Rise of Ruinous

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: RISE OF RUINOUS

Chapter 37: The Spirit of Oblivion, Ruinous - Part 1 - The Fall of Harmony

The time: The very next day.

Spike wakes up to see an empty bed where Twilight Sparkle went to sleep.  All over Ponyville, panic set in as the news of the abduction of Discord and the Mane 6 slowly broke.  Virtuna, Zecora, Corinne, Pitstop and Trixie met outside Virtuna's arcade.

Trixie: What's happened?  Where's Twilight?

Corinne: M-M-My guess?

The giraffe pointed at the evil-looking castle floating over Canterlot and Shiftopolis.  Everypony realized what this meant.....

Virtuna, Trixie, Pitstop, Zecora and Corinne: Ruinous!

The quintet rushes off towards the castle, determined to rescue their friends.

*INTRO SEQUENCE*

Twilight Sparkle groans as she wakes up, not in her bed, but in the center of Ruinous' labyrinth.  The rest of the Mane 6 woke up one-by-one in their own seperate sections, all wearing their Elements of Harmony.  All of them looked around, feeling uneasy at their new surroundings.

Applejack: Where in tarnation.....

R.Dash: *cough* Whoa!

Fluttershy was more than her usual jittery self, even more so when.....

Ruinous: Greetings, Bearers of Harmony.

T.Sparkle: Ruinous!  What's going on here?!

Ruinous: I brought you to my castle to play a little game.....

Rarity: Well!  If you DID bring us here, then you SHOULD have gotten a professional cleaning crew in here!

Ruinous: I see my accomodations aren't very accomodating to you..... Too bad.

P.Pie: Well, PARDON US for not wanting to welcome you to Ponyville, Mr. Meanest-Meanie-Pants I've Ever Seen!

Ruinous: Trust me, I'll be the LAST thing you ever see.....  This game is so simple.  Since you all hate this place so much, I am allowing you to leave - but there's a catch.....  If ANY of you make it out, I will allow all of you to go.  But if I catch you first, you will only have two opitons: Fight me and win..... or lose and expire.....  Your choice.  Good luck.

Rarity: Oh, man.....

Applejack: C'mon.

The six ponies walk towards their own exits.  Outside, a huge battle was going on, pitting Equestria's Royal Guards and Transforma's changeling soldiers versus Ruinous' guards, dark ponies with red, hateful eyes that seem to have them out-numbered.  An errant blast slammed into the side of the mountain, making an opening large enough for Queen Chrysalis to fly out!  The changeling queen flies over the battlefield and glared.

Q.Chrysalis: This WON'T happen again!

Queen Chrysalis descended on the battlefield and began blasting Ruinous' guards left-and-right!  The changeling soldiers buzzed as they see their queen helping the Equestrian forces suppress Ruinous' army.  Queen Chrysalis smiles, buzzing back, then glares as she sees a large amount of Ruinous' soldiers advancing on a single Equestrian soldier.  She slammed the dark ponies all over the place, using her beam attack, flames and even telekinesis to thin the herd of evil troops.  When she saw who it was, she got the shock of her life - it was Shining Armor!

S.Armor: What the?!

Q.Chrysalis: Oh, my.....

As the two looked at each other, two more of Ruinous' troops jumped at Shining Armor!  Queen Chrysalis growled, blasting the would-be attackers aside as Shining Armor ducked and galloped off to the side!

S.Armor: You.....

Q.Chrysalis: No time to explain!

The changeling queen flies off, blasting more of Ruinous' forces.  Meanwhile, inside the labyrinth, Pinkie Pie was trying her best to get out.  A quick show of the part she was in revealed one critical thing: She was walking around in a circle!

P.Pie: Geez, where's the exit?!  This game is no fun!!

Ruinous: It depends, Pinkamena, on your definition of *appears* fun.....

Pinkie Pie gasps, backing away from the Spirit of Oblivion.  She shivers a bit, then grunts.

P.Pie: If it's a fight you want, Ruinous, I'm more than ready to take one to ya!  Element Call: LAUGHTER!!!!!

