missing from her altercation with Chrysalis. She came to rest at a work station beside the console.

"I'm so tired." she sobbed.

"You just need another arcanium infusion, my love." Dr. Hooves walked over to a cylindrical arcanium vessel next to the portal, removed a shard of arcanium and then walked back over to Derpy. "Answering your question will require a proper history lesson." He said, turning to the trio before producing a strange tool and beginning to work on Derpy's missing wing.

The trio looked at each other and back at Dr. Hooves. "Oh, what the hey, let's hear it." Discord spoke.

"Tell me, what do you know of this conflict?" Dr. Hooves asked rhetorically as he loaded the arcanium shard into a small probe-like apparatus and then inserted it into a small slot on Derpy's back. Derpy yelped in pain as the apparatus made a hissing sound and when he removed it the arcanium shard was gone. "You know when Starlight Glimmer first came along the un-marking was strictly voluntary. One could argue that there was a lot of misinformation and propaganda promoting it. In fact I spoke my mind directly to Starlight Glimmer- I was free to disagree. And as you can see, I still am." He explained, pointing out his hourglass cutie mark.

"Me? I was just an ambitious inventor; living a comfortable, quiet life in Ponyville with my beloved." Dr. Hooves explained as he stroked Derpy's mane and then walked over to a nearby cabinet and produced a mechanical wing, clearly meant to replace the one Chrysalis had destroyed. "Starlight Glimmer approached me one day with a rather odd request." Clicks and hisses sounded as Dr. Hooves fitted the wing over Derpy's back and fiddled with the probe-like tool.

Chrysalis continued to stare downward while Discord and Bon Bon stared intently at Dr. Hooves, awaiting the rest of the story. "She wanted me to help figure out a way to use the removed cutie marks for something good. She wanted to give back with everything she had taken away." Dr. Hooves continued as he walked over to Derpy's other wing and lifted it up to examine her body beneath it. "After some toiling I discovered it, atleast for this world- the arcanium refinement process. The cutie marks became fuel for other inventions that improved the life of ponies."

"That doesn't make it right!" Bon Bon snapped.

"Of course not. I voiced my concerns to Starlight Glimmer and we agreed to disagree. It certainly wasn't worth starting a war over. But the four princesses certainly disagreed." Dr. Hooves folded Derpy's other wing back to her side and carried on examining the patchwork of mechanical parts on her. "By then Starlight Glimmer and her movement had gained popular support thanks in no small part to the marvels arcanium technology brought to their lives. When she finally ousted the hold-outs it was to cheering crowds. Not the regressive coup that you no doubt imagined."

"If you disagreed then why did you continue to help her?" Bon Bon asked with a sigh.

"I'm getting to that. This change was not without animosity on both sides. Which side fired the first shots? That I can't say." Dr. Hooves stroked Derpy's mane gently and looked her in the eyes and then turned back to the trio. "I was ready to leave Starlight Glimmer's side. That is- until the day my beloved was caught in the cross-fire. The day I held her broken body in my hooves and watched the life drain from her eyes." A tear ran down his face. Discord, Bon Bon and Chrysalis all reacted with a conspicuous pang of empathy. "And as you can no doubt see here science, technology- it can mend a broken body with ease." His voice turned from sorrow to matter of fact.

"But?" Bon Bon urged him on.

"But there is so much more to a pony's soul. To bring her back and keep her here- that requires a steady supply of arcanium." Dr. Hooves explained as he paced back to the arcanium cylinder by the portal, opened the lid and reached in. "Something I can only get enough of in Starlight Glimmer's Equestria!" He shouted as he pulled his hoof back out of the cylinder. A device was attached to the end of his hoof which he pointed at the trio as he paced back over to Derpy's side.

"Once your world's magic arrives; Starlight Glimmer will have no cause to bother you. So please accept my offer of mercy." He urged as he pointed to the portal. "Just go home and be with your loved ones."

Discord and Bon Bon looked over to Chrysalis and the three nodded. Chrysalis leveled her horn at the portal and fired a magical blast- the portal closed and disappeared as the broken piece of the machine creating it clattered to the ground.

"You ignorant fools!" Dr. Hooves shouted angrily. "We will just build another, you know!" With a popping noise a blur headed from the device on his wrist. A net made of the anti-magic alloy snagged Chrysalis and pinned her tightly to the ground. Discord and Bon Bon dashed in opposite directions and took cover behind some of the machinery in the room.

