Chapter 38: Beginning of the End

Hope: Day 8
Nightfall: Day 22

Princess Celestia’s POV (Narrator)

The future that everypony lost… Just because fear and hatred took over… Everywhere in Canterlot. Everywhere in Ponyville. Everywhere in the Crystal Empire. Everywhere in Equestria itself. Lost… All just because we failed to stop King Sombra. The dark king unicorn that was beyond saving or stopping.

King Sombra sits upon our Canterlot throne. A grin on his face as he absorbed all the surrounding fears of an endless war from outside the castle.

The patterned windows that told stories of our Equestria’s histories, shattered. Both me and my sister’s celestial objects, the Sun and Moon, are in the sky now formed as an eclipse, both under what the dark king now controls.

Me and my sister had tried everything to regain control of the war and our celestial objects. But it was futile. Even if Nightfall had magic gifted from my sister. He couldn’t help. All our strength was low, and our injuries were too much, too severe.

King Sombra’s dark magic had consumed the entire castle, making it impossible for anypony with a weak heart to enter. Just staring at it will send any non-corrupted pony into an illusion of their worst fear. Fears that are too great.

Outside. The ponies and changelings were at an endless war, both fighting for survival. Not one caring for the other creature that was hurt or suffering. Houses were burning, or had been burnt down. The cries and screams of terror were heard everywhere. The ponies were either too busy avenging another’s death or attempting to escape to not notice their castle was pitch black in a magic aura.

Cocoon was heart broke at the loss of his wife, Queen Chrysalis, after Sombra had brutally and mercilessly raped her, not to mention soon after, he murdered her before his eyes. All just for his sick pleasure and relief of rage at his failed attempts to resurrect his sister. Cocoon had left us and lost himself… And now, he fights against us as a raged changeling King. Completely consumed by his hatred of Sombra. Words were meaningless to Cocoon now, as they could no longer reach him. After everything we all had been through to just try establish a peace treaty had gone to waste.

My faithful student, Twilight and the Element wielders were all dead. Even Hope’s loving wife, Fluttershy, his light. Even after he endured everything he had, just to keep her safe. The changelings felt nothing for- in their words- ‘disposing her’. Even with her innocence to care for all those innocent critters.

Hope, losing sense of the world around him. Now, he’s just a blood thirsty electric wolf that has lost his humanity and sense of right and wrong. With his lightning being the colour of black as his heart. He just mercilessly without second thought rip through anything he sees, regardless if it is a pony, a changeling, even a rabbit… or a friend.

I, however, was just barley alive. I’ve been living in the Everfree Forest with the kind zebra, Zecora, in her own home for weeks trying to recover. I could only look out the window and see the nearly destroyed forest. I was heartbroken at the scenery. All I could do was cry to myself at my failure.

As for my sister and her husband. They are just barely alive inside the remains of the old ruined castle. Both of them with injuries that will never heal in a month, not even in a year. Their wings neither torn or broke. Half of their bodies warped in torn towels knotted on the deep cuts. They had both lost a lot of blood and could barely move much with sprained muscles. There were no hospitals to help them.

Princess Cadance and Shining Armour were nowhere to be seen. Couldn’t find any traces. We figured that they didn’t survive the onslaught or captured as a food source for changelings. But I can’t believe this to be true.

I couldn’t help think what we could have done differently to prevent this… end of the world. I knew right at this moment that the dreaded king sits in his room proud at what he as accomplished, without an single inch of sorrow but pride.

---

Hope’s POV

I stared, jaw dropped and in shock at what I just witnessed on the freaking crystal ball just now, as the images on it faded and fogged up. The crystal ball that both Trixie and Madam Pinkie Pie were both charting on causing unspeakable illusions inside it. Both of them were just as jaw dropped and shivering at what future that had not happened yet. Everypony, in this train cart, had just witnessed this horrifying future event. An event that depends on the events of today.

Myself, Twilight Sparkle, Shining Armour, Rarity, Trixie, Applejack, Pinkamena Diana Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Spike, King Cocoon and Queen Chrysalis had all just witnessed the images in the orb. Each one of us expressing shock.

However, the silence was soon broken as Applejack asked stuttering, “What the buck did I just see!? We dead?”

Pinkie Pie, trying to come up with something to say, “Err, didn’t know I was this good with fortune telling. Hehe.”

Trixie, trying to stay calm held Pinkie shaking her, “What!? How can you laugh and joke at a time like this?”

Twilight got off her rump, walking back and fourth, in worry, “This is not good. This is definitely not good.”

