My Little Avengers: Harmony War

by Lucasnike123

Rating: teen
Tags: Death, Alternate Universe, Avengers, Grogar, Other, Equestria Girls, Luster Dawn, My Little Pony: A New Generation, Tragedy, Adventure, Mane 5, Violence, Human, Main 6, Gore
Length: 29853

"It's coming... Grogar is coming..."

The almighty Grogar has arrived with the promise of laying waste to everything in his path, wielding the Infinity Gauntlet, which confers untold power on him.

The only ones capable of stopping him are the Avengers and the rest of the superheroes in the galaxy, who must be willing to sacrifice everything for the greater good.

Captain Equestria (Applejack) and Iron Girl (Twilight Sparkle) will have to iron out their differences, Black Panther (Daring Do) will support with his troops from Wakanda, Rainbow Dash and the Guardians of the Galaxy and even Spider-Girl (Luster Dawn) will join, before that their plans of devastation and ruin put an end to the universe.

Will they be able to stop their biggest opponent to date?

Based in the MARVEL's movie "Avengers 3: Infinity War"

Published 2022-09-03 00:40:00 UTC
Last updated 2022-10-07 14:00:32 UTC

Chapter 1) Grogar and the Legion of Doom

Here the Asgardian refuge ship, "The Statesman"...

They are attacking us. I repeat: they are attacking us...

We've lost the engines. Failure in life support...

We request help from any ship that is nearby...

We are... 22 jump points from Asgard...

Our crew consists only of Asgardian families... We have very few soldiers here...

This is not a warship. I repeat: it is not a warship...

Devastation. Death.

As far as the eye could see it was all there was.

Most of the ship "The Statesman" lay strewn with wreckage and, worse, dead Asgardians. Gladiators from the ruins of an ancient world, warriors from the realm of Asgard lay lifeless and defeated.

Among them floated a voice, surprisingly calm and almost capricious, at odds with the surroundings of the butcher shop.

“Hear me and rejoice all of you…” said the voice, as his speaker walked across the deck, ignoring the pools of blood “You have had the privilege of being saved by our Lord. Maybe you think this is suffering… But no…”

The speaker now came into view: a little girl with arctic blue hair and moderate scarlet eyes. She was wearing a pink dress, decorated with a small red bow on her chest.

Her name was Cozy Glow, and she was a Herald of Grogar.

"It's Salvation..." she solemnly proclaimed.

Lying on the ground at her feet, Zecora, the Asgard`s guardian witch, groaned, unable to find the strength to get up.

She had been beaten so deeply that she could be on the verge of death. She had never been so deeply mutilated in her life, and yet this Grogar had done it with almost uncomfortable ease.

Like swatting a fly.

Unable to do anything yet, he tried in vain to raise his head and look towards her mistress: the Princess of Asgard and Goddess of Thunder, Rainbow Dash.

His clothing consisted of a black vest with silver plates, navy blue pants, and short leather gloves with straps. She was also wearing a metal patch that covered her right eye, which she had recently lost.

Then Zecora saw more of Grogar's minions: a creature that looked like a red and black minotaur...

A man clad in black armor…

And lastly, a woman with green and black hair, with insect wings on her back.

At that moment, Zecora also saw someone else: a girl about Rainbow Dash's age, with bright amber hair and eyes.

Her name was Lightning Dust, Princess of Asgard, Goddess of Deception and stepsister of Rainbow Dash.

Zecora watched in horror as, at the far end of the carnage, Rainbow Dash collapsed to the ground, covered in blackened bruises and unable to get to her feet.

"The universal scale tips towards balance thanks to your sacrifice..." continued Cozy Glow with his narration "Smile... Because even in death... You have all become Sons of Grogar"

Lightning Dust winced at Cozy Glow's rhetoric, unable to believe that she had believed her, even briefly, even a little bit.

It was then, when HE appeared...

A man with dark navy blue skin, with black horns on his head, white goatee and beard, and red eyes without pupules. His clothing consisted of a dark blue suit, with purple and gold decorations, and a dark purple cape.

He was Grogar... in person.

However, what really detailed his suit was what decorated his left hand: a golden gauntlet, with six prefabricated notches in the knuckle area.

One of those notches was decorated with a purple gemstone: the Power Stone.

“I know what it is to lose. Feeling desperately that you are right... and failing just the same. It's frightening. Your legs no longer respond to you… And I ask you, what for?” Grogar said in a low, grave voice, as he grabbed Rainbow Dash by the head “As much as you fear it, as much as you run away… the day has come to render an account to fate. Only this time... you render them before me”

At those words, Rainbow Dash made a notch, as he looked at the monster that had just massacred his people.

“You talk too much…” she spat.

Annoyed by those words, Grogar rewarded her for her insolence by squeezing the hand that was holding Rainbow Dash by the head, making her groan in pain, and then turned his cruel gaze towards Lightning Dust.

She knew what was going to happen, but she couldn't move or speak. She was petrified with fear… but not for herself.

Slowly, Grogar brought the Power Stone in her gauntlet closer to Rainbow Dash's head, knowing that a simple contact with it would make her feel a lot of pain.

"The Tesseract... or your sister's head" Grogar ordered, making his intentions clear "I suppose you have preferences..."

Lightning Dust smirked, as if nothing about the carnage, let alone her hated stepsister, bothered her in the least.

“Yeah, right…” Lightning Dust said “Kill her…”

Grogar scowled, taking those words as a personal challenge… and brought the Power Stone closer to Rainbow Dash's head.

She couldn't help but scream in agony and pain as the Gem touched her head. The cosmic energy lit up as her power increased and her pain increased. If she continued like this… she would die in a matter of seconds.

Lightning Dust tried his best to resist, but unable to look away from her or ignore the screams. But she couldn't take it another minute.

"ALRIGHT! STOP!" she cried out, unable to take it anymore.

Instantly, the pain ceased as Grogar pulled his gauntlet off Rainbow Dash's head.

Lightning Dust squeezed her eyes shut, trying to hold back her tears, for, despite all her resentment and petty pride, she couldn't hate Rainbow Dash enough to let her die.

She loved her stepsister too much for that.

"We don't have the Tesseract...!" Rainbow Dash coughed, spitting blood "It was destroyed in Asgard...!"

Grimacing, Lightning Dust simply shook her head. Then, slowly raising his right hand... she made a mysterious blue cube of cosmic energy appear in his palm.

That cube was the Tesseract.

Rainbow Dash, disgusted but unable to be truly surprised by this event, sighed to herself.

"There is no doubt... that you are the worst of the sisters..."

"I assure you, sister... the sun will shine again for us" Lightning Dust said.

Then, Lightning Dust began to walk slowly towards Grogar, preparing to do what she must do: offer the Tesseract in exchange for saving her stepsister's life.

“Your optimism is misplaced, Asgardian…” Grogar said.

"Look, on the one hand, I'm not Asgardian..." Lightning Dust said with a certain familiar disdain "And on the other... we have Flutterhulk"

At that moment, a roar that precipitated an attack was Grogar's only warning, before something green and ferocious slammed into him, knocking him back against the far wall.

"FLUTTERHULK SMAAAAAAASH!!!!"

Seizing the opportunity, Lightning Dust threw the Tesseract and grabbed Rainbow Dash a second before their mutual green friend began charging at Grogar, slowing and crushing him with unbridled aplomb. Easily as big as the already imposing Grogar, Flutterhulk was relentless as she slammed her massive green fists into her opponent's face, stomach, and chest, knocking him down.

For a moment, it looked like things could still turn for the better, and the Incredible Flutterhulk would take down this threat to the universe, just as she had dealt with countless threats in the past.

Growling, the minotaur creature, Lord Tirek, moved to help his Lord, but before he could do so, Cozy Glow raised her hand.

“Let him have his fun…” she ordered.

In fact, things were no longer as dire for Grogar as they might have seemed at first. Although Flutterhulk could match him in strength and power, that was the only factor they both had in common.

Growling, Grogar met the next blow with one of his own, countering the attack and hitting Flutterhulk so hard in the face that it made her nose bleed, while his green gamma energy eyes widened in fear.

The following blows were measured, powerful and ruthless.

Grogar would parry or dodge the attacks, and then hit them back, whenever she dropped her guard or showed a vulnerable angle. He fought like a boxing champion, while Flutterhulk started fighting like a clumsy girl.

Flutterhulk began to stagger, completely unaware of the relentless blows that wore her down.

At that moment, Grogar grabbed her, lifted her above her head, and then… smashed her mercilessly to the floor of the ship, knocking her out and leaving her badly injured a few meters from Zecora.

Grogar smiled at her victory.

But then, seconds later, a badly injured Rainbow Dash used a piece of metal from the ship to pummel Grogar's side... though she was still weak and she couldn't leave Grogar even a bruise.

Rainbow Dash barely glanced at Grogar when he hit her, sending her back to where she was before.

Cozy Glow, smirking, waved her hand, causing several metal fragments to start floating with her telekinetic power, immobilizing Rainbow Dash and leaving her helpless to help her green friend of hers.

Taking advantage of the situation, Zecora had an idea.

Making a weak notch, the Asgardian witch began to desperately try to concentrate the last of all her magic…for one last spell.

"All-Father... Make the Dark Magic flow through me... one last... time..."

An then, seconds before Grogar could finish the job, there was a loud crash and a stream of rainbow energy fell over them.

Grogar and his minions staggered back, as the current of energy lifted a weakened Flutterhulk and carried her light years away, before anyone present could react. When the light from the energy stream faded, the Flutterhulk had disappeared.

Rainbow Dash caught Zecora's gaze and deduced what she had done: her friend and the planet she loved, Earth, will now have a chance to be warned of the coming danger and could be safe.

At that moment, an enraged Grogar stood on top of Zecora, looking at her darkly.

“That… was a mistake…” Grogar growled, as he accepted an evil-looking spear from his black-armored subordinate, King Sombra.

Holding it in his hand, Grogar raised the weapon high, then brought it down sharply… towards Zecora's chest, causing red blood to spurt from her body, dying instantly.

“NOOOOOOOOO!” Rainbow Dash yelled, as she powerfully struggled against her restraints, totally furious "You're going to die for that!!"

Looking absently, Cozy Glow waved her hand and caused one last slab of metal to crash into Rainbow Dash's mouth, silencing her.

“Shhh…” Cozy Glow said, as she teasingly touched her lips with her finger.

Grogar plucked the spear from Zecora's dead body and returned it to Sombra, while Cozy Glow took her time picking up the Tesseract, which lay on the ground crackling with untold power.

“My humble person… bows before your greatness. No other being has ever had the power…no, the nobility…to wield not one…but two Infinity Stones” Cozy Glow said, as he handed over the Tesseract “The universe… is within your reach…”

Then, after picking it up, Grogar squeezed the Tesseract so tightly in his hand that it destroyed it... revealing that inside the cube was a blue jewel similar to the Power Stone.

The Space Stone.

Carefully, Grogar placed the Space Stone in the notch next to the Power Stone, and a wave of blue energy coursed through his body. Like any mortal who tried to overpower him, the power of the Infinity Stones was immense and threatened to consume him.

But then, in a matter of minutes and by sheer force of will, the power of the Space Stone was contained in Grogar's gauntlet.

Now Grogar had TWO Infinity Stones...

"There are two Gems more on Earth..." Grogar ordered "Find them, my children, and bring them to my planet..."

His four henchmen bowed at his words.

"Father, we will not fail you..." the insect woman, Queen Chrysallis, said, as she conveyed her obedience.

"If you allow me... to interfere?"

The five villains glared at a certain Asgardian princess who passed around her, looking clearly unconcerned.

"If you go to Earth, you might want a guide…" Lightning Dust said, adding a nervous smile "I have… some experience there".

“If you call failure experience…” Grogar deadpanned, well aware of how she had failed in her invasion of Earth years ago with the Chitauri.

Lightning Dust snorted at those words, her pride definitely hurt.

"I call experience experience…" she replied very boldly, before adopting a more humble tone "Almighty Grogar… I, Lightning Dust… Princess of Asgard… Daughter of Thor…"

At that moment, while her stepsister was speaking, Rainbow Dash noticed that Lightning Dust was slowly taking out a dagger from her tunic… with the intention of killing Grogar, without anyone noticing.

"Rightful Queen of Jötunheim... Goddess of Deception..." Lightning Dust continued, as she stood right in front of Grogar "From this moment, I promise you... my... immortal fidelity"

And then, finishing those words, Lightning Dust aimed her dagger at Grogar's neck… before the blue cosmic energy of the Space Stone stopped it short of achieving her goal.

"Immortal?" Grogar asked, his tone deceptively soft. "You should choose your words more carefully".

Then, Grogar grabbed Lightning Dust by the throat with one hand, forcing her to look him square in the eye…and knowing that if he just squeezed a little harder, he would break her neck.

“You…” Lightning Dust rasped, determined to have the last word “You will never be… a God…”

Then, there was a sickening crack… and Lightning Dust's lifeless body dangled in Grogar's hand.

Rainbow Dash's muffled and angry screams did not need to be heard to be understood, who promised death and revenge.

But Grogar was neither moved nor interested, for as far as he was concerned, he had gotten what he wanted… and he had no reason to stay any longer.

"This time there will be no resurrections" Grogar declared, as he squeezed her gauntlet hand and the Power Stone lit up.

Suddenly, a wave of purple cosmic energy flooded the ship, sweeping the deck, shattering the walls... as the ship erupted in purple flames and cracked its foundations.

Grogar's minions gathered around him as he activated the Space Stone, which glowed with a cosmic blue light, opening a portal that swallowed the group.

The instant they disappeared, Rainbow Dash was able to free herself from her restraints, but she was too weak to do more than trip over Lightning Dust's rapidly cooling corpse.

Rainbow Dash lay next to her sister... while she could do nothing but wait to die with her.

“Lightning Dust… Sister…” Rainbow Dash sobbed, before screaming with all her fury “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”

And then, the entire ship "The Statesman" cracked like an egg… and the debris from it began to scatter around, as the corpses of the dead Asgardians were lost in the cold embrace of outer space.

Meanwhile, the rainbow energy from Zecora's spell teleporting Flutterhulk carried her away, hurtling past stars and planets, through nebulae and galaxies... as she hurtled towards a small green and blue planet: Earth.

And more specifically…

…in downtown Canterlot City, in Sancta Sanctorum, home to none other than Dr. Star Swirl, Master of the Arcane Arts.

Who was currently walking down the stairs of his house towards the front door, intending to go out and buy himself a sandwich to eat.

His colleague and fellow sorcerer, Stygian, followed him, as they engaged in conversation… deep and spiritual.

"Seriously? Don't you have any money?" Star Swirl asked, making sure to hear him well.

“Attachment to the material is detachment from the spiritual” Stygian said, trying to sound wise and sounding more like an idiot.

"I'll tell the deli to make you a metaphysical ham sandwich..." Star Swirl said, rolling her eyes.

“Wait, wait…” Stygian said, running to his side, as he looked under his robe, finding what he was looking for “I think I have two of 100…”

"Dollars?" Star Swirl asked, one eyebrow raised skeptically.

"Rupees" Stygian replied, a black coin in hand.

"And that is?"

“A… dollar and a half?” Stygian said with a notch on his face, trying to do the math.

Star Swirl sighed deeply, knowing there was no way he could, in good conscience, abandon his best friend to fight his own hunger… if only he had read a cookbook in the home library.

"What do you want?" he asked, feeling generous.

"I wouldn't say no to a sandwich from-"

But then, before Stygian could finish his sentence, a horrible crashing noise filled the air, and they both stepped out of the way of the bottom of the stairs as something crashed to the ground like a meteor…surrounded by rainbow glitter, and definitely alien.

Quickly exchanging glances, Star Swirl and Stygian approached... with the former activating his mage suit and the latter summoning magic rune circles on his hands.

As the two approached the hole left by the impact, they looked inside to see what was there and if it was dangerous.

For a second, it was something huge and green and angry… but then the creature shrank into a teenage girl with pale pink hair, wide, frightened eyes, and covered in bruises.

Wherever she had come from, it seemed that she had been through hell... and that hell was still haunting her.

"He's coming…" Fluttershy gasped, her voice sweet, but trembling with terrible fear "Grogar is coming".

Star Swirl and Stygian shared a look, completely confused.

"…Who?" he asked.

MY LITTLE AVENGERS:

HARMONY WAR

Author's Note

The adventure begins...

Chapter 2) Reunion in the Park / The Infinity Stones

Canterlot City was considered an idyllic place by most. Large buildings and skyscrapers that made this city the scientific capital of the world.

But no more perfect place to relax than Ponyville Park.

A perfect place to go for a walk, go sightseeing by the small lake... or go for a morning run with your husband.

Which was exactly what Twilight Sparkle was trying to do right now.

Running a little ahead of her, and not so out of breath, was a boy with dark blue hair, not to mention an athletic build.

Flash Sentry slowed down to allow his fiancée to catch up.

She was hyperventilating, and not just from running, but also from talking, not to mention the fact that she commonly ran a mile a minute when she was stressed. Normally he found it adorable, but right now she was worried that she would soon pass out from lack of air if she didn't stop breathing for a second.

"Slowly, slowly…" Twilight said "I'm not kidding".

"Now you're digressing" Flash said, chuckling lightly.

"It's not true…" Twilight protested, speaking as she tried to follow Flash.

"Now I'm lost..."

"Look, do you know how when you dream and in the dream you have to pee?" Twilight asked, trying to explain herself.

"Yes" Flash replied.

"Okay, and then you think: 'Oh, mother, there are no toilets! What am I going to do!? Someone's watching, I'm going to do it on top!'" Twilight explained.

“So you wake up and have to pee for real, right?” Flash supposed, not having the slightest idea what Twilight was saying.

"Yes"

"Yes. It's happened to all of us” Flash answered truthfully.

The two walked over to a bench as a conversation continued, ending their stroll. Later, they could run back to Sparkle Tower, but for now they were just going to enjoy each other's company on this peaceful day.

"That's where I want to go, by the way, last night... I dreamed... that we had a kid!" Twilight exclaimed “That was so real… We called him after your eccentric uncle. What was his name? Morgan?”

"Exactly" Flash said, nodding in understanding.

"Morgan…" Twilight said.

“And you… woke up… thinking you were…?” asked Flash

"Pregnant" Twilight said with a smile on her face.

"Yes" Flash said.

"Yes?" Twilight asked, excited.

"No..." Flash said, shaking his head.

"I've dreamed about it" Twilight said "It was real".

"Honey, if you wanted a child...you wouldn't have done this..." Flash added, with an eye roll that made her blush, as he placed his hand on Twilight's heart.

And more specifically, on a metal plate on her chest, which was made of a titanium alloy.

"I'm glad you brought it up..." Twilight said, smiling sheepishly, "It's just a unit to house nanoparticles..."

"Hey, that doesn't help you at all" Flash said with a smile.

"It's removable, it's not a..."

"You don't need it".

"I know, I'm just trying to protect us…" Twilight explained "And what's to come, that's all. In case there was a monster in the closet instead of, I don't know…”

"Shirts?" Flash asked dryly.

"You know me so well..." Twilight said, a deep blush flooding her purple cheeks. "You finish all my sentences".

“There should be shirts in your closet” Flash said clearly.

“Yes… And there should be no more surprises. Tonight we are going to have dinner and show off our wedding rings, right?” Twilight promised “And no more surprises. Never. I should promise you".

"Yes…"

"And I'll do it…"

Flash smiled as he leaned in to kiss Twilight, who closed her eyes as she accepted it, kissing him gently...