Pinkie Pie's Element of Harmony necklace clad her in her armor, the charms on it blazing brightly.

P.Pie: Party's over for YOU, Ruinous! CUPCAKE CANNON!!!

Despite how well it worked against Fryght, Pinkie Pie's Cupcake Cannon was virtually useless against Ruinous!  The party pony gasped as she saw one of her strongest abilities have next to no effect on Ruinous.

P.Pie: You..... OK, time to send in the BIG GUNS!  PARTY TIME!!

Pinkie Pie's ultimate attack sent down a party atmosphere, with presents, balloons, streamers, the works.  This party, however, had some surprises that were rather explosive.  The presents and balloons exploded around the evil pony, bright lights flashing all around him.  Pinkie Pie gasped and panted, exhausted at how much energy it took to use her move.

P.Pie: That's..... gotta.....

Pinkie Pie was suddenly hit with a massive shudder!  She gasped as she saw Ruinous had not suffered any damage at all, his eyes glowing bright red as he took flight!

Ruinous: Enough of your games!  EXPIRE!!!

Ruinous sent out a thick black fog that enveloped everything below him.  Pinkie Pie shivered in fear as the fog encircled her.  One by one, the charms on her armor turned black, leading the charm on her necklace to also turn black.  Once that happened, Pinkie Pie's eyes rolled back in her head and she slumped to the floor.....

Ruinous: Party's over.....

Ruinous levitated Pinkie Pie and walked off, searching for his next victim.....  Meanwhile, outside, Queen Chrysalis was still helping the Equestrian and Transformian forces battle Ruinous' army - but this time she wasn't alone.  Shining Armor was also blasting the troops, working surprisingly well with the creature who nearly ruined his wedding.  The two soon spot a huge Hercules-beetle-like changeling attacking the shadowy enemy with bladed wings.

S.Armor: Who's that?!

Q.Chrysalis: That's *blasts a baddie* General Crosswing!

Shining Armor nods as he and Queen Chrysalis make their way towards the large changeling.  General Crosswing was blasting, slicing and hurling dark ponies left-and-right, only stopping when he saw Queen Chrysalis land by him!

G.Crosswing: My Liege?!

Q.Chrysalis: General, I see you're quite busy.

G.Crosswing: Indeed. *slashes three of Ruinous' troops in half with one swing!*  They seem to be coming from everywhere!

S.Armor: Well, we've been quite the tandem, if you can believe it.

G.Crosswing: *nod* I'm not surprised.  Our queen DID share your ruler's penchant for making friends.

S.Armor: !!!  Really?!

Q.Chrysalis: *nod* I did.....

S.Armor: Did you know this all was going to happen?

Q.Chrysalis: I did..... since it happened to me.

S.Armor: What?!

Q.Chrysalis: Long story short, Ruinous came to Transforma and destroyed the southern districts.  He told me if I didn't fight him by myself, he'd destroy Prince Shiftshape and Princess Morphina.  I couldn't let him do that.  He fought me for a while one-on-one, then Hatetrol got involved and I was no match for them.  Hatetrol cursed me with the hunger for love that brought me to invade Canterlot on your wedding day.  *head down*  For years, I tried to fight back.  I wanted to get Princess Celestia to help me, but everytime I got close to her, it's as if I wasn't myself, and.....

Shining Armor couldn't help but feel sorry for Queen Chrysalis, listening as she wept a bit.  The Captain of Equestria's Royal Guard raised Queen Chrysalis' head and shook his own.

S.Armor: Look, Chrys.  If Ruinous had Twiley in the same way he had your kids, I'd fight EVERYthing he had - soldiers, Elements of Darkness, even Ruinous himself.  I'd do ANYthing to save my family, anything.  I don't blame you for doing what you did.

The two murr, embracing, their past encounter seemingly forgotten.  Queen Chrysalis points off in the distance to a spot with hardly any soldiers attacking the combined might of Equestria and Transforma.

Q.Chrysalis: Captain Imitato should be over there.

S.Armor: *nod* C'mon.

Both changelings nod back and head over, blasting baddies the whole way over.  Back inside, a very scared Fluttershy was slowly walking through her part of the maze.

