"I WAS REALLY THE MASTER OF THE BLUE HORDES ALL ALONG," said Tirek. "TRUNN WAS NOT MASTER. EVERY TIME HE THOUGHT HE WAS DOING MAGIC, IT WAS REALLY ME!"

"It all makes sense now," Celestia said. "Of course Ungatt Trunn couldn't have used the Elements of Harmony if he was evil. But now I have them back, and I will stop you!"

She took out the box with the Elements of Harmony. Just as she was about to open the box, Tirek did a spell and trapped her in a floating bubble with a cruel laugh.

Right before the bubble imprisoned Celestia, the box slipped from her hooves, and fell to the ground, scattering the Elements. However, the Elements didn't just fall on the sand. Instead each of them landed around the neck of a pony standing nearby.

The Element of Laughter landed on Chancellor Puddinghead, who was always full of laughter.

The Element of Honesty landed on Smart Cookie, because she had told the truth about seeing the Blue Hordes.

The Element of Generosity landed on Princess Platinum, because she had given up her ration of food to Udara Groundslay so Fleetscut could have information.

The Element of Kindness landed on Pansy, because she removed the thorn from the pike's flipper.

The Element of Loyalty landed on Commander Hurricane, because she rejected Ungatt Trunn's offer to join his Blue Hordes.

And Clover the Clever got the Element of Magic, because that was the only one left.

When the six Elements of Harmony were gathered together, they created a mighty rainbow colored blast of magic! For a few seconds, nobeast could see anything. Then, when the cloud of magical energy cleared away, Tirek was gone. He had been banished to Tartarus.

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Evening sun was dipping low on the horizon. Dotti sat with all her friends and comrades in arms. From where they rested, on a broad terrace of rock slabs and vegetation, above the mountain's main entrance, the whole scene of that day's activities was spread before them. Like autumn leaves strewn by the wind, distant vessels ranged far and wide over the darkening sea, to the north and south and out to the west.

Dotti held Celestia's hoof. "I'm going to miss you pretty awfully, y'know. Wouldn't you consider staying on a few seasons, help me to command the new Long Patrol that Lord Brocktree's forming? We'd have lots of super adventures, you 'n' me, ranging the shores an' woodlands an' whatnot, wot wot?"

The alicorn ruffled her ears affectionately. "No, I must return to my homeland, Equestria, with all the ponies. They need me to be their Princess. But if ever you need us in the future, just send word."

"Wow. I can't believe you're a Princess. I guess you'll need a crown, then, wot?" Dotti handed Celestia the crown which she had won from Bucko Bigbones.

"I can't take that. It's yours," Celestia protested.

However, Dotti wouldn't take no for an answer. "Stuff an' nonsense. What do I want with a crown? The heavy thing would only hurt my blinkin' head." And she placed it on Celestia's head.

Shading his eyes from the sun's crimson glow, Stiffener watched them growing smaller. "Lots o' those ships overladen with vermin, y'know. I'd say some of them'll sink afore the next dawn comes."

Commander Hurricane wrinkled her brow feathers, in that manner pegasi adopt when they could not care less. "Serves 'em right. 'Snot our fault they wouldn't stand an' make a fight of it. Hah, ran like forficartickers, they did!" Nobeast bothered inquiring what a forficarticker could be.

"Well, I for one am jolly well glad they did run," Dotti admitted. "We never lost one creature in that little scrabble across the shore to the shallows. There were more vermin drowned than slain in combat. A score or so of ours wounded, no great slaughter. Almost what they call a bloodless victory, wot."

An iron arrowhead clinked on the rocks, and Lord Brocktree emerged from an open window space to sit with them. "Anybeast want to keep that as a souvenir of the battle? Clover dug it out of my shoulder- that unicorn's a marvel when it comes to patching a beast up!"

"Ya look like you've been in a good ole battle, sir!" Smart Cookie exclaimed.