…until a warm light enveloped them both, and they looked towards an open portal of orange energy in the middle of Ponyville Park.

A man stepped out of the doorway, wearing a wizard's robe and hat, introducing himself immediately, as he had little time for small talk.

"Twilight Sparkle? I'm Dr. Star Swirl” the man said “I need you to accompany me”.

Twilight could only stare in shock and annoyance at the interruption.

"Oh, and congratulations on the wedding, by the way" Star Swirl said, apparently realizing his social mistake.

This comment did nothing to explain anything to Twilight about her sudden appearance or her interest in her specifically.

"Excuse me, do you give away tickets for anything?" Twilight asked, puzzled by the man's strange outfit.

"We need his help" Star Swirl said solemnly "It is no exaggeration to say that the fate of the universe hangs in the balance".

"What do you mean 'we need'?" Twilight asked, still suspicious.

Star Swirl stepped aside as another person stepped through the portal, waving her hand sheepishly. A familiar person for Twilight.

"Hello, Twilight…" Fluttershy said quietly.

If the wizard's appearance had surprised Twilight (and she hadn't), the appearance of her old friend, missing for six years, completely shocked her.

"Fluttershy?"

"Flash..." Fluttershy said.

"Hi..."

"Are you okay?" Twilight said, as she walked over to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy slowly approached… before throwing her arms around Twilight's neck, hugging her tightly and holding on for support. Twilight returned the hug tenderly, looking at Flash, who shrugged, trying to appear sympathetic, although deep down, he had missed Fluttershy too. Twilight was rarely speechless, but this moment she had been completely robbed of any ability to speak, not knowing what to say.

All she knew now was that Fluttershy looked like she had been through hell, and yet it was still the haunted look in her eyes. Because she said that things were not over, and that the hell she had been through… was coming.

That it was coming for all of them.

Naturally, there was some explaining to do in the Sancta Sanctorum, where Fluttershy had helped rebuild what her "green alter ego" had accidentally destroyed.

That's when she came to the conclusion that she needed to talk to Twilight (and the rest of "The Avengers").

So, when they arrived, Twilight sat on a sofa in the room, while Stygian used his powers to weave an illusion that would summarize the current situation.

“At the dawn of the universe, there was nothing… and then… BOOM! The Big Bang launched six elemental crystals, which traveled through the untouched universe…” Stygian explained “Each of these Infinity Stones controls an essential aspect of existence…”

Six tiny gems of different colors floated through the myriad of stars Stygian had conjured, displaying each one to Twilight as Star Swirl began to name them.

The first Gem was blue color "Space"

The second was red color "Reality"

The third was purple color “Power”

The fourth was orange color "Soul"

The fifth was yellow color, and for Twilight it was all too familiar "Mind"

At that moment, Star Swirl paused, pointing dramatically at the necklace he wore around his neck.

The Eye of Agamotto.

"And Time"

After saying those words, Star Swirl used his powers and the Eye of Agamotto opened, revealing a small green gem inside.

The Time Stone.

Following the situation so far with a distant nod of her head, Twilight was busy absorbing the information. But as she filed away the knowledge of the Infinity Stones for possible future use, her focus was on the one who wanted them: the Enemy.

The one she had been preparing against for over six years.

“Repeat me her name…”

“Grogar. He... is a plague, Twilight. He invades planets, takes what he wants and eliminates half of the population” Fluttershy said, suppressing a shiver “He sent Lightning Dust… The Attack on Canterlot City! It was also HIM!”

The Invasion of the Chitauri.

A seemingly random event that suddenly fitted together like a piece of a puzzle. Everything began to fall into place in Twilight's mind.

Between Lightning Dust and her army's attack on Canterlot City, and then the whole thing with the Chitauri Center, Distron, and the Mind Stone… it was all starting to make sense.

Then, Rainbow Dash left to investigate more about her visions related to the Stones.

And now… everything fell into place.

“It's time…” Twilight murmured.

What she had been waiting for, preparing for… and dreading.

“At what point are we?” she asked firmly.

"I don't know. He already has the Power and Space Stones” Fluttershy said, while he shook his head, uncertain “That makes him the strongest creature in the universe. If he manages to get his hands on all SIX Stones, Twilight…”

“He could destroy life on an inconceivable scale…” Star Swirl finished.

“Has he really said ‘inconceivable’?” Twilight asked, as she leaned against a vase in the room, doing stretches.

"Are you really doing stretching in the Cauldron of the Cosmos?"

Before Twilight could respond, the suit of Star Swirl came to life and hit her hand, causing her to stop touching the vase she was leaning on.

"This time I'll let you..." Twilight said annoyed, before pointing at the Eye of Agamotto "If Grogar needs all six... why don't we throw this one in a garbage disposal?"

"We can't" Star Swirl said, shaking her head.

"We swore to protect the Time Stone" Stygian explained "With our lives".

“And I swore no dairy” Twilight answered “But they named an ice cream after me, so…”

"'Sparknutella Cone'" Star Swirl replied.

"Not bad".

“A bit cloying”.

"Our favorite is 'The Incredible Flutterhulklate'" Stygian said.

"That exist?" Fluttershy asked, confused by the current conversation.

"The point is... things change" Twilight said firmly.

"Our oath cannot change" Star Swirl added "And this Stone may be the best option we have against Grogar".

"And conversely, it may also be his best chance against us!" Twilight said, sensing an obvious flaw in that plan.

"Only if we don't do our job" Star Swirl replied, looking irritated.

"And what is your job?" Twilight replied, just as irritated. "Aside from making balloon animals..."

"Protect your reality... stupid".

The two of them were eye to eye at this point, and looking decidedly angry at each other.

Not eager for a fight to break out, Fluttershy gently tried to separate them.

“Okay, guys. Can we leave this discussion for another time? she said, sweetly “The fact is that we have this Stone, that we know where it is. And Vision is somewhere with the Mind Stone... and we have to find him now!"

Grimacing, Twilight realized that her friend was right.

“Yes, that's the question…”

"What do you mean?"

"Two weeks ago, Vision turned off his transponder" Twilight said "He went offline".

"What!?" Fluttershy blinked in horror. "Twilight, have you lost another super robot?"

"I haven't lost him... he's just... evolving" Twilight replied, shyly.

"And who could find Vision?" Star Swirl asked.

And that was the worst of all.

Twilight sighed, knowing full well that, despite all his talk of finding himself and taking time off, he was going to leave with the Green Witch (even though she is a wanted criminal under the "Sokovia Accords"), in the vain hope that the group would be together again at some point.

But if he was gone with Gloriosa Daisy and they were hiding somewhere, it meant the best person to find them was the last person Twilight wanted to talk to right now.

"Shit..." Twilight muttered "Just Applejack Rogers".

"Oh, great..." Star Swirl moaned, throwing her head back, realizing the problem immediately.

"She can, but..."

"Call her" Fluttershy requested.

"It's not that easy..." Twilight replied, before realizing it "We haven't caught up in a long time, have we?"

"No" Fluttershy confirmed, with a shake of her head.

"The Avengers... disbanded."

“Disbanded!?” Fluttershy asked, confused "Like a group? Like the Post Crushs?”

Twilight tried to search for the simplest explanation she could.

“AJ and I argued...” Twilight said. “We don't talk to each other anymore...”

Doing her best to be understanding, but firm, Fluttershy placed her hand on Twilight's shoulder.

“Twilight… listen to me. Rainbow Dash has died” Fluttershy said, as a tear came out of her eyes “Grogar is coming and I don't care who you talk to or not”.

Twilight knew that Fluttershy was right. She was absolutely right. Which only left one option.

Reaching into her pocket, Twilight pulled out an old phone.

"Flip phone..." Twilight muttered annoyed.

Quickly, she scrolled through the contact list…until she found the name “Applejack Rogers”.

Twilight hesitated, and she was about to hit the call button… when she stopped herself.

Something wasn't right.

Looking around at the people in the room, Twilight noticed that the bangs on Star Swirl's gray hair…moved on their own.

“Aren't you, by any chance, moving your hair on purpose?” Twilight asked out of curiosity.

"No..." Star Swirl replied, trying to look at his bangs "At this time, no..."

Everyone wasn't sure what at first, but then they noticed that it was getting dark, even though there were no clouds today and it was noon.

Looking up, the four people looked out of the hole Fluttershy made upon reaching the spot, only to see a shadow stretch across the sky. Then a wind caused the debris to start moving, even though there was no wind today, as it required forecasts of sun and heat for the whole day, if not all week.

A nameless terror attacked Twilight from the spine, and without a word, he ran to the principal door of the Sancta Santorum and opened it.

The streets of Canterlot City were awash with chaos.

As Twilight advanced to what people were fleeing, with the others following her, a woman tripped and fell to the ground.

"Hey, are you okay, ma'am?" Twilight asked as she helped the woman up.

But the woman ignored her and she ran off again.

Then, a car crashed into a streetlight in front of Twilight, with its driver unconscious.

"Help him!" Twilight yelled, pointing at the car "Fluttershy, Stygian!"

"Don't worry, we'll take care of this!" Fluttershy said, as she and Stygian started to help the driver out of her car.

As she continued walking, Twilight put on some high-tech goggles, quickly connecting with her personal artificial intelligence: S.P.I.K.E.

"S.P.I.K.E, what's going on?" Twilight asked into her glasses.

"I'm not sure, boss, I'm on it" S.P.I.K.E said, into Twilight's glasses.

Faced with that situation, Twilight looked at Star Swirl, who was activating her wizard outfit.

"Hey!" Twilight yelled "You better put that Time Stone in the pocket!"

"Maybe it's best to use it" Star Swirl said, as he followed Twilight.

Turning a corner, the four of them finally saw the reason why all the civilians were fleeing.

A giant hoop-shaped spaceship.

Those beasts... were already here...

(Stop video at minute 0:45)

Meanwhile, near the area, a school bus passed over the bridge that connected one end of Canterlot City to another.

On that bus were some students from Canterlot High, a prestigious high school in uptown Canterlot City known for its excellent academic records as well as its acceptance policies.

Among them, was a young girl with orange hair, tied in a long ponytail.

Luster Dawn was kind of relaxed and calm as she did her math homework.

Halfway through the sixth question, however, she felt a tingle run up her spine. Her spider-sense was kicking in, and that only meant one thing.

Trouble.

Looking out the window, Luster easily spotted the alien ship in the distance, and quickly leaned across her seat to her friend closest to her, the exciting Silverstream, for help.

“Silverstream...” Luster pleaded “Hey, do something to distract them...”

Silverstream barely noticed her friend's request…before she became fascinated by what lay in the distance.

"Oh My God!" Silverstream said, knowing what she had to do “WE'RE GOING TO DIE!! THERE IS A SPACESHIP!!!”

At that moment, everyone on the bus quickly pushed around to look, crowding around the windows in the back…leaving Luster completely unnoticed.

Waiting for the right moment, she took out her web shooter, designed to fit perfectly on her wrist. With it, she shot out a spiderweb strand, opening the window's emergency latch.

With a deft and quick movement, Luster jumped out the window, without the driver, a woman who had a short red hair, noting, while she was totally distracted by the passengers of her bus.

Her uniform tag identified her as… Lauren Faust.

"But what's wrong with you guys?" Lauren asked, as she rolled her eyes. "Have all you never seen a spaceship?"

Meanwhile, outside the bus, Luster stood glued to the wall of the bus, while donning a red mask with black and white eyes, which covered her entire head.

Then, she made a big jump that made her fall towards the river that was under the bridge.

Another strand of web shot from her wrist…as Spider-Girl made her way toward the invading alien ship.

It's Hero Time!

Author's Note

Twilight Sparkle is reunited with Fluttershy and, along with Dr. Star Swirl and his assistant Stygian, learns of the threat posed by Grogar and the Infinity Stones.

Meanwhile, Luster Dawn, also known as Spider-Girl, also notices the situation and decides to go see what's going on.

Chapter 3) The Invasion of Canterlot City

(Continue video from minute 0:45)

Twilight ran through the streets, even while giving instructions to the artificial intelligence program in her glasses.

"SPIKE, evacuate the people south of 43rd Street and notify the emergency services".

"I'm on it" SPIKE replied immediately.

Information flowed into her ear, relevant when needed, as she looked toward the invading alien threat, trying to discern what technology she could employ against it.

It was anarchy.

Although there was no sign of an actual attack yet, the ship was wreaking such destruction just by being there, easily recalling the attack Lightning Dust had unleashed almost six years ago.

Not enjoying the strong winds, Star Swirl cast a spell, raising his hands as he did so, sending a great gust of air into the encircling winds. Almost immediately, all the air in the area calmed down.

Star Swirl winked at Twilight, smugly. Twilight frowned, but she nodded slightly, acknowledging that the magic was at least efficient.

At that moment, there was a flash of light, and a pillar of light descended from the spaceship.

As it faded, two figures stood in the middle of the street. Two that Fluttershy recognized instantly.

They were Tirek and Cozy Glow.

“Hear me and rejoice. All of you are about to die at the hands of the Sons of Grogar…” Cozy Glow spoke in a measured and controlled voice “Be thankful… that your meaningless lives will contribute to…”

"Sorry, but today Earth is closed" Twilight interrupted, having heard more than enough "You better pack your things and get out".

Not used to being interrupted, Cozy Glow raised an eyebrow and looked at Star Swirl, deducing that he was wearing the Time Stone and therefore only he would deign to answer.

"Guardian of the Stone... Does this chatterbox animal speak for you?" Cozy Glow asked, pointing at Twilight.

Twilight frowned again, as she disliked that kid more and more by the minute.

"Of course not. No one speaks for me” Star Swirl said, as he and Stygian unleashed his magic, summoning glowing rune rings on their hands “You are trespassers in this city and on this planet”.

"Meaning get lost, girl!" Twilight added.

“How tiresome…” Cozy Glow complained, as Tirek grunted darkly, stamping his massive feet on the ground “Bring me the Stone”.

Already thirsty for a fight and eager to obey such an order, Tirek began to advance, ready to smash his four opponents into huge bloodstains on the street. The ground seemed to shake as Tirek moved forward, taking his time.

Twilight figured the best way to fight someone like him… was with a creature just as powerful.

"Fluttershy, are you in?" she asked, looking at Fluttershy.

Trying to hide under her pink mane, Fluttershy shook her head.

"No, not really, but…" Fluttershy said, as she took a deep breath, conquering her fears and letting her anger come to light. "When does what I want get done?"

"That's true…" Twilight said convincingly, trying to comfort her "Well… it would be nice to have you, friend".

"Let me… I have to concentrate for a second..." Fluttershy said, while she continued concentrating her anger to transform into Flutterhulk "Come on, come on, woman".

But something strange happened: despite seeing how part of his neck turned green, Fluttershy couldn't transform.

"And your friend?" Twilight asked, confused.

"I don't know..." Fluttershy replied, not wanting to go into details at this point "We had our stuff".

“No time for stuff!” Twilight reminded, before pointing at Tirek “The thing is right there! Come on!".

Just as his comment indicated, Tirek brushed aside a chunk of debris as he began to accelerate, grunting darkly.

Fluttershy tried to transform back... without success. And Star Swirl gave Twilight a confused look.

"You're embarrassing me in front of the wizards..." Twilight whispered to Fluttershy.

"I'm sorry..." Fluttershy stammered "Either I can or she doesn't want to..."

Quickly, Twilight placed her hand on her terrified companion, pushing her back.

"It's okay. Hey, back off...” Twilight said, before looking at Stygian “Can you keep an eye on her? Thank you".

“I'll take care of it” Stygian said, as Fluttershy ran after the wizard and Twilight took the lead.

Then, as Tirek rushed forward, becoming a charge, Twilight struck the metal plate on his chest.

Instantly, purple and white armor spread over her entire body, due to the nanomachines on the plate.

In mere moments, Twilight Sparkle had become Iron Girl, Mark L.

At that moment, when Tirek threw a punch, Iron Girl materialized a shield with her left arm, blocking the attack.

Then, taking advantage of the distraction, Iron Girl materialized two ion cannons in each of her armor's hands, along with four additional cannons coming out of her back, looming on either side of the armor, totaling six cannons

With her weapons, Iron Girl fired a powerful beam of blue energy, which sent her opponent flying into the air, towards her little companion.

For her part, Cozy Glow barely moved a hand, telekinetically throwing Tirek out of his path, causing him to crash into some cars on the street.

When she finished, Iron Girl looked at her companions... especially at a Fluttershy with her mouth open.

“Where did THAT come from?” Fluttershy asked, surprised.

“It's nanotechnology. You like it?" Iron Girl replied "A little thing that-".

But before she could finish, Cozy Glow used her powers to launch Iron Girl up, and then attacked the rest of the team using the rubble and some uprooted trees.

Acting quickly, Stygian summoned a shield of magic, blocking the attacks.

Star Swirl looked at Fluttershy, who was still trying to transform into Flutterhulk, either because she didn't want to or couldn't.

As such, she was nothing more than dead weight… and the Master of the Arcane Arts needed to get her out of there.

"Miss Fluttershy, since her green friend isn't joining us..." Star Swirl said, waving her hand, forming a circle in the air.

Immediately afterwards, a portal opened under Fluttershy, and she fell into the middle of the nearby park… away from danger.

Just then, Iron Girl returns and joins the fight.

“Get that Stone out of here!” ordered Iron Girl.

"This stays with me" Star Swirl said, setting the record straight.

"Exactly. Goodbye".

But before she can focus on the battle anymore, Iron Girl is pummeled by Tirek's massive hammer... sending her flying into the park.

With the impact, Iron Girl crashed to the ground of the park, near a tree.

Seeing that, Fluttershy ran to her friend, worried about the situation.

"Twilight, are you okay?" Fluttershy asked. "How are we doing? Good? Wrong?"

"Very well, very well…" Iron Girl said, recovering from the impact with the ground "Are you planning to help?"

"I'm trying!" Fluttershy proclaimed "She doesn't want to go out!"

Just then, Tirek arrives at the park and throws his hammer at Fluttershy.

"WATCH OUT!" Iron Girl yelled, pushing Fluttershy out of the way.

Then, Iron Girl fires more energy bolts, which are deflected by Tirek's shield, cutting down some trees in the process.

Near a fallen tree, Fluttershy crawls under it, cowering in fear.

"Come on, Flutterhulk! What are you doing to me?" Fluttershy said to herself, as she slapped her face “Get out! Get out! GET OUT!"

"NOOO!"

For a brief moment, half of Fluttershy's face was Flutterhulk's, dark green and huge, if a bit monstrous. Long enough to exclaim a single word of challenge.

The effort knocked Fluttershy backwards, while she immediately returned to normal, albeit exhausted, out of sorts, and confused beyond measure.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WITH "NO"!?"

Meanwhile, the fight between Iron Girl and Tirek was not going very well.

The last hit knocked Iron Girl down and Tirek was about to deliver the killing blow... when two hands belonging to a girl dressed in a red and blue costume, and a spider emblazoned on her chest, blocked the hammer attack effortlessly.

(Imagine the suit for a girl)

"Hey, dude" Spider-Girl greeted nonchalantly, before glancing over the man, making sure her mentor was okay "What's up, Miss Sparkle?"

Instantly recognizing her savior, though surprised that she was here, Twilight gaped behind her visor.

"Girl, what are you doing here?"

"I was on a visit to-" Spider-Girl began to explain, until Tirek grabbed her with her huge hand and flung her aside, resuming her attack on Iron Girl.

Thankfully, those precious seconds had given Twilight time to recover, and she blasted him with another bolt of energy that sent the huge red alien staggering.

