Adagio Dazzle was the first to wake up and witness the absolute chaos that was happening all around her. Houses were being demolished, Malefics were being airdropped into the kingdom, and the lightning from the Maelstroms was blasting powerful chunks of the ground out of existence. The army was invading at last.

Everyone tried to stand up, but they felt sharp pains as they were halfway and fell straight back down onto their backs. It was as if something was missing from within them, and that lost piece was now heavily affecting them on the outside. However, that didn't stop them from getting back on their feet again; albeit it was a little longer than usual.

"Wh-what the..." Sunset could finally see the Malefic horde begin the attack, causing ponies to finally run and flee in panic. This gave her the burst of energy she needed to shake off the pain she was feeling and rally the others for battle. "When did they get here?!"

"This was a set-up from the beginning..." Adagio growled with her brows lowered and her teeth gritted. "The Blasters knew we were spying on their conversation, so they took it upon themselves to plant the Maelstroms as bait so that they could capture us, drain our power, and leave us for dead so we wouldn't be able to stop their attacks..."

"But what happened to that darkness? And what of those girls?" Twilight asked, surveying the skies to try and find The Blasters, The Shadowbolts, and the ten Malefics from before they fell unconscious. "Shouldn't they be trying to press the attack and raze our home with Cataclysm's army?"

"If it were that simple, it would be," Adagio calmly addressed Twilight. "But as Sonata said, Malefics are an unpredictable bunch. No-one knows when they attack, what dirty methods they use against their opponents, and whether or not they can be made invincible or not..."

"But this is a serious matter, Adagio!" Sunset expressed the severity of the situation by throwing her arms out to the side. "They're just human girls who just got caught in the crossfire! We can't take civilians into account during this time of warfare!"

"If The Blasters stole them and took them to wherever those Malefic fuck-heads usually hole up in, then there's a high chance that they're probably with Cataclysm right now..." Aria's voice was even more gruff than usual. "And if that's the case, there's two different outcomes: They're either dead, or they're being converted into Malefics, and then about to be killed..."

"Either way, we need to focus on the problem at hand; the Malefics attacking Equestria," Adagio took control of the group and drew her sword for the battle ahead.

"Is that all you have to focus on now, Adagio?!" Sunset seemed apprehensive at the idea.

"There's a little thing you need to understand, Sunset Shimmer. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Adagio spoke back sternly.

"Or in easy-talk, The Shadowbolts aren't important right now," Sonata chimed in. "What is important that we pound these Malefics straight back to Cataclysm, probably with them crying and screaming for mercy, but who knows?"

Sunset wanted to retort, but deep down, she knew that The Dazzlings were speaking the truth. If they didn't save Ponyville and Canterlot from the Malefics, then there would be even more lives to take into account. "I guess you're right. But still, we can't just stand by and let them mess with our acquaintances; especially considering that there's another Twilight with which they could create another Midnight to bolster their army's strength..."

"Then we'd better finish this quickly before they get that chance," Twilight smiled and looked Sunset in the eyes, giving her the motivation she needed to get back into the fray. "Now come on, girls! Let's save our home!"

Everyone cheered, running into the storm-ridden kingdom with their swords by their sides. They were determined to drive the attackers out and save as many ponies as possible from the army.

Meanwhile, on board the Maelstrom fleet, a Malefic with a black robe was walking towards the bridge. He was armed with a pair of warhammers, had black lightning being conducted between the spikes on his back, and was being followed by The Blasters. Doors opened automatically when the four approached them, then closed the second they were through.

The bridge on the Maelstrom the four Malefics were on had a number of black consoles with other Malefics working away to keep the ship fully functional. The troops worked tirelessly to press certain buttons and symbols as part of their loyalty to Cataclysm. As the monsters proceeded diligently, The Blasters and their acquaintance all smiled.

"Out of morbid curiosity, what did you do with The Shadowbolts?" the Malefic spoke back to Fortissimo.

"You've seen how The Dazzlings use Spiritual Transfusion to recruit new warriors for their cause?" Fortissimo asked. "It got us thinking; they've used it, maybe even abused it, so why can't we do the same?"

"Stealing tactics from the enemy. I like it..." the Malefic responded as he sat down on a black throne at the top of the bridge. It was garnished with horns, dark green tendrils, and had wires that linked up to the rest of the consoles. "But you should know that those maggots are crafty themselves. Not even we know what they're up to..."

"But then again, aren't all conflicts impossible to track?" Allegro spoke calmly as he looked down at all of the death and destruction that was occurring. "It really makes war so enticing, when you think about it. The very prospect that the art of conflict could either backfire or succeed is really up to fate, when you think about it," he sighed, "The winner is never clear, despite how uneven the odds may seem. But what is clear that we must all strive to try and make it so that we come out as the winners of this conflict..."