"Destroy them, my love." Dr. Hooves ordered to Derpy.

"I don't want to do this any more." Derpy sobbed in reply.

"You know I hate doing this." Dr. Hooves sighed as he used his other hoof to press a button on the device. Derpy winced in pain as she stood to attention against her will.

Servos whirred and metal clattered as Derpy trotted toward Bon Bon's hiding place with supernatural speed. Discord emerged from his cover and fired a shot at Derpy- sparks scattered in the air as the blast struck her wing, melting a small portion of it. The arcanium cannon beneath that wing turned around and fired back at Discord, forcing him back into cover all-the-while Derpy's hooves never missed a beat.

"She is superior to you in every way!" Dr. Hooves boasted as he quickly scrambled up some pipes running along the wall to a platform that overlooked the rest of the room.

Derpy jumped at Bon Bon and a metal ringing sounded as sharp metallic claws deployed around her front hooves. Bon Bon narrowly jumped out of the way as Derpy landed, the sharp claws piercing the metallic flooring with ease.

"We have to get that device!" Bon Bon shouted as she worked the control bridle for her arcanium blaster back into position.

Derpy pulled the metallic claws from the floor and began firing a salvo of shots from under both wings toward Bon Bon, who scrambled for cover behind another machine. Discord placed his paw to climb the pipes to go after Dr. Hooves but Derpy fired a shot which struck the pipe he was holding. Steam burst from the pipe and Discord recoiled in pain as it burned his paw.

"Easier said than done!" Discord complained as he ducked behind a wooden crate for cover. He tried to manage his arcanium rifle into firing position but the pain from his burn was too great.

Bon Bon trained her sights on Derpy and fired a quick shot which struck her on some metallic plating, which erupted into a gout of sparks. Derpy resumed firing on Bon Bon's new position, sending her scrambling for different cover, behind the same crate as Discord.

"My paw!" Discord yelped in pain, showing off his wound.

Bon Bon shrugged the arcanium blaster off of her back and fiddled around, dumping out a small pile of arcanium crystals onto the ground.

"What are you doing?" Discord whispered as the sound of Derpy's advancing hoofsteps drew closer.

"Trust me." Bon Bon said as she grabbed Discord's arcanium rifle and set it up on the ground with the muzzle pointing at the arcanium crystals and plucked a hair from her mane. "When I say go." She whispered as she tied the hair between her hoof and the trigger. Discord looked at her and nodded. Metallic scraping sounded as the blades on Derpy's hooves contacted the ground as she wound up in a jump. "Not yet." Bon Bon whispered. "Now!" Bon Bon shouted as Derpy came crashing through the crate they hid behind.

As the duo jumped the hair Bon Bon had rigged up pulled the trigger on the arcanium rifle. A defeaning blast sounded and shrapnel peppered Bon Bon and Discord as a bright explosion went off, filling the room with black smoke. Bon Bon and Discord landed hard on the floor beside each other as the room fell silent.

"No!" Dr. Hooves screamed in anguish, piercing the silence as the black veil of smoke began to thin. He quickly rushed to Derpy who had landed near where Chrysalis was still pinned to the floor. A hole in one of the armor plates on Derpy's chest revealed a red pulsating sphere inside of her which now crackled with electricity. He turned around abruptly and fired another net from the device on his hoof, pinning Bon Bon and Discord down. "Hold still, love." He trembled as he produced the probe-like instrument again. "I just need to infuse more arcanium to stabilize your core and we will get you all fixed up." He explained as he rushed over to the arcanium vessel and opened the lid and fell silent staring down inside.

"What treachery is this!?" He screamed with rage as he threw the vessel onto its side. Marbles poured out all over the floor with a rattling noise. "How?"

"I'm tired." Derpy whimpered as she took shallow breaths and looked over at Dr. Hooves.

"No matter." Dr. Hooves walked over to Chrysalis and held out the probe. "Your magic will keep her stable until I can get her to the refinery."

"Stop." Derpy pleaded but Dr. Hooves activated the probe.

Chrysalis cried out in pain as energy arced between her and into the probe.

"Please. Struggling will only make it take longer and I'm told it is very painful." Dr. Hooves pleaded as he stared into Chrysalis' eyes.

"Listen to her! Do you even care what she wants?" Bon Bon lectured as she struggled against the net.

"Please." Derpy pleaded.

"But you are dying!" Dr. Hooves protested as he continued to use the probe on Chrysalis.

