Ancient Waterway

Within the passage leading to the castle, our heroes came across a set of platforms floating in the water. Yang leapt across the platforms above the water and near the stairs to the next floor while Cecil and Shining soon followed. The mages, however, took the long way and opened three treasure chests and placed the items in the bag. They found the three waiting for them patiently and ascended to the next level, which contained secret passages: one that led them to a large area encased in water. Thankfully the water wasn't deep enough, allowing them to reach the chest near the center of the room.

Shining went along with the twins this time as the grown men went off in the east.

The group met up once more near the stairs to the next level. Upon further trekking and after defeating various creatures like alligators and Death Shells...

"Are we there yet?" Palom asked.

"No," replied Porom.

"Are we there yet...?" he asked again.

"I said, 'No!'" said Porom, leering at her brother. "Why was I cursed with an obnoxious brother...?"

"Would you two please stop arguing?" Shining Armor said, attempting to halt the bickering.

"Youngsters these days," Tellah sighed.

"And, Porom?"

"Yes, Shining Armor?"

"Please don't call your brother 'obnoxious,' okay?" Even if he IS a bit self-absorbed.

"Alright," the young white mage said in resignation.

Following that, the party then entered an area with four torches placed on the wall, granting them light.

"There!"

The humans looked to the direction where Shining Armor was facing. On the right was another flight of stairs leading to yet another door.

"Could it be...?" asked Tellah.

"That must be the way out," said Cecil. "Come, my friends. Baron Castle awaits."

They shared a nod and followed the Paladin up the stairs. There the group found themselves on the moat of Baron Castle and came across an incredible sight...

Earlier, at Baron Castle

Once the ponies and Cid escaped the dungeon, they found themselves in front of a group of ten soldiers ready for them. Princess Luna placed herself in front and carefully approached them.

"Stand aside," she commanded. "We do not wish to fight."

"You broke out of the dungeon and intend to harm our King," the commanding officer argued.

"We have no quarrel with you, but we must gain entry to the castle."

"Then you shall die."

"WE COMMAND THEE ONCE MORE TO STAND ASIDE!" she yelled in her royal Canterlot voice.

The soldiers, however, were unmoved. Twilight guessed to herself it was all thanks to Golbez's mind control.

"So be it..."

The Equestrians and Cid took up battle positions.

"Get them!"

The party blazed through half of the group thanks to Rainbow Dash's speed, but the rest dodged left and right, letting the cyan pegasus fly into the stone wall.

"Ow..."

Rainbow shook her head and flew up into the air; from there, she quickly tackled a row of soldiers down to the ground.

Cecil and his group emerged from the exit of the Ancient Waterway and heard the sounds of a dangerous battle.

"What's going on?!" asked Cecil. He and the others then waded across the moat, entered the area from a door on the western part of the castle itself, and saw a few familiar faces standing triumphant over the fallen castle guards. "Cid!"

"Cecil, is that you?!" he asked.

"Twily!!" said the white unicorn stallion.

"Shining Armor!" Twilight gasped. She ran straight for her brother and threw her arms around him; Shining gladly returned the embrace and smiled. Soon the rest of the Equestrians followed.

"It's wonderful to see you again," said Cecil. The girls turned to him and gasped, surprised by their friend's new appearance.

"Cecil? Is that you?!"

"More ponies?! Great..."

"Palom!" Porom scolded.

"My stars! I never imagined you so... handsome," said Rarity.

"Whoa! How the hay did you--"

"Hey, Mr. Stranger-Who-I've-Never-Seen-Before, I'm Pinkie Pie, party-thrower extraordinaire."

"Hoo-wee! You look like a new knight. Ah almost didn't recognize ya," said Applejack.

"Tell us, Cecil. What has happened since... the incident with Leviathan?" asked Luna.

"I'd like to know, too! Where'd you get the new gear?" Cid inquired.

"It's simple. I am no longer a dark knight. What you see in front of you is a new Cecil Harvey. I am a Paladin. And it is with this sword of light, we can put an end to Golbez's ambitions."