"So, Annihilation, what's your plan for finishing this scum?" Orchestral asked the other Malefic.

"I simply sit back and watch the chaos for the time being, strike with some heavy Malefics, and if the Maelstroms become compromised, I leap in and deal the finishing blow to The Dazzlings," Annihilation explained. "Whether or not Cataclysm brings in those six earthlings with the enhanced Malefic powers does not change my plan in the slightest..."

"And if they do come?" Fortissimo asked with a tip of his hand.

"Simple; let The Shadowbolts have their fun," Annihilation's brows lowered. "Either way, they will prove to be quite useful to our cause..."

As The Dazzlings and The Rainbooms defeated another horde of Malefics, another squad of new ones just replaced the fallen ones. It seemed like there was going to be no end to their relentless assault.

Joining four Natures and eight Slicers was a new Malefic; one who wore a black cloak. It threw it to the side, firing black orbs that homed in on and blasted multiple pegasi out of the air before disappearing and reappearing erratically. Eventually, it revealed its dark purple eyes and threw its arms to the side with a roar, ready to fight the team of ten girls.

Malefic Assassin

APPARITION

"Be careful, girls. This one can teleport..." Adagio warned the others. "If it disappears, stay vigilant so that it doesn't get the drop on you..."

The battle began with Adagio trying to deal a lunging blow against the Apparition, but it simply teleported when she was an inch away from connecting. It appeared behind her, threw its cloak outwards and fired a black salvo at Adagio, knocking her into a Nature.

The Nature was about to electrocute Adagio, when Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie knocked it skyward and smashed it into three of the other Malefics. They high-fived and dove down onto a Slicer who was terrorizing ponies. After the beast dissipated and vanished, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie took the hooves of the ponies and used Spiritual Transfusion to make them into reserve Lyricans.

Whilst Rainbow Dash and Pinkie were busy with gathering more followers, Twilight, Sunset, Rarity, Applejack, and The Dazzlings were busy with the other Slicers, Natures, and the Apparition.

It was a long and ferocious fight, but eventually, The Dazzlings were able to strike the Apparition, smash it against the other Malefics and pierce each of their targets with a single diving thrust jump that impaled the areas on the chests where their hearts would be. The beasts died just as fast as the rest; in puffs of black smoke.

With the Malefics defeated, a brand new one descended from the skies. However, this one was carrying a long chain with a sword on the end of it. It was garbed in steel armour with chainmail underneath it, had a dark purple helmet with horns, and a pair of armoured wings that flapped every now and again.

Malefic Heavy

BLOODLUST

The Bloodlust swung the chain around over its head, making it seem like he was being protected by a cone of steel that would cut anything to ribbons if it got near it. It then flapped its wings, flew upwards, and whipped the chain down towards the ground, creating a wide fissure that grew wider by the second.

The Dazzlings and Rainbooms took to the sky as well, ready to face the Bloodlust and slay it before it could do anymore harm. However, just as they were about to charge in, the Malefic swung the chain around like a helicopter blade in front of his enemies, as if to signify that he now had a shield and a sword in one combination.

Adagio, however, was not fazed by the Malefic's combination of both attack and defence, and simply charged in the second the Bloodlust shot the sword towards her. She nimbly dodged the strike, yanked the chain tightly, kicked the Malefic in the face, and then cut open its arms. She saw the blood spill and then fly back into the monster before ordering Aria and Sonata to deal their respective assaults on the giant.

With the combined efforts of The three Lyricans, the Bloodlust was knocked backwards through the air by a considerable margin. As it flew, The Dazzlings got behind it, kicked it straight back towards The Rainbooms, who were all ready – except for Fluttershy – with their swords drawn to deal the final blow. They all performed vertical strikes just as the beast approached them, causing the giant beast to be cut into eight separate strips before it too vanished along with the other Malefics.

"Whoa..." Rainbow Dash brushed some sweat off of her forehead. "Those guys are relentless..."

"Well, the Malefics do want our species dead by any means necessary..." Adagio reminded her.

"Because they fear our power, they're driven to kill us and supposedly end the nightmare that plagues them," Sonata saw more Malefics appear around the group, as if to try and surround them. "They won't ever rest. They'll just keep attacking and killing over and over again until we finally give in and fall dead..."

"Um... Sonata?" Fluttershy quietly raised a finger and pointed towards the skies, where winged Malefics were cutting off the group's only means of escape. "We're trapped!"