"Not like this." Derpy sobbed. "I'm already dead."

"Are you holding on for her or are you holding on for you?" Discord piped in. Dr. Hooves stopped the probe and dropped it on the ground and slumped down. "It's hard to let go. I know" Discord sighed as he struggled under the net to touch Bon Bon's hoof with his paw. "But sometimes if you don't- the ponies you love will suffer for it."

"I'm so sorry. What have I done?" Dr. Hooves began to sob as he walked over to Derpy and slumped down at her side. The two turned toward each other and their eyes met.

"I love you." Derpy whimpered to him.

"I love you too." He shuddered as he began to cry.

"Can I sleep now?" Derpy asked with eyes full of tears as she reached out and touched his face with her hoof.

"Yes. Let us both rest." Dr. Hooves pressed a button on the device on his hoof and the nets holding the trio loosened, releasing their captives. He then laid down and embraced Derpy. "Get out of here!" He ordered to the trio as Derpy's power core began to pulsate and crackle more violently.

The trio wasted no time and quickly ran out of the bunker after shaking free from the nets. The ground quaked and a bright explosion pierced the ground, which caved in downward, burying the machinations within. As the dust settled the trio looked up, dazed. After the confusion and ringing of their ears subsided they found themselves in familiar company.

"Yak missed all the excitement!?" Prince Rutherford called out. He wore a bright red cape which was clasped together by one of the Elements of Harmony.

"We have everyone but an Element of Magic!" Princess Skystar boasted.

"Element of Courage!" Prince Rutherford exclaimed as he bowed down.

A grey griffin swooped down and landed beside the two. "Gabby the Griffin. Element of Inspiration!" she introduced herself as she showed off an amulet around her neck.

"Spike the dragon! Element of Determination." Spike proclaimed proudly as he landed with a flutter of his wings beside the others.

"I guess this is where we switch trains." Chrysalis said as she struggled to her hooves and joined the other new elements.

"Well it's not like we're going anywhere any time soon." Bon Bon sighed as she got up and examined the newly assembled team.

"There might still be a way to get home." Discord said. "We have to get to the arcanium refinery"

"Starlight Glimmer is no match for our team!" Princess Skystar squealed excitedly.

The excitement was soon wiped out as the ground began to rumble beneath the group once more. The group backed up and stared as a section of the ground collapsed into a shallow fissure and Scorpan burst out from it. "The light fades from my vision!" He called out as he began stomping toward the group. "I am losing control of these infernal machines! You must use the Elements of Harmony to destroy me." He raised his cannon arm and fired a shot at the group. They all scattered as it struck the ground with a mighty explosion.

"But we're missing one!" Princess Skystar pleaded as she soared in circles around his head. Scorpan casually swatted at her, sending her crashing into the ground nearby.

Spike strafed by as he unleashed a gout of flame, singeing Scorpan's flesh and hair but Scorpan showed no sign of discomfort. "It's no use!" He complained.

Chrysalis leveled her horn and fired a beam of light at Scorpan, who shrugged it off and then raised his arm to return fire at her. Gabby quickly dived in and pushed his arm off to the side, directing the shot harmlessly to the side. The explosion of the shot beside Chrysalis was still powerful enough to concuss her and knock her down. Scorpan motioned to step on her.

"Yak smash!" Prince Rutherford called out as he charged in and intercepted Scorpan's leg, sending him over onto his back. Scorpan quickly raised back to his feet.

Bon Bon and Discord watched helplessly from the side lines. The fliers buzzed in circles around Scorpan, taking shots at him to no avail while Prince Rutherford assaulted with physical force but they were completely outmatched by their foe.

"There must be something we can do." Discord complained.

"Wait. I've figured it out." Bon Bon said excitedly. "Skystar! Throw me the Element of Magic!" She ordered.

Princess Skystar reached into her bag and motioned to toss the element of magic over to Bon Bon but another mighty swat from Scorpan's arm sent it flying off course. Gabby quickly dived past and snatched it with her own claw as Scorpan unleashed a salvo of cannon blasts in her direction; forcing her to dive for cover behind a pile of rubble. Scorpan aimed his cannon toward the pile of rubble and energy arced as he prepared to fire. Chrysalis quickly flew into the path of a blast and a sphere of light encased her as the cannon blast broke around it like a wave on a rock.

"Here!" Gabby called out as she gave the element one last toss, reaching its mark in Bon Bon's hoof.

