MLP FIM Season 10 Episode 11- Tempest Fury
The pony formally known as Tempest Shadow watched as the newly crowned supreme Princess Twilight Sparkle slow danced on the dance floor with her father, Night Light. It had been some time since Fizzlepop Berrytwist had seen the error of her ways while under the command of the Storm King. And now she was back in Ponyville attending the coronation of the pony who had helped her start on a new path.
"Ah, it sure is something isn't it, boss?" Grubber remarked, removing his chef's hat. "Seeing a pony you once hunted down for her magic being crowned. It's actually kind of cool."
"Yes, Grubber," Fizzlepop replied as Night Light spun his daughter around. "It's nice that for one moment, I can come back home without any hostility from anypony else. After all, if it hadn't been for us,she would never have opened up her school. I never would've imagined I'd have that much of an influence on a princess."
At that moment, the music ended and everycreature applauded. Immediately, Grubber couldn't help but notice that there was something in his friend's eyes that made him think of something else. "That's true, Tempest."
"Grubber," Fizzlepop grumbled. "Don't you remember? I go by Fizzlepop Berrytwist now. Or just Fizzlepop."
"I know, I know," Grubber apologized as best he could. "It just takes some time to get used to it. But, uh, there is something else I thought you were thinking about while you were lost in your thoughts."
Right away, Fizzlepop sighed heavily, remembering the offer that Twilight had repeatedly offered to her in the days following the Storm King's defeat: to become a captain of Twilight's personal royal guard (a decision Twilight had been considering off-hoofedly for quite some time before the invasion). In fact, Fizzlepop had been training under Twilight's brother in the Crystal Empire as possible practice for that end goal.
"Tempest!" The voice of Twilight Sparkle called from afar, catching the broken horned unicorn by surprise. Twilight was the first to learn her real name, but had sworn an oath never to say it publicly. "It's good to see you again."
"Thanks, Princess," Fizzlepop chuckled nervously. "I'm… happy for you. How are you feeling?"
"Much better now than I was a few days ago," Twilight replied while looking down at the needle marks from her time in the hospital. "I'm just glad that it's over."
"What's over?" Fizzlepop inquired, though she really needn't have bothered.
"My time in the hospital, the Legion of Doom's attack, having to choose between Canterlot and Ponyville, all those things." Twilight explained with a sincere smile.
"Um, Princess Twilight," Fizzlepop remarked, scratching the back of her neck with her front left hoof. "There's something I've been…meaning to ask you about."
Gesturing for Twilight to follow her out of the ballroom, Fizzlepop led the newly crowned supreme ruler of Equestria to a secluded area of the castle.
Twilight immediately caught sense of what her former enemy was trying to say. "I think I know what you're trying to tell me," She spoke in a careful whisper. "You're thinking about the offer, aren't you?"
Without saying a word Fizzlepop nodded her head up and down, much to Twilight's delight.
"Fizzlepop, that's great!" Twilight smiled, rearing up slightly and opening her wings. "My friends and I will be honored that you are accepting the position of captain of the new royal guard."
However, Fizzlepop's face conveyed a sense of confusion. Up until that moment, she thought that she was just going to be Twilight's captain, not for all of Twilight's friends as well. "Wait a minute," She inquired. "What do you mean you and your friends?"
"Haven't you heard, Tempest?" Spike asked as he walked in with Grubber. "Celestia made Twilight's friends all princesses. The ones with whom she wielded the Elements of Harmony on multiple occasions."
"But why?" Fizzlepop asked in a confused voice. "I knew that you and your friends have a strong bond, but…"
"It was part of the healing process of my PTSD," Twilight explained. "Celestia decided that I would not rule Equestria by myself, given my mental state."
Fizzlepop couldn't help but feel both happy and confused at the same time. She was happy for Twilight on her coronation, but the fact that the rest of her friends became princesses was very confusing to her.
"So…" Fizzlepop asked after taking a moment to gather her thoughts. "When would you like me to start?"
"As soon as you feel comfortable," Twilight suggested. "It's going to take some time for me to get adjusted to my new role after all. Until then, you can continue training with my brother. I hear it's going quite well"
Grateful for the option given to her, Fizzlepop walked back into the celebration with Twilight. However, Fizzlepop still couldn't help but ponder if she was ready to accept the new position given to her.
…
…
A few days after the coronation, Fizzlepop was back in the Crystal Empire resuming her training under Shining Armor. Now that Twilight was crowned, the trainings had become more and more intense. In one particular training session, Fizzlepop was pinned down by Shining Armor while he attempted to strike Tempest with a sword. Letting out a loud yell, Fizzlepop pushed the Prince of the Crystal Empire off of her with the strength of her hooves!
"Not bad," Shining Armor remarked as he removed his captain's helmet. "You've been improving, Fizzlepop. I guess my sister's coronation added a spark to your performance."
"You could say that," Fizzlepop replied, dusting herself off. "At least it's for the right reason this time. Do you think I'm ready to be captain?"
"Well, to be honest, Fizzlepop, you're still going to need a little more time to prepare." Shining Armor confessed, much to Fizzlepop's dismay.