“What's the problem with this guy, Miss Sparkle?” Spider-Girl asked, as she swayed between attacks.

Twilight did her best to sum it up neatly.

"Uh, he's from space... and he's here to steal a necklace from a wizard".

To Luster's credit... she had heard stranger things.

Meanwhile, the fight between Dr. Star Swirl and Stygian against Cozy Glow continued.

With his hands, Cozy Glow levitated some bricks from the rubble, then turned them into sharp stone stakes, which hurtled towards the two wizards.

But the teamwork of Star Swirl and Stygian was very coordinated: the second opened a portal that absorbed the stakes, while the first opened another… sending the stone stakes in the opposite direction.

Quickly, Cozy Glow took a car with her powers to block the projectiles, blocking more than half a dozen… but one flashed past and grazed her left cheek, making her bleed and snarl angrily.

A quick flick of his hand and a fire hydrant erupted from the ground, hitting Styigan and knocking him unconscious.

Seconds later, Cozy Glow flew into the air at Star Swirl, who caught her in the air, ending up with the two of them hitting the wall of a building.

Then, before Star Swirl could respond, Cozy Glow used her powers to immobilize her opponent with the bricks of the wall... exposing the Eye of Agamotto, with the Time Stone inside of it.

“Your powers are curious...” Cozy Glow said, in a mocking tone and with a smug air “You must be popular with children”.

Cozy Glow tries to grab the Eye of Agamotto, but backs off when it leaves a nasty burn on his left hand.

"A simple spell, but difficult to break" said Star Swirl, while it was his turn to be smug.

"Then I'll take it off your corpse!" Cozy Glow proclaimed, grabbing Star Swirl and flinging him to the ground.

Quickly, before Star Swirl could conjure the Time Stone's power, his arms were restrained by several metal cables springing around different parts of his body, immobilizing him, courtesy of Cozy Glow.

One of the wires wrapped around Star Swirl's throat, threatening to snap his neck as he tightened.

"You see... removing the spell from a dead person... isn't easy..." Star Swirl said, choking.

“You'll just wish you were dead” Cozy Glow promised, glaring at her opponent.

The Sorcerer Supreme passed out, unable to breathe, and Cozy Glow levitated a piece of asphalt to carry him.

It might have seemed like she was finally in possession of her target, but Star Swirl still had tricks up her sleeve: his wizard suit flexed, loosening the bonds, and then flew off, carrying Star Swirl with ease even though he was still unconscious.

"NO!" Cozy Glow growled dangerously, as she chased after her prey like a bat out of hell.

Their chase through the skies of Canterlot City did not go unnoticed, as the two flew close to Iron Girl and Spider-Girl's fight against Tirek.

“Girl, that's the wizard. Go for him!".

"I'm coming!" Spider-Girl replied, shooting another web and chasing after them.

Cozy Glow flew by, not even bothering to look back, as you used your powers to throw a billboard at Spider-Girl.

"Not cool!" Spider-Girl said, recovering from the attack and resuming the chase.

Cozy Glow kept furiously throwing everything at the unconscious mage, knocking over streetlights and tearing up streets, until one of the attacks hit him, causing Star Swirl to fall… just as a spider web grabbed him in midair, saving him from a nasty collision in the streets.

"I caught you!" Spider-Girl proclaimed, eager to get as far away from the evil telepathic girl as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, that was not going to be possible.

A ray of light descended from the alien ship, at the command of Cozy Glow, who was not going to lose his prize now.

Star Swirl was drawn upwards, and unable to find adequate support on any other surface, Spider-Girl was quickly dragged behind him.

"Uh... Miss Sparkle...? THEY'RE ABDUCTING ME!" she screamed scared.

"Hold on, girl!" Iron Girl yelled, as she fought Tirek, but her huge opponent knocked her down, knocking her to the ground.

Grinning, Tirek leaped at her, intending to crush her with her fist… before falling through a portal opened by the Stygian, landing in the frozen wastes of the North Pole.

Growling, Tirek turned to the still-open portal and charged toward it... only to have it shut by Stygian seconds before Tirek's hand reached inside.

Fluttershy recoiled back…as Tirek's amputated left hand landed perilously close to her feet.

“Stygian, you are invited to my wedding!” Iron Girl stated after recovering.

Then, she activated the thrusters on her armor... heading towards the alien ship.

Iron Girl flies towards the alien ship, but realizes that it is too far away.

"Give me power, SPIKE!" Iron Girl ordered.

At that moment, Iron Girl's foot thrusters fuse together, transforming into a larger one that gives her more momentum.

It didn't take long for her to reach the ship, though they were already beyond the atmosphere, and she could still see Luster clinging to the side of the ship.

that would be a problem

"SPIKE, free the 17-A!" Iron Girl ordered.

At that moment, SPIKE activated a remote control pod, which launched from the new Avengers HQ, hurtling skyward… heading for Spider-Girl.

"Luster, let go!" Iron Girl ordered "I'll catch you!"

“But you said to save the wizard!” Spider-Girl protested, her voice strained and unable to breathe, pulling off her mask "I can't breathe...!"

“We are too high!” Iron Girl exclaimed “You're running out of air!”.

"Yeah... It makes sense..." Luster agreed, holding onto the side of the ship with one hand.

In an instant, she let go... not so much because she wanted to, but because she literally couldn't take it anymore.

At that moment, the pod flew by at full speed, its contents hitting Luster's back.

It was then that hundreds of nanomachines wrapped her in a thin layer, until she was covered in a new and improved Spider-Girl suit, one that even had built-in respirators for high altitudes.

(Imagine again the suit for a woman)

Now able to breathe, Iron Spider lands on the bottom of the ship, heroically pulling herself to her feet.

"Wow... Miss Sparkle, this smells like a new car!" she exhaled in amazement, after recovering.

"Have a good trip, girl" Iron Girl said, speeding past her armor's thrusters, pausing long enough to wave at her, "SPIKE, send her home".

"Yes, boss" SPIKE said.

Just then, a large parachute extends from Iron Spider's back, sending her spiraling back to Earth.

“OH, COME ON!”

Arriving at the ship, Iron Girl fired a concentrated red laser beam to blast a hole in the ship's surface.

With the entrance open, Twilight climbs aboard, looking for where Cozy Glow and her captive Star Swirl might be.

"Boss, call from Mr. Sentry" SPIKE intervened at that moment.

In all the excitement, Twilight had almost completely forgotten about her fiancé (which was kind of awkward).

She retracted her visor and blushed softly as she pressed a hand against her ear, trying to hear better.

“Twilight? Are you okay?" Flash asked, his voice muffled and slightly static from the interference of the ship or the altitude "What's going on?"

"Yeah, I'm fine…" Twilight answered "It's just… our reservation may have to be postponed".

"Why?"

"Because... I probably won't be able to make it in time..." Twilight said, as she looked around the strange and sinister ship.

"Tell me you're not on that spaceship" Flash said, deducing what was going on.

"Yeah..." Twilight answered.

"Okay, Twilight…" Flash sighed. "Please, just…be careful-".

At that point, the transmission cut off.

"Flash?" Twilight said "Flash!"

"Boss, we lost your connection" SPIKE said, his voice static as well "And mine too..."

SPIKE's voice trailed off as well, with Twilight reminding herself that her connection wasn't designed for interplanetary travel.

Angry, Twilight turned it off.

She was alone now.

Unknown to Twilight, it is revealed that the Iron Spider managed to attach itself to the outside of the ship and she crawls into an airlock.

"Oh my God!" Iron Spider said, amazed as the ship moved away from Earth "I should have stayed on the bus..."

With the airlock closed, the ship jumped at the speed of light, disappearing completely.

Meanwhile, in Canterlot City, with the battle over and the enemy ship gone, Fluttershy returned to the wreckage to search for survivors.

She found Stygian shaking off an unpleasant headache. But there was no trace of Iron Girl or the Sorcerer Supreme.

However, clearing away some debris on the ground, Fluttershy found something that caught her attention: the cell phone that Twilight was going to use to contact Applejack.

Looking at Stygian, Fluttershy watched as he entered a portal into the Sancta Santorum.

"Where are you going?" Fluttershy asked.

“They have the Time Stone” Stygian said “The Sancta Santorum is unprotected. What are you going to do?"

A moan formed in her throat, but Fluttershy barely said anything. She didn't want to sound so needy, but she was quickly running out of options, Grogar kept coming to Earth, and without Flutterhulk, she was starting to feel very alone and vulnerable.

However, she still had one option left.

"I'm going to make a call" Fluttershy replied.

Stygian nodded and her portal closed behind him.

Finally, Fluttershy pressed the key on Twilight's cell phone to activate the answering machine, timidly putting it to her ear.

"Hey, Applejack... it's me..."

Author's Note

Iron Girl and Iron Spider sneak onto the alien ship to rescue Star Swirl and retrieve the Time Stone from Cozy Glow.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy decides to get in touch with Applejack.

What would happen now?

Chapter 4) The Guardians of the Galaxy meet Rainbow Dash

Navigating the cosmos, a spaceship cut through the void like a knife through butter, maneuvering around a gas giant and speeding through the rings of a planetoid.

The Benatar.

Inside, the spaceship was a colorful display of light and sound, as a disco ball hanging from the ceiling lit up the air, while music blared from speakers installed on either side.

A bit of rock music from the Earth, upbeat and fast-paced. Which fit in perfectly with "The Guardians of the Galaxy". They were an odd bunch, no doubt.

A hybrid Human-Celestial outlaw.

A man who was considered "The Deadliest Man in the Galaxy"

A ruthless and vengeful ex-assassin.

A former servant of a Celestial.

A former professional thief.

And his little helper dragon.

Yes, they were a strange group, but for Sunny Starscout… they were a family. Especially after all he went through with his late mother.

“Sing, Pipp!” Sunny said, as she danced to the song.

Joyfully, Sunny sang while Pipp Petals was asleep. And to her delight, Hitch Trailbrazer was even nodding his head and lip-synching to the music, showing that he was finally beginning to relax and match his girlfriend's musical tastes.

Sparky Sparkeroni was busy playing an old 80s console while Izzy Moonbow adjusted the ship's coordinates and Zipp Storm yawned briefly, sounding bored.

"Why do you say we do this?" Zipp asked.

"It's a distress signal" Hitch replied, shooting him a look "Someone could be in danger".

“I get that, but… why do we do it?” Zipp answered.

“Because we're cool” Sunny interjected, before rubbing her hands together to indicate money “And maybe they'll give us a little money for our efforts”.

Zipp certainly approved of it, but Hitch did not.

"That's not the point" Hitch grumbled.

"That's not the point..." Sunny said "But... If the guy doesn't pay..."

"We're keeping his ship" Pipp said, revealing that he had already woken up from his nap.

"Exact!" Zipp said.

“Bbb-bingo!” Sunny said.

At that moment, Izzy noticed something on the ship's monitor.

“We are arriving at our destination”.

"Alright, Guardians…" Sunny agreed "This could be dangerous, so let's put on a bad face..."

Looking back, Sunny saw that Sparky was still playing his video game.

“Sparky, drop the console. I don't have to repeat it…” Sunny ordered “Sparky!”.

"I am Sparky..." Sparky replied, mockingly.

His translation was something that... the other crew members of the ship did not like

"Wow!"

“That language!”

"Hey!"

"Wow..."

"You've got them big, little one..." Sunny said, annoyed.

"Ever since you've been that size, you've become a complete asshole" Zipp said, before pointing to Sparky's video game "And af you keep it up, I'll tear that thing apart!"

Sparky rolls his eyes.

Finally, the ship came out of hyperspace, and the only thing that everyone saw was… devastation.

Whatever it was, it was a large ship, but it blew itself apart, as if flying through an asteroid field of broken metal and flying debris.

And uncomfortably, more than a few frozen corpses drifting through the void of space.

"What happened here?" asked Izzy, scared

“My God…” Sunny said.

“Looks like they're not going to pay us…” Zipp said.

Suddenly, with a bang, one of the bodies slammed into the viewing window of the bridge.

It was Rainbow Dash!

“AAAH! Wipers! Wipers!" Zipp yelled, waving his hands "Get it out!"

Then, something extraordinary and terrifying happened at the same time: Rainbow Dash's only remaining magenta eye… burst open.

She was still alive...

Moments later, they all dropped Rainbow Dash's body on the center table of what Sunny called her living room.

"But how can this girl still be alive?"

"She's not a girl. You're a girl…” Pipp said, amazed by Rainbow Dash's body “She… is a woman. She is a beautiful, muscular woman”.

“I'm muscular” Sunny said.

“Don't lie, Starscout” Zipp replied “You're one sandwich away from being fat”.

"Yeah, sure..." Sunny said, not believing her friend's comment.

"It's true" Pipp said, pointing to her chin and belly "You've gained a bit of weight".

"What?" Sunny said in surprise, before looking at her boyfriend "Hitch, do you think that...?"

But before she could finish the sentence, Izzy used her empathic powers to analyze Rainbow Dash's mind.

“She is anxious. Furious” Izzy explained, in a scared tone “She feels a great loss… and guilt”.

"It's like a pirate had a daughter with an angel..." Pipp said, still fascinated.

"Wow. This is a wake-up call” Sunny said, still thinking about what her friends said “Okay. I'll buy a Bowflex. I'll take it seriously. And some dumbbells…”.

"You do know that dumbbells aren't eaten, right?" Zipp said.

Moving closer, Hitch studied Rainbow Dash's arms.

"Her muscles of hers look like they're made of Cotati metallic fiber..."

“Stop massaging her muscles” Sunny said annoyed, before looking at Izzy “Wake her up”.

Izzy nodded, slowly placing her hand on Rainbow Dash's forehead.

"Wake up".

Seconds later, Rainbow Dash woke up with a start, scaring Izzy. And after recovering, she looked at her saviors.

“Who are you, guys?”

Explanations followed, together with presentations, Hitch explained the worst of it all. The fact that the Father of Monsters was looking for the Infinity Stones and had just stolen one from the Queen of Asgard.

"Ever since I've known Grogar, he's only had one goal: to bring balance to the Universe, eliminating half of its beings" Hitch explained "He killed people... from planet to planet, massacre by massacre..."

"Including mine..." Pipp said, gruffly.

The painful memory of losing her parents still weighed on her heavily.

“If he gets all six Infinity Stones, he'll be able to do it with just one snap…” Hitch agreed, snapping his fingers to prove it.

Hunched in a corner, blowing on some hot soup to cool it down, Rainbow Dash looked at Hitch suspiciously.

"You seem to know a lot about Grogar" she commented, hoping to sound casual.

If they were going to play some game of half-truths and lies, Pipp put an end to it at once.

Blunt as a hammer, she translated it into the former ruler of Asgard.

"Hitch... is the son of Grogar".

And then the entire ship went… deadly silent.

"Your father killed my sister" Rainbow Dash replied angrily.

Then, Rainbow took off the blanket that she was wearing and angrily advanced towards Hitch.

“Oh wow…” Zipp said.

"Now he's his Stepfather" Sunny said, interjecting "And he hates him just as much as you do..."

Hearing that, Rainbow let go of all her anger… and sighed sadly, placing her hand on Hitch's shoulder.

“There are complicated families... Before he died, my father told me that he had another step-sister... whom he imprisoned in Hel. Then, she return home and stabbed me in her eye, so I had to kill her. But that's life, right?. It goes round and round and…” Rainbow explained. “I feel your sorrow”.

“And I also feel your sorrow. Because… it's not a competition, but I've been through a lot too” Sunny said “My mother killed my father and I had to kill my mother. That was tough. Perhaps tougher than killing a sister. Also, I keep both eyes, which-”.

But Rainbow Dash wasn't paying attention to Sunny, as an idea came to her mind.

"I need a hammer, not a spoon…" Rainbow Dash said, before heading to the area where the ship's escape pod was parked "How do I open this thing? Is there some kind of a four-digit code? Maybe... a date of birth or something like that..."

"What are you doing?" Zipp asked doubtfully.

"I'm going to take your capsule".

“Nothing about that!” Sunny said, as she mimicked Rainbow Dash's accent "You're… not taking our capsule today, miss".

The others thought it was... a little weird.

"Starscout... Are you making a weird voice?" Zipp asked.

"No"

"You're doing it. You're imitating the woman-goddess” Pipp said “That's weird”.

"Not true!" Sunny said.

"She just did it again!" Izzy gasped.

"This is my voice!" Sunny yelled.

Just then, Rainbow walks up to Sunny, looking annoyed.

"Are you making fun of me?" Rainbow asks.

"Are you making fun of me?"

"You just did it again".

“She is trying to copy me...”

“Enough already! We have to stop Grogar” Hitch yelled, fed up with the situation “We have to find out where he is going next”.

"To Knowhere" Rainbow Dash muttered, as she headed for the ship's fridge.

"That sounds great" Izzy said, having no idea what Rainbow Dash was talking about.

"No. To Knowhere?” Sunny asked, remembering that her last experience there was not great. “It's a space station. We have been there. That place stinks".

Knowhere was not a well-known destination, though the Guardians had been there before: a massive space station, created inside the severed head of a Celestial, which slowly became home to smugglers and dirty businesses.

"Excuse me, that's our food" Sunny said annoyed, as she watched Rainbow Dash rummage through the food in the fridge.

“Not anymore”.

"Rainbow Dash... Why is he going to Knowhere?" Hitch asked

"Because for years, the Reality Stone has been there safely with a man named... the Collector".

Hearing that, Sunny winced, knowing who Rainbow Dash was referring to.

“Well that's not safe now...” Sunny said “Only an idiot would give a Stone to that man”.

“Or a genius” Rainbow Dash replied.

"How do you know he's not going after one of the other Stones?" Hitch demanded.

“There's six Stones out there. Grogar already has the Power Stone because he stole it last week, when he decimated Xandar” Rainbow Dash explained, as she rolled her eyes “And he stole the Space Stone from me, when he destroyed my ship and massacred half my people. The Mind and Time Stones are safe with the Avengers".

"The Avengers?" Sunny asked.

"Uh, the heroes of Earth…" Rainbow Dash clarified.

"Like Kevin Bacon?" Izzy asked, remembering a person Sunny had once told her about.

“He might be on the team. I haven't been there in a long time...” Rainbow Dash explained, shrugging her shoulders “And as for the Soul Stone, no one has ever seen it… nor does it know where it is. Therefore, Grogar can't get it, so he goes to Knowhere. So, he's going to get the Reality Stone. You're welcome".

"Well, we have to go to Knowhere now" Hitch said.

"No" Rainbow Dash corrected "Where we have to go... is Nidavellir".

"That word is made up" Pipp said, doubtfully.

"They all are" Rainbow Dash said.

“Nidavellir is real!? Seriously? That place is a legend” Zipp said, with a big smile on his face “There are made the most terrifying weapons that have ever tormented the Universe. I would really like to be able to go".

“It is clear that she is much smarter than all of you. Only Celaneo can make me the weapon I need" Rainbow Dash said, before pointing at Zipp "I take it you're the captain?"

“You are very perceptive”.

“You seem like a noble leader. Do you want to accompany me to Nidavellir?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Hmm, I'll ask the captain...” Zipp said “Wait a second, it's me! Yes, I'll go".

"Magnificent".

"I'm the captain" Sunny clarified, indicating that she was still upset.

"Starscout, sit down" Zipp ordered.

“Look, this is MY ship. And I'm not going to…" Sunny yelled at Rainbow Dash, before realizing something "Wait, what kind of weapon are we talking about?"

"Of those who kill Grogar".

"And shouldn't we have a weapon like that?" Sunny asked, as she pointed to her group.

