Chapter 19: The Wild Cards

Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were all heading off South leading Lord Tirek away from town. Tirek was already bigger.

"Okay, everypony," Aaron's voice said in the background. "

Tirek, Cozy Glow and Chrysalis are all destined to get what they want. But they all focus on getting their revenge on who taken them down. Tirek would focus on getting revenge on the current Element Bearers, so to make sure nopony else gets hurt, lead him to Ghastly Gorge, just in case he's bigger.

"

"Bigger my butt!" Rainbow Dash said. "He's almost as strong as he was when we last battled him!"

"Hopefully he'll be easy to take down by Aaron and our descendants," Rarity said.

Standing on top of the School of Friendship, Starlight, Sunburst and Trixie were keeping their eyes peeled for Chrysalis in case she was coming for Starlight.

"Obviously, Chrysalis would want to go after Starlight because of what happened with her former subjects reforming," Aaron continued in the background. "So just in case, you all stay in the School of Friendship and secure yourselves in case she finds her way in."

"She's out there," Starlight said. "I know it." Then she teleported the three into the School.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were preparing for Cozy Glow to come, since she wants revenge on the Young 6.

"And since Cozy Glow wants revenge on the Young 6 for ruining her plans and getting her locked up in Tartarus, the Crusaders are gonna have to lure her to a disclosed location," Aaron said in the background. "So it's best if they lead Cozy Glow to the lake."

The Crusaders looked around in case Cozy Glow was nearby. Scootaloo then saw something and tapped Apple Bloom's flank. Scootaloo pointed up and saw Cozy Glow in the sky, looking around for something. Sweetie Belle also noticed it. Then the Crusaders smirked.

"Boy, Ah sure hope that Sandbar and his friends'll be alright," Apple Bloom called out, trying to make her performance as obvious to anyone around her.

"Yeah," Scootaloo said, going along with the act. "I sure hope that they're okay."

"Hey, it's not like they can hide anywhere," Sweetie Belle said, going along with the act as well. "Cozy Glow would never dare to look inside of Carousel Boutique."

Cozy Glow overheard the Crusaders and gave a dark smirk. She then flew towards Carousel Boutique, getting the attention of the Crusaders.

"That was easier than I thought it was gonna be," Scootaloo said. Then the three fillies laughed.

Meanwhile, at Ghastly Gorge, Aaron and the New Mane 6 were waiting for the G4 Mane 5 to bring Tirek to them. They were all standing atop a cliff side.

"So it's best to take out the big guy first," Aaron said. "Which is why we're here in Ghastly Gorge to ambush Tirek."

"Are you sure this will work?" Zipp asked. "If Tirek is a power hungry tyrant, then maybe we shouldn't take him on head on. He might steal our magic as well."

"Plus, if we die in the past, our royal family line will not continue in our present," Pipp said.

"I still don't know how your family became official royals after so long of being separated," Aaron said.

"I'm still looking into that," Zipp said. Just then, the sound of something big landing came in, shaking the ground. The seven looked towards the sound and saw the G4 Mane 5 being chased by Lord Tirek.

"Time to set our plan into motion," Aaron said. Sunny then transformed into her Alicorn form and carried Hitch, Izzy and Misty down as she, Aaron, Pipp and Zipp flew down behind Lord Tirek.

Tirek eventually caught the G4 Mane 5 in his telekinetic hold, all of them squirming to get out. But he brought them closer to him.

"Oh, I am so going to enjoy draining your magic and life source," Lord Tirek said. "Any last words?"

Rainbow Dash smirked and asked, "Did he seriously fall for it?"

"Fall for what?!" Tirek asked, a little annoyed.

"Sorry, sugarcube, but this place is the perfect place for an ambush against ya," Applejack said.

"And you fell for it big time!" Pinkie Pie shouted.

"Fell for what?!" Tirek asked. Just then, a bunch of vines sprouted out of the ground and tied up around Tirek's legs. "WHAT?! What is this?!"

"We have some new friends that live... far away," Rarity said.

"Who dares to try to take me down with vines?!" Tirek asked.