"What do you mean?" Fizzlepop questioned.
"A royal guard captain must be prepared to the fullest extent at any given circumstance, Fizzlepop. An enemy can strike at any time, often without warning. And you seem… distracted for lack of a better term." Shining explained.
The more Fizzlepop listened, the more she seemed to understand the gravity of her position. "So, when King Sombra attacked the Crystal Empire, you had no warning?"
"None at all," Shining sternly shook his head. "And I'm sure the Storm King didn't give his enemies advanced warning when he attacked them, right?"
Fizzlepop gulped nervously at hearing this remark, not wanting to relive her days of being the Storm King's second in command again. "No, he didn't," She answered quite sadly, briefly looking away from her instructor. "And neither did Instant Justice when he hunted me down."
"Don't dwell on him, he was a traitor to Equestria masquardering as a hero," Shining Armor muttered bitterly. "For a time he had us all fooled. He's paying the price for his treasonus ways with his life. And now is the chance for you to move past that, Fizzlepop. Move beyond the former enforcer of the Storm King and become the pony you were meant to be. Once you've done that, you will be ready. Until then though, I'll work you til' you drop and then some, so let's get back to it!"
…
…
On the outskirts of Ponyville, the mailpony often known to others as Muffins was making her rounds up a mountain. A mountain where only a few years ago, Twilight and her friends had convinced a dragon to leave a cave, least his smoke cover Equestria while he slept.
As the mailpony flew up the mountainside though, she suddenly felt a hot feeling overtake her. "What is this?" Muffins wondered aloud, taking her hat off and using it as a fan. "Ooh, it's so hot up here!"
Suddenly, Muffins saw what appeared to be a hot, orange substance flowing from atop the mountain! "Never seen that before," She remarked, throwing caution to the wind as she bravely flew up to investigate the substance. The closer she drew, the hotter she began to feel. But something drew her closer in spite of the heart. Something that glowed brighter than any light the pegasus had ever seen. "Ooh, pretty! I wonder if Doc knows about this. He always seems to know about the strangest of things."
Just then, the ground began to shake! There came a loud explosion followed by the spewing of the hot, orange substance! Somehow the mountain had become like a volcano!
Panicked, Muffins flew out of the way, dropping some of her mail into the substance! But she couldn't worry about that now!
"FIRE!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, as the substance continued to flow down the side of the mountain and right towards Ponyville.
Muffins' shouts drew the attention of the citizens of Ponyville. They looked up and to their horror they saw the fire like substance coming down the side of the mountain! Immediately, the town went into a panic.
"It's heading this way!" Mayor Mare shouted and urged her citizens to seek shelter. "Everypony, head for high ground, now!"
Screaming in fright, terrified Ponyvillians gathered whatever they could and raced out of the town as fast as they could! But before the substance could approach the town, a blast of magic hit the substance, freezing it solid.
Looking up, Mayor Mare saw Twilight flying high overhead, shooting a freezing spell onto the substance.
"Cowabunga!" Pinkie Pie screamed, rolling a large water barrel on the substance's length.
"Mayor Mare, are you all right?" Twilight called below.
"I am now, thanks to you, Princess," Mayor Mare replied, as Rainbow Dash pushed some rain clouds onto the volcanic mountain. "But it's strange, that mountain hasn't been like that for centuries. The last time it was occupied was when that huge dragon was covering the town in smoke."
"Don't tell me the dragon didn't learn his lesson from the last time," Twilight groaned. "Rainbow Dash!"
Hearing her calls, Rainbow Dash immediately flew down to Twilight. "I have as many clouds as possible in position, Twilight!" She answered. "They should try and melt some of the lava."
Immediately, Twilight let out a sharp gasp! "Did you say that was lava?" She questioned.
"What else did you think it was, darling?" Rarity asked, while wearing a fireproof suit and carrying a hose in her aura. "It definitely looked like lava if you ask me. Though why it would come from that mountain now I couldn't possibly imagine."
"If it's that dragon again…" Fluttershy began.
"It's not the dragon that used to live up there, Fluttershy," Sonic interrupted with a shake of her head. "And that's not even a mountain, now it's a volcano."
"Volcano?!" Fluttershy whimpered as she began to think about the safety of her animal friends! "I hope none of the lava got to my cottage or my sanctuary."
"I don't think so, Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash called, looking out towards the area where Fluttershy's cottage was located. "We managed to stop it just in time. Twilight's instant-freeze spell really saved our rumps on this one. So, what do we do now, Twilight? What made that mountain flare up like a volcano?"
"We'll check and see if there's any damage to the town and report back here in an hour," Twilight ordered. "But be careful. Someone or something had to trigger that eruption, Ponyville would've never survived if it was built so close to an active volcano. And there's no way that mountain was one the last time we went up it."
Heeding the supreme princesses' command, the other princesses went about to inspect the town.
…
…
At Darkblade's Castle…
"So, he has returned," He sinisterly remarked. "The Lord of Flame has decided to make his presence known once more."
Infinite walked into the throne room. "Who has returned Great Master?"