"No. All of you don't have enough strength to wield them" Rainbow Dash explained "Your bodies would crumble".

“Is it weird that I feel like going more?” Zipp asked, still smiling.

"A little, yes…" Rainbow replied.

"If we don't go to Knowhere and Grogar retrieves another Stone, he will be too powerful to stop it" Hitch mused.

"He already is" Rainbow Dash reminded them, not eager for another fight against that monster.

“I have the solution: we have two ships and a large assortment of assholes” Zipp explained, pointing to everyone “So Sparky and I are going with the pirate angel… and the assholes are going to Knowhere to try and stop Grogar. Cool? Cool”.

"Very cool" Rainbow Dash said, agreeing with Zipp.

Rainbow Dash started to climb into the capsule of the ship.

"Just so you know..." Sunny whispered to Zipp "I know you only go with her because that's where Grogar isn't".

"You know, you shouldn't talk like that to your captain, Starscout..." Zipp said, as she entered the capsule with Sparky “Come on, Sparky. And leave that game, your brain will rot".

With her three passengers aboard the capsule, Rainbow bid her saviors farewell.

“Good luck and have a good trip, assholes. Goodbye".

With that, the three of them departed in the pod, leaving the rest of the Guardians dumbfounded.

What the hell had just happened?

Author's Note

Meanwhile, far from Earth, it is revealed that Rainbow Dash had survived the explosion of her ship, after being rescued by a group known as "The Guardians of the Galaxy".

Now, along with Zipp Storm and Sparky Sparkeroni, Rainbow Dash heads to Nivadellir to create a weapon capable of killing Grogar, while Sunny Starscout's group heads to the space station of Knowhere to protect the Reality Stone.

Can they get it?

Chapter 5) Ambush in Scotland / Vision and Captain Equestria vs The Legion of Doom

Back on Earth, in the middle of a town in Scotland, in a small and picturesque hotel, two people watched the rain fall.

A girl with dark pink hair, a daisy headband on her head, was resting and relaxing, even thoughtful.

While her consort, an android with dark pink skin and dressed in a gray-blue suit and gold cape, paced by the window, watching the storm.

On her head, right on her forehead, a bright yellow stone was embedded in her flesh.

The Mind Stone.

The Stone lit up briefly, and she stopped her wearer's walk, causing him to grab her head in his hand.

"Vision?" Gloriosa Daisy asked, as she walked toward him from the bed "Is that the Stone again?"

"It's like she's talking to me..." he nodded, her expression still deeply troubled by her.

"And what does she tell you?"

"I... I don't know..." Vision admitted, with a scowl "But something..."

Slowly, Gloriosa placed her hand on the Mind Stone.

"Tell me how you feel" Vision answered, placing his hand on hers.

Smiling at her cutesy (yet romantic) gesture of hers, Gloriosa concentrated, focusing her mental and psychic powers on Vision and the Mind Stone.

After a few moments, her eyes widened and she smiled beatifically.

“I only feel… you” Gloriosa said, with a smile.

Vision returned that smile freely, leaning forward as her lips came together in a loving kiss.

They spent the rest of the evening together, most of it in bed, enjoying room service and with no desire to do anything but share each other's company.

These fleeting moments were too far apart and too few between them: with Vision an official member of the Avengers, and Gloriosa technically a criminal member of Applejack's group, by "The Sokovia Accords" he was legally bound to arrest her on sight.

But even if he was directly ordered to do it, here and now, he wouldn't dare to do it.

What he and Gloriosa had was… special.

Ever since he had saved her life in Sokovia, when they both defeated the evil god-complex AI called Distron, and when her brother passed away saving a friend.

“How things have changed…” he thought, as he held the sleeping woman next to him.

The Mind Stone on his forehead flickered in apparent agreement.

The following night, they checked out of their hotel and went for a walk, with Vision activating his holographic camouflage to appear human.

His romantic date was coming to an end, and Vision would have to return to Canterlot City and rejoin the remaining Avengers.

A little near the train station, Vision seemed to slow down, looking thoughtfully at Gloriosa.

“There's one at 10 that goes to Glasgow” Gloriosa said “And we'd spend more time together before you come back”.

"And if I miss that train?" he mused out loud.

"There's another one at 11".

"What if I missed all the trains?" Vision asked, turning softly to look at her, for once completely serious "What if this time... I didn't come back?".

Flattered by the romance in his tone, Gloriosa nonetheless stuck to the practical answer.

“But you gave Sparkle your word...” she reminded him.

“I would rather give it to you”.

And again, she somehow made that cheesy line sound serious and romantic seemingly effortlessly.

"There are also people waiting for me..." she reminded him "We have both made promises..."

“But not between us” Vision said, “Gloriosa... For two years, we've been stealing these moments, trying to see if this could work. And... I don't know, I... Look, I'm only speaking for myself. I... I think that...”

"It works?" Gloriosa finish the sentence.

“It works” Vision said, before caressing her girlfriend's face “Stay… Stay with me”.

But before Gloriosa could say anything, she saw something that caught her attention.

"Or not. If I'm overdoing it...” Vision said, realizing it.

That's when Vision also saw what Gloriosa saw: footage of Cozy Glow and Tirek's attack on Canterlot City was being shown on the TV in a nearby bar... with creepy messages.

CANTERLOT CITY UNDER ATTACK

TWILIGHT SPARKLE (IRON GIRL), MISSING

When he saw it, Vision knew what it meant.

“What's all this?” Gloriosa asked, scared.

"That's what the Stone was warning me" Vision said, before taking her beloved's hand and kissing her "I have to go".

"No, Vision" Gloriosa protested, squeezing her hands, preventing him from leaving "If that's true... It might not be the best idea..."

"Gloriosa, I..."

Whatever Vision was going to say was cut short when a sharp spear pierced his abdomen, causing him to scream in agony and forcing him to deactivate his holographic camouflage.

"VISION!" Gloriosa yelled, scared.

Shocked but quick to act, Gloriosa prepared to blast the attacker behind Vision, when something bright and green slammed into her, falling to the cold ground, just as Vision was thrown from the spear in the same way, he landing next to him on the asphalt of the street.

Her two attackers towered over them.

Chrysalis and Sombra, the Sons of Grogar.

Not as hampered as her boyfriend, Gloriosa unleashed a barrage of emerald energy, blasting both Chrysalis and Sombra, sending them through a nearby store and overturning a fruit cart.

Without hesitation, she ran to Vision's side and helped him to his feet, heading into a dark alley near the town square.

“The blade of that spear...” Vision said, breathing heavily “It has prevented me from phase shifting...”

"But is that possible?"

“Supposedly not. My systems are failing...” Vision said, as he leaned against the wall of a building and Gloriosa used her powers to treat her abdomen wound “I think we should... have stayed in bed”.

In spite of herself, Gloriosa couldn't help but smile... before a shadow fell over them.

Sombra dropped from the roof of the building, knocking Gloriosa away with his spear and grabbing Vision by the arm. In one jump, both landed on the roof of a nearby church.

"Vision!" Gloriosa yelled.

Gloriosa ran after them, preparing to take flight, when a burst of green energy knocked her to the ground, and she barely had time to roll away from her, when Chrysalis tried to skewer her with her own spear.

The two women, looking at each other, began to fight fiercely.

Pinning Vision against the wall of the church, Sombra leaned toward him.

"Give us the Stone... and she will live"

A furious fist slammed into his face, driving Sombra back, as Vision rejected her offer and continued to fight. Then, a blast of yellow energy shot out from the Mind Stone on his forehead.

However, Sombra had come prepared for this and by raising a hand, a shield activated on his wristband. The energy crashed into the strange alien metal, deflecting in all directions, as it passed through the area.

Worse yet, with a flick of the wrist, Sombra deflected the energy to directly hit Vision, causing him to collapse against the wall.

Gloriosa shook off Chrysalis and looked up at the rooftops when she heard Vision scream in agony.

Sending out another emerald blast that knocked her opponent into another building, Gloriosa flew towards the church roof… only to see Sombra use her spear, intending to rip the Mind Stone from Vision's head.

"DON'T TOUCH HIM!" Gloriosa declared, and fired a blast of energy at Sombra, causing him to crash through a window.

Quickly, Gloriosa scooped Vision up, throwing her arm around his shoulders and flying off awkwardly.

Which may have been a mistake, because Chrysalis shot out of the tent where she landed and fired a bolt of green energy from her spear, hitting Gloriosa.

She and her lover fell towards the glass ceiling of the train station platform, but Gloriosa used her powers to trap herself and Vision seconds before hitting the ground.

It was a hard landing, but as anyone else would say: any landing you could walk away from is a good landing.

Getting back to her feet, Gloriosa tried to help Vision to his feet, only to slump against the platform railing.

"Okay, come on. Come on, get up…” Gloriosa said “Get up, come on. We have to go".

"Please..." Vision said, shaking his head and breathing shallowly "Please go away..."

“You said to stay… and I'm staying” she answered firmly.

There was another blast of glass as Shadow and Chrysalis fell through the ceiling, walking towards them with malicious looks.

Looking at them, Gloriosa straightened up, as her eyes blazed with emerald energy and her power washed over her.

Just then, a train whizzed past her, tossing her mane, but her passing stopped Chrysalis and Shadow from watching with some trepidation. They were no longer centered on Gloriosa.

Risking a glance over her shoulder, Gloriosa saw that a shadowy silhouette stood on the opposite platform of the station.

Snarling, Chrysalis flung his spear… and the mysterious silhouette caught it with one hand.

Whit the spear in his hand, the silhouette walked into the light, appearing in full view.

The familiar face of Applejack Rogers, the Captain Equestria, before "The Howling Command", before the organization S.H.I.E.L.D, before the Avengers.

But still, beyond any doubt... she was a hero.

Gloriosa and Vision smiled with relief. Her friend was here.

But she didn't come alone.

Another girl, with red hair decorated with a pink bow, and dressed in a flight harness that mimicked the flight of a falcon, kicked Chrysalis and sent her flying into the station cafeteria.

At the same time, before Sombra could react, Applejack throws Chrysalis's spear at another girl with purple hair and wearing a black uniform and stun bracelets.

Rarity confronts Sombra, managing to stab him in the stomach and throwing him back.

Chrysalis, recovered from the impact, retrieves the weapon from her and attacks White Widow, only to be blocked by Applejack, who was wielding Sombra's spear, before Applebloom flew in and again kicked Chrysalis backwards, crouching next to Sombra.

"Get up," Chrysalis ordered, trying not to look back and take her eyes off her enemies.

“I can't…” Sombra answered, clutching his stomach, whose wound could have been fatal.

"We don't want to kill them..." Rarity explained in detail, while Applebloom pointed two pistols at her opponents "But we will".

“You won't have the chance anymore…” Chrysalis growled.

At that moment, a brilliant beam of energy descended from the skies, engulfing the Sons of Grogar, teleporting them towards another ship similar to the one used in Canterlot City. Also taking Sombra's spear from Applejack's hand.

Then, the alien ship took off, disappearing into the darkness of the night.

With their enemies defeated and the threat gone, Applejack and his ragtag team approached Vision, who was getting to his feet with the help of Gloriosa's support.

"Can you get up?" Applebloom asked, as he helped the couple.

"Thank you, Captain" Vision said to Applejack, truly grateful.

“Let's go to the jet” she agreed.

Getting everyone into the stolen Quinjet didn't take long, even with Gloriosa carrying Vision, who lay down on the gurney at the back of the ship.

"I thought... we had a deal" Rarity chided the pair. "Be close. Contact. No risks”.

"I'm sorry..." Gloriosa apologized "We just... wanted time."

"Where to, Cap?" Applebloom asked, taking the controls of the ship.

Applejack didn't reply for a long moment, considering his options and strategizing. From what he saw in today's attack, along with the invasion of Canterlot City and the disappearance of Iron Girl, they didn't have much of a choice.

What they needed now was information, resources, and a base of operations, and being fugitives from the law, they wouldn't find any of that in Scotland.

In reality, there was only one place they could really go.

"Home…" Applejack said.

Author's Note

Gloriosa Daisy and Vision are attacked in Scotland by Chrysalis and Sombra.

So, just when all seems lost, Applejack, Rarity and Applebloom come to their friends' rescue.

Now, all together, they head back to Canterlot City to plan their next move.

Chapter 6) The Promise between Sunny and Hitch

Years ago, in a stormy and violent world.

A young Hitch was running like crazy, looking for his parents, while the darkness seemed to follow him like a tidal wave.

But this was no ordinary storm. More than the thunder crashing in the skies above, it was the thunder of boots marching across the ground.

Big, huge, hairy beasts in heavy black armor trampled the village, crushing everything that stood in their way, taking whatever they wanted, be it loot and other inhabitants.

Maneuvering around them, Hitch ran through puddles of water, looking for his parents.

He had to find them. He had to do it.

However, he stopped short as one of the huge beasts seemed to materialize just out of the rain, standing in front of him. He looked at him with his sinister blue eyes, but what really terrified Hitch was seeing his parents, smashed in the rain and covered in mud.

None moved or breathed. It was clear even to the boy that there was no saving them now.

"NO!"

The huge monster slammed its fist into the boy's head, hitting him so hard that he spiraled through the air to crash into a stone wall, passing out almost instantly.

When he came to, everything ached, as the rain water mixed with his tears as he stood up, unable to understand.

"Why?" he thought “Why is this happening?”.

An ominous stamping sound heralded another arrival, as Hitch ducked, preparing for another attack.

Out of the storm emerged a silhouette, an imposing man even larger than the furry beasts that ravaged his world, with dark blue skin and cruel red eyes. A pair of black horns moved to the back of his head as he looked down at the little boy in front of him.

That man was... Grogar.

Hitch glared at him, as he tried to do anything to fight him off, to no avail.

Instead of getting angry, though, Grogar found the attempt…fascinating.

"He's strong..." Grogar said, leaning down to look at the boy "We'll take him with us..."

What followed after that was a lifetime of struggle and pain. Hitch was alone, without friends.

The family he had was twisted and ruthless, the Sons of Grogar, the Father of Monsters.

Only one had been redeemable in any way, at least for Hitch. In his own words, he had 'hated Hitch less' than the rest of his siblings. But neither had he been a true brother to him, despite his attempts.

Hitch had been raised to be a warrior, a fighter… and an assassin.

What he lacked in precision and grace in a person, he made up for in brute strength that made monsters twice his size think long and hard before trying to fight him.

And he wins. He always won.

One day, after trying his best in one of his training sessions, Grogar presented Hitch with a small double dagger encrusted with red jewels.

"Look. This is beautiful, right? Perfectly balanced” Grogar explained, as he balanced the dagger on a single finger “As everything should be. Not too much to one side, not too much to the other…”

It was then, when he met Sunny and the other Guardians, and together they went on the adventure for protect the Power Stone, that he managed to find something missing in his life.

A life he could truly live, without being consumed by revenge and without the need to die after knowing a life of nothing but pain and hate.

He helped the Guardians destroy "Ronan the Accuser", robbing Grogar of one of his most precious allies.

There was a clatter in the kitchen of the Benatar, and Hitch looked up from his musings, reflecting on his past.

Sunny walked nervously into the room, trying to appear nonchalant about the bowl she had just knocked over. She was busy preparing for the encounter with Grogar, taking the time to smile at him in the loving, goofy way she always did.

She so serious and free of darkness.

Even after everything that had happened with her father, and then with her mother, she still smiled so easily and freely, as she discovered she could when Hitch was near her.

Her girlfriend was his light in her darkness.

Which made the next part much more difficult than it should have been.

"Sunny... I want to ask you a favor" Hitch said, while he touched in his pocket the same dagger that Grogar had given him.

"Yeah, sure" she answered, not really listening.

"One way or another... the path we follow leads to Grogar" Hitch explained, both to himself and to her "If things go wrong, If Grogar captures me, I ask you to promise me... that you will kill me”.

That last sentence got such a reaction from Sunny that she paused in what she was doing as she looked at Hitch.

"What?"

"I know something he doesn't" Hitch continued "And if he finds out... the entire Universe could be in danger".

“What is it you know?” Sunny asked.

“If I told you, you'll know too…” Hitch said, shaking his head.

"If it's so important... shouldn't I?" Sunny asked.

“Only if you want to die…” Hitch said solemnly, not intending to let that happen.

"Why does someone always have to die?" Sunny asked, still trying to find an excuse.

Her third choice, her ace up her sleeve.

Hitch found it endearing how Sunny, every time the universe dealt her the wrong hand (and it often did) tried to make sense and win.

But this wasn't something Sunny could do, and neither could he. Not unless they killed Grogar first.

"You... trust me" Hitch said, as he put his hand on his girlfriend's shoulder "And if he catches me... kill me".

Sunny hesitated and gasped, unable to bring herself to do it.

"I... would love to..." Sunny said "I really would, but..."

"Promise me" he told her, his hands tightening on his shoulder "Promise me... for your father"

There were few higher deities in Sunny's personal faith than her father, who was an angel and a saint (even more so after having had the misfortune to meet his biological mother) and swearing that was an absolutely unbreakable promise.

She realized that Hitch Trailbrazer really wanted to say this, she needed this, so there was only one thing she could say.

"Okay"

With that, the tension seemed to dissipate, leaving Hitch, and he relaxed. He even allowed himself to be drawn into Sunny's soft hand on her cheek to kiss him, as the two of them savored this rare, quiet moment.

The tranquility before the storm.

Author's Note

As they prepare to confront Grogar on Knowhere, Hitch makes Sunny promise that she will kill him should Grogar capture him.

But the question is... could Sunny kill the only man she's ever loved?

Chapter 7) Guardians vs Grogar / The Reality Stone

In the middle of space, in a distant corner of the galaxy, the Knowhere space station was a popular, if little known, destination for bribes and dirty deals.

Entering through the massive eye entrance, the spaceship "The Benatar" and the Guardians immediately noticed that things didn't seem right.

The place was silent, the lights were off. Everything was dark.

“This looks abandoned...” Sunny said, backing off the throttle to land on a runway.

"I detect movement" Pipp said, when a soft beep from the console drew his attention "In the third quadrant".

“Yeah, I get it too” Sunny said “Let's land here”.

The Benatar landed with the grace of a trained acrobat, and the four Guardians headed out toward the dark and quiet space station.

The place was dark as they made their way through the streets, heading for the building ahead: the home of Filthy Rich, the Collector.

The doors were open and the Guardians slipped inside.

Some of the holding cells Filthy used to store her collections were damaged and they saw movement at the other end of the room.

"I don't have it..."

Using the broken rubble as cover, the Guardians moved closer to see what was going on.

“It is known in the Galaxy that you would sell your brother if he could add even the smallest trinket to your pathetic collection…”

And that's when the Guardians saw Grogar in person, lunging at a man in a business suit and stepping on him with his huge foot.

This man was Filthy Rich in person.

"I know you have the Reality Stone, Filthy" Grogar said, applying pressure to his foot "Giving it to me will save you much suffering".

"I already told you... I sold it..." Filthy said, gasping for breath "Why would I cheat on you?"

"I imagine it's like breathing for you..." Grogar said.

"It's like committing suicide..."

"I see you understand..." Grogar said "Not even you would give up something so valuable".

"I didn't know what it was".

"Then you're dumber than I thought…" Grogar said, now sounding menacing "Last chance, Collector. Where is the Stone?".

Sunny, analyzing the situation, started planning a plan to find the Reality Stone before Grogar… when Pipp's voice stopped her.

"It's him..."

Sunny looked over at Pipp, who had a determined, angry look on her face… and then she remembered.

