The group hurried to their tasks.

While the others alerted the town's ponies of the coming danger Twinkle, Sunset, and Starlight began reconfiguring the mirror while Spike waited to do his part.

“Alright, Spike! Send this!” Twinkle said handing him a message.

“Got it!” Spike sent the message and then went to help with evacuations.

“Starlight, reconfigure the mana port!” Sunset said.

“Ok, hand me that crystal,” Starlight said.

Twinkle was in her element and began to work faster and in no time they set up the mirror.

“Alright, let’s get moving, Twinkle, you stay here and keep the field balanced, we’ll aid in evacuations,” Sunset said and they ran out of the mirror room.

The ponies were in a panic, they were collecting their things and heading for the castle.

Spike and the others did a good job of alerting the populace and getting them moving.

Thankfully most of the ponies in town knew already the events that have transpired lately.

“Go! Forget your things! You can get them after the problem is solved!” Spike called to a few ponies trying to bring alot of stuff.

“Ya heard the alert right! Get movin!” Zap called as she flew overhead.

“Zap!” Bulk said flying up to her.

“Bulk? Ya need to get movin!” Zap said.

“What about you?” Bulk asked.

“Ah need to face this guy,” Zap said.

“Well, I’m not leaving! I got the muscles, I can fight too!” Bulk said tearing his shirt off.

“No Bulk! Ah’m not running the risk of ya gettin hurt,” Zap said.

“I'll be fine!” Bulk said.

“No, ah’m not lettin you stay, get goin!” Zap shoved Bulk.

“You’d have to force me through that mirror before I abandon my girl,” Bulk said resolutely.

“Bulk…” Zap said feeling tears in her eyes.

“I’ll be alright,” Bulk said “I’ll go help your family and then be right back!” Bulk said flying off.

“...” Zap blushed as her stallion flew off to help her “If ya choose to then…” Zap said before turning to continue with the evacuation.

Charity used her magic to form a staircase in which a bunch of ponies are using to get right to the mirror room.

“Keep moving!” Audacia said flying overhead.

“The portal is at the top of these stairs!” Charity said.

“Charity!” Spike said and she turned to see Spike and Big Mac approaching.

“What are you doing? You should go with the crowd!” Charity said.

“Ah ain’t goin, ah may be unsure about our relationship, but ah ain’t gonna stand by while ya fight fer yer life,” Mac said.

“Mac, please, I don’t want you or Spike getting hurt.” Charity pleaded.

“We don’t want you getting hurt either,” Spike said.

“Yeah, there’s strength in numbers,” Big Mac said.

“Dusk has both on his side!” Charity warned.

“Then the more we have on our side the better,” Mac said.

“Guys…” Charity didn’t want to use the stare to make them go, but she may not-

“MAC!” Audacia flew down to him.

“Huh? Who are you?” Mac asked.

“Oh yeah you don’t know… look no time, get helping out, we almost have everypony out,” Audacia said.

“But Audacia-” Charity said.

“No buts, the more we got on hand the better, Let’s move!” Audacia said before flying off.

“...Who was she?” Mac asked.

“I’ll explain later, c’mon!” Spike said and he ran off.

“Ok!” Mac said before leaving.

“Get moving, let’s go!” Twinkle said ushering each pony through the mirror, when the ponies stopped pouring in she looked outside and got a thumbs up from Charity. She was about to shut off the mirror but Flash entered.

“Twinkle, We need to get moving,” Flash said.

“Flash? What are you doing here?” Twinkle asked.

“What do you mean? I’m helping out,” Flash said.

Twinkle walked over to him “No, you have to leave, I won’t let something happen to you,” Twilight said.

“Twinkle we’ve been over this, I-”

“No, I won’t let you get hurt by being here…” Twinkle said before kissing Flash, after their kiss, she pulled away and lit her horn “I’m sorry Flash,” Twinkle then grabbed him in her magic and threw him through the portal.

“TWINKLE!” Flash cried before he vanished into the portal and she magically shut it off.

“We’ll celebrate when we’re done here,” Twinkle said with a teary smile.