"One of my most loyal allies is now free." He laughed. "Inferno."
"He was imprisoned because his purpose was to unleash catastrophic fire and bring destruction to all of Equestria. Now that he's been awakened though, he would make a wonderful addition to our team, don't you think?" Darkblade asked.
Although he was open to welcoming new members, Infinite had some internal doubts but nevertheless he trusted his master intentions.
"Um, there is something else that I came here to tell you about, my lord," Infinite bowed in respect as he was about to speak up. "Very well…"Shall we recruit?" He reluctantly asked.
"We'll wait and see if he still has what it takes to work for me." As Darkblade looked through the mirror. "But if we recruit him, he will be in the ranks of those bumbling fools."
Back at the Castle of Friendship in Ponyville, Twilight, her friends along with Calvin and Sonic regroup following the lava situation.
"Most of the damage fortunately only went as far as the Everfree Forest," Rainbow Dash reported. "But that 'volcano' is going to erupt again if we don't do something and fast!"
"Had anyone checked on Zecora?" Twilight asked.
"I managed to see how she was and she's doing fine, Twi," Sonic answered. "Some of the lava drops got on her tree though not as bad when Drake nearly flambe her hut. Even she is surprised to learn about the eruption."
"Either way, we can't take this situation lightly," Calvin explained as he was holding a book." Given Ponyville history I have reason to believe that someone was responsible for the fire."
Placing the book down on the friendship map, all of Twilight's friends moved towards the book, looking at the section Calvin had opened it to.
"Who is that guy?!" Rainbow asked while pointing a hoof. "He looks like…a creature made out of pure fire."
"Well, of course he looks like a creature of pure fire, that's how he caused the eruption," Applejack remarked. "The real question is: Who is he and what does he want?"
"Apparently, the creature was known as Inferno," Calvin explained, "And he used to cause volcanic eruptions all throughout Equestria, wanting to burn towns and villages to the ground for his own amusement. He could do it even with places that didn't have volcanoes. All he needed was a mountain."
He then turned to another part of the book, that showed a picture of Inferno fighting what appeared to be a shark-like creature. "However, he was involved in a conflict with a creature of the sea called King Shark, who wanted to turn Equestria into an ocean. Fortunately, Celestia and Luna acted fast and banished the two of them into hiding for a thousand years."
"Oh great, so we're dealing with double trouble here if that shark is awake too," Rainbow Dash groaned. "I don't know about you, but I don't we think we should just charge in and take this guy out alone."
But Twilight other ideas. She knew of somepony in mind that could lead a platoon against Inferno Getting up from the table, she walked over to one of the large windows and looked out over towards the School of Friendship.
"We don't have to," Twilight said. "Part of our roles as princesses will be to help other ponies stand up for themselves. To this end, I know of somepony who can help lead the charge against Lavan."
Right then and there, Twilight's friends knew exactly what she was going to do. She was going to recruit a former enemy of theirs. A very familiar one at that.
…
…
Fizzlepop and her companions arrived back in Canterlot, still feeling cautious since she was still a criminal in the eyes of some subjects. Despite the sharp glares some ponies were giving them, they arrived at their destination: Tempest's former home not far from Canterlot stadium.
"I scared," The storm creature Hannibal whimpered. "Why do ponies give us scary looks? We mean no harm."
"There are some who will probably never forgive us for what we did," Fizzlepop sighed as they walked up to the front door. "Just ignore them."
"Yeah, I've already learned to live with it, Hannibal," Grubber replied. "Try to go with the flow."
Hannibal said nothing as Fizzlepop knocked on the door. Opening the door, she saw her sister, Razzle Fizzle answer it and give Fizzlepop a warm greeting hug.
"Thanks for letting us visit, Razzle," Fizzlepop spoke up. "It's nice to be back again now that you don't consider me hostile like before."
"Well, I've slowly learned to forgive you despite your past misgivings, Fizzlepop," Razzle Fizzle sighed as they all sat down on Razzle's sofa. "There really is no use in continuing to hold ill feelings anymore. Especially not these days when there's so much else going on."
"That's a relief," Grubber sighed while snacking on some oats that sat on the coffee table. "Mind if I have some of these?"
"Go ahead," Razzle Fizzle encouraged. "You probably must all be hungry after your latest trip. Where exactly were you all at this time?"
"Vanhoover," Grubber replied. "At least they were more than welcoming than some of the other towns we've been at."
As her sister conversed with Grubber, Fizzlepop couldn't help but think about the conversation she'd had with Twilight at her coronation.
"So," Razzle Fizzle asked out of the blue. "What are you going to do now?"
"What do you mean?" Fizzlepop asked back, taking a sip of tea that was on the coffee table. "Sooner or later, I'll probably become captain of Princess Twilight's royal guard. I don't know how or when, but it's going to be happening. I've been training towards that very goal."
"Will you be in Canterlot or Ponyville when you take up the job?" Razzle Fizzle questioned.
"I'm not sure yet. Depends on wherever it is that Princess Twilight determines is best for me." Fizzlepop answered.
