Chapter 186: Kingdom Peril Pt. 2

Several guards were shown being carried away as the attack coordinated by Starlight had taken out half of the guards in the castle. Thankfully, there were no casualties, but from the many injuries they suffered, it was clear their numbers had dwindled. Twilight and Night Light could only look on as they watched the guards being carried away and some being given first aid. At that moment, Moondancer appeared as Twilight had informed her to check on her brothers.

"Give me the news, Moondancer."

"Shining Armor is currently stable."

"And what about Spike? Did Starlight get to him?"

"Your brother is safe. It seems your mother sent her personal handmaiden to ensure his safety."

"Oh, thank heavens," the girl responded, relieved that her little brother was okay. That was one less thing to worry about.

Moondancer's gaze shifted past her friend, and she saw the fury building in Night Light's eyes. The same girl had taken his wife and his daughter. The scholar appeared as he approached the King.

"Your Majesty. We have a lead on the attacker's location," the scholar announced, his voice filled with a mix of trepidation and determination. He presented his tablet to the King, capturing the attention of the princess, her handmaiden, and her bodyguard. The tablet displayed a map, their castle and kingdom marked, and a distant village. The scholar's finger hovered over the village, and with a touch, the image expanded to reveal a building, smoke detection evident.

"That's Daphnel territory," said Night Light as he knew where Starlight was hiding; his anger boiled even more. "That's where she's hiding. I will launch a full-scale attack!"

"Sir, with all due respect, we got hit pretty hard. Everyone will be okay, but… we won't be launching a full-scale anything for some time," said a guard.

"Then we'll hit her with whatever we have! My wife is in her hands!" yelled Night Light. He didn't want to hear excuses; he wanted Starlight's head to pay for taking Velvet.

"Dad! You can't beat Starlight with swords and fists!" said the girl to her father, as she knew first-hand how dangerous the girl was. "So far, we've played right into her hands. You know she never meant to capture me. She sent that automaton to make you think that was her plan and then used that monster to pull security away from her real target: Mom. So… whatever you think you're gonna throw at her, she'll be waiting."

Night Light looked at his daughter as he took in what she said, making his expression soften before turning his back and walking away.

"We attack within the hour!" said the King to the guards as he decided.

Meanwhile, in Starlight's current hideout in the Daphnel territory, a small rundown building was shown. Inside, Velvet was shown standing with her hands tied. The Queen tried to use her magic to free herself, but the binds were encased with a powerful spell that rendered her attempts useless.

"Don't worry, your Highness," said a voice as Velvet looked up.

Across the room, Starlight stood with her back to Twilight's mother, who had tons of blueprints and scrolls scattered around her.

"You are merely bait to lure the princess here," responded the girl as she eyed Twilight's mother. "The magic and blood of your daughter will help with what I plan to do. I tried asking for help in a civil war but was denied by everyone! So, unfortunately, this is my only remaining course."

"And after you've got what you need from my daughter?" asked Velvet to the girl.

"After? Ha!" laughed Starlight. Oh, I'm afraid Equis and everybody will pay for turning their backs on me and my family. And it'll start with your bloodline. And that's when you should be worried, your Highness." stated the girl, and Velvet gasped upon hearing that.

Night Light was shown in his and Velvet's bedroom. The King sat on the edge of his bed facing the window. He grimaced and looked sad as he opened his eyes and looked up at a nearby portrait of his entire family smiling for a family picture.

"And now… I have failed you, too, Velvet," said the King. Along with Twilight, he had failed the other important girl in his life. Night Light clutched his head as he felt even more sorrow.

"Dad!"

Twilight was shown standing outside her parent's room as Night Light heard her. He immediately put his hands down and wiped his nose. He stood up and tried to put on a brave face to avoid his daughter seeing him weak in a state of time.

"Twilight! I thought I made it clear-"

Night Light didn't finish his statement as he was stopped by Twilight hugging his side. He looked down to see his daughter embracing him as if to cheer him up, which he returned as he put his arms around his child.

"Thank you," said Night Light to his daughter.