“You should have trusted him,” A voice said and Twinkle turned to see Cheese who hopped down and kissed her on the cheek.

“Hey Cheesie… I should get you out of here as well,” Twinkle said.

“No need, I’ll do my part to help,” Cheese said.

“Like I told Flash-”

“You’ll see, my Cheesie sense has told me the way… it’s gonna get worse before it gets better, but I know you will do any and everything to fix this,” Cheese said before hopping out the window.

“Cheesie!” Twinkle ran to the window and he wasn’t there “Darn him…” Twinkle said before hearing flapping noises and she turned to see Zap flying back.

“GUYS! He’s here!” Zap said with a determined look.

“Ok girls, let’s get moving,” Twinkle said flying out as well and the mares and stallions walked out as a group line-up and they stood in the now empty streets.

Big Mac, Bulk Biceps, Spike, Audacia, Sunset Shimmer, Starlight Glimmer, Trixie, Twinkle, Zap and Charity.

“Anypony feel like leaving? I won’t judge,” Twinkle asked.

“I wouldn’t mind that…” Trixie admitted.

“Do as you wish,” Starlight sighed.

“...On second thought, I’ll stick by you,” Trixie sighed as well, knowing she shouldn’t leave her friend high and dry.

They anxiously awaited the approach of their enemy.

…And saw at least seventeen figures approaching from the edge of the Everfree Forest.

“Ah, such a quaint town… let’s burn it,” A green mare said with a chuckle.

“Right now?” A brown stallion asked.

“No, yesterday, yes now,” The green mare said.

“What do you say, sir?” The brown earth pony asked.

“Do whatever, as long as we find that alicorn,” Dusk said.

“Yes sir!” The pegasi of the group began to take to the air but a Canterlotian voice shouted loud enough to make them freeze in their tracks.

“STOP!” Twinkle shouted and they turned to see the group over there.

“....Haha…” Dusk said before chuckling to himself “That is your defence when I threatened to bring an army to Ponyville?... Wow, Celestia really doesn’t care about her subjects does she?” Dusk said.

“Enough of this… what do you want Dusk? Why come to Ponyville?” Twinkle said stepping forward.

“Why? Well, let’s make a list,” Dusk said walking around, “Nothing much, just more puppets, destroying Celestia’s new pupil, the mirror, and hmm what else… oh yeah, her,” Dusk said pointing at Audacia.

“What?... Why me?” Audacia demanded.

“Nothing too demanding, just your death is all,” Dusk said.

Audacia became guarded “Why? Why do I need to die? If anything I would think you’d want me around to protect Equestria, as is your ‘Grand Plan’ or whatever,” Audacia said.

“You see, naturally I would, it’s disappointing I gotta kill an alicorn, but you managed to find out the magical formula to undo my fusions, you're an aberration to my magic, I don’t know how, but you are, and I won’t let you undo my hard work, I’ve come to far for an upstart to undo it!” Dusk said firmly.

“Audacia…” Twinkle said.

“What?” Audacia said.

“Get to the mirror, and enter it, if he’s after you then you're at risk,” Twinkle said.

“What? No! I want to help,” Audacia said firmly.

“Listen! You're not going to stay here and get killed, I fought him before, he’s on a different level than any other unicorn!” Twinkle said.

“But-”

“GO!” Twinkle said before turning to Dusk again.

“Done making your exit strategy?” Dusk asked “Be a good future minion and hand her over, and I’ll pick good fusies for your friends,” Dusk said.

“No,” Twinkle said “Leave him to me guys!” Twinkle said.

“Ok!” they all said.

“Ya’ll may have seventeen, but ah can take em all!” Zap said getting ready.

“...Who said this was all I brought?” Dusk asked.

“Huh?” Twinkle said before her Twinkle sense tingled and she spun to see several burly pegasi ponies descending from above.

“LOOK OUT!” Twinkle flared her horn and fired at the pegasi who scattered.

The group scattered.

“Bulk! Get Audacia to the portal!” Twinkle ordered.