Celestia spoke, “Have faith, my ponies.”

Luna also spoke, “Now that we know what we up against.”

Celestia continued, “We know we must succeed.”

Just as everypony on the train hummed in agreement worriedly. The crystal ball lifted from it’s cushion and it started to fill pitch black. After a moment. A dark smoke emitted from it and formed into an unicorn’s head, King Sombra’s head.

He looked around at everypony with a grin and evil expression. After examining us he broke into laughter.

Few pones shivered in fear. I, meanwhile, grit my teeth and was just about to punch it with a current running through my fist. But before I could. The head faded away as the ball neither shattered or exploded.

Everypony used a hoof, claw or cheese leg to block the glass from hitting anywhere vital on us as most of us yelled.

Twilight stood up in action and spoke in a serious tone, “He’s on to us.”

Everypony hummed once again and Twilight meanwhile opened the train’s door causing a blizzard to burst through. At the same time. We could see the dark clouds that have formed over this land and there in the distance was the Crystal Empire. All covered in lightning, tornados and the snow storm itself.

Nightfall spoke concerned, “Can we really win?”

His wedded wife, Princess Luna, replied, “We must, or we will be in our old castle half broken.”

Twilight also joining in agreement, “Else me and my best friends will be goners anyhow.”

Shining Armour, worried about his little sister, spoke, “Twily.”

Queen Chrysalis joined in agreement, “We can’t have my children suffer this future like yours can we, dears.”

Looking out of the train. We were getting closer. We all stared in the direction of our destination. The Crystal Empire just nearly in reach. Twilight asked, “Spike?”

The baby dragon polled something out a bag. Revealing the Elements of Harmony. All the element wielders now placed their necklaces on as Twilight did also with her crown. She spoke, “Let’s do this!”

Besides Luna, Nightfall glowed bright blue as he morphed into his dragon form. Nightfall looked dizzy just by standing up after, but I don’t think it was the train moving effect since I myself was standing right now.

Luna looked at him concerned, helping him keep his balance. She asked, “Are thou alright, My Nightie?”

Most of us attempted to stifle a giggle at his wife’s nickname for him. She however rolled her eyes at their expression and he responded, “I be alright. Just… gotten so used to being on all fours now.”

We all then heard an explosion of thunder outside. I caught a glimpse of it as I noticed it was red. Fluttershy called out, “Girls, look, the tracks!”

We all stood to the side of the cart door and found the tracks have been destroyed up ahead. Everypony yelled to the front, “STOP THE TRAIIIN!”

Then suddenly the g-force kicked in as we got sent flying back towards back of the current cart hitting the wall. Most of us got the air knocked out of us.

I groan lightly getting up, “Could had slowed down than hitting full stop.”

The other ponies fell and rolled of top of each other after being planted against a wall. Cocoon spoke, “For once… I agree. *coughs*”

Soon as we all got back on to our feet. Celestia spoke, “Looks like we walk from here. Best for everypony to wrap up warm and be ready.”

I draw my paw knuckles together causing a static and say, “Time to teach someone a lesson.”

We all then jumped off the train. Chrysalis and Cocoon however stayed in and confessed, “What you all dealing with is no normal unicorn. His power far outweighs you all combined. We stay here and provide cover if the need to retreat. Just say I didn’t warn you all.”

I looked towards her almost getting that ill feeling she’s up to something. Everypony else looked confused as Applejack asked, “Err, what you mean?”

Chrysalis sighed and responded, “May we have the lovey-dovey Shining Armour and Cadance remain here with us, dears?”

Cadance asked Chrysalis, just before neither Twilight or Celestia asked, “What are you up to?”

She responded, “How rude. But trust me, dears. This Queen doesn’t want her children to suffer that future. These fine lovers will help us.”

I didn’t feel right at all. Is this the crystal ball’s illusion of why they went missing? I just hope I was wrong.

Shining Armour, starting to doubt like me, however accepted her request and responded, “Okay, we putting our trust in you.”

Twilight asked worriedly, “Big brother?”

Cadance replied holding on to him and looking towards the group, “We’ll be fine. I think they know what will happen if they try anything.” She turn towards the King and Queen suggestively as I had an idea she probably referring to blowing them away with love like they did in their wedding.

Celestia entrusting them, “Alright. Also we appreciate the warning but we should be fine. As long as we got the Elements of Harmony.”

We all hummed in agreement as we turned and began walking to the Crystal Empire. As we did, we couldn’t make out what Chrysalis started talking about with the couple since the blizzard just roared anything they said behind us.