"She's going to be okay, Dad. We'll get her back," Twilight said to her father.

"This… this is all my fault."

"Dad, no… it's… it's Starlight and her personal vendetta against our family for giving her suffering."

Night Light sighed as he looked at his daughter.

"Twilight… it's true. All of it," said the King to his daughter. "Since the beginning of time, our family has been in conflict with Starlight's. And for one goal: Power. The power to rule all of Equis. And at every crossroad, our family has had to make the ultimate decision. So understand, Twilight, that decision may come right now, and what you decide to do to Starlight is your choice alone."

"But Dad… I can't just take her life. I… I can't just end her…" said Twilight, as she didn't want to kill Starlight for many reasons.

"Our ancestors thought the same thing against their rivals, but there was no other way. I just want you to understand that, sweetie," said Night Light as he left to prepare for war room discussion.

"Take her life?" said Twilight as she looked at her hand.

The girl's blood was filled with her past ancestors as they did what her father said and ended the lives of their rivals. And now, here she was, being put in the same position as her bloodline before her and ultimately being asked to kill someone on purpose.

"I don't know if I can," muttered the girl.

Night Light stood before the guards assembled in the war room as Twilight stood beside her father.

"What do you ask of us, your Majesty?"

"As so was insightfully pointed out to me," smiled Night Light as he looked at his daughter, "We've been playing straight into Starlight's hands, and now… she's expecting a full-scale attack on where she's hiding."

"So what's the plan, Your Majesty?" asked Moondancer.

Twilight's finger then pointed at the map as she spoke.

"We launch a full-scale attack on Daphnel territory," said the girl.

"But forgive me for saying this, princess. But we'd be giving her the upper hand," said a guard.

"Yeah, well, we're gonna let Starlight think she has the upper hand. And while we distract her with the assault, I will sneak around back using the tunnels and rescue the Queen," said Twilight.

"You mean we are gonna rescue the Queen," said Night Light as he smiled at his daughter, who returned the gesture.

"With all due respect, princess. Starlight wants you; once she sees you're nowhere in sight, won't she realize our attack is just a diversion?"

"Perhaps… but we'll be ready for her," smirked Twilight.

In Starlight's hideout, a lit window showed the girl hard at work inside. The girl was currently working on something, and Velvet was off to the corner, sitting against a wall. As expected, she was preparing for the massive attack she knew would be heading her way.

"Any moment now, Your Highness!" said the girl as some music picked up, and she began to talk about her actions.

[Starlight- The girl was looking at Velvet as talking about ending her bloodline fueled her motivation. When Velvet tried to speak to reason with her, she turned around and shouted at her as it shut down that attempt. The girl approached a table full of charts and designs; in the center was Twilight's crest, and she slammed her fist. Once more, Velvet tried to get the girl to see reason, but she ignored her. She climbed a ladder and put a metal piece in, using her magic to seal it. The girl poured some chemicals from her beakers and flasks into vials as the alchemy from within bubbled. The girl stood before the center of the room, declaring what she was doing was right and looking forward to bringing true justice.]

Believe me I know, I've sunk pretty low
But whatever I've done, you deserved

(Starlight!)

(QUIET!)

I'm the bad guy, that's fine
It's no fault of mine and some justice at last will be served

(Please, listen)

Back at the castle, Shining Armor was shown lying on a bed as several guards were checking up on him. The prince groaned in pain as he was still suffering the effects from earlier, and it was clear the prince wouldn't take part in the attack.

"Your Highness, you're in no condition to fight," said Moondancer.

"I have to. My sister and father need me," groaned Shining Armor as he tried to sit up, only for his back to ache in pain.

"Shining, don't worry. We found someone else to lead the assault," said Moondancer as she turned.

All the other guards did the same as standing in the doorway was Storm. The Jedi walked into the hostile room of guards as he knew that being assigned Shining Armor's role was a big responsibility. The many guards eyed the teen, wondering how he could lead them. The boy approached the bed of the prince as he saw him. Shining Armor lifted his hand as Storm looked at it briefly before putting it in his.

"Don't let me down," the prince smiled before closing his eyes to rest.