“Ok!” Bulk scooped up Audacia and ran.

“Red Hammer, Gold Flex, take care of the big guy and retrieve the alicorn,” Dusk ordered.

“Yes sir!” The two burly pegasi said and they flew after Bulk.

“No!” Zap said before kicking the pegasus in front of her away and running to protect her coltfriend.

Before several more ponies got in her way.

“Outta mah way!” Zap said putting up her dukes.

Sunset and Starlight aided Charity with the unicorn opponents, Charity used her creation magic to form a wall in front of them and Sunset and Starlight took cover behind it and they peered over it and fired at any ponies that shot at them.

“Agh!” Sunset said ducking a strong bolt “They're almost as strong as us!” Sunset said.

“Their fused ponies! The merge magic makes them stronger!” Starlight said before floating into the air and raining down several shots at the attacking unicorns who took cover in buildings.

Spike tackled a pony down and punched him in the face, but he was kicked off.

“Shame your not fully grown, boss could use a dragon on his side,” The lanky black unicorn said.

“Shut up!” Spike said getting up and breathing fire at him and he put up a barrier.

Big Mac used a leg swing to strike a larger earth Pony out of the way as Bulk ran past.

“LET ME GO! I NEED TO HELP!” Audacia shouted.

“Not happening!” Bulk said before running into the castle, with two pegasi chasing him.

Bulk ran up the stairs before making it to the mirror.

But before he could think of attempting to use it he was tackled from behind.

Audacia hit the ground and she looked to see two strong-looking Pegasi wrestling with Bulk.

“RAAAGH!” Bulk managed to send one flying and the other one drop-kicked him into the wall.

“I can help,” Audacia said lighting up her eyes and firing a magic bolt at the evil ponies, only for Bulk to get hit instead.

“OW!” Bulk stumbled and the other pony punched him.

“Oops…” Audacia said before she tried to un up to assist him.

Dusk walked through the individual battles not paying them any mind.

He walked towards Big Mac who turned to him after knocking out another earth pony.

Dusk glanced around.

“Not bad, you can fight on par with a fused pony, you are genuinely good material for a minion,” Dusk said.

“Ah ain’t yer puppet!” Mac said running forward to punch him… only to hit an invisible barrier and his hand cracked “AGH!” Mac grunted.

“That was reckless, although that punch would have shattered a normal barrier, mine are like titanium,” Dusk said before blasting Mac sending him flying.

“MAC!” Zap yelled before taking to the air and descending towards Dusk and swinging a strong kick.

“Don’t you guys ever learn that-” Dusk was surprised when his barrier cracked and he was sent skidding “Well… how about that- I forgot you were a fused,” Dusk said getting up and dropping his barrier.

“Ya leave mah family alone you psycho,” Zap said.

“Everypony calls me a crazy stallion, but do tell, what’s more crazy? Allow Equestria to descend into complacency, or doing something about it,” Dusk said dusting himself off.

Zap was about to answer but Twinkle approached and got in front of her.

“Zap, stand aside,” Twinkle said.

“But Twinkle-”

“Please, this is a fight I must fight, go to Mac” Twinkle said.

“...Alright,” Zap said before running to check on Big Mac.

“And the prodigal mare steps forward, how goes your subservience to Celestia?” Dusk asked.

“Why… Why do you hate Celestia so much? She did what she could to save your town, what was left, why can’t you let the past go?” Twinkle said.

“....Do you really think that’s the reason I hate Celestia? Sure it’s one of them, but it’s minor in comparison to the real reason… it’s clear she never told you, typical Celestia…” Dusk said with a lowered head.

“What do you mean?” Twinkle demanded.

“....She betrayed me, when I was at my most vulnerable…” Dusk said.

“What?” Twinkle said surprised.

“You think Celestia is some flawless pony, but in reality, she’s just glorified, you see, there’s more to the story,” Dusk said, the fighting in the background muted to them.

“What do you mean!?” Twinkle demanded again.

“Let me tell you a story Twinkle… a story of a pony that trusted Celestia and was betrayed when he needed her most,” Dusk said.