Razzle could only hope in her mind that Fizzlepop would be assigned in Canterlot. The young unicorn wanted nothing more than to reconnect with her sister.
"Well, wherever we go," Grubber spoke up. "I'll be able to show off my culinary prowess. Do you think that Princess Twilight can use me for royal functions, Fizzlepop?"
"I'm sure she can. After all, she kept the door open after we left," Fizzlepop chuckled. "I mean, with my training under Prince Shining Armor nearing its completion…"
"How is that coming along, by the way?" Razzle Fizzle asked.
"Ever since he struck me for turning Princess Cadence to stone, it's been for the better," Fizzlepop commented. "I mean, he's very protective of his kingdom and his family, but at least he's no Instant Justice. Never thought I'd compare the two."
A deep sigh came out of Fizzlepop upon hearing those words. The memory of Instant Justice turning Equestria upside down just to hunt her was still fresh in her mind. And the wounds still stung.
"Well, he dead now," Hannibal grumbled and snorted. "Mean pony dead."
"Yeah, he's dead," Grubber sighed, taking another bite of the snacks from the coffee table. "And good riddance, that's all I can say! Shining Armor is nowhere close to the monster Instant Justice was!"
But just then all in the room were startled by the sound of a knock at the door.
"Who could that be?" Razzle Fizzle asked as both she and Fizzlepop rose from the sofa. Walking over to the door, Razzle Fizzle opened it to reveal two royal guardsponies on the other side.
"Is Fizz… er Tempest Shadow here?" One of the guards asked Razzle Fizzle. "We were told to look for her here."
"How did they know we're here?" Grubber quietly asked, also getting up from the sofa along with Hannibal.
But Fizzlepop realized that if the royal guardsponies were looking for her, that could only mean one thing. "Does Princess Twilight wish to see me?" Fizzlepop asked the guards. "If she does, then…""That is correct, Tempest Shadow," The second guard interrupted. "There is a matter of utmost importance that requires your particular set of skills. Your involvement and presence is expected at once."
"My involvement?" Fizzlepop asked in a confused voice. "Is this about…?" But the guards said nothing and instead motioned for Fizzlepop to follow them. Realizing that her short visit was over, Fizzlepop hugged her sister goodbye.
"Don't worry," She reassuringly claimed. "I'll be back. Grubber, Hannibal, let's go."
Heeding their friend's command, the hedgehog and Storm Creature did exactly as they were told.
…
Following the guards to the Castle of Friendship, Fizzlepop and her companions could only wonder what Twilight was asking of them. All the while, Fizzlepop began to think back to what Shining Armor had told her at her most recent training session: That an enemy could strike at any given time and without warning.
"What do you think Twilight wants with us?" Grubber whispered to Fizzlepop.
"I'm not sure," Fizzlepop admitted as they arrived back in Ponyville aboard the Friendship Express. "But I think we're going to find out soon enough. It must be of the highest importance if she had to send the royal guard to retrieve me."
Approaching the Castle of Friendship, Fizzlepop gulped nervously at what was about to happen. The day she had been both anticipating and silently dreading was finally upon her. A few moments later, the castle doors were opened and Fizzlepop was ushered inside. Very soon, they arrived right outside the throne room doors.
"I scared." Hannibal whispered to Grubber.
The doors opened in front of the gathered group of friends and Spike appeared. He immediately gestured for the guards to stand aside, and without a word spoken on their part they obeyed.
Fizzlepop stood nervously as she looked upon the Supreme Ruler of Equestria and her fellow princesses all sitting around the friendship map.
"H…hello again, Princess Twilight," stammered Fizzlepop as she walked up to the six thrones. "You... wish to see me about something?"
"Yeah, obviously!" Pinkie Pie excitedly proclaimed, before offering Fizzlepop a cupcake. "Care for one? I made them this morning on account of your visit."
"No thank you," Fizzlepop chuckled while politely pushing the cupcake away. "I actually ate at my sister's this morning."
"I'm sorry to have interrupted your visit with your sister," Twilight bowed her head. "But we have something very important that we need to share with you."
"Is it about my training? Couldn't it have waited until a day where I had nothing better to do?" Fizzlepop questioned.
Twilight shook her head from side to side. "Not quite," She answered, levitating the book she had been sharing with her friends towards Fizzlepop, and opening it up to the section that they'd all been looking at. "This is something far more urgent. Now tell me: What do you see in this picture?"
Fizzlepop studied the picture, but couldn't quite make out what it was. "A creature of fire?" She questioned. "But who or what is it?"
"His name is Inferno," Twilight explained. "A creature of fire who once tried to destroy towns and cities all across Equestria. Now, he's back after a thousand years of imprisonment and slumber."
"So, why come to me?" Fizzlepop asked, before realizing the gravity of the situation. "Unless…"
"We need a platoon put together to face Lavan before he unleashes another reign of fire on Ponyville," Rainbow Dash declared. "We managed to stop his attack the first time out, but until he's defeated for good we're only delaying the inevitable."
"Yeah," Applejack added with narrowed eyes. "You should have seen all of that hot lava comin' down the mountain this mornin'. Nearly burned up my farm and half the town with it."