Adagio scowled. "There's gonna be no end to this..." she said as her back was against the backs of The Rainbooms and the rest of her allies. Eventually, she sighed and hung her head. "Guess this is the end, huh?"

"You're seriously throwing in the towel now?" Twilight retorted, "After all they've done, don't you want to at least go out with a bang instead of—"

"BEGONE, VILE CURS!" a voice boomed from the clouds as beams of gold, black, and blue rained down upon the Malefics, erasing them from existence. Shortly after it had been done, three winged ponies with horns descended upon the group of fighting Lyricans. They were the three other princesses; Celestia, Luna, and Cadence.

"Looks like we made it just in time..." Celestia said as she helped the girls to their feet.

"Princess Celestia?" Twilight was stricken with awe as she gazed upon the ruler of the sun and all of Equestria. "What are you, Luna, and Cadence doing here?"

"These heathens have upset the balance by terrorizing the ponies of this world," Luna said. "We simply could not shy away from inflicting swift justice upon them..."

"You looked like you were taking an awful lot of damage there, girls..." Cadence spoke kindly as she helped to boost the team's morale.

"What are you even doing here in the first place?" Celestia asked, "Aside from being beaten within inches of your lives?"

"We're trying to destroy the Maelstrom fleet that's creating this monsoon," Adagio explained as she pointed towards the sky, where lightning was still streaking across it. "At the epicentre of this storm, there are giant ships that are causing this destruction. But if we destroy them, that'll be the end of this dreadful weather, and the beginning of our army pushing the Malefics back..."

"Should we use Spiritual Transfusion on the princesses, or should we keep them as ponies?" Aria asked, not sparing any time to mull over details.

"I don't really know about that, Aria..." Adagio put a hand to her chin as she eyed up the three alicorn princesses. "It all comes down their own decisions, really," she said, "Though, I doubt that they'd want to spend time adjusting to humanoid bodies during the time with which they could be battling Malefics with their own forms..."

"Either way, we cannot waste any time out here," Luna scanned the skies and saw that there was another group of Malefics with wings approaching them. "They know where we are, and will hunt us down unless we end this..."

"Then we have no time to waste!" Rainbow Dash flapped her wings and went skyward, with The Dazzlings, and the rest of the team close by her. "Just break through the storm, infiltrate the fleet, take out the Sign of the End, and that's all for now!" she announced as the group all burst through the first layer of the weather.

As the group all raced through the lightning and heavy rain, they could eventually see a number of ships with pylons that were creating and weaponizing the clouds. Each one was unique, except for one which had a massive tower in the centre, and was opening hatches to let smaller carriers fly out and drop more Malefics onto the battlefield.

"That one there!" Adagio marked the biggest ship. "That one's the key to killing the weather! We just bust in and shut it down!" she held hands with Aria and Sonata. "Alright, girls. Just as we practiced..."

"Kelik Grinyana!" The Dazzlings spoke, launching another deluge of blue and red energy from their wings.

From the energies, a giant red dragon with long, bloodstained horns appeared alongside a blue giant with six arms. Both let out roars before grabbing onto the giant ship and violently smashing against the weather generators until they loosened up. Once they were, the summons ripped the massive conductors out of the big ship and began to viciously assault it with them.

Inside the big ship, The Blasters and Annihilation were grabbing onto the railings to avoid being thrown around like peas in a frying pan. They looked at the screens to see what was happening, and saw The Dazzlings destroying the pieces that were creating the storm.

"Dammit!" Fortissimo roared as the pylons were eventually used to destroy the smaller ships, clearing up the weather to reveal a sunny, cloudless day. "Those bitches cut off our storm generators!"

"Well, I guess that's that..." Orchestral sighed as the ships entered a stasis mode in which the systems all shut down, yet the engines were still functioning. "The fleet's been wiped out, Annihilation. It's time to put your foot straight up Adagio's ass..."

Annihilation grunted, but nodded in compliance afterwards. "Fine then..." he said, creating a hole in the roof of the bridge, leading to the world outside. "I was hoping that it wouldn't have to come to this..."

He flew out quickly, leaving the three ex-Lyricans to themselves.

"We might lose this area, you know..." Orchestral said to Fortissimo and Allegro. "We might want to prepare the back-up plan."

This time, it was Allegro's turn to grunt but sigh in acceptance.

"You're right, Orchestral," Fortissimo said, remaining calm after all that had happened to their ships. "We've given them their power, and I can already sense that one of them is preparing a doomsday weapon to fire upon this miserable little mudball..." he smiled. "We'd better get to Sour Sweet. Tell her that the target's ready, and that Ponyville's the bullseye..."