Chapter 65: The Crystal Empire and the Final Battle

The train came to a stop at the train station and the conductor opened all the doors. Lucky, Sweetie, and Pyro all disembarked and looked around in awe. They went down the steps and toward the castle.

"This place is so pretty," Sweetie Belle uttered in an awed, hushed tone.

"You said it," Lucky agreed softly. Once they got to the castle, the guards denied access, but once they realized Lucky had her Princess garb on, they let them through. "Thank you, sirs." The trio were led by another guard to the throne room. Lucky was walking with importance in her demeanor. Sweetie and Pyro were both behind her. Once they got to the throne room, Cadance and Shining Armor looked up.

"Lucky Fire! What brings you here? What's wrong? Why do you have your Princess things on?" Cadance asked. Lucky got her Princess aura around her.

"Princess Cadance, Prince Shining Armor. I, the Princess of Prophecy, Lucky Fire, hereby require your assistance in taking down the 11 remaining members of the Dark Magic Squad. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and the Elements of Harmony all agreed to help. Will you?" Cadance and Shining Armor stood strong.

"Princess Lucky Fire, we both will be honored to aid you in your efforts to take down the Dark Magic Squad. When will the final battle take place?" Shining Armor replied.

"In 5 days in Hoofington. Prepare yourselves. These are no mere weaklings. They will fight with everything they've got." The two nodded.

"Understood." Lucky took a deep breath, her Princess aura disappearing.

"Now that the Princess business is over with... this place is beautiful." They smiled.

"Thank you, Lucky. Would you three like a tour?" Cadance offered.

"Yes, please." Cadance took them around the Empire, showing them everything. At noon, she took them to her favorite restaurant. The food was phenomenal! After lunch, however, the three needed to get back home. They needed to plan multiple things. As they were walking to the train station,

"I have a question, Cadance. Do Alicorns eventually pass away? I know we live a very long time, but... nothing more than that."

"Yes, we do. We can live up to 2,500 years."

"Wow." Cadance nodded. When they got to the train station, she bid them good bye. The ride home was uneventful. Once they got home, Lucky put the Princess work in the mailbox. Lucky and Sweetie sat on the couch and Pyro played with her toys.

"So I'll be staying with Ma and Mom again when we get back to Ponyville and Pyro will be with me. Will you be at Rarity's or your parents'?"

"I'll be at my parents' house. That way we can move in together when you finally reach 21 and we get the castle."

"Ok, that sounds like a plan." Lucky then remembered something. "Oh, shoot. I also need to go to the police station, get myself 11 more magic nullifying rings and warn them of the influx of DMS members in 5 days' time. Speaking of... I need to make a battle plan. I'll be back, Sweetie. Keep an eye on Pyro?" Sweetie nodded. Lucky got up and went off to the police station. She wasn't paying attention and accidentally bumped into somepony.

"Lucky, what's wrong?" It was Machine!

"Hi, Machine. Sorry for bumping into you. I was trying to come up with a battle plan for taking down the remaining members of the DMS. I'm just on my way to the police station now to get more magic nullifying rings. I'll be having the help of the Elements of Harmony and the other Princesses and the Prince of the Crystal Empire. That way it'll be 11 on 11. Hopefully that way we can get them all."

"I see. Well, I had noticed they'd been quiet."

"Hopefully it's because losing members every time they try to fight me is making them rethink their strategy." Machine nodded.

"When will you be fighting?"

"5 days' time. I need to get them... it's been too long..." Machine nodded again.

"Good luck, Lucky. Though you won't need it," Machine winked. Lucky grinned.

"Thanks, Machine." They parted ways and Lucky made it to the police station. "May I get 11 more magic nullifying rings? I'll be fighting the remaining DMS members in 5 days."

"Of course, Princess." Chief dug in his desk and hovered 11 rings to Lucky. She took them in her magic.

"Thank you." She teleported back home. She put the rings in her nightstand drawer for safe keeping. She sighed, went to the living room, and sat on the couch. She really thought about how she wanted to deal with the DMS. Last fight... all or nothing. At least... that's what it feels like. They have to get them this time.

Who knows how much longer they can leave them to plan their heinous crimes. She definitely was gonna put up a barrier around Hoofington so that they don't escape. What else... She could assign a DMS member to one of each pony, too. Oh, and she's definitely taking on the leader. No one else is. The leader is her responsibility. At least she feels like it is. Sweetie sat next to her and put a foreleg around her.

"You're really thinking hard."

"We have to get the DMS. We all want to go back to Ponyville. I'm tired of the big city." Sweetie nuzzled Lucky.

"I know..." Lucky continued making plans and doing her Princess work over the next 4 days. In the evening on the 4th night, all of the battle ponies came to Lucky and Sweetie's apartment.

"Well, this is it, everypony. Night before the big battle. Let me go over the plan for tomorrow with y'all."

'I love when she uses her country 'y'all' unconsciously,' Sweetie Belle thought. Lucky grinned at her. Sweetie blushed lightly. "You heard that?"

"Yup," Lucky chuckled. Sweetie playfully poked her tongue out at Lucky as everypony laughed. "So, here's what I came up with." Lucky explained her plan as Sweetie kept Pyro busy, out of the bigger ponies' way and to keep her from interrupting. The important ponies only stopped to eat, but went straight back to business once they were done.

At bed time, Lucky finished explaining her plan and listening to the others' suggestions. The magic users moved the furniture in the living room out of the way and everypony unfurled their sleeping bags and placed them where they wanted them. Next morning, none of the battlers could get themselves to eat.

"Ugh... I'm so fidgety. I want to get this battle over with, already..." Lucky complained.

"You and me, both, kiddo," Rainbow agreed.

