Chapter 27: To Where and Back Again, Part 2
*Main theme*
Starlight, Trixie, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Dojo, Clay, Ember, Jewel, Santos, Nyx, Sokka, Grazer, Thorax, and Discord continued to look at the ominous looking tower in the distance. Discord was still trying to make sense of his off-target magic.
"Oh, this is so strange," Discord said out loud, "We're here and that's there, and I clearly meant for us to be there and not here."
"Can't you just admit you're magic is off today?" Sokka remarked impatiently.
"Oh, I-I can probably explain-" Thorax tried to speak up.
"Oh, well," Discord interrupted, "If at first you don't succeed..." Discord went to snap his fingers again.
"Wait!" Nyx shouted.
"Maybe we should come up with a plan first," Starlight suggested as she held Discord's fingers frozen with his magic.
"A what?" Discord asked as he literally blew off the magic glow from his fingers.
"You know," Trixie remarked annoyingly, "figuring out the best way to do something before you actually do it."
"Or to get out of a nasty situation like this?" Dojo added with an irritated look.
"And actually using your brain," Jade added, "since you claim to be so intellectually superior to the rest of us."
Jade didn't resist adding a snooty tone to the end of her sentence. Discord just laughed.
"Oh, that's adorable," said Discord, "But you see, unlike you, I can do anything."
"And yet my wife and her friends beat you stupid easily," Sokka muttered under his breath.
"Uh, actually-" Thorax tried to protest, but was cut off again.
"That's all very nice, but really a waste of time," Discord replied as he put a finger over Thorax's mouth and patted Trixie's hat so it covered her face, "We have me. And what else could we possibly need?"
Trixie just lifted her hat and just glared at him.
"A draconequus with magic and half a brain might help," Trixie remarked in a snarky tone.
"I second that suggestion," Clay replied.
"Agreed." Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Ember, Nyx, and Dojo said in unison.
Jewel, Santos, and Grazer nodded in agreement.
Discord just scoffed at them as he leaned into Trixie, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio's face.
"Why are you two here again?" said Discord to Trixie, "I mean, it's not you like you're going to stop the changelings by pulling a rabbit out of a hat." Discord then grabbed Trixie's hat and pulled out...another Trixie. The two Trixies just glared at him. He then slithered to Chase and his team, "And how on earth are you five at risk going to be useful? More specifically you, Chase. What can you do with your medallions?"
"These." Chase said as he and his family concentrated with their chi as medallions glowed brightly.
Then they each held their respective dragon weapons with their hooves.
"These weapons were given to us when we took on Zhao and his Quinkan army in Manehattan." Chase said with a stern look. "So we're gonna fight the changelings with our chi."
"Yeah." Jade said sternly in agreement. "Don't underestimate us, or Trixie, just because she does performance magic doesn't mean she can't do anything useful!"
Trixie smiled, grateful for Jade defending her. Discord rolled his eyes.
"Yes, well, at the end of the day," Discord replied plainly, "At least, my magic can do something."
Trixie, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Dojo, Nyx, Ember, Santos, Jewel, and Clay just rolled their eyes.
"The thing about magic here is-" Thorax tried to explain, but was cut off again.
"Like this!" Discord bragged as he snapped his fingers. This made a Pigasus appear and he was riding it wearing some knight's clothing and holding a javelin.
"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me!" Sokka said, feeling offended by the mocking knight's outfit.
"Oh boy." Dojo said face palming himself in annoyance.
"Discord, will you listen to Thorax?!" Sunray snapped but Discord wouldn't listen.
"For Fluttershy!" Discord called out, "Yaah!"
Discord then whipped the reins to the Pigasus, which oinked as they went to change the tower, but just as they went over the edge of the cliff.
"YAAAAAAAH!" Discord yelped as both his armor and the Pigasus vanished into nothingness. Discord barely caught the edge of the cliff to avoid falling.
Discord quickly crawled up and snapped his fingers to make his Pigasus appear again. He then commanded the pig to charge ahead. The Pigasus did, but faded out once it passed the edge of the cliff. Trixie, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Clay, Santos, Jewel Grazer, Starlight, Nyx, Ember, Sokka, and Thorax just watched Discord make a fool of himself with blunt looking faces.
Chase clapped his hooves together in a slow manner.
"Thank you, Discord for demonstrating how stupid and arrogant you really are for not listening to any of us." Chase said as he stopped clapping with a glare.
"What's that supposed to be mean?!" Discord demanded in anger.
"It means you're stupid," Chase answered bluntly.
"Don't blame Chase! I've been trying to tell you!" Thorax said to Discord firmly, "Nothing other than changeling magic works here. Chrysalis' throne is carved from an ancient dark stone that soaks up outside magic the same way changelings soak up love. It's how she keeps the hive safe."
"Well, this can't get any worse." Sunray remarked with a glare.
"It's worse." Santos replied back to his younger son.
Starlight then lit up her horn and when she reached the edge of the cliff, the glow from her horn faded away.
"What about my dragon fire?" Ember asked curiously as she approached the edge. She took a deep breath before firing her purple Dragon Flame. She whistled, "Good thing my dragon flame is non-magical."
"Because you're a dragon?" Starlight asked amusingly. Ember smiled and nodded proudly.
"But… the throne also has one weakness." Thorax said, gaining everyone's attention. "Chase and his team's chi can also destroy it with the power of the dragon flames magic since they've received their mystic weapons."
"So all we have to do is get into the hive and destroy the throne with a single shot?" Chase asked with a surprised look.
"Yup." Thorax complied with a nod.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's bust in there and save everypony!" Sunray said with a determined look.
"Not so fast! Think, Sunray Steel." Chase said firmly.
"There's two words that don't usually go together." Jade said with a smirk as Trini and Nyx giggled in amusement.
"If Chrysalis knows I'm here and wants me to face her, then she's obviously turned the hive into a trap." Chase said, not liking this.
"Well, what choice do we have?" Trixie asked with concern.
Dojo saw the look in Chase's eyes as he knew where this was going.
"You got that ominous thing going on. Care to spill the beans?" Dojo asked Chase.
"Maybe we do need to think more like Chrysalis." Chase finally said, making everypony, minus Dojo and Discord, gasp in surprise.
"But Chase, grandpa always said that-" Jade tried to encourage her older brother not to do it, only to get cut off.
"I know!" Chase said firmly. "But Chrysalis crossed the line of dragging all of our friends and loved ones into this. She's gotta learn that I can cross the line too." He then smirked. "No more mr. nice stallion."
"Yes!" Sunray said with an eager grin. "I never liked mr. nice stallion."
"So, uh," Trixie stuttered as she looked at Starlight and Chase, "What kind of plan were you two thinking?"
"Without magic, I have no idea," said Starlight, "But nopony else is coming. So somepony better come up with something!
Sokka, Clay, Dojo, Grazer, Sunray, Jade, Trini, Antonio, Ember, Nyx, Jewel, Trixie, Thorax, and Discord just gave her blank looks.
"Anypony? Anything?" Starlight asked as the group just gave her worried looks.
Chase hummed as he pondered.
