Family talks.

(Meanwhile, back on Mystacor)

"NOOOO!" Discord howls in dismay. "I will not be imprisoned again!" Discord struggles, slowly shuffling toward Chrysalis.

"You have been a source of great strife to all life, as has your father before you. This is the first step to bringing this world to peace, maybe you will use this time to reflect on your foolish and callous actions.”

"Argh! Shut up! I've heard that… aagh… so many times. It gives me a headache!" Discord exclaims in pain, now only a few steps away from the queen.

"How arrogant are you? You don't even have the intellect to beg for mercy when you have clearly lost. Your plan has failed and soon your reign of terror will be over. You can’t do anything now.” Chrysalis declares as Discord sparks with green magic. Suddenly, a putrid yellow flash fills the room.

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Grogar declares, his horns and body glowing with a dark yellow barrier. Chrysalis turns to him as green sparks crackle over the barrier.

“So you are a fool too. Your barrier is barely holding up even at this range, any closer and you will be in the same condition as him. This artifact is only at half output, let's crank it up to full.” The artifact pulsates brighter, Grogar’s barrier shattering into shards as he is brought to his knees, the green lightning shocking him. Fighting through the pain, Grogar erects a bright yellow dome around himself.

"Ah yes. The Orb of Clarity. The work of your pestilent ancestor, Pupa. I was wondering where it had ended up. Thankfully, it seems you misunderstand it's weaknesses as much as she did." Grogar says as he starts moving towards Chrysalis, the barrier around him standing strong.

“Not quite. I was aware it was not strong enough to contain you but I added a feature to compensate for that fact.”

"Hahaha! You call me a fool yet you fail to see your own idiocy. This barrier is light magic. Your Orb will have no affect on it!" Grogar taunts.

“Wow, you made this easy. You do realise what changelings do best, right? It’s not quite quintessence as Diego called it but it will do.” Chrysalis raises her free hand, it glowing green as Grogar’s barrier does the same. It’s energy quickly being sapped away flying into the Queen's hand.

"Choke on it." Grogar declares, his horns sparking as his barrier turns darker, sparking with green lighting as Chrysalis flinches back. His barrier wobbles for a moment before returning to its bright colour. Chrysalis focuses on the orb, Discord howling in agony as the wildly random energy that is his power flies into the orb. Green energy then pours out of the orb into Chrysalis, her body being filled with power. Grogar stares in surprise.

"Ah. That must be the addition you spoke of. I must admit, that is quite surprising." Grogar comments.

"Can you stop admiring that thing and help me?! This hurts!" Discord exclaims as the doors to the throne room open loudly, Twilight and her friends now entering the room.

"Princess! We're… here?" Twilight exclaims, confused.

"And with that, we are not." Grogar suddenly says, his barrier shifting over Discord. "Be warned, Chrysalis. I shall not underestimate you again." Grogar declares, vanishing a moment later. Everyone stares in silence for a few moments.

"What just happened?" Rainbow asks.

(Later, in Celestia's study)

(Luna POV)

I and my sister sit across from each other in silence. Neither of us have spoken since we both say down. Celestia looks at me with discomfort and apprehension. I decide to make the first move.

"I'm okay." I say. Celestia blinks for a moment.

"What?" Celestia asks me.

"I said I'm okay. I'm not in any pain. I know you are worried about me. Rest assured, I'm okay." I inform her calmly. She stares at me for a moment.

"…Sister, I… Thank you for that." She breathes. "Now, can you please explain what you did in the throne room?" She asks me. I raise my hand from the table as I speak.

"Honestly, I am not entirely sure. It is an ability I possess, it does not require magic to use, Voltron says I appear to have it genetically but is unsure as to how. I discovered it while kidnapped in the changeling hive after Diego was attacked. But I can say with certainty that it is not a resurgence of Nightmare Moon." I finish, looking at the darkness now wrapped around my fingers before facing my sister again. She stares at the dark wisp around my hand with unhidden dread.

"Are you sure?" Celestia asks.

"Absolutely. Nightmare was a cold and oppressive chill that never abated. This… is like a cloak. A cloak of assurance and security. I feel as though I have a dauntless guard wrapped around me. Nothing like that parasite." I explain. Celestia seems to deflate, sighing in relief.

"That is good to hear. I was afraid that this new ability could be something dangerous." Celestia says before straightening up. "Do you know how it works without magic?" She asks me.

"No. I need none of my own magic to use the ability but it seems as though ambient darkness and shadows replenishes it." I explain.

"Yes, like what you did in the throne room." Celestia adds.

"Exactly. It also seems that I have a limit to how much I can absorb. While we were in the throne room, I felt all the shadows around me but I felt as though I could no longer pull any more into myself, as though I had eaten my fill." I continue.

"And because it isn't magic, Discord could not affect it. His chaos stems from magic itself, therefore things that are not magic are more difficult for him to control." Celestia says.

"And considering how powerful my darkness is, it not only is difficult for him to control but it also seems to resist him." I speculate.

"True. Do you possess any other capabilities, other than control and absorption of darkness?" Celestia asks.

"It seems to be tied to my instincts. Not only is it simple to use, but I feel as though it is a part of my body. I can feel what I can do with it. It also seems to protect me on its own." I list off.

"I see. Have you tried experimenting with it?" Celestia asks.

"Not yet. I am still learning how to control it. Although I am learning quickly." I say.

Celestia and I continue speaking well into the evening, discussing and theorising. Eventually, it comes time to set the sun once again.

"Well, this has been most informative. I'm glad we had this talk, Luna. We should speak like this again sometime. It was fun." My sister says as she stands from the table.

"Let us hope it does not take another attack against our capital for that to happen." I joke, Celestia snorting and giggling as she walks to the window. I stand and make my way to the door.

"Good night, Luna." Celestia says as I open the door.

"Good night, dear Tia." I say, leaving for my own room. I hear a pop on my way. I see nothing around me. I look up to see Chrysalis drinking tea on the roof, she waves at me with a smile.

“I may have taken more of Discord’s powers than I thought. I think I may have taken over ninety percent, I didn’t intend to be on the roof.”

(Far away, in a dark place)

Grogar searches around, his horns glowing powerfully.

"Hmm. It seems those bugs have made themselves scarce. Now we should have some proper priva-" Grogar is interrupted by a loud squeak. Looking behind himself, he sees Discord pacing in a figure 8, muttering and cursing.

"That little… when I get my claws on her… she's going to wish… hrah!" He lash out, a small chew toy materialising in midair and bouncing off a wall.

"Ugh… son, if you keep brooding like that, it will take you longer to recover." Grogar says.

"I'm not brooding! I'm plotting! When I get my claws on those wretches, I'm going to- gah!" Discord suddenly spasms, clutching his head.

"That's it." Grogar suddenly picks up Discord, placing him in one corner of the room. "If you are going to act like a child, you shall be treated as one. Now stay." Grogar orders as he turns to his workbench. Discord sits on the wall, crossing his legs as he continues muttering.
Don't think you've won yet, you b-

"Gah! My head!"
I will find you and when I do, you won't know the meaning of the word sanity. Mark my words.

(The heart of the empire)

"My lord. I was sent to deliver a message." A Galran soldier says, standing at attention.

"Speak." Zarkon orders.

"Commander Katasar and legionnaire Kalin report. "We stand ready to thrust"." He says.

"Good. Dismissed." Zarkon orders, the soldier walking away with a salute.
The time has come. Stand ready as the executioner readies his blade. For it is your head that shall roll.

Author's Note

Almost time.

Comments are appreciated.