Bulk threw the gold-colored pony against the red one and they both hit the ground unconscious.

“Whew…. I… I did it!” Bulk said standing over his opponents, “Ok! Audacia! Let’s-... where did she go?” Bulk looked around but didn’t see the alicorn “Oh crud,” Bulk said.

“...No….your lying!” Twinkle said stumbling back.

“Makes you feel as though your world is crashing down around you right?” Dusk said.

“B-but you still killed them! She had no choice!” Twinkle defended Celestia.

“Still defending her? Then you’re just as blind, and this was a waste of time trying to convince you to help me,” Dusk said his eyes glowing.

“Look! Dusk, you lost everything and Celestia turned her back on you, but think about this! What happened, happened, you can’t force Equestria to reshape itself to fix the past!” Twinkle said lighting her horn.

“Forget the past, I’m making a better future!” Dusk said before firing a beam that hit a barrier Twinkle put up, it began bouncing against the barrier and multiplying like back at the warehouse.

Twinkle teleported and was in midair before firing a beam at him.

“Heh, childsplay,” Dusk floated up in the air dodging it, Twinkle fired another beam at him but he used his magic to grip the beam and loop it around himself before sending it back at Twinkle.

“Huh?!” Twinkle teleported.

“Redirect,” Dusk said flaring his horn and Twinkle appeared on ground level.

“What? How did I-” Suddenly a yellow beam bounded her to the ground “AH!” Twinkle grunted.

“For such a powerful alicorn, you have a hard time overcoming someone of equal measure,” Dusk said floating over her.

“No!” Twinkle teleported before Dusk could seal her magic again and she arrived above him and fired several magical blasts.

Dusk spread his arms and flared his horn before trapping the blasts in a barrier and condensing them.

“Huh?” Twinkle said.

“Your not the only one who can make magic on the fly,” Dusk said before pouring his own magic into it and returning it to sender.

Twinkle leaned back narrowly avoiding the mixed blast as it flew into the air and exploded with the force of a large bomb,

“Whoa…” Twinkle said.

“Impressive? Just think of what we can accomplish together Twinkle, we can build an Equestria where nopony will suffer my tragedy, and the guilty will pay,” Dusk said.

“Wanting genocide isn’t the answer!” Twinkle said before firing a large beam at Dusk whose hands glowed green and he smiled.

“Time to show you what I’m capable of…” Dusk said before unleashing a dozen green tendrils that formed a barrier in front of him and the beam was stopped.

“What?!” Twinkle exclaimed.

“You're still too green with your new powers gifted to you by the merge mirror, let me help you…” Dusk said before unleashing a swarm of green tendrils at Twinkle who yelped and dodged each tendril that tried to grab her.

One eventually got through and snagged her leg before swinging her into a building.

Twinkle popped out of a chimney and ran along the rooftops as Dusk flew after her.

“You’ll make a great addition to my group, just imagine it, Celestia locked in mortal combat with her own student,” Dusk said before pulling out the lantern.

“No!” Twinkle said before firing several blasts at him and Dusk swerved out of the way.

Dusk used a tendril and lowered the lantern in front of Twinkle but Twinkle could sense the lantern was trouble and she dove off the building before the flash got her.

She landed and teleported as the lantern was lowered to her again.

“Run run, you won’t escape,” Dusk laughed as he unleashed a large tendril at her.

Twinkle spun and shot the tendril with her magic but it split into a dozen more and Twinkle narrowly dodged a volley of them before levitating the town fountain and throwing it at him.

Dusk simply caught the fountain with his tendrils and shattered it before having the tendrils pick up and throw large rocks at her.

Twinkle raised a barrier protecting herself.

“Come now, do you really think you can stop me? Dusk laughed before firing a giant blast into the air and it broke apart and began raining down on Twinkle.

“Hey!” Twinkle grunted as she saw stray shots hitting houses and they exploded “STOP! Your destroying ponies homes!” Twinkle said.