"Well, Jedi. The men are waiting," said Moondancer as he looked at her before turning to look at the guards.

The sea of soldiers eyed the boy who would be their commanding officer on the battlefield, and they had doubts. Storm looked at Moondancer, and the girl assured him he would do a fine job.

[Storm- The boy stepped forward and addressed the guards while walking through and standing in the middle. He pulled out his lightsaber and held it up high to signal any of those to join him in arms. Moondancer was the first to respond as the guards soon followed the handmaiden's response, and they, too, raised their weapons up high, willing to follow their commander into battle. Storm had a determined expression as he knew everybody was counting on him to see them through. The boy looked at Moondancer as he smiled, thanking her for boosting confidence with the guards.]

Now it's time to rise up or it's time to back down
And the answer is easy to see
And I swear by the sword if you're in, get on board
Are you ready?

I'm ready

We're ready(we're ready)

Ready as I'll ever be

On the outskirts of the kingdom, Twilight was shown behind a tree as she wore her special necklace. Her pet owl was on her shoulder as it nuzzled the side of her face to give comfort. The girl was waiting for someone when she heard a sound and turned as, sure enough, they had arrived.

"There you are," said Twilight as she spotted her father.

"Sorry, sweetie. I had to make a quick stop," the girl's father smiled as he pulled out her lightsaber. "I'm told you're pretty handy with this."

"I sure am," the girl smirked as her father tossed her weapon, which she fumbled and almost dropped but managed to catch.

[Night Light - The King approached his daughter as he was still concerned about his daughter's plan. The girl reassured her father it would work as she wrapped her arm around his, and they began to walk.]

Are you quite sure we can do this?
Together we will guarantee

[Meanwhile, in her hideout, Starlight pulled a pulley as she lifted something heavy.]

I'll make them hear me(now it's time to redeem or it's to resolve

[Storm—The boy was shown on his horse leading the charge of the guards as they galloped across the fields to their destination.]
Prove they can trust me(and the outcome will hardly come free)

[Twilight - The girl and her father climbed a cliff as the King walked forward. Her eyes filled with determination, the girl took a moment to look back at the castle and knew she had to protect her people.]
I'll save my home and family

[Storm - At that same time, Storm and the guards were closing in on Starlight's hideout as the boy tightened his grip as he was prepared.]

Now the line's in the sand and our moment's at hand
And I'm ready
I'm ready

[Twilight - The girl and her father were at the base of the village as they saw where Starlight's hideout was before entering the secret tunnel.]
I'm ready

[Starlight - The girl looked down into a cellar as a pulley lowered something inside. The girl stood at the top with a wicked smile, doing all she could for the incoming assault. The girl closed the lid with such a slam that everything went dark.
Ready as I'll ever be

Storm and the guards all slowly began to get past some sharp palisade barriers.

"Keep an eye out, everyone. It's too quiet for my liking," said Storm, as his experience in the field of combat told him that if things were silent, it wasn't good.

The group slowly got closer and closer as they crossed a very narrow bridge over a small stream of water, and the hideout of Starlight was in the distance. However, as expected, the girl, her face a mask of anticipation, peered from her window and saw the group of guards slowly approaching her with every step.

"What a happy family reunion this will be," smiled Starlight evilly as she turned to eye Velvet sitting against the wall. "For both of us."

Meanwhile, Twilight and her father were currently underground. Using the secret tunnels from the royal archives as depicted by her ancestors, the pair hoped to sneak around and get the girl's mother out of harm so Starlight could avoid holding all the cards. The girl was holding her lightsaber out as it gave some more light along with her father's lantern.

"According to this, Starlight's lab should be right above us," whispered the girl, not wanting to alert her foe.

Sure enough, the pair stopped as they looked above to see a hatch. The girl put her lightsaber away and used her magic to transform the nearby rocks and branches into a ladder, which was directly under the hatch. The princess began to climb it slowly as it made a squeaking sound.

"Careful," whispered Night Light to his daughter as she nodded.