"Wow," said Rainbow.

"I am relieved to see you are all safe," said Yang.

"Yang! Thought Ah'd never see you again." Applejack cried.

"Neither did I," he replied. The monk looked around. "Edward?"

"He's not here," said Twilight. "Neither is Rydia..."

"Who?" said Palom.

"Rydia. She's one of our friends," Cecil answered.

"Who are these squirts?" Rainbow asked.

"Who're YOU calling a squirt?! I am the great Palom, master black mage of Mysidia!"

Porom sighed, along with Cecil and Shining Armor.

"Please excuse my brother; he's... arrogant," she said.

What? Really? Twilight thought sarcastically.

"Anyway, my name's Porom. White mage."

"Nice to meet you, Porom and Palom. I'm Twilight Sparkle, and this is Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Princess Luna."

"Forget about me already?" said the bearded man. "The name's Cid Pollendina, airship designer and pilot."

"So this old guy's who we're lookin' for?"

Porom once again struck her brother.

"OW!!"

"Please... hush," Porom lectured.

"Anyways... looks like you came to see me, right?"

"Yes... That is correct," Cecil replied.

"Well... it just so happens..."

Just then the soldiers regained consciousness and got back up on their feet.

"Reinforcements," one soldier sneered. "Kill them!"

Just as they were about to do battle once more, a voice cried out:

"Stand down!"

The soldiers did as instructed and faced the source of the voice.

"Baigan!"

"Cecil! I'm glad to see you back! The King has lost all sense of honor!"

"But, Captain Baigan," one of the guards said. "These creatures--"

"Did I not instruct you to stand down?"

The soldier lowered his weapon with the rest as they begrudgingly allowed our heroes to pass into the castle interior. The Equestrians though sensed something wrong with Baigan, as did the twins. Just as they were about to reach the throne room...

"Hold it!" said Palom.

The group stopped.

"Hmm? Is something the matter?" asked Cecil.

"You... are not a good actor... at all," said Porom.

Shining Armor had a puzzled look, but Cecil recoiled in horror.

"It cannot be... Baigan?!" he said, unwilling to believe one of his closest allies to be under Golbez's influence.

"Golbez's wishes are Baron's wishes. He has granted me a wonderful gift. Observe!"

"Bagain... What have you become?" the Paladin asked.

"A new being," he replied.

"Okay. Is there anypony noticing the snakes for arms, or is it just me?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Enough chatter! Die!"

The party dodged; Rainbow Dash flew around Baigan until the captain of the guard grabbed her by the tail and threw the pegasus into a nearby wall. Twilight immediately rushed to her the aid of her friend and healed her.

Shining then blasted Baigan with a powerful wave of magic. Upon recovering, the transformed military man attempted to paralyze Yang who dodged and countered with a spinning back kick.

Baigan then attmepted to drain some of Rarity's health with his right arm, but the unicorn mare countered by dodging sideways and performed a flying kick to the monster's midsection.

"I'll finish you off here and now!" he growled, his left arm constricting Twilight, Rarity, and Applejack. However, he didn't count on the two magic users breaking free and severing his arms.

"Now it's my turn!" said Cid, bringing out his hammer and going for the legs. Baigan yelled in pain.

"Goodbye, Baigan..."

Cecil then struck the monster vertically, slicing him in two.

"We did it..."

"Was that really a captain of the guard?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Yes. That was... Baigan, an old friend," Cecil replied solemnly, kneeling before his remains. The Paladin closed his eyes, unable to believe that he and his new companions had to kill one of his colleagues.

"Cecil..." said Shining Armor, placing a hoof on Cecil's shoulders.

"Hate to bring this up, but... I think we may need to pay our 'king' a visit," said Cid.

"But what of the airship?" asked Luna.

"That can wait. The guy on the throne's got some explainin' for us!"

"Yeah! I wanna get my hooves on him."

"But the King is," Cecil tried to argue.

"He's not our King!" Cid argued back.

"What...?"

"The answer's right there in the chamber. Let's go!"

