Three Weeks Later...

Brayden's POV

"You want all of us to go to war with... that place?! You cannot be serious Princess Celestia! We'll lose soldiers!"

Councillor Neighsay was filled with quite a shock at the decision of what my mother had pronounced as a declaration of war against Mortem, having had enough of the threats towards her subjects and the killing of some Appleloosa ponies, leaving that town in ruins which will take ages to repair unless action is done immediately.

"I will not let more innocent ponies die!" Celestia says to him with quite a firm voice. Everypony else on the council takes the time to listen, being that she is pissed off even from hearing about Blueblood's treachery and the foalnapping of my wife Twilight. She, as much as I, am very eager to get her back even if it means fighting fire with fire in return.

Even a factor that plays into how the Dragon Queen killed Nightmare Moon. I am ready to face Rebecca again, to avenge the black alicorn herself whose life did not deserve to be taken from her blades.

"This is absurb! We are limited on our soldiers here and in the fields of Equestria! You want them to drop everything they are doing to help in battle?!" Neighsay continued, slamming his hoof onto the planning table. "Who knows what threats will emerge if the citizens of every town and city are left without a defense!"

I step forward, joining at the table. "Relax there, Neighsay. I believe I have a plan to add upon it."

"You have a plan, human?!" Neighsay says, still with shock. "Princess Twilight has been captured by the Dragon Queen, Nightmare Moon dead, and still you want to double down?!"

"If that's what I believe it takes," I said to him, still remaining calm as possible, even though I am just as pissed as he is in the situation regarding Twilight. "Now, please do relax, and I'll tell you this plan."

Celestia turns her head towards the leading ranks of her armies throughout Equestria. "If my son is sure that his plan is going to work, we'll have to follow and see what comes out by its outcome. I've already summoned the rulers of Griffonstone, the Dragon Lands, Yakyakistan and Mount Aris to help us out in this fight. They've been more than welcome to send over their troops, ready to defend the future of Equestria." She says to them.

The troops at the planning table nod their heads, with the other council members listening in. Councillor Neighsay remains skeptical on what the plan would be, so I take in a breath and proceed to speak.

"From the knowledge I have gathered from my last experience of Mortem, there are the blood dragons and the many dangerous creatures below that are bound to be unleashed upon Equestria with the word of the Dragon Queen herself. With our armies and the armies of our allies combined, we might just have a chance to counter and hold off against the strong forces. The more we have, the equal the strength and numbers we have on them. From that black tower there in Mortem, I suspect Twilight is going to be there. I'm going to go at it alone to try and rescue her and face off against the Dragon Queen. If there is the chance that she can be defeated, there is the chance Equestria and the planet will be saved."

"The changelings though..." One of the councillors spoke up, being that of an olden pony. "Will they be a threat and intervene in the battle?"

"We do have one changeling on our side who had turned his back on Queen Chrysalis for good. He'll be a welcome sight for us in the battle," I assured the councillor who nods in understanding. "I didn't trust him at first either, but I've just been getting used to him being there among us. He poses no threat."

"The Crystal Empire's soldiers are there to give you aid for the battle," Shining Armor says to me from across the table. "These soldiers have quite the experience."

"Will you have Flurry Heart in a safe place in case something bad happens?" I asked him.

He nods his head. "Princess Cadence knows of a safe place where she will be safe until needed as a last hope. But I know you can succeed in this. Me and Cadence believe in you, and know you will get Twilight back."

"I hope so," I said, placing my closed hand onto my chest. "Because I don't know what I'll do if she gets hurt."

Luna steps forward, speaking to everypony. "Ann is still training as a wielder of the Song of Nature she has with her. She will be unable to fight alongside us, being that she has little experience with fighting. She'll remain in Ponyville, where those who wish to remain behind and not fight, can have refuge."

"And the young? What about the next generation of ponies?" A female councillor asked with worry in her voice.

"They will be in Ponyville, as they are too young to go out and fight." Celestia confirms.

"Very good," Councillor Neighsay says. "That way the next generation of Equestria will sprout."

"The armies we gather will meet at the black gate of Mortem, where we will charge at their armies with ours and our allies, clashing together. The pegasi soldiers will flank the blood dragons in the sky while the unicorns go long range, staying a good distance to use their magic. If the enemy get too close, they are free to go wild with their magic to protect themselves and our allies."

"But you? How will you get to the tower?"

