King Sombra tried to open his eyes, but couldn't. He had been destroyed once more, this time by the Elements of Harmony. He couldn't believe what was happening. Grogar was right. He underestimated the Princess of Friendship, and it cost him. His pride was truly shattered. He felt he was no longer worthy of another resurrection. Then, suddenly, he felt his strength returning. Strong enough that he opened his eyes once more and looked around. He was revived in Grogar's lair once more.
"Hello again, King Sombra." Grogar announced, sitting at his crystal ball.
"Grogar. I don't understand. I was destroyed once more. I underestimated the Elements, and it cost me my life, and yet you resurrect me again?" Sombra asked the former Emperor of Equestria.
"It is nice to see you humbled yourself, Sombra. I was about to leave you as an example to the others to gain their loyalty, but I'm afraid we've been...compromised." Grogar explained, raising Sombra's eyebrow.
"Compromised? Care to explain?" Sombra asked Grogar, as Grogar waved his hooves at his crystal ball, drawing Sombra closer to the vision it has to present.
The ponies formerly mind controlled by Sombra's magic have been aching, as if they had slept for a hundred years. Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends searched around to see if they could find their friends and family.
"There you are, Darling!" Rarity exclaimed as she gave a large hug to her sister, Sweetie Belle.
"Applejack? How'd we get in Canterlot?" Applebloom asked Applejack as the two sisters hugged each other and Big Mac. Rainbow Dash swooped down and snatched Scootalo from the crowd.
"Found you." Rainbow Dash quipped as they hugged each other. Twilight Sparkle flew around the still recovering crowds to see if she could find her closest friends caught in the spell.
"Spike? Starlight? Where are you?" Twilight called out, hoping to find them soon. She flew down to Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, who were helping others get back to their families.
"Have you seen Spike and Starlight yet?" Twilight asked Pinkie.
"We haven't found them yet." Pinkie informed Twilight, letting her ears down. Twilight followed.
"Don't worry Twilight. We'll find them." Fluttershy reassured Twilight.
"Thanks. I just hope we can find them..." Twilight said before a blood-curdling scream can be heard by the entire crowd.
"...soon?" Twilight finished. She flew over to the source of the scream and couldn't believe her eyes. She saw Spike on a rooftop, held against his will by a young boy, no older than 13, telekinetically holding Starlight in the air by her throat, practically choking her. The boy had a pale blue coat, practically zombie-like, had a black, messy mane, and matching tail, and wore a strange looking jumpsuit that made him look like an edgy Deviantart OC. Even more peculiar about this strange pony is that he was a pegasus, not a unicorn, and was somehow using telekinesis to threaten Starlight.
"I was wondering how long it would take for you to find this." The pony sarcastically taunted, chuckling at Twilight.
"Is this another one of Sombra's schemes?" Twilight asked, trying to get answers. The pony just rolled his eyes and scoffed.
"Please, I have nothing to do with that chump. In fact, I forgot that guy was a thing before I got here." The strange pony remarked.
"Then who are you? What do you want?" Twilight continued, readying her horn to attack the strange pony.
"Well, if I must. My name is Lightning Bug, and I come to take over Equestria with my own team of villains." Lightning Bug explained.
"Well, it was nice to meet you, but please, let go of my friends." Twilight roared at Lightning Bug, who only smirked at the princess' attempt at intimidation.
"Very poor choice of words." Lightning Bug laughed as he threw Starlight far into one direction and Spike in the opposite. The clock was ticking for her, as she headed off to rescue Starlight from an impending fall. Twilight didn't even bother choosing, because she trusted Rainbow Dash would rescue Spike if she went to catch Starlight. Faster and faster Twilight flew, closer and closer to catching Starlight. Or at least, it seemed.