"But it didn't darling," Rarity remarked, only for Applejack to glare at her. "What? We managed to stop the lava from causing any major damage. Thank goodness Twilight knew that quick-freezing spell."
"The fact of the matter is," Twilight spoke up, tapping her hoof on the table and taking full charge. "This is the perfect opportunity for you to demonstrate your abilities, Tempest. You demonstrated your fighting prowess while serving under the Storm King and now, you can put that to good use here. My brother has kept me informed of your training, and even he seems impressed."
"Um," Grubber stammered. "Are you expecting us to…?"
"Just Tempest," Twilight firmly injected and both Grubber and Hannibal could only look down nervously at their friend. "If you can help stop Lavan, then you are more than ready to become captain of my new royal guard."
…
…
Meanwhile, inside the now volcanic mountain, the creature of fire stood underneath the hole at the top, biding his time to strike again.
"Blast those cursed ponies," He grumbled, shooting blasts of fire to force open the spout. "They think that they can delay my return after a thousand years. Well, they can't keep me hidden forever! I will have my revenge!"
Just then his bumbling generals appear.
"You shall have my lord as me, Heatwave and Magmar will help you in any we can." Pyro exclaimed.
"Must we sit around and wait I'm bored I want to burn something now." Said Heatwave.
"And you shall, my friend," Inferno remarked before turning back to face the task he was working on.
"But, first, we must deal with the ponies who imprisoned us in here a thousand years ago."
Back at the Castle of Friendship, Twilight and her friends proceeded to provide Fizzlepop with a suit of armor. It was colored purple to match Twilight's coat.
Once dressed in the armor, Fizzlepop could only attract the shocked looks of Grubber and Hannibal.
"So, you say that this is the armor that royal guard captains wear?" Fizzlepop asked as she stood in front of the mirror of Twilight's bedroom.
"Yes, Tempest," Twilight said as she and her friends stood behind Fizzlepop. "It only seems fitting for you to wear it for this occasion. And if you can help us bring down Lavan, your promotion will be guaranteed and the armor yours to keep."
"Wow!" Grubber exclaimed. "You look amazing, boss!"
But Fizzlepop didn't react to what her hedgehog assistant had said. As far as she was concerned, she had more than enough matters on her mind. But for now, she took a moment to admire herself in the armor of her soon-to-be position. Everything that she had done in the past as the Storm King's second-in-command no longer mattered.
Just then there was a knock at the door and it door opened to reveal Spike on the other side. "Twilight, we've got a problem!" The young dragon shouted. "It's the mountain, it's starting to act up again! Lavan is waking up!"
Realizing that there was no other alternative, Fizzlepop knew what she needed to do.
"Spike put together an assault force at once!" Twilight ordered. "We can't allow Inferno to pick up where he left off! We must act now before he makes the first strike!"
Heeding the order, Spike left to carry out Twilight's commands.
"Do you think the other guards will listen to me?" Fizzlepop nervously asked Twilight.
Twilight nodded.
"They will. I've already briefed them that you will be leading the charge, and that you are going to be commanding them. I've also made it clear that I won't tolerate any disobedience, and I've given you full authority to discipline any guards that act up," Then Twilight passed on a sword and shield for Fizzlepop to use.
"You are not to use these until it's absolutely necessary," She instructed. "If Inferno has the upper edge against you, then you may use them and not a moment sooner or later."
Taking in what Twilight had said, Fizzlepop proceeded out of the bedroom and outside where a platoon of thirty guards stood ready and waiting to move. And just in time, the plume of smoke coming from the mountain top was growing larger and larger.
Suddenly, the ground beneath the ponies started to shake wildly!
"Is this part of what I am destined to do?" Fizzlepop thought to herself with a worried look on her face. "To lead an army of ponies into battle where I might lose my life?"
At that moment, a massive splurt of lava came out of the mountain followed by the sound of roaring!
"Is that…?" Fluttershy nervously asked.
"It is," Twilight answered, in a low voice while she looked over at Fizzlepop. "After a thousand years, The Lord of Fire has returned, and there's only one pony who can stop him."
As Inferno's laugh continued to be heard, Fizzlepop gulped nervously. The final test in her journey to become captain of Twilight's new royal guard would soon begin, assuming she survived the upcoming battle.
…
Fizzlepop Berrytwist was still trying to take in all that was given to her. Shining Armor's words about being prepared for the unexpected now rang true in more ways than one.
"T-Twilight," Fizzlepop stammered as soldiers from both Ponyville and Canterlot quickly descended on the castle of friendship. "I mean…I know you want me to…"
"Fizzlepop," Twilight firmly placed a hoof on Fizzlepop's shoulder. "This is the test you have been prepared for. It's time for you to show me just what you've learned since training under my brother. If you can defeat Lavan, then you shall become my captain. It's as simple as that."
"But what if I don't come back?!" Fizzlepop cried, her voice filled with panic. "What about Razzle Fizzle?! She should know that if I don't come back…"
Twilight moved to place a wing on Fizzlepop's shoulder, gesturing the broken horned unicorn to look at her. On her face was a look of reassurance, a look that Fizzlepop couldn't look at properly.