"We dare!" came Hitch's voice. Tirek turned his upper body around to see the New Mane 6 standing tall, Sunny in her Alicorn form.

"A new Alicorn?!" Tirek asked. "How?!"

"We're also not the only ones you should be worried about," Sunny said, smirking. "Oh, Aaron!"

Just then, Aaron came flying towards Tirek as big as the centaur himself. Aaron grabbed Tirek and took off into the sky, making sure Tirek's head wasn't facing Aaron so he wouldn't be able to drain Aaron's magic. He flew both himself and Tirek about 100 yards beyond the G4 Mane 5 and slammed Tirek into the ground. He then started punching Tirek's face multiple times so Tirek wouldn't be able to focus on draining Aaron's magic.

But Tirek grabbed Aaron's fist as it was coming into another punch. Tirek then said, "A jade dragon, huh? I heard the tale of Ragnarok the Reaper. But I didn't think that it would be possible one day for a jade dragon to come!"

Tirek then used his four legs to kick Aaron off of him. Aaron got pushed back. Tirek then said, "This is the day you die!"

The G4 Mane 5 and the New Mane 6 saw this. Rainbow Dash then said, "We gotta help him!"

"But how?" Fluttershy asked. "We need Twilight to activate the Rainbow Power inside us."

"We got this," Sunny said. Then the New Mane 6 started running towards the battle. Then they all started glowing, especially their Cutie Marks. "Hope."

"Bravery!" Zipp said.

"Heart!" Misty said.

"Confidence!" Pipp said.

"Kindness!" Hitch said.

"Creativity!" Izzy said. Then their Cutie Mark magic came together and shot a beam towards Aaron. Aaron absorbed the magic and felt it coursing through him. As that happened, Tirek was about to fire a big magical blast towards him.

Aaron saw this then he started blowing some fire. This fire was blue, but instead of heading towards Tirek, it formed a giant kite shaped shield and Tirek's magical blast was heading towards it. Aaron used the shield and it blocked Tirek's attack.

"WHAT?!" Tirek asked, shocked.

Aaron then put his arm through the straps on the shield, then he used his fire breath to create a blue fiery sword. He then charged towards Tirek and used the sword to slice off Tirek's horns. As that happened, the magic that Tirek absorbed started coming out of him, and he started shrinking.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Tirek cried out as he started going down to his weakest form. Aaron's fiery sword and shield diminished and then he shrunk down and started dive bombing Tirek. Tirek looked up and saw Aaron coming down for another attack. Aaron then punched Tirek in the face and the centaur went unconscious.

Then the G4 Mane 5 and the New Mane 6 ran up to Aaron and Tirek, all astonished by what Aaron just did.

"How did ya do that?!" Applejack asked.

"I have no idea!" Aaron said. "But that was awesome!"

"It sure was!" Rainbow Dash said before giving Aaron a noogie. "You totally took down Tirek!"

"Makes me wonder if Spikey-Wikey would've been able to take him down if he learned to control that trick," Rarity said. "How were you able to control that?"

"I actually focused on protecting my friends from any danger," Aaron said. "That's what was going through my head when that rogue army general launched a nuke at us during our battle against Ragnarok. No way I was going to let my friends be killed by an idiot's bad choice."

"That's it, Aaron," Rainbow Dash said. "That's the Loyalty to your friends we all like in ya."

Just then, Aaron started glowing and he was being lifted up in the air, saying "Whoa! What's going on?!" Then a light emerged from Aaron and it went into his right hip, and then a Cutie Mark appeared on Aaron's hip. It was of three blue diamonds, all flying off to the bottom right of the Cutie Mark, all with fire around them like they were shooting stars. Aaron then went down and said, "Okay. Now I got a Cutie Mark."

"A Cutie Mark on a Dragon?" Rarity asked. "Or, human. Whatever. That's never been done before. That makes you the first..."

"Gallus was the first of their group to get a Cutie Mark," Hitch said, interrupting Rarity. "The rest of them got them in the future."

"Really?!" Pinkie Pie asked. "In what order?"

"Gallus, Ocellus, Silverstream, Yona, Smolder, and now, Aaron," Pipp said.