Taking a deep breath, Twilight slowly climbed the rest of the way as she pushed the hatch up and opened it every so slightly. The girl peered her eyes to scan her surroundings as Owlowcious did the same. The pair didn't see any signs of Starlight as they pushed the rest of the hatch open, and Twilight got up. The owl fell off her shoulder as the princess quietly moved about the lab. Night Light emerged from the hatch as Twilight took cover behind a nearby chair. The two were looking in the same direction as standing by a window, with her back to them: Starlight. The girl seemed unaware of the two as she only continued looking out the window when she spotted Storm and the guards.

Night Light and Twilight slowly approached the girl. The King put his hands out and, when they were close, grabbed the girl from behind. However, as he turned the girl around to confront her, he was surprised to see that it wasn't Starlight at all. It was a mere doll in her clothing; it surprised both the King and princess as he threw the doll to the ground.

"What is this?!" demanded Night Light.

At that moment, a sound was heard. Above the pair were two pipelines as they opened up, and out came two orbs of pink as they shot near the feet of the royal pair. They initially coughed as the smoke by their feet began to take shape. In a matter of seconds, Twilight and her father found that they couldn't move their legs no matter how hard they tried. A sudden laughter was heard as the pair noticed a shadow approaching them. A staff twirled before it lit up and revealed Starlight's face.

"Ha, ha. We meet again, Twilight. Welcome back," Starlight laughed sinisterly as she confronted her foe.

The girl held a defiant look as Starlight snapped her fingers. A cage with Owlowicious inside was shown as the girl had captured Twilight's pet. She gasped as she watched her pet try to hit the cage in an attempt to escape, but it was useless.

"Don't hurt him," said Twilight as she cared for her pet owl.

"You don't get to make the rules, princess. I do. I'm in control now," said Starlight as she dangled the owl in front of Twilight, just out of reach, before throwing the cage as the hook wrapped around a rack. "Now… let's watch some entertainment." The girl then pressed a button.

Outside, Storm and the guards had placed posts around the girl's hideout as they stared up at the building.

"Maybe we're wrong. Maybe we underestimated the girl," said a guard. They expected Starlight to have prepared for their arrival but saw nothing.

"Listen…" said Storm as he instructed the guards to remain quiet.

At that moment, a familiar sound began to play. The melody from the music box that Twilight received as a gift played. Soon, the ground began to shake, as emerging in front of the boy was another automaton, peeping its circuitry at the boy and the guards.

"Not this again," muttered the Jedi Knight before facing the guards. "Alright, everyone. Stay strong. It may be tough, but we got it outnumbered."

While Storm didn't see it, more yellow robotic eyes peered through the smoke as there were more mechanized foes when it died down.

You fool! Turn around!

The Jedi's voice was heard as he saw more of the metal foe. The ground behind him and the guards cracked open as an automaton appeared behind them, now trapping them from escaping.

"It's an ambush!" shouted Storm as the action kicked off.

Inside her lab, Starlight was working on the final tweaks of her machine as Night Light and Twilight tried to escape the pink substance that held them.

"Starlight! I demand you release us! And tell me where the Queen is!" said Twilight's father.

"Your Majesty! Didn't you hear me earlier? I know it must be hard, but for the first time in your life and your royal bloodline, you are in no position to demand anything!" said the girl as she growled at the King and her foe before smiling. "But in the spirit of comprise and generosity, I'll meet you halfway." The girl strolled over to a curtain. She pulled it back, and there was Velvet, still chained up, sitting against the wall.

"Mom!" yelled Twilight, moving her body forward as if to reach for her. However, her father held her back to avoid falling because their legs were stuck.

"I'm okay, sweetie!" said Velvet to her daughter, not wanting her to worry anymore.

"Let her go, Starlight! Please! This is between me and you!"

"Correction, princess!" hissed Starlight at the girl. "This is between me and your bloodline! And that includes your family! However, I have a favor. Scratch that, it's not a favor, it's a bloody demand. You do something for me!"

"What do you want from her?!" asked Night Light with a defiant look.