"This throne - if we get into the hive, use our chi and destroy it, can we get our magic back?" Chase asked
"Uh-huh!" said Thorax, "but there is one problem..."
"What might that be?" Starlight asked with a groan.
"If Chrysalis wants you, Chase, then she'll probably be waiting for you by now to finish you off." Thorax explained. "She's not gonna be real happy once you set foot in the hive."
Chase pondered for a moment before he put a determined look on his face.
"It's a risk we'll have to take." Chase said firmly.
"Well, that's a terrible plan," said Discord, "How are we even supposed to get to the hive?"
"We walk," said Trixie bluntly as all but Discord carefully headed down the cliffside to the lower wasteland below.
"I haven't walked that far in a millennia!" Discord complained as he pulled down on his eyelids.
"You can do it, Discord," said Sokka before adding with a smirk, "Unless you're afraid we'll all see just how physically unfit you really are."
"Now don't you go sassing me, Sokka!" Discord retorted indignantly, "Only Fluttershy is allowed to sass me!"
Trixie, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Clay, Ember, Grazer, Nyx, Dojo, Jewel, Santos, and Starlight groaned. Thorax and Sokka gave him annoyed looks.
"Is he always like this?" Ember asked in annoyance.
"Unfortunately." Chase replied back with an irritated look on his face.
(Scene changes)
It wasn't long before they were about less than halfway across the wasteland. Discord didn't waste much time whining.
"Oh, I don't know how any of you manage not being able to disappear and reappear whenever you want!" Discord complained.
"Well, I, for one, definitely miss you being able to disappear!" Trixie remarked as Starlight, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Dojo, Nyx, Santos, Jewel, Ember, Clay, Thorax, and Sokka gave Discord a skeptical look.
"Yeah," Nyx added irritably, "are you going to complain the entire way to the hive?"
"Gee, mother," Discord remarked, "I just might consider it!"
"Just shut it and move it, Discord," Sokka said sternly.
"Okay, everypony," said Starlight, trying to keep peace, "Give Discord a break. None of us knew we weren't going to be able to use magic."
"Yeah, it's not like we were expecting it." Chase added firmly.
"I did," said Thorax.
"We know, Thorax," said Trini, "I know we should show Discord empathy, but he was so determined to learn that lesson the hard way and won't listen to reason."
"Okay, I'm sorry I ignored you! Ya happy?!" Discord snapped,
Trini turned around and gave him a toothy smile. Discord just rolled his eyes as Thorax chuckled. Starlight then realized something as she ran up ahead to make Trixie and the others stop walking.
"If we get separated, it might make sense to have a way to make sure we are who we say we are," Starlight suggested.
"Hey, that is a good idea," said Sokka as the others nodded in agreement.
"Oh! Like a secret code!" said Discord, "How about if I say "we are" and you say "doomed"? Or you say "rescued" and I say..." Discord then tripped and fell down on his face.
"How about if we say "klutzy" and you say "draconequus"?" Trixie suggested with a smirk.
""Klutzy draconequus" works for me," said Starlight.
"Me too," said Nyx with a smile.
"So funny and good!" Dojo agreed with a smile.
"Oh! I like it! That's the best secret code ever!" Ember laughed amusingly.
"That'll sure confuse the changelings." Santos said in agreement with a smile as Jewel chuckled in agreement as well.
"I was gonna suggest, you say "Discord" and I say "stupid"," Sokka remarked, "But I like Trixie's idea. Let's stick with that."
"Alright, then let's get going." Chase said as they pressed on.
Neither of the ponies noticed that Discord was giving them all death glares.
(Scene changes)
At the main entrance, two changeling guards were standing post at the front opening. They were able to peek out from some spiked rocks just near the entrance hole and behind the guards. Thorax then gestured for the group to head inside of a nearby hole and flew inside. Discord stood low so Trixie, Dojo, and Starlight could climb his back to get inside. Sokka simply hovered inside since he was Pegasus. Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Jewel, Nyx, Ember, Grazer, and Clay simply jumped inside using their jiu jitsu skills. Discord then climbed inside as well.
All but Thorax were shocked to see that the area was a very big and confusing labyrinth.
"Okay, I'm definitely glad you came," Trixie remarked to Thorax, cowering fearfully, "I don't think we'd be able to find our way without you."
"You definitely wouldn't," said Thorax as the entrance behind them closed.
"Okay, that was officially weird." Chase said with a shocked look.
"Freak show." Sunray added in agreement.
"Uh, where's the way out?" Trixie squeaked.
"It's a changeling hive," Thorax answered, "It shifts and changes like we do, and we're the only ones who can navigate it. It's total chaos to non-changelings."
"Well, it's decent chaos," Discord remarked, "I don't know if I'd call it "total"."
"Well, your chaos and this chaos do share one thing in common," Sokka remarked, "They're both totally annoying." Discord huffed as Trixie giggled.
"Good one, Sokka!" Trixie replied.
"As Big Mac would say… Eeyup!" Clay added in agreement.
"We can't worry about that right now. We have to keep going for everypony." Chase instructed.
The group then headed through another hole with Discord being at the back of the line. He then quickly pulled his tail though since the hole started closing up and would have cut his tail off.
(Scene changes)
A short while later, the group made their way down some stairs and were soon finding themselves walking upward instead of down.
"Are we sure that I'll get my magic back when we destroy this throne thingy?" Discord asked.
"If Thorax is right, then yes," said Starlight.
"Well, that's reassuring," Discord remarked sarcastically.
"And how are we supposed to destroy the throne when we find it?" Trixie asked Thorax with concern.
She and Discord gave Starlight and Chase hopeful smiles.
"I… I don't know." Starlight responded back.
"Do I look like I know everything?" Chase asked annoyingly.
"But Chase, Thorax did say that your chi is the only thing that can destroy the throne. Right?" Starlight asked Chase hopefully.
"Yeah, but first we need to get to the throne room before we get spotted. The last thing we need is unwanted attention." Chase responded back as he pressed onward.
"That's reassuring," Trixie muttered sarcastically afterward as Discord had a bored look on his face.
"Well I don't hear you giving any ideas," Sokka remarked.
"And what's your excuse, other than hoarding the only source of magic we have?" Trixie snapped but then found Discord was searching through her saddle bags.
"I don't suppose you brought any throne-destroying tools along with these useless sideshow props," Discord asked as he continued to shuffle through the cerulean unicorn's things.
"Asks the Lord of Chaos who can't go for a walk without whining nonstop," Trixie remarked as Sokka nodded in agreement.
"Yes," Discord pointed out, "but when the throne is destroyed, I'll be able to rip the very fabric of reality to save our friends, while you'll still be a self-absorbed, below-average illusionist!"
Discord then pulled Trixie's hat over her eyes.
"Self-absorbed?!" Trixie spluttered in rage.
"That's low Discord!" Sokka retorted in Trixie's defense, "Trixie may have an ego issues, but she works harder than anypony trying to improve her magical talents!"
"Yeah!" Trixie snapped, grateful for the support.
"And this is coming from a washed out-Royal Guard who spends his days being Fluttershy's maid and slave," said Discord, "Some marriage if you ask me! You're in no better condition than Miss sad-excuse-for-a-magician here!"