"You will come back," Twilight reassuringly declared. "Trust me, Fizzlepop. I have plenty of faith in you. I wouldn't ask you to do this unless I was certain you were the best pony for the job. I know you won't disappoint me."
Gulping nervously again, Fizzlepop donned the battle helmet that had been given to her, and proceeded to turn towards her platoon, all with looks of determination on their faces to stop Lavan at all costs.
"Tempest Shadow is in charge of this mission," Twilight addressed her soldiers and guards. "Everypony must follow her orders to the letter! Is that understood?!"
The platoon saluted Twilight, and then Fizzlepop nervously led the soldiers (her soldiers, the broken horned unicorn had to remember) towards the volcanic mountain while Twilight watched them leave.
"Do you think she'll pull it off?" Calvin asked her. ""She's up against an incredible threat.
"I'm sure she'll prevail, Spike," Twilight replied with a nod. "If there's one thing I've come to understand it's that we all need to be tested in life. Celestia tested me many times and now…I'm testing Fizzlepop. Whatever happens next is in her hooves."
…
Meanwhile, back inside the volcanic mountain Inferno admired the lava being spurted, grateful that he was now being freed from his temporary prison. "Yes! Flow, my powerful lava! Flow and destroy all that you see! Spare nothing!"
"Now then, fiery friends shall we make our grand re-appearance after a thousand years of imprisonment. Don't you think so?"
"Yes, my master! Those ponies stand no chance against us!" As three burning generals agreed.
"Not with your lava flowing from this mountain!"
…
Meanwhile, upon the moon, Darkblade and Infinite watched from his telescope at the ensuing battle that was about to take place.
"Who are those ponies?" Sombra wondered. "Doesn't Princess Twilight realize she's leading them to certain death?!"
…
Back on the mountain, Fizzlepop and her platoon readied themselves to attack the arriving Lavan and Zeb. "Prepare to engage the enemy, ponies!" She called, gesturing for the guardsponies in her platoon to fire their spears. "Fire when I give the order, and not a moment sooner!" But the anxiety reflected in her tone voice-only gave further confirmation to the lack of faith her soldiers had in her.
"Did you say goodbye to your family?" A guardspony asked another that was among the ones hiding behind the trees.
"Yeah," The guardspony answered. "I did. We're not getting out of this alive."
…
At that moment, the two saw Fizzlepop standing in front of them with a look of determination on her face as hot as the lava.
"Move out of the way!" Magmar commanded to Fizzlepop, gesturing her to stand aside. "Or else die where you stand, foolish pony!"
"By order of her majesty herself, Princess Twilight," Fizzlepop nervously declared. "I, Commander Fizzlepop, do hereby order you and Lord Lavan to return to your mountain prison at once and in a peaceful manner. Resistance will not be tolerated!"
"Nice try," Lavan laughed. "But no one tells me what to do. No one! Certainly not the likes of you, pony!"
Fizzlepop nervously stood her ground.
"And what's this, you don't even have a fully assembled horn," Heatwave further sneered, turning all of his attention to Fizzlepop's broken horn. "What threat could you possibly be to us?"
Then take a deep breath, Pyro aimed at Fizzlepop with the intention of destroying her by any means necessary with his powerful lava.
Fizzlepop proceeded to try and use her magic to cast a shield spell, but the irregular nature of her horn made that impossible! So all she could do was prepare for certain death in battle unless her platoons made their move.
…
…
Having absorbed all the powers he had in him, Pyro fired a blast of lava from his mouth and Fizzlepop countered back with a spell of ice! But the lava blast was too much and Fizzlepop quickly dodged out of the way, landing herself on a tree as she watched the lava flow down in front of her! "OPEN FIRE!" She bellowed to the troops!
Heading her call, the platoon fired their spears at them, striking But the heat from their body only caused the spears to melt harmlessly away.
"Do you think those silly toys are going to stop us?" Inferno mockingly remarked, even as Fizzlepop showed no signs of backing down. "Time to meet your maker, ponies!"
But without saying a word, the guards from behind the rocks made their move! Emerging from the hiding places they charged at the fire lord.
Smiling in amusement, Lavan fired blasts of fire and lava from his mouth at the guards, who quickly dodged out of the way rather than be burnt to a crisp! Two guards weren't so lucky though, and they ended up being struck by the lava.
"Foolish equines," Lavan laughed. "Do you think your puny magic tricks are going to stop me? One by one you will all bow to me or burn to ashes!" Then grabbing a tree with one of his hands, Lavan threw it at a group of soldiers, who just barely managed to duck out of the way.
Meanwhile, Fizzlepop jumped out at Lava in an attempt to strike at him! However, she was then ambushed by Zeb, who jumped at her with a loud yell!
"Uh, uh, uh, you don't get to my master that easily, equine!" The zebra warrior laughed, jumping on top of Fizzlepop, attempting to crush her with his body. "I've waited a thousand years to get my revenge, and I won't let a goody two horseshoes like you ruin everything!"
…
Back on the moon, Darkblade and his companions watched what was happening.