After Cecil paid his respects to Baigan, he and the others proceeded to storm the throne room where the King awaited alone.

"Ah, Cecil. You have returned," the monarch said.

"Thank you," said Cecil. Shining Armor could only glare at the man sitting on the throne, recalling the last time they had met.

"So you've become a Paladin... Paladins are of little use; a dark knight would be more useful to us."

"Why did you send me along with Cecil and Kain?"

"To make sure you perish in the fires that would consume the village, like the helpless animal you are."

"And yet I stand before you. Looks like your plan was a failure."

"Come on, you impostor! I know you're not really the King at all!"

The "King" only smirked in amusement.

"That's right!" said Rainbow Dash. "So why don't ya show us who you really are?!"

"I must confess: I underestimated you ponies. Lord Golbez will be pleased once I present him your corpses!"

The impostor transformed and attacked!

"I am the Drowned King, Cagnazzo! Prepare to meet your doom!"

"How long...?"

"Mm? Did you say something?"

"How long have you been impersonating the King?!"

"You will learn the answer when you see him," the fiend chuckled wickedly. "And give my regards to Scarmiglione, if you please. That fool did not deserve to be one of us!"

"Cagnazzo!" the Princess of the Night cried. "It is time you paid for you sins!"

Luna flew into the air and attempted to blast Cagnzazo, but the fiend withdrew its body into its shell, which absorbed the attack.

"Heh heh heh heh heh... You cannot do harm unto me."

"Blizzara!" Palom shouted, doing a decent amount of harm.

The next second, water has surged around the Archfiend's feet.

"Wh-What's happening?!"

At the moment...

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!! TIDAL WAVE!!" Rarity screamed.

"No, you fools! TSUNAMI!!"

Twilight and Shining both conjured their shields and combined them, defending themselves and their allies from the deadly wave. Cagnazzo growled as water surged around his feet once more, but before he could strike...

"THUNDAGA!!"

Tellah summoned a powerful blast of lightning, sending the Drowned King on its back, wallowing helplessly like a turtle. Cid charged and delivered the final blow, bringing down his hammer on the Fiend's chest. Soon, the fiend ceased to move, and the party raised their fists/hooves in the air in celebration... except for one.

*music stops*

Though the battle was over, Cecil sank to knees. Not out of exhaustion, but of shock and sorrow.

"How... How could this have happened...?" Cecil asked himself. "All of this... The attack on Mysidia, the theft of the Crystals, and the assault on Mist..."

Shining Armor sunk his head, knowing what his friend meant.

"This is all Golbez's fault!" said Cid. "And we're gonna make him pay!"

"My thoughts exactly," Tellah agreed.

"Yeah!" cried Rainbow Dash.

"Now that that's over with," said Princess Luna, turning to Cid, "may we ask for your permission..."

"...To use my airship? Gladly!" the pillot replied. "The Enterprise is below this very castle!"

"The..." said Twilight.

"...Enterprise?!" the rest of her Ponyville friends finished in unison.

No way... that was the name of the airship--well, one of them--we flew in the last world! Twilight thought.

The party turned to leave the throne room and enter the hallway beyond the door. Just then... the voice of Cagnazzo reached our heroes' ears.

"Did you think... I would let you go so easily...?"

"That don't sound good," said a worried Applejack.

"Heh heh heh heh heh... Stupid vermin... For my lord... and master... DIE!!!"

"I have a bad feeling about this," said Luna.

Suddenly, the floor began to shake violently.

As th he rumbling grew louder, the group huddled close. And the area around began to close in on them!

"THE WALLS!!" Twilight gasped.

The group attempted to open the south door, but it was locked. They tried the other door next, but it, too, was sealed shut.

"Confound that snake in the grass!" Applejack shouted, trying to push one of the walls back.

"What a weasel!" Rainbow Dash cried.

Twilight, Shining, Rarity, and Luna flared their horns and struggled to keep the walls from closing in on them. Despite their best efforts, and still weary from their battle, the Equestrians' magic could not hold together; the four then collapsed from exhaustion. Applejack grunted, for she too couldn't keep the room from trying to crush her and her friends.