"Take my hoof!" Bon Bon held out her hoof to Discord. "Just trust me!"

"I do trust you!" Discord proclaimed as he grabbed her hoof. The Element of Magic began to glow and energy crackled between the couple. "Of course." He said, affirming Bon Bon's revelation.

"Now!" Bon Bon shouted to the group.

The group focused on Scorpan as their elements began to glow as well- each firing a blinding beam of light toward him. The scene fell silent from the deafening blast as they met in a massive explosion of light. It took a moment for eyes to adjust but when they did they saw Scorpan laying on the ground taking shallow breaths. The Element of Magic reverted to its unclaimed, tarnished form.

"Here!" Bon Bon called out as she tossed the element back towards Princess Skystar. "This belongs to your world."

Discord snapped his fingers and his eyes lit up with delight as he and Bon Bon reappeared in front of Scorpan's head as Scorpan held his head up toward them.

"These title drops are getting a little tiresome but I guess friendship really is magic." Discord pondered.

"Everything is becoming clear now." Scorpan panted. "It's too late for me." Scorpan reached up with one of his arms and dropped a pendant on the ground in front of them. "Give this to my brother. Tell him that Starlight Glimmer killed me. The light is fading again but at least now I am free of these machines." His eyes closed and his breathing slowed. "Tell him also that I love him and forgive him for his deeds." Only the sound of dust settling remained after he drew his final breath.

Act 3 - Finale

"Young lady you are late!" Queen Novo lectured as the group of seven appeared in the Canterlot throne room with a flash of magic. She stood near the throne in hippogriff form along with several armored hippogriffs.

"I missed being able to do that." Discord sighed.

"Mom!" Princess Skystar stepped forward. "Where's Starlight Glimmer?"

"The palace was abandoned when we arrived." Queen Novo explained.

Discord looked out at the setting sun. "She must be at the refinery!" he said. "We have to get there before the sun fully sets."

"Let's go!" Princess Skystar said excitedly as she stepped forward.

"No." Bon Bon shook her head. "We'll take it from here. You five need to go find your world a new Element of Magic."

"We made a great team." Chrysalis said with tears in her eyes as she stepped forward and exchanged a hug with Bon Bon and then Discord.

"You're saying this like we can't just come visit you any time." Bon Bon said with a sniffle.

"I hate to be the party-pooper but after seeing the consequences of two parallel worlds co-mingling I think it would be wise not to meddle with gliding ever again." Discord said with an apologetic sigh.

Chrysalis looked up with a hopeful gleam in her eyes. "Perhaps not this way. But I am hopeful that one day we shall meet again."

"I-" Discord stopped and looked over at Bon Bon. Bon Bon held out her hoof and Discord grabbed on to it. "We can't thank you enough for helping us figure this all out.

"Well everypony knows it's best not to have warriors at your side who are distracted by their petty quarrels." Chrysalis said modestly. Bon Bon and Discord smiled at her. "Go, now! The sun is nearly set." she added.

With a snap of his fingers Discord teleported himself and Bon Bon back to the arcanium refinery. They stood near the pit where it all began. Tirek and Starlight Glimmer overlooked the pit along with two armed guards. The spherical concentration of Equestria's magic grew more opaque as the time neared for it to cross over and energy arced randomly against metallic surfaces with a menacing crackling noise.

"You again!" Starlight Glimmer huffed as they appeared. "Destroy them!" She ordered.

The two armored guards opened fire on Discord and Bon Bon. Discord held up his arm and the shots deflected off of a shield of energy that appeared briefly in their path and back at the guards firing them, knocking them to the ground.

"We found your little operation in the Dragon Lands." Bon Bon boasted.

"We shut it down." Discord added.

"Tirek!" Starlight Glimmer ordered.

Tirek began to stomp toward the duo but halted abruptly when Bon Bon held up Scorpan's pendant. "Where did you get that!?" He demanded.

"From your brother. Starlight Glimmer killed him." Bon Bon explained grimly.

"You!" Tirek turned angrily towards Starlight Glimmer. "You promised me no harm would come of him if I did your deeds."

Starlight Glimmer backed away fearfully. "We didn't harm him physically. We made him stronger. More powerful. Into a weapon."

"And you killed his soul in the process." Bon Bon said. Tirek looked toward her and she tossed him Scorpan's pendant. Tirek clutched it and stared down at his hand.