"Wow," Pinkie Pie said. "This is gonna be one spectacular Cute-ceñeara." She was writing down plans for a Cute-ceñeara on a notepad.

"A what?" Misty asked.

"It's a party where young ponies get their Cutie Marks no more than a week," Rarity answered.

"Oh, you mean like a Cutie Blossom Bash," Izzy said.

"A what?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"One event where every pony who caught their Cutie Mark that year gets celebrated in a weekend event near the end of the year," Sunny said. "Misty wasn't too comfortable with the whole event."

"Something to look forward to when Chapter 5 comes out on Make Your Mark," Aaron said. "Wait, was that before or after Misty reunited with her dad?"

"Before," Sunny said. "Although... well, you'll see it later." Just then, Tirek was getting bigger and got up, and he roared. "How is he getting bigger already?!"

"He's under the influence of Crunch," Aaron said. "This was not what I was expecting." He then noticed the locket on Sunny vibrating. Just then, the locket opened up and headed straight towards Tirek. It went through him and Tirek went back down to his normal form, along with the influence of Crunch diminishing. He then transformed back into the form he was in when he turned to stone.

"Well, that was unexpected," Rainbow Dash said. She then looked at the locket. "Where did you get that?"

"From a Breezie in Bridlewood in the future," Sunny said. "It's how we defeated Opaline in the future."

Fluttershy gasped and asked, "You met the Breezies in the future? That's... so... amazing!"

"Apparently, the Breezie's speeches have evolved to English," Aaron said.

"They have?!" Fluttershy asked.

"But, apparently, they speak it incredibly quickly," Aaron said. "You have to record what they're saying and play it in slow motion."

"It was Hitch who understood what they were saying," Pipp said.

"Yeah, I understand critters," Hitch said.

"That's amazing!" Fluttershy said.

"I still wonder if either Hitch or Misty inherited a certain other ability that Fluttershy has," Aaron said.

"Like what?" Misty asked.

"The Stare," Aaron said.

"Ohhhh!" Pinkie, Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash said in unison.

"What's that?" Izzy asked.

"It's an intimidating stare that Fluttershy has to get certain critters, or even non-critters, to do whatever she wants," Aaron said. "Whenever they wouldn't do what she was doing politely."

"Really?" Pipp asked. "Can we see it? I wanna record it."

"Maybe you'll see it when we go stop Cozy Glow," Aaron said. "Speaking of which, let's hope she's still searching Carousel Boutique for the others."

That made Rarity gasp and shout, "MY BOUTIQUE?! NOOOOOOOOO!!" Then Rarity dashed away from the group. Then they all shrugged their shoulders and started heading towards Ponyville.

In Carousel Boutique, Cozy Glow was knocking down everything with the Cutie Mark Crusaders tied up and gagged on the stand in front of the vanity mirrors. She then flew towards the Crusaders with a scary, angry look.

"WHERE... ARE THEY?!" Cozy Glow shouted. The Crusaders were trying to speak, but the cloths around their mouths were preventing them from speaking. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" Just then, the door slammed open from Rarity and saw the mess.

"My Boutique!" Rarity said. "NOOOOOOOO!" Then the others came in, seeing the mess.

"Whoa," Rainbow Dash said. "Looks like that whole costume party we had a year and a half ago."

"That was an awesome party," Aaron said. He then saw Cozy Glow.

"Who is that?" Cozy Glow asked.

"Someone who doesn't get you," Aaron said. "I get Tirek. His father punished him for stealing magic and overthrew him and attempted to take over Equestria. I get Chrysalis. She only has the need to feed on love, but not understand friendship. That bug is really heartless." He then paused. "I even get Sombra. He was originally a young colt who was being torn apart by all the love from the Crystal Heart's power, and got corrupted by the Umbrum and became the evil tyrant."

"So what's your point?" Cozy Glow asked.

"My point is you are a complete mystery," Aaron said. "Why did you do it all?"

"Like you'd understand," Cozy Glow said. She then flew towards Aaron, screaming. But then she was caught in a pink aura. "Whoa! Hey! What's going on?!"