"Sweetie, you remember to stay put with Pyro, right?" Lucky asked, making sure.

"Yes, Lucky. Don't worry. Pyro and I will be fine." Lucky nodded.

"Well... no time like the present... I can't wait any longer." Lucky went to her nightstand and grabbed the rings. She put them in her saddlebags, which will be out of sight in the actual battle. Each magic user will be able to get them. Lucky's hoping they will all fight in relatively close distance. That way the non-magic users will be able to be helped by the magic users if they are able to apprehend the DMS member they'll be fighting. Lucky put her saddlebags on. Sweetie went over and nuzzled Lucky.

"Good luck, everypony. I know you'll get them." The battlers smiled. Pyro nuzzled Lucky, too.

"Good luck, Mama. You'll get dem." Lucky smiled gently.

"You know it in your heart, don't you?" Pyro smiled.

"Yup! Also, you had a vision of you in the future and the DMS were done." Lucky chuckled.

"That's true. Well, I'll be back, and I will be victorious." Lucky led the ponies out. Once outside, she placed a barrier around all of Hoofington. They reached the most open place they could find, the park. The others lined up with Lucky being in the middle.

"Well, this is it. The final stand. Let's do this," Twilight commented, determined. The others cheered their agreement. Lucky grinned. She used her Royal Canterlot voice to call out to the DMS, but to also warn the citizens of Hoofington to seek shelter.

"Dark Magic Squad members, show yourselves! I wish to fight you and take you down! Citizens of Hoofington, you all find shelter, stay safe! The Elements of Harmony, the Princesses, Prince, and I will take care of these heathens once and for all!" Lucky felt all the ponies find shelter while evil began to approach. Lucky hid her saddlebags in a bush, making sure the others know where it is, as well. The leader, well, led, duh, his group over to us after a few minutes.

"Princess... to what do I owe the pleasure of this welcome party?" Lucky scoffed.

"'Welcome party'... you've been here long enough, planned long enough. What you need is a farewell party!" Lucky attacked and her ponies got into position, attacking one DMS member each. The Elements of Harmony were using their Elements against their opponents, the Princesses were using their Alicorn magic, and the Prince was using his defensive spells, while also going on the offense when he found the right opening. Lucky was fighting the boss, of course.

"Princess has been practicing."

"Not... really... I should have been, though. I'm just passionate about protecting my friends, family, and my fellow ponies!"

"It shows... but even passion won't help you against me!" Lucky and the leader went spell to spell, Lucky blocking and flinging spells, the leader doing the same. Sometimes they hit, most times they missed. They're pretty even. During the fight, a particularly nasty spell grazed Lucky's side. That drove her determination further. Through the pain, she fought harder.

One by one, her friends defeated their own opponents and were cheering Lucky on. That drove her determination even further. The leader was struggling to hold off Lucky's spells as Lucky shot spells with fervor. Unluckily, the leader had one more trick up his sleeve. Not as horrid as the previous leader, but it would still affect Lucky greatly. He shot one last ditch spell when he saw an opportunity, which surprised Lucky. It hit her chest, knocking the wind out of her.

"Lucky!" everypony shouted. Lucky used a barrier as she caught her breath, keeping his spells at bay. Lucky readied a full body bind spell, even though she never practiced one, she knew this would have to be her last ditch effort. If she either couldn't land this, or even do it in the first place, she'd be doomed.

'Focus... that's the key to magic. Sheer, utter focus.' Lucky closed her eyes, thoroughly confusing the DMS leader, enough for him to stop flinging spells for a second. Lucky smirked and took a deep breath. She opened her eyes, sheer determination shining on her face.

As her horn shone mint blue, she felt the leader's desperation. He wants to save himself, but he feels that there's no way. Little does he know, it's only a binding spell. His life is not on the line. He doesn't know that the Princess doesn't roll that way. She shot her spell. It hit its target! His legs locked up and he fell sideways.

"What?!" Lucky, still smirking, strode up to him.

"Full body binding spell. I just recalled hearing of it in the past during our battle. I never learned it, but I do know the key to magic. Focus. I focused on that spell, what it does, what I needed it to do. You were desperate for nothing, fool. I don't kill my enemies, unlike your other leader. I show mercy. I'm a Princess, I am held to higher standards than that." Lucky brought out the magic nullifying ring and put it on his horn. She rounded up the other subdued DMS members in her telekinesis magic.

"Yeah, Lucky!" her friends, who were also her battle partners, celebrated. All 11 of them walked to the police station, Lucky leading the pack. Twilight had Lucky's saddlebags.

"I wouldn't celebrate so soon. That spell that hit you in the chest? That's an internal damage spell. You might want to get that fixed ASAP." Lucky's ear flattened, as well as her friends'. They made it to the police station.

"I have apprehended the rest of the DMS. Your city is safe." The chief was astounded.

"Thank you, all of you, so much. We are forever in your debt." Lucky smiled.

"It was nothing. We were honored to fight for your city. We wanted to. Now, I must get to the hospital... that leader hit me with a really bad spell." Lucky turned to her friends. "Tell Sweetie Belle what happened. Also, somepony find Bad Machine. Tell him, too. I'm sure my old foal sitter would like to know." They all nodded and Lucky teleported to the ER.

"Princess? What's wrong?" Lucky told the receptionist about her battle and what she needed. She was shocked at the injury on Lucky's side and about what the leader did. She immediately called for a doctor. Lucky sat in front of the reception desk, waiting. She definitely wasn't feeling her best, now. A couple minutes passed and a doctor came with a stretcher for her. He magicked her onto it and wheeled her away. He's gonna need to use magic to fix the spell the leader used. Lucky really hoped he could help her.