"Why, you...!" Trixie and Sokka said together in rage, snarling at Discord as they got into his face.
Starlight then pushed the two ponies and draconequus apart.
"Cut. It. Out!" Starlight scolded angrily, "I'm just barely keeping it together, and it would be wonderful if you two could actually try to help instead of bickering like foals! Chase, Clay, Nyx, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio seem to be the only ponies around here acting like an adult!"
Starlight then stomped off. The three others glared at the seven, who said nothing.
"But what about Ember and Grazer?" Trixie remarked.
"I want no part of it." Ember said bluntly before she turned to them with a glare. "And don't you even think about saying that Spike is my boyfriend! We're just friends!"
"I want to stop Chrysalis and save everypony just as much as you all want to, but we can't argue like this." Grazer added in agreement.
Jewel and Santos nodded in agreement.
"So do us all a favor and act your age." Santos said sternly.
"Seriously, can you three at least try to be helpful? Starlight and Chase aren't the only ones trying to avoid a panic attack right now and despite not coming up with any ideas! We're actually trying to come up with something!" Jade agreed with a glare as her family and Clay shared the same expression they sent to the three.
Then they turned to catch up with Starlight and Chase.
The others just slumped over in defeat.
"Okay," said Discord.
"Sorry," said Sokka, feeling rather embarrassed that he, once again, let Discord get under his skin.
"How can we help?" Trixie asked.
"Don't ask me!" Starlight retorted, "I couldn't even handle giving advice at the Sunset Festival, and I had magic then! And with Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio's chi, all of us are as good as useless! At least Thorax knows where we are going!"
"Um, guys?" Thorax told the group slowly, "I think we're lost."
The group then arrived in an area that was more random and twisted than the first area.
"Oh, great," said Trixie as she dumped her gear into the ground, "We might as well just sit here and wait for the changelings to soak up our love or whatever gross thing it is they do."
Chase groaned loudly.
"No way in Equestria am I gonna just sit here to get fed up," said Chase angrily, "We came here to save our friends and that's just what we're gonna do!"
"Easy, Chase." Starlight said gently. "I want to rescue our friends just as much as you do, but you shouldn't let your anger get to you that Chrysalis will be expecting to see you here."
"Good point." Chase said calmly.
"How often do you all get hungry?" Trixie asked Thorax.
"Actually, I haven't been since I met Spike, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, and Ember," said Thorax, "and changelings are always hungry. We can never get enough love."
"Well, that's just super-" Trixie tried to retort.
"Wait just a second there!" said Nyx as Starlight covered Trixie's mouth, "Thorax isn't hungry for love anymore?!"
"But you aren't hungry at all now?" Starlight asked as Discord just did some stretches behind them.
"Huh," said Thorax, "Once I made a few friends, I guess I just sort of forgot about the whole feeding thing."
"Very interesting," said Sokka as he rubbed his chin with a fore-hoof.
"Is that about the same time your wings changed?" Starlight asked the changeling.
"Maybe there is another way as well." Chase said with a look of thought.
"What are you thinking, Lance, Chase?" Sunray asked.
"If we can befriend and share our friendship and love with those changelings," Chase suggested, "They won't get hungry and soak up our love and combine their power with our chi to destroy the throne!"
"I don't know. Could be risky..." Santos said in concern. Chase and Sunray sighed in disappointment to their father. He continued, "But it's better than nothing."
"So, you're okay with this? You're not suggesting that we just approach and talk with them, are we?" Trini asked in concern, "That sounds like a bad idea!"
"Yeah, this sounds worse than ever!" Antonio said in agreement.
"I guess so," said Thorax as he flapped his glittery wings. Jewel pondered.
"I get the feeling that information might be useful later on, better make a mental note of it," Jewel muttered to herself.
"It's a long shot," Starlight said, "But better than nothing."
Ember sneezed a bit, surprising everyone. She giggled.
"Sorry, guys." Ember apologized. "Talking about feelings makes me allergic. I rarely talk about it. After all, I'm a warrior."
"It's understandable. Just a good thing that your sneeze didn't attract some attention," Thorax said in relief.
It was then they heard Discord yawn.
"While I would love to sit around chitchatting about feeding and not feeding!" Discord said before shouting boldy, "I have a Fluttershy to save!" His voice echoed throughout the area.
"Discord, what are you doing?!" Jade scolded in a loud whisper.
"Can you please lower your voice?!" Trixie remarked in a hush tone, "You're gonna get us all captured!"
"And need I remind you that Fluttershy is expecting me to save her!" Sokka added angrily in a hushed tone as well.
"Oh, you keep saying that," Discord replied dismissively, "but I haven't seen an actual changeling since we got into the hive."
"And we would love to keep it that way, stupid!" Sokka snapped through gritted teeth. Suddenly, the group heard the sound of some rather menacing buzzing as they all looked upwards.
"Uh oh..." Dojo whimpered.
"W-what's that?" Trixie.
"Trouble if you ask me," said Sunray worriedly.
"I didn't expect them to come here." Santos said with worry.
"Me too, honey." Jewel agreed with her husband.
"A changeling patrol!" Thorax exclaimed.
A swarm of five changelings came buzzing down a tunnel in their direction. Discord, Trixie, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Ember, Jade, Grazer, Nyx, and Clay looked worried as Starlight, Chase, Santos, and Jewel were comforting Thorax since the poor changeling was hyperventilating.
"This seems like one of those moments where we need a plan," Discord remarked.
"Oh, now you want to come up with a plan?" Sokka retorted irritably.
"We're gonna need a really big plan to stop them!" Dojo said worriedly.
"What kind of plan?!" Trixie said frantically, "We have no magic, and it's not like my illusions are gonna save us!"
"Illusions...illusions..." Nyx pondered and then smiled, "Wait, that's it! Starlight, remember that little trick Trixie used to save you at the Sunset Festival?"
"Why would...wait, I get it!" said Starlight, "Trixie, do you have any of those smoke bombs Sokka let you borrow?"
"Are you kidding?" Trixie answered, smirking since she had caught on with what Nyx had in mind.
It wasn't long before the changelings appeared and found that there was nopony to be seen.
"Looking for somepony?" Trixie taunted as she smirked at the five changelings.
She then threw down a smoke bomb and disappeared. The five changelings were stunned when they past right through Trixie's smoke and found that she was gone.
"Is that the best you've got?" Trixie taunted again and laughed.
The five changelings snarled and charged at her, but Trixie kept using her smoke bombs to disappear several times. She then made a run for it as the five changelings chased after her.
Meanwhile, Starlight, Discord, Nyx, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Jewel, Santos, Grazer, Clay, and Sokka just watched the ruckus from above with another hole. They took note that two changelings then took another turn into another tunnel as it closed up behind them.
"Not exactly great and powerful, but effective," Discord remarked.
"Hm, I'll take it," Trixie said smugly as she appeared with a second Trixie behind her.
Starlight, Sokka, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Clay, Santos, Jewel, Nyx, Grazer, and Discord winced.
""Klutzy"...," Starlight, Chase, Sokka, Clay, and Nyx said.
