Chapter 17: The Invasion Begins
In about a few minutes after getting the Red Eco crystal back to the others, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio were currently in the Lava Tube standing on the side watching Roby get to work on a new set of lava proof armor for the Elite Ninja to wear to get past the lava while using a torch and goggles.
With them were Twilight, Rainbow, Rarity, Pinkie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Clay, Sokka, Santos, Jewel, Grazer, Spike, Darius, and Nyx seeing them off.
Eventually, Roby made the last adjustments before he stopped using his torch and lifted his goggles.
"Haha! Alright!" Roby said as he presented the Elite Ninja their new armor. "With these babies complete, you guys should be able to get past the Lava Tube. The Red Eco crystal. But be careful, there's no telling how long it will protect you forever. I don't even wanna think about what will happen if the heat starts to melt your metal armor all up."
Antonio felt a little sleepy while hearing Roby's words in his head before he shook his head back to reality.
"Yeah, the heat…" Antonio muttered before he became shocked by the last info. "What?! The armor?! Hey! What about us?! Don't you think we could look for a safer route to Talos' volcano?"
"There's no other choice, Antonio." Chase said as he, Jade, Sunray, and Trini put on their protection armor. "If we're gonna get our friends back, we've gotta get through this tube no matter what."
"For the record, I still say this is a bad idea, Chase." Sunray said to Chase in concern.
"He's right, honey." Twilight said as Chase turned to his wife. "Even if we can get through the Lava Tube, how are we going to be convinced Talos will just let our family and friends go? You know what he's like."
Chase sighed as looked down for a moment.
"Twilight has a point, Chase. How's Talos even going to agree on releasing the ones we love if he doesn't avoid all of those other… innocent lives?" Jade asked equally concerned as Twilight was.
Santos stares at the direction on where the Lava Tube had before turning to his family and friends.
"Then there is no choice… but to meet as Talos wishes." Santos said with a firm yet reluctant look.
Seeing that there was no way to argue over this, the Elite Ninja nodded in reply.
"He's just trying to force you guys into fighting his Lurkers again!" Twilight said with concern while coming up to Chase, who turned back to her.
"We know." Chase said as he walked to the edge.
"But you-" Twilight was about to finish when Sokka cut her off.
"Twilight." Sokka said, getting the alicorn mare's attention. "There's no other way."
"But you guys don't stand a chance." Spike argued while turning to Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio.
The five ponies turn to see their family and friends looking at them with great concern on what will happen if the Demodragons destroy Equestria.
"It's a risk we'll have to take. This time, there's no going back." Chase said before Dark Eco electricity surges around him as he moans in pain. He kneels down on his front legs as Twilight comes up to her husband and helps him up on his hooves. "And I need this curse out of me too."
Twilight looks at Chase with concern and worry, not wanting to loose her husband before she hugs him tightly. Surprised, Chase hugs his wife back in return.
"Just don't leave me alone with our children again, honey." Twilight pleaded desperately. "I can't lose you."
"You won't." Chase said as they departed from each other as Nyx and Darius hugged their father tightly, making him return the favor. They break it as Chase turns to Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio. "Let's go, guys."
The four nodded back as Roby walked up to them.
"Now remember, guys. Once you reach the end of the tube, don't forget to activate the warp gate on the other side. We're counting on you five." Roby said as the five turned to him and nodded back in response.
"Be careful, guys." Clay said with concern.
"We will." Chase replied back as he turns back to Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio again. "You guys ready?"
"We're ready." Jade replied back.
"All the way." Sunray added with a determined look.
"Till the end." Trini went on as well with determination.
"To save our home world." Antonio added.
Chase nodded as Jade lifted up the Red Eco crystal with her magic before using its power on her medallion. Tapping her medallion, Jade unleashes her dragon as it lands down on its feet, roaring out while it spreads its wings.
The five ponies get on the beast and hold on as it hovers in the air before flying through the Lava Tube. Once they were out of sight, Twilight and the others turned around, walking out of the cave.
"This is really messed up, guys. We'll never get the others out of Talos' reach." Rainbow said to her friends with concern.