A smile perks on my lips. "I'll use my wings, and fight as much as I can. During the battle, the focus should be to clear a path for me to get directly to the black tower without interference from an enemy or blood dragon."

"Well, you're certainly not going at it alone!"

I turned my head to the sound of that recognizable voice that I heard, as well as the double doors to the planning room having opened up. It was my friends... Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity, Fluttershy, Spike, Starlight and surprisingly Applejack as well. They all stood there proudly, smiling at me.

"My friends..." I said to them, a smile appearing on my lips.

Pinkie was the first to zip up towards me as she was the one who said that when coming in. "If you think that going alone with that will be safe, think again! We're going to be there by your side for this battle!"

"We're behind you one hundred percent Brayden," Spike says to me, approaching me. "I heard about what Prince Blueblood did with Twilight, and I certainly want to see that nothing bad has happened to her. I'm just as worried about her as you are."

"Ah know what Ah did was certainly bad in almost givin' ya away," Applejack said to me, with a tone that shows expectation if I don't forgive her immediately and being disappointed in herself. "But Ah'm willing to make it all up to ya by bein' there to help ya."

I show a smile towards Applejack, showing that the Spark of Honesty hasn't faded away, and still glows from within me. "I know you will. Thank you AJ." I responded to her.

She takes off her Stetson-like hat, trotting towards me. "Ya can forgive me, right?"

"Well... yeah," I said to her, chuckling in a friendly tone for a bit. "I can't stay mad forever, and besides, you've been there for me just like everypony else. It's the power of friendship that makes us both stronger in a way," I place my hand on the top of her right front leg. "You're the Element of Honesty, and I do honestly believe you chose the right time to apologize after some time passed."

The mare comes forward, and I allow her to wrap the both of her hooves around me, sharing a warm, friendly hug with her.

"Thank ya Brayden," She says to me. "Yer the closest human friend Ah've ever known and will forever know."

I turn to the rest of my friends and look at them. "What I did the night Nightmare Moon died, I feel quite guilty for yelling at all of you and losing my temper. I let my anger take ahold of me again, and I feel it was a mistake to do so," I exhale a sigh. "I'm hoping you'll forgive me as well as I forgave Applejack."

"Don't worry about it darling," Rarity says to me. "Everypony makes mistakes and takes their anger out the wrong way. Maybe it will show you'll try harder to not do it again?"

"Of course," I said to her. "The corruption from the anger is gone, but there are situations sometimes that I might not be able to control it most of the time. Being that somepony I know getting hurt or killed would cause it along with the grief."

"If it wasn't for me, Luna and Nightmare, the corruption would have overtaken you." Starlight Glimmer says to me.

"Just like how you did that, I hope all of you will be there by my side should anything happen in this battle for Equestria's survival," I speak to my friends with everypony else listening. "You are all my strength that keeps me going, and you are my source of good that keeps me from falling to the shadows."

"Inspirational speech there, Brayden."

That voice caught my attention, turning to see the leaders of our allies entering into the room. It was Princess Ember, Grandpa Gruff, Queen Novo, Prince Rutherford, with to my own surprise: Captain Celaeno and her pirates, Capper and somepony who I hadn't seen since the Storm King's invasion since she was imprisoned in Canterlot's dungeon, Tempest Shadow.

"Tempest..." I said to her, rather surprised. "I didn't expect you to come fight with us."

"Equestria is my home, is it not?" The broken horned unicorn responds to me with a smile on her face. "I've done a lot of thinking in the dungeon since you and your friends got me out from the Storm King's dominion, and I am willing to give myself a chance to help out Equestria."

"That is very brave of you, Tempest." Celestia says to her with a calm tone in her voice and a gentle smile. Something that Tempest has never seen the princess share with her. "Very thoughtful as well that you want to change your ways to new."

Tempest bows before my mother. "It's something I'm willing to prove for my change." She responds to her, smiling before getting back up onto her hooves.

"You aren't doing this all alone," Celaeno says to me, smiling. "If the Storm King's defeat was one thing we are victorious for; we'll be proud to face the Dragon Queen and her armies dead in the eye with our upgraded ship!"

"Your pirate ship." I respond to the bird pirate, smiling at her and pointing.

"You got it!"

"Yaks stand by ponies always," Prince Rutherford says to me. "Yona made back to Yakyakistan safe. Yakyakistan fight with you, Equestria falls - we will too."

"That right there is some real dedication," I responded to him. "If all else fails, we'll go down like brothers and sisters."

