Chapter 20
Infernalo appeared from a void, as did the remaining Trossels and Twilight.
"It's time," Xanatos said.
"What is," Twilight asked.
"The final battle," Steelmind said. Xanatos nodded as they teleported away, leaving the fillies. The Cursed Trossels stood in the center of Seldreinia, looking back at the newcomers blankly. Infernalo looked around at the twisted and dark remains of what now remained of Seldreinia. The ground had turned pitch black and dry with any plants either dead or burnt. The buildings all around had been reduced to rubble with anything that was once inside nothing but ashes.
"My best work yet, wouldn't you think," a voice said, one that Frostburn recognized. Infernalo turned to see Frarae, the middle Trossel, remove his hood to reveal a thick dark grey mane, the same color as Infernalo's coat, struck through with a single thin line of bright red. His eyes were nothing more than soulless burning yellow orbs that shined menacingly.
"You can talk," Infernalo said astonished. Frarae nodded.
"I'm afraid I can't say much for the rest, sadly. I also see you brought your pathetic little army." Twilight charged at him, only to stopped and tossed to the ground. "Pathetic. Though, what could one expect from somepony doing nothing more than following the hoofsteps of a coward."
"What did you say," Twilight growled, getting back to her hooves.
"Persistent, are you? I do love a good game. Thorok, put it out of its misery." Just as the largest of the Cursed Trossels charged at the weakened Twilight, Infernalo knocked him aside with a single powerful blast of light.
"It's you who's pathetic," Infernalo said. His halo once again flared up.
"We are the Sixth Elements," Stonebolt said, joining him against Them. Frostburn followed with Leafwind. Aquashine teleported in sometime afterwards. "So you do have some sense of nobility?" Aquashine looked back at Stonebolt.
"What," she asked. "No. If the world was destroyed, then there wouldn't be anypony left for me."
"I thought the original Sixth Elements were worthless," Frarae said, chuckling under his breath. "I think I'll enjoy this." the Cursed Trossels united, the others not moving as They launched an immensely powerful blast of dark energy just as Zephyroak jumped into the way.
"Zephyroak," Leafwind screamed. Frarae simply scowled in anger.
"Imbeciles! Now, this time, try not to miss. Any last words?" Zephyroak slowly rose to her hooves, flicking her mane out of her eyes.
"Just two," the Sky Trossel said. "Game over." Frarae was noticeably taken aback by the fact she was still alive. "You see, the final Element is something that exists in all of us, but is strongest in one: me. Now, it's time we finished you off for good; guys, do it!"
"All that was created shall be destroyed," they recited, Twilight looking up.
"What's happening, Steelmind," she asked.
"You'll see," he assured her.
"Fire to carry light, Water to carry life, Earth to carry strength, Wind to carry power, Darkness to carry balance," they continued.
"And Will to carry action," Zephyroak finished. As each uttered their part, a stream of their respective element formed from them, Zephyroak shooting out a beam of light that launched it at the Cursed Trossels and destroyed them. Leafwind heard somepony whisper 'thank you' almost distantly, but there was nosing of where the voice could've come from. Finally, what was left of Them was sealed away in the puzzle box that Frostburn had found. One by one, Trossels began to teleport back as the corruption of Seldreinia evaporated away and the town returned to normal. Twilight looked around, seeing all the Trossels around and seeing the purified Seldreinia before resting her eyes on the new Bearer of Water.
"You must be Aquashine," Twilight said. "My name is Twilight Sparkle." Aquashine scoffed, Xanatos and Paragontal teleporting in as the Trossels bowed, even Aquashine.
"You've done very well in defeating the Cursed Trossels," Xanatos said. "For that, there's no need to now before us." Infernalo, his sisters, Zephyroak, Leafwind, and Aquashine rose. "For this, you will be forever honored as heroes." Everypony cheering before Frostburn raised her hoof in protest.
"Wait," Frostburn said. "Your highnesses, seeing as how none of this would've happened if it wasn't for me, I want to make things right." She picked up the puzzle box and froze it solid. Before she could smash it, Stonebolt stopped her.