Without warning, Twilight's eyes flickered, as she could no longer see Starlight or the ground she could end up landing on. She had mysteriously gone blind. She kept on flying in hopes she would find Starlight either way. Until, though Twilight couldn't see it, some lightning came from out of the sky and hit Twilight in the back, rendering her unconscious. Both Twilight and Starlight hurdled to the ground together, both seething with pain, as another strange pony walked up to the Princess and Starlight. Twilight's eyes started returning to normal, but not before passing out completely. The last thing she saw of the pony was a pale tan coat with dark brown hair, a light blue shirt, purple pants, some black shoes, and glowing white eyes. The strange pony stared at Starlight, causing him to disappear before his eyes. He smiled, and disappeared himself, leaving Twilight unconscious and alone.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash rushed over and caught Spike in midair. Spike was breathing heavily, after being launched high up and held hostage from a crazy pre-teen.
"Hey, thanks Rainbow." Spike said, holding on tight despite the fact he could fly.
"Don't mention it." Rainbow Dash chuckled, as they floated to the ground safely.
"I wouldn't thank her yet." a deep male voice called out from behind. The figure threw a cracked crown at Rainbow Dash, causing her to bleed a little, and otherwise knock her out cold. Spike was in shock. He was already held captive once by Sombra and another by Lightning Bug, and if he wasn't careful, it looks like it would have to be three times. The cracked crown boomeranged back to its master, a large male stallion with a tan coat, a blonde-ish mane, tail and some scruff on his face, and wore a mostly Scottish outfit, as well as his peculiar crown.
"Honestly, there's no use in resisting Spike. Come with me willingly, and you'll live." the figure demanded.
"OK, fine! Just don't hurt me or my friends!" Spike whimpered, as the figure took Spikes hand.
"I knew you'd make the right choice." The stallion remarked, before calling out to the sky.
"We've got the dragon! Take us out of here, Mr. Brine." The figure called out before Spike vanished similar to Starlight did before. The figure let out a mad cackle before disappearing himself.
"They...they didn't put up much of a fight." Sombra commented as the two finished viewing their vision of the transpired events.
"The Elements, or these new enemies?" Grogar asked Sombra, they both took some time to process the new threat.
"Both of them. The Elements tried their feeble tricks and failed, however this...child...was practically playing with them. His allies caught them by surprise, and quickly beat them." Sombra commented.
"And if we're not careful, we could end up the same way." Grogar warned.
"I've already warned the others. I prepared a dorm for you. Go, and rest. I'll try to concoct a plan to face both the Elements and this new threat." Grogar instructed as Sombra headed off, while Grogar stared into his crystal ball, hoping for an idea to come to him soon.
Grogar looked deeper into his crystal ball deeper than ever before. Not only to take down the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, but the new band of villains who threaten to take Equestria before Grogar and his team do. As he stared deeper and deeper, no plan came to be. In the meantime, Cozy Glow played a few card games with Tirek, Chrysalis minded her own business, and Sombra came out of his dorm.
"Sombra? Funny seeing you back." Cozy Glow said, placing a card down.
"Likewise, child." Sombra said as he took a seat, hoping for a plan to come into action.
"Honestly, we thought you were done for. And used as an example for Grogar to secure our loyalty." Chrysalis commented. Everyone looked at Chrysalis awkwardly.
"What? Isn't that what most villains do?" Chrysalis asked.
"Honestly, that was the intention." Grogar mentioned.
"Then those weirdos showed up. Boy, I wish they were here so we could deal with them now." Tirek said, placing down three cards.
"Don't we all?" Grogar asked, staring into the crystal ball. Suddenly, the Crystal Ball went black and started glowing a bright red. Red lightning sprouted in all directions, one of them blasting Grogar and knocking him back. Cozy Glow hid behind a rock, while Chrysalis formed a shield around herself and Tirek. Sombra went into his shadow form so the lightning would go through him. Then, suddenly, the lightning stopped, but the Crystal Ball still went black and glowed bright red.
"Is this thing on?" A voice called out from the Crystal Ball. Everyone stopped defending themselves and huddled close to the crystal ball, which went from pitch black, to the face of Lightning Bug. Grogar sneered at the boy's face.
"What do you want?" Cozy Glow asked Lightning Bug
"To formally introduce ourselves." Lightning Bug explained to Cozy Glow as the villains looked at one another.