Queen Novo steps forward towards me. "Like the brave warrior I've heard about, you definitely have the charisma when it comes to war speeches. We may have been scared of the Storm King, but we won't be scared of a bunch of dragons, a Dragon Queen and her armies!" She says to me. "If Equestria is your home in danger, then ours will share the danger. We will fight with you for your country."

I turn to everypony in the room, pacing back and forth as I look at them.

"I know all of you may have a feeling inside. Like you're staring death in the eye, but we will overcome it all together! Like we are family at heart! Be as scared as you are, when that heat of the moment comes to you, we will face it together, we will survive together or we may die together. Should we win, there will be some that die, but we will give them the memorial they need for their names to be remembered!"

Starlight Glimmer steps forward, speaking with me. "We have positions for each of the races invited to join us. We'll catch those blood dragons off guard that they won't see anything coming, nor that Dragon Queen. Concerning her, we will leave her to Brayden - as he knows her!"

"My dragon army will take the heavy defense," Princess Ember commented. "We aren't going to risk being a laughing stock to all of Equus for being not strong enough to face the blood dragons. They may look tough, but believe me - me and the others back in the Dragon Lands are even tougher than we appear."

"All of you are in danger if Mortem goes ahead with their harvesting plans, but we aren't going to allow it!" I continued. "If we stop and let them get their way, then Equus will be left with nothing! We succeed, and we'll see our future generations bloom - leaving more unity and goodwill for all eternity! We take a stand, and we take it now! They may threaten us, burn us, kill us, toss us aside to erase our peaceful history, and take us all away! But I know now, that there are things that they cannot take away. The most important thing... the Magic of Friendship!"

The whole room roared aloud with cheers, just about ready to head out into war, with even my friends cheering. For this might possibly be the final time being able to see my friends before the battle, I felt quite proud, even for one more shot at saving Equestria.

"May Friendship prevail in our hearts forevermore!"

Rebecca's POV

Mortem

"They are gathering their armies..."

My master Vuurtongo stood there high and mighty, his eyes are like that of hell and brimstone as he spoke with me. I stood there at the top of the tower by the edge, his towering length giving me no chills whatsoever.

"They want war at last," I responded to him. "At last, I will have a chance with Brayden by myself. Especially with Twilight here, it's just the bait that we'll need to bring him here. Once here, I will use my katanas to drive into him. He'll be dead, and there will be no hope left for Equestria."

"There are their allies. We take care of Equestria, then we can go after them next until nothing stands in our way. But me? I have other plans... the Song of Order that boy carries." Vuurtongo says, turning away from me for a moment.

"What about it, master?"

Vuurtongo turns around back to look at me with his fiery eyes and mouth. "He is one of the wielders of the Five Songs. The one in legend from Equus history. Just like you hold onto the Song of Flames, using it for me."

I was really confused by what he meant. Me? One of the Song wielders... "What are you talking about?"

"The original Dragon Queen. She knew all about the legend when I had explained at the time why the Alicorns of Whinnepagos had to be exterminated. She was only lucky that the curse she brought upon them was the last second to get away with my attempt at a victory. A chance to get ahold of that claymore... but it disappeared and I could not trace it anywhere."

"But why would you need the Song of Order?" I asked him.

He chuckles for a moment. "It's for rather... something needed. Just like how yours will be needed once I get what I want. The Song of Aqua, Earth and Nature will be easy to acquire as the humans that boy brought to this world. One has already discovered it within, the others... do not know yet."

"Then I am willing to use the Song of Flames, my katanas to serve you."

"You misunderstand," My master responded to me. "I need your Song with the other four songs to forge something I've wanted for a long time... for an eternity now... that boy I captured was right to tell me about them..."

"You mean... wait..." I paused for a moment, realizing something was wrong.

"But first, I must grant you my power and my control... over you." He responds to me, rising further, his wings of dark steel and obsidian rising to the skies as his short spiked horns begin to retract into his head.

I can only stand there and watch, frozen as his head begins to undergo a transformation. The rocks on his head shift around where the spikes have sunk into his head. Something emerges out from them afterwards... horns somehow. Ram horns?

"And now... from within this disguise from the eternity I was born... you and your Song are mine..."

Vuurtongo finally opens his mouth, a swirling amount of darkness coming down and impacting me, beginning to swallow me with his magic. Something that I have never seen from him before.

By the time I realized what was going on... I was too late.