Scootaloo smashed into her former teacher, trying to pretend it was just another training exercise. She kept pushing, feeling trees and buildings shatter around her teacher's body.
"Grrrr...Blasted child!" Suddenly they stopped and Scootaloo's hindquarters were forced to the ground. She continued to push against the larger pony, cracking the earth beneath her. Day's End had set his feet into the ground, and he was set on pushing back. Scootaloo's body began to crumple, despite her best efforts.
"You see, Scootaloo, this is your fault. For years I was trapped in a broken body with nothing but my mind and magic to survive on. Then you came along and suddenly I have hope. I was willing to do anything it took, and so were you.
"The amount of love you had for Day's End was unbelievable. I knew that with that kind of dedication from everypony in Equestria, I could become unstoppable. And how nice of you to deliver." Scootaloo gasped, finally realizing who Day's End was. He grinned evilly. "And you finally understand. If you could have figured it out a week ago, you might have been able to stop me. But now-" The Alicorn crushed Scootaloo's hindquarters even further down, eliciting a cry of pain from the pegasus. "You're finished."
"Now, see, I'm afraid I can't let you do that." A snap rippled through the air and suddenly Scootaloo was gone. A few inches from End's face stood Discord. "You couldn't have thought that I was just going to sit this one out. I might finally have a chance to beat Day's End."
"Oh, really? You think that I'm Day's End? Allow me to clear that up for you." Discord's eyes bulged as green light shot past him. As it faded, a buglike Alicorn creature stood in the center of the field. "Hello, Discord. I don't believe we've met before. My name is Chrysalis." Discord's mouth gaped open. "Something wrong? I'm sure you're used to Changelings. If I recall correctly, you enslaved my people during your own reign. One more reason to destroy you." She smirked and suddenly she was gone. He turned back and forth, searching for her desperately. At the last second, he put up both of his arms and skidded backward fifty yards as a hoof smashed into them.
"You know, Crissie, we don't have to fight like this." She chuckled as she strolled casually through the swirling dust.
"Honestly, what else is there? I've only got one chance to take back the love and affection that is rightfully mine, and you're in my way. I'm only fighting you if you're fighting me." Discord blinked, his mind working overtime.
"Alright, then. Wait a moment."
"You've got ten seconds. Sell me."
"I can ensure that everypony in Equestria bows down to you, but you have to give me something in return." Chrysalis' eyes bulged.
"Name it."
"I want immunity and guaranteed protection for a friend of mine." Chrysalis threw back her head, laughing hysterically.
"One pony out of a world? You know, even that is difficult to let go of. But if I must, I must. Your friend will go free." Discord sighed with relief. At least she would be okay. "Now it's your turn to deliver. Do what you have to, but I will see Equestria bow before me." Discord closed his eyes and snapped. He prayed that his plan wouldn't derail, and that she would know what to do. They both disappeared, and suddenly they stood in Twilight Sparkle's bedroom.
"Discord! What's going on? Who is-MMMMFFF!" Discord had gagged her, and now stood beside her, whispering into her ear.
"Twilight, relax. I have a plan, just play along." He stood up again and spoke at full volume. "Now then, Twilight. I'll make this simple. You're going to cast the Want it Need it spell on my friend Chrysalis here." Twilight's eyes bulged and her head shook violently. "Now, now. There's no point in being dramatic about it. Just cast the spell and we can get this over with." Twilight sighed and her horn began to glow. After few seconds, a similar glow appeared around Chrysalis. As it faded, Discord placed on a pair of shaded work goggles to look at the Changeling Queen.
"Nice work, Twilight. What do you think of the new me?" Twilight's eyes bulged and she nodded furiously. She spat the gag out and started showering Chrysalis with compliments.
"Oh, my queen! You're simply incredible! Please, come a bit closer so I can touch you." She chuckled, marveling at Twilight's complete helplessness.
"Well, Discord, you've certainly outdone yourself this time. You can take your friend and go." The Dragonequis nodded solemnly. He disappeared in a puff of smoke and the reborn Queen took a deep breath, reveling in her new power.
Meanwhile, in central Canterlot...
"Dusk Star! Get up!" Light flooded between the cracks in the prince's eyelids.
"What's going on? What did I miss?" He shook his head and rolled onto his front. His entire body ached, but nothing seemed to be permanently damaged.
"Your dad isn't your dad. It's a Changeling."
"Yeah, kind of guessed that. Anything else?" She chuckled.