"I don't like it either, but this is the only way." Twilight said, not wanting to admit she is losing her confidence as fear was in her voice.
"Well, Ah'm gonna be pretty honest, ya'll. We're all doomed." Applejack said with concern as Clay holds his wife for comfort and she snuggles up next to her husband.
"Oh, I don't even feel comfortable about this." Fluttershy said with concern. "Just the thought of Talos tormenting us will never end."
"I know, honey." Sokka said to Fluttershy as he wraps a foreleg around her as his wife moves in close for her husband to hold her some more. "We all are scared about this."
"I'm not even sure I want to say something funny about this situation. Because it sure isn't." Pinkie said with a scared look.
"We can't allow ourselves to loose hope." Santos said as they all exit the tunnel. "We just have to make sure that they reach the other side of the Tube and activate the warp gate before-"
"Talos uses you as bait to lure them into a trap?" A familiar voice was heard as they all turned to see Babak and Brutter holding Calaeno, her crew, Chen, and Capper down with other Gorilla Lurker soldiers pointing some crossbows at them. "Excellent suggestion."
"You guys again?!" Spike exclaimed in shock as the others looked at the Lurker soldiers in surprise.
"Now, we're only going to ask you nicely. Stand down or these fools breathe no more." Babak said, pointing a sword at Caleano's throat as she gulped in fear.
"You guys know we can't trust them." Boyle said in worry. "There's no sense in giving them our word!"
"Shut up!" One of the Gorilla Lurkers ordered while pointing a spear at Boyle.
"This is your last warning, Twilight." Babak said to Twilight with a stern look. "Either give up or we're gonna make this harder for you and your friends."
Twilight, her family, and friends just glared at the Lurkers for a few moments before they turned to one another. Eventually, they sighed in frustration as they glared at Babak and Brutter.
"Fine, Babak. You and Brutter win." Twilight said begrudgingly as Babak chuckled sinisterly.
"Good. And will be taking these fools along with us." Brutter said as some Lurkers took Santos, Jewel, Roby, and Grazer with them, shocking the group in the process.
"Get them on the dropper." Babak ordered his men as they pushed the pirates, Capper, Chen, Santos, Jewel, Grazer, and Roby on board the Mine Dropper.
"Roby!" Rarity shouted in despair as Roby turned to her.
"Don't worry, Rarity. I'll be fine. Just wait for Chase and the others to get to the other side so you guys can meet up with him." Roby said to Rarity and the others assuringly.
"Oh, you will be waiting for him." Babak said as he and Brutter aboard the Mine Dropper with the other Lurker soldiers as one of them was operating the control panel.
He presses a button on the panel and the Dropper hovers in the air as it flies over the crater, going through the mountains as the rest of the Mane Sixteen watch them leave in despair.
"No!" Darius shouted in worry for in fear for his friends and grandparents.
"What are we gonna do now?!" Pinkie exclaimed in worry.
Everypony turned to Twilight, who looked horrified as she realized they were in a more difficult position than ever.
"Let's get ready when Chase and the others reach the other side." Twilight said as they head back inside the lab, waiting for when the warp gate on the other side will be ready.
(Scene changes)
Back with Chase and his team, they continue riding the dragon as they fly through the Lava Tube. Lava sprouts from the ground as the dragon fly's endlessly through the lavally tunnel.
"Any idea on how we can still stop Talos from harming the princesses, Cadance, Shining Armor, Flurry Heart, and the White Lotus leaders?" Trini asked with concern.
"I don't think we have much of a choice if we give him the crystals." Jade replied back as she turned to Chase. "I know you're struggling with this, Chase. But please tell us we have a chance at stopping this."
Chase looks back to Jade then to Sunray, Trini, and Antonio as they too had looks of concern for the fate of their loved ones. Finally, Chase released a heavy sigh.
"We'll know when the time is right. We just have to get through the Tube, have the portal ready on the other side for the others to come, and we'll be ready to face what Talos will throw at us." Chase responded back as they continued to ride on the dragon as it flies past some stalagmites.
