Rise of Ruinous

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: RISE OF RUINOUS

Chapter 27 - The Spirit of Selfishness, Styngee

The time: One month after Nightmare Moon's REAL story appeared in the "Foal Free Press".

The Mare in the Moon hummed as she looked in the telescope, Princess Cadence walking up to her.

P.Cadence: Still scanning?

N.Moon: *nods without turning to look at Princess Cadence*  Yeah.  Trying to find baddies based on behavior is hard.

P.Cadence: Oh?

N.Moon: When Toxion attacked, that was obvious, he was poisoning a good chunk of the Everfree Forest.  When FRYGHT attacked, that was also obvious, she was spreading fear all over.  The others that aren't DarkSparkle - Fyb, Styngee and Hatetrol - are based off emotions, so it's kinda hard to tell..... *She looks intently at something* .....whether something like that is an..... isolated-incident-or-the-lynchpin-of-a-wider-problem.....

P.Cadence: Something like what?

Nightmare Moon lets Princess Cadence look through the telescope as ponies began to not share with others or do favors for others.  The two alicorns look at each other, then gallop into the castle.

*INTRO SEQUENCE*

Not long after Nightmare Moon found the pocket of selfishness, the ponies were galloping hard towards the spirit of selfishness, the earth pony, Styngee.  Finding her, they glare.

Styngee: Ah, the Bearers of Harmony.....  *laugh*  Time for you all to think of yourselves!  WHEEL OF GREED!!

A game-show-style wheel appears and the Bearers of Harmony's cutie marks are put on it.  Nightmare Moon growls, sending up a force field around the ponies as the wheel spins.  Rarity saw how self-centered all the other ponies were acting and growled.

Rarity: It..... is..... ON!

Her Element of Harmony glowed brightly, armoring her up as it did Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Applejack before her.  She glared at Styngee as the force field went down.

Rarity: You know, Styngee, you REALLY oughta be a bit more perceptive and think of others - like US HERE ABOUT TO END YOU!!  GEMSTONE BLIZZARD!

Rarity jumped WAY up and aimed a salvo of various jewels at Styngee, the earth pony trying to dodge them.  A ruby caught her in the head, then a second Gemstone Blizzard nailed her hard!

Styngee: NO!  This can't BE!

Styngee was soon buried in gemstones, then she got blasted with the Elements of Harmony!  Four of six ponies were armored up as their combined power took out Styngee, the selfish pony dissolving as Toxion, Fryght and Fyb did before her.  After she was defeated, ponies began doing favors and sharing again.  The ponies high-fived each other and congratulated Rarity, the unicorn blushing furiously.  At Sugar Cube Corner, another celebration was held for the defeat of Styngee, Rarity the guest of honor this time.  Discord flew in, smiling as he beheld the scene.

Discord: Two more left, but these are VERY powerful.  Hatetrol and DarkSparkle strike right at the heart of what you ponies stand for.

N.Moon: Let them try, we'll win.

Discord: Really?  I've never met a pony that speaks with YOUR conviction.

N.Moon: We will beat Ruinous and his Elements of Darkness. I have faith in these ponies and with their power, determination and friendship, they can stand up to ANYthing.

Discord: *nod* I hope you're right.

The rest of the party goes without a hitch.  Princess Celestia attends as well, smiling at Nightmare Moon's conviction.

P.Luna: She sure seems to have a lot of hope, sis.

P.Celestia: Indeed.

The two continue on with the festivities, not realizing the implications of their exchange.  Meanwhile, outside, the pile of gems shifted to reveal a red earth pony with no cutie mark.  She helps a foal reach an apple on a tree and heads off.

TO BE CONTINUED