Eric Sparkle and the Storm King

At the shoreline of Mount Aris, the Mane 7, Spike, Eric, and his friends poked out of the water and gasped for air. Once they got out of the water and onto the beach, Eric was now shivering as Twilight held him onto her chest as he was wet and cold.

Suddenly, they were surrounded by storm trolls, then saw Tempest Shadow and Frostbite with them. “Well, fancy meeting you here,” she said.

“Tempest!” Twilight shouted.

She was soon trapped inside a magic resistant cage, then hauled up into Tempest’s airship.

“Mommy!” Eric screamed, he started to cry upon seeing Twilight get captured.

Onboard the airship

Aww, look at that. Poor Princess Twilight, all alone without her friends, husband, and son,” Tempest said. “And with no way out.”

“Why are you doing this? You’re a pony just like me,” Twilight asked, until Tempest charged up her horn and tried to scare Twilight with an electric shock. “I’m nothing like you! I’m more than you’ll ever be!”

It's time you learned a lesson
It's time that you understand
Don't ever count on anybody else
In this or any other land

I once hoped for friendship
To find a place among my kind
But those were the childish wishes
Of someone who was blind

Open up your eyes
See the world from where I stand
Me, among the mighty
You, caged at my command

Open up your eyes
Give up your sweet fantasy land
It's time to grow up and get wise
Come now, little one, open up your eyes

We all start out the same
With simple naive trust
Shielded from the many ways
That life's not fair or just

But then there comes a moment
A simple truth that you must face
If you depend on others
You'll never find your place

And as you take that first step
Upon a path that's all your own
You see it all so clearly
The best way to survive is all alone

Open up your eyes
See the world from where I stand
Me, among the mighty
You, caged at my command

Open up your eyes
And behold the faded light
It's time to grow up and get wise
Come now, little one, open up your eyes
Open up your eyes!

“I'm so sorry you felt so alone,” Twilight said.

“I saw the truth. My "friends" abandoned me when times got tough. Looks like I'm not the only one. Face it, Princess. Friendship has failed you, too,” Tempest said.

“Friendship didn’t fail me, and I’m sure it won’t now,” Twilight replied.

Back on Basalt Beach, Storm and the others tried to calm him down, but he still kept crying.

“We gotta get Twilight back!” Rainbow Dash said.

“How? We’ll never catch up!” Fluttershy replied.

“And we got no way to defeat those monsters,” Applejack added. Fluttershy sighed disappointedly.

“No need to worry, sport. We’ll get your mom back,” Storm said reassuringly.

It wasn’t long before Eric stopped crying and calmed down.

“Well, good thing I happen to know of a group of mighty heroes that could handle this easily!” said a familiar voice. The Mane 6 turned around and saw Capper standing in a heroic pose.

“Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in. No offense,” Rarity said.

“Eh, none taken. These heroes have faced the Storm King’s army and escaped! I’ve seen them tackle the streets of the roughest towns, break out of the tightest situations, and inspire others to join their cause!” Capper said.

The Mane 6, Eric, and Spike replied with an “Ooooh.”

“Now don’t get too excited. He’s just talkin’ about us,” Applejack said, until the other 6 and Spike replied with an “Awww.”

“They even escaped certain doom at the hooves of Commander Tempest!” Capper said.

“Yeah. That was pretty great,” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Are you kidding me?! That was awesome!” Captain Celaeno’s voice said, as she and her crew appeared also making a heroic pose. Squabble squawked.

“Figured you could use a claw!” Boyle added.

“We’re on board to help you fight the Storm King! Just not on board our... actual ship,” Captain Celaeno said.

“That crazy unicorn sunk it. But you got back our argh! And we’re ready to kick some booty,” Mullet added. Boyle and the other pirates then laughed heartily.

“In case you’re wondering, that’s Captain Celaeno and her crew,” Storm told Eric, “We helped them get their mojo back and they tried to cover for us.”

“You must be Eric Sparkle. Twilight and her friends told us about you,” Captain Celaeno said.

“Good to meet you, captain,” Eric replied.

After all the laughter, there were multiple glows coming from the sea. It was Princess Skystar, Queen Novo, and the other seaponies transformed into hippogriffs.

“The hippogriffs are with you,” Queen Novo said.

“That’s it, right? We didn’t make friends with anypony else?” Spike asked in confusion.

“Not that I know of, Spike. But, the changelings and dragons should meet us here soon,” Eric replied.

“All right, y’all! I think our course is clear. Y’all ready to do this thang?” Capper asked.

“We’re coming, Twilight!” Pinkie said, everyone cheered as they found their confidence as their spirits were lifted, “As soon as we bake up a plan!”

“For starters, I’ll cast an invisibility spell on myself, so we can sneak into Canterlot,” Storm replied.

“My friends and I will go with the dragons and changelings, once they get here,” Eric added.

Soon enough, the dragons and changelings landed on the beach.

“Good to see you, Ember,” Spike said as he hugged her, “Glad you could join us.”

“Eric had us meet you all here,” Ember replied.

“Glad you could join us as well, Thorax,” Spike said.

“We came as soon as we could,” Thorax replied.

“Now that we’re all here, I suggest we get back to Canterlot now,” Eric said.

“Good thinking, Eric,” Storm replied, then turned to the others, “Everyone, let’s move!”

Pincer assumed his large dragon form as most of Eric’s friends, along with Jasper and Smokey got onto his back. Marina carried Zuni, while Sweetie Belle flew with Eric on his broomstick. The changeling, dragon, and hippogriff armies then took off alongside them. Storm teleported himself and the others to Mount Canter.

Eric and his friends, along with Ember, Thorax, and Novo’s armies flew for many miles until they were over the Badlands.

“Discord!” Eric said.

“You called?” Discord asked as he suddenly appeared.

“I did, we need to get back to Canterlot right away,” Eric replied, then asked, “Can you please teleport us there?”

“Alrighty,” Discord replied.

He then teleported them to the outskirts of Canterlot on Mt. Canter.

“Thanks,” Eric said.

“No problemo,” Discord replied as he disappeared elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Frostbite and his junior officers were in the Canterlot Castle throne room as they linked their crystal balls together. This created a magical holographic screen as Glacio appeared on it.

“My lord, we have Princess Twilight in our clutches and we’re waiting the Storm King to drain hers, your niece’s, and your sisters’ magic,” Frostbite said.

“Good. Once he does that, prepare for my arrival,” Glacio replied.

“Yes, my lord,” Frostbite said.

It was then that the transmission ended as Frostbite and the others unlinked their crystal balls.

“What about her husband, their son, and their friends?” Hot Shot asked.

“We’ll deal with them later. Something tells me they’re bound to try and rescue Princess Twilight, so we’ll let them come to us,” Frostbite replied.

“Very good, general,” Hot Shot said.