"Frosty, allow me," she offered, opening a large tremor and throwing the frozen box into it before sealing it. "Let this never happen again." Twilight walked over to Infernalo.
"I guess this is it," she said, hugging him. "I'll miss you." Infernalo nodded, indicating likewise before Twilight vanished in a burst of light. Infernalo looked over at Aquashine.
"So, hero," she said. "I think you deserve something special: me." she leaned in to kiss him, but he leaned away. "What's wrong? You finally got the girl of your dreams."
"Not my dreams," he said. "In my time in Ponyville, I learned a lot, had a lot of thinking to do, and maybe this isn't my place."
"Are you sure, Infernalo," Paragontal asked. Frostburn, Stonebolt, and the rest of them nodded.
"We all are," Steelmind said, looking down at Cornelius as well. Paragontal and Xanatos turned away, whispering to each other before turning back.
"We've made our decision," Xanatos announced.
"Infernalo," Paragontal said. "You, your family, and your friends will be assigned to live amongst the citizens of Equestria, in order to inform us of the outside world, its trials and tribulations, and everything in between." Infernalo nodded.
"I will," he said.
Back in Ponyville, Twilight was sitting in her library, as all of her friends tried to comfort her. Pinkie entered, and looked over at how sad everypony else was.
"What's wrong," she asked.
"The most handsome, smart pony I've ever met is gone," Twilight sniffed.
"Now, come on, sugar cube," Applejack said. "There'll be other ponies."
"Not like Infernalo," Twilight said. Suddenly, they all rushed outside at the sound of a large bang. Twilight lit up as she saw the one familiar face she's wanted to see and galloped over to him as fast as she could.
"Okay," Infernalo concluded. "Explosive teleportation isn't one of the convenient methods of travel." Twilight lunged at him, her friends following, the Cutie Mark Crusaders rushing to Leafwind.
"What are you doing here," Rainbow Dash asked. "I thought you went home."
"Well, Dash, home isn't where you are; it's where your friends are."
"That's pretty corny, bro," Stonebolt said. He shrugged, as the five ponies looked at him expectantly.
"I did come back for somepony I've come to, for lack of a better word, love during my time here," he said. Rainbow Dash instantly darted in front of him.
"I know," she said in her usual poor attempt at modesty.
"Oh please," Rarity said, rolling her eyes. "Of course he means me."
"If anything, I mean Fluttershy," he said. "She's the cute one, after all." Fluttershy blushed, Infernalo smirking slightly as he strode through them. "No, there's only one pony I could ever truly love. The rest of you I do respect as my friends nevertheless." Twilight turned an even deeper shade of red than ever and he nodded.
"This calls for a party," Pinkie said, she and Frostburn bouncing excitedly. Steelmind couldn't help but notice that his little brother was staring at a certain unicorn filly who he'd been looking to get off his case.
"I don't know, Steelmind," Cornelius said. "What if she says no?"
"Frostburn didn't," he said, pushing his little brother closer to her. "Sweetie Belle, this is my little brother Cornelius. He's a lot like me, but less focused." Sweetie looked at him and smiled. Cornelius awkwardly smiled back. Stonebolt looked around the party—that Pinkie had somehow put together in a matter of seconds—to see Big Macintosh staring down at her.
"H-hi," she said. "Remember me?"
"Eeyup," was all he said, as she smiled at him. Infernalo turned back to Twilight and kissed her.
"Of all the choices I've made," he said. "I'm glad you were one of them." Twilight smiled. Scootaloo smirked at Sweetie Belle and Cornelius, the two staring blankly at each other.
"Looks like you got over your crush on Steelmind," she said.
"You mean like your crush on Infernalo," Sweetie asked. Scootaloo glared at her and chased after the unicorn. Out of nowhere, Frostburn appeared behind Infernalo and pointed to a very detailed I've sculpture of everypony together.
"What do you think, big brother?" he put a hoof on her shoulder.
"It looks great, Frosty," he said. "It looks better than great."