"Oh, so now the royal family cares about what I what? Funny how that works out, huh?" Starlight mocked with a smile as she approached Velvet. "Oh, it took threatening what you loved most to finally get you all to listen to me." Starlight stood over Velvet, placed her hand on her shoulder, and glared at Twilight and her father.

Outside, a battle raged on. Storm and the guards were doing their best to fight the mechanical marvels. The boy was trying to use his lightsaber to fight back, but the metal coating on the robots did not scratch their surface. The Jedi Knight was now forced to be on defense as he focused on trying to avoid the attacks of the automaton he was facing. Meanwhile, the other guards dealt with their own as the magic classes used their tomes and hands to fire several bits of magic as the robots weren't slowing down.

The melee guards used their weapons to try and defeat the foes, but even their weapons had no effect. Storm called for his horse as it heard the call of his rider and went for him. The Jedi backflipped as he landed on the steed's back and sat about as he began to ride through the field of robots. He avoided a few of them as he noticed one in front of him with his back turned. The boy then leaped and brought his lightsaber down as he slashed at where the timing cylinder was, but instead, it was sealed up and just scratched the surface.

"Shit! They sealed their timing cylinders!" said Storm as Starlight had improved the design to cover the robots' weakness.

The robot he hit now turned its attention to the teen as it was enraged. Storm took some steps back with his lightsaber out as his back came in contact with a palisade barrier that was standing up. At that moment, the boy got an idea as he ducked from the delivered punch.

"Everyone, use the palisade barriers!" instructed Storm.

The Battlemaster guard that was present swung his hammer as he knocked the robot he was facing away. The force from the hammer sent it flying as it went straight into some palisades, the sharp ends piercing it straight through before it shut down. The other guards began to do the same as the ones holding swords, axes, and spears managed to push back the ones they were facing before the archers pulled back on their bows to shoot their arrows. They exploded upon impact, forcing them into the sharp ends as they pierced through. The magic classes used their magic to make the sharp ends fly into the robots as it shut them down.

"What are you going to do, Starlight?" asked Night Light as the girl was shown pushing something under a tarp into the room.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll spare you the details about my family blah, blah, blah, and get to the good stuff," said the girl as she pulled the tarp off.

"What is that?" asked Twilight.

"I'm so glad you asked Twilight because, well… that's where you come in," said the girl as she approached the princess and yanked a piece of her hair as Twilight yelped. Starlight put the strand inside the small capsule as it powered on. "Now… all I need is some of your magic, princess."

"Why?"

"You think I planned to take your mother and draw you here simply? No. See, I'm here to complete my father's plan. Project Paradoxum."

"And what exactly is Project Paradoxum?" incurred Night Light.

"Oh, nothing for you two to worry about. At least… not at the moment. Let's just say when it's complete. There won't ever be a Sparkle bloodline left to exist." said the girl as she eyed her rival and her father. "Oh, one more thing, I'm on a ticking clock, so we need to expedite things so…" Starlight pulled out a vial and deliberately poured the contents on the chains holding Velvet as within seconds, it began to turn to cold amber. It was starting to devour the chains as it would encase Velvet.

"Starlight, stop!" yelled Twilight as she broke down. "Fine. I'll give you what you want!"

"Well…" smirked Starlight as she succeeded in breaking the Jedi. She tossed another vial by the girl's feet, freeing her. The girl looked at her mother as the amber was still growing, and she knew she didn't have much time. Twilight looked at Starlight with a defiant look as the girl smirked. "Shall we get started, princess?"

While the princess prepared to help her rival, Storm and the guards slowly defeated the robots. Now, having found a way to exploit their weakness, they were gaining the advantage. Twilight was now hooked up to some cables as Starlight powered up a machine; the girl looked at her father before looking at her mother as the amber was moments away from touching her.

"Starlight, you have to promise me that regardless of what you plan to do…, you will let my mother go," said Twilight.

"Heh… I can't make any promises, princess!" stated the girl as she flipped the switch.

The machine came online as electricity struck the strand of hair before transferring it to the cables attached to Twilight. The girl then felt some of her magic being sucked out as she winced in pain at the moment. Starlight smiled as she watched the meter as it started to go up. Twilight screamed as she could feel her magic starting to fade.