Pipp had sworn long ago that he would kill Grogar for the murder of his parents, and that he would do it in a painful way.

“Pipp…”

"Today… he will pay… for my parents' death," Pipp declared, starting to lean closer.

Sunny saw her about to ruin her 'possible' plan and moved to intercept her.

"Pipp, wait! Not yet, not yet, not yet…” Sunny pleaded “Listen to me. He doesn't have the Stone yet. If we get it, we can stop it. First you have to get the Stone, okay?"

But Pipp scowled and shook her head, as he clenched his fists and drew his daggers.

“No… No” Pipp said “I have to do it… for my parents!”.

Before Pipp could enter the fray, Izzy's hand touched the back of Pipp's head.

"Sleep".

Izzy's empathic command instantly knocked out Pipp, who crashed to the ground with an ominous sound.

Sunny, Hitch, and Izzy quickly hid, even as Grogar looked up suspiciously at the noise. When Filthy tried to look, Grogar grabbed him and threw him into one of his own display cases, locking him inside of it.

He gave the Guardians a few precious moments to plan.

"Okay. Hitch, Izzy, you two go to the right, while I…” Sunny whispered, indicating the direction.

Looking up, however, she saw that Hitch was already on the move, and not in the way she wanted.

"The other right!" she whispered as loudly as she dared.

Screaming in rage, Hitch jumped over another display case and entered the fray, swinging his sword, but Grogar blocked it with his hand just fine, breaking the sword.

Quickly, Hitch used what was left of his sword to stab Grogar in the throat, while he used his jewel-encrusted dagger and impaled it through the heart of his father.

Blood spattered the ground as Grogar collapsed, clutching his throat.

"Why…?" Grogar asked, as he gargled his own blood as he flopped onto the metal floor of the room. "Why you, son...?"

It was over. Grogar was dead.

"That was quick..." Sunny commented, who was surprised along with Izzy and a newly awakened Pipp.

Filthy Rich, however, was quickly cheered by the turn of events, and began clapping his hands in jubilant glee, ignoring how dejected Hitch looked.

"Magnificent! Magnificent! MAGNIFICENT!"

Hitch ignored him, sighing heavily, his eyes closed as he felt a tear run down his cheek. He had wanted this, he needed this, for as long as he could remember, but having finally killed Grogar… he couldn't help but be a little sad.

Such revenge didn't feel as satisfying as he hoped it would. Instead… he felt empty.

It was over… except that it wasn't.

“Is it sadness that I perceive in you, son?”

Hitch opened his eyes scared, after hearing... the voice of his father speaking to him.

“Deep down, I knew you cared about me” the voice continued, which seemed to echo everywhere and nowhere “But you never know for sure…”

As the voice continued to reverberate throughout the place, a wave of orange fire seemed to engulf the landscape, changing ruin and rubble into chaos, fire and destruction, while Grogar's corpse vanished like ash. Knowhere was not abandoned, but destroyed. Grogar had devastated him as if he had on many worlds before. When the wave of light reached Filthy Rich, he simply disappeared… as if he had never been there.

It was all an illusion... or rather, an altered reality.

“Reality can often be disappointing…”

And then, to make matters worse, the real Grogar appeared out of nowhere, but with a slight difference: his Gauntlet now had an extra Infinity Stone.

The Reality Stone.

"I mean, it was..." Grogar said, as he looked at his Gauntlet "Now... the Reality can be whatever I want it to be".

Hitch shivered as he looked at him.

"You knew I would come..."

"I was counting on it…" Grogar nodded "We need to talk about something, little one..."

Quickly, Hitch lunged for his sword, but Grogar was on him in moments, grabbing him by the throat and rendering him harmless.

"GROGAR!"

Now wide awake, Pipp lunged forward, but Grogar barely spared her a glance. The Reality Stone lit up, and in an instant... Pipp turned into a stone statue that scattered in fragments across the floor.

Izzy gasped, and then Grogar did the same to her…turning her body into a heap of paper shreds.

Not knowing if she had any better options, including the retreat, Sunny came out of her hiding place with her blaster aimed, thinking of throwing Grogar off with a bold attack.

“Let him go, Goat Face!”

"Sunny..." Hitch said, as he looked at his beloved defying his father.

"I told you to the right" Sunny scolded.

"Now?" Hitch said, thinking the scolding wasn't necessary "Seriously?"

"Let him go!" Sunny ordered Grogar.

Grogar didn't even bother to use the Stone's power against Sunny, appearing completely unconcerned about the gun pointed at him… or the girl pointed at him.

“Ah, the girlfriend showed up...” Grogar said with disdain.

"No, I'm the goat-killing friend with benefits, just so you know" Sunny replied, annoyed "Now let him go, or I'll blow those horns off your head!"

"Sunny!" Hitch repeated, keeping his voice even, even as he trembled in the grip of his father “Not him…”

In that moment, realization settled in Sunny…with the promise she made.

“You promised it!” Hitch reminded him, his voice choked by an emotion that he rarely let anyone see "You promised it..."

"Oh, son…" Grogar predicted "You expect too much of her…"

As if to prove her point, Grogar pulled Hitch forward, right into the path of Sunny's blaster. Aware of the damage she could cause at this range, Sunny looked from Grogar to Hitch, her hands trembling as she didn't dare pull the trigger.

“He has asked you. Do it…” Grogar said to Sunny “DO IT!"

On the verge of tears, Sunny desperately tried to downplay the situation.

“I told you to the right…” she begged Hitch.

And then, thinking that it might be the end of her, Hitch could only say one thing.

"I love you... more than anything".

With those words, Sunny couldn't help but smile sadly.

"I love you too…"

At that moment, Sunny flinched, but after a tense moment, she pulled the trigger of her blaster… only to end up shooting bubbles, as her gun also evaporated into bubbles and she watched in amazement.

The Reality Stone that shimmered at Grogar's thought explained why.

“I like you…” Grogar said, smirking as he sincerely congratulated Sunny.

Seconds later, a blue portal opened with the energy from the Space Stone, and Grogar and Hitch walked through it.

Sunny jumped towards them, but she couldn't make it in time as the portal closed, leaving her alone in the flaming debris, while Pipp and Izzy recovered from the effects of the Reality Stone.

But they had all lost to Hitch as the Stone.

"No..." Sunny said, her eyes brimming with tears "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!".

This, evidently, was the worst day in the history of the Guardians of the Galaxy…

Author's Note

Sunny's group arrives in Knowhere to protect the Reality Stone, but Grogar beats them to it, and now he has THREE Infinity Stones and has kidnapped Hitch.

What will the Guardians do now?

By the way, I dedicate this episode to the premiere of the new episodes of the Netflix series, "My Little Pony: Make Your Mark"

Chapter 8) The Plan of the Avengers / The Kingdom of Wakanda

Back on Earth, the Quinjet arrived in Canterlot City, at Avengers Headquarters.

Inside, Colonel Starlight Glimmer was busy with her work.

Or rather, she would have been, if she weren't deep in conversation with one of her least favorite people in the world.

The Secretary of Defense, Chancellor Thaddeus Neighsay.

“Still no news from Vision?” Neighsay asked.

His image was distorted and glowing, as he wasn't really there, but projected in a hologram from afar at his own headquarters.

Starlight was glad, otherwise she might have been tempted to punch him.

“The satellites lost it in Scotland” replied the young woman, keeping her tone neutral.

"In a stolen Quinjet with four of the world's most wanted criminals" Neighsay pointed out.

As usual, she seemed intent on blaming Starlight and the rest of Twilight Sparkle's team for any perceived failures or problems. Never mind that they had bigger threats to fight, and Starlight was getting tired of this rhetoric.

"They're criminals because YOU decided to call them that, right sir?" Starlight said.

"My God, Glimmer, your talent for bullshit rivals mine".

"And if it wasn't for those Accords, Vision would have been right here".

“I remember her signature on those documents, Colonel…” Neighsay pointed out, as his hologram hovered over Starlight.

However, she remained proud of herself, even when she felt her spinal bone dig in and she would ache, were it not for the braces that helped her stand.

The pain of that day was not easy to forget.

"That's right" Starlight agreed "And it's clear that I paid for it..."

"Do you have any doubts?" Neighsay said, halting at Starlight's dangerously mutinous tone.

"Not the slightest..." Starlight promised, as she smiled.

At that moment, someone else entered the room.

Applejack, Captain Equestria herself, was at the head of her newly arrived group, as she politely bowed her head as best she could towards the man who had possibly ruined her life and that of her friends.

"Neighsay".

Neighsay glared at them, decidedly disgusted to see either one of them.

"You guys have guts..." he almost growled "I admit it".

"Now you could put them to use" Rarity replied, as she moved to Applejack's side, reminding her of the situation.

"The world is on fire..." Neighsay said, unconvinced "And you think... that all is forgiven?"

“I don't seek forgiveness. And now I stopped asking permission” Applejack said, with a measured and calm voice, as always “The Earth has lost its best defender. We have come to fight. And if you want to get in the way… we will fight you”.

Neighsay wouldn't back down from a fight, even when it was in his best interest, before turning back to Starlight.

“Arrest them” he ordered through clenched teeth.

Starlight stared at the fugitives in the room…before she smiled sincerely.

"Right away, sir" she said sarcastically.

Before Neighsay could say another word, Starlight waved her hand through the hologram, deactivating it.

"Smells like... war council..." she said, before holding out her hand as she smiled "Glad to see you, Captain".

Applejack shook it, thankful that she and Starlight were back fighting together.

"Me too, Starlight"

Starlight then saw Applebloom and Gloriosa carrying Vision, still damaged.

"Wow, you guys are... screwed up" Starlight commented "It's been two very hard years".

“Yeah, well, the hotels haven't been five-star…” Applebloom said, sheepishly.

“Uh, you guys look great…” another voice said, from across the room.

To everyone's surprise, Fluttershy appeared, whit her long pink hair half hiding her face.

"Yes..." Fluttershy said "I'm back..."

The two groups looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

"This is... awkward" Applebloom commented.

Everyone took the time to compare data.

Starlight projected a three-dimensional image of Chrysalis and Sombra, the two alien assassins who tried to destroy Vision and steal her Stone.

To say that none of them seemed pleasant… was an understatement.

"We have to assume that they will come back... right?" she commented, not imagining that they would give up easily for such a valuable target.

“And it's easy to find us” Gloriosa added.

The timing of the ambush in Scotland happened around the same time as the attack on Canterlot City. And from what Fluttershy had told them, the Time Stone was already lost.

Now they only had one way to stop Grogar, and the situation was looking bleaker by the minute. But Fluttershy knew that the worst was yet to come: she knew that Grogar would come to Earth personally.

"We need everyone" he said, realizing they were missing at least one Avenger "Where's Pinkie Pie?"

Rarity made a notch.

“After the affair of the Accords, she and Big Mac took deals from the government” she explained “They're under house arrest”.

"Who is Big Mac?"

"Ant-Man" Applejack said, supplying his superhero moniker, making Fluttershy pause.

"Is there an Ant-Man and a Spider-Girl?" she asked, shaking her pink mane to focus on the important thing, that she needed her friends to know and understand “Okay, look… Grogar has the biggest army in the universe. And he's not going to stop until he… gets… the Stone that has Vision".

"Well, we have to protect her" Rarity intervened in the middle of a number of defensive measures.

Some way to hide and protect Vision. But he intervened from her place by the window.

"No, we have to destroy her".

Everyone turned to him. But none more horrified than Gloriosa.

But Vision kept going.

“I have thought a lot about this entity that I have in my head… and his nature. But also his composition…” he said, pointing to the Stone on his head “I think that if it were exposed to a sufficiently powerful energy source, let's say equivalent, maybe…”

“No…” Gloriosa breathed out the word, not wanting to hear any more.

"...his molecular integrity could fail" he finished gravely.

"Yes, and you with her..." Gloriosa answered "Let's finish this conversation..."

"Destroying the Mind Stone may be the only way to make sure Grogar didn't get it".

“I don't want to pay that price…” Gloriosa said, shaking her head.

“Only you… have the power to pay it” Vision said softly, propping her head up with Gloriosa's “Grogar threatens half the Universe. A life can't get in the way".

"But I should…" Applejack commented "We don't trade lives".

"Captain, seventy years ago, you gave your life to save a few million people" Vision said "Tell me... why is this different?"

It wasn't, and she knew it deep down...but it still didn't sit well with her.

Applejack took a deep breath, but surprisingly, Fluttershy beat her to it.

"Because you may have another choice..." Fluttershy explained.

Everyone instantly looked at her, who was in the middle of theory, but moved on with her only potential hope.

“Your mind is made of a complex structure of overlapping layers: JARVIS, Distron, Twilight, me, the Stone…” she continued explaining “All of them intermingled… learning from each other”.

"Are you implying that Vision isn't just the Stone?" Gloriosa asked, clinging to this newfound hope.

Fluttershy hesitated. There was no way of knowing, but he continued to rely on the best guess he could come up with.

"What I'm saying is... that if we remove the Stone, there's still some Vision left" Fluttershy explained "Maybe the best parts..."

“That can be done?” Rarity asked.

Fluttershy made a notch.

Certainly this wouldn't be the place to do it, Headquarters wasn't equipped for big scientific processes, and perhaps some of Twilight's personal projects. Also, Fluttershy had no practice. Two years performing as a gladiator on an alien planet had left her a bit rusty when it came to science.

And then, of course, unlike last time, Twilight wasn't here to help her either.

“Not me, not here”

"Well, you'd better find someone, and some place right away" Starlight deadpanned "Neighsay isn't going to leave us your old facilities".

It was very clear that they needed help, especially now that Twilight was gone. They needed to go somewhere else.

Applejack pondered the possibilities, as he always did before a mission: figuring out what to do, considering her options, memories, allies...

And they had one possible option. An option away from Canterlot City, on the other side of the world, where she could meet up with an old friend...

“I know a place…” Applejack said.

Far from Canterlot City, in the heart of the African continent, the Kingdom of Wakanda looked majestic, thanks to the many technological innovations obtained by the rarest material in the universe: the vibranium.

Its inhabitants were normally peaceful and placid people, because their technology was the best in the world.

It was here that Applejack intended to bring Vision, and where the Avengers would face the forces of darkness, led by Grogar.

In a field near the wonderful city, two people were walking side by side.

One was a woman with gray hair. Daring Do, recently crowned Queen of Wakanda, and her rightful ruler.

While the other, he was a man with a mustache. His name was Gallant True, and he was the most loyal guard in Wakanda. He was carrying a huge briefcase.

"The Royal Guard has already been warned, Your Majesty".

"And the Tribe of the Frontier?" Daring Do asked.

“The ones that remain”.

"Also warn the Jarabi..." she commented "King Caballeron likes a good fight".

Gallant wasn't pleased with that, but if Caballeron was needed to protect Wakanda, he would fight too.

“And what about this one?” Gallant asked, as they approached his destination.

A small farm near the edge of the kingdom of Wakanda, where its sole resident, a woman with her left arm missing, was plowing the fields.

"She may be fed up with wars... but the White Wolf has had enough rest."

The two reached the cart near the granda and opened the briefcase, causing the one-armed girl to come closer, suspecting, or even knowing, exactly what was inside.

And sure enough, it was what she thought: a left arm made of metal, just like the one she used when she was the Winter Soldier.

Looking at Daring Do, Rara gave a tired nod and got ready to put on her new appendage.

"And the fight?".

The answer was obvious.

"Is on its way".

Author's Note

Back on Earth, Applejack's group returns to Canterlot City, where they are reunited with Fluttershy and Starlight Glimmer.

Together, they come up with a plan to stop Grogar: travel to the kingdom of Wakanda, use his technology to extract the Mind Stone from Vision's head and destroy it with Gloriosa Daisy's powers.

Meanwhile, in Wakanda, Queen Daring Do, also known as the Black Panther, decides to recruit Rara, formerly known as the Winter Soldier.

Chapter 9) Rescuing Dr. Star Swirl

Slowly regaining consciousness, Star Swirl felt a wave of vertigo wash over him, clearly feeling sick. Everything came back to his mind. The attack on Canterlot City, the fight with Cozy Glow...

Cozy Glow!

Blinking, the Master of the Arcane Arts tilted his head, finding himself suspended in midair and, worse still, surrounded by hundreds of crystal spiers, pointing directly at him.

It was quite obvious that any attempt to escape, even an attempt to fight, would be extremely painful.

Star Swirl remained motionless, even as his heartbeat quickened.

"This can't be good" he thought "Not at all..."

Neither did the sight of the girl with the evil smile approaching him.

Cozy Glow looked decidedly unpleasant as she approached the Master of the Arcane Arts, who was trapped like a butterfly under so many needles.

“In all the time I have served Grogar… I have never failed him” Cozy Glow said "If he were to meet us on his planet, with the Time Stone still attached to your vaguely irritating persona, there would be... a punishment".

The way she said the words left little doubt in Star Swirl's mind that death was the only option for failure when it came to the sons of the Father of Monsters. Her cruelty was evident in everything Cozy Glow did, a living reflection of the darkness they still had to face.

First one, then another, then another needle… they began to penetrate under her skin.

Pain bloomed under his skin as he shuddered, doing his best to hold still, knowing it would only be worse if he squirmed and struggled.

“Give me… the Stone…” Cozy Glow hissed, moving his hand and pushing the needles even deeper.

High above the interrogation, Twilight Sparkle watched Star Swirl being tortured below. Quiet as she could be, while she reviewed the situation.

A tap on Twilight's shoulder interrupted her, and she raised her hand, about to fire her repulsor… only to see that it was the hat from Star Swirl's suit, and not an enemy.

“Wow, you are an absolutely loyal article of clothing…”

“Yeah, um, speaking of loyalty...” a female voice suddenly commented.

Twilight turned in surprise… only to find the Iron Spider hanging upside down from a web.

"What the...?"

Luster jumped to the ground, as his mask retracted, revealing his face.

"I know what you're going to say".

"You shouldn't be here" Twilight scolded.

"I was going home…" Luster explained.

"I don't want to hear it" Twilight said to herself.

“But it was a very long fall and on the way I thought...”

“And now I have to listen to her” Twilight told herself again.

“...And I got stuck to the side of the ship” Luster said, before pointing to his new suit “And this suit is incredibly intuitive, by the way. So... it's his fault that I'm here".

That comment made Twilight look at her with a serious face.

"What did you say?"

"I take it back..." Luster said, realizing what he had said. "And now I'm here... in space".

"Yes. Right where I didn't want you to be. This isn' t Canterlot City nor is it a tour, it is a one way trip. Do you hear me?" Twilight scolded again "And don't pretend you've thought it through"

"No. I've thought it through..."

"You couldn't have thought of this".

But before Twilight could say anything else, Luster also looked at her with a serious face.

"It's just... I can't be friend and neighbor Spider-Girl if there are no neighbors..." Luster said "Okay, that doesn't make sense, but you get the point..."

At those words and knowing that it was too late to send Luster back to Earth, Twilight made the decision.

“Come on, we've got a problem” Twilight said, turning to look over the ledge again “Look, he's in trouble. What is your plan? Come on".

Kneeling closer, Luster considered her options, beginning to solve the problem as she had a hundred times a day, both in the classroom and as a friendly crime fighter.

Twilight watched, waiting for her response. As much as she wanted to find a solution (and, in fact, she already had at least two alternative plans in mind), she wanted to let Luster decide.

An opportunity for the next generation...

"Mmm, alright…" she finally said "Okay… um… have you ever seen the movie Aliens 2: The Return?"