"Can't... give up..." she said.

Just then, the twins held onto both sides of the shrinking room with their bare hands.

"Ready, brother?"

"Whenever you are, sis!"

The children extended their hands to each other, tears forming in their eyes...

"BREAK!"

After uttering the spell in unison, they returned to holding back the walls. A magical aura surrounded the twins, and before anyone could register what was happening, the children began turning to stone, holding the walls in place. Applejack opened her eyes and gasped at the sight before her.

"No!!"

"GO!! CECIL!! SHINING ARMOR!!"

"Palom! Porom!" the stallion called.

At that point, the spell was complete.

"Grr..."

The magic-wielding Equestrians' eyes fluttered open. Tellah stepped in between the two.

"Hold on. Esuna!" he chanted, raising his hands. The spell took no effect. It was then that he realized the twins willingly petrified each other to save their comrades.

The party had no choice, but to escape the chamber.

"The twins! Palom! Porom! What happened?!" asked Shining Armor.

"They... they saved us... by turning each other into stone," the Paladin replied solemnly.

"Those children cast the spell of Break on each other, sacrificing themselves," Yang added.

They let out a collective gasp.

"NO! This cannot be!" cried Luna, tears streaming from her eyes.

With a loud yell, Shining Armor lifted his hooves and slammed them onto the floor.

"Not again..."

Twilight and her friends shared the same look and grieved the loss of the two children. They may had just met, but the whole event still shook them to their core. For Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash, it was like losing their sisters: an unthinkable tragedy.

"Those fools! I'm an old man! It was my duty, not theirs!" Tellah shouted.

"Forgive me, you two," said Yang, looking to the door.

"What can we do?" asked Rarity.

"Avenge them of course! I swear it," Tellah replied.

"It's payback time! To the Enterprise!" Cid added.

"Golbez... We'll get you for this!" Rainbow Dash said with a harsh glare.

"You're not going to escape," said Shining.

"Not if we have anything to say about it," Twilight added. The party then proceeded to head for the castle basement...

Meanwhile...

"So... You have done away with Cagnazzo," Golbez stated, feeling the absence of the second Archfiend. "Your power continues to grow, Cecil..."

"Sire, regarding the final Crystal," said Kain.

"I know," the sorcerer replied. "Its resting place poses quite the obstacle."

"Then by all means, let us make use of Cecil and his friends."

Golbez turned to face his dragoon puppet. "Hmm?"

"I'm certain he and Shining Armor will comply, my lord. After all," he said turning his and Golbez's attention to their captives. "We have Rosa and Princess Cadence, along with those other Equestrians. We can exchange their lives for the last Crystal."

"A primitive idea, but it just might work. And I will destroy them at the time of the exchange."

"Kain! Stop this!" Rosa pleaded.

"Rosa, you'll see soon enough that I am superior to Cecil," the dragoon replied smugly.

"This isn't you, Kain. It can't be you..."

"Enough," said Golbez. "Go now, Kain. And do not fail me this time."

"As you wish, sire." Kain walked out of the room, ready to undertake the task given to him by his lord. Golbez then left soon after, leaving the two prisoners behind...

*music fades out*

"Cadence?" said Rosa.

"Yes?" Cadence answered.

"Do you believe... they'll be alright? Cecil and Shining? And everyone else?"

"I hope so," the alicorn replied. "But..."

"What is it?"

"The other Equestrians they mentioned... it couldn't be... Could it?"

Several thoughts plagued Cadence's mind.

In the holding cell of the same building, Fluttershy cried to herself in the corner, and Spike once more struggled to free himself of the chains. Not even his fiery breath could free him of his restraints. These chains were designed to be resistant against magic, and the only thing that could unlock them was the key.

"Twilight... Rainbow Dash... Shining Armor... Princess Luna... Where are you?" Fluttershy asked herself. "Please help us..."

Author's Note

So you may noticed, but I had Cid join the party this time to fight against Caganzzo.