"Well, well, it seems that Lavan still has it after a thousand years," remarked Grogar. "He seems a hungry sort of creature. Perfect for him to join our ranks."
"And it seems she has lost her taste for combat," The Skull Sorcerer sneered, brushing his hand at the image Fizzlepop. "Inform me when she is burned to a crisp, okay? No sense in sticking around when you know the outcome."
Without any acknowledgment, Darkblade and Infinite watched as the wizard returned to his duties.
"The Skull Sorcerer seems to be an insubordinate type," Grogar remarked to Infinite. "If he displays such defiance again, we shall offer him to Scarface. Above all else, I expect obedience and compliance with my will."
Silently nodding, Infinite then returned to watching the fight with Darkblade.
…
From the Castle of Friendship's rooftop, Twilight and her friends watched in horror at what was happening! To say the battle was going poorly for the ponied would be an understatement.
"Inferno's headin' this way" Applejack cried in horror! "And it looks like that his friends of his is gonna finish off Tempest. What are we gonna do, Twilight?!"
"We'll just have to try and stop him before reaches the town," Twilight declared. "Nopony will stand a chance if he gets into the town square!"
But no sooner did the Mane Six along with their allies depart than were the screams of the Ponyville citizens heard once more!
"Come on! We don't have much time!" Twilight cried! Part of her realizing that Fizzlepop very well would be killed because of her.
What no one could know was that an impending fight to the death between a broken horned unicorn and zebra warrior was about to unfold. Fizzlepop wasn't quite doomed yet, and Zeb was about to discover just how resourceful and determined a pony on the verge of death could be.
…
…
Going as fast as their hooves and wings would let them, Twilight and her friends arrived in Ponyville just as Lavan drew close. Seeing their subjects screaming in panic, each decided to try and strike at Lavan on their own. At worst they could hopefully buy time for an evacuation.
"If that beast gets within one foot of my boutique…" Rarity snarled, standing in front of her boutique, her horn charged to its fullest power. "He'll have another thing coming to him!"
"I can get the other Pegasi to dump rain on the town," Rainbow Dash suggested to Twilight. "It should at least weaken him."
"I can create a wind tornado to calm the flames!" Sonic said.
"If my freezing spell can't hold him then what else will?" Twilight wondered as she tried to figure out what to do. "Anypony have ideas?"
"I can shoot water balloons at him from the top of Sugarcube Corner!" Pinkie Pie suggested. "My Party Cannon can fire more than just confetti, you know!"
"And I can my water necklace," Lana suggested.
"It may not be enough, but what other choice do we have?" Twilight told her friends. "Get all the water you can and maybe even dirt and rocks. Inferno must be stopped at all costs! With all of your suggestions and my quick-freezing spell, we might have a chance."
Taking heed of Twilight's command, all split up to gather the items needed to fight the approaching lava demon.
…
in Ponyville, Twilight and her friends threw water, rocks, and anything they possibly could at Lavan.
"Take this, fire boy!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, motioning for a rain cloud to fall on the lava!
However, this only made him enraged. "Do you actually think a few raindrops will stop me?" He shouted as he suddenly rose from the pool of lava, trying to swipe at Rainbow Dash (who flew out of the way). "You shall burn, Princess of Loyalty! Burn along with this pathetic town!"
Before he could take another swipe at Rainbow Dash, however, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his side! Turning around, he saw Twilight with her horn charged up.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the supreme ruler of Equestria herself?" He laughed. "We meet at last."
"I've already met you!" Twilight hissed. "And now…we say goodbye!" Firing another blast of magic, Twilight struck Lavan in the chest as he felt another barrage of water balloons from Sugarcube Corner hit him in the side.
"Uh, one too many?" Pinkie squeaked in a nervous tone as Lavan gazed grimily at her. But before Lavan could strike at Pinkie, Applejack and Fluttershy came up from behind, throwing blasts of rocks and dirt at him.
"No monster hurts my friends or my town, ya hear?" Applejack shouted, only for Lavan to lose his temper and fire a blast of lava at Applejack and Fluttershy!
While the blast avoided a direct hit it still struck them, much to Twilight's horror!
"NO!" She screamed, immediately flying down to their side. "You guys okay?"
But the answer to the question was a grim one. She looked down in horror and saw both Applejack and Fluttershy covered in burn.
"It hurts! It hurts!" Fluttershy cried, unable to move her wings.
Enraged, Twilight charged at him with a look of death in her eyes. But Lavan sensed this and threw a blob of lava at Twilight!
But almost without any warning, His blast was deflected from Twilight and redirected back to the hillside!
Looking over his side, Lavan saw Fizzlepop and her friends and platoon standing at the edge of town.
"That's enough!" Fizzlepop demanded. "Your friends is no more, Lavan! So unless you wish to join him, you shall surrender to me now!"
"You killed them?! My only friends?!" He questioned, his tone rising in anger as he then let out a ferocious yell and fired a blast of lava at Fizzlepop, who managed to produce a shield to protect herself and her small army from the blast. "Now, they shall be avenged with your death, Tempest Shadow!"