Fluttershy: c'mon, fluttershy, it's just one hoof..... in front of the other.....

Ruinous: That's all it is..... One hoof..... *appears* .....in front of the other.....

Fluttershy gasped loudly, looking more scared than she'd ever been before.  But then, seeing Pinkie Pie draped on Ruinous' back like a pelt awoke her inner rage!

Fluttershy: HOW DARE YOU!?  ELEMENT CALL: KINDNESS!!!

Fluttershy armored up and lifted off, gathering speed for her Sonic Butterfly Blast.  Ruinous cocked his head as the normally-timid pegasus picked up speed, then slammed him with the shockwave several times.  Ruinous just stood there, taking each blow.  Finally, after several shockwaves hit Ruinous, Fluttershy flew way up and dove with her full 33 Wingpower right at him, building up power for a huge Sonic Butterfly Blast!

Fluttershy: You FIEND!

Ruinous: Thanks.

Fluttershy gasps as Ruinous emerges from her attacks largely unscathed!

Ruinous: EXPIRE!!!

Ruinous blasted out the same fog that he used to defeat Pinkie Pie.  It shot up at Fluttershy as if laser-guided.  Just like Pinkie Pie before her, the fog blacked out the charms on her armor, then her necklace, causing her to sink slowly to the floor.....

Ruinous: This is too easy.....

Ruinous levitates Fluttershy and heads off, now carrying two ponies.  Outside, Shining Armor was helping the changelings secure a foothold near the middle of the battlefield.  Queen Chrysalis and General Crosswing were doing a ton of damage to the dark ponies when the queen snapped her head to a bridge nearby.

S.Armor: What is it?!

Q.Chrysalis: It's Virtuna and the others!  They're heading into a deathtrap!  I HAVE to stop them!

With a nod from Shining Armor, Queen Chrysalis flew to the bridge as fast as her two wings can take her.  Virtuna and the others ran full gallop towards Ruinous' castle.

Trixie: What do you think we'll find?

Virtuna: Our friends and one VERY soon-to-be-VERY-sorry pony!

Pitstop: Let's get in there, then!

Virtuna nods and keeps up the pace until the bridge suddenly gives out in front!  Everypony slams on the brakes, then the bridge behind them goes out!

???: YOU ARE DOING NOTHING OF THE SORT!!!

Virtuna looked up and came face-to-face with.....

Virtuna: Queen Chrysalis?!

Q.Chrysalis: Yes, child.  I MUST warn you: Ruinous has the Mane 6 captive and he's playing a very un-fun game with them.

Trixie: We know, that is why we're going to save them.

Q.Chrysalis: NO!!

All five ponies cringe a bit, allowing Queen Chrysalis to put them in a pod similar to the one Princess Celestia was imprisoned in during "A Canterlot Wedding 2".

Q.Chrysalis: You'll thank me for this!

With a snap of her hooves, the pod - and the ponies in it - returns to Twilight Sparkle's library, hanging off the ceiling.

Corinne: W-W-Why do I g-g-get this feeling like w-w-we just saw an-n-nother baddie turn good?

Trixie: From what the Great and Powerful Trixie heard from Twilight about her, THAT would be a miracle.

Virtuna: Didja see the fear in her eyes?  I have a feeling we may need one.

All five huddle up and look at Canterlot Castle.  Back in the labyrinth, Rarity was also picking her way through the maze, periodically grunting in disgust at how dusty and dirty it was.

Rarity: WHY does that Ruinous hire a cleaning crew for this place?!  I take it he doesn't get many visitors in here.

Ruinous: I COULD have done it myself..... *appears* .....I just couldn't find enough time.

Rarity: *GASP!*  You uncouth ruffian!  Element Call: GENEROSITY!!

Rarity armors up and glares at Ruinous.

Rarity: It..... is..... ON!!! GEMSTONE BLIZZARD!!!

Channeling her rage at Ruinous' treatment of two of her friends, Rarity's Gemstone Blizzard lasted much longer than normal.  The fashionista's face was fixed in a glare as she poured on the damage, striking Ruinous with a long-lasting salvo of gemstones.  After a while, Rarity was exhausted, but confident she'd beaten Ruinous - until.....