Starlight Glimmer fired a blast from her horn at Tirek, who shrugged it off and then picked her up in his hand tightly. With a glowing, orange beam of energy and a gust of air Starlight Glimmer's magic was quickly siphoned out of her. Tirek dropped her down to the floor.

"Now what?" Starlight Glimmer taunted as she struggled back to her hooves. "Do you think things can just go back to the way they were for you? Outside of my kingdom you have no future."

Tirek looked down in shame and back toward Bon Bon and Discord.

"You don't have to listen to her anymore." Bon Bon said solemnly. "Scorpan's dying words were that he loves you and forgives you for everything you have done."

With a thundering crash Tirek knelt down and began to sob. The disturbance around the sphere of energy became more violent as the barrier between the two worlds began to sheer open. Small debris followed howling currents of air through the rift that began to form.

"Disgusting!" Starlight Glimmer cringed and spat on the ground.

"There will be a brief moment after the magic crosses through. We should be able to safely jump through and end up back home!" Discord explained as the sphere of energy began to emerge.

"What happens if our timing is off?" Bon Bon asked right before her question was answered by a small piece of metal piping that had broken off from the machinery inside; it rushed past them and was instantly vaporized on contact with the magical sphere.

"That." Discord said.

The duo motioned to position themselves closer to the rift but Starlight Glimmer stood in their way. "You're not going anywhere!" She warned.

"I'd like to see you try!" Discord pointed at Starlight Glimmer and a stream of magic rushed toward her but was quickly drawn into the sphere of magic.

Starlight Glimmer responded with a maniacal laugh. "Did you think it was just going to be that easy?" she taunted. "You will remain here and fix the damage you have done."

"My brother's forgiveness doesn't make up for everything I've done." Tirek said with eyes full of sorrow as he stood up tall once more and headed towards the group.

"Then you know what must be done?" Starlight Glimmer asked. Tirek replied with an affirming nod. Bon Bon and Discord embraced each other in fear.

"Time to end this!" Tirek shouted as he grabbed on to Starlight Glimmer.

"No!" Starlight Glimmer screamed as Tirek jumped with her into the sphere of magic; the two vaporized on their way in.

"Are you ready!?" Discord asked with no time to pause as he grabbed on to Bon Bon; the sphere had nearly emerged completely.

Bon Bon nodded.

Discord bared down, ready to jump but then the sphere suddenly retreated back through the rift and the rift closed. The two looked at each other as stillness came over the scene.

"Somepony must have stopped the magic drain on the other side." Discord pondered.

"Or somecreature." Bon Bon joked.

Discord snapped his fingers and the two found themselves back home in their own Equestria, standing on a cloud overlooking the scene at the school of friendship. Magic exploded like fireworks from the basement of the school as it returned to its rightful sources across Equestria.

"Well that was all rather anticlimactic." Discord said with a sigh.

"But it worked out in the end, didn't it?" Bon Bon looked at Discord and smiled.

"It always does when I'm with you." Discord said as he gave Bon Bon a hug. "I was just hoping we would be the ones to save the day with some grandiose deus ex machina while dispensing some kind of valuable life lesson in the process." He explained with a sigh of disappointment.

"You know." Bon Bon started but then paused and gave Discord a kiss on the cheek. "Something tells me that our next adventure together is right around the corner." She finished with a smile.

"Yes." Discord raked his beard. "Something with gratuitous explosions, giant robots, and plenty of mare-on-mare action!" Discord cheered excitedly.

"Didn't we do that last time?" Bon Bon joked. The two laughed and then hugged each other again.

"Look!" Bon Bon pointed to a large procession of guards marching in from Canterlot.

"I bet they're coming to arrest the filly. Shall I take us in for a better look?" Discord offered.

"I think our friends on the ground can handle her just fine." Bon Bon said with a smile as she held her hoof out. Discord happily clutched on to it. "Did you want to go back to your place?" Bon Bon offered.

"You know I think Chrysalis is right. We shouldn't try to rush into anything we both aren't ready for." Discord said with a sigh. "But are you doing anything tomorrow morning?" He asked boldly.

"Well I have about three days worth of errands to catch up on." Bon Bon explained.

"Oh. Well I suppose we should both head home and rest then." Discord hung his head.

"But it would be nice to have my best friend with me." Bon Bon smiled at Discord. Discord squeezed her hoof and smiled back as the sky scintillated above them with streams of magic.