Misty then came up to Cozy Glow, her horn glowing. She then said, "I grew up with a wicked pony who only destined to be the most powerful one in Equestria. She believed that she had to be both feared and loved by all below her. She gave her reason, but you don't tell anypony about your backstory."

"You don't know anything about me!" Cozy Glow said, angrily.

"But I can see how you are who you are now," Misty said. She then used her magic to look inside Cozy's head.

In Cozy's past, a five year old Cozy Glow was playing in a park in Cloudsdale, her mother sitting on a bench watching her with a loving heart. But then, a stallion came up to her and sat next to her with a grumpy look on his face. The mare had a light blue coat and a curly red mane and tail with lavender eyes. The stallion had a white coat and blue mane, along with yellow eyes. He looked at young Cozy Glow with a sour look.

"I don't understand why you care for that... thing," the stallion said. "She's the reason why you're not feeling well, Destiny."

"Oh, shush, Strict," the mare said. "Don't say that about our daughter. She just needs love and compassion. From both of us."

"She's an embarrassment to the family name!" the stallion said. "I cannot be a father to that... little monster!"

"She's not a monster!" the mare said. But then she cringed and put a hoof to her chest.

"And that's my point!" the stallion said. "Bright Destiny, you haven't been feeling well ever since she was born! She's responsible for your heart problems!"

"That's not true, Strict Order!" the mare known as Bright Destiny said. "Cozy Glow just needs love and compassion. But ever since she was born, you haven't shown any love for her at all. I'm not gonna let you ruin things for her when she grows up."

"Mommy?" came young Cozy Glow's voice. The two pegasus parents looked down at their daughter, who was looking back up at them with a worried look. More importantly, her mother. "Is everything okay?"

"Don't worry, Cozy Glow," Destiny said, picking up the filly. "Let's go home." Then she started walking away from there with Cozy Glow on her back. Strict Order looked towards the both of them with an angry look.

In a hospital, Cozy Glow around the age she was before she came to the School of Friendship. Bright Destiny was laying in the gurney with tubes up her right foreleg.

"Mommy, you've got to get better," Cozy Glow said. "I don't want you to go."

"Don't worry, Cozy Glow," Bright Destiny said. "Your aunt and uncle are happy to take you in. You especially love spending time with your cousin, Spur."

"Yeah," Cozy Glow said. "I love spending time with her. She's the reason why I style my mane like this."

"I know... you'll... be..." Bright Destiny said before closing her eyes. Then her heart rate monitor let out a long, never-ending beep.

"Mom?" Cozy Glow asked. "Mommy? No! Please! Wake up!" Then a bunch of doctor's came in. One nurse came in and pulled Cozy away from the gurney. "No! Mommy! Don't leave me!" She was pulled out of the room, still upset about her mother's passing.

At a funeral, Cozy Glow was crying due to her mother's death. She was upset that her mother died. But on the bright side, she was going to go live with her cousins in Hayseed Swamp. At least, that's what she thought.

Cozy's father, Strict Order, walked towards her and said, "It's time for you to go."

"To Hayseed Swamp?" Cozy Glow asked.

"No. To Military School for bad foals," Strict Order said. He then dragged her away.

"What?! NOOOO!" Cozy shouted when she was being dragged.

In the real world, Misty gasped at that, but then she fell over. She also released Cozy Glow from her magical hold. Cozy then tried getting away, but Aaron jumped up and tackled her to the ground.

"Misty, are you okay?" Izzy asked, trying to get her back up on her hooves.

"She... she was promised to go live with her cousins in Hayseed Swamp," Misty said. "But her dad dragged her off to a military school."

"Seriously?" Aaron asked. "Abusive father?"

"You have no idea," Cozy Glow said. "Like you know what it's like to have a father who never wanted you."

"My dad killed my mom when he thought I was with her," Aaron said. "He never wanted kids." That got Cozy Glow's attention.

"Seriously?" Cozy Glow asked.

"Listen, Cozy," Aaron said. "Just because your dad didn't want you doesn't mean you don't have a family that cares about you."

"You... don't... know... me!" Cozy Glow said, flying back towards a wall and smashing Aaron on the wall.