"I am Lightning Bug. With me in my crusade to conquer Equestria are Bobby Worst, Blue Banana, Herobrine, Mad King Ryan, Jimmy Casket, and Desti." Lightning Bug explained as he revealed his team to Grogar's team of villains.
Bobby Worst had a unicorn body with black-greying hair, a black jumpsuit with buckled, a cape, and gold sneakers, and wore green eyeshadow and lipstick.
Blue Banana had an Earth Pony body and wore a light blue jumpsuit with various color decals, as well as a blue and yellow cape, and wielded a blue banana in his front right hoof.
Herobrine had a unicorn body and his description revealed himself to be Starlight's kidnapper, while Mad King Ryan's description revealed himself to be Spike's kidnapper.
Jimmy Casket had a pegasus body and wore a torn up sweatshirt, wielded a large kitchen knife, and appeared extremely mentally sick.
Desti had a pegasus body, but had pinkish purplish tentacles for hair, wore a blue sweatshirt, and had dangerous yellow eyes.
"Now, if you have any questions about us, speak now or forever hold your peace when we head off to war." Lightning Bug explained as Grogar and his team examined Lightning Bug's team of villains. Without any armies, they'd still be outnumbered 7-5. They'd have to think this through carefully. They don't even know what these villains are capable of alone.
"What are you gonna do about the Elements of Harmony?" Chrysalis asked Lightning Bug, who scoffed in response.
"I have hostages, which would be the perfect leverage against Fluttershy and her friends." Lightning Bug explained. Everyone was confused. Why did he refer to the Element of Kindness, rather than Magic? Sombra might have had a good idea of what he was planning.
"You were watching my battle against Discord, weren't you?" Sombra asked Lightning Bug.
"No. That was Blue Banana, actually. But I get what you're trying to get at. Any other questions?" Lightning Bug responded.
"No. All I have to say is, I'll be looking forward to seeing you on the battlefield." Grogar said, wickedly smiling. Lightning Bug smiled wickedly in response.
"Can't wait to kick your butt, old man." Lightning Bug remarked, ending the message.
"So, any ideas for plans?" Cozy Glow asked as Grogar sat back into his seat.
"Not one at the moment, child." Grogar explained. Chrysalis put her hoof to her chin.
"You know, I have an idea for a plan. I just need an army of changelings loyal to me in order to pull this off." Chrysalis explained as Grogar thought it over.
"I know just the glyph for this." Grogar commented as the two headed off to the back of Grogar's lair.
Twilight spent hour after hour scouring the Cutie Map, hoping to find Spike and Starlight. She was slowly losing energy after examining the map for so long, she couldn't be able to sleep.
"Ummm, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked as she peeked through the door.
"I haven't found them yet, but I will." Twilight explained, trying to examine closer. Trying to see if there was anything she missed.
"Twilight, it's very late. You need your rest." Fluttershy countered, placing her hoof on Twilight's wing.
"Not while Spike and Starlight are counting on me. Whoever these kidnappers are, they'll surely regret it." Twilight said.
"Maybe that's what they want." Fluttershy theorized, raising Twilight's eyebrow.
"Look, I'll look over the map and see if I find anything. But I can't do it for too long. For now, you need your rest." Fluttershy said, as Twilight got down from her seat and headed up to her room.
"Thanks, Fluttershy. At least I still have you." Twilight said as she closed the door. Fluttershy got to work on examining the map. There was nothing out of the ordinary, except the Everfree Forest was glowing a bright red, as if these new villains were setting up some sort of camp there.
"Oh, no. Zecora!" Fluttershy whispered to herself, as Zecora's hut was in this red space. She also found a red space in the cave where the remains of the Tree of Harmony rested.
"What do they want with the fractured Elements?" Fluttershy asked herself Fluttershy had to come up with some sort of plan to deal with both problems, but it had to be in the morning. She left the map open on those two spaces, hoping Twilight would find it in the morning, and headed off to her hut to get some rest herself. Hopefully, Twilight would come up with some sort of plan by then.