"..."draconequus"!" said Trixie, Jewel, Santos, Sunray, Trini, Jade, Grazer, and Thorax.
The latter revealed that he had changed his appearance to look like Trixie as part of the plan. Starlight and Chase sighed with relief.
"Ugh, I really think we need a new code word!" Discord suggested.
"Okay, we were also good with this," said Sokka, "I say Discord..."
"..We say "stupid"!," Starlight, Trixie, Thorax, and Ember said together. Discord groaned.
"Nevermind, our current code word is fine," Discord remarked begrudgingly.
"Getting back on track," said Thorax, "That was a pretty good plan."
"But we still don't know where we're going," said Trixie.
"Good point," said Jade, "We can't keep just wondering around hoping we'll get lucky. We need to find the throne room now!"
"Actually, we might," said Starlight, "Two of the changelings didn't go with the rest."
"Oh!" said Thorax, "With an intruder in the hive, they went to protect the queen! Good thinking, Starlight and Chase!"
The rest of the group gave the lilac unicorn and alicorn stallion smiles as Starlight just gave an embarrassed but cute little laugh as Chase smirked.
(Scene changes)
Soon the group reached what appeared to be a tall tower and a spiral staircase. Several other changelings were also flying about on patrol. The group cautiously peeked out from another hole at the bottom of the tower. Then they quickly headed up the stairs as quickly and quietly as they could. Once they were near the top of the staircase, they quietly peeked up from the top stairs to see six changeling guards standing before a large thick green curtain.
"I'm guessing the throne room is behind that curtain," said Jade.
"About time!" said Chase, "I'm itching to give my chi a good workout and save my wife and the rest of our friends."
"Be careful, Chase." Santos said to his son warningly. "That's just what Chrysalis wants you to do."
"I know, but I wanna teach her a lesson for what happens when you mess with me." Chase said with determination.
"Now what?" Trixie asked.
"We...go in," said Starlight slowly. Thorax then cowered back fearfully.
"Even if I wanted to," said Thorax, "there's no way past the guards. We'll be spotted for sure!"
"We need some kind of...distraction," Starlight suggested.
"I'm fresh out of smoke bombs," said Trixie.
"And I'm guessing you want me to keep our chi out of sight until we reach Chrysalis," Sunray pointed out as Starlight nodded in confirmation.
"Normally, I'm the most distracting thing I can think of," Discord interjected, "but without magic..." Starlight, Chase, and the rest of the group then smirked.
"You shouldn't underestimate yourself," said Starlight.
Discord then gave the lilac unicorn a skeptical look.
(Scene changes)
A few minutes later, another changeling entered through the curtain. Discord then appeared before them holding a mic in his claw.
"Hello, changelings and changelettes!" Discord announced as he tapped his mic, "Believe me, I was just as surprised as you are that I'm here! When I heard that I'd be playing for a bunch of changelings, I was beside myself! Then I realized, it was just one of you."
BA-DUM-TISH!
The six changeling guards just snarled at him. Discord laughed nervously.
"But, seriously," Discord continued, "this isn't the toughest crowd I've ever been in front of. But it's definitely the easiest to bug!"
BA-DUM-TISH!
The six guards just gave the draconequus some funny looks.
""To bug"?" Discord repeated and tapped his microphone, "Is this thing on?" The guard just slowly and menacingly approached him. Discord cowered back at bit nervously.
In the background, Starlight, Trixie, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Clay, Santos, Jewel, Ember, Nyx, Sokka, Grazer, and Thorax all rushed past the curtain as quickly and quietly as they could.
"Well, if you think that you can do any better, be my guest!" said Discord as he tossed the mike away and ran for his life. The rest of the group watched as Discord lead the guards away.
"It is absolutely ridiculous that that worked," Trixie remarked to the others.
"I agree," said Trini, "But since he did lure the guards away, I'm not complaining." Starlight just chuckled.
(Scene changes)
Back with Discord, The guards wasted no time chasing after him. Discord then found a tall column to hide behind as the guards rushed past his location. Once the coast was clear, Discord came out of his hiding place.
"It is certainly a pleasure to have such dedicated fans," Discord remarked, "I'll have to come back with some new material after I rescue Fluttershy." Discord then turned to leave and go rejoin the others when he heard a familiar whimpering.
"Please, help!" the voice whimpered. Discord turned to see a familiar yellow Pegasus.
"Fluttershy!" Discord exclaimed as he saw the Pegasus crying and her long pink tail was trapped under a rock.
"Discord! I'm stuck!" Fluttershy called out.
"You certainly are," Discord replied, "And I should probably help you get free." Discord then leaned down to free the yellow Pegasus's tail, but then stopped himself.
"But...oh-ho-ho-ho-ho..." Discord chortled knowingly.
"But what?" asked Fluttershy.
"But you are obviously not Fluttershy!" Discord pointed out and waved a finger back and forth.
"Oh," said Fluttershy sadly.
"I mean," Discord continued, "I'm separated from the group and just happen to come across the one pony I care most about? I can smell this set up a mile away." Fluttershy began to cry.
"No, you're right," she sobbed, "There's no way you should trust me. Just go find the others. I understand!" Fluttershy stared wailing, but Discord wasn't going to be convinced.
"Oh, come on!" Discord exclaimed. It was then he heard the same crying. He turned around and there before him was Fluttershy! Dozens of Fluttershys! And they were all pleading, crying, and weeping too. Discord was left in a state of shock.
"We're probably all changelings!" said one Fluttershy that was trapped, "You shouldn't rescue any of us. Unless, you think, maybe one of us might be the real Fluttershy. Oh, that certainly would be a nasty changeling trick, wouldn't it?" The fact this Fluttershy had a devious tone and sinister smile was an obvious clue that this was a trap, but Discord seemed to have fallen for it. While he knew there was no way they could all be Fluttershy, he couldn't help but wonder...what if the real one was amongst the crowd of fakes?
"I'm the real one," said a second Fluttershy.
"I'm the real one," said a third Fluttershy.
"I'm the real Fluttershy," said a fourth. Poor Discord was too stunned to move.
(Scene changes)
Back with the others, they had hidden themselves behind a crack in the tunnel to avoid being seen. Thorax was keeping watch for Discord's return, but was worried since the draconequus was taking a long time to return.
"We can't wait for Discord," Thorax told the others, "Between seeing him and Trixie, the castle will be crawling with guards soon."
"As much as I hate to say this," said Sokka, "but we can't just leave him behind."
"Are you guys crazy?! That's not enough time!" Chase said as the others agreed with him.
"If we get spotted by the changelings, then we're all doomed." Ember said in agreement.
"But if we do manage to destroy Chrysalis's throne," Starlight pointed out, "We'll need him. He could take on the entire changeling army by sneezing if he wanted to."
"If that's true, then why is Chase here?" Sokka retorted with jealousy.
"Uh, he's supposed to confront Chrysalis one on one," Starlight pointed out as Chase glared at him sternly.
"Oh...right," said Sokka sheepishly.
"He's probably already been captured!" Trixie said and shuddered.
"You might be right," said Nyx worriedly.
It was then somepony entered the curtain. It was a familiar draconequus!