"Gaaaah!" Aaron shouted in pain. Aaron groaned as Cozy was trying to crush him onto the wall. "Fluttershy! Now!"

Fluttershy then came up to Aaron and Cozy Glow. She then used the Stare on Cozy Glow, which was freaking her out and Aaron was astonished by it.

"Whoa," Aaron said. "That is more intense in person than it was in the show."

"Oooh, I gotta record it!" Pipp said. But then she got a good look at Fluttershy's Stare and she jumped back in fright. "Whoa! That is more intense than I thought it was gonna be!"

"I have gotta learn that whenever my mom wants me to do something I don't want to do," Zipp said.

"I think that can only be inherited by those who are related to Fluttershy," Aaron said. Then everyone except Fluttershy and Cozy Glow looked towards Hitch and Misty.

"I'm not so sure about this," Misty said. "I'm not so... intimidating."

"And I'm already respected to all back in Maretime Bay," Hitch said.

"I got an idea," Aaron said. "Hitch, imagine that Cozy Glow is a pony who has been littering all over Maretime Bay and refuses to pick it up."

"Oh, it is on!" Hitch said. He then stood next to Fluttershy on her left side and tried staring her down, but she wasn't budged.

"Okay, Hitch doesn't have it," Aaron said. "Misty, imagine that Cozy Glow is Opaline and give her the glare you've wanted to give her for a long time."

Misty then looked towards Cozy Glow and she saw Opaline in Cozy Glow's face. Misty then started glaring at Cozy Glow, which was the Stare, which was making the Stare twice as intense. She also stood on Fluttershy's right side.

"Whoa!" Aaron said. "Misty got it! Time to get her down!" He then used his feet and his heavier body to pin Cozy Glow to the ground.

"OW!" Cozy Glow shouted. "That hurts!"

"Like you haven't hurt anyone before," Aaron said. "Cozy Glow, instead of focusing on all the bad things that happened in your life, why not focus on all the good things you have growing up."

Cozy Glow then remembered all the good times she had before what her father did. She remembered the times her mom tucked her in, playing in the park, eating dinner together, dancing together, having fun with family, and even when they hugged when her mom dropped her off at school.

Cozy Glow had her eyes closed tight when she was remembering all the good things, and she was crying. She then opened her eyes, and the influence of Crunch left her. She then sighed.

"Let me go," Cozy Glow said sadly. Aaron then let go of Cozy Glow and she got up. While she was remembering things, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were untying the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

"Ya couldn't have done this sooner?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Sweetie Belle didn't seem to have her magic deactivated when the three of you were tied up," Rainbow Dash said.

Then the three fillies looked up at Sweetie Belle's horn. Then they all went deadpanned. Scootaloo then said, "Why didn't we think of that before?"

"I'm... I'm sorry," Cozy Glow said. "I never should have done all that stuff. Just because my dad never wanted me around since I was born."

"Why?" Applejack asked.

"My dad was a pegasus born in a family of unicorns," Cozy Glow said. "He was shunned from the whole family just because he was a pegasus. He thought if he had a unicorn foal, he would be back on good terms with his family. But it didn't matter when the only mare who he could fall in love with was a pegasus. She has parents that change pony types through every generation. Pegasus, unicorn, Earth Pony. Mom had a strange family. But this time..."

"Her type change tradition stopped?" Sunny asked.

"Big time," Cozy Glow said. "My mom thought that all life was precious, but ever since she died... My dad... He... He..." She then started sobbing. "He sent off to a military school for bad foals. So, he went off to join the Canterlot Royal Guard and not bother to even care for my well being. I was supposed to be sent to my family in Hayseed Swamp. I enjoyed spending time with my cousin Spur."

"Spur?!" the Crusaders asked.

"Brown coat, green mane styled like yours, yellow neckerchief?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Yeah," Cozy Glow said. "She's my cousin." She then realized something. "Wait, how do you know her?"

"We've... met her and her brother, Biscuit," Scootaloo said.

"Although, we were... different that day," Apple Bloom said.

"Well, at least we got Cozy Glow to change," Aaron said. "Speaking of which, we still have one villain to take care of."