Star Swirl was screaming.

He wasn't just screaming, he wasn't just moaning in pain, he was screaming at full speed. The pain was immeasurable, incalculable, and it was in all parts of his body. Every part of him... hurt.

He calmed down momentarily, but he wasn't stupid enough to believe that he was finished. Cozy Glow was toying with him, as well as letting go of the pain so he could think straight.

"Painful, right?" she asked, knowing full well the answer “Originally, they were designed for microsurgery. And any of them…”

There was a dull clang behind her and Cozy Glow slowly turned around.

Iron Girl was there, hands up and glowing, ready to attack her.

"...could end your friend in an instant" she finished.

“I must tell you that he is not my friend” Iron Girl said “Saving his life is more... professional courtesy…”.

Waving her hands in slow, deliberate motions, Cozy Glow levitated menacingly towards Iron Girl.

"You haven't saved anyone..." she said "Your powers are inconsequential compared to mine".

Heavy objects began to levitate in the air as Cozy Glow focused her will on them.

And Iron Girl had to admit that, in a head-to-head fight, her opponent might have the upper hand. Especially in tight spaces.

However, behind the hull of her armor… she couldn't stop smiling.

"Yeah, but the girl has seen more movies..." Iron Girl said, opening a missile compartment on her shoulder and firing... at the nearby wall of the ship.

The explosion blasted outward, and then the cold void of space instantly drew in everything around it, including Cozy Glow, her potential weapons, and, most worrisome of all… Star Swirl.

But that's where Iron Spider enters the plan.

She lunged forward from the shadows, firing a spiderweb to catch the unconscious wizard before he fell into the void. At first, his grip to stay out of harm's way was insignificant, but Twilight had taken that into account when she designed the new suit.

Four metal spider legs sprouted from Iron Spider's back, grabbing onto the side walls and improving his grip.

"Yes!" Iron Spider yelled, before looking at her new legs "Wait... what is this!?"

Then, she instinctively used it to fling herself and Star Swirl into the ship, as Iron Girl flew in and sprayed the opening with a heavy metal substance, sealing it and restoring the ship's interior to normal parameters.

The artificial setup seemed to quickly return to normal, including air and gravity.

Out, in the void of space, Cozy Glow didn't even have time to scream as her frozen body fell out of control into the void.

They would never hear from her again... if they were lucky.

With the threat neutralized, Twilight landed again and retracted her armor, causing the nanotech to fold completely into the device on her chest, allowing her to stretch out a bit.

Star Swirl landed next to her.

It seemed that Cozy Glow and Tirek had been the ship's only occupants, and with one trapped at Earth's North Pole and the other simply ejected into space, only the heroes remained.

"We have to turn this ship around" Star Swirl ordered, as he put his hat back on.

"Oh, now you want to run…" Twilight complained, as she tried to figure out how the ship's controls worked "Great..."

"No, I want to protect the Stone".

"And I want you to thank me" Twilight said "Come on, I'm listening..."

"Why? For almost launching me into space?

“Who has saved your magic ass?” Twilight asked angrily, as she turned on him, huffing "ME!".

"Seriously, I don't know how his ego fits in that body..." Star Swirl growled, as he rolled his eyes.

"You should have left when I told you" Twilight pressed "I tried to kick you out, but you refused…"

“Unlike the rest, I don't work for you...” Star Swirl replied.

"And that's why we're on a flying donut millions of miles from Earth... with no backup".

"I'm the backup" Luster protested, holding up her hand.

"No, you're a stowaway" Twilight shook her head, barely glancing at her. "And we grown-ups are talking".

“Sorry, I'm confused about this relationship” Star Swirl said, as he raised his hands irritably “I mean, what is she? Your pupil?"

"No" Luster protested, before realizing that they hadn't introduced themselves yet "I'm Luster Dawn, by the way".

"Dr. Star Swirl" he nodded briefly.

"Oh, we use the made up names..." Luster said "Um... So, I'm Spider-Girl..."

Having analyzed the alien ship's equipment, Twilight considered her options out loud.

"The ship corrects the course with the autopilot."

"Can we control it?" Star Swirl asked, remembering the destination Cozy Glow mentioned before the interrogation "And fly back home?"

Twilight didn't make eye contact, appearing lost in her musings.

"Sparkle?"

"Yes?".

"Can you take us home?" Star Swirl repeated more insistently.

"Yes, I heard you..." Twilight said, as she shook her head, thinking not as something thoughtful, simply to chase away the wandering thoughts "But the thing is... I don't know if it's the best..."

Turning around now would be like admitting defeat: going back to Canterlot City and waiting for Grogar to launch his next attack on the city. Another invasion that could cause hundreds of people to be slaughtered.

But there was another option available to them.

Star Swirl's eyes widened as he deduced what Twilight was thinking and what she intended to do.

“Under NO circumstances can we give the Time Stone to Grogar. I think you do not understand what is at stake-”.

Then, before Star Swirl could continue speaking, Twilight interrupted him angrily, looking at him from practically close to him.

“No, it is YOU who don't understand that Grogar has been inside my head for six years!” Twilight yelled angrily “Since he sent an army to Canterlot City and now he's back! And I don't know what to do!".

There was a pause, as Twilight took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.

“So I'm not so sure if it's a better plan to face him on our ground or his. You've seen how they did…” Twilight said “On his ground, he doesn't expect it. I propose to take the fight up to him. Doc… do you agree?”

The nickname was mocking, but it held a ring of truth, and Star Swirl realized that Twilight might be right.

"Okay, Sparkle, we'll go to him..." he reluctantly agreed “But you have to understand: that if it comes down to saving you or the girl… or the Time Stone… I won't hesitate to let either of you die. I can't... because the Universe depends on it".

Twilight resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She had won the argument, or so it seemed to her.

A warning like that was almost reasonable by comparison.

"Great. Well, moral principles...” she said “That's clear!”

She brushed past the wizard, who was regarding her with a puzzled expression, then abruptly remembered that Luster was still there, watching and waiting for an order.

Despite all her attempts to keep her safe out of harm's way, playing her role as a hero… she had still dragged her into the thick of it. There was no doubt now if she was ready, the question was whether Twilight was or not.

But now she could only do one thing.

Sighing, Twilight places her outstretched hand briefly on each of Luster's shoulders.

"Alright, girl... you're an Avenger now".

Since she had never been so proud in her entire life, Luster wasn't sure if she wasn't going to cry a little, but she quickly pulled herself together.

They had work to do.

Author's Note

With unexpected help from the Iron Spider, Twilight manages to defeat Cozy Glow and rescue Star Swirl.

Now, the three heroes (with Luster Dawn officially named an Avenger) decide on a new plan: travel to Grogar's home planet and use the Time Stone as bait to lure out the villain and finish him off once and for all.

Will they get it?

Chapter 10) Familiar Reunion

Grogar's spaceship was easily one of the largest ships in existence. Almost as big as a space station, packed with weapons that could take on a fleet of enemy ships with minimal damage, meant to intimidate.

Anyone who saw her instantly would try to run away and be destroyed, or immediately surrender… and then be destroyed.

But here, in the throne room, Grogar truly felt at home. A throne carved from meteorite ore, almost as old as its owner.

Perched at the base of the throne was Hitch Trailbrazer. No shackles bound him, no collar caged him, but he knew attacking would be useless, and escape doubly so.

He was sitting there, waiting for Grogar to decide what to do with him, who entered the room with a bowl of hot food in his hand.

"I thought you might be hungry..."

Hitch grabs the bowl…only to fling it across the room, where it slams into Grogar's throne with a loud crack.

"I've always hated that throne..."

"So you told me" Grogar said, as he sat on the base of the throne "Still I hoped... that one day you would sit on it".

"I hated this room… This ship…" Hitch growled. "I hated my life".

"You told me that too..." Grogar said "Every day...for almost twenty years".

“I was a child when you took me in…”

"I saved you".

"No" Hitch said, as the memory of his dead parents came back to him "No… We were happy on my planet".

“Hungry? Begging for crumbs?" Grogar asked "Your planet was on the brink of collapse. I was the one who put a stop to that".

Hitch didn't even dare to answer that.

“Do you know what has happened since then?” Grogar asked "Children born have only known a full belly and clear skies. It's a paradise".

“You murdered half the planet...” Hitch growled.

"A small price... for salvation".

"You're insane..."

"Little one, it's a simple calculation…" Grogar explained, as he looked at the Infinity Stones on his gauntlet."This universe is finite, its resources are finite. If you don't control life, life will cease to exist. It needs a correction…”

"YOU DON'T KNOW THAT!" Hitch yelled, totally furious.

Grogar didn't even flinch at the cry of his son.

“I am the only one who knows. At least, I'm the only one with the will to act” Grogar explained, standing up and putting his hand on Hitch's shoulder “For a while... you… had that same will… while you fought by my side… son”.

Those words really tensed Hitch.

"I'm not your son..." Hitch said "What I hate about myself... you taught me".

"And in doing so, you became the Fiercest Man in the Galaxy" Grogar said, as if it was something they both didn't know "That's why I trusted you to find the Soul Stone".

"I'm sorry I let you down" Hitch growled.

“Yes, you let me down...” Grogar admitted “But not because you couldn't find her. If not because you did it… and you lied to me”.

Elsewhere in the ship, well away from the throne room, Grogar schooled Hitch (at spearpoint) to the dungeons in the deepest, darkest part of the ship. And from there, past a series of cells for the prisoners Grogar deigned to keep alive (and there weren't many).

They reached the last cell, at the end, when the heavy bars swung open, revealing an occupant that made Hitch worry: a man his age with golden-blond hair... and a series of metallic components incorporated directly into his organic meat.

"Sprout…"

Hitch ran to his side, but stopped when he saw what had become of his stepbrother, Sprout Cloverleaf.

He had been literally disarmed, his arms and head severed from his neck and torso, his legs separated from the rest, even his cybernetic left eye was loose.

Sprout was still alive, he was made to be repaired easily enough after all, but keeping his body apart like that must be agony for him.

"Don't do this..." Hitch growled, as he pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes, looking at Grogar.

"Some time ago…" Grogar explained "Your brother snuck aboard this ship to kill me…"

"Please don't do it…"

"And he almost got it..." Grogar continued, ignoring him "So I brought him here… to talk".

At that moment, Grogar activated the power of the Power and Space Stones. A similar glow of energy engulfed his prisoner, and Sprout screamed as his components separated further, stretching them to their limits.

He was literally tearing it apart.

"ENOUGH!"

Grogar stopped, but only because the demonstration was over. He looked at Hitch, waiting.

“I swear to you on my life!” Hitch pleaded. "I didn't find the Soul Stone!"

Grogar points to a nearby servant, who activates a control panel of the cell.

“Accessing memory files” the voice from the control panel said.

At that moment, from Sprout's cybernetic eye, a hologram of a younger Hitch and Sprout was projected… deep in private conversation.

"You know what he's going to do" the young Sprout said "Finally he's ready and he's going for the Stones"

“He'll never have them all” the young Hitch replied.

"He will!"

“He can't, Sprout...” the young Hitch said “Because I found the map to the Soul Stone and reduced it to ashes. I burned it!"

The hologram faded at its completion, and Hitch felt the will to live slipping from him.

Grogar knew it. He had always known that.

“You are strong… for me. You are generous… for me” Grogar congratulated “But I never taught you to lie… and that's why you do it fatally”.

Grogar then raised his gauntlet again, and the Stones' energy covered Sprout again, causing him to scream in pain.

"Where... is... the Soul Stone?"

Hitch couldn't reply. He couldn't.

Sprout was even now shaking her head, silently pleading with him not to. Like Hitch, he wanted to die before he let his father win.

Grogar looked at his son's challenge and unleashed more of the Stones' power, whose silence was broken as he screamed in excruciating agony.

Hitch winced, tears streaming down his cheeks as he felt his brother's pain as deeply as his own.

The screams rose in pitch until they threatened to break more than crystals, shattering what sanity Hitch had left… until he finally couldn't take it anymore.

“IN VORMIR!”

Grogar stops instantly and Sprout gasps into the air. Hitch walks over to him and caresses his face.

“The Stone is in Vormir…”.

“Take me there...” Grogar growled.

Author's Note

Back with Grogar, he reveals his reason for kidnapping Hitch: he is the only one who knows the exact location of the Soul Stone.

Then, using the life of his stepbrother Sprout Cloverleaf and threatening to kill him, Hitch confesses: the Soul Stone is on the planet Vormir.

Chapter 11) The Forge of Nidavellir

Back with the group of Rainbow Dash, Zipp Storm, and Sparky Sparkeroni, their pod was on its way to Nidavellir, while Sparky was on to something very important.

"I am Sparky" he said irritably.

"You can pee in the cup, we don't look" Zipp complains, from the capsule controls "What is there to see? Scales? Everyone has seen scales”.

"I am Sparky" he said, still irritated.

"Dragon, empty the cup into space and do it again in the cup" Rainbow Dash said, while looking out the window, thinking about her things

That comment surprised Zipp… as she couldn't believe that Rainbow Dash could 'understand' Sparky.

"Do you speak dragon?"

"Yes, in Asgard they taught it" Rainbow Dash answered "It was optional...".

“I am Sparky?” Sparky asked Rainbow Dash, knowing that she could understand him.

“You'll know when we're close. The Forge of Nidavellir harnesses the searing power of a star" Rainbow Dash replied, before sighing wistfully “It is where my hammer was born. It's amazing…”

Zipp turns to see Rainbow Dash sitting sadly by the window and sighs.

"Okay, it's time to play captain..."

As she gets up from her seat and maintains the pod's controls with another console near Rainbow Dash, Zipp decides to take the opportunity to talk to her.

"So... your dead sister, huh?" Zipp said "Yeah, that can be a bummer..."

Sighing and figuring out what Zipp was up to, Rainbow Dash lowered her head... because thinking about Lightning Dust reminded her of everything else she'd lost.

"She had already been dead" Rainbow Dash said "But no, this could be real..."

“And you said that your sister and your father…?"

"Both dead".

“But, do you still have a mother?”

"She was killed by a dark elf".

"Your best friend?"

"They stabbed her..."

With that information, Zipp decided to ask a serious question.

“Are you sure you are prepared for this deadly mission?”

To Zipp's surprise, Rainbow Dash began to smile widely, thanks to the encouragement she was giving her.

“I'm prepared. The anger, the revenge, the rage, the loss, the remorse... They are enormous motivations” Rainbow Dash explained “They clear the mind. So… I'm prepared”.

"Yeah, but that Grogar we're talking about..." Zipp said "He's the toughest guy out there..."

"Heh, he's never fought me…" Rainbow Dash replied, still smiling.

"Yes, he has done it..."

"But never twice" Rainbow Dash said "And I'll have a new hammer, don't forget that".

With that positivity, Zipp couldn't help but sigh.

"Well, that hammer had better be a big one..."

Then, Rainbow Dash also said something serious.

“Look, I'm 1500 years old. I have killed more than 3000 enemies, and all of them would have preferred to kill me. I'm only alive because fate wants me alive...” Rainbow Dash explained “Grogar is nothing more than... the last of a long line of bastards and he will be the last to feel my revenge. Fate wants it".

"And if you're wrong?" Zipp asked.

"If I'm wrong, I... what else do I have to lose?"

At that moment, Rainbow Dash stands up and sits in the front of the pod, next to Sparky.

"I would lose a lot..." Zipp said, touched by those words "Personally, I would lose a lot..."

It was then that Zipp made a decision.

She pulls out what appears to be an artificial eye from some pocket of her jacket... and gives it to Rainbow Dash.

"Okay, well, if fate wants you to kill that bastard..." Zipp said "You're not going to have one eye".

"Where did you get this?" Rainbow Dash asked, as she picked up the artificial eye and examined it.

"What do you think?" Zipp asked, as she sat back in the pilot's seat "Some asshole lost a bet with me on Contraxia..."

"And he gave you his eye?"

"No, he gave me 100 credits, and that night I snuck into his room... and stole his eye".

Rainbow Dash couldn't believe it: Zipp was giving her something she had stolen.

"Thanks, Zipp" Rainbow Dash thanked.

Very carefully, Rainbow Dash removes the patch from her right eye, and little by little, she puts the artificial eye in her socket.

“Hmm... Huh? Oh... I would have washed it" Zipp said disgustedly "The only way to get it out of Contraxia was to stick it in..."

But before she could continue speaking, a beep from the console interrupted her.

"Hey, we've arrived!"

With her new eye attached, Rainbow palms the side of her head.

"I think this doesn't work..." Rainbow Dash said "Everything looks dark"

"It's not the eye..." Zipp replied.

And when Rainbow got a better look… she gasped in fear.

All of Nidavellir was dark and motionless, as her capsule drew closer.

“Something's wrong...” Rainbow Dash analyzed “The star has gone out. And the rings are frozen".

Later, arriving inside the forge, Rainbow Dash, Zipp, and Sparky walked through a seemingly abandoned and messy room.

"I hope these birds are better at forging than cleaning..." Zipp complained upon seeing the place "Maybe they saw that they lived in a junk pile in space..."

"No…" Rainbow Dash protested. "This forge hasn't been turned off for centuries."

At that moment, looking up at one of the pedestals, Zipp stopped.

"You said Grogar had a gauntlet, right?"

"Yes" Rainbow Dash replied, "Why?"

"Was it similar to... that?"

And when Rainbow Dash looked where Zipp was pointing, she was stunned.

At the other end of the room, amidst the rubble, was a stone gauntlet almost identical... to the one Grogar currently carried on his left hand.

“I am Sparky?” Sparky asked scared, as he looked at Zipp and then at Rainbow Dash.

Something was wrong… but VERY wrong.

"We have to get back to the capsule…" Rainbow Dash ordered quietly.

At that moment, a fist slammed into Rainbow Dash's face, throwing her into the air across the room. Then, the mystery attacker did the same to Zipp and Sparky, causing them to crash into the copy of the Infinity Gauntlet.

When Rainbow Dash recovered, she realized something: her attacker was an anthropomorphic bird woman... and she knew her.

"Celaneo, hold on!" Rainbow Dash yelled “Stop! Stop..."

With her scream, the attacker stopped, as she exposed her body to the light.

“Rainbow Dash…?”

The Queen of Asgard nodded, as she looked at the ruler of Nidavellir.

“What has happened here?”

"You were supposed to protect us…" Celaneo explained "Asgard was supposed to protect us!"

"Asgard... has been destroyed" Rainbow Dash said, as she stood up and pointed at the replica of the Infinity Gauntlet "Celaneo... the gauntlet... What have you done?"

Celaneo slumped against the cold forge, his eyes closed painfully. A pain that Rainbow Dash recognized instantly: that of a terrible loss.

“300 of my kind lived in these rings… I thought that if I did what he asked, they would be safe…” Celaneo explained sadly “I did what he wanted… A device capable of channeling the power of the Stones. And he... killed them anyway... Except me…”

Judging by the tone of his voice, Celaneo probably believed that death was an act of kindness that Grogar was denying him. Then, she showed his emerald paw.

“He said: Your life is yours…" Celaneo said "But your leg… your leg is only mine…".

“This isn't about your leg. Every weapon you've designed, every axe, hammer, sword... It's all inside your head” Rainbow Dash said, unable to say anything else “I know it seems all hope is lost. But together... you and I, we can kill Grogar".

Celaneo looked at Rainbow Dash, sharing his gaze... until he got up from where he was with renewed encouragement.

It wasn't much, but Rainbow Dash had managed to rekindle at least one spark in her friend's heart. And, if she was honest, in herself as well.