Ruinous: Pardon me..... But none of those..... ugh..... colors..... suits me..... EXPIRE!!!

Ruinous threw out that dark fog again, the cloud enveloping a still-shocked Rarity.  The charms on her armor blacked out, then her necklace, causing the fashionista to slump to the floor.....  Ruinous glared as he landed, kicking up a huge plume of dust onto Rarity with his wings, getting her dirty and messing her hair up!

Ruinous: THAT is for insulting my castle, you snotty foal!

With a snort, he carries Rarity along with Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, looking for either Applejack, Rainbow Dash or Twilight Sparkle.  Back in Twilight Sparkle's library, Virtuna and the others were trying to break out of the pod Queen Chrysalis put them in.  Spike heard the grunts and thumps and ran downstairs.

Spike: AAAHHH!!!  What happened?!  Who did this to you!?

Virtuna: We'll tell ya soon as ya get us outta this thing!

Spike nods, getting a broom and poking up at the pod.  Meanwhile, in the labyrinth, Applejack was trying to get out of there, panting and near exhaustion.

Applejack: The more I try to get outta here, the less I'm certain one can.....

Ruinous: Now, Applejack, that hurt!  *appears*  Now why would I have you play a game that you had no chance of winning.

Applejack: Maybe it's because ya'll're a sick, twisted, psychotic baddie who's already defeated three of my friends!  ELEMENT CALL: HONESTY!!!

Applejack armors up and begins blasting Ruinous with her apples of truth.  Just like Rarity, she held the salvo for a much longer time than normal, using her blazing speed and hard kicking to keep the combo going!

Applejack: YOU!  WILL!  PAY-FOR!  HURTING!!  MY!!  FRIENDS!!!!!

Applejack did not stop bucking her apples of truth until Ruinous was buried in them!  After the vile pony was covered, she stopped, admiring her work - until they began melting like an igloo in the desert.  Applejack gasped loudly in shock as Ruinous stood tall, appearing to have survived the attack without taking damage!

Applejack: What?!

Ruinous: EXPIRE!!!

Without letting Applejack even have a chance to move, Ruinous blasted her with the same dark fog.  It knocked her hat off her head as well as blacking out her charms, sending her to the floor in a heap.....

Ruinous: And another of Equestria's so-called heroes falls.....

Applejack became Ruinous' latest trophy as he carries her with his magic.  The vile pony walks slowly off, looking for Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle.  Outside, Queen Chrysalis, Shining Armor, Captain Imitato and General Crosswing were almost done defeating Ruinous' troops.  Changeling soldiers were assisting in beating the last few pockets of troops.  Shining Armor noticed Queen Chrysalis' exhaustion.

S.Armor: Still trying to make amends?

Q.Chrysalis: For what I did during the wedding and the anniversary, I may always be making amends.

S.Armor: Look, I can't condone what you did, but Ruinous blasting your land and cursing you could certainly explain it.

Q.Chrysalis: YOUR understanding isn't what I yearn for, Shining Armor..... It's Celestia's.

S.Armor: *sigh*  Tall order - after what you did.....

Q.Chrysalis: *nod* I know.....

The changeling sniffles, then looks up - WAY up - towards Ruinous' castle.

S.Armor: What are you.....

Q.Chrysalis: One more thing.....

Before anyone can say anything, Queen Chrysalis took off like a rocket!

S.Armor: CHRYSALIS, NO!!!

Meanwhile, in the labyrinth, Rainbow Dash walked around, getting more and more upset at her lack of progress.

R.Dash: Did Ruinous make the unsolvable maze or what?!

Ruinous: What's wrong, Rainbow Dash..... *appears*  .....Need a hint?

R.Dash: RUINOUS!  *She gasps loudly as she sees her friends all seemingly in a coma*  You dark FIEND!  You think you can slow me down?!  Prepare yourself!!  ELEMENT CALL: LOYALTY!!!!!