"Chrysalis!" the G4 Mane 5 and the Crusaders all said in unison.

"Crusaders, you three stay here and keep an eye on Cozy," Aaron said. Then the grown ups and Aaron left the Boutique and headed for the School of Friendship.

At the School of Friendship, Starlight, Sunburst and Trixie were all roaming the halls, looking for any sign of Chrysalis. Then Aaron, the G4 Mane 5 and the New Mane 6 came in.

"Seriously?" Aaron asked. "Chrysalis hasn't come yet?"

"That doesn't make any sense," Pinkie Pie said. "After all, Chrysalis has a huge grudge against Starlight..." Pinkie Pie appeared behind Starlight. "...after what happened with her former subjects turning to the side of friendship..." Then Pinkie appeared above Sunny. "...and would continue on her revenge until everypony who took her down would suffer like she wanted them to."

"How is she doing that?!" Hitch asked. "She's... defying physics!"

"Pinkie is known ta break the laws of physics," Applejack said. "Nopony has ever figured out how she does it."

"The last pony who tried ended up getting hurt," Aaron said. "A lot. But she gave up and just went with Pinkie's methods."

"I'm sure that Twilight would be able to figure out how Pinkie does what she does," Sunny said.

"It was Twilight," Aaron said.

"Wow," Trixie said. "I guess that not even Twilight Sparkle can do anything."

"No offense, Trixie, but you really need to work on your sympathy with Twilight," Aaron said. "After all, you have been friends with her since you and Starlight became friends with each other."

"Oh, right," Trixie said. "I guess I do need to work on that."

"Besides, we need to find Chrysalis," Rarity said. "No doubt she's around here."

"No need for that, Rarity," Aaron said. He then blew out his blue fire and it became a burning blue shovel. "Because I just found her!" Aaron then used the shovel and hit Trixie in her right cheek. But then green flames surrounded her and it wasn't really Trixie, but Chrysalis in disguise. Everyone else was jaw dropped by that.

"How did you know... that was Chrysalis?" Fluttershy asked.

"Trixie... not addressing herself in third person, surrounded by others," Aaron said. "That's very suspicious."

Sunny then tapped on her locket and a rainbow came out of it after it opened up and surrounded Chrysalis. When the rainbow diminished, Chrysalis was back in the form she was when she was turned to stone along with Tirek and Cozy Glow.

"If that was Chrysalis, then where's Trixie?" Sunburst asked. Just then, the sound of stuff falling over came from down one of the halls.

Eventually, they came to the closet where Spike hid when he was molting and Smolder told him about the Molt. Trixie was in a cocoon trying to get out. Aaron then used his blue fire breath and it turned into a machete. He then used it to cut the cocoon open and got Trixie out of there.

"How did you do that?" Trixie asked. "The Great and Powerful Trrrrrixie wishes to know about this."

"Apparently, magic is evolving," Aaron said. "Also, there will be Cutie Marks on non-pony creatures."

"Really?" Starlight asked. She then noticed the Cutie Mark on Aaron's right hip. "Huh. That's new."

"I better let the others know that the villains have been defeated," Aaron said pulling out his phone. But then, Twilight, the Young 6, Spike, Sparky and Nyx came in by a teleportation spell.

"You all did it!" Twilight said. "I'm so proud!"

"Yeah, kinda had to..." Aaron said before noticing baby Nyx. "Is that... Is that Nyx?"

"Uh-huh," Twilight said, holding Nyx in a foreleg. "And I thank you for giving me that book, Aaron. Without it, I never would have had her."

"Well, you're welcome," Aaron said. But then, he was tackled by Sparky. "Oof!"

Sparky giggled and snuggled into Aaron's chest. The others found it cute. But then Hitch came in and picked up Sparky.

"Take it easy, Sparky," Hitch said. "Let's all get some rest after all this battling."

"Good idea, Hitch," Sunny said. "Let's all get some rest in the Castle." Then they all headed towards the front door of the School so they could get some rest for the next day.

Author's Note

Well, that was an epic battle for our heroes. See you all next time for the ceremony of our heroes and, eventually, the G5 characters returning to their home time.