"Stop it! She can't take anymore!" said Night Light as he was forced to watch his daughter suffer while his wife was about to be encased in amber.

"Twilight!" shouted Velvet at seeing her daughter in pain.

"More!" shouted Starlight as she turned the crank.

Twilight let out a scream as it was starting to become too much. Owlowlcious saw his owner in pain as he tried to do something. He noticed the small lock on the outside as the bird stuck one of his talons out to try and pick the lock. Being the smart bird he was, he lined up the pins perfectly before opening the cage and flying off to grab a nearby orb similar to the Starlight used to free Twilight. The small bird flew toward the girl's father as he dropped the orb of substance by the King's feet as he began to be freed.

"Velvet!" shouted Night Light as he took his sword by his side and tossed it to his wife.

Velvet stuck her hand out to catch her husband's weapon and used it to strike the chain holding her. She quickly got up just as the amber encased the spot where she was before. At that moment, Starlight shut off the machine, and Twilight fell to the floor. The girl's parents rushed to their daughter's aid as they were concerned.

"Twilight!" said Night Light as he lifted his daughter into his arms.

"Twilight!" shouted Velvet as she feared for her child's health.

The girl opened her eyes, a tad bit dizzy, before she hugged her parents; they wrapped their arms around her. Starlight took the small capsule that pulsed with magic as she eyed it. The girl's plan had succeeded, as she got what she needed.

"Twilight, are you okay?" asked Night Light.

"Yeah… I'm fine," said the girl as she felt some of her strength returning. She stood up with the help of her parents before looking forward and seeing Starlight was gone. "Where did she go?"

Owlowicious landed on Twilight's shoulder when the ground below them began to shake. Emerging from underneath was a larger version of the automatons that Storm and the guards faced as it stood before the royal family. Inside, operating it was Starlight as the girl eyed her enemies.

"Thank you so much for your help, Twilight. As a token of my appreciation, allow me to send you and your parents to an early grave together!"

"Run!" shouted Velvet as the three held their daughter as they ran.

"Alright, who's next?" asked Storm as he force-pushed a robot into the wooden spikes while standing his ground. He looked as if Twilight and her parents were coming out of the door to Starlight's hideout. "Twilight!"

At that moment, they all ducked to the side as Starlight emerged inside her massive creation.

"Uh, I hate to break it to you. But there's a line," said Storm as he pointed to the rest of the robots she had made that he had to deal with first.

The girl had her giant creation slam the ground as it pulsed with power and sent everybody and everything into the air. Velvet landed beside her daughter and husband before a mechanical hand grabbed hold of her.

"Velvet!" shouted Night Light as he saw his wife being held captive.

Starlight smiled as she looked through her window. At that moment, a stone was tossed and bounced against the window. Starlight looked as there stood Twilight defiantly.

"That's enough, Starlight!"

"It's not enough, princess! Not until you've endured the same pain and agony that I've suffered my entire life!" yelled Starlight as he had her giant robot begin to squeeze the hand holding the girl's mother.

Velvet began to scream. Storm quickly rushed to help the queen when he was grabbed with the other hand as Starlight began to squeeze. The boy was now trapped as he began to feel the pain; Twilight was now forced to watch her mother and partner being in pain before her as she clutched her head. Her hands began to spark with magic as she screamed before slamming them on the ground. It created a magic explosion that moved Starlight's robot as it fell onto the ground, releasing the woman and teen.

"Velvet!" said Night Light as he rushed to his wife's side. She came to and saw her husband as she hugged him.

Starlight began to push the buttons as her robot got up, and Twilight approached her. The princess touched the necklace she wore, and the transformation began taking shape within seconds. The nanotech that was her newly designed armor began to cover her entire body. It covered her from head to toe and adjusted to her figure. The girl stood in purple armor made of Equism, with a cape flowing out the back. She eyed her rival before pulling her lightsaber out.