“So? Homes can be rebuilt, you on the other hand…” Dusk fired a dozen more shots and Twinkle backpedaled with her wings firing more shots at him.

“You’ve already lost,” Dusk said landing on the ground.

“What do you mean?” Twinkle panted.

“I mean look around,” Dusk said and Twinkle looked to see her friends in trouble.

Zap was being restrained by a dozen burly ponies.

Charity and the others are pinned by the unicorn magic blasts.

Spike and Mac were captured.

Trixie and Bulk were nowhere to be seen.

“No…” Twinkle said.

“And now you…” Dusk said and Twinkle looked to see that he used that barrier-piercing magic that he used before and there was now a hole in her barrier and he proceeded to blast her with binding magic and she fell to the ground.

“NO!” Twinkle exclaimed as he used a tendril to quickly place a magic-blocking ring on her horn.

“That’s you taken care of…” Dusk laughed before firing another blast in Twinkle's face and knocking her out.

Twinkle woke to see that she was face down in the dirt and she looked up and saw her friends tied up in magic.

“Oh, your awake, good, then we can begin,” Dusk said

“No!” Twinkle tried to struggle but couldn’t get up and she looked to see Dusk had a good number of minions around him.

“Well, now let’s get moving,” Dusk said before gesturing for the ponies to be brought before him.

As they were the ponies who were already fused were just left to watch.

“STOP!” Twinkle shouted.

“Don’t worry, they won’t serve me for life, just until my Equestria is complete,” Dusk said, now… which to start with?...” Dusk said looking at each of them questioningly.

“Leave mah brother alone!” Zap thrashed on the ground.

“Calm down, he’ll still be your brother, just a little different, once I find that white pegasus I’ll put them together, and it’ll create a true right-hand stallion for my army, I can tell,” Dusk said before turning to Spike.

“I haven’t tried crossbreeding via merge magic yet, who knows, maybe it’ll grant me some real fighter power for my army, maybe later though,” Dusk said.

He resumed looking over them and pausing at Starlight and Sunset.

“Hmmm… I can detect merge magic on you two, but you are not merged… you must be the unlucky ones that got diffused, how about I rectify that,” Dusk said before unleashing his tendrils.

“NO! Not again!” Sunset tried to scoot away from the tendrils but she was grabbed and lifted.

“No!” Starlight said as she was picked up.

“Your both remarkable unicorns, I’ll bet you two will go on to become a modern-day arch mage with what my power will grant you!” Dusk said eagerly.

“NO!” Twinkle cried before Dusk heard something and he narrowly put up a barrier blocking a weak magic blast.

“...Blasting somepony from behind is such poor taste you know,” Dusk said putting Sunset and Starlight down and turning to see Trixie and Bulk standing there.

“Y-you let them go!” Trixie stuttered.

“Yeah, or I’m going to have to hurt you!” Bulk said cracking his knuckles.

Dusk and his entourage started laughing.

“Oh dear, a muscle-headed pegasus and a subpar unicorn,” Dusk chuckled.

“Hey! Trixie is not ‘subpar’!” Trixie shouted.

“You don’t want to mess with us!” Bulk said.

“Hmm, I was looking for the muscular one at least, you and the farmer over there will make a fine addition to my minions,” Dusk said before approaching “Very well, come at me with everything you got,” Dusk said.

“Wait!” Bulk said holding up a hand and Dusk paused.

“Yes?” Dusk asked.

“Before we fight… a poem,” Bulk said before brandishing a book.

“...A what?...” Dusk said confusedly.

“It is… common for ponies from where I’m from to recite poetry before fighting… and we should-’

“What’s your angle?...” Dusk said sounding bemused.

“Yeah… I thought you said we had a plan!” Trixie whispered harshly.

“Just wait!” Bulk said back before going to talking “Page one To be or not to be, aint that the question, like a lotus i rest upon a creek, seeing the world spinning above me, what do I seek?... and-”

Everypony just watch confusedly and before Zap could question what her coltfriend was doing she felt a tug on her magical bindings.

“Huh?!-” Zap was about to shout but a hand covered her mouth and she looked to see a barely visible being magically working on breaking the bindings.