"I don't know, maybe the fact that you left Steel Heart alone in Canterlot Castle?" He leapt to his feet and was gone without another word.
"Feet, don't fail me now!" Buildings, ponies, and wreckage zoomed past him. He hadn't run this fast in years, but the first place that Changeling would go was straight back to his family. He'd heard the stories about what his dad had done to their queen.
"Dusk Star!" He sighed. Of course Discord would pick now to show up.
"If you can keep up, we'll talk!" Suddenly the spirit of Chaos was floating along beside him.
"Fine. Look, there's something I need to warn you about. That Changeling is Chrysalis, the queen your father banished seventeen years ago. She's had the Want it Need it spell cast on her, and she'll be completely irresistible to anypony who sees her. It'll give her increased power, but the rate of increase will be slower because it's induced by magic. Here, put these on." A pair of shaded goggles appeared over the prince's eyes. "There. You're immune to the spell as long as you're wearing those. Oh, and don't forget to-" A blast of green energy smashed into Discord and he fell facefirst. Dusk Star glanced back to see a very angry Changeling soaring along behind him.
"I will have your power! YOUR WORLD IS MINE!" Seven more blasts shot from her horn in a triangle formation. Dusk Star took a deep breath and leapt into the air. Time slowed down as the first bolt brushed past his head. He rolled back, just squeaking past the next one. His horn glowed and a bubble formed around him, blocking the third. Unfortunately, it popped, and there were still four coming. As he landed, he slid under the path of number four and rolled onto his side for number five. He stopped dead, allowing the sixth to strike directly in front of him, and a blue layer of magic shattered number seven into shards. He looked in the direction of the caster and saw none other than Shining Armor himself standing on the bridge that led into Canterlot Castle.
"Whew...Thanks, old man."
"Old man? Me and you are going to have a talk when we're done." They rushed into the throne room, where both families sat. "He's back! No need to worry."
"That's a load of pie. We've got plenty of reason to worry. Chrysalis is back, and she's stealing the emotional energy of everypony she comes across. Luckily, it's not happening as fast as it could be, but that's still not much help." Luna stepped down off of her throne.
"I would suggest we find Scootaloo. She's the only pony I can think of who might be able to combat something like this." Dusk Star blushed. "Is something wrong?"
"Well...I kind of had her right there in front of me, but I rushed back here to check on Ste-on all of you. But hold up a second. I think I might be able to fight this thing. I held my own just fine until she got the support of Ponyville." Luna rolled her eyes.
"Honestly, sometimes I don't believe you have enough sense to be my son. She has the uncontested support of everypony she comes across now." Dusk Star nodded slowly, finally understanding what Discord had wanted him to do.
"I think Discord had a plan. He was the one who got Chrysalis the spell. He knew it would keep her gaining of energy at a limit. He just needed to keep her satisfied long enough for us to come up with enough power to fight her. The thing is, me and Scootaloo are the only ponies in Equestria who have enough strength to even try fighting her, and she's not here. Here's my idea: If all of you give me your energy, I might have enough to win this."
"What makes you think that has even the slightest chance of working? You're strong, but fighting against something that gets stronger every second might be a bit much." He shook his head, not even bothering to look at Cadence.
"Not really. We have the strongest ponies in the world right here in this room. Imagine what would happen if all our power was all inside one pony." Luna raised an eyebrow.
"And what makes you think it should be you? Better yet, what makes you think I'll let you go out there again?" Dusk Star sighed. He hadn't wanted to do this.
"Well, mom, you can't really stop me from going back out there, especially if the world's at stake. And it should be me out there for the simple reason that I'm the best fighter here. Now, either you can give me your power and increase my chances of coming back alive, or you can try to stop me and..." Her eyes narrowed, but she nodded. "Thank you. Now, if you'd all gather around real quick, we can get this over with." Luna was up first. Dusk Star bowed his head, lightly touching the tip of his horn to hers. Power flooded his body and his eyes bulged. He repeated the process with Shining Armor, Cadence, and his aunt Celestia. When Steel Heart stepped forward, he blushed and turned his head to the side. "Y-You don't have to." She gave him a look of impatience.
"Honestly? I'm not a baby. You left me alone in the east wing while you ran off to fight, this time I'm helping you one way or the other." He blinked, not willing to press the matter. He shivered as their horns met and her energy flowed through his body. It only felt like half a second, but suddenly Shining Armor was practically yelling in his ear.
"Alright then, champ! Go get her!" He sighed, breaking away from Steel Heart.
"Right. No more Mr. Nice Colt."
