Food for thought.

"So, as I understand this, we are allowing a potentially dangerous species of metamorphic, quintessence harvesting spies to have a small section of the quintessence rich forest, so that they can harvest quintessence." Kolivan summarises.

~~So that they can survive.~~ I add.

"Yes. And we are doing this because princess Luna has magically promised to help these "changelings"." Kolivan continues.

~~Through a mark of binding.~~

"I do not approve of this." Kolivan says.

~~Listen, Kolivan. I know this isn't an ideal situation but they are dying. They need help. If they don't get it, they'll suffer and die out. It's either they get a~~ small ~~portion of the forest or they use me. And I know you'll dislike that even more.~~ I argue.

"…Yes. You are correct. You said they would help us in exchange?" Kolivan asks.

~~Yes. They have agreed to have some of their kind join the ranks of the Arcadian royal guard as espionage agents.~~

"And how do we know they will not spy on us?" Kolivan asks.

~~Because their queen gave me her word and I am giving them a chance.~~ I answer.

"…" Kolivan stays silent for a moment before speaking. "I will make sure that they are closely monitored in their activities inside the forest. If I find anything suspicious, I am driving them out." Kolivan declares.

~~And you have my blessing to do so.~~ I sigh in relief. ~~Now, I better…~~ I trail off as it begins raining. Looking up at the clouds, I see numerous pink clouds doting the skies, raining brown rain down on everything.

"What is this? And why is it… sweet?" Kolivan asks, a "raindrop" having fallen in his mouth.

~~Voltron, what is this?~~ I ask as the rain begins to drench everything, strangely evaporating as it touches my body.

Response: It appears to be chocolate milk. Warning: I am detecting a familiar quintessence signature above us. It is Discord's chaotic magic signature.

~~Discord is back.~~ I say.

"Discord? That amalgamation from Bob's game?" Kolivan asks as he stares at the fluffy pink clouds.

~~Yeah. Looks like he's causing trouble and he's apparently directly~~-

Notice: Discord's position has changed. I am now detecting his signature in the throne room.

~~He's in the throne room. Make sure nothing happens to the Dagger.~~ I say, getting a nod from Kolivan as I take off.

(Lulu POV)

(A minute earlier)

As I look outside, I see brown liquid raining down on the kingdom.

"What is that?" One of the guards ask.

"It can't be." My sister and I say at the same time, both recognizing the strange phenomenon.

"We need to contact Twilight and the others." Celestia says, standing from her throne.

"Now hold your horses, princess! Why stop the fun when it has only just started!" A familiar voice sounds from every direction.

"Discord. Show yourself!" I declare.

"Well if you insist." Discord says, popping into existence in front of us, caricatures of myself and my sister attached to his hands.

"Discord. Why have you returned?" Celestia asks.

"Why I just wanted to see you again! These puppets of you have become awfully mundane. So I thought, instead of playing with them, I'll play with you two instead!" Discord yells, proceeding to throw the glowing puppets at the two of us. Not willing to let the creations touch us, I whip a tendril of darkness through the air, sending the puppets into the side wall, where they both exploded. Celestia looks at me with shock, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging. Discord also looks surprised.

"That's new. What was that?" He asks in intrigue.

"Honestly, I am not sure myself. But I do know I can do this." I say, drawing in the shadows around the room. As the darkness funnels into my hands, I see Celestia looking at me with distress. I frown at her reaction but shake it off, focusing back on a baffled Discord.

"What in the name of chaos is that?!" Discord exclaims with genuine confusion.

"This is my power. And now, it is time for you to go back to the gardens." I decree. Discord's confusion turns to rage.

"Power, shmower. I won't let that happen again!" Discord yells. I feel myself figuratively full of darkness, no longer being able to pull on the shadows in my surroundings. Focusing my power, I send a black wave of darkness at the draconequus. "I don't think so!" Discord shouts, waving his paw through the air. Nothing happens, my black wave crashing into Discord and sending him through the throne room doors. I blink in surprise.

"What?! How did that not work!?" Discord exclaims, reappearing in front of me a second later with a massive mallet. As I block with my dark shroud, I see something white in the corner of my eye a moment before Discord suddenly is sent careening into the side wall. Feeling a sense of protection drape over me, I turn to face my friend with a smile.

"Diego!" I cry out in glee, seeing his gleaming white armour coming through the hole in the wall from Discord's exploded puppets.

~~Hello princess. Sorry I'm late. Now, I do believe we have someone to beat up? Or whatever he is.~~ Diego says, turning to face Discord with his energised staff in hand.

"I just contacted Twilight and her friends. They should be on their way." Celestia says, stepping up next to me.

"Good."

~~Checkmate, Discord.~~ Diego says, although I do not recognize the phrase, I cannot help but feel it is appropriate. Discord looks between us, about to click his talons when a pulse of green energy surges through the room. Discord lets out a loud scream as green sparks course across his body. A familiar voice speaks.

“My kind has been holding onto this as a tool from our forebears should you ever turn your powers against us. I’m glad it works exactly as intended.” Everyone in the room turns to see Chrysalis holding a black ball with green lightning coursing over it. “One of my ancestors invented this based on their research into a mythical place where few could reach. The legends say it’s the birthplace of Harmony but whether it is even real is unknown. Nevertheless, that research created a way to nullify chaos and other dark magic powers far greater than yours.” She says.

~~Holy kaltenecker! Where did you come from?~~ Diego exclaims.

"Chrysalis? Since when have you been here?" I ask.

"I have been here this entire time. I knew Discord would be here." Chrysalis answers.

"What? How?" Celestia accuses.