"Hello? Fellow rescuers?" Discord called out. The group came out of hiding as Thorax rushed up to him.
"We can't stay here," Thorax told Discord, "We gotta find the throne."
"Ooh!" said Discord giddily, "I heard some of the changelings who were chasing me say that they know where it is?"
"Really?" said Dojo skeptically as Trixie and Starlight shared similar looks with each other.
""Klutzy"?" Trixie said to him.
"Hmm?" Discord said and laughed, "Oh. Yeah, I-I can be klutzy. Now, follow me."
The group did, but with cautious looking faces.
"You know that's not Discord, right?" Starlight whispered to the others.
"Obviously," said Trixie.
"No duh," Chase added, "He's way too nice to be the real deal."
"And he's doesn't look as dumb either," Sunray remarked.
Thorax just looked worried and said nothing. It wasn't long before the path there were on split into two.
"This way!" said what was now known as a fake Discord, "We're almost there!" Thorax grew even more worried.
"I know this trick," said Thorax, "If he says to go left, we should definitely go right. He's leading us to a swarm of changelings waiting to attack!"
Trixie then gave a definitely sigh.
"Okay, I'll handle it," said Trixie, "You all get ready to run into the other tunnel."
"Wait, what?!" Starlight exclaimed in shock, "Trixie, you can't! I won't know what to do! We've already lost Discord, I can't lose you too! Without magic, I-"
"Starlight," said Trixie, "You and Chase got us this far with just my illusions, Discord's annoying personality, and Chase's family's quick thinking. You don't need magic to figure out what to do next. I know you're afraid to be in charge, but you are really good at it! Listen, to your best friend."
Starlight then smiled as the two ponies shared a hug.
"Good luck, Trixie." Chase said to Trixie with a smile.
Trixie nodded before turning to Discord.
"Hey, Discord!" Trixie said confidently, "Want to see the new trick I've been working on?"
Trixie then grabbed his claw and placed a cloth over it, "I call it "Changeling Catcher"!" Trixie then removed the cloth to show that they were now tied to together by her multi-colored handkerchiefs.
"RUN!" Trixie yelled as the rest of the group took as fast as they could.
The fake Discord seethed with rage as he revealed his true form. The changeling tried to fly away, but found himself tied to Trixie as she tried to hold it back. But then Trixie heard some hissing and found that a huge swarm had been hiding directly above her.
"Ta-da..." Trixie said nervously before...
HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
Poor Trixie was buried alive and captured.
The rest of the group was busily running for their lives until they came to a stop to catch their breath. Then behind them, they noticed the shadows of several changelings heading in their direction.
"Split up!" Chase called out.
This time, nopony questioned him as they all ran through different tunnels surrounding a spare tunnel in the center. The swarm flew through the center hole as the other holes closed to ensure the others had made their escape.
(Scene changes)
Now Starlight found herself all alone. She cringed when she saw something ominous in the distance and continued to venture on. Then some green goo went splat on her head. She quickly went to wipe it off and gasped in utter horror. There above her was Discord, Cadance, the six girls, and all the rest high above her contained in green pods upside down.
Starlight tried to approach the throne but was stopped by the voice's familiar laughter. It was then revealed that the voice belong to Queen Chrysalis herself! She had been hiding and crawling about the pods containing Celestia and Luna.
"One little pony all by herself, "Chrysalis taunted deviously, "Oh, how will I prevent this daring rescue?"
She then made her joints creak as she rotated her head from being upside down to right side up. Starlight cringed as several changelings came out of hiding, screeching and hissing at her. It only took less than a second before Starlight was completely outnumbered and surrounded.
It was only seconds later that Starlight found herself bound to the ground by her fore-hooves via some changeling goop. Starlight tried to break away, but it was no use.
"Well, well, well," Chrysalis said sinisterly as she hovered off her throne to the lilac unicorn, "The Princess of Friendship's sole pupil. Honestly, I didn't think you were worth replacing with one of my drones."
"You won't get away with this!" Starlight yelled.
"I already have," Chrysalis replied as she held a fore-leg up to the pods above her, "Nopony is coming to save you. Your little squad was it. And now, there's just you." Despite Chrysalis's words, Starlight's demeanor didn't falter.
"Thorax is still out there," Starlight pointed out.
"Don't mention that traitor's name in my kingdom!" Chrysalis snapped angrily as she got into Starlight's face, "He was a fool to leave and a fool to return! When I find him, he'll learn just what happens to those who betray the hive! And I will personally deal with Chase Young after he humiliated me in Canterlot!"
Starlight whimpered. And it was a big mistake. The fear in her eyes made something glow past her eyes and Chrysalis noticed it.
"And it seems I don't have to look, do I..." Chrysalis added as she fired a green magic blast at Starlight, revealing that it was actually Thorax in disguise! Thorax whimpered as the other changelings hissed menacingly at him.
"Thorax?" Chrysalis said as she glared at him and approached Thorax.
It was then they all heard something clinking in the background. Chrysalis turned around. There was Starlight, trying to smash the throne with a huge chunk of rock.
Starlight noticed that Chrysalis had spotted her. She whimpered before barley jumping out of the way as Chrysalis fired a magic blast at her.
"Very clever," Chrysalis remarked smugly as she approached her throne to try and find the lilac unicorn, "And clearly Thorax revealed to you the secret of my throne. I can't have the most powerful ponies using their abilities against me. Even with your embarrassing little rescue attempt, everything has gone according to my plan."
"What plan?" Starlight asked as she tried to remain hidden inside of the throne, "Why did you do all this?!"
"So I could feed, of course!" said Chrysalis as she stuck her head into Starlight's face, making her fall back, "By replacing the most beloved figures in Equestria, my drones will be able to store all the love meant for them and return it here to me. Everypony will do as I command and my subjects and I will feed on their love for generations!" She then laughed maniacally as the other changelings hissed supportively."
Thorax had a frightened look on his face. Starlight then tried to quietly crawl away from the throne, but then she saw Thorax. Starlight then took special notice of Thorax's glittery wings.
"What if you didn't have to?" Starlight asked.
The other changelings listened curiously, but Chrysalis felt threatened by the idea.
"Ridiculous!" said Chrysalis as she landed hard on the floor before Starlight, "The hunger of changelings can never be satisfied!"
She then grabbed Starlight by her tail and threw her away. Starlight landed on her stomach as two changeling guards stood beside her to keep her from escaping.
"Exactly," said Starlight as the guards held her back, "Thorax left the hive and made seven friends. He shared love, and now he doesn't need to feed. You don't have to live your lives starving all the time!"
The guards then eased off as the other changelings shared curious looks with each other. Chrysalis grabbed Starlight with her magic.
"You know nothing of the changelings of what it takes to be their queen!" Chrysalis angrily and then tossed the lilac unicorn towards a wall, Starlight hit the wall back first before she fell to the floor. "I decide what's best for my subjects, not some mewling grub!"
"I know what it's like to lead by fear and intimidation," said Starlight as she stood, "And I know what it's like to want everypony to do what you say! I was wrong. A real leader doesn't force her subjects to deny who they really are! She celebrates what makes them unique and listens when one of them finds a better way!"