Brocktree took a sip from the tankard he was carrying. "I suppose I do, but I'm feeling no pain at all. One of your pegasi gave me this to drink, Hurricane. What is it?"

The Commander took a drink and winked knowingly. "Special old berry 'n' pear wine with some cowslip an' royal fern essence. That'll make ya sleep tonight!"

The hare Trobee took a mouthful and nodded approvingly. "Tastes absolutely spiffin'. Wish I'd been wounded!"

Brogalaw tweaked the hungry hare's ear. "Don't start talkin' about vittles an' drink again, y'great long eared stummick. We're flat out o' grub. But you won't need to wait long. 'Ere comes my bird to the rescue!"

Rulango soared gracefully in out of the evening sky. He was all over Brog, wafting him with both wings and knocking his beak against the sea otter's paws, as if checking he was unhurt. Brog stroked Rulango's neck to calm him down.

"Steady on there, ole mattress back, I'm all right. Lissen, matey, you get back to the cave an' tell 'em to whomp up vittles fer victors, lots of the stuff, as much as they can cook afore mornin'. I'll send some of those hares over there, an' we'll get 'em moved lock, stock an' vittles back 'ere. I tell ye, mates, I feels a feast comin' on!"

Stiffener's eyes lit up, as did many others. "I say, splendid idea, old lad, wot!"

"Aye, a great feast at Salamandastron!"

"With enough food to sink a gang of Pegasus ponies!" Hurricane declared.

"And singing and music, for days and days!" Celestia added.

"Yeah, an' dancin' too, Ah likes ta dance!"

"An' when it gets dark we'll light big bonfires on the beach, so we can carry on all night!" Clover said.

"An' miss Dotti can play the harecordion an' sing!" Puddinghead cried.

Brocktree pulled a face. "Don't you think we suffered enough in battle?"

Dotti stared severely at the badger, then broke out giggling. "Heeheehee, I'll sing an extra long ballad, just for you!"

Lord Brocktree laughed until the bandage on his brow slipped and fell over his eyes.

Suddenly Celestia cried, "Where's my sister?"

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Luna was exhausted. She had been chasing Doomeye all day. They were out of sight of Salamandastron now, somewhere in the North. The rat's tongue lolled from one side of his mouth as he looked over his shoulder at the distant figure of the avenging alicorn. Luna was standing still, a long distance away. The searat stopped as well, collapsing in a heap, his limbs wobbling and trembling uncontrollably. She tried to blast him with her horn, but he was too far away. Doomeye bared his strained fangs at the sky and laughed breathlessly.

"Haharrharr… Done it! Can't get me now, horsey… Outta yore range now… I escaped ye… horse!"

Just then the moon came up. New strength coursed through Luna's body. She was always more powerful at night. Luna looked at the searat, gauging the distance.

"Outran ye, horsey! I beat ye, didn't I?"

The blast of magic came like a thunderbolt out of the blue.

Luna flapped over to view her work of vengeance. Spread-eagled on the ground, the searat lay faceup. His eyes were wide open, staring at a moon that he would never see again.

Luna stopped for a moment, panting. In a minute, she would make her way back to Salamandastron and her sister and friends, but first she needed to rest.

Suddenly a lasso went over her neck. Before she could react, somebeast shoved a small bag over her horn.

A stoat emerged from behind a boulder, flanked by a rat and a fox. Luna knew they were not Ungatt Trunn's people, because they weren't blue.

"I wouldn't try anything," the stoat warned. "That bag is made of a reflective surface. If you try to blast us like you did that other rat, you'll only burn yourself."

He grabbed her by the mane and she tried to fight back but stoats are pretty strong and that is why you shouldn't ever trust one at all under any circumstances.

"You are coming with me, you dammed horse," the stoat swore really loudly and evilly because only evil people swear. "I think we're going to have a lot of fun with you at Marshank."

THE END

TO BE CONTINUED IN "MARTIN AND THE ALICORNS."