"Changeling's are natural spies and Grogar is one of the most powerful magicians in the world. I would be a fool not to keep an eye on him. Thanks to his arrogance, I was able to sneak a handful of my changelings past his defences and get critical information about his plans." Chrysalis informs us. Discord suddenly jumps at her, fighting through the immense pain he is feeling.

"Don't forget about- gahah!" He cries out again, more green lighting arcing across his body.

"Don't even try it." Chrysalis warns him. "You cannot surpass the Orb of Clarity. As I was saying, him and Grogar have been conversing with something called Extermia and showing it how to repair itself. It's coming towards Mystacor as we speak." Chrysalis informs us.

"What?" I exclaim.

~~What?!~~ Diego shouts.

"What?! Why didn't you say anything?!" Celestia accuses again.

"Because I only received this information today and I had to get the orb before it was too late." Chrysalis rebutts.

~~It doesn't matter.~~ Diego swipes his hand through the air, silencing everyone. ~~Lulu, Voltron says Twilight and her friends are outside the castle, go get them! I'm going to go take care of Extermia!~~ Diego yells before suddenly flying back through the hole in the wall, rocketing straight up a moment later.

"Well, the good news is that Voltron said that Twilight is here." I inform my sister.

"NOOOO!" Discord howls in dismay.

(In space, just above orbit)

(Diego POV)

I feel a final blue sonic boom as I breach the atmosphere. Looking forward, I see the maniacal grin of the ro-beast in front of me. Familiar white armour covers most of her body, only leaving her legs, butt and left hip exposed. She reels in surprise as she sees the blue shockwave of my sonic boom.

«YoU?! WhAt ArE yOu DoInG hErE?!» She broadcast's at me.

~~I am here to take you down, once and for all.~~

«Response: We are here to send you to the scrap heap.» Voltron says.
Whoa. Who knew you could do one liners. Nice one. I think as Extermia screeches in rage.

Gratitude: Thanks. Voltron says to me as we charge forward. I place my Bayard in my chest port, turning the key on my transformation.

Raising Progression drive level to 50%

ENGAGE.

Diego grows to his full size, meeting the villainous machine head on. Diego forms his twin swords as Extermia comes in for a slash. Diego blocks with his swords, pushing her hand back and slicing at her armoured side. She flinches in pain before slashing at him again.

Assemble shield. Form sword.

Diego deflects her slash with one of his swords before they both disappear, the handle of his normal sword appearing from his chest as his wings pop off. Extermia goes for a cross slash with both claws as Diego draws his sword out of his chest plate. His wings come together over his left arm, extending outwards into his Echo shield as he blocks Extermia's attack.

«DiE yOu DaMn PiEcE oF-» Diego interrupts Extermia by bashing her in the face, slashing at her face a moment later. «AhH! DiE aLrEaDy!» She exclaims as she slashes at Diego's shield with glowing claws.

Energy absorbed.

Diego continues blocking, gathering more of the strange energy as he gets an idea. Slashing Extermia back, he brings his arms down to his side's, pointing his chest plate straight at Extermia.

Discharge.

Diego fires a beam of energy at Extermia, causing her to recoil back.

Meteoric alloy detection diminished.

Diego stares as Extermia looks at the arm that was struck by the reflected beam, seeing her normal armour again.

«WHAT?! HOW DID YOU UNDO MY ARMOUR?!» Extermia shouts in outrage.

Absorbed armour of Extermia is cancelled out by Extermia's absorptive energy. Adapt to exploit.

Diego rushes at Extermia with his sword raised, aiming at her exposed armour. Slashing at her legs, she attempts to grab at him, her claw glowing again. Diego immediately bashes her claw with his shield, absorbing more of her energy again.

Quintessence wavelength recognised. Adapting. Quintessence wavelength recreator synthesized. Adapting. Voltron is now able to recreate any unique quintessence wavelength absorbed by Echo shield or reflected by Reflective plating. Wavelengths will now be recognised and catalogued for future usage.

Diego's body shimmers as it adapts to the new integration. Extermia ignores it as she charges around Diego, attacking him from behind. He blocks with his sword, parrying her strike as he turns to face her.

Load quintessence wavelength.

Discharge.

Diego fires at Extermia again, striking her right hip this time. More of her armour vanishes.

Form arm cannon.

Diego fires directly at Extermia's face as his wings replace themselves on his back. He grabs her face with his left arm. She attempts to claw at him again but he stops her, driving his sword through the same arm he crushed previous.

«AHHHH!» She screams in pain. She tries to claw at him with her other hand but the normal claws barely scratch him. She continues struggling for moments as he pulls his sword out of her limp arm. He raises it for the final blow as her movements die down. «JuSt Do It. I hAvE nOtHiNg ElSe LeFt…» She whimpers as she drops her arm.

«…You were a powerful adversary, Atchor. You managed to scare us more than any other. Yes, you weren't powerful enough to destroy us but you truly did terrify us. Take pride in that.»

«HuH. To ThInK sOmEtHiNg ThAt EvEn ScArEs ZaRkOn HiMsElF wAs ScArEd Of Me. BuT dOn'T tHiNk BeAtInG mE mEaNs YoU wIn. ZaRkOn Is CoMiNg FoR yOu.» Extermia says as Diego poises his blade.

«We know.» Diego brings his sword down, decapitating Extermia.

Lower Progression drive level to 15%

Quintessence level at 43%

Activate Quintessence engine.

Diego's sword and arm cannon both vanish as the aperture ring of his Quintessence engine appears in front of him, sucking up and disintegrating Extermia's body.

Author's Note

This one is an interesting chapter, now isn't it?

Comments are appreciated.