Then the came across a very large chamber and went through another tunnel which was now made of metal with dozens of giant yellow-ish green metal barrels with Dark Eco symbols on them being carried by chains across the tunnel.
"Look out for those Dark Eco barrels!" Antonio shouted as Jade's dragon maneuvered its way around the barrels with its passengers holding on to it. They eventually got passed the barrels and the dragon steadied its course. Antonio then smirked as he pointed left with his right hoof. "Try that way, Jade!"
"Don't be a backseat pony, Antonio!" Jade shouted in annoyance, slapping Antonio's hoof away as he winced from that.
The dragon continued to fly through the tunnel when Chase noticed the end of the line where there was a large rock chamber with a warp gate on the other side.
"There's the warp gate!" Chase shouted as he pointed at the end of the Tube.
They arrived at the chamber just in time as Jade's dragon landed down on all fours and the Elite Ninja jumped down. Jade's dragon then turned into magical dust before it flowed back into her medallion as she smiled proudly at her mystic beast for doing a job well done.
"Alright, let's get the gate up and running." Sunray said as he walked over to the gate and pressed a button on a control panel, activating the warp gate in the process.
Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio waited for about a few more minutes when Twilight, Rainbow, Pinkie, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Spike, Clay, Sokka, Darius, and Nyx jumped through the gate.
"Guys, you made it!" Trini said in relief, but then she noticed their friends worried and concerned looks. "What's wrong?"
That's when Chase noticed Santos, Jewel, Grazer, Chen, Capper, Caleano, and her crew not with them.
"Wait. Twilight, where's Mom and Dad?" Chase asked Twilight with concern.
"And where are the others?" Jade added worriedly.
"This is terrible, Chase! Santos, Jewel, Grazer, Capper, Chen, and the pirates are missing!" Twilight said with concern. "Talos has sent Babak and Brutter to kidnapped them as well!"
"What?!" Chase exclaimed in surprise and horror as his team looked shocked by this news too.
"So Talos never makes deals on what he does to others!" Sunray said in frustration. "I knew it!"
"Chase, they're demanding that you bring the crystals to Talos so he can awaken the Black Dragon back." Clay said with worry. "If you don't, then we won't get the others back."
"Relax, guys. We've got everything under control." Antonio said with a smooth smile, hoping everything will go good.
But…
"UNDER CONTROL?!" Twilight exclaimed in frustration, anger, and worry as Antonio flinched before hiding behind Chase. "Lurker armies began to roam across the world! Our friends have been kidnapped! Talos has been gathering Eco for his terrible plan to release the Red Eyes Black Dragon! And to stop him, you five are going to fight your way through his volcano!"
Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio looked to see the tunnel that will lead them straight into the volcano.
"Uh, yeah." Antonio said with a nervous look. "That about, uh, sums it up."
"You all have got to rescue our friends before it's too late!" Rarity said pleadingly and worry for Roby's safety as well as their other friends' well being.
"Please hurry! I'm so scared by the minute!" Fluttershy added as tears ran down her eyes with fear.
Chase looked at his friends, Twilight, Nyx, and Darius with concern before he gave a determined look, ready to stop the Demodragon King for good.
"Then we better get moving." Chase said with a stern look, finally having enough of Talos hurting them.
"Please be careful, honey." Twilight asked with hope and concern.
"Don't worry, sweetie. We will be." Chase said as the two alicorns shared a loving hug and kiss before they departed.
Once that was done, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio walked through the tunnel before eventually coming into center of Talos' volcano. Upon arriving, they then saw the statue of the Red Eyes Black Dragon with shocked looks.
"So that's the Red Eyes Black Dragon." Jade said in awe.
"Guys!" Cadance's voice shouted, gaining his and the rest of his family's attention.
They looked up to see Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart in a cage looking down at them with relieved smiles.
"Thank goodness you're here!" Cadance said in relief.
"We were beginning to wonder what took you five so long." Pakku said as the Elite Ninja turned to see him, Bumi, and Iroh in their own cage as well as Celestia and Luna in their cage.
