It had been a long night. The team stood in the general's office, waiting to be briefed. The two couples looked like they had stayed up late. Well, no one knew they were couples. Oh well.

The general finally spoke, " Alright team, we've been going over all the documents that you've recovered. "

" What do they say? " Inquired Twilight.

" They tell of the enemy's leader. Only referred to in these documents as "Master". They also give a location as to his whereabouts. " General Hooves said.

Everyone's jaw dropped. " Where?! Where is he? " Asked Twilight.

" Well, according to these document, he's underground. More specifically, underneath their encampment. Looks like they were going to set up a permanent residence there. " General Hooves explained.

" Excuse me, but did you say, were, as in past tense? " Said Twilight.

" Yes. We received this letter, by magic, an hour ago. " He explained. He held out the letter.

It read:

Ponies of Ponyville,

We warned you, did we not? You have brought on the full wrath of our Master, and our army. You shall perish as an ant may perish underhoof. You have no chance of winning. It'd be awfully convienient if you all just killed yourselves for us, but that won't happen now will it? We doubt it. We shall arrive in ten days time. Be prepared for a slaughter.

" What are we going to do!? " Yelled Pinkie.

General Hooves sighed. " What other choice do we have? We're taking the fight to them. Everyone we've trained is going to the field. An all out fight. There's no other way. "

" But... we have nowhere near their numbers or strength. " Twilight said.

" I know, I know. But it's better than being killed off little by little. " He said.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An hour later, the team, and all the trained ponies, were on a special teleportation pad. Easily fifteen times bigger than their usual one. Everypony's family had attended the large exodus to see them off. It was a sad day. Some ponies had left behind letters, wills, amulets or trinkets for their family to remember them by. Most of them, if not all, would never come back.

With a lighting of a unicorn's horn, the whole force was away. They appeared on the same desolate, dead plain that the team knew so well. The force marched in silence as they contemplated what was about to happen. They weren't that far off from the ridge when there was a flash of light.

Were they being attacked already!? Had the fight started? The army looked around frantically. The light faded.

Standing in front of them were Princess Celestia, with a small contingent of her guards (who looked eerily similar to their foe), Princess Luna, with her bat-winged entourage, and, most surprisingly, Discord.

The team stepped forward. " What are you doing here? We thought you said you wouldn't help us. " Accused Rainbow Dash.

Princess Celestia smiled sadly. " I know I said that. And we're not helping you. We're helping them. " She indicated everypony standing behind them. " Your battle...your battle lies elsewhere. "

Princess Luna stepped forward and addressed the army behind the team, " Attention everypony. We...we have something to inquire of you all. Seeing has how we three are immortal, we thought it appropriate to make...an offering of sorts. We can take your souls from your bodies and implant them within our crowns. It will make you better fighters, since you will lack your care and emotions. If you survive, we will put your souls back into your bodies. But, if not, we shall donate our royal crowns to a temple in Ponyville, where you may be called by your friends and family, and interact with them. If you do not want to accept you do not have to, but we felt...indebted to our subjects. " She explained.

Surprisingly, every single pony, besides the team, accepted. Theirs would be a battle where they needed everything they had. While the extraction process was taking place behind them, the team went to talk to Discord.

" So, were you bored enough to come take part in our lovely situation? " Twilight asked, a bit sarcastically.

Discord chuckled, " You could say that Twilight Sparkle. It's just as important to me as it is to the princesses that you succeed. I haven't had the opportunity for battle in quite some time. " He flexed his claws and put a file to his fangs. " Also, I'm here for a very special pony. "

He disappeared, and reappeared in front of Pinkie Pie. He said to her, " Oh, my dear Pinkie Pie, how I wish you weren't taking part in this battle. You mean so much to me. You are just like me. So random, so full of energy. So chaotic, but in a good way. I want you to know, that even though I can't help you with your battle directly, you have my protection. Should a certain outcome be reached, I can take care of you. For as long as you want, anyway. "

Pinkie Pie smiled while the rest of the mane six stood there in utter shock and awe. Discord, care for somepony? That was random. Well...it did make sense. She gave him a big hug, which he treasured. It might be his last from somepony that was so like him. " Thank you so much! You'll always have a friend in me! And when we get back, can we have some cotton candy clouds!? You know, the one's with chocolate milk?! " She asked.

Discord chuckled and patted her head. " Of course my dear, of course! Now, go get ready. We haven't much time. "

As the group walked away, Discord wiped away the beginnings of a tear. He really hoped that they all made it, especially her.

Ten minutes later, the soul extraction process was complete. The army was ready. They looked similar to the enemy, at least in the eyes. Soulless, uncaring. The time had come. There was no time for doubt or cowardice. Only battle. And the enemy had prepared.

With a scream that shuddered across the plain, the army charged, with the princesses, their guards, and Discord overhead. The team was off to the right flank, hoping to slip in relatively unnoticed. The entrance to the underground layer was located inside the command tent.

The scream had alerted the enemy. Enemy ponies of every kind charged toward them. Before the sides clashed, the team had split from the main group and headed toward the command structure. All the enemies were out charging...charging toward their friends. The team didn't look back, but they heard a crash as the armies collided. They heard cries, but from which side they didn't know. They heard a bat-like shriek, which must have come from Luna's guards. They also heard a lion roar, and eagle screech, a pony neigh, and a lizard hiss, all combined into one terrifying sound. Discord.

Before they arrived at the entrance, the team's eyes fell onto the spot. The very spot where they lost Big Mac. Applejack hesitated. She thought to herself, No. You can't fall apart now. He'd want you to succeed. He'd want you to move on.

Rainbow Dash patted Applejack on the shoulder. She smiled. She looked at Applejack and nodded. As she was comforting her special girl, she noticed something on her neck. Applejack had tied her feather, still radiating all the colors of the rainbow, onto a necklace, which hung from her neck. Rainbow Dash felt a rush of love and pride.

Rainbow and Applejack caught up to the rest of the group, and as a team, the entered the tent. They headed through the hallways till they were in the very center.

" Now, there should be a trap door right about...here! " Twilight exclaimed as she kicked out and hit the floor. A trap door sprang up. Dust flew up and around the team. A dank stench wafted from the entrance. It was worse than anything anyone had smelled before. It was the smell of death.

They looked into the entrance. Pitch black. Everyone took a shuddering, yet steadying final breath to calm their nerves. Then, they descended.

Next Chapter: Chapter 14: The final battle Estimated time remaining: 9 Minutes