Rainbow Dash armors up and uses her dizzying speed to make several Sonic Rainbooms around Ruinous.  Couple that with her ability to throw lightning and Ruinous was in for his toughest fight yet.  Ruinous growled as Rainbow Dash hit him every which way, trying to fire off moves of his own, only to hit nothing but air.  Rainbow Dash noticed one of Ruinous' attacks - a black "plasma ball" - go THROUGH a wall and gasped.

R.Dash: You're a cruel fiend AND a heartless prankster!  YOU WILL REGRET THIS!!!!!

Rage fueled Rainbow Dash's salvo of Sonic Rainbooms, the Wonderbolt seemingly having the Spirit of Oblivion staggering.  Ruinous growled as he was smacked around harder than he thought Rainbow Dash could do so.  After a while, Ruinous' eyes glowed brighter red than ever - and it wasn't due to him turning good!

Ruinous: I WILL END YOU!!!  EXPIRE!!!!!

As Rainbow Dash flew full-speed towards Ruinous to hit him with yet another Sonic Rainboom, she flew right into the dark fog that felled the other ponies!  To Rainbow Dash, it was like flying into a chaotic tornado as she was totally stopped, the charms on her armor and necklace blacking out.  The pegasus lands hard on the ground and skids to a stop, splayed on the floor.....  Ruinous gasped and panted, having received more of a battle than he thought he would from his latest conquest.

Ruinous: I will say this.....  You fought valiantly.....  But your fate is still the same.....

Ruinous carries Rainbow Dash off with the others, Twilight Sparkle his final target.  Meanwhile, in Twilight Sparkle's library, five ponies plus one baby dragon seemed to be less than the strength of the pod as Virtuna and the others were unable to break it, even with Spike helping out.  Just then, Spike heard a clattering and a crash.  Six heads turned to see that a picture fell off a nearby end table.  It was of the Mane 6 - and the glass over it had shattered!

Spike: AGH!

Spike was instantly scared of what the implications were of this.  Zecora looked at Ruinous' castle out the window, shivering.

Zecora: .....Oh, no!

Trixie: TWILIGHT!!!!!

Twilight Sparkle, the only remaining Bearer of Harmony, sighs as she kept looking for the exit.  She groans as she kept hitting dead end after dead end.

T.Sparkle: This maze makes no SENSE!  How can I find the exit if the wall is all I see?!

With a groan, she leans up against a wall - only to fall through it!  She screams out as she winds up in a completely different part - with the exit right in front of her!  Twilight Sparkle rears up and takes three steps towards her goal - only to have to throw it in reverse.  Walking into the room, with her five friends' bodies, was Ruinous.

T.Sparkle: You..... You monster, you.....

Ruinous: Oh?  Moi?

T.Sparkle: This whole maze..... This..... It's all a trap.  You brought us here to pick us all off one-by-one.

Ruinous: Indeed, and pick them off, I did, as you can see.....  This one *holds up Rainbow Dash* gave me the best fight..... *He growls, snapping one of her wings, making Twilight Sparkle gasp in horror!*  I HATE her!  *He hurls Rainbow Dash back at the other ponies*  But then again, I hate everypony.....  Oh, don't be so surprised.  YOU are the mouse, I am the cat.  I WILL, however, give you... an offer.

T.Sparkle: What.....

Ruinous: It's simple, really: I will allow you to survive your encounter with me..... if you surrender yourself to me..... right now.

T.Sparkle: *shuts her eyes for a while, then snaps them open* Never!  I would NEVER abandon my friends - no matter WHAT you do to them!

Ruinous: *sigh* Very well..... Don't say I never gave you a fair choice.....

As Ruinous readies his dark fog attack, Twilight Sparkle teleported!

Ruinous: Hmm?

The dark pony looked around the confines of his own maze.

Ruinous: You are merely delaying the inevitable.....

Twilight Sparkle began running around, trying to find the real way out.  Everytime she and Ruinous crossed paths, she'd teleport off at random.  One such teleportation occurred while she was standing on Applejack's hat.  When she re-appeared, she wound up with it on her head.  Before she could take it off, Ruinous popped up out of nowhere and slammed her against a real wall!  A groggy Twilight Sparkle attempted to get up, just as Queen Chrysalis appeared in the sky over the maze.  The changeling saw the ponies below and gasped.