Chrysalis seethed with fury but then froze when she heard the other changelings chattering and murmuring with each other.
"The only thing Thorax has found is what happens to those who turn their back on the hive!" Chrysalis remarked as she walked up to Thorax and used her magic to lift him into the air.
Chrysalis had already opened her mouth.
"No! Stop!" Starlight cried out.
"Just as soon as I drain every last ounce of love from him and show my subjects what a real leader is!" Chrysalis proclaimed proudly.
"Not if we can help it, bug brain!" Chase's voice shouted from above Chrysalis, making her and the rest of the swarm turn to him and his family as well as Clay and Sokka clinging to the stone ceiling glaring down at them.
"The Elite Ninja?!" Chrysalis shouted in anger before she noticed Chase and smirked. "Well, looks like you have finally decided to show up for the main event, Chase Young!"
"At least you can't keep a good ninja down!" Chase retorted before he looked to the other side. "Ember! Grazer! Dojo! NOW!"
SMASH!
Breaking through the walls in the throne room, Grazer charged forward and clamped his jaws on Chrysalis, making her shout in pain as the good Wingquin used his mouth to slam the evil Queen to the ground before he tossed her aside.
Then Ember came in and used her dragon breath to fire at some changelings, making them fly away as Dojo came into the scene in his huge form. They hissed at the heroes as Chase and his family joined their allies with glares on their faces. Chrysalis recovered as she glared at them.
"Do you really think you can defeat me? Well, let us see if you can defeat my army first. Destroy them!" Chrysalis ordered and dozens of changeling guards quickly charged towards the heroes without warning.
Jewel and Santos ran headlong into five guards, using their jiu jitsu skills to punch, kick, palm strike, and bash them.
Grazer swatted some guards aside and tail swiped the other as Ember tossed one aside before punching the other to the ground.
"These guys don't look so tough!" Antonio mocked as he batted away a soldier with solid kicks, sending him flying straight into another as they rolled to the ground. But he was proven wrong when one of them grabbed his front hoof with his tongue. "Uh oh."
Then he was flung aside to the ground, knocking the wind out of him for a moment before he recovered.
Jade tried to fight two, but they each used their tongues to grab her front hooves and tossed her at Sunray, knocking them down to the ground.
Clay and Sokka were tossed at the wall before they fell on the ground.
The all managed to regroup.
"All our moves are useless against the changelings!" Sunray said in agitation.
"We need a new strategy for this!" Nyx said with concern.
Think, Chase, think! The changelings can predict our moves, so how do we counter that? Use their attacks against them? Be unpredic –Chase thought hard to think of something before his eyes widen as he got an idea in his head.
"Wait a sec…Guys!" Chase said to his family. "Remember that game we used to play back in the dojo when we were kids, 'King of the Mountain'?"
"Yeah, what about it?!" Antonio barked as the changelings closed in on the heroes.
Chase abruptly grinned at them all.
"We needed to get across to the other side of the dojo any way we could, remember? So..." Chase said and he suddenly leapt up and flipped through the air. "Whoop, whoop, whoop!"
He spun in mid air and tossed one of his swords into the air. The other he threw directly downwards as it sliced neatly through some slime.
The others looked at him in alarm.
"Dude, I thought you always said that a ninja never throws away their weapon and junk!" Antonio called.
Chase beamed at him as he landed in a crouch on his feet, catching the katana he'd thrown.
"That's the point, Antonio!" Chase called back.
Then, it finally hit Jade as she gasped in realization at what Chase was trying to do. When they were children, there'd been a game that Chase had made up as a fun training exercise, called King of the Mountain, and he'd told them that the quickest way to get to the 'mountain' (or to the other side of the dojo) was to be as unpredictable as possible. They could use any move they wanted, so long as it got them to the other side…
"Oh I get what you're saying…be unpredictable!" Jade confirmed. "If the changelings can't adapt to our moves quick enough, we could actually win this fight!"
The changelings suddenly charged for her, Nyx, and Trini, at the ready. Narrowing their eyes, Jade, Nyx, and Trini quickly glanced around at certain walls that slime on them as a formula constructed in his mind.
"We've gotta do our thing!" Jade said as their mental calculation completed, and they smiled.
They waited for the changelings to draw closer to them before taking out kunai knives and shuriken from their belts, and then threw them at the various slime they had selected, watching with a smug smirk as they bounced sliced through the goo, making the rocks fall on the changelings on contact.
"Haha! Didn't see that coming did ya?!" Jade laughed with Trini and Nyx as they shared a high five.
"Yeah boy!" Antonio crowed joyfully as he spun around the changelings, using various break-dance movements to take care of them. "Aw yeah!" he laughed.
The changelings found that they couldn't keep up with him once Antonio was on the move. Chrysalis was watching everything and became angry.
"Get them, you fools!" Chrysalis shouted angrily, but they still couldn't keep up with the heroes.
Grazer bashed through some changelings while Dojo tail slapped some to the ground, swatted the others aside, and Ember punched her way through some of the changelings.
Grinning with smug satisfaction, Sunray charged headlong into the horde changelings coming his way, taking them down to the ground. A changeling tried to grab him, but Sunray managed to flip over it and shove it into the side. Revenge was so sweet.
Clay and Sokka also did the unthinkable as the Earth Pony stallion used his kusarigama chain to wip the changelings with ease as the pegasus stallion kicked and punched five others roughly.
Chase and Sunray joined together as they kicked two other changelings aside.
"I've never had so much fun following your orders!" Sunray said to his older brother with a smirk.
"We're even!" Chase replied back with a smirk. "I've never had so much fun giving them!"
Chrysalis growled angrily before she used her magic to unleash a magical green wave at the battle, knocking the heroes down.
"Enough!" Chrysalis shouted angrily before she approached Thorax. "Now, where were we? Oh yes."
She then started to drain Thorax's magic from his body.
"I can feel the love inside of me slipping away...!" Thorax said in a strained tone, "I can't hold onto it much longer...!"
"Then don't!" Starlight told Thorax, "Sharing love is what made you different to begin with. You should share your with Chrysalis!"
"Yeah, show them that Chrysalis doesn't have to steal it from you," said Chase, "True love gives unconditionally, no matter who it is or what they have done. Give her your love Thorax. In fact..."
Both Starlight and Chase put on some determined smiles on their faces.
"Give her all of it!" Starlight and Chase said boldly.
Thorax did just that. The moment he shared all his love to Chrysalis, a massive collection of sonic waves in shades of pink and purple shot out of his body, literally blowing Chrysalis away and making her crash into her throne.
"Look!" Sunray shouted.
The group did as a pink ribbon enveloped Thorax, placing him inside of a glowing cocoon. Starlight, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Nyx, Ember, Grazer, Santos, Clay, Sokka, Antonio, Dojo, and Nyx rushed up to the cocoon when there was a great flash of light. When the light disappeared, there stood Thorax...in his true form! He was now bigger, taller, and in various shades of green, orange, and purple. Thorax gave them all a smile.
"This is what happens when you give love freely instead of trying to take it!" said Starlight.