“Who…” Twinkle asked.

“It’s me, I found Trixie and Bulk and worked a strategy out,” Audacia said.

“Thank goodness,” Charity said.

“C’mon, what are these bindings made of?!” Audacia grunted.

“A bird soars beside me, I feel free-” Bulk continued before Dusk stepped forward.

“Do you think I’m stupid?... What’s your plan?” Dusk asked before he studied Trixie’s eyes carefully and he saw her glance unconsciously.

“...No… AMBUSH!” Dusk spun and fired a beam and an invisible figure eep’d and dodged it.

“Audacia!” Zap called worriedly before finding her bindings were loosened...

“Found you, I’m glad you didn’t run, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to do what I came to do,” Dusk said before lighting his hands and sending his tendrils to snag her.

“No!” Audacia took to the air to avoid it and fired a magic blast at Dusk who swatted it aside with a tendril.

“Three alicorns and a few spells are all you know? What a waste,” Dusk said before firing another beam at Audacia who got hit and she split back into three and the CMC tumbled to the ground.

“But what else is to expect, your young, and foolish,” Dusk said.

“Leave her alone!” Bulk tried to fly over but several pegasi blocked him.

Trixie took this opportunity to run over to Starlight and she tried to pull on the bindings.

“Trixie! Run! Before he gets you!” Starlight said.

“I’m not letting you get fused again!” Trixie said before a unicorn shot her with a spell and sent her tumbling.

“Trixie!” Starlight called.

“Hah! Take-” Suddenly the unicorn was punched and everypony saw it was Zap who managed to escape her bindings and she plowed through the guarding ponies and ran for Dusk.

“AH’M NOT LETTING YOU KILL MAH SISTER!” Zap said before Dusk spun and shot her with a magic blast sending her to the ground.

“Next time, shout that after you sneak attack me,” Dusk said before approaching the CMC and releasing the tendrils “What a shame to put an end to a potential alicorn, but there will be more when I can get around the mental issues,” Dusk said before forming the tendrils into a giant fist of magic and he raised it.

“No!” Sweetie cried.

“It can’t end like this!” Apple Bloom said.

“NO!” Scootaloo struggled to her hooves and she lit her horn, determined not to go down without a fight.

“Goodbye,” Dusk said.

“NO!” Zap cried.

…

…..

…….

“DUSK HEART!” A powerful voice shouted before a powerful beam fired at Dusk.

“Huh?!” Dusk said recognizing the voice and he quickly rounded the hand and used it as a shield which blocked the beam.

The resulting explosion sent Dusk flying.

“What?” Twinkle turned to see something that relieved her.

“CELESTIA!” Twinkle said seeing the solar monarch descending upon the battlefield that Ponyville has become.

“You…” Dusk said getting up.

“Enough of this Dusk, Stop this!” Celestia flared her horn.

“You and what army Celestia?” Dusk said defiantly.

“No army, just friends,” Celestia said before several dozen guards descended upon the battlefield from behind her.

The guards ran forward and attacked the fused ponies forcing them to retreat from the captives.

“Celestia!” Twinkle happily said as Celestia used her magic to break the bindings on them.

“How did you-” Charity asked.

“Twinkle had sent me a message not only about the ponies she was sent to me, but to prepare an offensive, Dusk miscalculated thinking that I would stand idly by just because he has the manuscripts," Celestia said.

“Dusk…” Twinkle looked down remembering what he said to her.

“SIR! We’re outnumbered! What do we do?!” a unicorn asked.

“What’s this we?... You win this time Celestia, but this was a mere assassination attempt, when I come with my full force in days time, your complacent world will crash!” Dusk said before creating a portal and walking through it.

“Wait! What about us!” The other ponies tried to follow him but the portal closed before they could follow.

The guards aimed their weapons at them and the fused ponies present were forced to get down on their knees.

“It’s over… for now,” Celestia said.

While the fused ponies were loaded into the carriages, Celestia turned to the others.