Q.Chrysalis: NO!

Without regard for herself, Queen Chrysalis dove right at Twilight Sparkle!

Ruinous: EXPIRE!!!

The changeling turned on the afterburners as she tried to beat Ruinous' dark fog to the still-dazed unicorn.  Just before the fog caught her, Queen Chrysalis scooped up Twilight Sparkle with a grunt, making her own sonic boom in the process that disrupted Ruinous' illusion, turning his labyrinth into a wide-open courtyard and knocking the Spirit of Oblivion off his hooves!  Below, Shining Armor, Captain Imitato and General Crosswing look up at Ruinous' castle for any sign of Queen Chrysalis.

S.Armor: Can you read her on that hive mind Twiley told me about?

C.Imitato: .........I can't tell, there's too many changeling soldiers' casualty reports on the line.

S.Armor: *sigh*  Oh, please.....

G.Crosswing: *GASP!* Look!

Shining Armor looked up to see Queen Chrysalis floating down, holding Twilight Sparkle.  Ponies and changelings alike cheered as the changeling monarch descended in front of Shining Armor.

S.Armor: TWILEY!!!

Q.Chrysalis: I can still read her magical energies, she's still alive.

S.Armor: *PHEW!*  Man, Chrys, you're really proving a lot to me.

Q.Chrysalis: Shining Armor.....

The two hug up, the queen crying a bit.

Q.Chrysalis: Words and actions cannot possibly express how sorry I am for.....

S.Armor: Your Highness, don't..... Please, don't torture yourself this way.  You came here, kicked some major flank, stopped five of Equestria's heroes from ending up as pawns in Ruinous' twisted game and to top it all off, you save one of the two most important ponies in my life without regard for yourself.  As far as I'm concerned, you've already been forgiven.

C.Imitato: My Liege.....

G.Crosswing: Your Majesty.....

Queen Chrysalis looked at the two captains and general.  Instantly, her expression toughened up.

Q.Chrysalis: We have to think of a plan, something that'll allow us to free Rainbow Dash and the others and beat Ruinous.  For now, retreat to my castle.  General Crosswing!

G.Crosswing: Yes, Your Excellency?

Q.Chrysalis: You are to find Princess Cadence and bring her to Shiftopolis.  Once there, do NOT return to Equestria until we have something concrete in place.

G.Crosswing: *bow* Yes, Your Majesty.

The two changelings fly off, leaving Queen Chrysalis with Shining Armor.

Q.Chrysalis: *levitates Twilight Sparkle*  I moved Virtuna and the others to Twilight's library.  I will sequester her there until we come up with a strike plan.  *lifts off* And Shining Armor?

S.Armor: Yes?

Q.Chrysalis: It may not be needed as you said, but someday, I WILL make it up to you.  I hope that one day, I will be able to compensate you, Cadence and Celestia for everything I did at the wedding AND the anniversary.

Queen Chrysalis flew off to Ponyville, delivering Twilight Sparkle to her library before Shining Armor could say a word.

S.Armor: Chrysalis..... *sigh*  Forgive yourself.....  Just forgive yourself.....

Shining Armor sighs as he follows Captain Imitato off the battlefield.  Meanwhile, Ruinous finally righted himself and looked around, expecting to see a lifeless purple unicorn.  So one can just imagine his shock when he found..... NOTHING!

Ruinous: GRAGH!!!!

Ruinous roars out nightmarishly, slamming his front hooves down so hard, two huge fissures open up!  He snorts, then looks at the other ponies.

Ruinous: No matter.....  *He slowly picks them up*  She wouldn't abandon..... her friends.

Like a disturbing rendition of a peacock's feathers, Ruinous carried the five ponies he defeated behind him like a fan to his castle.  Just as he was about to go in, he stopped and turned, dropping all five ponies behind him.  It was with good reason: Glaring at him were the two ponies he most wanted to destroy - Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.....

TO BE CONTINUED