Angelique Starlight and Kaos Eklipse stared each other down, their expressions unreadable as they slowly circled one another around the room like a pair of lions before a fight.
"You could hardly stand against my power the last time we clashed, Angelique; you only defeated me by getting help from my kid brother, Discord, BEFORE I messed him up on my way out... Why even attempt it on your own now?" Eklipse taunted. The ancient mare's expression soured, her crystalline blue eyes alighting with a furious blaze.
"I stood alone back then, for you had managed to keep me oblivious to your murdering of the other Original Ponies of Harmony. But now, I am NOT alone in fighting you." she said, smiling as both Whirlwinds, Lilo and the Experiments, Spike, Drakkus, Solaris, Terra, Renard, and Sonic Blurr all lined up behind her (Jumba was currently in the process of making Leroy good again). Eklipse sneered.
"You honestly think that these REJECTS can aid you in fighting me? You should know better than to underestimate ME, Angelique!"
The two Whirlwinds, transforming into their pegasus forms, stood to either side of Angelique Starlight.
"Let's do this, Haole." the time traveller said, before he, his younger self, and the ancient mare all rushed towards Kaos Eklipse.
(Meanwhile...)
Twilight was still sobbing, as the five best friends she'd ever had took a few seconds to process what they'd just heard.
'Ah don't believe it...' Applejack thought.
'Can it really be true?' Rarity wondered.
'What the buck is goin' on?!' Rainbow Dash asked herself.
Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were the only ones not in complete shock, more worried about their friend than about what she'd just revealed.
"Twilight, please stop crying..." Fluttershy sniffed, her friend's sadness making her feel bad. Pinkie Pie was a bit more direct.
"Twilight, you need to snap out of it! So what if you can only use Reverse Casting?! That doesn't make you any less of a pony! And sure, we're probably ALL a little hurt that you didn't tell us sooner, but we're not gonna stop bein' friends with you because of one flippin' secret!"
That statement snapped Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash out of their thoughts. Realising that their pink friend had a point, the three made their way over to Twilight's side. Gently prying her royal friend's wings open, Pinkie Pie looked right into Twilight's eyes as Rarity picked up the crown bearing the Harmony Element of Magic and placed it upon their friends' head.
"Everyone has their secrets, Twi. That's what this whole thing with the Elements of Anarchy was about. The one thing you need to remember, though, is that you can't let any sort of secret about yourself come between friendship. Whether the secret has to do with one's likes, dislikes, perception of the world, sexuality, race, or even some self-perceived flaw... None of that should matter to a TRUE friend." Fluttershy said quietly, her words touching the princess deeply. Getting up and wiping the tears from her face, Twilight smiled gently at her friends.
"Thank you, ALL of you." she said. Applejack suddenly gained a confused look.
"Wait a cotton-pickin' minute, here. Ah thought that this 'Reverse Casting' stuff needed somepony to say what they wanted ta happen out loud an' backwards! How're ya doin' it when yer bein' completely silent?" she asked. Twilight did her best not to giggle at her friend's confusion.
"That's something that everypony seems to get wrong. All Reverse Casting needs is clarity of thought; as a matter of fact, it's MORE powerful if you do it mentally instead of trying to physically cast with reversed words." Twilight explained. A muffled groaning from the dungeons caught the group's attention.
"Aw, horseapples. Ah almost forgot, we still need ta rescue yer cousin!" Applejack said, a sheepish look and a blush of embarrassment crossing her freckled face. Nodding in unison, the group went to rescue the REAL Midnight Dazzle.
After a few minutes of searching the various parts of the dungeon, the Mane Six found the pony they were looking for. She was not what five of them were expecting:
"Ain't she supposed ta be a princess like you, Twi?" Applejack asked, looking over the new unicorn in front of them with some surprise. Twilight was wondering just how long her cousin had been locked up.
"Unlock the shackles, please. I'm a complete mess right now... I swear, I'm gonna need a bath and some serious spa time after all this is over with." the real Midnight Dazzle said, her voice low and scratchy from what had to have been countless months of yelling, screaming, and shouting. Twilight smiled.
'She may not BE a princess, but she sure sounds like one of the over-pampered ones.' the alicorn thought. "Okay, Midnight, just hold still. Esaeler ym nisuoc." she Reverse Casted, her horn sending out four bursts of energy into the shackle's locks, releasing her cousin from the restraints. Stretching and popping her disused parts, Midnight slowly walked over to her cousin and hugged her gently.
"I was starting to think you'd forgotten about me." the unicorn sniffled. Twilight just smiled and looked her cousin in the eyes.
"As a new friend I've met would say: 'We're Ohana. Ohana means family. Family means NOBODY gets left behind, or forgotten'. Now, let's go find that friend and aid her and HER Ohana in fighting Kaos Eklipse." Twilight said, her smile spreading to both her friends and her cousin.