"Do not let Chrysalis make you think they stealing love and doing her bidding is the only way you will survive," said Jewel, "There is a better way and all you have to do is share your love with each other. Don't hold back and give it freely! You'll never go hungry again! You'll never have to live a life in fear and intimidation! You can be your own pony! You can have the magic of friendship! All you gotta do...is share your love."
"You all don't have to be afraid to do that! Just share the love you all have!" Sunray added in.
"It's what makes friendship stronger too!" Jade added.
"Love and friendship are what everyone of you can learn to share with!" Chase concluded.
It didn't take long at all before one changeling did just that. Then another and another and soon every changeling in the throne room was sharing its love. The pure love produced from all the unselfish sharing was so great that it was making the walls and even the throne crack. Chrysalis was actually starting to recover when she saw all the pure love magic and the fact her throne was covered in cracks.
"Alright, guys! Let's finish this! Concentrate your chi!" Chase shouted as he, Jade, Sunray, Antonio, and Trini began to concentrate with their chi before they were engulfed.
"Power Earth!" Antonio shouted as the symbol for air appeared behind him with his aura hands seen on his hooves as well as his family had their aura hands seen and he held his Inazuma weapon.
"Power Fire!" Sunray shouted with the fire symbol appearing behind him as he held his Banrai weapon.
"Power Water!" Jade shouted with the water symbol appearing behind her as she held her Arashi weapon.
"Power Wind!" Trini shouted with the wind symbol appearing behind her as she held her Byakko weapon.
"Power Lightning!" Chase shouted with the symbol of lightning behind him as he held his Gunshin weapon.
The five ponies were now empowered with their element chi as they focused on the throne with their weapons.
"ELEMENT POWER FIRE!" The five shouted as they shot their five respective beams of element energy from their weapons at the throne as Chrysalis was even more shocked.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The entire room exploded and the throne was destroyed in the process.
Starlight had used a magic shield to protect herself, Chase, Sunray, Jade, Jewel, Santos, Nyx, Trini, Antonio, Ember, Grazer, Sokka, Clay, and Thorax from the explosion and lowered it once the smoke had cleared. The group then looked around to see that all the changelings had transformed by sharing their love.
While none of them were any bigger in size, they were now in various colors as they looked at one another. They then smiled. Chase, Jade, Sunray, Santos, Jewel, Starlight, Trini, Antonio, Nyx, Grazer, Sokka, Clay, Ember, and Thorax smiled as well.
The explosion had freed Twilight and their friends from their pods. They were still looking rather groggy and covered in green goo. Trixie, who had also been encased and now freed, was recovering when Starlight rushed up to her and gave her a warm hug.
Spike gorggly stood up as he noticed Ember offering him a hand to help him up with a smile. And he did as Ember helped him up before they shared a hug together.
Nearby, Luna was helping Celestia to her hooves since the sun princess was having a hard time recovering. Shining Armor and Cadance were recovering as well, when some changelings helped them stand up and another changeling brought Flurry Heart, who was completely unharmed, to them. The couple hugged their daughter lovingly.
Discord had just recovered when he saw a familiar yellow Pegasus nearby.
"Fluttershy?" he called out. The yellow Pegasus had barely turned around when Discord scooped her up into his arms and hugged her tightly.
"It's, um, good to see you, too," said Fluttershy, blushing slightly from the affection.
"Ahem." Sokka said jealously as he tapped Discord's back with the tip of his boomerang.
Discord just rolled his eyes and sighed loudly.
"Alright, go have your "the princess greets her prince" moment and all that mush," Discord said in a bored tone.
Fluttershy just smiled excitedly as she charged right into Sokka's fore-legs. They twirled about in the air three times before they stopped and Sokka hugged her tightly. Fluttershy gave him a smile as tears poured from her eyes.
"I knew you'd rescue us! I just knew it!" Fluttershy sobbed gratefully as Sokka held her close and shed his own tears as Fluttershy cried into his shoulder.
"It's okay, my princess," said Sokka tenderly, "It's all over." As much as Discord wanted to make a face of disgust, he lost his nerve once he saw Fluttershy crying.
"I just can't bear to see Fluttershy cry," Discord said quietly to himself.
Applejack crawled and struggled to get up until she felt a hoof help her up. She looked up to see Clay giving his wife a smile. She smiled back and they shared a loving hug.
Just a short distance away, Twilight was still recovering when Chase and Starlight walked up and Chase offered his wife a fore-hoof for assistance. Twilight accepted it as Chase helped her stand up.
"Starlight? Chase? What happened?" Twilight asked.
"We defeated the changelings with no magic at all, except for Chase and his family since they had chi," Starlight explained quickly, "and thanks to Chase, Jade, and Sunray, they found a new leader, and they're all kinda...good now."
Starlight, Chase, Jade, and Sunray just smiled nervously. Thorax then gave an assuring nod to emphasize that Starlight was telling the truth. Twilight was speechless.
"Well done, Starlight Glimmer and the same to you, Chase Young." said Luna with Celestia standing beside her, "It seems as though you all learned a great deal since we last spoke."
Then there was a rumble nearby. Chrysalis then sprouted out of a pile of rocks and hissed angrily. But then she blinked when she saw all the most powerful ponies were now free. All the ponies, including even the reformed changelings, were glaring at her as well. Everypony except for Starlight, Chase, Jade, Jewel, Santos, Nyx, Trini, Antonio, and Sunray were glaring at her.
"Wait, everypony." Chase said, holding his left foreleg out to the side to stop them while glaring at Chrysalis. "We're not done with her yet."
They approached her.
"When Twilight, Chase, and their friends defeated me," Starlight explained to Chrysalis, "I chose to run away and seek revenge! You don't have to! You can be the leader your subjects deserve!"
"You don't have to live in hate, Chrysalis," Jade added, "There is a better way. And that means embracing the magic of friendship. The choice is yours. But I promise you, if you choose friendship, you'll have four friends who will help you become the changeling you were always meant to be."
Chrysalis listened attentively as Starlight and Jade held out their fore-hooves to her. Chrysalis extended her own to accept it.
But then she glared at them and slapped both of their fore-hooves down.
"Friends?! Be a better changeling?! Puh-lease!" Chrysalis snarled as she used her magic and grabbed Chase by the foreleg while pulling him forward before hovering in the air, shocking everyone. "This one is mine to deal with."
Chase glared before he bit Chrysalis on her foreleg.
"Ack!" The former changeling queen yelped as Chase hovered in the air with his horn glowing and his aura hands appeared on his front hooves.
"I don't think so!" Chase said with a glare as Chrysalis let out a battle cry and the alicorn master dodged an incoming magic blast from her.
Chrysalis chased after Chase as the others watched from above. Chase dodged everyone of Chrysalis' attacks and landed on one of the shift-changing holes of the hive.
"You may as well give up now!" Chrysalis shouted as she hovered in the air behind him. "There is no amount of revenge you could ever conceive of that will come close to what I will exact upon you, Starlight Glimmer, and the rest of your family one day, Chase Young!"
"You don't get it, you big ugly bug!" Chase retorted as he took out one of his katana swords. "Don't you know anything?! Revenge doesn't solve problems, it just leads to more PAIN!"
He threw his katana sword at Chrysalis, but she deflected it back.