Charging towards Fizzlepop, he knocked down buildings in a blind rage, his eyes locked right on the broken horned unicorn.
With the Lord of Fire charging towards her, Fizzlepop mustered up what power she still had in her horn and charged right at him, firing blast after blast of unstable magic! She hoped to make him to lose his balance.
But he stood his ground, refusing to back down.
"You're strong, Tempest Shadow!" his hissed, trying to step on Fizzlepop with his lava foot. "But not strong enough! None surpass me!"
Using her teleportation spell, Fizzlepop tried to stay one step ahead of the angry lava demon. A task that was easier said than done when every teleport took a great deal of concentration and energy.
Meanwhile, Twilight turned to her injured friends.
"Twi…" Applejack whimpered, feeling the burning pain on her coat. "It...hurts, sugar…"
Turning to Fizzlepop's platoon, Twilight directed them towards her as Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Rarity also assembled.
"Get them out of here!" She ordered as her eyes narrowed. "I'm going to help Tempest!"
"Be careful, Twilight! We can't risk anything happening to you as well!" Rarity cried as she hugged Twilight, then watched the alicorn take off into the sky.
…
Hovering over Ponyville, Fizzlepop continued to fire barrage after barrage of magic as she tried to lead Lavan out of the town and back up to the mountain.
"Fizzlepop, what are you trying to do?!" Twilight cried as she flew close to the broken horned unicorn.
"I'm trying to get him back up the mountain towards the volcano!" Fizzlepop replied. "If I can just put him back in and then cast a spell to lock him up…"
"You think that will work?!" Twilight questioned.
Fizzlepop confessed. "I don't know but I have to try. He's too strong for me to take on face to face. This time though, I'll make sure the seal is permanent. Or at least that he won't be able to break it so easily."
"You shall never escape me, Tempest Shadow!" Inferno bellowed as he approached! "Seal me away if you dare! But no matter what you do, you won't be able to escape my wrath!'
"You're right," Fizzlepop replied, feigning defeat as Twilight hovered a ways away, watching and waiting. "I can't escape you! So why don't you just go ahead and finish me off, then?"
For a moment, he suspected that Fizzlepop was trying to pull a trick. Still an opportunity was an opportunity and so he decided to finish off Fizzlepop once and for all. Taking in a deep breath, he prepared to fire a powerful blast of lava that would surely kill her.
Instead, Fizzlepop watched as Twilight appeared from behind him, ready to use her magic to help push he back into the mountain! Judging her moment, Fizzlepop leapt into the air as the blast of lava missed her! Working together, both Fizzlepop and Twilight used their magic to push Lavan screaming into the mountain.
"THIS ISN'T OVER!" He screamed as he disappeared from sight! Acting fast, Fizzlepop and Twilight each casted a spell to close the interior back up once again. "YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF LAVAN! WHEN NEXT I AWAKEN YOU PONIES SHALL FEEL THE FULL EXTENT OF MY WRATH!"
Twilight shook her head. "Not this time, Inferno!" Her horn sparkled quite furiously, casting a magical lock over the interior! "This seal shall last a lifetime, your lifetime! You will never escape again."
…
Exhausted, Fizzlepop lowered herself back onto the ground and sighed quite heavily. The Lord of Fire had been defeated. "That should hold him…" Fizzlepop gasped, as she realized the gravity of the situation she was in. "Was…was this the test you wanted me to take, Twilight? The test I needed to pass before I could become captain?"
Twilight said nothing but nodded to indicate that Fizzlepop was right.
"So, I passed?" Tempest realized.
"You did, Tempest," Twilight replied while warmly extending her hoof out to Fizzlepop. "And it is with great honor that I declare, henceforth you shall be captain of Equestria's new royal guard!"
With tears forming in the corners of her eyes, Fizzlepop extended her hoof back to Twilight as she fully accepted her destiny.
…
From up on the moon, Darkblade, Infinite and the Skull Sorcerer took in what they had just watched in Equestria.
"It's as he said, my lord," Infinite declared. "He will be back."
"And he shall be back, that seal won't hold him like the princess hopes. Not if I have anything to say about," he laughed, turning away from his telescope and back towards a great black cauldron at the far-left side of his throne.
Then, chanting in an ancient language, Grogar caused the entire throne room to shake violently! With a bright flash of light, the hand of a lava creature came out of the cauldron and Darkblade watched with satisfaction as Inferno emerged.
"Where am I?" he asked, looking around before turning towards Darkblade and Infinite . "Who are you?! Why have you summoned me?!"
"I am Lord Darkblade and I have brought you here to serve me in my quest to bring Equestria to its knees." He informed the creature.
"Where are my generals ?" Inferno asked. "Is he…"
"They are alive," he vaguely replied. "But the only way I can revive them all…is if you swear your allegiance to me and only me. Will you swear to me?"
"As long as this Fizzlepop Berrytwist pays big time then my answer is yes." As he bowed down to him.
The battle had been won, but the war was far from over for Equestria. And as Darkblade he found another ally to his growing Cabal.
The Magic Continues Next in Episode 12-The Lost Royals