"Good idea, Twi. I've got a score to settle with that freak... Let's face it: he's hung a 'Vacancy' sign on his a**, and my hoof's lookin' for a room!" Midnight hissed, making the others roll their eyes. At least now they knew that THAT part of the fake Midnight's act was based on something...
(Back with the fight against Kaos Eklipse...)
"Cigam Dliehs!" Whirlwind Kawena called out, a rainbow-hued forcefield erecting in front of him as yet another one of Kaos Eklipse's Umbral Sphere attacks was fired at him. During the last few minutes, all but the time traveller, his younger self, Lilo, Renard Amour, and the now weakened Angelique Starlight had been knocked unconscious.
"We's gettin' hammered harder'n a nail inta a piece o' wood, tahme travellah! Any suggestions?!" Renard asked. Whirlwind Kawena could only think of one thing:
"Ot dia su retteb ni siht thgif, ekam ym regnuoy fles dna draneR ruomA dlo hguone ot esu rieht srewop ylreprop!" he Reverse Casted. As the orange filly and the time traveller's younger self ran/flew, their bodies began shifting, as they rapidly aged into their prime.
"Now THAT'S more like it! FOXXY NINETAILS!" the now mare shouted as she jumped into the air, front-flipped, and fired nine simultaneous blast of energy from her tail at Kaos Eklipse. Whirlwind Striker followed suit, barrel-rolling so rapidly as he flew that he turned into an electrically charged twister and was able to strike Eklipse directly in the chest, shouting "MACHFORCE TWISTER!" as he did. Feeling a tingling on their flanks after landing, Renard Amour and Whirlwind Striker looked and saw their Cutie Marks appear on their hips.
"HAH! Now Ah got a pair o' foxies on mah flanks! Ya'll bettah watch yoselves from now on!" Renard gloated. Whirlwind Striker just smirked gleefully as he realised that he now looked almost identical to his future self.
Suddenly, a new, yet familiar voice calling from the entrance to the room caught everyone's attention.
"EKLIIIIIIIPSSSSSSE! I'M GONNA KICK YOUR A** SO HARD, YOUR NOSE'LL BLEED!"
Standing in front of the Mane Six was a VERY p****d off Midnight Dazzle, the unicorn's horn glowing navy blue. Eklipse just gave the unicorn an unimpressed look, then fired off a wordless Umbral Sphere which sent her flying into the opposite wall, knocking her unconscious.
"Now... Where were we?" he asked. his answer came from Angelique Starlight.
"Right here, Eklipse! SOLARBEAM CANNON!" she shouted, blasting her counterpart with pure solar energy from between her front legs. Shaking off the attack that caught him off-guard, Eklipse rushed his counterpart and swiftly knocked her down with a roundhouse kick to the face. As the ancient mare faded in and out of consciousness, all she could think about was the day Kaos had become what he was...
[FLASHBACK]
Since the beginning of Equestria, the small town of Ponyville had been thriving. Ponies went about their business happily, all living in perfect harmony with one another. Or at least, that's what Angelique could observe of it from the window next to her hospital bed. She was there because she was due to give birth to the twins her counterpart, the bearer of the seventh Original Harmony Element, Spontaneity, her beloved Lunaris Umbra, had sired. She already knew, thanks to the power of her own original Harmony Element, that the twins were both female, and that they would each inherit one of the two powers she and her beloved possessed, so she had already chosen their names.
"Soon, my sweet Celestia and Luna, you will both greet the world." she whispered, sighing happily. Suddenly, a cacophony from outside caught her attention. Looking out the window, what met Angelique's eyes made her blood run cold:
"Big brother, what are you DOING?! These ponies have done nothing to you!" a young male alicorn shouted at Lunaris Umbra, watching in terror as the black pegasus fired blasts of energy at random parts of the town. Lunaris, his expression crazed and manic, stared directly at his younger brother.
"Oh, that is where you are incorrect, my dear Discord. They have ignored what I represent, my very element. Nopony shows any form of spontaneity, and yet, harmony still exists! Thus, my conclusion is this: I do not represent an element of harmony... I REPRESENT ANARCHY!" the mad pegasus yelled, firing a stream of pitch-black energy in his younger brother's direction. Dodging nimbly, Discord fired off a few bursts of slightly weaker energy at Lunaris, intentionally aiming only at his older brother's wings.
As she watched with tears streaming down her cheeks, Angelique slowly got up out of the hospital bed and opened the window.
"Ekat em ot ym devoleb..." she quietly Reverse Casted, teleporting behind her counterpart and gently flapping her wings. Discord's eyes widened at the sight of the mare treading air behind his brother, which made the male pegasus turn around to face his counterpart.
"Angelique?" Lunaris said in shock, his expression becoming slightly less crazed. The mare stared into her beloved's eyes, trying to find whatever was left of his good self.