"Fool! I thought you always said a ninja never throws away their weapons!" Chrysalis growled.
Chase grabbed his sword with both of his aura hands and got into a fighting stance.
"That's the point!" Chase responded back as he and Chrysalis did a little sword fighting as Chrysalis created her own sword with her magic.
They both gripped as they struggled to maintain themselves.
"You think you've won?!" Chrysalis sneered as she bucked Chase away, making him grunt in pain as he was sent flying against the wall.
He quickly puts his sword back just as Chrysalis lights up her horn.
"FOOL!" Chrysalis shouted, firing a green magic blast at Chase, who tossed a smoke bomb to the wall causing smoke to fly everywhere. Chase was nowhere to be in sight.
Chrysalis looked around trying to find where Chase disappeared. Unknown to her, Chase hid in one of the holes and just as Chrysalis turned away from his hiding spot…
"HYAAAH!" Chase flew out of his place, toward Chrysalis as she just turned around when...
SMACK!
"AAAH!" Chrysalis shouted as Chase punched her in the face.
The former changeling queen stumbled before she fell to the ground level as she grunted in pain. Chase landed in front of her as he panted while glaring at her.
"You think you're a queen, but you're a fool." Chase said angrily. "You only care about yourself and not giving your subjects a chance for what they want! That's the most pathetic thing any dishonorable ruler would do."
Chrysalis stayed quiet as Chase used his magic to make his aura hands go away and went back on all fours.
"Your grudge with everypony else is with me only. Stay away from my friends and my family. Understood?" Chase asked sternly.
Chrysalis just stayed quiet for a few more seconds before Chase turned around and warned her with his back turned.
"Because since you declined the offer we gave you and will make a comeback, I'll finish you myself." Chase warned her and then he flew back to join the others. But not before he witnessed Chrysalis fly off into the distance.
Chase flew up and joined the others as he was greeted by Twilight.
"Chase." Twilight hugged her husband with a warm smile as she tucked her head under his chin.
Chase returned the gesture by wrapping a foreleg around his beautiful wife as Jade, Sunray, Jewel, Antonio, Nyx, Trini, and Santos hugged him too.
Starlight was looking over the edge to see Chrysalis flying away in the distance as she sighed sadly. Chase and Twilight walked up to her, placing a comforting hoof on her back with a smile as she returned it.
"Thorax," said Celestia, "as the new leader of the changelings, I look forward to discussing how we can improve our relationship in the future. However, for the moment, perhaps it is best to leave the Changeling Kingdom to the changelings."
Starlight, Chase, and Twilight exchanged smiles with each other. Rainbow, Applejack, Clay, and Rarity were about the do the same when Discord stuck his big head between them.
"Splendid idea!" Discord interjected, "Now who's ready for celebratory tea at Fluttershy's?" Everypony's eyes were on both Fluttershy and Sokka, who were holding each other. All the stares made the couple feel very uncomfortable.
"Oh! Uh, everypony?" Fluttershy said timidly.
"Discord!" Sokka said in a fatherly tone, "Didn't I warn you NOT to go hosting tea parties at our house without asking us first?!"
"Actually," said Starlight as she walked up in front of Discord, "now that you can snap your claws and send us absolutely anywhere again, I think I have a better option."
The others smiled, especially Chase and his family, who had a good idea where Starlight was thinking of going.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile, back in Starlight's old village, Double Diamond and Party Favor had finally decided on a banner. Starlight came up to them once again.
"Uh, hey, Starlight," said Party Favor in surprise, "What are you doing here?"
"You left in such a rush before," Double Diamond added, "we kinda thought you didn't wanna come."
"Yeah...I guess after the way I used my magic on all of you," Starlight explained, "I wasn't sure I was somepony who should even be in charge of a baking contest. I was afraid I might go back to being the pony I used to be. But I realize that sometimes you don't have a choice. You have to step up. And I have changed! I can handle it. Whether is means saving Equestria or helping our friends with the Sunset Festival."
As she was speaking, Sugar Belle and Night Glider had arrived behind the lilac unicorn and were listening attentively. Starlight then gestured for Chase, who had been purposely hiding behind her, came out in view.
"It's also helps that I had such an amazing best friend," Starlight added, "Who's not only a great and wise leader, but has proven that he can inspire others to embrace the magic of friendship by showing them unconditional love and wisdom."
Chase blushed modestly. The other four ponies just smiled.
"Speaking of which," Starlight continued, "I know the Festival's almost over, but I kinda invited a few of our friends to join."
Starlight and Chase looked back. There behind them was, Twilight, Rainbow, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Sokka, Clay, Antonio, Dojo, Sunray, Jade, Trini, Santos, Jewel, Ember, Grazer, Applejack, Rarity, Cadance, Shining Armor, Trixie, Celestia, Luna, Discord, Spike, and even little Flurry Heart. Double Diamond laughed excitedly.
"Are you kidding? Of course!" said Double Diamond.
"Great! Now where's the baking contest?" said Starlight, "This pony needs a cupcake!"
The four ponies went to the contest. Discord then gave Trixie a smirk, while the cerulean unicorn just gave him a glare return.
"So I'm able to rip the very fabric of reality again," Discord boasted.
"Yeah, yeah," Trixie replied dismissively, "And I'm still a self-absorbed, below-average illusionist, right? And Sokka's just a housekeeper pony?"
"Actually, Starlight filled me in on what Chase can do with that chi of his with his family," said Discord, "I was almost impressed." Trixie rolled her eyes, "As for you, I was going to say a couple of those illusions were slightly above average. If you ever need a little chaos in your act, let me know."
"Ha! When pigs fly!" Trixie remarked sarcastically.
"Your wish in my command!" said Discord. He then snapped his fingers to make two Pigasus appear for them to ride. The pigs gave a squeal as they flew past a table the Mane Sixteen and Spike were about to get something to eat.
"Whoa! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAA!" Trixie screamed as she and Discord rode away into the sky.
"Somepony is really gonna have to catch us up on what we missed," said Rainbow. Chase sighed.
"I'll fill you in later," said Chase, "Just know that those two act alot like a grumpy married couple."
Sokka then put a fore-hoof to the side of his mouth,
"HEY DISCORD! LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU TWO GET MARRIED!" Sokka shouted.
"BE QUIET SOKKA!" Trixie screamed at the top of her lungs. Sokka just laughed as Fluttershy rolled her eyes.
Chase rolled his eyes too, but just smiled.
(Scene changes)
Unknown to all of them, Zhao had just watched everything through his orb.
"Hmm. Pitiful that Chrysalis lost her hive to those ponies because of her mistake." Zhao said before he smirked sinisterly. "But the real time to destroy those ponies will come eventually."
He then held out a book with a blue covering on it.
"Now is the time for the Pillars to come so I can have the Pony of Shadows at my side after they banished him to Limbo." Zhao said evilly. "And very soon, this world will belong to me."
He chuckled sinisterly.
Author's note: Well, guys, this concludes Season 6. I'll be back to writing Season 7 later on. In the meantime, I'm taking a break from writing. I need some relaxation on me. Hope you guys enjoyed it.
Peace out!