Then Chase noticed Santos, Jewel, Chen, Grazer, Capper, Calaeno, Boyle, Mullet, Lix, and Squabble in their own cages.
"It's about time you five decided to show up!" Chen said exasperatedly.
"Nice to see you too, Grandpa Chen!" Antonio remarked. "Does Talos have you all mopping up the floors now?"
Chase, Jade, Sunray, and Trini groaned in annoyance as the others felt the same way as Jade facehoofed herself in annoyance.
"There's no time for jokes, Antonio!" Chen said, getting back to the subject. "Talos has kidnapped us so that you all could hand the crystals over so that he can unleash his prized possession. It appears he has been able to recover the Red Eyes Black Dragon from Boggy Swamp. Now that he has all that he needs to release the Dark Eco silos, it's only a matter of time before the invasion begins. Hurry and get us out of here."
Suddenly, there was a loud cackle as the others were on full alert. Suddenly, Talos floated down and hovered in the air with Aguila, Mono, Serpiente, and Gato following him.
"You're too late, Chen. Once I possess limitless Dark Eco, I will have the key to creation itself!" Talos said with a sinister smirk.
"This is madness, Talos!" Pakku exclaimed in anger as he and the others glared at the Demodragons. "Releasing that much Dark Eco will destroy everything we know! Just look what it's done to you!"
"It has given us a beauty beyond anything you all could understand!" Serpiente replied back with a glare.
"Beauty?!" Shining Armor asked with a disdainful glare. "Have you five looked in the mirror lately?!"
"Just wait until we open the silos, Shining Armor. You think being stuck in a cage is bad." Mono snarked with a smirk as Talos turned to Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio.
"And to think you five traveled all this way just so you can prevent my curse from growing stronger… FOOLS!" Talos shouted sinisterly with an evil smile. "Enjoy your front row seats to the recreation of the world!"
"Not this time, Talos!" Chase shouted as he, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio lit their horns, stood on their hind legs, aura hands replacing their front hooves, dished out their weapons, and they held them in fighting stances.
"Seize them!" Talos shouted while pointing at the Elite Ninja as the Lurkers appeared and charged at them.
The five ponies then fought back as Chase performed a double kick at two Gorilla Lurkers before clashing his katana swords with Talos, who was using a spear to block the attacks.
"You tricked us! I know there was something I didn't like about you!" Chase shouted as they clashed blades with each other.
"Did you really think I would just give your pathetic loved ones back to you?" Talos asked tauntingly as he pushed Chase back a few feet away from him. "There's only one thing I want! Power and so much more of it!"
Chase glared at him as he readied his swords when Talos then said something that made him strike a nerve.
"It is also that you perish with my curse! Just as your grandfather Darius Hisomi perished!" Talos said sinisterly.
Hearing this, Chase froze before he glared at Talos furiously as he growled lowly before he unleashed a scream of pure rage and charged at the Demodragon King.
But just as he was about to stab his blades into Talos' chest armor, the Demodragon King single handedly knocked them aside and grabbed Chase by the throat as the alicorn stallion grunted in pain.
"If you wish to have the Dark Eco out of you, your wish is my command." Talos said as his eyes glow dark purple with the Dark Eco coming out of Chase's body as he screamed in pain.
Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio who had knocked down the Lurkers saw this. The other prisoners were watching with horror in their eyes of what Talos was doing to Chase.
"Chase!" Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio shouted in horror before they were pinned down by Aguila, Mono, Gato, and Serpiente.
The Dark Eco went through Talos as Chase grunted in pain once all of the energy was out of him completely. As soon as it was done, Talos released Chase and the alicorn stallion fell on right side as he groaned weakly before falling unconscious.
Talos chuckled sinisterly as he went past Chase with a flick of his tail slapping him in the face. Aguila then picked up the four Eco crystals as Talos approached them.
"My lord, the crystals." Aguila said as he presented the Eco crystals and Talos smiled sinisterly before taking them.
Approaching the five slots, Talos placed the four Eco crystals in the center and he finally placed the Dark Eco crystal in the fifth one. Once he was done, the Demodragon King then uses his powers to fire a beam of magic at the crystals, powering them up as they sparked up dangerously.