Starlight growled upon seeing Twilight's sudden glow up, as she wasn't impressed. She commanded her robot to strike at the girl as she took off. She was heading straight for the fist as she did a frontflip barrel roll at the last second and landed on the upper arm before running up the rest of the way to its shoulders. She landed and stabbed her lightsaber into the shoulder plate as Starlight shook the girl off. Twilight landed and quickly dodged to the left as she skidded to a halt. Weapons from Starlight were fired, and the girl used her lightsaber and twirled it about while moving in a circle, perfectly blocking them.

"Look at her go," muttered Velvet as they saw their daughter fight.

Twilight slid under the legs of Starlight's mechanical creation as the girl growled before turning around. The princess used her free hand to force-push her foe, but Starlight made her robot stand its ground as several supports came from its leg and were implanted into the ground. The girl then had some magic beams shoot out from her creation's palms as it made contact with Twilight, the princess skidding across the ground as she grunted.

"Thanks for your magic, princess. I can't wait to destroy you and your family!" said Starlight.

"Twilight…"

"No!" said the girl as she put her hands out to stop her father from getting involved. "This is my fight."

"Say goodbye, princess!" said Starlight, putting her automaton's hands together to fire a concentrated beam of magic at her rival.

Twilight quickly put a magic shield up as it redirected the beam upwards. The princess tried to stand her ground and hold back Starlight's attack as she smiled evilly. Twilight dropped to her knees with her arms out, trying to keep her shield up. Cracks began to form as it was becoming too much for the girl; she groaned as she willed herself not to give up. Soon, her hands glowed even more with her aura as her eyes turned blank white. Starlight noticed the sudden power surge her robot was getting as Twilight's shield broke, and the magic beam directly hit the girl. Twilight seemingly absorbed the magic beam as her body glowed, and it exploded, pushing everyone back. Starlight stood her ground as she looked, and there was Twilight with her eyes still white and her hair starting to wave about. The girl yelled as she fired another magic beam, which Twilight countered by putting her hands together and firing her own beam. Her magic made contact with Starlight's and was immediately pushed back. It surprised the girl as before she could react, the magic beam was pushed back to her and made contact with her. The girl's automaton lost its arms before many bells and whistles went off inside the thing as it fell to the ground.

Starlight tried to recover, but the window of her creation was ripped open, and Twilight stood peering with her blank white eyes. The princess used her magic to grab hold of Starlight and glared at her before she began to feel the magic coursing through her begin to fade. Starlight took her chance to escape as she quickly grabbed the capsule that held the magic she had taken from the girl.

"Stop her!" commanded Night Light to the guards.

"This isn't over, Twilight. Not by a longshot!" said Starlight.

The guards and Storm closed in on the girl as she used her magic to teleport quickly, but she vanished just before Storm could grab her. The Jedi rolled about on the ground before pounding it in anger. Velvet held her daughter as she was concerned for her and followed what had happened.

"Twilight, sweetie. Talk to me. Are you okay?" asked Velvet.

The girl began to stir as she opened her eyes as if they had returned to normal. She groaned and sat up as Velvet hugged her daughter, which she returned. Night Light approached his wife and daughter, putting his arms around them. The trio now relished a family embrace. Storm watched his partner and her parents share this moment as he initially smiled, knowing they were okay, but soon thought back to Starlight and how the girl was still a threat.

"Let's go home," said Night Light.

"Right," said Twilight as she stood up.

She then saw her partner as she approached him with her parents watching. The princess hugged the boy as he returned the embrace. Velvet smiled, seeing her daughter and her partner. Even Night Light was willing to let this moment between her child and her bodyguard slide as he led the guards to distract Starlight's weapons. The sun started covering the horizon as everybody began to prepare to leave. Storm got on his horse as Twilight sat behind him; the girl kissed her partner's cheek before he flicked the reigns of his steed and began to trot forward.

Twilight's expression changed from joy to concern as they returned to the castle. The girl was thinking about Starlight and the fact that she was still out there, and more importantly, what she said about using her magic for her special project. If today's events said anything, it was clear that Starlight's vendetta to destroy her family heritage wasn't over by a long shot. She hoped she would be ready for whatever the girl was planning.