What had originally seemed like a deadly quest... now seemed to have a chance of success.

It was a start.

Author's Note

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash's group arrives at the Forge of Nidavellir with one goal: to build a weapon powerful enough to kill Grogar.

Upon arrival, the group meets Celaneo, ruler of Nidavellir and the last of his kind.

Will Rainbow Dash be able to build her new weapon in time?

Chapter 12) The Planet of Grogar / The Avengers vs. the Guardians of the Galaxy

Back on Grogar's ship, in its dark cells, Sprout was still floating in midair, suspended by anti-gravity technology. Grogar and Hitch had gone through a portal of blue cosmic energy, and he knew they were headed for the planet Vormir.

But having no idea where that place was, he needed to get ahead of his enemy and ambush Grogar on his home planet, where he would meet up with his other sons.

He needed help for that.

Reluctantly, Sprout realized that she would need the help of the Guardians of the Galaxy... and collaborating with Sunny Starscout was a bummer (not to mention the others) for him, but they were the only allies he had right now.

"First things first..." he thought.

Then, he waited until the guard looked away and tilted his head forward, allowing his cybernetic eye to pop out of his socket.

Sure enough, the huge brute stopped when it saw him in this state and stepped forward to push the eye back into place. Sprout waited until he was in the correct position… and then hit his head with his fist, knocking him unconscious and onto his back.

A weak person might have cracked his skull with such a move, but Sprout had long ago had most of his bones replaced by pure steel… barely feeling it.

Grunting, the next part of his escape was painful, but easier to pull off: twisting his arms and legs to unnatural degrees to escape the anti-gravity technology that kept him aloft. Once again, anyone else would have been in agony, had he been able to pull it off.

Sprout made it through with barely a grunt and then, until he finally landed with three limbs intact, free.

From there, he moved deeper into the ship, avoiding the remaining guards as they made their way down the corridor. Unlike the 'Sons of Grogar', they were not very intelligent, which was exactly how Grogar liked them. They never question orders and are never smart enough to know when to give up or retreat.

Perfect cannon fodder.

Stepping into another room, Sprout nodded approvingly seeing that he was where he needed to be. One of his arms was still dislocated, but he ignored it as he walked over to a comm console and entered a message.

“Izzy, pay close attention to me…” Sprout said “You and your friends meet me at these coordinates…”

The ship shuddered, as it brought the heroes that were on board.

"What's going on?" Luster asked.

Another jolt ripped through the ship as the viewscreen lit up, and they all stared out at a dark, dry planet before them.

"I think we've arrived..." Star Swirl commented.

The ship wasn't slowing down, a fact everyone realized pretty quickly.

"I don't think this thing is self-parking..." Twilight said, moving toward the controls.

Cozy Glow had used them before, so Twilight points to Luster.

“Put your hand in the steering gimbal and close everything up!”

"Yes, I got it!" she replied, grabbing the other control panel "Okay, okay... I'm ready".

"This was meant for a big guy, so we have to move at the same time" Twilight exclaimed, not quite sure of herself.

She quickly followed her own advice, holding on to a small wheel that spun counterclockwise.

Luster quickly tried to do the same, which complicated matters when they both tried to drive.

"Maybe we better turn..." she replied "Turn! Turn! TURN!”

The entire ship shuddered as it hit a massive tower of rubble, shaking violently. Whatever little control they had had before, they definitely had lost now.

All they could do was brace for impact.

Twilight and Luster activated their hooves, while Star Swirl raised her hands, conjuring a dome of glowing energy that enveloped the three of them protectively.

Just in time for the ship to crash into the planet, breaking into half a dozen segments, including the one they were on. Fortunately, the debris hardly mattered... since the entire planet seemed covered in it.

It was a wasteland as far as the eye could see.

Inside, the shield had held, and Star Swirl stood up, approaching Twilight.

"Are you okay?" he said, helping her up.

"That was close…" Twilight said "I owe you one".

Iron Spider was slightly hanging upside down from the ceiling with a spider web.

"If the aliens end up implanting eggs in my chest or something, and I eat any of you, I'm sorry..."

Twilight wasn't in the mood, cutting her off with a quick wave of her hands.

"I don't want to hear any other pop culture references from you the rest of the trip. Got it?”

"I'm trying to say there's something coming..." she said, pointing with her hand.

Minutes before her spider-sense kicked in, something rolled between the trio. Some kind of flash grenade, which shot down all three of them in different directions.

From a broken entry, a trio of warriors emerged, charging into the fray.

It was Sunny, Pipp and Izzy!

"GROGAR!" Pipp yelled, a murderous look on his face.

Throwing his knives, Star Swirl barely had time to conjure a shield to block them. Pipp charged forward anyway, determined to rip her opponent's head off hers, whose hat flew up to crash into Pipp's face, sending her crashing to the ground.

Meanwhile, Star-Lady and Iron Girl collided in midair, going into a free fall spin as they fought, unable to use their weapons due to the proximity.

Eventually, Twilight grabbed her attacker and spun her around, throwing her away from her, who landed easily on her feet, smiling as she activated some kind of detonator in her hand.

A device on Iron Girl's chest suddenly opened and magnetized, pulling her to slam her into a metal wall, stunning her.

Iron Spider, on the other hand, woke up to find Izzy looking at her, mistaking her for an alien.

"AAAHHH!!" Luster yelled, as she crawled back “Wow, wow, wow, wow! Don't lay eggs inside me!"

She connects Izzy's arms to her body with several web shots, only to become a target for Star-Lady, who flies at her head-on and kicks her to the ground.

"And don't get up, clown!"

At that moment, Iron Girl shoots the Star-Lady out of the air, as Iron Spider extends her spider legs and jumps at her, only for Star-Lady to throw an electrical cable at her that wraps around Luster and sends her to the ground.

"Die, Hat of Evil!" Pipp yelled, as he struggled against Star Swirl's hat stuck on his face.

Seconds later, Iron Girl breaks free from the magnet on her chest, and after landing on Pipp and pinning her to the ground, analyzes the situation: Star-Lady was holding Luster in a headlock and pointing one of her blasters at her, and Star Swirl is ready near an Izzy immobilized by the cobwebs.

“Everyone stay where you are and let's relax!” Star-Lady yelled, as she kept her grip on Luster.

The other combatants stopped instantly, though they kept their respective gazes locked on one another, ready to continue the fight the instant it developed again.

“I'll only ask you ONE question” Sunny said, as she deactivated her helmet and looked at Iron Girl “Where is Hitch?”

Frowning, Twilight deactivated her own helmet.

"Oh yeah? I'll make you a better one" Twilight said "WHO is Hitch?"

"I'll make you a better one!" Pipp protested from under Twilight, missing the point as always "WHY is Hitch?"

Star Swirl looked with some confusion among the combatants, not knowing where they were, only that all those who pointed hands and weapons at each other were for the moment keeping the peace... which would not last long.

"Tell me where he is, or I swear I'll fry this freak!" Sunny said, as she pressed her blaster against Luster's head.

“Come on, you shoot my girl and I'll blow yours up! COME ON!" Twilight snorted angrily.

The nanotech in his armor spreads out, creating a huge ion cannon... aiming right at Pipp's head, who doesn't even flinch.

“Do it, Starscout! I can take it!” she proclaimed, foolishly but bravely.

"She can't take it!" Izzy yelled.

"Right, she can't..." Star Swirl said, agreeing with Izzy.

“Oh yeah, don't you want to tell me where he is? Okay, I'll kill all three of you and then I'll beat him out of Grogar MYSELF!" Sunny demanded, as she took more aim at Luster. "I'll start with you!"

“What? Grogar?” Star Swirl asked, grasping at a slim chance "Very well, I'll ask you this question just once: which lord are you serving?"

“Which lord?” Sunny asked, sounding incredulous. "What am I supposed to say?! To God?”

And so, everything clicked in Twilight's mind, who deactivated her weapon.

"You're from Earth," she stated.

"Well no, I'm from Maretime Bay".

"That's ON Earth, idiot!" Twilight replied, incredulously "Why are you giving us a hard time!?"

"So... you three aren't with Grogar?" Luster asked tentatively, well aware that the wrong question could earn him a hole in the head.

“WITH Grogar?” Sunny responded, positively sick at that suggestion “NO! I have come to kill him… he took my boyfriend. Who are you three?"

To answer the question, Luster deactivated his mask, revealing his face.

“We are the Avengers, dude…”

"Are you those... that Rainbow Dash told us about?" Izzy asked.

That question surprised Twilight.

"Do you know Rainbow Dash?" Twilight asked, relieved that her best friend was alive.

"Yes..." Sunny answered tersely, as she lowered her weapon "A tall, not-so-pretty one, that she... needed to be saved".

Star Swirl saw potential in that.

"And where is she?"

Author's Note

On Grogar's ship, Sprout manages to escape and get in touch with the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Meanwhile, Twilight's group finally arrives on Grogar's planet, where they are ambushed by Sunny's group, who believe they work for Grogar.

In the end, both groups stop fighting when Twilight discovers that the Guardians know Rainbow Dash.

What results will form this alliance of superheroes?

Chapter 13) Building Stormbreaker / The Plan to Kill Grogar

Celaneo led Rainbow Dash, Zipp Storm, and Sparky Sparkeroni deep into the Forge of Nidavellir... into a sublevel only a few knew of, where the most powerful weapons were kept, until they were ready to be wielded. .

Celaneo reached for a lever on the wall and pulled it.

A huge metal brick, with Asgardian symbols etched into the surface, descended before everyone, as Celaneo showed it to his guests.

Zipp raised an eyebrow, clearly unsure what to make of it.

"The plan is to hit Grogar... with a brick?"

“It's a cast… of a queen's weapon” Celaneo explained, as Rainbow Dash gazed at the brick in fascination “Destined to be the greatest in Asgard. In theory, it could even summon the Bifrost…”

"Did it have a name?" Rainbow Dash asked.

“Stormbreaker”.

"Wow…" Zipp said, a hint of amazement in his voice.

“And how do we do it?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“You would have to restart the Forge…” Celaneo explained, as she looked at the sleeping star of Nidavellir “Awakening the heart… of a dying star”.

Faced with those conditions, Rainbow Dash just smiled. With a knowing look at Zipp, she knew exactly what to do.

“Zipp… turn on the capsule…”

Emerging from the wreckage of the crashed ship, the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy decided to explore the wasteland that was Grogar's planet and gather the resources needed to defeat a common enemy.

With the arrival of Grogar, everyone had a chance to defeat him once and for all, but they needed to plan and prepare. The planet wasn't a very nice place. It was more than a wasteland.

Long stretches of rock and desert and little plant life (at least in this part of the planet), with debris everywhere… from crashed ships or floating cities…

“What has happened to this planet?” Sunny commented, as she checked some readings with a small device “It's eight degrees off axis. The force of gravity goes in all directions…”

As she explained, Izzy was evidently enjoying how little gravity was there, while taking long jumps.

Twilight, on the other hand, stored the information she had gotten from the Guardians, but she remained focused on the real target: Grogar.

"We have an advantage: he is coming towards us. We'll use it. Alright, I have a plan… or the beginning of one” she explained slowly, as she went through half a billion things at once “We pin him down and get what we want. We won't fight that guy, we just want the Gauntlet and-".

As Luster paid close attention and Sunny nodded in vague agreement... Pipp yawned.

“Are you yawning… while I'm explaining it?” Twilight asked sarcastically "Huh? Did you hear what I've said?"

"I stopped listening... when you said the plan..." Pipp said, embarrassed.

"Okay, Mrs Clean is going her way..." Twilight said.

"You see, the don't improvise thing isn't something that they usually do... they" Sunny explained.

“And… what exactly do they do?” Luster asked.

“Give breads… like cakes” Izzy answered.

Twilight could only be left incredulous with the current situation.

“Okay, come closer, please…” Twilight requested, as she gestured to the group “Mrs Lady, can you ask her people to form a circle?"

"Mrs Lady…" Sunny said, a little annoyed by the nickname "With Star-Lady I'm fine..."

"We have to converge" Twilight explained "Because if our brave attitude is the only thing that-"

"Dude, don't call us brave. We don't know what it means. We're optimistic, yes” Sunny explained, cutting her off “I like your plan, except it sucks. So let me make the plan, and that way it might be very good".

“Tell him about the dance duel to save the universe” Pipp commented, and it was impossible to tell if he was serious or sarcastic.

"What dance duel?"

Sensing that she was quickly losing what little respect Twilight had for her, Sunny quickly gestured for her friend to shut up about her.

"It's no big deal…"

"Like in the movie, Footloose?" Luster asked.

"Just like in Footloose!" Sunny said excitedly, seeing that someone in the group understood her "Is it still the best movie ever?"

“It never has been” she said, making Sunny frown sadly.

"You don't play along, okay?" Twilight ordered Luster "Flash Gordon isn't going to help us..."

"Flash Gordon? By the way, that's a compliment. Don't forget, I'm half human” Sunny said, before pointing at Twilight “If 50% of me is stupid…You're 100%”.

“Your calculations amaze me…”

At that moment, Izzy realized something.

"Excuse me..." Izzy said to the group "But... does your friend... do that often?"

Twilight looked where Izzy was looking… and blinked in some amazement.

Dr. Star Swirl was sitting in a classic meditation pose, floating in midair and covered in the cosmic green energy of the Time Stone. His head would turn, trembling from side to side, and his expression would change from curious to confused, to horrified, to determined...

All in seconds… without even opening your eyes.

“Star Swirl! Is everything okay?" Twilight called.

For a long moment, he didn't respond… until finally, the glow faded and Star Swirl landed on the ground, gasping and wide-eyed.

Twilight took him by the arms, stabilizing him.

"He's already back..."

"What was that?" Luster asked.

Star Swirl took a few breaths before he could speak.

“I have envisioned… all possible futures… to see the denouements… of the conflict to come…”

“How many has you seen?” Sunny asked, fearful of knowing the answer.

"Fourteen million six hundred five..."

They all took that in, amazed by the number. Such a trip might have shattered a normal mind, but Star Swirl seemed coherent enough, if a little shaken.

However, Twilight asked another question. One that she needed answered.

"And in how many did we win?"

Looking into Twilight's eyes, Star Swirl replied solemnly.

"One…"

Author's Note

As Rainbow Dash prepares to create her new weapon, the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy plan their ambush against Grogar.

During the planning, Star Swirl uses the power of the Time Stone, only to discover something shocking: of all possible futures... in just one, the heroes will win.

Chapter 14) Planet Vormir / The Trial of the Soul Stone

On the dead planet known as Vormir, a cold wind whipped across the landscape as a cosmic blue portal opened, depositing Grogar and Hitch on the ground.

"The Stone better be up there..." Grogar complained "For your brother's sake."

Recognizing the threat, Hitch had no choice but to press on, heading for the only rocky mountain for miles around.

This is where the map that Hitch knew indicated the exact location of the Soul Stone.

Hitch had never been there, but he knew enough to know that the place wouldn't be unprotected, so he walked carefully… with Grogar close behind.

They were halfway up the mountain when 'something shadowy' appeared before them.

A humanoid silhouette dressed in a black cape and hood was floating in the air as if it were a ghost.

And then he spoke… with a cold voice that echoed in the wind.

"Welcome... Grogar, son of Chaos..." he saluted "And Hitch Trailbrazer, son of Grogar..."

"Do you know us?" Grogar asked.

He wasn't attacking… whoever he was.

“My curse… is meeting everyone who travels here…” the shadowly silhouette replied.

"Where is the Soul Stone?" Grogar declared.

"You should know... that having her exacts a terrible price..."

“I'm prepared” Grogar snorted gracefully.

Anything that creature needed… coin, blood, wealth, power… Grogar would pay for the Stone.

"We all thought that at first..." the shadowly silhouette intoned, before starting to approach.

When exposed to light, the creature revealed that its face... human so white and emaciated that it resembled a skull.

His name was Johann Svengallop, the Captain Equestria's former nemesis, known as the White Skull.

"And we were all wrong..."

White Skull led his guests to the top of the mountain, where Grogar and Hitch saw a huge ancient structure.

"How come you know this place so well?" Grogar asked doubtfully.

“A lifetime ago… I looked for the Stones too…” White Skull explained “I even had one in my hand. But it condemned me... it banished me here... to lead others to a treasure that I cannot possess..."

Finally, the three of them reached the edge of the mountaintop and stop at what appears to be the edge of a precipice.

“What you seek is before you…” White Skull explained “Just like what you fear…”

"What is this?" Hitch asked, looking over the precipice.

"The price. The Soul Stone occupies a special place among the Infinity Stones…” White Skull replied “It could be said to have a certain… wisdom…”

“Tell me what this needs” Grogar ordered.

"To ensure that whoever possesses it... understands its power..." White Skull said "The Stone... demands a sacrifice".

"Of what?"

"To get the Stone... you must lose what you love..." White Skull replied "A soul... for a soul".

At that moment, Hitch begins to laugh at the irony of the situation.

“All my life, I've dreamed of the day... The moment when you get what you deserve...” Hitch explained “And I've always been disappointed. But now… you kill and torture… and you call it compassion…”

Then, Hitch looked at Grogar, who kept looking at the edge of the precipice.

“The universe has judged you. You have asked him for a prize… and he has answered no” he said “You have failed. And do you want to know why? Because you don't love anything... or anyone".

And in that moment, as Grogar turned around, Hitch saw something no one would ever see.

Grogar was... crying.

"No" Grogar said sadly.

"Seriously? Tears?" Hitch asked sarcastically.

"They aren't for him..." White Skull said, as he left the place, leaving his guests alone.

Hitch watches as White Skull walks away... and then realizes what is about to happen.

"No..." Hitch said fearfully "This isn't love..."

“I already ignored my fate once. I can't do it again…" Grogar mused, as he slowly approached his son "Not even… for you".

Hitch turned to get away as fast as he could, but he was effortlessly grabbed by the Space Stone's blue cosmic energy, rendering him unable to move or defend himself.

"I'm sorry, little one..."

Helpless and unable to escape, Grogar led him to the edge of the abyss... and threw him.

“NOO!” Hitch yelled as he fell.

As he fell, Hitch only looked on in horror as he realized that, despite all his efforts, he had helped Grogar on his quest after all.

And then, just as he was about to hit the ground, Hitch closed his eyes, wishing his last thoughts were focused on the last thing he wanted to remember: Sunny Starscout, the only woman in the Universe he'd ever loved.

At that moment, just as Hitch's body hit the ground, a mysterious cosmic energy surrounded a sad Grogar… until he couldn't even see.

There was a sense of movement, and instinctively he closed his eyes as the energy washed over him.

When Grogar opened his eyes, he found himself lying on the surface of the planet, just at the base of the mountain.

For a moment, he thought he had never climbed the mountain... until he noticed something resting in the palm of his right hand: a small glowing orange stone.

The Soul Stone.

If he'd bothered to look closer, he would have seen Hitch's face in the Stone's reflection before he disappeared.

But Grogar didn't see any of it, and he wouldn't have cared if he had.

He had gotten what he wanted, and soon, the mightiest power will be his... and nothing in the Universe will be able to stop him.

Author's Note

On the Planet Vormir, Grogar sacrifices Hitch's life to obtain the Soul Stone...

Is there nothing in the Universe that can stop that monster?

Chapter 15) Preparing for War

Over the skies of the African continent, the Quinjet carrying Applejack's group was approaching its destination.

"Descend to 2600" she told Applebloom, who she was at the controls, "Heading 0-3-0".

"I hope you're right about this..." Appleblom said nervously "Or we're going to land a lot quicker than we should".