"Miss Starlight, you should not be here! You have your family to think about!" Discord said, quite concerned for the mare's safety. Ignoring him, Angelique spoke to Lunaris.
"Why are you doing this, my love? What slight do you imagine the residents of Ponyville have committed against you?" she asked, sadness evident in her voice. Lunaris grit his teeth, almost appearing to struggle with his words as he began to speak again.
"M-my element is not one of harmony. Th-the fact that harmony c-can exist without spontaneity proves that! Therefore, only one conclusion can be drawn..." Lunaris said as a shadowy, smoke-like aura began emanating from him. "I am not part of harmony... I AM PART OF ANARCHY!" he yelled, his body instantly transforming into what could only be described as evil incarnate: A pegasus with fur so black, all light that would try to touch him seemed to disappear, wings with razor-edged feathers, Cutie Marks bearing an 'Anarchy' symbol, soulless blood red eyes, and finally, atop his head, a pair of demonic horns, curving up towards his back.
Gasping in horror, Discord and Angelique watched as Lunaris looked himself over, the dark pegasus apparently quite pleased with his new appearance.
"Much better, wouldst thou not concur?" he asked, his voice now much deeper. Angelique was still in shock, as the pain of her broken heart hit her like a meteor.
"THOU ART NOT MY BROTHER, FOUL DEMON! RELEASE HIM FROM THIS GHASTLY FORM!" Discord shouted, his own sorrow becoming too much for him. The dark pegasus just smirked, licking his lips predatorially.
"If thou doth think that THIS form is ghastly... THEN TRY THIS ON FOR SIZE! UMBRAL SPHERE!" the dark pegasus shouted, firing an orb of dark energy at Discord. Caught by surprise, the male alicorn was completely encapsulated by the pitch black energy sphere. Angelique could only watch in horror as the attack slowly dissipated, leaving a completely different looking creature in Discord's place. Looking over his new body in complete shock, Discord began shaking in terror.
"WHAT HATH THOU DONE TO HIM?!" Angelique screamed, more angry now than terrified. The dark pegasus just chuckled sinisterly.
"Doth thou not like it? His body now fits the very definition of his name, even better than it did before! Of course, a MALE alicorn is quite the bizarre sight, but THIS hodgepodge is chaos personified!" he cackled.
By this point, Angelique had stopped feeling anything but righteous fury towards the dark pegasus, and now realised that he had become too dangerous.
"Nommus eht rehto seinoP fo ynomraH!" she shouted. Nothing but silence from Discord and an evil smirk from the dark pegasus replied to her attempted spell. Eyes going wide, Angelique tried again.
"Nommus eht rehto seinoP fo ynomraH!"
Again, the only reply to her spell was the dark pegasus' smirk and complete silence from Discord. Horrified realisation dawned on Angelique.
"What hath thou DONE?!" she shouted, watching in rage as the dark pegasus just chuckled.
"Thou shouldst see the look on thine face, Angelique; it doth be priceless." he grinned.
"WHAT HATH THOU DONE?!" Angelique shouted again, her pupils constricted in pure rage. Discord, too was starting to realise just what was going on, and couldn't help but shake in fury.
The dark pegasus just chuckled. "Temper, temper, Angelique. The other Ponies of Harmony, the ones representing Sympathy, Equality, Trust, and Unity... Are no longer with us. Only we, the ones representing Love, Spontaneity, and Forgiveness, remain."
Angelique, not believing what she was hearing, reached out with her element, searching for any sign of the other elements. All she could find were traces of them, ones that were barely awakened, but she knew, even from these small traces, something that the dark pegasus didn't:
'The original possessors of the elements may be gone, but the elements themselves have been passed on!' she realised. Now more determined than ever to stop this new menace from wreaking more havoc, Angelique charged up as powerful an attack as she could muster, nodding at Discord to do the same.
"Within these next blasts is the highest amount of our respective elements that we can part with. NOW, DISCORD!" she yelled, firing her attack at the dark pegasus in unison with Discord's own. Unable to move out of the way in time, the dark pegasus was caught in the crossfire, a tremendous shockwave spreading out from the epicentre of the blast. Battered and bruised in the aftermath of the shockwave, Angelique and Discord watched as the dust settled, revealing that although heavily injured, the dark pegasus was still very much alive.
Breathing shakily, the dark pegasus found that his strength had all but left him. Knowing that he would need time to recover, he used his remaining energy to open a temporary interdimensional portal in the sky, not knowing where it would lead. He snarled as he flew towards it, and proclaimed for all of Equestria to hear:
"From now on, all whom DARE to oppose me shall henceforth address me by a new title... KAOS EKLIPSE!"