“You were quite lucky that you sent those messages when you did Twinkle, had I been a few moments too soon, I would have not made it in time,” Celestia said.

“We really lucked out then,” Spike said.

“Yeah!” Bulk cheered hugging Zap.

“Alright ya big lug, bring it in,” Zap said hugging him back.

Celestia saw this and smiled a little, deep down she had hoped they would forge their own paths even when she told them to honor their roots, it made her proud, but she noticed Twinkle looked down.

“Twinkle my student, why do you look so down, we won today?” Celestia said.

“...Dusk told me things, and I want you to tell me what’s true and what isn’t,” Twinkle said.

“...I see, I will tell you then, when we have a moment, for now, pack your things, we'll head for Canterlot,” Celestia said.

“Why are we heading to Canterlot?” Charity asked.

“There was more than what the message said, about what the visitor we had told us,” Celestia said.

“Ok…” Twinkle said before they followed Celestia to the castle.

A rockface was obliterated and Dusk sat down afterwards huffing angrily.

“She had to show up and ruin everything, I suppose I underestimated how attached to her current student she is if she’s willing to risk the wrath of Celtus for her… at least she learns from her mistakes, I’ll grant her that,” Dusk said.

Suddenly a familiar young colt approached Dusk.

“Master master! I’ve checked with everypony as you said, they're all ready to go!” Cotton Mane said.

“That’s great to hear,” Dusk said walking over to a big rock and standing atop it, looking out at an army.

“Gather!” Dusk shouted and his army of brainwashed fused ponies did “In a few days’ time, we march on Canterlot, with five goals in mind. One, destroy the diffuser, two, crush the remaining resistance, three, take Canterlot, four detain The spirit of Disharmony, and five!... Find the secret to making more alicorns, to grant the ponies dominion! We are here to make Equestria better! No matter the cost!” Dusk raised his fist and the other ponies raised theirs as well and cheered.

Twinkle and the others exited the castle and walked to the carriages with supplies.

Spike opened the chariot and suddenly a red carpet flowed out and Discord appeared.

“Hello friends! Glad to see your alright!” Discord cheered.

“Hello Discord,” Celestia said.

“...Wait a minuite… if Discord was with you… why didn’t he come to help us!?” Sunset demanded.

“Oh my dear, trust me, when Charity was in danger I was ready to swoop in and go nuclear on that unicorn, but alas, Twinkle had given me a very special mission,” Discord said.

“When was this?” Spike asked.

“Right after the end of the last chapter, anyhoo, I believe after canvasing the whole of Equestria I found where Dusk is stationed, and I managed to swipe a certain something,” Discord said before pulling out the Box of Celtus and depositing it on the ground.

“...What is that?” Sunset asked.

“The box of Celtus? How… how did-” Celestia questioned before Discord shook his head.

“Your student did the research, I did the heavy lifting,” Discord said before opening the box and revealing a portal in it.

“We need to hide it again, we don’t know-”

“I’m afraid there would be no point in that,” Discord said turning it upside down and shaking it “It's empty save for a few nasty little trinkets,” Discord said showing them weird cuffs and a red horn ring.

“What are those?” Spike asked.

“Magic eraser cuffs and a magic enhancer ring, but… where did the rest of the items in the chest go?” Celestia asked.

“It seems this unicorn is more intelligent than we first thought, he was sure to empty it in case it was stolen, seems he forgot a few items, but apart from that this venture of mine was nearly fruitless,” Discord sighed.

“Then we’ll work with what we got,” Twinkle said before getting on the carriage.

The rest of the group got on and soon the carriages took off.

Dusk entered a tent pitched by his minions and sat down in a chair, he saw on the table all of his potential forbidden items he could use to either destroy or bring Equestria to its knees, but one, in particular, kept his attention…

The Manuscripts of Celtus, the pages shuddered with a reddish aura.

“Worry not Celtus, soon your time will come, just be patient,” Dusk said.

Author's Note

I know missing the conversation might be a bit annoying but don't worry, the next chapter will cover everything.

Dusk's past included.

Stay tuned.