Twilight and the others raced inside just in time to witness everything of what's happening.
"Guys! Chase!" Twilight exclaimed as she flew over to Chase and picked him before brining him over to the others. Twilight immediately checked on Chase. "Chase? Honey, please answer me!"
But Chase didn't respond back as he laid unconscious. Twilight glared at Talos angrily as he was finishing up the ritual.
"Kovatala Zavanasa Vakasala!" Talos said while firing his beam at the crystals as they still continued to spark up dangerously. "Let the Red Eyes Black Dragon rise once more!"
The crystals continued sparking up before the four colored Eco crystals' energy went into the Dark Eco crystal. It sparked up so dangerously it fired a dark purple beam at the statue of the Red Eyes Black Dragon and it glowed brightly for a bit before it finally stopped. There was silence before Talos smirked evilly.
"RED EYES BLACK DRAGOOOOOOOOOOON!" Talos shouted with his claws and wings out. "RISE!"
Suddenly, as if hearing his call, cracks began to form around the statue as its eyes glowed red. It swung its claws a bit as the stone flew off it before it burst open. Dust flew in the air as black wings were outstretched and a low growl was heard as the Red Eyes Black Dragon had an evil glare in its eyes while everyone gazed at the beast with horror in their eyes. The Demodragons smirked at it evilly as Talos turned to see the Sun and Moon coming together.
The Day of the Solar Eclipse has finally begun.
"Finally. Now I can unleash the Dark Eco and release the rest of the Demodragons from the Netherworld and rule over all of Equestria!" Talos bellowed as he, Augila, Mono, Gato, and Serpiente flew up.
The Red Eyes Black Dragon roared out loudly and flew upwards to the top of the volcano. Outside, a powerful explosion bursts from the top and the Black Dragon climbed out of the volcano before unleashing a loud roar with its claws stretched out.
Eventually, all of the Lurkers were on Mine Droppers as they hovered in the air as Talos, Aguila, Mono, Gato, and Serpiente were on one with Brutter and Babak.
"Time to release the Dark Eco from their silos. The curse will now infect the world and destroy everything." Talos said as he points at the silos. "Destroy the silos!"
The Red Eyes Black Dragon, at Talos' full command, fires a Red Eco beam at the silos before they exploded as the Dark Eco began to flow out of them and moved closer to the ocean as all of the wildlife from the forest began to change as all the animals began to change and shift into Dark Eco monsters. Soon the Dark Eco began to infect the waters around Rockvillage as Mira, Punter, and Muscle Bound saw what was happening.
A loud roar got their attention as they saw the Red Eyes Black Dragon hovering in the air with Mine Droppers surrounding it. Looking down at the three ponies, Talos had a sinister smile on his face.
"This world is finally mine." Talos said evilly. "Now we will start at our destination at Canterlot."
"You all heard the boss. Destination, Canterlot." Babak said as the Lurkers began set a course for the Northern part of Equestria straight for Canterlot.
As they continued moving forward, the Dark Eco continued to take effect on the ocean some more, showing that the curse has finally begun to risen. At Mount Aris, the Hippogriffs were enjoying their lives when they saw the Red Eyes Black Dragon moving in with the Lurkers following it as well as the Demodragons.
Gasping in fear, they were about to flee into the water when they noticed the Dark Eco heading their way.
"Every griff, to the village!" Queen Novo shouted as all of her subjects flew to their homes in the village.
While flying in the air, Talos looked at the chaos surrounding him as he chuckled sinisterly. Knowing that his curse will continue to plague the world, there would be no chance of stopping his wrath.
"Soon every living creature will fall beneath me and this weak world will belong to the Demodragons." Talos said deviously as Aguila, Gato, Mono, and Serpiente stood behind him while agreeing with him.
Author's note: Hey guys,
Here's chapter 17 and finally the invasion has already begun. I did my best on this one as best as I could. I'll be back write the next chapter soon enough, but I hope you enjoyed this one.
Peace out!