In the aftermath of Eklipse's attack, Discord would willingly bequeath his element to somepony else, somepony whom would guard it with their life, and pass it on through the generations to descendants whom had proved themselves worthy of it, all the while keeping the existence of the original seven elements a secret. Angelique would go on to give birth to twin alicorns, and give them the names that she had thought of when her beloved Lunaris Umbra had still existed: Celestia and Luna. Afterwards, she would entrust their safety with Discord, and seal herself away in the statue garden, knowing that Kaos Eklipse would return, and that she, along with the new keepers of both the old and new Elements of Harmony, would be instrumental in his defeat.
[END FLASHBACK]
"MISS STARLIGHT!" Whirlwind Striker shouted, rushing to the mare's side. With an evil smirk, Eklipse let loose another wordless Umbral Sphere, this one directed at the now older pegasus' left foreleg.
"PAST ME, NO!" Whirlwind Kawena shouted, too late to stop the inevitable.
As the attack engulfed Whirlwind Striker's left foreleg, he transformed back into his human form as his left foreleg, now his left arm, was completely de-atomised, right up to the shoulder. Eyes going wide in shock, the present-day Whirlwind passed out as the pain caught up with him. Lilo rushed to her adopted nephew's side as the time traveller and Eklipse stared each other down. Suddenly, Baoshi Long (who up to this point had still been knocked out) came to and started fighting the Ponies of Harmony and Renard Amour, his silent understanding of the situation leading him in that direction.
Eklipse smirked at Whirlwind Kawena, and began laughing.
"What's so funny, Eklipse?!" the time traveller asked.
"Nothing much... Although I HAVE sensed that you harbor feelings for someone from this time period... So now you can say goodbye to the one you hold closest to your heart, hero! UMBRAL SPHERE!" Eklipse yelled, firing his attack straight past the time traveller. Turning around, Whirlwind Kawena was horrified to see that Eklipse had aimed his attack at Rainbow Dash, whom had just been knocked out of the air and into unconsciousness by Baoshi Long.
As the blast headed towards Rainbow Dash, time seemed to slow down for Whirlwind Kawena. Realising that the attack was too charged up to be stopped, even by Reverse Casting, the time traveller took the one action guaranteed to save the rainbow-maned pegasus' life. As he soared into the path of the blast, he momentarily made eye-contact with Lilo as she looked up from his injured past self. Accepting his fate, the time traveller closed his eyes and allowed the sphere of pure dark energy to engulf his body, leaving nothing behind but his cybernetic limb, which fell to the ground as the room went dead silent.
Lilo ran to what little remained of the time traveller. Picking up Whirlwind Kawena's cybernetic limb, Lilo could barely contain her rage as a constantly color-shifting aura began radiating from her body.
"...You MONSTER!" Lilo roared as she dropped the time traveller's cybernetic limb, her eyes going full Experiment-mode as she spoke. Eklipse started chuckling darkly.
"Aw, what's the matter, little girl? Did I make your friend go... POOF?!" he taunted, cackling madly. Lilo could feel her rage building, and didn't even notice as her body began to transform. First, her teeth sharpened into fangs and lengthened, before gaining a metal alloy coating. Next, her fingernails and toenails transformed into talons, also sporting a metal alloy coating. What followed next would be the most dramatic parts of the transformation: Jet black fur slowly started covering Lilo's entire body as her long raven hair shortened slightly, her ears lengthened, a second pair of arms sprouted out from beneath her original pair, dorsal quills erupted from her back, a pair of antennae erupted from her head, and finally, a metre-long tail ending in a puffball of black hair grew from the base of her spine.
"Oh, s**t! Now ya'll gone an' done it, sucka!" the adult Renard Amour told her enemy as the Mane Six and Baoshi Long stood in terrified awe, the now older mare grinning as the full-blown Experiment Lilo turned to face Kaos Eklipse. Eklipse watched in silence as with each step Lilo took, sparks of pure energy arced across various parts of her body, burning her already torn up clothing to ashes.
"Umbral Sphere." the dark pegasus yawned, firing the attack at his new opponent with his eyes closed. When the smoke cleared, Lilo was still standing, and she looked ROYALLY p****d off.
"Nobody... HURTS! MY! OHANA!" Lilo yelled, her voice now resonating with the voices of all 630 Experiments at once. "OHANA MEANS FAMILY! FAMILY MEANS NOBODY GETS LEFT BEHIND, OR FORGOTTEN!"
All witnessing the spectacle (with the exception of Eklipse who just looked annoyed, now) were so distracted by Lilo's transformation that they didn't notice Whirlwind Kawena's cybernetic limb transform back into human mode, stand up on its' fingers, and crawl over to Whirlwind Striker's now adult body, quickly attaching itself to his shoulder...
(A/N: Now s**t gets real, people! Stay tuned for more!)
DISCLAIMER: Nothing is mine but what I own.