However, the Quinjet manages to pass through Wakanda's force field safely, reaching its destination.

On the airstrip in front of the royal palace, the Wakanda Royal Guard had gathered to welcome their guests, while Daring Do and Gallant True waited for the Avengers to arrive.

It was not the first time that they visited their lands, but it was always a momentous occasion to see them.

“When you said we were going to open up Wakanda to the rest of the world…” Gallant True whispered “I didn't imagine this at all”.

"And what did you imagine?" Daring Do asked, with a smile on his face.

"The Olympics" Gallant True smiled "Maybe even a Starbucks..."

At that moment, the Quinjet finally landed and activated its landing board.

Applejack and Rarity led the way, followed by Fluttershy and Starlight Glimmer, while Vision and Gloriosa Daisy brought up the rear.

“Do we have to bow down?” Fluttershy whispered to Starlight as they approached, since she was unfamiliar with Wakandan customs.

"Yes, she is a queen" Starlight replied with all seriousness.

Applejack reached over and offered a hand to Daring Do, who grabbed it as well.

“I'm always thanking you for something” she drawled.

Daring Do bowed his head politely, acknowledging her thanks, and without a word from her dismissed her. What need had such things among friends?

Fluttershy bowed politely, lowering her head.

"But what are you doing?" Starlight asked in disbelief.

"Uh, we don't do that here..." Daring Do replied, easily as embarrassed as Fluttershy.

However, she was not entirely in the mood for humor and kept up with it.

"What kind of assault should we expect?" she asked.

Fluttershy quickly stepped forward to recount her experiences.

“Uh, Your Majesty, I think you should expect… a VERY big assault” she emphasized.

"Reinforcements?" Rarity asked.

“You will have my Royal Guard, the Frontier Tribe and…” Daring Do replied.

She had saved the best for last, evidently, when a certain girl appeared, with a metal left arm, obviously forged from vibranium.

Countess "Rara" Coloratura, also known as the Winter Soldier.

"A semi-stable 100-year-old woman" she replied.

She and Applejack shared a much needed hug.

"How are you, Rara?" she asked.

"Uh, not bad... for the end of the world".

On the mountain near the city, in the part closest to the vibranium mine from which the Wakandans derived most of their technological power, was the laboratory of Quibble Pants, Daring Do's younger brother.

He ushered the Avengers in as quickly as possible, eager to get started, and asked Vision to lay down on her table while he scanned him, highlighting the area where the Mind Stone was.

The readings surprised him, widening his eyes in amazement.

“Wow…” he breathed “The structure is polymorphic”.

"Yes, we had to link each neuron in a… not sequential way" Fluttershy remembered, nodding.

"And why didn't they reprogram the synapses to work collectively?" Quibble asked, following her without missing a beat.

Fluttershy blinked. The prince was just like Twilight.

She made a mental note to make sure they became friends…and then not get stuck in a room with them when they talked about science.

“Because, uh… we didn't think of it” she said sheepishly.

"They did what they could" Quibble said, patting Fluttershy on her shoulder, no malice or sarcasm in her words.

Gloriosa cut in politely with a throat clearing.

“Can you do it?”

"Yes, but there are over two trillion neurons here... A mismatch would cause a chain of circuit failures..." Quibble nodded, before looking at Daring Do "It'll take time, sister".

"How much time?" Applejack asked, always pragmatic.

"As much as you guys can give me" Quibble answered, starting to work.

At that moment, an alarm sounded, and Gallant True activated a holographic map of Earth with her bracelet… showing energy readings heading toward Wakanda.

"Something has entered the atmosphere".

Outside at the entrance of the royal palace, Applebloom, Rara, and Starlight stood ready as they look up at the sky.

This last one she was wearing her upgraded War Machine armor, and she saw something that caught her attention.

(Imagine the suit for a woman)

An alien ship falling like a meteorite.

“Uh… AJ…?” Applebloom said, activating the comlink in his ear "We have a problem..."

Fortunately, whatever that ship was, it crashed into the city's force field, shattering into pieces that fell in all directions except downward, leaving the city and its inhabitants safe... for now.

“Wow, I LOVE this place...” Rara smiled.

"Well, don't both of you start celebrating..." War Machine said "More are coming from outside the dome!"

Pointing her hand at him, War Machine directed his attention to other similar, armored ships that landed outside the energy barrier and sank to the ground… ready to drop enemy troops at any moment.

Everyone in the lab of Quibble Pants could see the situation from the window.

"It's too late... We have to destroy the Stone now..." Vision said, getting down from the operating table.

"Vision, lie back down" Rarity instructed.

"We'll keep them at bay" Daring Do said.

"Gloriosa, as soon as that Stone is no longer in her head…" Applejack ordered "Send her to hell".

"I will" Gloriosa agreed, as the other Avengers began to prepare for battle.

“Evacuate the city!” Daring Do ordened to his subjects, quickly taking charge "Activate all defenses!"

Then, she paused and pointed at Applejack.

“And bring this woman a shield!”.

Hearing the word shield, Applejack couldn't help but smile.

Author's Note

Back on Earth, Applejack's group arrives in Wakanda to try and remove the Mind Stone from Vision's head.

However, the situation becomes even more complicated when Grogar's army arrives, with the aim of obtaining the Stone... at all costs.

The war has begun...

Chapter 16) Activating the Star / The Harmony War Begins

Back in Nidavellir, Rainbow Dash was already working on her part of the plan.

Jumping into one of the huge rings, from the capsule that Zipp was piloting, she lands while holding a rope attached to the capsule with her hand.

"I think you're missing the scientific principle. These rings are gigantic” Zipp said, doubting the plan “To set them in motion… you'll need something MUCH bigger”.

"Leave that to me".

“To you? Dude, you're in space...” Zipp replied “All you have is a rope and-”.

But before she could speak further, Rainbow Dash used the rope to spin the capsule like a flail, causing Zipp to scream.

At that moment, Rainbow Dash let the capsule drag her, heading for the next ring.

“YOU START THE ENGINES!” she ordered.

Zipp revved up the capsule's engines, while Rainbow Dash descended on the next ring, sinking her feet in hard, while still holding on to the capsule's rope.

At that moment, the mechanism of the rings began to move by the strong of the impulse.

“More… power, Zipp!”

Little by little, energy crackled throughout the mechanism, bringing the star back to life, as the rings aligned and a huge beam of hot light passed through the Forge.

“Very well, kid…” Celaneo smiled, while he contemplated the revitalized factory.

Exhausted, Rainbow Dash jumps on top of the pod, indicating the star to Zipp as she looks through the window.

"That's... Nidavellir!"

At that moment, a terrible crack is heard and the iris of the rings closes, receding the beam of light towards the star.

"Shit!" Celaneo said, deducing what had happened.

"Shit?" Zipp asked from the capsule "Why shit?"

“The mechanism is faulty...” Celaneo answered, grimly.

"What!?" Rainbow Dash said, exasperated.

"With the iris closed... I can't heat the metal".

At that moment, Rainbow Dash came up with an idea, which even to the others was more than a little crazy.

“How long will it take to heat it up?” she asked with some trepidation.

“A few minutes… maybe more” Celaneo answered “Why?”

"I'll keep it open…" Rainbow Dash said, wincing.

"That's suicide" Celaneo warned.

"Same as facing Grogar without that axe..."

At that moment, Rainbow Dash took a long jump towards the iris of her rings.

“This is going to hurt…” she thought.

With all of Wakanda on alert, the inhabitants had begun the evacuation to the other end of the barrier.

Meanwhile, the hovercars flew over the ground toward the edge of the barrier where the enemy was, with Wakandan soldiers, Rarity, Applejack (armed with a pair of Wakandan shields), and Rara aboard one of the vehicles.

"How are you doing, Fluttershy?" Rarity asked through her communicator.

"I think I'm getting the hang of it..."

At that moment, a HUGE red, yellow, version of Iron Girl's armor appeared running between the hovercars.

It was the Iron Girl Mark 48 armor, a.k.a “Flutterbuster 2.0”.

It was an intensely unwieldy armor, created by Twilight and Fluttershy, for situations of keeping Flutterhulk under control.

“WOW! This is amazing!” Fluttershy said, from inside the armor "It's like being Flutterhulk without having to-"

But before she finishes her sentence, she trips over a rock, as the hovercar carrying Gallant True passes her, while he looks at her doubtfully.

"I'm okay..." Fluttershy said, as she stood up embarrassed "I'm okay..."

"I'm picking up two heat signatures in the grove" Starlight reported, from the sky next to Applebloom.

At this point, most of the soldiers were in position, where Daring Do saw that Caballeron, leader of the Jabari Tribe, was already there, making his classic war cry together with his tribe.

However, seeing the queen arrive, he stopped shouting and raised her hand, which Daring Do squeezed anxiously, while she bowed her head towards her 'brother in arms'.

“Thank you for giving us support” Daring Do said, truly grateful.

“Of course… sister” Caballeron answered, in the Wakandan language.

The two of them, and their many allies, turned to look at the grove of trees beyond the barrier… where the enemy ships were.

Something was moving.

Captain Equestria, White Widow, and Black Panther (with their suits on) headed for the edge of the barrier, just as their opponents came into view on the other side.

Lord Tirek grunted grimly as he stomped to the ground, his severed hand replaced by a massive metal claw and he seemed quite angry at his defeat in Canterlot City.

Meanwhile, Chrysalis watched the approaching trio as he ran the tip of his blade against the edge of the barrier, which sizzled with electricity.

There was no sign of Sombra, the warrior they had fought in Scotland.

"And your other friend?" Rarity asked, in a mockingly concerned tone.

"You will all pay for his life with yours…" Chrysalis said, glaring at her with intense green eyes with hate "Grogar will get that Stone".

"That's not going to happen" Applejack answered with total naturalness.

“Now you guys are here, in Wakanda…” Daring Do added, hoping to project a bit more bravado than he was feeling right now “Grogar will get nothing but dust… and blood”.

"We have... blood to spare" Chrysalis smiled.

At that moment, she raised her right arm with a cry, and the ships behind her opened their hatches.

Inside the ships, a teeming horde of hideous creatures began to emerge, as large as a human, with four arms and a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth.

The Outriders.

They charged en masse towards the barrier with killing intent.

The trio returned to the front line.

Raising an eyebrow at the invading army, Rara looked at her best friend.

“Have they given up?”

"Not exactly..." Applejack answered, even as she took her place in line.

"YIBAMBE!" shouted Daring Do, at the head of the formation, while his soldiers awaited orders.

The Outriders had just passed through the grove and crashed into the barrier.

“What the hell…?” Rara said with a notch.

"I think we've pissed her off..." Rarity said.

The Wakandans activated their shields and sonic lances, while some Outriders managed to get a head or limb past, but the barrier quickly sliced through them, scattering their pieces across the ground.

“They are killing each other…” Gallant True uttered in horror.

This was not a normal army. They worked as shock troops for Grogar's army.

Relentless, ruthless, always hungry, and best of all: expendable. They had no sense of self-preservation, only bloodlust and death.

Worse yet… some were starting to pass.

A few broke the line and began advancing across the empty plain towards the Wakandans, ignoring any burns or breaks in their skin. The heroes opened fire with sonic shots, directed from their spears, bullets, or beams from the Flutterbuster's armor.

They held the line, easily managing to prevent too many Outriders from reaching them, much less causing any damage. But more were coming by the minute, piling up against the barrier, pushing their way through it.

“Have you seen his teeth!?” Applebloom asked, as she spun in the air to avoid being knocked down by the creatures, all the while firing her pistols.

Her flight partner, War Machine, nodded, deciding to cut the situation short and directly use the 'big guns'.

"Stand back..." she ordered "You're going to singe your wings"

Waiting until her partner was well away, War Machine activated a mechanism on her back, as she flew over a section filled with Outriders and dropped a barrage of mines. They didn't have time to scream before they were reduced to ashes by the explosions.

Those who managed to escape the explosion screamed and ran in all directions, trying in vain to extinguish the flames on their bodies, becoming easy targets for the Wakandans.

However…

Leading the battle, Chrysalis and Tirek sent two separate waves of their creatures around the barrier to the north and south.

From within his armor, Fluttershy could see this and sensed the danger immediately.

“Captain, if these critters circle the perimeter and come in from behind...” she said, looking at her for direction "There will be nothing between them and Vision".

Applejack quickly considered the possibilities and realized that they only had one reasonable option.

"Well, let's keep them ahead..."

"How do we do that?" Gallant True asked his queen.

"Opening the barrier..." Daring Do answered, deducing what Applejack thought, while he put a finger on the communicator of his ear "On my signal... open Section 17-Northwest".

"I request confirmation, my queen" replied a minion from the communicator, with obvious concern "Did you say 'open the barrier'?"

"On my signal" she agreed.

“It will be the end of Wakanda…” Caballeron said with concern.

"Well, it will be the noblest end in history..." Gallant True said.

Activating her shields and looking left and right, Applejack saw that everyone was ready and nodded to Daring Do, who crossed his hands over his chest, while vibranium claws came out of his suit gloves and Black Panther's helmet covered his face.

“WAKANDA FOREVER!!”

And with that, the entire Wakanda's army and their allies ran down the slope toward the barrier. The ground shook as Fluttershy's Flutterbuster armor shook the ground, stomping along with his friends.

Up front, leading the charge, were Captain Equestria and Black Panther.

"NOW!" she yelled.

Inside the city, some subjects obeyed their ruler and a crack opened in the barrier that protected them.

The instant it opened, the Outriders rushed towards the approaching army, who didn't falter in their advance.

Applejack and Daring Do got ahead of everyone, running at high speed. At a small stream that separated the two armies, the two leaped into battle.

Applejack used her shields and began to violently pummel the creatures, while Black Panther clawed and slashed at them with his vibranium claws. Some soldiers attacked with their spears, while Fluttershy fired lasers from the repulsorlifts on the palms of his armor.

The Outriders scattered, but there were hundreds of them, and more kept arriving every minute.

"How much longer, Quibble!?" Daring Do yelled into her communicator, eager to end this battle before things got worse.

In his lab, Quibble Pants was using his technology to try to get the Mind Stone out of Vision's head without having to kill him.

“I have barely started!”

Daring Do knew that he would do his best, he just couldn't do anything different.

Still, there were lives at stake.

"Perhaps you should abbreviate!" she said with polite exasperation, dodging as another creature lunged at her, nearly biting her.

Author's Note

As Rainbow Dash activates the rings of the Forge of Nidavellir to create her new weapon, the Avengers and the army of Wakanda begin their war against Grogar's army, led by Chrysalis and Tirek, and made up of hundreds of Outriders.

Chapter 17) The Return of Rainbow Dash

In the mechanism of the iris of the star of the Forge of Nidavellir, Rainbow Dash exhaled slowly and deeply, clearing her lungs.

“Allfathers… give me strength…” she whispered, praying for guidance.

From her father, from her mother, from anyone who provided it to her...

“Do you understand, girl? You are about to receive the force of a star...” Celaneo said, uneasily “It will kill you...”

"Only if I die..." Rainbow Dash replied confidently.

"Yes..." Celaneo said "That's... what it means to kill you".

And with that, Rainbow Dash grabbed both ends of the broken circuit with her hands, bracing herself.

Using her strength, she pulled, as the star's iris slowly opened and she felt all the heat run through her body as she let out a defiant groan of pain, refusing to cry out, as little by little the star power collided with her body.

But it was enough, power flickered through the Forge, beginning to heat the metal.

“HOLD IT!” Celaneo declared “Hold it, Rainbow Dash!”

Moments later, the metal had heated to the point of flowing like a thick, vicious liquid. Grabbing one side of the cauldron, Celaneo turned it over, letting the metal flow into the mold as he took the shape of the weapon Rainbow Dash needed.

Finally, the last of the star's fiery beam loosened Rainbow Dash's grip, launching her toward the Forge, with Zipp following in her capsule.

Upon landing, Rainbow Dash collapsed to the ground, with her body completely covered in burns and her rainbow mane singed.

Climbing down from the capsule, Zipp ran to his dying friend.

“Rainbow Dash! Say something, come on!” Zipp said, shaking his friend's body "Rainbow Dash, are you okay!?"

To make sure, she took her friend's pulse… a slow one.

"She is dying!"

"She needs the axe!" Celaneo yelled, horrified.

She broke the mold, opening it with her bare hands, as she winced with heat. There was no time to let it cool.

The heavy brick of metal shattered, revealing its contents: two shiny metal chunks, with one having an extremely sharp edge.

But Celaneo realized that something was missing.

"Where's the handle?!" Celaneo yelled, as she looked at Sparky and searched through the trash on the ground "Dragon, help me find the handle!"

Sparky looked sadly at Rainbow Dash, who was breathing shallowly in front of him, her life force fading.

So he made a decision.

Focusing his own power, as his horns lit up, Sparky sprouted a tree from the metallic ground, which grabbed the two forged pieces of metal, sticking them together, and then broke from the ground, forming an axe.

The weapon... Stormbreaker... was finished.

At that moment, Rainbow Dash's hand opens slightly and Stormbreaker rises from the ground, lightning flashing from her...

…as her owner's magenta eyes widened, glowing with electricity.

Unable to handle the attack, the heroes soon began to tire.

The Wakanda soldiers were overwhelmed by the unstoppable force of the Outriders, who tore through their ranks as if nothing had happened.

War Machine stayed airborne, but she was caught off guard by an extendable metal claw that sent her hurtling towards the ground, with Tirek snarling darkly and Chrysalis at her side with a smirk as the two personally led their beasts into the fray.

Thrown to the ground, Applejack and Daring Do continued to fend off the creatures, but were being surrounded, all hope of rescue or escape cut off.

Similarly, Flutterbuster's armor was being invaded by another wave of Outriders, knocking her to the ground.

“They are too many!” she yelled, as the creatures scrambled up her armor, slashing, tearing, and crushing.

Within seconds, they'd be overwhelmed.

(Music in minute 3:30)

But then…

…suddenly, there was light.

The Bifrost appeared, crushing the Outriders and stopping them in their tracks.

From the column of rainbow light, the Stormbreaker axe emerged, flying across the battlefield, knocking down the Outriders keeping the heroes in trouble, before returning to its point of origin: the hand of Rainbow Dash, Queen of Asgard and Goddess of Thunder, imbued with electrical power.

And at his side were Sparky Sparkeroni and Zipp Storm, eager to fight as well, with the latter unfurling a huge laser machine gun.

The heroes finally had a chance to win now, with Fluttershy rising to her feet, so happy she took off her armor helmet and cheered wildly.

“WOO-HOO! NOW IF YOU ARE GOING TO SEE WHO IS WHO!” yelled at her, laughing with joy.

Chrysalis and Tirek exchanged a worried look, well aware that the battle had swung in favor of the heroes.

They could handle the Avengers… even the Wakandans… but she was the Queen of Asgard. And she was even more powerful than she was when she was attacked in The Statesman.

Stormbreaker shone with incredible power, crackling with lightning around its handle.

Rainbow Dash huffed, gaining speed as she ran towards the enemy lines, letting out only one war cry:

“WHERE IS GROGAR!!??”

With Zipp and Sparky following her, Rainbow Dash took a huge leap, as she slammed into the ground with Stormbreaker's power and sent waves of lightning in all directions, scattering the Outriders.

The Queen of Asgard was furious… and all her enemies were going to feel her wrath.

Author's Note

After putting her life on the verge of death again, Rainbow Dash manages to forge Stormbreaker.

Now, with his new weapon, Rainbow Dash and his allies arrive in Wakanda with one goal: kill Grogar.