Rain fell in deluges from the sky, the searing magma that had erupted from the ground during the battle hardening into black rock as the cold water fell upon the molten earth. The wasteland would return to normal. It had survived previous volcanic eruptions, it would survive this one. But not all were as hardy as the desert.

Drops of water flowed down the now inanimate Tirek's body, the prize of the battle that had partaken here. But at such a cost. Scootabelle had collapsed some time ago, the body sparking and disappearing. Only then did the resistance realize the truth, as they approached the broken and bloodied body, her necklace sparking a bit, trying to revive its master. Scootaloo had finally fallen at the hands of Tirek. The pegasus had a smile on her face, looking almost relaxed. The same could not be said for the ponies looking at her. Babs was star struck, tears flowing freely from her eyes and mingling with the rain. She twitched a little every now and then, but other than that, didn't move or make a sound.

"N-no..." a tiny voice whispered. Sweetie was pounding the ground helplessly, looking like a foal throwing a tantrum. She would have been screaming, but upon her realization of her friend's death, she had let out a yell of pain so raw, she had damaged her voice for the time being. So she made soft coughs and whimpers instead, mourning the loss of her friend. She didn't notice the rest of the resistance nearing her, forming a circle around Scootaloo's body, heads bowed. She didn't notice Zecora checking for signs of life. She saw nothing and felt nothing but what was in her head.

That day, they lost something that could never be replaced.

Far away in what used to be Canterlot, Discord stood straight, his body covered in bandages and casts from when the larger Tirek had backhanded him and sent him flying. Chryalis stood in front of the draconequus, her face a mask of hatred. She outranked the Central District General by a fair bit, having taken more important cities in the initial coup that had taken Equestria. That combined with Discord's enormous failure in retaking the Central District meant that he was in hot water and couldn't afford anything less than utmost respect.

"Lady Chrysalis, I heard that the Supreme Generals have orders to set out" he said, his voice even and stiff. How had the attack gone so wrong? The only other time he had felt this bad was when Fluttershy disappeared from her cottage in the night, proving to him forever that friends just use you. "Please, let m-!" Discord started before a black horn cracked across his face, reopening one of the cuts he had received in the battle. The spirit of chaos was downcast for a moment, remembering the whole of Chryalis and Tirek's relationship. It was rumored they were lovers. "Err, Chrysalis?" Discord muttered, hoping that he'd be able to finish one sentence in these god forsaken caverns without being abused by someone who hadn't been at the battle that had left him as the only survivor.

"Go on, I'm listening" Chrysalis hissed, her teeth gritted. Discord nodded and began once more.

"Please, let me-" he was cut off once more by the twisted horn slapping across his lip. With a wince, he continued. "Join". Another slap. "Your". His lip was bleeding now. "Unit". His nose was on the verge of being broken and on the verge of making him sob in agony.

"I owed Tirek! And now he gets killed by lowly, friendship grubbing slugs! I am utterly disappointed in him and you! He promised he'd come back! And you promised to finish the mission!" Chrysalis snarled, keeping her sadness shoved deep in her twisted, black heart. There was no room for weakness among the Solar Queen's generals.

"Please, give me a chance for vengeance too!" Discord yelped, his voice somewhat distorted from the abuse Chrysalis had given him. Chrysalis snorted and began walking off.

"You should thank the Solar Queen" Chrysalis grumbled, not happy at all with the alicorn's decision. "She's giving you another chance to fight. A new army as well" Chrysalis informed, making the draconequus sigh in relief. "However, if you hold me back, I'll see to it that my children eat you alive" Chrysalis warned, not even bothering to look at Discord. The changeling queen bumped into a pink alicorn, growling as she saw who it was.

"Ah, Chrysalis. Are you sad that the centaur died? He was probably the only big enough to fill you, after all the stallions and mares you've screwed" Diamond Tiara laughed cockily, putting away the rag she had been using to polish her diamond armor. Chrysalis would normally have snapped right back, but Diamond Tiara was equal in standing to her and hadn't lost any favor recently. To start a brawl with her would result in severe punishment. Keeping herself from murdering her "comrades" wasn't easy though.

"Trixie heard she was just using the stupid brute" Trixie added, the blue unicorn sauntering past. She had become fast friends with Diamond Tiara, the two of their personalities getting along well.

"I was not" Chrysalis spat through gritted teeth, containing every urge in her body to kill these upstarts.

"Sure. Let's go Trixie, leave the bug to her whining" Diamond Tiara said with a laugh, getting back up from Trixie as the two of them walked away from Chrysalis. The changeling queen let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding and stomped the ground. "I will get vengeance for you Tirek, I swear it!" Next Chapter: Empty Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 21 Minutes